Commercial.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 222, 20 October 1896, Page 2

Commercial.

Egmont Farmers’ Union (Limited) Report. Hawera, October 15. Wo had only a small muster of stock at Stratford last friday, owing to a wet day and the entry class for which bidding might be called good was springers, though most of the entries changed hands. We quota : Yearling steers, 275; springers, 58s to £3 10s; store cows, 40s to 46s ; yearling heifers, 23s to 34s 6d. At Messrs Brewer and Quin’s clearing sale held last Tuesday, in the Hawera yards, the stock, although a choice lot, were not in the best of condition, so buyers received the benefit of this drawback. Bidding was not brisk, although buyers attended from all parts of the coast, but everything being without reserve were sold necessarily at the hammer. We quote 2to 2J-year steers, £3 6s to £3 14a 6d. We held our fortnightly sale in the Glover Road yards, Hawera, on Wednesday, the 14th inst. The attendance was good, but bidding was again slow. Little b isiness was done in fat bullocks, whilst fat cows were in good demand. We quote : —Fat and forward bullocks (mixed), £5 3s 6d to £5 I7s ; fat cows, £3 15s to £4 8s; 15 to 18-month steers* 42s to 53s fid; yearling steers, 31s; forward cows, £3 2s fid ; 18-month heifers, 28s fid ; springers (backward), 4-5 s to 58s fid. Messrs Nolan, Tohks and Co.’s Stock Report. Hawera, October 16; At Opunake, on 13th inst, considerably more stock than advertised came forward. There was a fair enquiry for good quality young steers, but other classes were somewhat neglected, _ At Manaia, on 15th, we had a good e'htry, but business wds slack, buyers evidently waiting until the weather is more settled. We quote—At Opunake—Yearling heifers, 25s to 30s ; yearling steers, 34s to 36s ; 2-year steers, 52s fid to 54s ; store cows, 39s to 43s ; springing heifers, £3 10s to £4 ss; dairy cows, £4 to £4 10s; cows and calves, £3 3s. At Manaia—Yearling steers, 36s to 395; yearling heifers, 26s to 30s ; weaners, 20s to 23s ; 2-year heifers, 40s to 425; store cows, 40s to 455; 2-year steers, 50s to 54s fid ; yearling to 18-month steers, 40s to 425; springers, £4 to £4 12s fid. Sheep—Cull hoggets, 3s 7d.

Mr Newton King’s Weekly Report. New Plymouth, October 16. The cold winds which have followed the very favorable weather experienced in the early part of last month have given a severe check to the growth of pasture, feed being not so forward as a month ago, and the demand for stock has consequently been at a standstill. At Stratford, on Tuesday, the yards were full, but buyers were few and bidding very flat. A great many lines were passed in, and those sold realised very low prices. Calves made 16s to 21s ; yearlings, 24s 6d to 30s ; 12 to 15-montbs mixed, 32s to 345; 18months steers, 44s ; 2 to do, 45s to 53s 6d ; springers, 41s to £4 6s 6d; cows and calves, 32s 6d to 41s ; springing cows, £3 2s 6d to £6. At Waiwakaiho, on Thursday, the yards were cramned with cattle. The change of weather caused prices of young cattle and steers to harden, and all were soldi at better prices. Dairy cows and heifers were however, overdone, and • the market showed a downward tendency. Store cows improved somewhat, and some fine fat cows from the Bank farm and Mr Turnbull sold readily. I quote ;—Calves, 18s Gd to 25s ; yearlings, 27s to 36s ; store cows, 45s to 48s ; fat do, £4 7s 6d to £4 15s ; springing heifers, 59s to £3 14s 6d. Sheep—Fat shearling ewes, 8s 6d.