WEEKLY LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 24

WEEKLY LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT.

Wednesday, December 13.

Fat Cattle.— The market was fairly supplied tMs week, 150 head being yarded. Only twothirds of this number could be regarded as " killable," the remaining third consisting for the most part of aged cows, in little better than forward store condition. Included in the supply were three or four small drafts of exceptionally prime bullocks and cows, cattle evidently which had been specially fattened for Christmas. The drafts referred to came from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company's Clydevale estate, Mr Charles Grant (of Ulenmark), a<Td Mr Malcolm Carmichael (of West Taieri) Prime bullocks (heavy weights) realised from £10 10s to £12 2s 6d, do do (medium weights) from £8 to £10, do do (light weights) from £6 to £7 15s ; prime cows (heavy weights) brought from £10 to £11 15s, do do (medium weights) from £7 10s to £9 12s 6d. do do (lightweights) from £6 to £7, aged and inferior £3 to £5 10s.— Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sold 71 as follows : For Mr Charles Grant (Glenmark), 3 very prime bullocks at £12, 2 do at £11, and 1 exceptionally prime cow at £11 15s ; for Messrs R. and G. Wilson (Glenomaru), 1 bullock at £11, 1 prime heifer at £9 12s 6d, 1 cow at £5 ss ; for Mr John Nicholson (Owaka), 11 bullocks at from £7 to £9 ; for Mr James Gow (Invermay), 1 prime bullock at £11 2s 6d, 1 do at £9 12s 6d, 2 cows at £8 15s each ; for Mr John Sidey (Corstorphine), 12 small heifers at from £4 7s 6d to £6 ; for Mr James Turnbull (Southesk farm), 12 prime bullocks at from £9 10s to £11 10s— average £10 15s ; for Messrs David Andrew jun. (The Grange), James Millar, David Mills, Jarnea Karquharfcon, Laverty, J. Townley, William Faulds, Alexander Hastie jun. (Greytown), D. M'Millan, Alexander Campbell and others, 23 head at quotations. — The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) sold as under : For the New Zealand and Australian Land Company (Clydevale estate), 1 bullock at £12 2s 6d, 2 at £12 2s 6d, 2 at £11 17s 6d, 2at £11 2s 6d, 2 cows at £9 15s ; 3at £9 2s 6d ; for Mr J. Harrison (Middlemarch), 2 bullocks at £11, 1 cow at £8 12s 6d, 2 heifers at £7 2s 8d ; for Messrs Dickson Brothers (Belmont estate), 2 bullocks at £8 7s 6d, 2 at £7 2s 6d, 1 heifer at £6 15s, 1 at £5 32s 6d, 2 light - weight steers at quotations ; for a client, 1 cow at £7 2s 6d, 1 do at £6, 2 steers at £6 17s 6d, 1 cow at £5 ; for Mr W. Ames (Caversham), 3 steers at £6 7s 6d (to a grazier), 1 do at £5 5s. — Donald Reid and Co. yarded 26 and sold : For Mr Alexander Malcolm (Enfield), 7 bullocks at to £10 12s 6d; for Mr M. Carmichael (Riverside), 4 heifers at £9 10s to £7 15s ; for Mr W. Lindsay (Greytown), 2 heifers at £7 ; for Messrs T. Henderson, T. Robertson, and others, 13 head at £9 5s. — The Farmers' Agency Company (Limited) yarded 61 head and sold : For Mr S. Thomson (Ivy Bank), 3 very prime heifers at £11 2s 6d to £11 15s ; for Mr James Gow (Invermay), 1 very prime bullock at £12, 4 heifers at £7 10s to £8 12s 6d ; for Mr T. Kirk (East Taieri), 2 bullocksat £11 2s 6d. 6 cows at £7 to £8 2s 6d ; for Messrs James Smith and Sons (Roseneath), 13 heifers at £6 2s 6d to £7 17s 6d ; for Mr T. Bowling (Maungatua), 1 heifer at £7 12s 6d ; for Mr W. Paterson (West Taieri), 4 cows at £5 2s 6d to £5 10s ; for Mr W. Lawrence (Greytown), 1 cow at £7 7s 6d ; for Mr W. Lindsay (Greytown), 1 bullock at £8, 2 cows at £7 ; for Messrs D. and G. Miller (Saddle Hill), 2 cows at £6 : for Mr D. Bethune, 2 cows at £9 12s 6d, 1 steer at £5 2s 6d ; for Mr Townley (Kaikorai), 1 cow at £5 ; for Mr W. Samson (Burnside), 1 cow at £3 10s ; for others, 15 cows at £3 17s 6d to £7 15s.

Fat Sheep.— The number penned— viz., 1634— proved considerably in excess of the requirements of the trade, and in consequence a very dull sale resulted ; indeed, several lots from the Taieri were turned out without changing hands, and the sales which were effected were at prices which show an average decline of about 2s as compared with the rates current of late. The quality of the sheep forward this week was, for the most part, fair to prime, some shorn ewes from the north being exceptionally prime and very heavy weights. Quite three fourths of the sheep were shorn, and prices ranged as follows :— Crossbred wethers in the wool, from 16s to 18s 6d ; crossbred ewes in the wool, from 15s to 18s 9d; prime crossbred wethers shorn, from 14s to 15s 6d ; prime crossbred ewes shorn, from 13s to 15s— one pen exceptionally heavy made 16s ; medium quality ewes and wethers ranged from 10s to 12s 6d.— Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sold 512 as follows :— For Mr Edward Blackmore (South Canterbury), 32 very prime shorn crossbred ewes (heavy weights) at 16s, and 28 do (smaller) at 15s ; for Mr John Grigg (Longbeach estate), 120 prime crossbred ewes (shorn) at 13s 6d ; for Mr Edward Menlove (Windsor Park), 120 crossbred ewes (shorn) at from 12s to 14s; for Mr John Beattie (StrathTaieri), 4 crossbred wethers (in the wool) at 18s 6d, and 32 merino do at 11s 9d ; for Mr James Wright (Broomlands), 8 crossbred ewes (shorn) at 12s 6d; for Mr James Gow (Invermay), a draft of crossbred wethers at 13s 6d; for Mr Robert Muir (North Taieri), 11 halfbred ewes at 10s; for Mr Thomas Parker (Milton), 36 crossbred hoggets (in the wool) at 14s 9d — Andrew Todd (on behalf of the New Zealand Land Association, Limited) sold : For Mr James Lamond (Puerua), 26 crossbred wethers at 16s, 14 do at 15s 3J, and 20 do at 153.— The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) sold 783 for the under-mentioned owners : — For a client, 22 crossbred wethers at Bs, 3(5 at 16s 3d to 16s 9d ; for Mr James Drinnan (Milton), 14 crossbred ewesatl3s 6d — these prices referring to sheep in the wool; for Mr A. Wright (Woodlands), 39 shorn crossbred wether-s at 14s 6d, 27 mixed cros&breds (chiefly ewes) at 12s 9d ; for Messrs Ander'son Bros. (Waiwera), 33 crossbred wethers at 14s ; 33 at 13s 3d ; for Mr P. Smith (Stirling), 35 mixed crossbreds at 12s 9d ; for Mr J. A. Townsend (VVaikouaiti), one pen light-weight crossbreds at 10s (id ; for Mr G. Harvey (Stirling), 20 crossbred ewes at 14s 3d, 26 at 12s 3d, 2t at 12s 6d ; for Mr Joseph Allan (Hopehill estate), 40 cros&bied wethers at 14s 6d, 49 at 14s, 43 at 13s 3d; for Messrs Dickson Bros. (Belmont estate), 24 crossbred ewes at lls 6d ; for Mr W. Thomson (Myrtle Bank), 45 halfbred ewes at 10s 6d ; for Mr It. Cullen, one pen crossbred ewes at 9s Od ; for Mr J. Patterson (Clarendon), one pen crossbred ewes at 13s 9d ; for the Meadow Bank estate, 39 mixed crossbreds at 13s, 40 at 12s Od, 38 at 12s and 12s (id, 2(J halfbreds (light) at lls.— Donald Reid and Co. yarded 219, and sold : For Mr A. Kilgour (Brooklands), 51 shorn wethers at lls 9d ; for Messrs Wilson, Cameron, and Co. (Balclutha), 14 do ewes at lls 6d ; for Mr William Grant (Clareinch), 15 do do at 10^ (3d ; for Mr

John Findlay (I 1 indlayston), 13 do wethers atd ewes at 12s 6d, 8 do ewes at 15s ; for Mr W. 11. Oughton (North Taieri), 11 do do at lls 3d ; for Mr J S. Fleming (Henley), 27 do do at 8s Od ; for Mr R. B Paul (Milburn), 11 crossbred wethers at 18s 9d ; for Mr William Stttbbs (Milburn), 23 shorn ewes at 12s 6d to 13s 3d ; for Mr Alexander Robertson (Circle Hill), 9 do wethers and ewes at 13s 6d ; for Mr H. M'Neill (Milburn), 4 do ewes at 14s ; ft>r Mr Robert Gawn (Deer Park), 31 do do at Ids to lls 9d ; for Mr George Carson (Milburn), 16 crossbred wethers and ewes at 16s 3d '; for Mr John Finch (Milburn), 10 do ewes at 14s 3d ; for Mr L. D. Robertson (oandymount), 2 do do at 16s 3d.— Thts Farmers' Agency Company (LiMiTED)penned 174 and sold : For Mr H. Palmer (Otakia), 78 halfbred ewes and wethers lls 9d to 13s ; for Mr John Finch (Milburn), 60 crossbred ewes 14s tb 15s 3d ; for Mr James Freeman (Abbotsford), 6 crossbred ewes 13s Od ; for Mr John Heads (Milburn), 11 crossbeed ewes 15s 6d ; for Mr W. Jennings (Purakanui), 19 crossbred ewes 9s. Fat Lambs.— No less than 874 were penned, and although prices were easier a sale on the whole very satisfactory resulted, the range of values being from 7s to 10s 6d —Wright, Ste?-'henson, and Co. sold 129 as follows :— For Mr James Wright (Broomlands), 50 at 9s 9d ; for Mr Robert Muir (North Taieri), 22 at 9s 3d ; for Mr James Sime (Purakanui), 30 at from 7s to 9s ; and for Mr Thomas Parker (Milton), 27 at 7s 9d. — The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) sold 240 as under : For Mr J. Patterson (Clarendon), 32 at 10s ; for Mr R. Cullen (Greytown), 21 at 8s ; for Mr A. Lewis (Portobello), 8 at 9s 9d ; for Mr A. Thomson (Maungatua), 16 at 8s ; for Mr J. A. Townsend (Waikouaiti), 28 at 7s 6d, 6 at 7s ; for Messrs Dickson Bros. (Belmont), 56 at 7s 3d ; for Mr W. Thomson (Myrtle Bank), 45 to 7s 9d ; for Mr J. Drinnan (Milton), 28 to 7s.— Donald Reid and Co. yarded 523 and sold: For Mr R. Jefferies (Flag Swamp), 25 at 8s 6d ; for Messrs Wilson, Cameron and Co. (Balclutha), 2*> at 8s 9d ; for Mr L. D. Robertson (Sandymount), 63 at 7s ! for Mr W. Grant (Clareinch), 25 at 10s ; for Mr W. Robertson (Greytown), 29 at 7s 9d ; for Mr John Findlay (Fiudlayston), 27 at 10s 3d ; for Mr W. H. Oughton (Boghead), 23 at 8s 3d ; for Mr A. Lee Smith (Lakeholm), 79 at 8s 9d to 8s ; for Mrs C. Finlay (Romney Marsh), 31 at 9s 3d ; for Mr J. S. Fleming (Henley), 45 at 7s ; for Mr R. Gawn (Deer Park), 41 at 9s 6d ; for Mr H. M'Neill (Milburn), 18 at 7s 9d ; for Mr W. Stubbs (Milburn), 12 at 9a 9d ; for Mr R. B. Paul (Milburn), 20 at 8s ; for Mr Alex. Robertson (Circle Hill), 13 at 83 3d ; for Mr John Finch (Milburn), 30 at 83 6d ; for Mr George Carson (Milburn), 16 at 9s.— The Farmers' Agency Company (Limited) penned 96 and sold : For Mr John Heads (Milburn), 32 at 9s ; for Mr James Freeman (Abbotsford), 32 at 7s 6d to 9s ; for Mr W. Jennings (Purakanui), 32 at 7s 6d.

Pigs.— 63 penned, consisting oi the various classes in about equal proportions. Buyers were present in very large numbers for half and fullgrown stores, and salesmen could without difficulty, have disposed of £00 or 300 such had they been forward. Parties laving this description of stock for sale would do well to take advantage of the present keen dematd by sendin? their consignments forward during the present month. Values ranged as follows :— Bacon pigs from 31s Gd to 475, extra heavy weights to 575, porkers 24s to 30s, stores 14s to 22s —Donald Reid and Co. yarded and sold for Mr Andrew Grieve (Crookston farm), 9 at 235. — The Farmers' Agency Company (Limited) sold 15 for Mr W. Pryde (Mataura) at 83 6d to 10s 6d. Store Cattle.— The demand continues without abatement, and auction sales held during the week have passed off satisfactorily. Full-grown well-bred bullocks, three-parts fat, have brought as high as £7, and ordinary three and four-year-olds sell readily at from £6 to £6 103 ; other classes in proportion. Store Sheep.— The business passing in this description of stock as yet is unimportant, sales being confined to a few lots of crossbred hoggets (both shorn and unshorn). The tendency of the market is distinctly in favour of buyers. — The Farmers' Agency Company (Limited) report having sold privately as follows : 1007 crossbred hoggets at Us, 107 do at ss, 352 do at 10s 6d, 140 crossbred wethers at 14s. Wool— The unsettled weather we have been experiencing during the last few weeks has greatly retarded shearing operations, and in consequence the quantity available for next week's sale is likely to fall considerably short of what was catalogued at the corresponding sale last year. Growers will be pleased to learn that buyers are to be present in unusually strong force this year, and they can rely upon excellent competition for their clips. With regard to values, there seems no reason to doubt that where the condition of the wool is as good as it v as last year, prices will be quite as high ; except, perhaps, in the case of 'finer halfbreds, which it is not improbable will rule rather lower, owing to the absence of the American demand. The American section of buyers is not likely to be an important factor in the colonial or London sales until the tariff in their country is settled one way or the other. We would remind sheepfarmers' generally that the catalogues for next week's sales will close on Monday evening next, and clips intended for the first series should reach the stores of the respective salesmen not later than that day.

Sheepskins. — Large catalogues were put forward at the sales on Tuesday, and prices for inferior skins were somewhat easier than of late, although well-saved crossbred 3 brought late quotations. A considerable number of lamb-skins and pelts are now coming into the market. These meet with good demand— pelts at from 4d to Is 4d, lambskins from 9d to Is 6d each. Quotations : Best green crossbreds, 5s 4d to 5s 9d ; medium to good, 4s 9d to 5s 2d ; others, 3s 6'd to 4s ; best, green merinos, 2a lid to 3s 8d ; green pelts, 8d to Is 4d ; best green lambskins, Is Id to Is 7d ; others, lOd to Is ; dry pelts, 4s to Is 3d ; country dry crossbreds, inferior to medium, Is 8d to 3s ; do merino, Is 6d to 2s 2d ; best f ull-woolled crossbreds, 4s 9d to 5s 9d ; extia heavy, 5s lOd to 6s ; medium quality, 3s Id to 4s ; f ull-woolled merinos, best, 3s 6d to 4s 4d ; medium to good, 2j 4d to 3s.

Hides.— Clean well-flayed heavy hides meet with a good demand, but inferior and light aw unsaleable, except at low rates. Quotations : For best heavy hides (601b and over, free from cuts), 2Jd to 3d ; medium, lid to 2}d ; light and inferior, Id to lid per lb. Tallow.— The demand for all descriptions is keen, all lots being readily purchased on arrival at current rates. Quotations : For best rendered mutton, 21s 6d to 22s 6d ; medium to good, 18s 6d to 20s 6d ; inferior to medium, 14s 6d to 17s (id. Rough fat — Best clean mutton caul, 14s to 14s 6d ; medium to good, 12s 6d to 13s 6d ; inferior, lls to 12s per cwt. Wheat. — There is almost no inquiry. Millers, who are the only purchasers of milling, being content with the limited quantities which are offered for absolute sale, and which under such circumstances they can buy at low values. At present there seems to be no prospect of better prices being obtained, for the millers here hold fairly large stocks which is apparently their intention to work off before purchasing extensively again. The ruling price for good medium wheat is 2s 8d per bushel — it being only an occasional parcel that fetches more. Quotations : Inferior descriptions, 2s 4d to 2s 5d ; prime milling, 2s 8d to 2s 9d ; inferior, 2s (id to 2s 7d (ex store, sacks in). Oats : Stocks are limited, but as shippers can get supplied at the Bluff at lower prices than here, the demand is chiefly for local consumption. Good heavy feed oats are worth Is lid, and in small parcels to outside buyers another penny is occationally obtained. Quotations: Milling, lslO^dto Is HJd ; discoloured, Is 9d to Is lOd (ex store, sacks extra). Barley : Nothing doing. Ryegrass. — The market is dead. Farmers have now purchased the bulk of what they will require this season, so that until the demand from the North Island sets in it is unlikely that business of any consequence will be done in seeds. Quotations (nominally) : Be&t dressed, in retail lots, 3s !)d to 4s ; choice, 4s 3d to 4o (id ; undres&ed, 2s Gd to 3s per bushel. Flax. — Market easier. Quotations: Good quality fibre, £11 ; medium, £12 to £13 per ton. ( \lhc individual reports of Wool, Rdhbitskin, cr Grain Brokers can be inserted, in the Daily Tkms mvi Otago Witness at Special Eatcs.] WOOL, GRAIN, AND SEED REPOIt'I. Messrs William E. Reynolds and Co., Stafford street, report for the week ending 13th December as follows :— Very changeable weather has been experienced this last week, causing considerable inconvenience.

to farmers both as regards shearing and farm work. Seeds. — These are having very little inquiry, but prices remain steady at our late quotations. Wheat.— This market is neither better nor worse, and still remains lifeless, consequently we can but repeat quotations, viz : Prime, 2s 8d to 2s 9d— extra prime, 2s lOd ; medium, up to 2s 7d ; fowl feed, up to 2s 7d. Oats.— There is very little to add as regards these, and prices remain the same as last week The demand is confined chiefly to local consumption, although a few small lines find their way to the wharves for shipment north. New season's oats are already in the Victorian markets, which will not tend to iniprove prices here. Any lines coming in from the Country are fairly easily placed, but in most cases at a trifle under quotations given. We quote : PVime milling and feed) from Is lid to Is 11 }d ; good heavy, Is lOd to Is lOJd ; medium, Is 9d to is 9jd. Uhaft". — This market is not very brisk, although buyers can be found for consignments coming to Hand at for prime 60s to 655, medium up to 555. Potatoes.— Dei-wents are not in demand, and £6 per ton is the outside pride ; kidneys (Peninsula) are worth £11 per ton. other districts up to £9 10s. Wool.— Advices to hand from London show a a very steady market there, although there is nothing to report as regards a rise. The New Zealand and Australian sales, so far, have been very spirited, and there is considerable competition displayed amongst the buyers, which is satisfactory to note. We would remind our clients that all wool for the first sale will need to be in by Monday at latest, to allow of its being catalogued and properly displayed by the 21st inst.