THE WOOL SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 15

THE WOOL SALES.

LOXDON, March 27. At the wool sales yesterdaj- a poor tion was offered. Prices were unchanged, j March 28. | The wool sales closed firm at clo&mg rates, and proved the highest of the series, Home and Continental buyers operating freely. Compared to the opening sales, best merinos and fine crossbreds were 10 per cent, higher, medium and faulty > merinos 5 per cent, higher, medium coar«e crossbreds unchanged, and lambs-wool par, to 5 per cent, lower. ' The total number of bales sold was: For the Home market, 101,000; for the Con- . tinent, 6300 ; and for America, 4000; while J 5700 were held over. j The sales included the following chp=.. — Kaputone, 7|d; Balruddery, 6|d. Messrs Dalgety and Co. have rec«ived the > following telegram from their head office, dated London, March 27:—"Wool sale^ closed firm, and lately reported rates are fully maintained. Prices for the bulk of meiino wools are on the average 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, higher than, closing rates ef last series; fine crossbred wools in good condition are on a par with closing rates of last series; faulty fine cro^bred and medium and coarse crossbred wools are 5 per cent to 8 per cent, lower. Total available (including eld stocks), colonial (Australasian and. Cape), 218,000 bales. Out of the net quantity available for sale some 94,000 bales havo been sold for home consumption, 62,000 bales for-th*-Continent, 4000 bales for America, leaving 58,000 bales to be carried fOlf 01 ward to the next series." The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have received the following cable from their London office:—"Wool: The sales closed firmly this day at an average advance of about 7i per cent, on last Pale's closing rates for merino and 5 per cent, for fine crossbred ; and at an average decline of about 5 per cent, for medium and coarse crossbred." NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE MAEKET. WELLINGTON, April 1. The Department of Agriculture has received the following from the Agent-general, dated •» March 30 —" Butter, 100s. There is a better demand for butter. Cheese, 475; the market

dull ; some holders are forcing sales. New Zealand hemp . Good m fair demand. "Wellington, £2i 10s, fair current Manila, £34. The hemp market is depressed. Owing to indifferent dehverie3 the market is dependent on , Manila reports. Cocksfoot seed, 171b stanj dfii-d, 325, market speculative. Mutton, dull; i Canterbury average, is<> , Dunedin, 4d ; NoTtb j Island, 35d. Australian, 3d, Bivex Plate, 3JcL Lamb, steady, Canteibury. s^d ; others, 51d; Australian, 4Jd. Beet Quiet; hinds, 3gd' fores, 3£d." ' DUNEDIN MARKETS. ■WHOLESALE PRODUCE REPORTS. Mr J. Fleming, Princes street south, report underrate the 2nd iust. :— Wheat -per bushel. per ton Best milliti-j 2/S Barley dust ... 70/O Medium no 2/3 to 2/1 Oaten hay 61 f Fo % vlV ...1/11-2/2 Oatmeal, in 25', 190W Milling oats l/0-]/6'J o»sen chaff 47/6—65/0 'Feed oats 1/3-1/4 %jgr*ss bay . . . 60/O | Malt barley 3/0-3/3 Straw . ... ... 30/0 I Iced barley 1/9-2/0 PfcugWfcy ... 220/0 Cape bailey ... 2^6 | Qtffifa '■ 7A per cwt ■ Mai *c -3/0 ' per lb. I .per ton. Rolled bacon ... 6W I'lour, in£oo's ... J3O/0 Side bacon 7d i Jlour. in 50's ...340/0 Smoked hams .".' 7W Pollard 75/0 Cheese .. sjd Braa — fc'O^B-j Goo* salt batter, 6dio 1 Bd, according to quality rotates plentiful. Bast Detwer.ts, £3 pel tnT, ; Southern Dtrwents, £2 7s 6d ; Kidneys, £2 per ton. )AlUr AND DAIRY PRODUCE Messrs Irvine and Stevenson, Georsa street, report paying for produce during the week ending the 2ml inbt. as follows :— Bacon (roll), fi} dp. lb F.esh butter, 8d and Ham, 7-id j<. lb iod per lb tresh eggs ]s2d dez Salt butter, Sd Fredh butter, good ordinary' (in lib and lib pi.nt=o,7dto B<iperlb. Pigs, '] 201b to 1601b, .Hd lerJb. Frwls,2s9Uto3spair. Ducks, 3s to 5s pair, Gi.ese, 4s to 6s. Turkeys, 4Jd per lb. NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE MAHKET. NAPIER, March 28. Messrs Nelson Bros, have received the following- cable from London — " There has been a further fall m the frozen meat market. Quotations are as follow Best Canterbury, 4?d; Napier, North Island, 3Jd; lamb, first quality old , second, s*d. ' RAM FAIR. ile<jfirs "Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report as fo'lows — The entries this year were much smaller than usual, due chiefly to the fact that most of the leading breeders in Otago had sold their annual drafts earlier m the season. The North Island has always been a good market for^ longwool rams from these parts, but hitherto the demand has been mainly for sheep of the Lincoln breed. This year northern pastorahsts have turned their attention more to rams of the Leicester and Romney Marsh, breeds, and consequently a good many of the rams usually offered at the fair here have been, disposed of privately for North Island orders. Cors.dering the smallness of the entry to-day (Thin sdnyV— only 251 rams all told were penned, and these of the Border Leicester and Romney Marsh breeds — the demand was disappointing 1 , and prices, although fair, not up to vendors' expectations With one exception, however, our whnlo citaloguo was cleared, 48 sheep only r^main-nsf un=o!.-l at the conclusion of the sale. Our entrirs ir> Eorc>r Lejcesters included firstclf»3 flock wins bred by the New Zealand and Australian Lmd Company (Clydevale Estate), Messrs Murray, Roberts, 'and Co. (Gladb-ook Estate), Mr James Gow Mr J B. Blair (Abbott-ford Farm), and Messrs J. and J. Miller (Braemore' 1 . The rams from these flocks brought f'or>i 3'g« to 4c;s, and s couple of selected =V<?p reaped 6gs apiece One hundred and thirty -b " Bolder Leicester rams were sold. The Rrnanov Mivs 1 ] sheet) offered were from thp fiot'f of Mes'.r-. J. and J Miller (Braemore), and Mi Wilh?m Groy (Milburn). We sold 61 crno pnd two-shear sheep of the breed at from 2£gs to 3gs each. SALE OF .SHEEP AT MFADOWBANK, PALMERSTON. Messrs "Wu^ht, Stephenson, and Co. repori R8 follows — On account of Mr David Ross, w» held a clearing sale of sheep on Friday at his Meadowbank Farm. There was a good attendance at the sale, but the bidding lacked animation, and although most of the stock offered changed hands, prices obtained were decidedly in favom of the purchasers. Border Leicester ewes sold at from lg to ljg; four-year-old tU3°ocVfed half bred and crossbred ewes, 13s 4d , full-mouthed crossbred ewes, 12s 6d ; fat crossbred wethers, 16a; fat crossbred ewes r ery prime and heavy), 16s; fat lambs, 13s, two-tooth Border Leicester Tarns, fiom 2gs to 7 l ,gs, aged Leicestei rams, from lg to 4gs. ! GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. (L-inifed) report having held their weekly sale of gram and produce on Mondaya, when prices ruled as folJows — Oats. — There is a limited demand both for milling ajid feed oats, and in view of the quantity of new oats offering values have receded slightly. We quote- Prime milling. Is 5d to Is 5Jd; good to best feed, Is 4d to Is 4id ; inferior and medium, Is to Is 3d per bushel (sacks extra). » W.heat. — Prime milling samples are in fair demand, and meet with ready sale. Most of the new wheat offering from the south is only

fair quality and is difficult to place. We quote : (Prime milling, 2s 6d to 2s 7d ; medium to good, 2s 3d to 2s sd; whole fowl wheat, 2a to 25.2 d; broken and damaged, Is 8d to Is lid per bushel ] '(sacks in). . , „ , \ Potatoes.— The market continues srteaay at •tbout last week's prices. We quote : Best Derwents, £2 17s 6d to £3 2s 6d ; choice, to £3 ss , medium Derwents and other sorts, £2 7s 6d to £2 15s per ton {sacks m). I Chaff— Prime oaten sheaf is not over plentiful, and is readily quitted at late values. Medium and inferior are :;ot in request Wre quote- Best oaten sheaf, £2 7s 6d to £2 12s 6d; medium to good, £2 to £2 ss ; inferior, £1 10s to tfl 15s per ton (bags extra). 1 Messrs Dalgety and Co. (Limited) report having held their usual weekly auction sale on Monday There was a fair attendance. Bidding ■waa not brisk, aild prices ruled »s under : — i Oats —The market during the last week has dropped about Id per bushel owing to the new cro Js being offered more freely Prime milling and bright iced softs have a fair demand at quotations, W irt other sorts there is little inquiry. We quote: Prime- milling, Is 5d to •Is 5Jd ; good to best -feed, Is BJd to Is 4*d; medium and inferior, Is to Is 2d (bags extra) i Wheat —The market is shg-itly easier, as the new grain is coming on the market more freely, and the demand is purely focal. We quote : ■Prime northern velvet and Tuscan, 2s 6d to 2s ,-fd; prime southern do, 2s 5d to 2s 6d ; mediujn ko 2b 2d to 2s 4d; fowl feed, 2s to 2s Id; -broken and damaged, Is 9d to Is lid (bags in). i\ Potatoes.— 3upplie.s.are equal to the demand, and prices are tnuch the same as last week. Prime Derwfents; JE2 lss to £3 Ss ; prime kidneys, £2 5s to SS. 129 Cd (bags in). , Chaff.— Prim? e^teo sheaf is m good demand, r«nd meete with ready-sele from £2 7s 6d to £2 123 6d but medium and inferior quality is very Blentiful'and hard to sell from £2 to £2 ss; Verier, £1 10s to £1 15s (bag 3 extra). ' Messrs A. Moritzson and Co. report having 'field their usual weekly sale of gram and produce on Monday morning, when prices ruled pis fllows: — n , , , Oai,s —There is a fair demand for good bright camples, but other sorts are very hard to place. We sold best feed at Is 4|d; medmm and inferior, Is Id to Is 4d; milling, Is 5d to Is o 2 d ,per bushel (sacks cxtrs). Wheat —There is a steady sale for prime qualities from 2s 6d io 2s 7d;- medium and m'iforicr 2s 3d to 2s sd , fowl feed, 2s to 2s Id Ifor'best (teims, sacks in, less 2* per cent.). Potatoes.— Best Derwents biought from ±2 -15s to £Z per ton. 1 Chaff —Only prime quality was wanted, and 'which brought £2 10s- medium and interior 1 torts are very hard to place from £1 10s to £2 ■Es per ton. 'ANNUAL SALE OF SURPLUS STOCK AT CLIFTON ESTATE. ' Messrs Stronach Bros, and Morris (in conjunction with Messrs Wilson, Mackay and Co ) lenort having held this sale on Tuesday, 26th inst at the homestead yards on the property. Good harvest weather caused the absence of gome of the local farmers, who have always been buyers of anything from this well-bred flock. The attendance, however, was a. fairly representative one, and competition, although somewhat disappointing for prime wethers of freezing or (butchers' quality, was exceedingly good for all lines of breeding ewes, lambs, etc. Six tnemBand two hundred and forty-six were submitted, and all cleared at auction. Fat wethers made 17a and 16s 6d, fat ewes. 15s; store }*™>*>»* to 6s for culls ; four-tooth ewes, 16s Id to 15s 3d- two-tooth ewes, 14s 7d to 14s; full-mouth «wes, 14s 2d, 14s Id, 14s, 13a 9d, 13s 7d. and 12s ; -two-tooth wethers, 13s 2d ,to 12s 3d; soundmouth merino ewes, 9s 3d to 9s. CLEARING SALE. Messrs Mathe=on, Pram, and Co. report — We held a clearing sale near Green Is.and on Thursday on behalf of the executor in the estate of the late James Kirkland. The weather was beautiful, and the attendance a large one. The cows generally proving rather far from profit did not realise extreme rates, but the few in profit or close thereto came in for keen competition, and sold well. The horses were 'oust out of work, and not made up for sal», ibut the competition was fairly keen, and prices all round were really good. One unbroken Blly by Shamrock realised £23. The crop was (keenly competed for, and sold at full value. -Harness, implements, and geneial sundries '■were eagerly taken at full rates. Draught horses, £15 to £34; light hoTses, £8 10s to £23; cows, £5 to £7; others, to £i 15s. HIDES, FAT, AND TALLOW. Messrs Matheson, Pram, and Co. report- — ■ ■{We held our usual auction sale of the above at our stores on Friday laet. The catalogue was a small one. and bidding was in sympathy with the general decline in prices. Following •are quotatiops : — Ox hides, 3Jd to 4d: cow hides, 3d to 31d; calfskins, Is 3d to 2s; tallow, J sl2bs 12b io 16s ; extra quality, in casks and ntf for •shipment, up to 20s; rought fat, 10s to 12s; extra, to 13s. OAMARU- MARKET REPORT. r A. Moritzson and Co., Tyne street, report for • the week ending April 3: — Wheat.— Market for this remains as when last quoted— viz., Tuscan 2s 3d, velvet 2s 2Jd. > Oats.— Market lifeless, and in the absence of demand quotations arc nominal. Milling Is 4Sd, Danish and duns Is 3d to Is Sid. o Barley.— Bright samples meeting with ready Bale at 2s 4d, but discoloured line have very little attention at from Is lOd to 2s. Potatoss.—Supphes still in excess oi demand,

and Derwents for immediate delivery ar^ only ■worth 45s at country sidings (sacks in). The above quotations ar» all delivered at store, Oamaru; sacks extra, except where otherwise mentioned. DUN3DIN HORSE SALEYARDS. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report as follows. — There wad a very poor selection of horses for Saturday's sale. A few useful draughts were sold at from £27 to £37, some half dozen strong, light harness horses at from j£lS to £22, and a number of very " weedy " hacks and harness Tiorses at from d£4 to £7. Superior young draught geldings are wanted, and could be sold readily at quotations. We have buyers also fcr well-matched carriage pairs, also good hacks and harness horses, i Strong harness horses for grocers' carts and the like are much in demand. Having these classes of horses for sale would give Dunedin a good market at the present time. We quote: I Superior young draught geldings, £45 to £50 ; extra, good, prize horsas, £52 to JE6O ; medium draught mares and geldings, £30 to £38; aged do, £22 to £28; upstanding carriage horses, £25 to £30; well-matched carriage pairs, £60 to £80; strong spring- van horses, -£25 to £30; I milk-cart and butchers' order-cart horses, £18 i to £22; tram horses, £12 to £16; light hacks, \£B to £10 ; extra good hacks, £20 to £30 ; weedy and aged hacks and harness horses, £2 to £6. SALE OF FARMS ON WAIRUNA ESTATE. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) report having sold the remaining portions of Messrs Brown and i Rattray's Wairuna estateon Thursday last, 28th ult., at Winton, this being done to close partnership accounts of the old firm. The estate has from time to time been offered -to the farming ; public at auction, and at present, a large populai tion ia settled upon what was part or parts of the old Wairuna estate. Not long ago a large portion of it, including the home ( station, was bought by one of the partners (Mr Alexander Brown), and is now under the management of his son, Mr Walter Brown. The farms disposed of last Friday comprised about 1460 acres, and were all disposed of under the hamj mer at prices varying from £2 6si per acre to i 235, the latter price having been paid for one rather rough and stony section. PROPERTY SALES. Messrs James Samson and Co. on Saturday morning sold by auction, under instructions from the Public Trustee, es administrator of the estate of the late Robert Barnes, a property in Clarendon street (near Frederick street), section 43, block XXVI, with the four-roomed cottage thereon. The purchaser was Mrs M. A. Russell, at the price of £330. There was a good attendnace of buyers, and the bidding, which started at £200, was spirited. Messrs Park, Reynolds, and Co. sold by auction on Monday morning, under mortgagee's power of sale, allotment 1 of allotment 74 of the twonship of Selwyn (North-East Valley). The property contaiHs about 18 poles, and has erected upon it a brick house. The bidding started at £50, but rose by two bids to £150, and continued to rise till £250 was reached, when it fell to the bid cf Mr J. Osborne, as agent. There was a good attendance of would-be purchasers. THE LABOUR MARKET. John Skene and Son report under date April 2 as follows: — During the past few days we have been very busy engaging trappers and poisoners. The war of extermination of bunny (having started, experienced hands are readily ! (placed. Ploughmen are also being freely sought J for — that is, good, practical horsemen. Milkers are easily placed, and at good money. The market all round is excellent. We quote the following scale of wages: — Poisoners, 2d per skin ; others, from 17s 6d to 30s ; trappers, current rates ; ploughmen, 21s to 22s 6d , others (yearly), £60; milkers, 17s 6d to 22s 6d , hotel hands, 15s to 20s, grooms and gardeners, 20s; lads, 12s 6d to 15s, etc.