WEEKLY. LiVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT Wednesday, February 24.

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 25 February 1892, Page 21

WEEKLY. LiVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT Wednesday, February 24.

Fat Cattle.— This week's market was well supplied with 242 head, nearly all bullocks. The quality of the average was better tha"n we have had in the yard for several weeks past, only a few 1 c is put of the lot being what could be termed inferior beef. The supply was in excess of what was required by the trade, and prices showed a slight decline on last week's values. Best bullocks sold at L 7 5s to L 8 10s ; medium, L 5 15s to Lti 15s ; light and inferior, L 3 10.s to LI Iss ; cows and heifers, L 3 5s to L7.— Donald Rbid and Co. yarded and sold for Mr A. Lee Smith (Lakeholm), 18 heifers at L6 los to L 4; for Messrs R. Craigie and Sons (Riverbank), 11 bullocks at L(J to L 5,1, 1 cow at L 2 l?s 6d; for Messrs S. and W. M'Leod (Granton), 2 bullocks at L 7 12s 6d ; for Mr Thomas Kirk (East Taieri), 1 cow at Ls.— Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sold 80 head as follows :— For Mr John B. Blair(Abbotsford Farm), 15 prime bullocks at from L 7 15s to LB los (average L 8 ); for Mr Peter Sinclair CMainholm), 21 bullocks at from TJi to L 8; for Messrs J. Craigie and Sons (Henley), 9 bullocks at from L 6 5s to L 7; for Messrs Bryce Bros. (Lovell's Flat), lprimecow at L 7 ss, and 6 steers at from L 5 15s to L6 l2s 6'd ; for Messrs M'Leod Bros. (Granton Farm), 10 prime bullocks at from L 7 to L 8 10s ; for Messrs A. and A. Soimness (Otakia), 7 steers and heifers at from L$ 2s (id to L 5 5s ; and for Messrs John Dryden, Samuel Townley, G. Watson, and others, 11 cows at quotations. — Stronach Bros, and Morris yarded and sold 18 head : For Mr J. Wallace, 5 steers and heifers up to L 5 10s ; for J. Anderson (North-East Valley), 4 bullocks at quotations ; for Mr D. Sutherland (Lockhead), 3 bullocks at L 5 12s 6d; for Mr T. Kirk (East Taieri) 2 bullocks at L 6 10s each, 4 heifers at L 4 15s.— The Mutual Agency Company ok New Zealand (Limited) yarded and sold 48 head as under .-—For Messrs R. and G. Wilson (Port Molyneux), 2 bullocks at L 6 2s 6d, 3 at Ls los, 3 at L 5 ss, 3 cows at L 4, 2 bullocks (light) at L 4 10s, 1 heifer at L3 l7s (id ; for Mr W. Wright (Balclutha), 2 bullocks at L<> 10s. 2 at L 5 12s (id, 2 heifers at L 4 12s 8d ; for Mr G. Anderson (Stirling), 1 bullock at L 5 15s, 3 at L 5 15s, 2 cows at L 5 10s, 1 at L 5; for Mr G. Anderson (Otakia), 3 cows at L 5 2s 6'd, 4 heifers at L 3 15s, 2 at L 3 15s, 2 at L 3, 2 (inferior) atL2; for Mr W. Irvine (Green Island), 1 heifer at L 3,1, 1 bull at 30s.— Tub New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) yarded 40 head, and sold :— For Mr Thomas Kirk (East Taieri), Mr Robert Charters (Ury Park), Mr David Sutherland (Lochend), Mr Wm. Simson (The Knoll), and Messrs Wilson and Scott (Waihola), bullocks to Lfj ss, and cows to Ls,— John Giundley (on behalf of the Farmers' Agency Company) sold 58 head as under : — For Messrs Muriay, Roberts, and Co. (Ringway), (5 bullocks at L 7 10s to L 7 15s, 7 heifers at L 5 12s 6d to L 7 ; for Mr Andrew M'Kinnon(Lincoln Fields), 10 bullocks at LS 2s 6'd to LS 15s ; for Mr Wm. Grant (Elloughton Grange), 15 bullocks at L 6 to L 7 12s (id, 8 heifers to L 6 os ; for Mr 11. Ivie (Wyndham), 12 bullocks at L(s l2s 6d to L 7 17s Gd. Fat Sheep.— The entry was a small one this week, only 1955 being penned, of which 250 were merinos. There were about equal numbers of wethers and ewes. In neither cla'S were there any lines of specially prime sheep except a small draft from Mr Wm. Lamb (of Tapanui), which topped the market at 15s 3d for the wethers and 15s for the ewes. The bidding all through the sale was brisk, but prices were on the whole from Gd to Is lower than last week. Best crossbred wethers sold at 14s to 15s 3d, ordinary 11s (id to 13s, best crossbred ewe& 13s Gd to 15cs, ordinary 10s

6dto 12s 9d, merinos Gs to 10s 9d.— Donald Reid and Co. yarded and sold for Mr Wm. Lamb (Tapanui), 42 crossbred wethers at 15s 3d, 18 crossbred ewes at 15s (top prices to-day) ; for Mr John Allan (Taurima), 32 crossbred ewes at 13s ; for Mr R. Runciman (Brighton) ( 26 crossbred ewes at 12s ; for Messrs Grey Bros. (Milburn), si) crossbred wethers at 14s to lls 9d ; for Mr William Thomson (Myrtle Bank), 39 crossbred ewes at 11a 9d ; for Mr William Osborne (Tuapeka West), 36 crossbred wethers and ewes at 15s. — Wkight, Stephenson, and Co. sold 988 as follows :— For Mr Joseph Clarke (Moa Flat estate), 12 prime crossbred Wethers at 15s 3d, 50 prime halfbred ewes at 14s, and 47 comeback ewes at 12s Id ; for Mr James Gow (Invermay), 100 prime halfbred wethers and maiden ovfes at 14s ; for Messrs Bryce Bros. (Lovell's Flat), 40 prime halfbred ewes at 14s, 40 do do do at 13s 3d, and 40 do do do (small) at 12s 9d ; for Mr James 11. Elder (Oaklands), 32 crossbred ewes at 13s 6'd, and 25 do do at 12s 9d ; for Mr Watson Shennan (Conical Hills), 130 merino wethers at 10s 9d to 9s 9d ; for Mcssis M'Leod Bros. (Granton farm), 112 wethers (quarter-breds and halfbreds) at 13a ',kl ; for Mr James Wyllie (West Taieri), 124 halfbrod wethers atl2s 3d to 13s 3d ; for Mr Peter Murray (Hooper's Inlet), 31 crossbred ewes ; and for Messrs A. C. and J. R. Thompson (Otakia), 145 crossbreds at quotations.—The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) sold 466 as under :— For Messrs Dickson Bros. (Belmont), 40 crossbred wethers at 14s 3d, 27 at 13s fid, 35 halfbreds at 13s, 23 crossbred ewes at 13s 3d ; for Mr D. Murray (Pukerau), 3t mixed crossbreds at 13s 3d and 13s (id, 27 crossbred ewes at 12s ; for Mr John Bruce (Greytown), 46 crossbred ewes at lls 6d ; for Messrs M. and T. M'Leod (Wardlands), 36 medium weight halfbred wethers at 12s 3d, 35 at lls 9d. 35 at 115,6 d, 43 at 10s 3d. 21 quarter-breds at 8a 9d ; for Mr It. Law (East l'aieri), 43 merinos at 6a ; and for Mrs Miller (Braemore), 21 halfbred ewes at 9s 3d.— John Grindley (on behalf of the Farmers' Agency Company, Limited) sold 336 as under .-—For Mr James Logan (Greenvale), 180 aged three-quarter-bred Romney ewes nt 13s to 13s 3d ; for Mr Alexander Douglas, 41 two-tooth wethers and ewes at 13s 9d; for Mr John E. Palmer (Mount Stuart), 65 quarter-back wethers at 14s 3d ; for the Gladbrook estate, 25 merino wethers at 10s, 25 crossbred ewes at 12s.

Fat Lambs.— Only 314 penned, all good to prime quality. There was keen competition for every pen, and prices were quite up to those ruling at the last sale. Best sold at 10s to lls 3d ; medium, 8s 6d to 9s 9d.— Donald Reid and Co. yarded and sold: forJMr John Allan (Taurima), 16 at 10s, 39 at 9s 3d, 22 at 8s 9d ; for Mr J. B. Blair (Abbotsford farm), 10 at 8s 9d ; for Mr R. Runciman (Brighton), 21 at 9s 9d ; for Mr> William Thomson (Myrtle Bank), 68 at !)s ; for Mr William Osborne (Tuapeka West), 35 (very prime) at lls 3d (top price). Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sold: For Mr James R. Elder (Mahcno), 7 at 10s ltd ; for Messrs M'Leod Brothers (Granton), 21 at 9s ; and for Messrs A. C. and J. It. Thompson, 19 at quotations.—The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) sold 72. Fon Mrs Miller (Braemore), 43 at 10s, 7 at fls fld ; for Mr John Bruce (Greytown), 22 at 7s 6d to 10s Ski. Pigs.— ll4 penned, all sorts but stores being represented. Competition was brisk, but prices showed no improvement. Suckers sold at (is 6'd to 10s ; slips, 10s 6'd to 12s 6d ; porkers, 23s to 25s (id ; baconers, 30s to 335 ; extra heavy, 35s to 455.— Donald Reid and Co. sold a small draft for Mr J. Wix (Purakanui).— Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sold 106 at above rates.— The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand ' Limited) sold several pens at quotations. Store Cattle. — The late severe floods have caused several of our graziers to place their cattle on the market as forward stores. Nevertheless, owing to the abundance of pasture available and the prospect of stubble fields being soon cleared to carry cattle forward until the exceptionally large turnip crops of this season are ready for feeding off, there has been a brisk demand for good threo to four-year-old bullocks and spayed heifers, and sales can be made of this class of stock at prices rather in advance of late quotations. For young cattle there is not so marked an improvement, although the prices for these aro also well maintained.—Donald Reid and Co. report having sold 69 head bullocks, steers, and heifers, for Messrs A. and J. Thompson (Otakia), at from Li to L 2 10s.— Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report:— We have no transactions to report. Business under this heading very quiet atjjresent. Store Sheep.— The market now is assuming a more active tone, as a considerable amount of business is being put through. A good demand exists for all sorts, and the number in first hands is being daily reduced. It is therefore evident that iv the course of a very few weeks the supply if not exhausted will be nearly so,' and those who have not already secured their requirements are almost sure to go short.— WRIGHT, STEPHENSON, and Co. report : — The past week has been a very busy one. To our knowledge privately and at auction between 30,000 and 40,000 sheep must have changed owners. The demand has not been confined to any one class, but in the case of breeding ewes prices have advanced more than in any other description. Our sales privately and at auction amount to 11,300 sheep f6r the week.— The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) report having sold privately during the week 2000 crossbred wethers, 2200 full-mouthed merino ewes, 1400 crossbred ewes, which, together with the sale of the Mount Stoker sheep, represents a total of 19,140 store sheep sold for the week.

Sale of the Mount Stoker Flock.— On Thursday, 18th, The Mutual Aoency Company oi- New Zealand (Limited), acting under instructions from Mr John Sidey, submitted" to auctiou at the owner's station, Middlemarch, the Mount Stoker flock, comprising about 14,000 merino and halfbred sheep. There was a large attendance, representing buyers from all parts of the province, as also from Southland ; and it is no exaggeration to say that as a sale of store sheep it was one of the most successful held for many years. Not only was every lot sold under a keen competition, but a large number of those present as intending buyers were unable to meet their requirements, and twice the number of sheep could have been satisfactorily placed. As • showing the rango of values, it may be 'mentioned that a line of 2795 four, six, and eight -tooth merino ewes (of which three-quarters were eighttooth sheep) brought 8s 4d ; SO!) four and six-tooth merino wethers, 7s 4d ; eight-tooth quarter-bred ewes, 10s. The following are detailed particulars of the sales effected :— 279s four, six, and eight-tooth merino ewes, 8s 4d ; 820 two-tooth do do, tis ; 1411 aged do do fe 5d ; 123 cull do do, 4s 3d ; 900 do lambs, 4s 3d ; 816 four and six-tooth do wethers, 7s 4d ; 1172 eight-tooth do do, 5s 9d ; 1200 aged do do, sssd; b'4(J two-tooth do do, 4s lOd : 1081 eighttooth quarter-bred ewes, 10s Id ; 492 two-tooth do do, 9s ; 3(!4 four and six- tooth do do, 8s 3d ; 21!) aged do do, 8s ; 335 two-tooth do wethers, 7s 4d ; 2-SO four and six-tooth do do, 8s ; 'M eight-tooth do do, 8s 2d ; 130 aged do, 7s Id ; 4(5 merino rams at quotations. For Mr Cunningham, 550 merino ewes, f!s 6d ; 124 woolly sheep, tis Gd. A few horses and cattle were also satisfactorily placed. Special Sheip Sale Report.— John Grindley (on behalf of the Farmers' Agency Company, Limited) reports having held a large and unreserved saM of store sheep at Station Peak on Friday last, tuo 'l9th February, at which there was a large attendance of buyers from all parts of Canterbury ami Übnzo. Bidding for every lot- was bri-sk, the whole being cleared at very satisfactory prices. The sale commenced at 3 o'clock and was concluded in the short space of 15 minutes, or at the rate of a little over 10i)D a minute, at juices at; per list attached :— 2457 four-tooth merino ewes at 8s 2d, 211)2 two-tooth do do at 7s 10.1, 2,'X)f) do do wethers at 7s 3d, 2i)20 do do do at (is Bd, 111)0 lulfbrcd lambs (culls) atSs, 2i!)3 merino lambs (culls, small) at 4s Id, 129 agud merino rams at 15s, 1200 do do ewes at 5», 5000 do do wethers at 4s titl ;—; — 19,881. We also sold at our sale at Clinton on Tuesday, 23rd February, 1(51(5 crotsbral ewes, merino wethers and ewes, and crossbred lamb, ah satisfactory prices ; — total, 2i,4'.)7 for the p.i^t week. On the 11th March next we will offer, on account of various stations, at our yards, Mi:l>llomarch, over 20,000 merino ami crossbred .shcop. Special trains to sale.

Rabbitskins.— At this season of the year the supply is always short, consequently the business done is necessarily of little importance. The small lots offered are generally a poor selection, and in the absence of medium to well-furred skins quotatioiiß are more apt to mislead than otherwise.

Hides. — No change to report. The market continues steady, with a fair demand existing for all descriptions. Heavy weights being in short supply, command the most attention, and when

the condition of these is really satisfactory prices are considerably enhanced. Quotations: For heavy, in good condition, 2Jd to 2Jd ; 651b and upwards, 2}d to 3d ; country average, ljd to 2d ; light, lid to lid ; inferior and slippy, id to Id per lb.

Tallow. — A very fair demand exists for all coming to hand ; indeed, a very much larger quantity could be placed. Consignments arriving are on a very small scale, but readily disposed of on arrival. Rough fat is also in good request at late current rates. We quote best rendered mutton, 18s 6d to 19s 6d ; medium to good, 16s to 18s ; inferior to medium, 13s to 15s ; best caul fat, 12s 6d to 13s ; inferior to medium and good, 9s to 12s per cwt. Wool.— We subjoin copy of a cablegram from London under date February 21, which is not at all encouraging:— "The total quantity of wool catalogued at the series just closed was 314,000 bales, of which 291,400 were sold, including 167,000 to Continental buyers and 160,000 to America. The course of prices has been irregular. Compared with the closing rates at the December series, all classes of merino were Jd lower, and line crossbred Id lower. Prices were on an average id lower than those ruling at the December sales, but superior lambs' wool brought Id more, although the top prices were below those obtained in 1886. The wool trade is depressed, and an early revival ia not expected." The odd lots that have been offered locally since the close of the last public sales have realised full equivalent value, and buyers appear disposed to operate at fair market rates. The last of _ the local sales of the season has been fixed for Friday first, the 26th inst., at the Oddfellows' Hall, at 10 a.m. Only small catalogues will be offered. Full particulars will appear in our next issue. Sales will take place in the following order :— Stronach Bros, and Morris; Donald Reid and Co. ; Farmers' Agency Company; Mutual Ageii6y Company; Loan and Mercantile Agency Company ; Wright, Stephenson, and Co. Sheepskins.— There was the usual gathering "of buyers at the skin sales on Tuesday, when moderate catalogues were offered, consisting principally of green skins. Competition for both dry and green skins was brisk, and prices maintained late quotations. Green pelts sold at Is 3d to 2s Bd, do lambs at Is 5d to 2s sd, dry crossbreds at Is lid to 5s sd, do merinos Is 5d to 4s sd, do lambs at Is 3d to 3s Id.

Wheat.— Business in this cereal continues very dull. Millers have- sufficient stocks on hand, either of wheat or flour, to supply their present limited trade, and as it is expected that prices will rule lower when the new season opens, they are anxious to reduce stocks as much as possible, and in the meantime are refraining from purchasing. Good wholo fowl wheat is in good request. We quote : — Milling, 4s to 4s Sd ; inferior whole wheat, 3s 3d to 3s lOd; broken, 2s 6d to 3s 2d. Oats : The market continues very dull, and prices are lower than when last reporting. We quote :— Extra milling, Is 7d ; prime bright feed, Is 6d to Is 6Jd ; discoloured, Is 3d to Is 5Jd. Barley : No transactions.

Potatoes. — Only a moderate supply forward and late quotations are well maintained. We quote Prime, L 2 to L 2 5s ; inferior unsaleable. Chaff. — The market is moderately supplied. In nticipation of a more plentiful supply at an early date dealers are keeping their stocks low, and prices have weakened. We quote : — Best L 3; inferior, L2 los to L2 lss. Grass Seeds.— There is no improvement to note in the tone of the market for ryegrass seed. There are buyers on the spot ready and willing to operate, but growers find it somewhat difficult to submit to the prices now offering when compared with those obtaining at the same time last season. The quantity for disposal is pretty considerable, but there is very little progress being made with the placiag of many of the numerous lots offering. Buyers offer for farmers' undressed, Is 9d to 2s 6d; for machine-dressed, 3s to 3s 6d (ex store, sacks extra).— The demand for cocksfoot has hardly set in y&t ; quotations nominal. Flax.— There is a steady demand for all wellassorted samples at late quotations.