WEEKLY LIVE STOOK AND PRODUCE REPORT. Wednesday, March 25.

Otago Witness, Issue 1935, 26 March 1891, Page 17

WEEKLY LIVE STOOK AND PRODUCE REPORT. Wednesday, March 25.

Fat Cattle.— l6l head yarded, ,'of whioh number scarcely half were of medium to prime quality— with very few of the last mentioned offering— the balance light and inferior, with a good few aged cows, many of whioh were little more than half fat. For cattle of the two last mentioned classes, buyers were very apathetlo in their biddings, and for [some of the lots offered exceptionally low values had to be accepted. Good bullocks and well-grazed cows and heifers on, the other hand, owing to their scarcity, sold fairly well, prices paid for beef of this description being a shade better than last week. Best bullocks brought £7 to £8 Ss, one or two pens of very heavy and prime cattle £9, £9' 2s 6d to £9 7s 6d. Prime cows and heifers £5 5s to £6 15s, medium £1 5s to £4 12s 6d light and inferior £1 10s to £3 16s and £3.— BKn>» Maclean, and Co. yarded and disposed of 51 head a* under :— For the Waimate estate, 3 bullocks at £7 12s 6d. 2 at £7 7s 6d, 3 at £7 2s 6d, 2at £7 10s, 2 afc £7 ; for Mr A. Christie (Brighton), I cow at £6 2s 6d, lat £4 ss ; for a southern client. 7 bullocks passed • for Mr John Sutherland (Bast Taieri), 2 cows at £1 15s ; for Mr H. Palmer (Otakia). 3 bullooks at £8 12s 6d, 2 .'at (£5 2s 6d, 3at £5 ; for Mr A. Campbell (St. Leonards), 2 cows at £3 17s 6d, lat £2 5s • for Messrs A. Campbell, M. and J. Allen, D Sutherland, A. Butherford, 8 head of light weights at current rates, and 5 head passed. — Xhb NbWiZealand Loam and Meboantile Agbnoy Company (Limited) sold for the Henley estate. Mr A.l Lee Smith (Mat aura Island), and others, 33 head at quotations.— Wbioht, Stephenson, and Co. sold 52 head as follows :— For Mr Hubert Evans (Huntly), 5 prime bullock at from £9 7s 6d to £8 12s [6d • for Mr Samuel Young (Mosgiel), 9 steers and heifers at from £7 12s 6d to £5; for Mr A. Lee Smith (Mataura Island), 7 heifers at quotations ; for Metsrt Wilson and Scott (Waihola), 13 steers and f heifers lat current rates; for Messrs H. Keenan, B. Muir, David Young. Alex. M'lntyre, John Smith, and others, 18 head at quotations. — George Todd (on behalf of the Mutual Agency Com-pany-of New Zealand, Limited) sold: For Mr John Bain, 4 head at £4 7s 6d; for Messrs Campbell Bros. 5 head from £4 to £3 10s: for Mr Harrison, 4 head at £4; for Messrs M and J Allen and others, 8 bead from £6 2s 6d to £3 17s 6d — John Gbinbliy (on behalf of the Farmers' Agenov Company, Limited)' told for Mr John Boyle (Springfield), 3 bullooks at £5 7s 6d, 2 at £5 ss, and 2 at £4 17s 6d; for Mr Lawrence Dooley (Gore), 2 prime bullocks at £7 17s 6d, 3 prime heifers at £d 16s; for Mr Peter Hankins, Spurling, and others 54 head at quotations.— Donald Betd and Co. yarded 67, and sold for Mr, A. Lee Smith (Lakeholm), 7 heifers at £5 12s 6d to £3 17s 6d ; for Mr D. M'Donald (Southland), 5 prime bullooks at £9 2b 6d to £8 6afor Mr John Allan (Tanrima), 3 bullocks (light) at £4 2s 6d, 9 heifers at £4 17s 6d: for Messrs B. Oralgie and Sons (Biverbank), 7 bullooks at £5 10a to £4 2s 6d, 3 heifers at £4 12 a6dto£3 7§ 6d : for Mr James Beid (Berkley), 7 bullocks at £5 12s 6d to £4 7s 6d, 8 heifers at £4 16s, to £3 17s 6d ; for Mr Joseph Mawson (Purakanui), 4 bullocks at £5 15s to £5 7s , 6d ; for Messrs Soott, M'Kinley, and others, 14 head at up to £3 6s. . i* «-f Fat Sheep.— 232s yarded, nearly all orossbreds, and for the most part of fair to medium quality only the supply of prime sheep, both in wethers and ewes, being limited to a small proportion of the total entry. Although there was little or no demand for export there were several farmers present as buyers of breeding ewes, and various lots yarded in the fat sheep pens were secured for this purpose at prices higher than butchers are prepared to pay for the same. This in itself helped to relieve, and give a tone to the market, the comparatively few really good sheep commanding a healthy competition, and selling at prices slightly higher than those ruling last week, more especially so in -wethers. Taken on the whole we consider the day's transactions were rather firmer than thote of last week, the only exception to this rule being lots of full and broken .mouthed ewes, wbioh towards the close of the sale eased off a little in price. Average weight wethers brought 13s 6d to 14s, extra good to 14s 6d ; medium, 12s 9d to 13s 3d; light, 11s 6d to 12s. A few very heavy ewes brought 14s, 14s 6d, to 14s 9d, but good lines may be quoted at 12s to 13s; medium, 10s 6d to 11s; light, 9j to 10*.— Bna>, Maoxsan, and Co. yarded and sold 486 : For a client, 32 crossbred ewes at 10s 6d: for Messrs Murray. Boberts, and Go. J(Oottesbrook Estate). 155 six-tooth and f ull-mouthed*ew«>B (taken by a breeder) at 12s, 30 at 11s Od, 74 at lli 3d; for Meairs Diokson Bros. (Belmont), 33 crossbred ewes at 10s 3d ; for Mr A. North (Portobello), 24 crossbred wethers at 13s 9d, 26 halfbred wethers at 13s, a pen of heavy-weight ewes at 14s 6d ; for Mr John Bruce (Greytown), 42 crossbred ewes at 12s, 29 at 10s 6d: for Messrs Murray, Boberts, and Co. (Oottesbrook Bstate), 31 half and quarterbred wethers at 12s.— Stkonaoh and Son sold orossbred wethers for Mr B. Mitchell (Portobello) at 13s 6d and 12j od.— The New Zealand Loan and Meboantiub Agency Company (LrMlTßD)soldfor Mr Godfrey Foster (C»naria Farm) and other vendors, mixed orossbred wethers to 12s 6d. — Weight, Stephen-son, JlNd Co. s«.ld 16 5 as follows t For Mr John O. Ellis (Me^rivale Batate), 105 very prime orossbred ewes at from 14» 6d to 12$ 6d • for Mr William Shand (Keith Hall), 191 very prime crossbred ewes at from 14s 9d to 12s 3d ; for Mr George Marshall (Bosenea(h), 54 prime croesbred wethers at 14s 6d ; for Mr T. G. Robertson (t-pylaw), 198 halfbred ewes up to 13s ; for Mr James K. Elder (Oaklands), 64 crossbred ewes at from 12s 9d to 12s 3d ; for Mr Bden Bowler (Chalbury). 67 crotsbred ewes at from 12s to 10t3d ; for Mr jamea M'Ktnlay (Bak Bank), 80 halfbred wethers and maiden ewes st lls 6d ; for Mr Arthur Oalder (Lovell's Flat), 61 halfbred ewes and wethers at from 12s to lls 9d ; for Mr B. Bray, jun. (Waikouaiti), 202 crossbred ewes and wethers at quotations ; for Mr J. Freeman (Abbotsford), 54 hall bred ewes and wethers at from 12s 3d to 10s 9d ; for Mr James Macandrew (Oolinswood), 17 crossbred ewes at 9s.— Geokge Todd (on behalf of the Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) sold for Mr William Little, 38 crossbreds at 13s 6d, and for Mr G. H. Qilroy, 45 croskbred ewes at 14a and 22 at 12s 9d.— John Gbjndlby (on behalf of the Farmers' Agency Company, Limited) sold for Mr James L n gau (Kelso), 31 crossbred ewes, 12s and 31 halfbred do at 10s 6d, and turned out 235 unsold.— Donald Betd and Co. yarded 717, and sold for Messrs D. and A . M'Pherson (Berwi- k), 3a croesbred wethers at 12a 6d, 33 orossbred ewea at 10s 9il ; for Messrs B. Craigie and Sons (Biverbank), 45 cro sbred wethers at 13a 6d, 42 orossbred ewej at 9s B<J ; for Mr John Allan (TauWma), 112 crossbred ewes at lls 3d to 10s; for Mr Thos. Gordnn, j.m. fMoungatua), 70 crossbred ewes at 9s 9d to 8i Od ; for Misers A. and A. Sounets (Otakia), 19 crossbred wetbert at 12s, 37 orossbred ewes at 9s 9d ; for Mr Alex- Fleming (Henley), 82 crossbred wethers snd ewes at lls 6d, 21 crossbred ewes at 10* 3d ; for Mr M. W. Filming (Otakia), 66 oroosbred wethers and owei at 12s 3 1 to lls 6d, 117 crossbred ewes at 9s Sd to 9* ; for Mr R. Mitchell (Portobello). 25 crossbred wethers at 13s 3d ; for Mr James Marshall (Taieri), 24 crossbred ewes at lls. Privately during the week we sold for Mr John Smith (Tuapeka West), 140 oronbred wethers and ewe» *t ut ed,il * ™*

Fat Lambs.— 3B7 to band, being little more than half last week's entry. There were few, if any, lots calling for special mention, ai regards quality ; but buyers .operated freely throughout, the various lots being disposed of to local buyers under a brisk competition. Best lines brought iOs 6d to I)s6d; medium to good, 8s tsd to 10s ; inferior, 7s to Bs.— Ekid, Maclean, and Co. sold 127 as under :— For Messrs Craigieand S ns (Henley), 16 at 10s 9d, 24 at 10s 3d ; for Mr John Bruce (Greytown), 20 at 10s, 17 fit 9s 6d ; for Mr James Oullen (Greytown), 22 at 9s 6d, 18 at 9j ; for Messrs Dickson Brothers (.Belmont), 10, light, at 6s 9d. -The New Zealand Loan and MbroamtHiE Agbhoy Company (Limited) told : For Mr Godfrey Foster and others, two peas at 9s 6d. — Weight, Stkphehson, and Co. sold as follows i— For Messrs A. and J Brown (Green Island), 8 at 9s 6d ; for Mr David Bimell, 40 nt 10s 6d.- Gkob&b sPodd (on behalf of the Mutual Agency Company of Hew Zealand, Limited) sold: For Mr G. H Gilroy, 27 lambs at lls 6d, and 47 at 9a 6d.- John Gbindikt on behalf of the Farmers' Agency Company, Limited), ■old for Mr B. Mitchell (Portobello), 400 stores at 7b. — Donald Beid and Co. yarded and sold for Mr Charles Clark (GreytowD), 49 at 9s 6d ; for Messrs R. Craigie and b'o.->a (Rlversbauk>, 31 at Oi fld ; for Mr A. Lee Smith (Lakehulm). 31 at tii fid ; for Mr John Allan (Taurima), It} at 7s 6d to 7s ; for Me-ar* A. and A. Houneaa (Otakie), 4 at 10a 3d ; for Mr M. W. P/eming (Henley), 53 at 10s 3d ; for Mr John Watson (Purakanui) 38 at 10s 9d to 10.i 6d. Figs. — 159 penned, including all sorbs and bizjs The market underbills heading waa particularly dull, •everal lines of small store* sent to hand from short, distances being tnken home by the owners unsold. Prices generally for those so!d b?ing low and un•atisfaotcry. Suckera brought 4» bo la 6d, stores 13a to 18s, porkers 2u to 245, baeone.-s i.7 to 335. a few extra heavy to 40j.— Khid, Macltcan. and Co. sold 47 : For a northern client. 3 bacon pigs at 403, 3at 829, 3 at 295. '4 at 275, 4 porkers at 24b, 4 "6 2la, 3 Jit 20s, 4 at 20» ; for J. Coulan (Ngapara), 1 bacoa pig at 325, 2 at 29a, 3 porkers at 23«, 11 etoiva at from 8s 6d to lfa 6d ; for a elieut. 2 at 30s 6d-— DONALD Stkonach and Son Bold slips at quotations. — Weight, Stxphbnson, and Co. sold 70 at quotations.—Donald iiEiD and Co. yarded and sold for Mr D.- Walker (V/yndhani), 25 baconers at 31s to 275. Store Sheep.— During the past week extensive transactions have again taken place in store sheep, both privately and at auction Bales held at' the various centres throughout tUe province. Despite the very large number of sheep which have changed hands during the past month or cix weeks, the demand is apparently as strong as ever ; in facs for all claßies the supply is far short of requirements. It would be difficult to mention any description of •heep for which there are net ready buyers, but the bulk of the business passing just now is in breeding ewes, both merinos and orossbreds. Young crossbreda for turnip feeding, as also good lambs, are very eojrce and difficult to procure.— Hbid, Maclean, and Co. have sola 4500 different classes at quotations, — Privately and at auction during the week, Messrs Wbight. Stephbnson, and Co. report having sold ll,»50 at current rates. — John GBUfDliEr (on behalf of the Farmers' Agency Company, Limited) reports as follows :— Since last report we have sold at Gore, Edendsle, Clinton, and otherwise as follows : 236 crossbred ewes (four-tooth) at 13s 9d, 47 old ewes at 2* 9d, 49 quarter-bred wethers (four-tooth) at lls sd, 900 halfbred ewes (two. four, •ix, and eight-tooth) at 9«, 47 wether* (four-tooth) at 12s, 29 orosebred ewes at 8b 9d. 596 two and four-tooth crossbreds at 10a Bd, 71 two and four-tooth crossbreds at 135,30 four-tooth crosebreds at 12a 6d, 3700 fuflmouthed merino ewes at 3a 2d. ,3UO full-mouthed merino wethera at 2s 6d, 510 full-mouthed merino wethers at 3s 6d, 93 cull lambs at 4a 6d, 244 cull ewes at 4s 9d, 958 two, four, six. and eight-tooth ewes at 11b 1d,'42 do wethera at 10s 6d. 159 eight-toothewea at 8s 6d/48 Leicester ewes at 17s 6d, 63 lambs at 8s 2A, 250 oull ewes at 5s 6d, 245 cult lambs at 7a, 290 merino wethers at 4i, 200 cro»sbred ewes at 10s 3|d, 320 crossbred lambs at 8s 6d, 799 full-mouthed crossbred ewes at 9s lid, 406 tour-tooth welhere at 12s 6d, 251 aged halfbred ewes at 7s Bd, 261 full-mouthed merino ewea at 4* lid to 6s, 39 lambs at Si, 74 cull oroisbred ewes at 6a 3d, 150 four-tooth wethers at lla 6d, 101 four and eixfcooth ewes at 12a, 310 merino wethers at 5s lOd, 38 merino ewea at 4a 2d, 30 two-tooth 9a 4d, 90 cull twotooth at 6a Bd, 160 lambs at 7a lid, 10 cull ewea at 3a Bd, 58 four-tooth ewes at 12a 7d, 400 lambs at 6s lid, 32 cull ewea at 7s lOd ; for vendors, pure Leicester rams at 9ga to 4ga. Store Cattle.— Business in this line still continues quiet; in fact there is very little doing beyond an frsoaaional sale or two through the Burnside yards. Frozen Meat. — Late London cables report .■—Canterbury mutton, at 4|d ; Wellington, 4§d ; Canterbury lamb, 6fd ; beef, forequarters, ,3 9-16 d; hindquarters, 4£d: ' Wopl.— London cables of March 23 report as follows:— "Since the close of the wool sales the market has been quiet. The arrivals up to date total 200,000 bales, of which 54,000 bales have been sent forward." Melbourne news of March 20 states " that at the wool tales in that city business was fairly active— good lines maintaining their poaition, faulty lott being irregular. Greasy merino brought up to 9d, scoured wool li to Is 2d per lb." Sheepskins.— The catalogues at the recent salea on Tuesday last were again limited, and to a great extent consisted of country consignment!. Buyers operated freely, and satisfactory prices were obtained throughout. Full-woolled skins brought 4s to 6a; merinos, 4s to 6s 6d ; good early shorn dry pelts, Is Sd to 2i 4d ; medium, Is 4d to Is 7d; inferior, lOd to la 2d; butchers' green pelts (beat), 2a to 2s 3d; light, Is 6d to Is 9d ; lambskins, 2a to 3s. Babbitskinß.— The catalogues submitted this week were again very small, but values, however, ruled much about the same aa at previous tale - viz. : Spring skins, 9d to lid ; exceptional lots a shade over; summers, 7d to 8d; suckers and half-grown, 3d to 5d per lb. Hides. — The market is in the same poaition as latt week— i.e., bare of prime heavy ox— for whioh there Is a good demand — and fully supplied with light and inferior sorts, which are but little in request. Best ox may be quoted at 3d (o 3|d ; medium, 2£d to 2§d ; Inferior to medium, l£d to lfd and 2d per lb. Tallow. — There i< no improvement in the tallow trade to report from last week, manufacturers being scarcely as keen to purchase at they were a mouth since. The English market ia, however, firm, and exporters are prepared to pay rates for good rendered tallow, which are slightly higher than those obtainable for local use. We quote prime ' rendered mutton tallow (in shipping casks) at 19a to 20a per cwt ; good rendered mixed, 17s fid to 18s 6d ; medium, J6h to 17s \ inferior, 12s to 14s ; clear cauls, 13s to 13s 6d ; rough fat, 103 to lls 6d per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : 1 he reported Improvement in the English wheat market, as per cable advioes of a few days since, it at last beginning to make Itself felt here, although, at mentioned last week, local pricea prevlons thereto were at auoh a level aa to admit of bat little advance without a corresponding rise at Home; hi fact, rates current here tbia week are certainly above the limit at which exporters can operate, even at the advanced quotations of the London, market. There has, however, been a much healthier local feeling since our last report, for although millers are not inclined to purobaie to any great extent at present pricea, there appears to be a strong speculative demand, sufficiently bo to enable agents to clear all lots of new wheat ooming to hand. So far these consignments have been pretty well confined to the Taieri andnorthern districts, from both of which a good few lines have been sent forward and aold . For the last day or two no farther news has been received from Home, but the severe weather of the nresent month in England will in a great measure prevent the sowing of spring wheati, and this, with the damage which the winter wheats must have •uffered through the heavy frosts, oannot but leave the Bngliah— and, we may say, continental crops at we ll — yery much short of the average returns. Since the latter part of last week prlo s have advanced here Id to JJd per bushel, and present quotations are as follow : - Prime new Tusoan and velvet, 3s Hid to 4s per bushel, ex store or truck (no old wheat offering) ; medium sorts, 3s 9d to 3s 101 ; beat red wheat, 3a 9d and 3a lOd to 3s lOJd ; medium grades, Id to 2d per bushel lower— theae prices referring to bags weighed in, less 2} per cent, to purchasers. Fowl Wheat: Little if any offering yet, but some baa been aold at from 3s 3d to 3a 6d.— Oats : From Southland and districts south of Dunedln the reporta of the oat crop are very encouraging, and the yields fcbia season will probably ba heavier than they have been for yeara. Stocba in Dunedin had lately run very low, and to repleniah thaae, millers have purchased freely any good lota offering during the past week. We have not heard of any higher quotations than Is sfd per bushel, and this money was given only In one ca«e for an exceptionally bright and heavy line of Canadians ; la . c §d down to la 5d has been readily paid for any lines suitable for milling purpoies. There ia also a little more inquiry on the part of Mew South Wales, but the limit of purchasers for that market is not beyond the laet-mentloned figure. For oatt of a medium grade, that ia, lines unfit for milling or shipment, the demand is slack, and salea can only be effected, and then not readily, at Is 4d to la 4Jd. The tame oauie which will no doubt interfere with the sowing of spring wheats «t Home

will prcbably also affect the extent of land put under oata, and thia in 'its turn may ultimately help our market here. Meantime quotations may be given aa under: Bright milling Sutherlands to la 6jd per bushel (sacka extra), beat bright aparrowbilla to la sd, medium to god feed la 4d to la 4|d (ex truck or store, nacks extra). The arrivala of new oata at c still very limited, but may now be exoected to increase daily. Barley : The only business doing in thia just now, ie in a few lines of the very best samples for malting, for which purohaaera are prepared to fay late rates. In other claarea tbera ia practically nothing being done, neither speculators, millers, or produce merchants caring to operate. Quotations are as under : Prime malting 3» to 3a 3d. medium malting 2e 8d to 2s lOd, feed and .milling 2a to 2a 4d (sacks extra, ex store). Graaa Seeds are t,ow In fewer hands than they were a month aince, and at thn time of writing comparatively llttlo ia being offered on growera' account. Buyers are far from being bb keen to operate aa they were, to that bualneaa pasting for the last week is nominal. Best machlne-dresaed parcela are worth 4s 6d to 4s 9d, exceptional lo.'s to ss ; good farmers' dressed, 4s to 4a 6d ; Inferior to medium. 33 to. 3s 9d\ Cocksfoot ia now offering much more freely than of late, and anyone deelrous of purchasing can do ao on easier terma. Quotatlona may be given for Jrom fair to good aeed at from 4|4 to 5d per lb ; inferior, proportionate rater. Potatoes. -1 hero la still a large quantity of these offering, far more in fact than sufficient to supply the trade demand, and prices r.re unaltered, prime Derwenta selling at 52a 6d to 55a, medium 47a 0d to 50a, while kidneya are difficult to quit at from 30a to 40s per ton. Cnaff .— The arrlvala of chaff, during the last week or ten days have not been so heavy, and if anything there is rather a scarcity of really flrst-olaaa parcela, which could be placed in limited quantftiea at from 42i 6d to 455. Inferior to medium may be quoted at 35a to 40s per ton. Dairy Produce —Prime ealfc butter ia selling In small parcelß at from G|d to. 7d per lb. but cheese Is still difficult to quit at 4d to 4£d for medium siz*,and 4|d to 4fd for loaf sizs per lb. Flax. — The market in thia branch ia unchanged, all lots of prime well scutoheii Hax being readily taken up at late quotations, while the more Inferior classes are not so easily planed. We quote prime well scutched to £19 tOs to £20; medium to goo;J. £17 to £18; inferior and indifferent, £13 10a to. £15 per ton.