AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 23

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

MELBOURNE, August 24. I At the hide sales competition was very j keen, and all catalogues were cleared at late rates. The tallow market is uiiaterecl. SYDNEY, August 25. The reduced consumption of onions and potatoes is causing a slight easing of prices. There is a strong advance in maize owing to the srnallness of stocks. Sales have taken plac9 at 3s lid ; holders want- 4s. DUNEDIN 'MARKETS. •WHOLESALE PRODUCE REPORTS Mr J. Fleming;, Princes street south, reports under date the 29th inst. : — Wheat Her busael. per ton Best milling 3/-3/1 Barley dust ...105/0 Medium do 2/11 Oatmeal, iv 25's 200/0 Fowls' ... 2/7—2/9 Oaten chaff 59/— 65/0 Milling oats 1/10 Ryegrass hay 55/0-60/0 Feed oats 1/H-l/Si Straw 30,0 Malt barley 3/6-4/0 Pearl barley .. 2GO/0 Feed barley ... 2/6 Onions 18/0 cwt. Cape barley 3/3-3/6 per lb. Maize... 3/9-4/0 Rolled bacon ... 71} per ton. Side bacon ... 7.V« Flour, in 200' s ...180/0 Smoked hams ... 8-id Flour, in 508 ...195/0 Cheese ... sd— s£d Pollard 90/0 Good salt butter, BJto Bran 75/0 9d. according to quality Sound potatoes are selling at £10 5< to £10 12s Gd , per ton, according to quality. " Market bare of ; potatoes of all kln<is. 1 FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs Irvine and Stevenson, George street, report paying for produce during the weekending the 29th inst. as follows :— Bacon (roll), 7Jd per lb Fresh butter, 8d to Ham, 7§d per lb 10Jd per lb Fresh eggs, 9d dcz Salt butter ; not buying Fresh butter, good ordinary (in lib and £]>> prints). 6d to 8d per lb. Pigs (1301b to 1601b), 3Jd per lb THE MEAT MARKET. I NAPIER, August 24. j The C.C. and D. Company cable from London that in frozen meat the demand for lamb is weak, and values have declined oneeighth. Quotations: Canterbury mutton, 4Jd; Napier, "Wellington, and North Island, 3gd. Lamb: First quality, 51d; second, scl. Beef: Hinds, 3gd; fores, 2Jd. THE POTATO MARKET. Yesterday's Oaniaru Mail says: — "It is rej ported in towiij on apparentlj good and

reliable authority, that a first shipment oi ' | American potatoes is advised to arrive in *. Auckland by the incoming San Francisco mail steamer, due to-day. And, if this is true — and we believe it is— doubtless the statement is also correct that regular ini/portations will follow during the next nine or 12 weeks. At pres-ent prices in New Zealand there will certainly be a margin for the importers, one would think. One firm., interviewed by a. representative oi the Mail Ilris afternoon, he!d that even 500 tons of American potatoes coming on the colonial market now would not affect prices, and that Aft figuro per ton next week -would' touch £11 10s ff.o.b.) But we ourselves know of another sale to Auckland by a local firmmade to-day at £12 (f.0.b.). T<he vendors affirm at the same time that there is not the slightest truth in the report that potatoes are coming from San Francisco. Only the ai-riva! of the tubers can settle that question finally, and the other debatable pomt — namely, how importations from California would affect the local market, must also be left to time, as Ihere .seems sucli a divergence of opinion. In 1889, it will be remembered, San Francisco potatoes were imported iuto *2few Zealand', but did not take very well, not' being suited , to local' requirements." i , THE CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS. CHRISTCHfIRCH, August 25. There is a. fair quantity of wheat offering locally, but buyers are liot keen to purchase. > Millers are merely buying to keep up stocks, t and the only shipping lots changing hands are in< cases where prices are well within ! quotations. The- only sale of any consequence reported is of 2000 bushels of Hunters and , Tuscan at 2s 6d, at a country station, tb.2 , wheat being somewhat sprouted, but fit for ' shipping. ] Oats are inquired for, but none are offering. Chaff is easier, and 50s is all that is offered for prime quality. Growers of potatoes are now holding firmly, and little business is doing at the prices askod. Derwenta are nominally £9 per ton, at. country stations OAMARU PRODUCE AXD STOCK MARKET. (Fscii Our Own Coheesfoneext.) j „ OAMARTJ, August, 27. The wheat market has been quiet this week. A few sales have bqen effected at prices that mark a slightly easiei market than a* wesk ago. Velvet has been quitted at 2s 10£ dto 2s lid, and Tuscan at 2s lOid to 2s Hid and , 3s, ami red chaff at 2s lOd'to 2s lid, all less i commission. One parcel of Tuscan and velvet i to the amount of nearly 1000 sacks was piur1 chased at 2s 9Jd aiefc at a South Canterbury , siding. Holders are not much inclined to 1 accept, th«sa rates, and on tha other hand I millers are not operating to any appreciable extent. Offerings cf pats have dropped off till they aie now at a minimum, and there is a. feeling that supplies are almost exhausted. Gartons have boen sold at up to Is B|d (less commission), and Danish at up to Is 7Jd. Thero is not much alteration in the value 3 of potatoes, though ths current quotation has advanced to £10 net at sidings. Sales for shipmentihave been made at £10 (f.o-.b.J, and offers 1 at JftO 103 have generally not resulted in business. At thesa prices stocks are firmly held, aoid the offerings are a long way short- of lequiromcnls. i Eggs, sa. The principal interest about stock is the high price of breeding ewes. These are selling at 25s to 30s, according to age and quality, and at these prices thjsa-e is a firm market. A lino was sold at a clearing sale this> week of four, six, and eight-tooth crossbred ewes 2 at 28s 3d, while 51, with lambs at foot, brought- 283. For ' good three-quarterbred hoggets (mixed sexes) ISs is the current rate, and for fat freezing , wethers, of 551b to 601b, 225. There is a fair i inqtiiry for good soits of tiv-o and a-lia.if to I three year-old bullocks, forward for graziers to ; finish, at £3 to £G. Prime steer beef is worth. 23s per 1001b, and heifer and cow beaf uj> to 20s. For dahy cows there is a fair demand at up to £7 10s for young cows just at profit, bui. for 12 to 18-month cattle there 1 is no inquiry at all. > Horses axe still good property, and tip to £54 was obtained for good geldings at th« hammer this week. GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. Mc'ssra Donald Reid and Co. report: — Wo held our weekly auction sale of grain and produce at our stores on Monday. Feed oats, fowl wheat, potatoes, and chaff niet with goDd competition at price 3 fully equal to late Quotations. Yaliies ruled as unclei' : — Oats. — The quantity on offer is exceptionally small for this season of the year, and all consigj?ments coming forward are readily taken, either locally or for expoit. Seed lines have more attention, and prime milling sorts are also in good demand. We quota: Special seed linos 2s to '2s 3d ; seed sparrowbills, Gartons, etc., Is lOd to 2s; prime milling, I Is Bia lo Is 9d; good to best feed,, Is 7icl to Is 8d ; inferior to* medium, Is 5d lo Is 7d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat. — Last week was quiet, with a slight slackening in inquiry. Sales of milling lines are confined chiefly \o a few choice samples There is practically no inferior wheat offering, and orders for fowl wheat arc being supplied with lower grades of milling quality. We qnoie. Piimo milling, 3s Id to 3s 2d ; good do, 3s; fowl wheat. 2s lOd to 2s

\ UJd; broken and-daniaged, 2s 6cT to 2s 9d pei' ] W.fcel (sacks extra). Us«Uy. — L/oeal stocks are not heavy, buf at this season maltsters' requirements ara small, sukl lines on offer move off slowly at lata values. Milling and feed lines are inquired for, but at uechieect prices. We quote: Choice malting, 3a 9,3 to 4s ; prime do, 3s 3d. to 3s Cd: medium to goo d. --2s Sd to 3s 2d; milling-, 2s 4d to 2s 7fl Pota.lces.— Despite the a«i V al of fair quantities dining tliu past week, are well lraiufcained, and all sorts ill gooti conditionare suro of satisfactory sale on a. rival. "We quote : Best-conditioned sorts, £10 15s \ Q £H ; medium to gocd, £10 to £"10 10s per ton (sacks in). Chaff. — There is some inquiry for" shipmeiit, but mostly at prices that do not tempt local holders. Locally there is good demand for prims to choice samples, but lower grades are not in favour. We quote : Choice line*?, £3 7s 6d to £3 103 ; prime eaten sheaf, £3 2s (id to £3 7s 6d; medium to good, jDSS 15s to £3; light and discoloured, £2 3s to £2 103 per ton (bags extra). Straw. — Oaten straw is scarce, aiid in fair demand at' 355; wheaten, 30s per ton (pressed). Turnips. — We quote: Best swedes, 11s per ton (loose-, ex truck). Hay — The, ma.rket is fully supplied 1 , and test qtva.lity moves off slowly " at £2 15s to £3; medium, £2 sst to £2 10s per ton. Messrs Dalgety and Co. report as follows : — • "Wo held our weekly sale cf grain and produce at cur stores on Mondaj', when we offered a medium-sized " catalogue to a gootl attendance of buyers. There was good competition for most- of the lines on ofi'er. Oats — Tba market is firm, but farmers are not inclined io accept prices ruling. Consignments of B grade spaxrowbills and Gartens arriving during the past week are readily disposed of for shipment at quota.tiens. We quote : Speoia^seed, 2s to 2s 3d ; gcod seed, Is lOd to 2s ; " prime milling, la Bid to Is 9d; good to best feed, Is 7Jd to la B£d; medium to inferior, Is 5Jd to Is 6Jd per bushel (sacks extra). "Wheat. — There is little change to leporft in the state of the inaxkrf. Millers are not operating, and few sales are being made all quotations : We quote : Seed lines, 3s 3d to 33 6d ; prime milling, 3s Id to 3s 2d ; good io medium, 2s lid to 3s; best whole fowl feed, 2s lOd to 2s lid; broken and damaged, 2s o<l to 2s 8d per Lushel (sacks extra). Potatr>C3. — There is still a good inquiry, and any lots arriving are easily disposed of at quotations, which show an advance on lasfc week's rates. Wie have a good inquiry for truo seed sample cf British Queen and Button's Abundance. We quote: Best Derwenta and Up-to-dates, £W to £11. Chuft'. — Supplies are coming forwa.il steadily, good bright chaff finding a ready sale. Medium and inferior lines aro harder to quit at quotations. We quote: Best oaten, £3 5s to £3 10s; medium to good, £2 153 to £3 per ton (bags extra). Turnips.— The market has not been so well supplied during the past week. We qiiota 11s per ton (loose, ex truck). Straw. — This is in fair demand. We quote** Oaten, 32s 6d to- 355 ; whe-aten, to 32s 6d HIDE SALES. I Tlio K-atioiiail Mortgage and Agency CV.ozpany of ICew Zealand 1 (Limited) report as &«!.• lows: — We hel.l our usual fortnightly *«Ii of hides at our stores, Cumbctlaud street". o» Thursday, 24th inst. There vr-3 a goo 3 attendance of buyers, and coinpctthun wsiS very brisk througho-at the £;»!e. J'ricfs for heav3--weights arscl medium etosenptto-nsr ru»S above the scone as at last sa'«, but ligat-weight-s were decidedly firmer, bunging rvi advance of quite Jd per Ib. Our cala-icgts* v:as mado tip mostly of country consignments, the bulk of which werei medium ai_d idght* weight?. Quotations: Extra pride stou^ heavy ox. s^l to 6jjd; good heavy, 6d to J>jd, niediunb, Aid to 4,? d; inferior, 2Jd to SJ'.i ; prim<3 heavy co,v hides.. 4|d to Sid; mediuu-^ <Jd to 4Jd;" light. 41d to sd; inferior, 3d io 3id per lb; yearlings. 4s 6d to 73 6d; cwfskins, Is 6d to 3s 6d each. The New Zealand Loan and tile Agency Co. (Limited) report : We held our fortnightly sale of hides at. the Otago Wecl Mid Grain Sforss, Lower Rattray street, on Thursday before a full attendance of buyers. Competition was very spirited, and prices ali rovicd showsd an upward tendency. Our catalogue was ib,ade up of ordinary mediumweights, none being extra heavy, but all being well drained and in good saleable order. We sold as under: — Two 84lb ox hides, 63d; thre-3 72ib, Ggd; four 671b, 6gd; one 6Slb, 6"id. Medium ox from d^d t° 52d; light ox, 5d to »id ; heavy ccw, od to s|d ; light cow, 4£d, to sid per lb; yearlings, 5s to 8s; calfskins, Is 6d to 2s 6ct each. Messrs Donald Eeid and Co. (Limited) report as follows:— We held our fortnightly sale on Thursday, when we offeTed a largo catalogue of hides to a very representative gathering of lbuyei-s. Buyers for export wero rgain in evidence, and we aro pleased to h» able to report a very keen demand at prices ■which show an a!l-roiui<l advauce of to The Imperial Brass Spray Pcmp: With, Stream and Fine Spray Nozzle.— Made cy, American noted manufacturers. Are obtain* able from Tsimmo and Blair, Dunedin. Frst** , growers! and Orchardists should uss ihem

ia per lb. All classes .were in request, and. Hie result was the' sate -was 'on© of the I»esi, fceld for months. Although our catalogue, taken as a whote/' was. a good one, and included: a number of wel-fiayed, clean hides, Very few were oflgood substance. Most of fho tieavy-weights were taken, by local tanners, ■while all the light-weights were secured t>y cipoxtsrs'. Our top prioe-for ox hides waa 6£d pea-'lb, 'and for cow sd. We quote: Stout heavy ox,-6d to 6|d; good, 5d to s|d; ■naaium 4*3 to -4ga ; , light, 4gd to Sd; best icow 4|d to sd; medium, 4d to 4Jd; light, ■«a <o 5d per lb; yearlings, 3s 6d t« 8s 6ds calfskins, la 6d to 3a each. j " Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. re*K>rt;'—W« held our usual fortnightly sale at our- Maclaggon street stores, when there was a full muster of buyers. Our catalogue \ totalled 363 hides, comprised of 226 ox, 108 cow, 5" yearling." and 34 calfskins. Among j the offerings were some lines of special merit. ; For a-Dunedin butcher we offered! an 85lb ox bide, which realised f?d per lb The same Vendor secured-"7|d for imother weighing 951b,•nd 7Jd pear 3 b each for one of 761b and Another of 691b These, hides were un- . doubtedly the best that we have had for some considerable time., the substance, flaying, and conditfon" leaving JDothisg ta be desired. Ascompared with late sales prices advanced on best conditioned heavy" ox |d "to Id per tb, " occasionally more; poorer conditioned heavy 1 ox, "id per.lb; light and medium ox, M to 'gd per-Jbpon all classes of good conditioned, cow hides, id to £d pen: lb. The following are ■oma-of'the-highest prices. obtained by, us: — Cte:- On© 85lfc, 83. per lb, equal to 54s per hide;, one 951b, 7fd. «7s lOd; one 761b, 7Jd p«r lb. 455; one 691b, "7Jd per !b, 40s 8d; two 8l!b, 7£d per lb, 46s 6S; two 741b, 7Jd par lb, 42s 4d; two 721b,-7id per lb, 41s Id; 11 711b, 7d per 1b.,- 39s Id; four 711b, 61d, 38s 3d; seven C7lb, 6^d per lb-, 36s 2d-, ten 711b, B'd per lb, '37s 7d; on© 941b, 6gd per lb, 19s 8d; one 721b, fiid per lb, 37s 6d; 11 661b, r Bid pee lb. 34s 3d; three 641b, 6|d per lb, B3s Id; two 68ib, 6^d per lb, 34s Sd; three 651b", 6|d pec lb, 33s Id; one 63lib, 6Jd per lb, 82s. Cows: One 86lb, sid per lb, 35s lOd; one 631b, s|d~per lb, 25s 2d; one 591b, 51d .pci lb, 23s 6d; five 551b, s|d per lb, 21s 9d; six 511b, 'sia per lb, 20s Id; one 561b, 5d per lb, 21s Sd; three 641b, 4|d par lb, 23s 9d. In medium-weight cow Mdea, 501b to 561b, 21 .:ttoilisod 51d per lb, and in the same cla.ss 11 sold at 5d per lb. In light cows' one 421b, Bid -per lb; three 461b, sid; 22 361b to 471b, S|d per lb. We quote: Extra heavy stout -ox, 6|d to 7|d. and up to-8d; heavy ox, 6d to 6|d; heavy ox (sheety), sid to sld; medium «x,"sd to sid; light ox, 5d to s£d; heavy cow, 4fd to s*d; mediura cow, 4fd to 51d; light cow, sid lo s|d; yearlings, sd; bulls and stags, 2gd to 3d pe-T lb; calfskins, 2s to 4s 6d each. .Messrs Stronaeh, Morris, and Co. report as follows: — Wie held our fortnightly sale of tiidfes " at our stores, 'Crawford street, on Thursday, ' 24th inst., when w« submitted » catalogue totalling 283. There was a larger attendance of buyers than usual, said competition was keener than ws have seen it for some months. In consequence we had a most KUcoessfull sale, all forward being cleared a>t extreme rates. Light hides were higher by |d-j>ea.' lb; medium by -Jd to Id; and heavy Stout hides by id. Our top price for ox hides > was 6|d, at which figure we sold two lin*s weighing S4Db and 741b. We also obtained the following very good prices: — 6Jd for two Jines of 791b and 681b; 6fd for four lines nveragiii' 88lb, 751b, 70ib, and 701b; &\d for two lines averaging 821b and 641b; 6d for two

lines averaging 85lb and 631b; 51d, 51<3, s§d, end s£d was paid for eight lots from Glib to 741b. In cow hidtes we sold 10 lots of both light and hieavy" hides at 5Jd, and 5Jd •was paid for 14 lines of light, medium., and heavy-weights. In money value our top price for ox was £2 ss, and for cow £1 9s 6d. Tbe fallowing are actual prices paid at our sale: — Prime stout heavy-weight ox hides, s|d to 6|d; good heavy- wciigkt do, 5d to sfd; raedram-wedght do, 4|d to 51d; light-weight do, 4Jd to 5Jd: staggy and inferior do, 2ld to 4d; prime* heavy cow hides, 4fd to s|d; medium-weight do, lAd to s§cl; light-weight do 4fd to s^d; inferior do, 3fd to 4Jd per lb; ■yearlings l 4s to 7s; calfskins, la to 2s lOd each.

Messrs"- Waters, Ritchie, and Co. report having held their usual fortnightly sale of hides ax their stores, Crawford street, on Thursday afternoon. There was a large attendance of buyers, and cocmpcitition was particularly keen, principally owing to the operations of a new buyer. Prices, as compared with the previous sale, showed aa advance of |d to l^d per lb all round. Our cataloging consisted of 171 hides and calfskins, and of this number -we solid .130 from 5<J to 6Jd per lb. The following- are some of our best returns: — Two ox, 40s 4d; 1 do, 89s 3d; 2 do, 3Es; 2 do, 37s 4d; 2 do, 365; 2 do, 345; 13 from 285. 6 dto 33©. We quote: Prime stout ox,' 6k& to 7Sd; heavy, 5Ad to 6|d; meaium, 4ld to 5Jd; light, ss& to 5Jd; heavy and medium- cows, 4|d to 51d; light, SJ& to 5Jd; yearlings, 4£d to 4|d pet lb; calfskins, 2s to 3s 9d each.

Messr3 A. Moritzsan and Co. report as follows: — Wo "held our fortnightly ■sale of hides at our stores, Cumberland and Crawford streets, on Thursday, when we offered a catalogue of 221 hides and calfskins. There was a large number oi buyers in attendance, and competition waa spirited for all classes. As there- was a new buyer operating, prices for n.edium and heavy-weights advanced Id per lb, and light ox and cow showed a rise of from to |d, whilst large yearlings were from 2s to 3s dearer. Cal/skins also showed an improvement. We had only a moderate selection to offer in ox hides, and) our top prices for heavy ox were as follows: — Two ox averaging 70lb, 6Jd; three do 661b, 6£d, 10 do 701b, 6Jd; 15 do 58lb, 51d; 10 do 631b, sgd; seven do t>olb, sgd; six 561b, 5Jd:. In tight liides we frlcl at iho following prices: — • Three ox 471b, sid; S do 461b, s£d; three do 371b, 5Jd; eight do. 40lb, 5Jd. We quote: Extra piime ox (stout), 6§d to 7d; extra heavy do (good), 52d to 6|d; medium do, 5d to\sJd; light ox and cow, 5d to sid per lb; yearlings (large;, 7s 9d to 9s; small, 6a 6d to 7s 6d; calfskins (good), 2s 6d to Ss Sd; inferior, Is '9d to 2s 4d ; horse hides, 7s 6d to 9s each.

Messrs Dalgety and Co. (Limit eel) report having held their usual fortnightly sale of hides at their stores on Thursday, 24th inst., when they offered a medium-sized catalogue to a good attendance of hugnsrs. Competition was exceedingly biisk for all descriptions of scmncl and well-conditioned hides. Prices, as compared -with tlios-e ruling at last sale', were slightly better. Light ox and' ccrw liidies were eagerly compated for, and for several iiuei of " exU'a prims ox we obtained from 3d to 6£d. For cow _ides we realised up to sd. Ttua following are actual i>rices paid at our sale: — Prime stout heavy ox hides, GJd to 6Jd; goad hieavy do, 4gd to sgd; rnediunir weight do, 4gdi to Ye&;V e &; light- weight do', 4Jd to 4Jd; prime heavy cow hides, 4-jd to sd ; medium-weight do, 41& to 4jjd gei- lb; caifekins, 2s to 3s 6d each*

lisually the case with these special sales, it ' •was extensively advertised, and as a result Irayers were present from Canterbury, "Westland, Otago,' and Southland. The following are some of the prices realised: — Draught anares and geldings, three to seven years, £52. £51, £50, £49, £48 10s, £47 10s, £46, £45, £44 10s, -£44, £40, £38, £35, £33; unbroken colts and fillies, £34 to £24; aged maEe and geldings, £30 to £15. An exceptionally good deanand exists for good young draughts. The sale will be continued to-day (Saturday). GORE HOUSE BAZAAR. Messrs Wright, Stephemson, and Co. report lhaving held their usual weekly sale on Saturday, when there was an entry of 45 hcrses The sale being a continuation from the pneTwras dt.y, all ihe unsold draughts were offered first, and the rest of the time was given to •the selling of light harness horses said hacks. There was a splendid attendance of settlers from the surrounding districts, and no scarcity of buyers. Taking into consideration the , quality and condition of the draught Jorse® offered, prices were "on the whole better than on the previous day. Following are some of the prices:— One draught mare £4o; 1 do, £43 10s; 1 three-year-old fillJy, £42 10s; 1 three-year-old colt, £38; 1 draught gelding, £38 10s; 1 do, £3s; 1 do, £36; 1 da, J35 10s; 1 aged- gelding, £30: 1 aged mare, £30; 1 do ,£2B; 1 do, £25; 1 do, £21; 1 da gelding, £28. Harness horses sold at £14 lOs, '.£lB 103, £18, £15. several at £14, and 1 at £28. Hacks cold up to £14. The greater part •f the- entry was sold. OTAGO FARMEBS^ORSE BAZAAR. „; T na ' Wagp;- Farniers'. Cooperative Association of .ftew Zealand (Limited) report • We hold cur usual weekly sale of horses p,t our bazaar. 'joining wool*nd< grain stores, Crawford a.n-i vogel street, on Saturday, August 26. The «mfcry was a email one, only 23 dTauglit, light harness, and. bacloieiy horses coming forward. A small number such «« this was naturally 4o be looked fox, seeing that so many large «nd good sales haVe^taWn place in -town axid. country quite recently. There were not many farmers 'present, but local buyers ware fairly numerous, and although tho horses exposed for^ Bale were not of very great quality either in* ' *he light or heavy classes, a fair number changed hands. Spring-carters made ijp to. £30, and a, f«w medium draughts sold" at" pro- ' iportionate values. ? Several light harness g«ldangs made -good prices'. "No good hackneys were offered. We may say, that we have. several • buyers for van horses, therefore owners} wHb .wish to sell need ha.ye no hesitation in trying our market — in fact, all classes of young, sound horses are selling well. We -quote: Heavy cart mares, and* geldings, £55 to £65; lighter sorts, £*5 to £52; van geldings, £3S to £48; extra sharp ihorses, up_lo £52; 'spring-carters, active sorts,-' £27 to £33 ; -expressers, £18 to £25; buggy geldings, £18 to £25; buggy pairs, , £42 -to £60; waggonette pairs, £60 to £70; carriage padrs, £80 to £100. • • DUNE-DIN HORSE SALEYARDS. ' , . ll essKT Wright, StepKensbn, and ' Co. report ' »s' follows;— At Saturday's sale;- there .was a 1 poor aUendance^of .buyers, and a 'small number '. ©f horses' of *'a>U classes forward.- Draughts! 'feorse^jwere -poorly representedj^tliose forward "•consisting jjao&tly, oEaged r aaid-iMmor^aniißals, *' ' «nd for ?h«se*the ctamandwas'very slack. Thero - is a good ' inquiry for. reaMy-fifst-clas* young ! draughts, and had any been, offered we feel ■ confidant they would havo sold well. ' The demand-for ■spring-carbara continues to be good, but the entry was composed lor the most- par,t I " »f stale sorts, and these are very difficult to . place. Out sales this' week were confined to ■strong, light liain«3s horses, and were as follows:—Bay, gelding, six years old, at £33; bay '~ gelding at £29;" bay gelding, aged, at £25; and » "worn-out buggy horse at £10 15s. Our annual spring horse sale takes place on Thursday, when wo will offer over 100 draught mares and geldings. We quote: Superior young draught geldings at from £50 to £55; extra good do {prize horses), £58 to £65; superior young iiraught mares, £60 to £75; medium draught' anares and geldings, £30 to £45; aged Ao, £17 to £30;- upstanding carriage horseis', £25 to £35; well-matched carriage pairs, £80 to. £109; strong spring-van horses, £30 to 35; milk-cart and butchers' order-cart horses, £20 lo £28; light hacks, £10. to £18; extra good iraok^ £20 to £30; weedy and aged hacks and harness horses, £5 to £8. BALES OF LAND ON WAIMEA ESTATE. * Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. ■ report Saving made the following . additionab.'^alea of land oh the Waimea Ji'state during the last -few days : — Section 16, bjock IV,-' Black Swamp Bloc]£ containing 144 acres 2 roods 30 poles, to Messrs J. and I. W. Bustard, of Balfour, at £6-15s per acre. Section 21, bloc's IV, Black Swamp Block, containing 112 acres 23 poles, to Messrs Grey and Oleghorn, of Te Tua, at £6 15s per acre. Section 23, t>lock IV, Black Swamp Block, containing 100 acres -3 roods 29 poles, to Messrs Grey and Cleghorn, of Te'Tua, at£ 6 40s per acre: Section 17, block IV,' Black Swamp Block, containing • 106 '- acres ' 3v3 v roods 27 poles, to ' Messrs J. and I. W. Bustard, of Balfour, at - j£6 l'ss jper acre. - Section 4, block, 11, Black Swamp .Block,' containing 318 acres 1' rood 7 poles,- to- an Invefcafgill buyer at £2 -17s 6d pcr 1 acre. ' Further negotiations .are going; on •tfhich will probably result in additional' sales at an early date. PROPERTY SALES. Messrs Todd Bros, and Co. report: We 3>ave sold on account of Mr John Mackie his raluable farm of 470 acres to Messrs James CEdgax and Hugh Howat, at a price satisfactory to vendor and purchasers. This is a splendid piece of river flat land, second to none on, the Tapanui plain, and cif equal quality to the T>est on tlie famous Crookaton. Chamces to pick up tha cream of land seldom occur, and the buycars are to be congratulated oai their •purchase, their opportnmity having arisen from. tho fact that the vendor is desirous of retiring Jfrom dotive Jife. Mr Maebia Jms retaiaecl B0 acre 3 on which> he intiend.i building a SnhBtantiai dwelling. Tho same firm also sold by public auction en account of Miss Ellen Carroll, her farm of 60 acres, about one mil© from Tapanui, to Mr Creorge T. ©ameson at £12 15s per acse. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report: We have sold, on behalf of Mr P. A. Vyner, Lis property, situated at-Tisbury, Southland, containing approximately 117& acres, and Laing sections 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and part of section 16, block XXII, Invercargill Hundred,' on which is erected a. bacon factory «nd all other outbuildings necessary for the curing of bacon, at a satisfactory price. The purchaser ia Mr Charles Nicol, of Tisbury. We have also sold, on account of Mr H. J. Alley, of Winton, his 1 freehold farm of 143 acres, being section 4, Tennant's Subdivision, Taringatura Survey District, at a satisfactory price." Mr Frank" Allen,' of Harringtons, is •the purchaser, »nd has, we think, made an ■exceedingly good investment. The quality ©f the land in that particular locality is not «Xoelled in the Winton district. THE LABOUR MARKET. Messrs John'Skene and Son report under iflate August 29 as follows: — The market is . •"ecidecly brisk, plenty of employment of all 1

1 kinds coming in daily. First-class ploughmen are in good demand, and although men are not too plentiful, yet we are pleased to be able to state we can fill orders entrusted to us with very little delay (except in a few isolated cases). Shepherds and inusterers are getting engagements almost daily. Experi- , ■enced married couples are being inquired for, ' also real good rnikers and farm hands. We 1 quote wages as follows : — Ploughmen and agri- > cultural workers, 27s 6d, 255, 22s 6d; waggoners, 30s to 255; shepherds, JE6O to £65_; niusterers, £2 ss ; fencers, 255 ; gardeners, 25s to 30s; groom 9, 17s 6d to 20s; porters, 20s; country hotel grooms, porters. 15s to 20s; married ploughmen, £80; farm couples, £70 to .-£75; married shepherds, £66 to £75; flaxcutters, 5s to 7s; boys (for farms), 12s 6d ,to 15s; station blacksmiths, 30s; shop, do 10s; wheelwrights, 10s to 11s; blacksmiths' improvers, 15s to 20s, and found.

The. Otago. Farmers' Co-operative Association (Limited) report having held their fortnightly sale of hides on Thursday, the 24th inst., when they offeree! a good catalogue of butchers' and farm lots. There was a good -attendance of buyers, and bidding -was keen for all sorts. Some of the highest-priced lots were as follows: — Extra heavy ox hides, 6d; heavy ox, 4£d to 4gd; cow hides, 4^d to 5Jd ; calfskins, Is 6d to 3s 6d; yearlings, 2s 6d to 6s 3d. CLEARING SALE AT KYEBURN". The Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association of New Zealand (Limited; report: We he.!d a clearing sale of land and stock on rccoiint of Mr James M'Namara at his homestead, near Kyeburn, on Thursday last, August 24. The ■weather was all that could be desired, and, as it was well-known that Mr M'Naraara had determined to make a clearance of the whole of his .land and stock, and being a very old settler in Ihe district and a splendid neighbour, farmers -gathered in from all parts of the plain, nearly all of whem were intent on bustine&s, and tlio result was a capital .sale. The auction commenced with tha land, which was, disposed of under tho hamimsr, the leasehold and freehoM being sold in one lot far £1005. Next came the ■horses, which were a good useful lot, principally, young mares and gelding 3. These sold well at from! £30 to £42; two or three lighter sorts ac good values. The sheep weje in fairly good order, and sold at — for ewes in lamb, 235 ; hoggets in. a line, 17s 3d. Implernants realised satisfactory prices. STOCK SALE Messrs Todd Bros, and Co. helcf a successful sale of sheep at their Heriot yards on the 18ih inst. Eight hundred and eighty-four sixtooth crossbred ewe 3 in lamb said at from 29s 6d to 30s; 100 fvill-nicmthe'd do at 24s 6d; 12G do at 28s 6d ; 306 crossbred hoggets at 16a 6d to. 19s ; 175 wethera afc 22s and 22s Id; also. 19 head o-f cattle at current rates. SALE OF BALANCE OP CASTLEROCK ESTATE. Messrs Wright. Stephenson, and Co. Teport having completed the sale at a satisfactory figure of the last of the unsold land on the Castlerock Estate to Mr Richard Yardley, of Lunisden. Mr Yardley's purchase extends to 2169 acres, being section 176, Taringatura survey district. 'This is a level block of laaid, bounded on the east by the Oreti River and on the west by the Main roa-d and railway between. Lurnsden and Mossburn. At the river bank and also at the roadside the land is light andi gravelly, but in the middle of the block there is an area of 1200 to 1500 acres good deep land, capable of growing excellent grain and turnip crops. Now that the original property has all been disposed of, it may be interesting to note that Castlerock Estate was acquired by the Hon. Mathew Holmes as far back as 1861, and remained in his possession till 1902. The area of the property extended to 50,300 acres freehold and 5900 acres leasehold. The station had a splendid situation, the greater part of it being level, sweet, silver tussock country, about one-third being hill country, low enough to be quite safe even in a. hard winter. The average stock carried was 36,000 to 38.000 sheep, between 800 and 900 head of cattle, and about 80 horses. There is no healthier stock country in the south than Castlerock, and advantage -of this important factor was taken to breed purebred sheep on rather an I extensive sells. The §tud stock was corrjj?nsed

in four different flocks— viz., 3500 Cheviots, 2200 Koniney Marsh, 1400 Border Leicesters, and about 400 Lincoln sheep. There was also a herd of 180 purebred polled Angus cattle at Castlerock, which never failed to attract the attention of visitors to the station. Throughout the whole period of the Hon. M. Holmes's ownership the station has remained under the same management. Mr T. L. Barnhiil as manager and Mr Bobert Watson as head stockman came to Castlerock over 44 years ago, and were so closelj' interested in the station's welfare through good seasons and bad that their personalities had become almost part of the station itself. Castlerock was one of the few stations that came uncrippled through the trying times some years ago, when rabbits were a serious pest, and when the prices of wool and surplus stocks were not what they are to-day; and there is no doubt credit was due chiefly to the tact and jiidgment of the able manager and his assistant, whose interests were always identical with the owner's, and whose ambition was to keep the name of Castlerock to the front. Although Castlerock has always- paid its owner handsomely, the station was so admirably adapted for cutting up into smaller holdings — good level land, well roaded and having seven railway stations and three good townships adjoining the property — that it was thought desirable to sell the station for this purpose. Needless to say, the cutting up and l the settlement of the various allotments has I proceeded smoothly and ■ rapidly, tha whole estate being disposed of within a period of i two years. The land is of three qualities: the Strathallan Flat is all deep, heavy, -wheatgrowing land; further north is a wide area of lighter land, which when broken up will j make excellent sheep farms, being naturally j dry and sweet; the hill country will remain, j with its natural silver tussock, as breeding | ground for crossbred sheep. Amongst the more important sales ex this property may <be mentioned those made to Mr John Tait, of South Canterbury, of the Wether Hill, 3782 acres ; White Hill, 5974 ; and other surrounding allotments containing about 7730 acres. Owing to ill-health, this purchaser recently divided his property amongst three j local pastoralists — the Wether Hill being taken by G-lencairn Station, the White Hill with surrounding allotments went to G-lenelg Station, and the balance to Mr T. W. Allen, o{ Dipton. The middle and north-east blocks of the well known North Range are now held by Mr T. L. Barnhiil, who is also in possession of the Homestead Block. Mr Robert Watson took over theS.W. block of the North Range, which he works along with about 2000 acres flat land. Mr David M'G-ill, of Milton, bought a 3200-acre block, about one-third heavy flat land and the balance low terrace country, lying at the southern end of the station; and Mr A. V. Arthur, of Hyde, a block of about 6600 acres on the S.W. corner. The other blocks^ vary in size from 2300 acres down to 250 acres, and were equally divided amongst Canterbury, Otago, and Southland farmers, not one of whom would 1 care to resell excepting at a substantial ad- ' vance on the purchase price. In other words, the Castlerock settlement is a most gratifying success. HORSE SALE AT BALCLUTHA. The Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association of Kew Zealand (Limited) report. — We held a special sale of hor=es at the Corporation Yards, Balclutha. on Tuesday last, the 22nd inst.« when 33 draiight and light harness

horses came under the auctioneer's notice. There was a fairly good attendance of farmers and traders, vrho competed well for all foxwg and sound cart liorse3, and the result was that a large proportion of the entry changed 1 hards at satisfactory prices. Buyers were present fiom Gore, Clinton, Taieri, and Dunedm. On the whole the sale was a most satisfactory one. j OTAUTAU HORSE SALE. : The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) reports as follows: rho usual horsa sale ivas held at Swe-etman's Juazaar on Friday last, when the entry was romposrpcl of about 30 hoises, among which v«s a large percentage of first-class quality. Vendors, however, stood out for liig-h reserves, and coneequently the 'sale dragged somewhat i at auction, although ultimately we managed 1 : to place- more than a third of the entry at ; satisfactory prices as under: — Draughts £22 10s, £"26. £-28, £34, £36 £39, and £40 • 'h-ht horses, .-Cl2 to JEI6 lOs. CLEARING SALE AT WAIKOIKOI. Messrs Wright. Stephenson, and Co." report having held a very successful sale on account I of Mr Georgia Milne's, Waikoikoi, last Wecfoesj day. Though ilie day was one of the worst j experienced this season, there was a splendid i attendance of the public, buyers being prei- • sant from Inveicargill, G-ore, Balfonr, Crookj sion, Tapanui, Heriob, and Kelso, while local i farmers turned ouit in great force. A start was made with the ahicep, aaid, as Mr Milne's fl.ock is well and favourably known throughout the oountry, there was keen competition for each lot. We quote somie of the prices realised:— 3o2 crossbred ewes, two-tooth tot full-mouth, 25s 2d; 58 full-mouth a-»d brokers ewes, 15s 2d; 140 «ws hoggets, 18s 7d; 45 •wither hoggets, 18s lOd; 35 full-mouth ewes, 15s lid. Leicester floek — 22 rani hoggets, 51a 6d; stud rams, 2|gs to sJgs; 10 l-shieat Leicestea- ewes, £2 11s; 12 2-s>he&r, £2 12s 6d; 22 full-mouth, 33s Sd; 11 ewo hoggets, 30s 3d", Cows sold from £4 to £6 2s 6d, a.nd 6 fat bullocks realised 57 3s Gd. Horses: The horses wera in good OTder, but wiere mostly aged 1 , and met with a fair demanef. We sold a bay niare, 5 yea*s, by Salisbury's Champion, a,V £39 10s; bay; gelding Prince, £36; bay gelding (harness horse), by Whirlwind, £29 10a; others from £lb to £21. Implements, harness, etc.. were sold at full market rates. GOEE HORSE SALE. GORE, August 25. Messrs Wright. Stephenson, and Co. report :1 The special sale of horses was held at Gore on Friday was in every respect a greatf success. About 100 draughts were entered, and fully three-fouiths found new owners ac satisfactory prices. The entry included somet exceptionally good stamps of Clydesdale mai-eaf and geldings, and a great number of really, good houses for all-round farming and con-* tracting work. There was, of course, a num.-* ber of aged and done horses, which -werft j difficult to sell, but. taking the entry all 1 round, it must be admitted that it -was a ver^f creditable one for the district to produce 1 / and in some particulars reflected great credit on vendors in the matter of breeding. As is The Imperial Brass Sprat Pump: WifS Strenm and Pine Spray Nozzle.— Made by American noted manufacturers. Are obtainable from Nnnio awd Blaib, Dunedin. Fruiteroweis and Orchardist* should use tfeem,