THE ADDINGTON MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2268, 19 August 1897, Page 26

THE ADDINGTON MARKET.

CIIRISTCHURCII, August IS. The wet weather, although extremely welcome to farmers and graziei'3, made matters very unpleasant at Additgfcoa to-day. The attendance

was limited to those whose business compelled them to be there. The yarjint;s in all classes were smaller than of late, and, except in fat sheep, busings was not of ,a very satisfactory nature for vendors.

About 120 head of fat cattle came to hand, including a nice line of bullocks from the North Island. The quality of the eutry all round was gooj, and a number of very nice light-weight steers and heifers were on offer. The 14 head of North Islanders were much knocked about and bruised by the passage, and brought from £5 10s to £7, averaging about £6 6s per head, whic'u must result in a loss. This being thecase, shipments from that quarter, which have been rather frequent lately, are hardly likely to continue. The sale throughout waa a dragging one, very little beef being wanted, and a further drop took place. Best beef realised 15g to 17s per 1001b, and second sorts 12s b'd to 14s. Prices per iwad : £4 5s to £7 for steers, £3 to £4 5s for heifers, £2 153 to £i 5s for cows. There were only a few second-class cows and springers, which met with poor demand, £6 being the top price for a nice cow. A medium yarding of fat sheep contained a ratlier smaller proportion of freezers tlfcin for the past week or two, and some very good butchers' lines. The sale opened at about Is per head above the previous week for all clas^eu, but before the close prices had gone back to abouL those ruling iv the previous week, for all but prime freezers, -which met with better competition, and remained firmer all through. Prices realised were : Prime freezers, 153 to 16. 6d ; medium, 13s 6d to 14s (>d ; butchers' best ewes, 12s to 14s ; medium do, iOs to 11s 6d ; inferior, Ss to 9s 6d ; merino wethers, 7s 6d to 9s 6d.

Pigs wore rather easier, the quality being scaicely so good as last week. Baconers brought SOs to 50i ; porkers, 18s to 27s 6d (averaging 3Jd per lb) ; and stores, 7s to 17s.