LATEST COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 19

LATEST COMMERCIAL.

• The New Zealand Loan and. Mercantile Agency London "house:—Wool—The sales closed firmly. Since close of last sales greasy washed and-scoured l merino super, washed and scoured merino medium , and inferior, fine washed and scoured crossbred ara Id per lb higher; greasy merino, medium and in--1 ferior, and fine greasy crossbred are }d to Id per lb . higher; merino slipe and greasy merino lambs , super, medium ana inferior, are §d to Id per lb higher ; other descriptions unchanged. The total ' quantity sold during the past sales is 151,000 bales, of which 60,000 bales have been taken for the Continent and 10,000 bales for America. It is estimated that 20,000 bales have Deen held over for future disposal. Messrs A. G. Taine and Co. report for their Saturday horse sale The entry was a medium one of harness horses and hacks, no draughts entered. The attendance was good and bidding fairly animated: We sold by auction and privately bay harness gelding at £l7, do. at £l6, do. at £ls, two unbroken colts £9, harnesss horses, aged, and hacks at £8 to £5, and others at £l. We could place several superior draught horses at and from £3O to ££s. Johnsonville, February 8. Messrs Freeman R. Jackson and Co.’s Johnsonville stock report is as follows Fat cattle were in usual number. Good bullocks were at better prices, and made 14s 6d the 1001 b. Fat cows were in fair demand. Choice heifers were in limited supplv, and were well competed for, Fat bullocks, £5 17s 6d to £6 5s ; others, £5 5s to £5 15s; light weights, £4 to £4 10s ; stores, £3 to £3 15s; heavy fat cows, £3 17s 6d to £4 ; ohoioe heifers, £4 15s. There was a moderate entry of sheep. Though the quality in many oases was first-rate, it made but little difference in the price. Lambs, unless well fatted, went to buyers below their value. A few pigs made up the sale. Prime heavy wethers, 9s 3d ; medium, 8s 4d to 9s ; fat ewes, 6s lOd ; others, 5s to 6s 7d ; shorn fat lambs, 4s lid to 6s 3d ; in wool, 5s 10d; stores, 2s 2d to 3s sd ; porkers, 18s. Mr Matthew Henry reports as follows on the Palmerston annual ram fair After combating with the most disagreeable and Boisterous weather, the fair was brought to a close on Friday. In point of numbers, this was the largest ever held in Palmerston ; and in point of quality, there were probably a larger number of good, serviceable rams forward than on any previous occasion. It is to be regretted, however, that many breedeis still cling to the idea that because their stock is only grass-fed, and consequently quite out of bloom ana condition for stud purposes, that ilockmasters are to buy them in preference to good- ‘ conditioned, well-grown, fully clothed animals, forgetting that young sheep require abundance of nourishment if they are to be of any service for the purposes for-which they are intended, and quite oblivious of the fact that wool does not grow on a skin-full of bones. It was very gratifying to notice that the public ignored second and third - rate animals, bat responded cheerfully—if not with animation and enthusiasm—to the salesman’s appeals for an equivalent to the value offered, the result being that of the sheep worthy of attention few returned unsold. This refers particularly to Lincolns. Unfortunately for the Romney Marsh enthusiasts the turn of the tide seems very far off. Most of the Leicesters sold brought fair value, but, as was anticioated, the numbers forward were quite in excess of the requirements of this district, which is only beginning to realise the value of this breed (English Leicester) for crossing purposes, and consequently an over supply created a somewhat sluggish demand. Taken all over the fair was a success and a decided improvement on any previously held in this district. As the show has been freely reported upou, comment here is uncalled for, suffice it to say that after all the adverse elements—and they wore not few—are taken into consideration, no one can say that the show did not supply the needed stimulant to the fair, although some looked upon it as something of a venture, and held aloof in consequence. It is to be hoped that for the future it will receive more encouragement, when it will become a boon to the flockmasters of the surrounding districts.