WEEKLY LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 39

WEEKLY LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT.

Tuesday, December 18. Store Cattle.— ln consequence of the late dry weather holders of these have been more inclined to quit, and increased business has been done during the past week. All offering found buyers at very satisfactory figures. Country Sales.— Stronach Bros, and Morris report having held a sale at the new yards, Waikouaiti, on Friday. 14th inst., when cattle were plentiful, and found buyers at satisfactory figures, although the late dry weather and shortage of grass had a teudency to lower priceß. They sold cattle for Mrs J. Falconer, Messrs J. Bradford, Wm. M'Bride, Geo. Fry, Antbony Bowling, John llandell, Wm. Maxwell, John Galbraith, iJenj. Bray, Jno. Ellison, and other vendors at prices ranging from 30s to £7 sa.— The Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited) report having held their usual sale of cattle, sheep, and ho'rsea at the Corporation yards, Waikouaiti, on Friday last, when there was a lai ge number of settlers, dealers, and others assembled, all apparently eager on business, and most of the cattle, which numbered 149 head, changed hands at fairly satisfactory pricvß We yarded 70 head, and sold as fellows : Vor Mr J t »hn Hallum, 13 steers and heifers at up to £J 2h od j Mr William Hicklar, 5 heifers at up to £4 10s; Mr William Hallum, 9 steers at £4 7s; Mr B. Bray. 19 steers at £2 14s ; Mr A. Park, 2 Ayrshire bulls, at a satisfactory price ; and Messrs Steven, Mercer, Clark, Diack, and others, 20 head at up to £5 128 6J. Sheep :We penned 600 croasbred sheep, nearly all hoggets ; but as the demand for this class of stock was anything but brisk, the bulk was turned out unsold. Horses :We offered a number of hacks md cart honee* but fow salea were effected*

Wool.— The outlook in the meantime is anything but satisfactory. At sales already held at Christchurch, Napier, and Timaru prices have been extremely low. As compared with those of last season a decline of as much as ljd per lb is shown in some wools. This means a very heavy loss to growers and all concerned, and proxpects cannot be considered as other than serious. Some 7000 bales will be offered in Dunedin on Thursday, 20th inst. There are numerous buy«rs in the market, both for local consumption and Home nianufficturors, so that the full equivalent of Loudou values is assured, but vendors nevertheless must be prepared to accept a considerable reduction on last season's values.

Sheepskins —There was only a moderate attendance of bujers at this week's salp, and prices ruling showed a considerable fall on those lately obtained. C.vtalogu>>s were fairly large, and included all detcriptions. Butchers' green, woolly skins are now almost a thing of the past, but country dry skins were plentiful, and excited most competition. Country dry crossbreds, inferior to medium, brought Is to 2s ; ditto mpvino, Is to Is 6d ; medium to good crossbreda, 2s to 3s 2d, extra heavy 3s 6J to 4s lOd ; good to beht rueriims, Is 8d to 2s lOd, extra heavy 3s to 3s 9d ; dry pwlts, 2d to Is 2d ; best green crossbreds, 4s to 4s 10d, muriium to good 3s to 3s lOd ; green merinos, 2s 3d to 3s 6d ; and lumbskins, 7d to Is 3d. Rabbitskins,— There were no auction pales this week. A.s supplies are falling off, sale 3 will now be held evsry alternate Monday.

Hides.— There is no change in the tone of this market. Inferior count) y hides are plentiful, and difficult to handle to the satisfaction of consignors. Butchers' best hides (well taken off) are in good demand and can be readily placed. Quotations : Inferior and damaged, |d to ljd ; medium quality, ljd to 2d ; heavy, well-flayed hideß. 2Jd to 3d per lb. Tallow and Fat.— The market is steady at late rates, and all conßignments find buyers at, for beat rendered mutton, 18s 6d to 20s ; medium to good, 15s 6d to 17b 6d ; inferior to medium, 12s 6d to 15a. Best mutton caul fat is worth 128 to 13s ; medium, 93 6d to 10s 6d per cwt. . Grain.— Oats : A good demand was experienced at auction this week. Stocks held by broker* are now small, and pricei are ruliig Jd to fd per bushel better than last quotations. Best bright milling is worth In 5d to Is 6d, uood feed 1« 4d to Is sd, inferior Is 3d to Is 3Jd. Wheat : There has been little done ia this line. Quotations remain unchanged. Prime velvet is most saleable at 2s 9d to 2s lOd, medium 2s 7d to 2s Bd, and fowl wheat finds ready buyers at from 2« 5d to 2s 6Jd. Medium milling is somewhat neglected. Potatoes are scarce, and consequently slightly advanced in price Best Derwents bring 35s to 40s, medium 30s to 32a 6d. Chaff.— There is a plentiful supply of medium quality, but best bright oaten is scarce and re&dily sold at from £2 7» 6d to £2 10s, medium £2 to £2 sb, inferior 30s to 37u Cd.

[The individual reports of Wool, Rabbitsfa'n, or Grain Brokers can be inserted in the Daily Timts and Olago Witness at special Hates.]