COMMERCIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue 13047, 10 January 1917, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

(.JJt Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] I'eh- Press Association. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn:) Received' January 10, at 11.10 a.m. ■ . London, January 9. The price of oats stated on the 7th by Mr Prot-herb—4ls 3d —referred to AVar Office purchases of oats specially ■grown on grass lands, and is offered as an .inducement to break'up pastures.

ASHBURTON STOCK MARKET

Owing t-o the r-ain overnight stopping harvest operations, there was -a large attendance at the weekly stock sale held' at the Ashburtou yards' yesterd_ay. Tho entry of fats showe'd a big increase on the yarding at the previous sale held at the Tinwald Yards on December 19th last. The yarding consisted' of 3483 sheep, .as against 2073 at last sale, and included 584 fab ewes, '609 fat wethers, ,1621 fat lambs, and 669 stores. The drought of late having shortened'the feed supply, was no doubt responsible for the large yarding of fat sheep, but the quality was very indifferent, and although there were a few fine -lilies of ewes and wethers, there was not one line of lambs that could be classed as really prime. With freezing buyers operatI ing together with local butchers there j jwas-a, good demand, for .-"both ewes and lambs, but- wethers were easier, and several of the latter were passed at auction. Fat ewes made up to 31s lid, fat wethers to 335, and fat lam'bs to 26s 3d. The following was the range of prices obtained: Prime butchers' owes 26s to 30s 6d, extra, heavy 31s ' lid, medium weights 22s to 25s Bd, light weights 6d; prime wethers 29s 6d to 335, others 25s ,to 28s, best lambs 23s to 26s 3d, medium weights 20s to 22s 3d,-light weights 18s 5(1 to 19s 6d.

Tli ere was only a limited' demand : for store sheep. There was a fair yarding of l'at cattle.