THE SALE OF RUNS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3014, 20 December 1911, Page 22

THE SALE OF RUNS.

A DISPUTED COMMISSION. The whole of the day was occupied in the Magistrate's Court on the 14th, before Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., in hearing a case in which S. 0. Battersby, of Dun■ediiu claimed from the Southland Farmers' Co-operative Association the sum of £62 10s, being half-share of commission for the sale of a property, by the defendant company, and alleged to be due to the plaintiff. Mr Hay appeared for plaintiff, and Mr W. C. MacGregor for the defendants. t ■Mr Hay said that the action was brought by Battersby, of Dunedin. carrying on business as Battersby and Co., against the Southland Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association, carrying on as land agents at Gore and Invercargill. The cause of action was a simple matter, being a breach of agreement for commission. Mr Battersby had a client named M'Leod. who had a run at Waikaia. 30 miles from Gore. About May 23 Battersby was down in Gore, and came into contact with the business manager of the Southland Farmers' Co-operative Association. Battersby then agreed to put into the association's hands a number of properties, amongst them being the run at Waikaia, the distinct arrangement being that in the event of a sale the commission was to be equarlly divided between the two parties. About August 31 the defendant company found a purchaser for the run in M'Crostie Bros. The company received from M'Leod the sum of £125 as commission on the sale, but had failed and refused to pay a half-share to the plaintiff. Stephen Oliver Battersby said that his firm heard about the middle of September that the place had been sold, and in October they wrote to the defendants stating that they were glad that the sale had been effected through the agency of the association, and requesting half of the commission. Then and later defendants declined to recognise plaintiff in any way. Under the agreement the commission was to be divided between the two parties on a sale being effected. To Mr MacGregor : The agreement was between M.r Couchman, then defendants' manager at Gore, and himself. Mr

Couchman subsequently cam© into witness's employment, but he was now working for himself. Evidence was also given by E. C. Couchman.

John George M'Leod, the original owner of the run, said that the first intimation he had that the Southland Farmers' Co-operative Association was interested in the sale of his property was when Mr M'Lean, bearing a letter of introduction from Mr Battersby, came up to his place with a probable buyer. Mr MacGregor contended that the plaintiff's case must fail. What plaintiff claimed was that there was an express bargain made between himself and the defendant company for the division of the commission on the terms set forth in the statement of claim. What plaintiff had proved was that the authority was given by the principal to sell the property, that the principal employed the sub-agent to assist him in the sale, and agreed to share the commission with him. It had, however, been elicited in the course of the case that at a certain date, July 14, the authority given to Battersby and Co. was revoked by M'Leod, and notice of that revocation was duly sent to the defendant company, and noted by it. The fact that some months later the place had been sold, apparently through the agency of the former sub-agent, was not a matter that could entitle the principal agent to enforce such a bargain. Mr Hay said it was not a question of agency at all, but it was a contract between the two parties. His Worship intimated, to Mr MacGregor that he could not grant him a nonsuit. . Mr MacGregor said that various efforts were made to sell the property, and they ■were finally abandoned on July 14. Towards the end of August the Southland Farmers' Co-operative Association had clients named M'Crostie Bros., who had become aware that the place was on the market. One of the brothers went to the company in Invercargill, and the ultimate result was that the place was sold through the company to M'Crostie Bros. Battersby had nothing whatever to do with the sale. , , , i_ Evidence was given for the defence by John M'Lean, employed by the attendant company. The case was adjourned till Monday to enable further evidence to be brought by the defendants.

#.Z. PRODUCE IN LONDON. FIRST BUTTER SHIPMENT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 10. - Bv the s.s. Ruapehu which, arrived a few days ago the first shipment of new Beason's butter from New Zealand reached this'market, the consignment consisting Of & boxes. Messrs Wdel describe its quality as being generally excellent. lne butter is filing well at 130 s per hundredwight for salted and 132 s for united. Australian of choicest quality makes 126 s to 128 s per hundredweight. The Copenhagen official quotation remains .unchanged at 11kroner; French butter still keeps m short supply with prices for best Quality, mildly totted at 136 s to 140 s per hundredweight. Argentine butter, new seasons make, is arriving Bn medium quantities, wi-th a erreat improvement in quality, and is sell£K at 122 s to 1245, with about 2s more for unsalted. , , . j» Messrs Dalgety note an understanding that quite a considerable proportion of the (Shipments from New Zealand has been booked for the Continent, which is expected to relieve this market to a cettjca extent. Australian butter, even at the prices now asked, has been 'meeting with a good deal of inqairv, particularly for finest quality. There is no New Zealand cheese yet to hand. N.Z. MEAT. Messrs Dalgety and Co. state that business in frozen mutton and lamb has been limited of late, but prices have remained firm with the exception of Canterbury mutton, which must be quoted id per Sound Easier, owing to buyers refusing to fey so large a premium over Argentine brands Lambs are firm, but the demand hi restricted. The top price for lightweight Canterbury lambs at B*d per pound, Aedium-weight is Quoted at sd, which is the hisrhest ■ quotation for light-weight gouthfand lamb feavv Canterbury, medium Southland, and light and medium Wellington make 4Jd per pound. There axe no Wellinton or Southland sheep on offer Light-Weight and medium-weight Canterburys are quoted at 4W per pound; heavy-weight and second quality, light at Sgd and s|d Per v*>»*>& respectively. Laght-

weight Gisborne and- medium-weight North Island are quoted at sgd per pound, with heavy-weights at 3|d. There is no improvement in the demand for frozen beef, nor in most people's quotations, though some holders are asking a trifle more on the recent advance in chilled. There is, however, very little doing in frozen, of which there are now considerable stocks. The highest quotation for New Zealand hindquartei-3 is 3d per pound, and for forequarters 2d per pound. SHORTAGE IN MUTTON RECEIPTS. It is mentioned by the 0.0. and D. Company that the year's aggregate of 1,730,104 carcases of New ZeaTartd mutton falls short of last year's figures by 152.640 carcases. This trifling amount of fresh arrivals has casued a considerable reduction in the stocks on hand, and some importers aro very short. To this cause alone must be attributed the firmer tones* in quotations. The demand continues extremelv limited, and the only active inquiry is for heavy carcases, which are hardly to be found, and in consequence are worth more than the lighter weights. Canterbury brands are limited and are quoted at prices from 4d to 4§d per pound. North Island sheep, as usual, predominate, but the- stocks are in very few hands, and are firmly held for 3j|d to 4d per pound, although a few carcases can be bought for 3|d per pound. Ewes are bv no means plentiful, but can still be bought at 3id per pound. The extremely light shipments reported duringOctober will enable holders to prevent any decline from the current rates for some little time. INCREASE IN LAMBS. The years's figures show the large increase of carcases of frozen lamb, the major part of which is from South America. The C.C. and D. Co. reports jthat the demand for New Zealand lambs has now fallen to very limited dimensions, and although quotations show nominally little change, they have a decidedly crumbling tendency. Some stocks now beiijg offered show signs of staleness_from storage, which does not tend to improve values. Canterbury lambs do not average much over s|d per pound, and the few North Is>land and Southland lambs about realise from 4gd to 5d per pound.

FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER, MEAT PROSPECTS. LONDON COLD STORAGE. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 10. A large importer informs inc that for December shipments, of Canteibury lambs he ha® only been able to get sparing offers of 4gd in respouse to his keen search after business at bid. If this were any criterion it would look like cheap meat for some time to come, and this seems the tendency so far. . A 3 a matter of fact, early buyers were badly bitten last year, and they are wary in consequence. Immediate prospects of the frozen meat market arc not very encouraging. With game extremely plentiful and cheap, and pork ir, abundance, very cheap and not wanted, values for meat show - little signs of improving, though trade is firming up a bit. At any rate, the market is absorbing without a drop in rates the heavy supplies to hand, but I do net quite understand what induces some of the market reports to indicate that the demand for frozen lamb is improving; I fail to see it myself. On the contrary, < prices are anything up to Id per lb below the rates ruling this time last year, and Argentine togs at a lb or less, and equal in quality to good average Australians, are the cheapest 'stuff on the market. The failure of New Zealand mutton to arrive for weeks in succession has, of course, strengthened the value of stocks, which are extremely short and forward purchases are the dearer for this reason. ARGENTINE LOSSEStfw»en beef has not for the moment followed the slight upward movement made by chilled beef, an improvement due to rather smaller arrivals of the latter. However, even frozen beef is meeting a rather better inquiry, and improved results should occur. The situation with frozen and chilled beef in the provinces is considerably worse than in London—Liverpool ©tores are simply chock full of it All this spells disaster to those concerned in the trade, and with the enormous amount of freight now put on—suicidally, it seems —between Argentina and England, great sums of money must be lost. Tliis will probably, be reflected in shipping combalance sheets shortly; already that of tine Smithfield and Argentine. Meat Company, which this time last year declared a 10 per t-en*. dividend, has appeared with no dividend at all, confessedly on account of dear stock and bad selling prices. Where will all this en<\l A FRENCH CONTRACT. Although the news which I gave of the SaEsinena Freaen Meat Company having

made a six months' contract for the importation of frozen meat into France is quite correct, I have now ascertained that the French Government has, contrary to reports, made no concession of any kind! to aseist this trade. The import duty will remain as it is, and the plucks of the sheep will have to go with the carcases as before. This will be a great disappointment io many, as if was hoped that the new move heralded some success in fighting for European markets. The 2000 carcases a month under the Sansinena contract are to go to an importer who owns the cold stores at Havre. So the walls of Jericho still stand; Austria has stopped her promising trade, and prospects in other European quarters, I am told, look gloomy. Daly, for instance, which might have been expected to have required much frozen meat for her troops, is doing nothing, and one big importer in London tells me that he is- paying hardly any attention to inquiries from Italy, seeing he learns that a 600-ton freight available for that country is actually going begging. With further reference to Sansinena's, I understand that there will probably arrive in London next month the first shipment of beef from tho Frigoir.ifica Uruguaya, for which works it will he remembered, the Sansine'na Company, by an enterprising coup, outbid the American "Beef Trust" with a price of 300,000d01. .SOME MARKETING SUGGESTIONS. Several important questions affecting frozen imports into tho United Kingdom were dealt with by Major A. E. M. Norton, D. 5.0., ex-Trade Commissioner in London for the S. Australian Government, in a paper ho read on the 30th ult. before the Cold Storage- and Ice Association on the subject of "Some Suggestions for the Improved Marketing of Frozen Produce." Major Norton is widely known as a champion of direct shipment to "outports" for reaching with a minimum of handlmig the various areas of population of Great Britain. On this occasion lie brought his arguments to bear, and they were reinforced by representatives, of the different leading provincial ports, Bristol, Hull, Liverpool, and Manchester, .who spoke of the up-to-date facilities possessed by those. centres for handling and cheap distribution. The counter arguments consisted miainly of an appeal to facts—e.g., that London was a port which, tinlike other centres, still moved frozen supplies in timeg of glut; that other centres produced only a limited demand for one grade or so of frozen carcase when London freely dealt with four or five; and so on. It was admitted that London held all the great financial interests that were a leading- factor to decide this affair, but Sir John M'Call, the Agent-general for Tasmania, put the question to the touch when be said that producers had had all the trouble and expense of working up their markets via London, if other ports boasted being able to provide equally or more remunerative ■ trade, they must back up their words with a guarantee of equal returns to the producer to make him shift. It was pointed out by Mr Proctor, secretary of the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company (Ltd.), during the discussion that only 23 per cent, of Australia's frozen meat was sold in Great Britain on the producer's account. POLICY OF PUBLICITY. There was only one other point raised at this meeting which struck me as worth mentioning to my readers, and that was Major Norton's pointed advice that New Zealand and Australia, if they wish to still further the demand for their butter in Great Binitain, must make the excellence of their produce known to the S-enerali public by advertising it .publicly. Thip ib only in accordance with what has been said in other quarters, and New Zealand has .the way open to climb further up the scale by rcigular organised effort, best undertaken, one would imagine, by heir Government. MORE COLD STORAGE FOR LONDON. London is, after all, to have more cold storage accommodation. ' The Port of London Authority has decided to lease from the City Corporation a site which will .be created over a railway cutting in Charterhouse street at the north-west end of the Central Markets, and leased to them at £2OOO a year. I believe th© stores are to be of about 120,000 carcases capacity. The present aggregate public cold storage accommodation in London is 2,750,000 carcases, but this of course, is not nearly all available for meat, a a the quick running cut of stocks periodically demonstrates. TOE WOOL SALES. LONDON, December 10. The following- clips were sold: Aranui, top average 9^d; Glenavy, top price average 10|d. For the January and March series the offerings will not be limited. SYDNEY, December 13. Greasy wool sold at 6d, which is a record for the season. CHRISTOHCJRCH, December 12 At the wool sales to-day 16;,082 bales were catalogued. Thene was a very large attendance, and competition was animated. All classes of wool were on sale. It is one of the best sales held in Christchurch for some yearn. Compared with the November sales super, halfbreds were Id to better, medium Id better, bright cross and th.ree-qua.Tite.r-bred to better, and shabby crossbred Id better. The market for merino was much stronger than in November. The best prices were : —Merino, llgd; halfbred, 13d; three-quarter-bred, ll^d; crossbred, lid, longwool, 9d; Corriedale, 13d; Down wool, lOd. Pieces were fully up to last year's rates. TIMARU, December T 5. The second wool sale to-day wes attended' by a record number of buyers for Tima.ru. There were 7600 bales offered, compared with 10,000 at the second sale last year. The wool was of better quality than that at the first sale. There was keen competition, and nearly every lot was sold at prices satisfactory to the vendors. _ The bulk of the wool was crossbred suitable for th© Yorkshire mills. Most of the best halfbred was bought by colonial mills at 102 d to Hid, the latter being the top price at the sale. Medium halfbred made 9id to 10-Jd; inferior, 83d' to 9{d. As compared with the Christ/church sale, prices were slightly higher for like classes of wool. The Bank of New Zealand has received the following advices regarding the closing of the present secries of London-Colonial

wool sales in London:—-'The sales have closed very firm and prospects are good. There is an active demand by all branches of the trade. Total quantity held over, 10,000 bales, of which 4500 bales are New Zealand." Messrs Dalgety and Co. report having received the following cablegram from their head office, dated London, December 9: "Wool sales closed firm. As compared with last sale's closing rates, luerino wools super-scoured, par to s'per cent, higher; medium and good qualities merino scoured, 5 to 7£ per cent, higher; merino wools, inferior and faulty scoured, 5 per cent, higher; merino wools super greasy, unchanged; merino heavy, earthy, and wasty, unchanged; merino lambs, short, faulty, unchanged; greasy merino lambs or other descriptions, 5 per cent, higher; greasy crossbred wools of fine quality, medium quality, and suitable for America, 10 to 15 pea- cent .higher; greasy crosslbred wools of other descriptions, 5 per cent, higher; crossbred slipes scoured, 5 per cent, higher; crossbred lambs', 5 per cent, higher. Total net. quantity available for sale, 128,000 bales, out of which 4000 bales were sold to America; 60,000 bales were sold for Home consumption, 54,000 bales were sold to the Continent. 6000 bales were not offered, leaving . 10,000 bales carried forward.'' The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company has received the following advice by cable from its London office regarding the closing of the sixth series of sales:—"As compared with last sale's closing rates, prices are higher 5 to 7£ per cent, for fine scoured crossbred, scoured merino medium, and fine greasy crossbred. 119,000 bales were sold, 54.000 bales being taken for the Continent and 400 Q bales for America. 10,000 bales were held over. Sales closed strong." The National Mortgage and Agency Co. is in receipt of the following cablegram from its London office, advising tho closing of the November series:—" Merino 3 generally closed firm on a par with opening rates. Crossbreds generally closed at an advance of 5 per cent, on opening rates. America, 10 per cent."

OTAGO LAND BOAED. The monthly meeting of the Otago Land Board, which commenced on the 13th, was attended by Messrs E. H. Wilmot (commissioner, in the chair), G.. Livingstone, P. Kinney, and J. C. Anderson. Ranger Atkinson reported that Maria E. Hewton, lessee of allotment Ba, Windsor Park Settlement, was not complying with the residence conditions of her lease. — Lessee to show c»use why her lease should not be declared forfeited for "Breach of conditions

Ranger Atkinson reported that Robert Scales, lessee of allotment 23a, Steward Settlement, was not complying with residence conditions of his lease. —Lessee to show cause why his leasg. should not be declared .forfeited for breach of conditions.

Ranger O'Neill reported that John Young, lessee, of section 1, block XIII. Rimu district, was not complying with the improvement conditions of his lease. — Report adopted. Ranger O'Neill reported that gorse was being allowed to spread on the following allotments on Duncan Settlement: la, held under yearly license by Alex. Douglas; allotment 2a, J. E. Jones lessee; 3a, T. Henderson lessee; 6a, Margaret Fegans, lessee; sa, D- L. M'Goll lessee.-—The report in each case was adopted. ■■. * The Waitaki County Council applied for to take gravel from section 75, block I, Oamaru district, Ardgowan Settlement.—Approved, subject to ranger approving the position of the gravel pit, and to arrangement being made by the council with the lessee..

Th© board was asked to fix the upset rental on section 15, block. HI, Hampden Town, education endowment.—Fixed at 5s per annum.

M. J. Fahey applied for exemption from residence on his occupation lease, sections 16a and 20, block XII, Tuapeka West district.—Granted during pleasure of Land Board

Carl Knudson ax>plied for a reduction in the rent on his temporary license over section 12, block XII, Strath Taieri district. —Reduced to £1 per annum. William J. Ritchie applied for permission to cultivate an area of 50 acres on Run 330 b. held under pastoral lease 1362; also to erect 1£ miles of wire netting fencing.—Recommended for approval. The board was asked to fix tho value of the improvements on surrendered Run No. 11. —Valuation fixed at £298 7s.

David M'Lennan applied to be allowed to select under o.r.p. license an area adjoining sections 6 and 7, block IV, Lower Hawea distinct, which he holds at present under temporary license. —Declined. George Hunt applied for exemption from residence on section 5, block VI, Catlins district, held by him under o.r.p. license.— Granted during the pleasure-of the board. R. C. Moore, on behalf of James Bennet, applied to lease an area of 60 acres of land situated between sections 3 and 4, block IX, Beaumont district, section 15, block XII, Taupeka West district and the Clutha River.—Declined. Granted grazing license until land is required for settlement at rate of £3 per annum.

Peter Jas. Macguire applied for a lease over part of section 30, block VIII, Leaning Rock district.—Declined. Pending decision as to water race being constructed by tho Government. Duncan and M'Gregor, on behalf of Jas. Henderson, applied for a further reduction in the rent payable by him on his yearly license over tho reserve fronting sections 19-23, block VII, Town of Kelso, and asked also that the reduction should date back to the commencement of the license. —Present rental to date back to commencement of term.

Wm. Warwick, jun., applied for a yearly license over part of the river reserve in hlock I, Kurow district, which was lately held under license by Catherine Roberts.— Granted at an annual rental of ss.

_ Ranger Martin reported on tho application of Alexander Smaill to purchase section 4, block VII, Otago Peninsula district, education reserve.—Governor to be recommended to authorise sale of land to applicant at capital value of £5 per acre. Ranger O'Neill reported on the petition of certain residents of Ettrick to have portion of the area held under pastoral license by Edward Tubman cut up for settlement purposes.—Request of petitioners declined.

APPLICATIONS FOR OCCUPATION LEASES. Leonard _ Marsh applied for an area of five acres in block VII, Leaning Rock district. —Granted, at capital value of £2 per acre; annual rent 2s per acre.

f Matthew Harhivich aisplied for a small | area in block 11, Teviot district. —Granted . at capital value per acre; rent not less than 108 per year, subject to conditions ; imposed by warden. j Patrick Rabill applied for part of sec- : tion 26, block I, Cairnhill district.—Referred to ranger and warden and to be advertised.

Wm. Thos. Campbell applied for an area in block IX, Leaning Rock district. —• Granted area adjoining that applied for by Mr Lett. Surveyor to suggest capital value, subject to conditions by ranger. Pierce Carroll applied for an area in block I, Cairnhill district. —Granted, rental to be ascertained from surveyor's report. The board was asked to declare the following applications lapsed as applicants apparently had no desire to proceed further with them :

Edwin Appleton.—Application to purchase 10 acres adjoining section 1, block IX, Leaning Rock district. —Declared lapsed. Manuel A. de Betteneor. —Applied for renewable lease over 240 acres in black IV, Wakefield district.—Declared lapsed. David Low applied for occupation lease over unsurveyed area in Fraser district. — Declared lapsed. Ranger O'Neill forwarded a report on the application of Robert Shiels and Jas. Shiels, jun., for a yearly grazing license over sections 1,2, 14, 19, and 20, block XV, Town of Molyncux.—Granted, at annual rent of 10s.

Ranger O'Neill reported on the application "of Robert Cotton to fence an area of about 200 acre 3 in block XIV, Tuapeka East district, and block IV, Waipori district, part of the land held by him under temporary license 1329. —Board will not object to applicant fencing or removing fencing in the future. Geo. Hunter and Gus. Naumann s appli cations' for yearly license over section 17, block XV, Rimu district, quarry reserve, were referred to ranger for report. The meeting of th© Otago Land Board was continued and concluded on the 14tn, there being present Messrs E. H. wilmot (commissioner, in the chair), G. Livingstone, P. Kinney, and J. C. Anderson. William Howjohns applied for a yearly license over the road reserve adjoining section 8, block V, Blackstone district. — Granted, at an annual rental of Is 6d per acre. John M'Narnara applied for a yearly license over a small area in block VI, Benger district. —Board has no obection to his occupying it. Richard Francis Kitto applied for a yearly license over a small portion of the river bank reserve in the town of Roxburgh.—Declined. J. Crawford Anderson applied for a yearly license over an area on the Clutha River fronting sections 6 and 7, block XIII, Inchclutha district. —Granted at an annual rent of £l. . Ranger Martin reported that section 2 of 47, block IV, Waikouaiti district, held under lease by Thomas Parata was being overcropped.—Lessee to be informed that he is infringing the cropping terms of his lease and to be cautioned. Ranger Martin reported that section 2 of 15, block I, Moerald district, held under lease by Michael Joyce, was in a bad state with gorse. —Lessee to be informed that he must take immediate steps to clear the gorse. Application for occupation leases on Ettrick Domain:—Area in block I, Benger district —Harold Edward Orkney.—Declined, as land isi part of a public domain. Area in block I, Benger district—John Wright.— Declined, as land is part of a public domain. _, _ • The engineer to the Maniototo County Council requested that permission be given, to the council to take a road through small! grazing run 225j.—Held over. Applications for land undeor occupation leases: —Area, in T/eaning Rock (or Cairn-" hill) district —James Paterson Brown. —Referred to warden and to be advertised. Area, in block I, Cairnhill district —John M'Boiwiell.—Granted at an annual rent of 2s, subject to conditions suggested by the warden. .The Tuapeka County Council asked for the right to occupy portion of section 11, block VIII, Crookston district, for the use of the county surfacemen. —Referred to ranger for report. _ Applications for land under renewable lease:— , Area of 640 acres in Cardrona district —■ Timothy Enright.—Referred to the surveyor. Area in block XVIII, Lower Wanaka district part of R*an "334c —Mary Barker.— Held over. Section 77; block VIII, and section 49, blcck IX, Leaning Rock district, at present held by applicant under occupation lease, and an area of 50 acres adjoining these sections —Henry Robert Nind. —Board will favourably consider an application for occupation lease over the new area applied for. W. A. Bodkin, on behalf of Thomas Ferguson, applied for a yearly license ovoir part of reserve in block XXXIX, Alexandra Town. —Granted at- an annual rent of £l. Charles Harding wrote with regard to the improvements on section 8, block IX, Tarras district, held under l.i.p.—To erect fencing within 12 months. License declared lapsed for non-payment of rent:— M.L. 2053, section 4, block IX, Kaitangata district —James Smith. M.L. 2255 over section adjoining section 6, block XI, Waitahuna West district — William Roughan.—Held over. E. C. Kinsman wrote with regard to a read being laid off along the railway from Sutton Stream to Sutton township.—Held ove.T. Consideration was given to the following town and rural subdivisions: —Bannockburn district —Section 34, block I, 4a 2r 12p (suggested price per acre, 60s) ; valuation, £220. Bannockburn Town.—Section 1, block XI, 2a Or 20p (suggested price, 60s); section 2, block XI, 2a lr 12p (60s); section 9, block X, la Or 15p (70s); section 13, block X, 2r (80s); section 1, block IX, la 2r 31p (80s); section 1. block 11, la lr 16p (50s); section 15, block I, la 2r 33p (60s), valuation- £l2 per acre; section 16, block I, 2a Or 14p (60s), valuation £lB 16s per acre; section 1, block VIII, la 2r 35p (80s); section 2. block VIII, la 3r 29p (70s), valuation £29 5s Der acre; section 3, block VIII, 2a 3r (70s). The town sections to. be classed ias suburban land and o ff .erfod at action at the prices suggested, burdened with the valuations for improvemepta set out in schedule. The Vincent County Council forwarded statements of "thirds" and "fourths" for the period to October 28. The Wai-

kouaiti County Council also forwarded statement of "thirds" and "fourths" for the game period.—Approved for payment. Charles Turnbull (on behalf of R. M. Turnbull) asked that - reconsideration be given to the application for porrriission to erect a rabbit-proof fence on portion of the boundary between Run 505 and Run 308 c. —Recommended that permission be granted provided that the cost of the fence does not.exceed 16s per chain. Andrew Gibson applied for a yearly license ov«r a small area situated between block IX, Kelso Town, and the Pomahaka River.—G-*nted at an annual rent of ss. Edward V. Freed applied for land on renewable lease area of three acres adjoinin section 16, block-' 111, Leaning- Kock district. —Approved; capital value, £1 per acre. The board was asked to declare lapsed the application by J. Baxter for a temporary, license over the reserve fronting allotment 4a, Duncan' Settlement. —Application granted. The board was asked to deal with the letting of Run 254 d, at nresent held under temporary license by Allan Boyd.—Recommended that run be offered at auction under pastoral lease for a term of eight years from Ist March next; annual rent, £l2O. The Secretary Otago Education Board wrote with regard to section 8, block X, Balclutha Town. —Resolved that Allan's lease be cancelled on the recommendation that £l2 10s compensation being approved and on an understanding that Education Board gives him three years' lease free of rent over remainder of section after Techi nical School has been fenced off. Sections X and 2, block XVI, Maru■weftiua district.—Recommended to bo grouped and offered as a small grazing . run at annual rent of 9«d per acre valuation for improvements, £457 16s 9d. Run. 121 j and section 3, block I, Hummock district.—To be offered as a small grazing run (grouped) at annual rent of 6d per acre; valuation for improvements, £ll6 5s 6d. Run 121 i. Waikouaiti and Taieri Counties.—To be offered as a- small grazing run at rental of 7 l-5d per acre; value for improvements, £llO 3s 9d. David Low applied to purchase an area of 25 acres in Fraser district, part of Earnscleugh Run.—Referred to warden and to be advertised. Ranger O'Neill reported on section' 69, block VI, Clarendon district, which was formerly held under 1.i.0. by John Walnowski. —To be reoffered under renewable lease at a capital value of 10s per acre; value for improvements £ls. Question of Renewal.—Section 5, block XI, Dunback district (Gifford Bros.). — Recommended to be renewed at annual rental of 7gd per acre. Win. Little applied for lease over 640 acres of Cardona Valley, part of Run 340. —Referred to surveyor. Ranger Leonard reported that there are no improvements on sections 1, 18, 19, and 20 block IV, Crookston district, at present held under pastoral license expiring 28th February next.—To be offered as pastoral run, olass B, term 14 years, upset rental Runs 221 H and 221 k to be grouped as SaU grazing run at an annual rental of per acre; Runs 221 l and 221 j to be

grouped as small grazing run at annual rental of 5d per acre. Forfeiture of School Commissioners' lease over section 9, block X, Inchclutha district. ; —Resolution as to forfeiture rescinded, j Term. to be extended under temporary license for one year at same rental. ' 1 Ranger O'Neill reported on the subdivi- j sions of Runs 221 a and 221 c (Moutere), Run { 221 h, valuation of improvements £226 ' 9s; ran 221 i, valuation of improvements £79 7s; run 221 j, valuation, of improvements £ll7 19s; run 2Rlk, valuation of improvements £125 4s 3d; section 12. block VI, section 80, block VIII, Loaning Rock district, valuation of improvements £4O 6s, and section 81, block i VIII, Leaning Rock district, valua- ] tion of improvements £B.—Reserved from sale in meantime, arid miscellaneous licenses over portions as arranged to be offered to Davidson and Reid, area in south-west corner of section 81 to be granted undjor i renewable lease to- Davidson at a capital : value of £5 per acre. ! Section 82, block VIII, Leaning Rock dis- : trict, valuation of improvements £Bl. — : Reduced to 610 acres and granted under i renewable lease, to Sophia Lewis, capita! | value 10s acre. I ."Keetion 83, Block VIII, Leaning Rock district. —Area to bo granted to J. Gartley ; on renewable lease at capital value of 10s ' per acre. ; Section 182, block 11. Leaning Rock dis- * trict area, valuation of improvements £66 ! 12s.' —Granted to E. W. Atfiekl under miscellaneous license; valuation approved j The following applications for permission j i to transfer were granted or recommended j ] for approval:—S.g.r. 455, section la, block | I, Sutton district, Henry Bailey to Thos. | Peach; l.i.p. 14165, sections * 48a, 49a, ; Steward' Settlement, John Matheson to Geo. j Bolton Colclough; o.r.p. 377. section 40, . ! block VII, Glenornaru district, Michael ; Michelson to James MTntosh ; 0.1. 230, . section 17a, block VII. Teviot district. , Mary Wilkes to John Whelan; m.l. 1923. j sections 6 to 8, block X, Mount Hyde. j Eugene Robert Smith to Robert Beverly , Smith; r.l. 18, sections 8\ 23. block V, I Lower Hawea district, Thomas James Tate ] to Miingo Allison; l.i.p. 1040, section 3, i block XIX, Maniototo district, David Baxter Glenn to William Glenn; cash 56, section 29, block VII, Tuapeka West district, Public Trustee, as statutory committee in the estate of George Stephenson (menal patient) to Sarah Rodgers; r.l. 77, block VII, Lauder district, Mary Peek to Alfred Samuel Peek; l.i.p. 192vh, section 8, block IX, Bankleburn district, Public! Trustee in estate of D. Robertson (deceased) to William Walker; o.r.p. 283, section 22. block IX. Woodland district, Benjamin Shutt to John Chalmers Allan; l.i.p. 471, section 2, block VII, Catlin's district, Mark Morton to Thomas Curtis, application to cancel board's approval and substitute fresh transfer; l.i.p. 471, section 2, black VII. Catlin's district, Mark Morton to John Landreth; o.r.p. 304, section 11, block 111, Catlinis district, o.r.p. 179, section 31. block 11. Catlins district, sublease James Donald to James William five years from 9th 1/9/11; • r.l. 54. section 34. block V, Wakefield disj trict, Ohas. Olaf Marklund to Cecil Ernest , M'Namara; l.i.p. 201, section 42, block 11,

Maniototo district, Bethia Mawhinney to John Glenn; m.l. 19405, section 28a, Totaro. settlement, Ellen Maoauley to' Arthur Orr; p.l. 698 and 1109, sections 33, 34, block 11, j Highly district, Wm. Ross Mac Kay to Jas. ; O'Connoll; s.g.r. 281, sections 10, 11, 12, j block IX, Highlay district, Wm. R.oss Mackay to Jas. O'Connell; subdivision and - transfer, s.g.r. 422, part section 1, block 111, Sutton district, Wm. Kennedy to Jas. j Kennedy, subdivision and transfer ap- j proved, rent on area transferred to Jas. Kennedy to be £1 per annum; m.l. 1617, | part section 7, block VI, Lauder district, j m.l. 2273, part section 7, block VI, Lauder , district, Thos. Sheppard to Hemry Albert Simes, The following transfers of school commissioners' leases were approved:—Section 9, hlook XVII, Olutha district, Alex. Anderson to Robt. Matthew Tweed and Andrew Tweed ; sections 1 of 19 and 2 of 30 2 block j I, Table Hill survey district, John Suther- I land to Thos. Oraigie. Application for rural land -under occupation with right of purchase.—Application 5603. sections 8, block VI, and 11 and 9, block V, Catlin® district, Jas Bain. —Approved. Application to purchase freehold of land held under occupation with right of purchase—o.r.p. 152, sections 3 and 4, block 11, Taiutuku district, Fredric Truby i King.—Approved. Sevi'.h Dobson applied to have included in Hop application to purchase section 38, blot;!; 11, Maruwenua district, a sriTall area situ.-i'io opposite this section. —Approved; application to be made in proper form. Application for unsurveyed l area on Mou- | tore run:—John Dickie, jun., to be offered 120 acres on east side of section 11, block 1 VI, Leaning Rock, on miscellaneous license j at Is per acre rental, on condition that he surrenders his water rights in M'Arthur's Gully. John Bodkin to be offered 210 acres j between fence and road on miscellaneous j license at an annual rent of 7s per acre. Allotments 29 and 30, Greenfield Settlement, executors of James Brand (deceased)" j to Thos. Aitchison; application to cancel j board's approval and to substitute fresh transfer. —Approved. Sections 29 and 30, j Greenfield Settlement, executors of late j Jas. Brand to John Craig.—Approved, j George Munro applied for a yearly license ; over sections 4 and 5, block IX, Town of Moeraki. —Referred to ranger for report Section 13, block XVII, Town of Palmerston. —To bo offered at auction at upset value of £4O. Brodriok and Chalmer, on behalf of Geo. Elliott, again applied for a lease over part of section 13, block IV, Lower Wanaka : district, under section 129 of the Land Act. —Granted at a capital value of £1 per acre, j Jas. M'Gono applied for run 17a and sec- j tion 4, block XVI, Kyeburn and Mam- j wenua districts, under section 138 of " The Land Act, 1908." —Received; land otherwise dealt with. Transfer of pastoral runs: —Sections 2325, block VII, Table Hill district, Robert M'Caw to Jas. Cutler. —Approved. Run 79c, Sutton district, Howard Wentworth ! Bailey to Thos. Peach.—Recommended for : approval. H. Scbaumann appeared before the board , to ask reconsideration _ of his application J for extra land adjoining his occupation ' lease over section 59, block IX, Leaning Rock district. —Resolution of September 13

lescinded and application granted' in respect of area as applied for, subject to consent of runholder. The board decided to offer run 17a, with section 1, block VIII, Domet district, and section 4, block XVI, Maruwenua district, as a small grazing run at an annual rent of £75; also to offer sections 2, block 111, 3, block IV, 1, block VI, and 2, block VII, Kakanui district, as a small grazing run at an annual rent of 4 4-5 d per acre. Section 39, block VI, Glendmaru district, was reoommen3ed to be .re-offered for selection at same capital value with valuation for improvements reduced to £95. COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS. LONDON, December 12. Wheat: An Australian cargo has been sold at 35s 7£cL and 13,000 quarters of Victorian and 6200 tons of South Australian (December shipment) at 36s 3^d. Bank: Australasia, £ll2 to £114; New South Wales, £42 to £43; National of Australasia, £5 5s to £5 10s; National of New Zealand, £5 5s to £5 10s. New Zealand Loaii and Mercantile Agency Company, £9B. ' December 13. At the tallow sales 690 casks were offered, and 507 sold. Prices are unchanged. The American visible wheat supply is 110,190,000 bushels. December 15. The Bank of England returns show the stock of gold coin and bullion to be £34,999,000; reserve, £25,713,000; proportion of reserve to liabilities, 49.40. The notes in circulation total £28,691,000; public deposits, £14,489,000; other deposits, £37,558,000; Government -securities, £15,237,000; other securities £28,800,000. The bank rate of discount is 4 per cent. Short loans are discounted at 3-| per cent., and three months' bills as follow : London, 3|- per cent. ; Paris, 3£ per cent.: Berlin, 5 per cent. Consols are quoted at £77 ss. The following are the quotations for colonial Government stocks, compared with those ruling a week previous :

The Bradford wool market is steady, and prices are unchanged. The European wheat markets are firm on

account of the unsettled weather in Argentina, though American and Canadian aro weak under the influence of the enormous visible supply. The price of 35s 9d is asked for Australian, off coast; 36s 3d ex steamer, Dec ember-January shipment; 36s 9d for sailed in September; 30s 3d has been paid for a parcel of December shipment. Occasional sales are made of Australian spot at about 375; New Zealand best, 36s 3d to 35s 6d; medium, 34s 6d to 355. « The flour market in inactive. Australian on passage is offering at 24s 6d, c.i.f. Oats are firm, with good trade. B grade Gar tons, March-April shipment, 20s 6d, c.i.f.; Laplata, December, 16s 7|d. Beans are firm and unchanged. Peas : Spot are neglected. The butter market is quiet. Danish about 138 s; Australian and New Zealand unchanged, except unsalted, which \b slightly in buyers' favour owing to its abundance, especially without preservative, which is offering in London, though there is an absence of Continental demand. Cheese : Good trade, and prices unchanged. Bacon is very slow. Danish, 50s to 525; Australian, nominally 465. December 16. Eight thousand quarters of New South Wales wheat were sold at 36s 6d. Copra active. South Sea bags £23 10s. Copper: Spot, £6l 16s 9d ; three months, £62 12s 6d; electrolytic. £64. Tin: Spot,' £199 : three months, £l9l 15s. Lead: Imoorts 19,284 tons; Australian, 6893 tons; New Zealand. 23 tons; exports 4012 tons. Jute: December-January shipments, £l9 58. Romp: Dull; January-March shipments £2O. Rubber, 4s 6d. .. Cotton: December-January shi Dinents 4.85 d. The price of silver is 25 IQ-I6d per oz. December 17. Rabbits.—Quiet and firm. Bcwt largo Sydneys, 16s, ex store. Hares are unsaleable. Sheep.—Unchanged. New Zealand ewes, 3 7-16 d. Lambs. —Unchanged Beef.—Fores. 2fd; hind*. 33d. Australian Sheep.—Light, 3|d; heavy, 3 5-16 d ; ewes, 3gd. Lambs. —Unchanged. Beef.,—Fores, 2£d ; hinds. 3§d South American Sheep.—Light, 3fd; heavy, Beef.—Frozen fores, 2£d; hinds, 3|d; chilled fore*. 27d; hinds, 4§d. Silver.—2s£d per ounce. Galvanised iron, £l4 2s 6d and £l3 12s 6d. Fencing wire. £8 2s 6d. Iron bars, £6 12s 6d. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,700,000 quarters, and far the Continent 1,150,000 quarters. The Atlantic shipments were 271,000 quarters, and the Pacific 45,000 quarters. The totals fare: —Europe, 1.010,000 quarters; Argentina, 100,000

quarters; Russia. 195.000 quarters; Danubian provinces. 194,000 quarters: India. , 76,000 quarters; and Australasia, 85,000 quarters. NEW SOUTH WALES WHEAT YIELD. SYDENY, December 18. The Herald's mid-harvest estimate of the wheat yield is 20,600.000 bushels—an average of about 10 bushels per acre. SHEEPSKIN SALES. LONDON. December 14. At the sheep-skin sales 7576 bales were catalogued and 4062 sold. There was a good attendance and animated bidding. Merinos were id and crossbreds id higher. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile . Agency Company has received the follow- | ing-advice by cable from its "London office regarding the sheepskin market: —" Merino sheepskins and crossbred lambskins have advanced crossbred combing sheepskins £d to |d, and short and shorn crossbred sheepskins id to Id. December 15. At the sheepskin sales practically all the lots were sold. Compared with the Ooto- ] ber sales merino?, crossbreds, and clothings were id to gd higher, merino combings id, fine crossbred combings id, and coarse . |d to |d higher. DUNEDIN MARKETS. WHOLESALE PRODUCE REPORTS. Linda-ay and Oolumb. Princes stioet south, report under date th© 19th inst.: — j

per ton Oaten chaff i J'rime 85/O—BO/0 Medium 75/d—Bo/ i Ryegrass :md clover ] iu<y ... SO/0 ! Straw: j Wheaten 35/o—4o/0 Oaten.. 45/o—l7/h ■ Onions, good Rolled hacou ... VJI Side bacon ... 9d • Smoked hams ... 10 I I Cheese ... 6£d—7d Good salt butter lOd to , l?d, acoordins lo j quality

"W'hpax per bushel. Best millins 3/10-4/0 Medium do ... 3/9 Fowls' ... 3/6—3/9 Millingoats 3/I—3/2 Feed oats ... 3/o—3/1 Malt barley ... 4/9 Feed barley 3/I—3/6 Cape barley ... 3/« Maize 3/6 per ton. Flour, in 200" s ... 185/0 Flour, iuoO'- ... 200/0 Pollard 100/ Bran 95/ Oatmeal, in 25's 270/0 Pearl barley .. 256/U

Potatoes.—Market showing a decided decline. Sound, freshly-picked lots are inquired for at: tip to £1 5s to £1 10s, medium and inferior difficult to sell. FARM AND DAIB.Y PHODtTCB. Messrs Irvine and Stevenson. George street reDort payins for produce during the week ending the 19th inst., as follows: Fresh i-sks. Is 2d dnz ISepirator butter, RJd Saltbuuer: not buying | per lb

Fresh butter, good ordinary (in lib and Jib prints), 9d to lid per lb. Pigs, 1301 bto 1601 b, s£d. Honey, 3Jd. Fowls, 3s to 3s 6d (boiling). Potatoes, £1 per ton.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLEGRAM WELLINGTON, December 13.

The High Commissioner cabled from London on December 12 (quotations, unless otherwise .specified, are the average market prices on spot) : Eggs: Prices firm for new laid; otherwise market dull, with a, downward tendency ; large supply. Quotations (per 120) : Home, 16s 6d to 28s; Russian. 7s 6d to 10s; Italian, lis to 16s; Danish, 15s to 19s; Austrian, £s 3d to 12s; Dutch, 13s 6d to 225; French, lis to 19s. Poultry : Market quiet; firm. Chickens, Home 7d to 9d per lb; Russian, 7Jd. to Ducklings, Home 7d to Bjd. Turkeys Ho-rnn. 9d to Is; Continental, 7d to B£d;' French, 8d to ?£d. Bacon: Market quiet but 6fceady, with a fair demand at rates named below: — Sides —Irish, 50s to 60s per cwt; Continental, 48s to s?s: Canadian, 48s to 545; American, .48s to 545. Hams: The market is quiet, and small business is doing in large sizes; smaller size scarce. Irish, 78s to 120 s per cwt; English, 90s to 112 s; Canadian, 56s to 675; American, 52s to 625. December 18

The High Commissioner cabled from London on December 16 (the quotations, unless otherwise specified, are the average market prices on spot): — Mutton.—Ma-rket firm; dull sale for all qualities, but the stocks on hand are light, and small shipments are expected. Canterbury. 4gd- North Island, 4d. Lamb. —Better demand. Australian supplies are increasing. New Zealand stock is exhausted. Australian, 4gd. Beef.—Market very firm. No shipment of North American has been made for three weeks. Stocks of New Zealand on hand are light. New Zealand hinds, 3ld; New Zealand fores, 2|d. Butter.—Market firm; good demand. Thie .average Tirioe flor the week for choicest New Zealand was 1325; Australian, 1275: Argentina, 128»; Danish, 138 s; Siberian,, 1265. . Cheese.—Market firm, with more inquiry. The average price for the. week for finest New Zealand cheese was 695. Hemp. —Market quiet, but steady, at about the quotations already given. New Zealand good fair, on soot. £l9 lQis; New Zealand fair uxaA*. a \ fa-u; current

Manila, £2O. Forward shipments: New Zealand good fair, £2O; New Zealand fair, grade, £l9; fair current Manila, £2O 10s. The output,from Manila for the week was 26,000 bales. '

Wool.—Market remains firm for a.l grades. Wheat.— Market very quiet at last quotations —viz.: Long-berried, 35s 6d per quarter; short-berried, 34s 6d per quarter. Oats. —'Market firm, with an improved demand. New Zealand short sparrowbills. ex granary, per quarter of 3841 b, 23s 6dj Danish, per quarter of 3201 b, 19s 6d. Beana.—New Zealand, f.a.q., new crop, per 5041 b, 365. Market firm, owing to reduced supplies. ' . , Peas. —Market very quiet; nothing doing. New Zealand partridge, per 5041 b, 39a_ Cocksfoot Seed.—Market firm; light stocks on hand

OAMARU MARKETS. (From Oub Own Correspondent.) O AMARU, December 16. There has.been a little inquiry for wheat during the Weak, but buyers are not prepared to give the price sought by growers. A few small lines have been acquired in th© country, the prices paid being 3s 6d less commision, with delivery in Oamaru, and 3s 5d net for Tuscan, and 3s 4d net for mixod parcels, both on trucks at country stations. The best quotation at country stations to-day is 3s 5d net, and an offer of a good line at a penny more money did not increase business The biggest business has been done ex store, a line of 500 sacks of velvet and a mixed line of about- the same dimensions having been sold at 3s 6d. the price being subject to ..brokerage. Fowl wheat, for which there is some demand, has been sold at 3s 9d f.o.b Some parcels offered of Garton oats have changed hani'ss at 2s 7d net and 2s B£d and 2s 9d, less commission, all on trucks at country stations. Oatsheaf chaff has been offered at £4 ss, delivered Oamaru, but no business has been recorded, both oats and oaten sheaf chaff having weakened in value owing to the prospect of the new season's produce coming on the market in three weeks. SOUTHLAND MARKETS. (From O::;: Own C'GFKESPOxnKST.) INVERCARGILL, December 16. Oats. — The oat market is rather quieter owing to the absence of demand from the North Island. No doubt, however, the market will improve again after the New Year: ■ The quietness in the North is appreciably affecting merchants. Quotations in Invercargill as supplies are scarce. However, it is probable that offers in the vicinity of 3s 2d t.o.b.s.i. would find acceptance to-day for prime shipments. The price offering to farmers is rather less than last week as 2s 8d to 2s 9d for A grade Cartons would be about the value in the meantime. That is, of course, on trucks at country sidings, and sacks extra. Chaff. —The chaff market is very quiet, and sales arc difficult to effect. About £4 on trucks is the best price now obtainable for deliveries near at hand to Invercargill. For long distances as low as £3 15s would be accepted by farmers. Owing to tho absence of shipping facilities nothing can be done with Auckland before the second week in January at the earliest, and offerings at, present are more than equal to the local demand. Potatoes. —-There is very little doing in 'potatoes. There are a few sales of old potatoes at from 15s to 20s on trucks, but merchants are only buying on firm order. There is still a good quantity held by farmers, who are anxious to get out even at the low prices above mentioned. There are not locally grown new potatoes available, but supplies have been brought from Auckland, and new potatoes are bean? retailed here at about 2£d per lb. Hemp.—The hemp market continues very quiet, and there is no change to report from last week. The latest advices from Manila are to the effect that the_ totxl hemp received at the various ports in tho Philippine Islands for the period from January 1 to October 15, 1911, was 99,813 tons,, as against 103,587 tons for the samo period of the preoeding year. The production, however, of both Manila and S.-sal continues on such a largo scale that New Zealand 'hemp is unlikely to rise abovw present values until conditions alter. GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Messr s Donald Reid and Co. report:— We held our auction sale of grain and produce on Monday, when values ruled as under: —Oats: Owing to a falling-off in the demand from the North Island the market has been very quiet during the week. The few sales passing are on the basis of lower values and are not readily effected. Prime milling, 3s; good to best feed, 2s lOd to 2s lid j inferior to medium, 2s 8d to 2s 9d per bushel, sacks extra. Wheat: Cable reports indicate a firmer tone in the London and. Australian markets. l/ooal millers are fairly well stocked, and are not anxious to operate except in small lots of choice

qualities for mixing purposes. Fowl wheat is more plentiful, but meets good demand. Prime milling velvet, 3s ]od to 3s lid; Tuscan, etc., 3s to 3s 9d; medium, 3s 8d to 3s B£d; best whole fowl wheat, 3s 6d to 3s. 7d; medium, 3s 3d to 3s sd; broken and damaged, 2s 9d to 3s 2d per bushel, sacks extra. Potatoes: Supplies of old potatoes have slackened, and best lots are worth about 50s to 60s per ton, sacks included. ChafS: Moderate consignments are coming forward. These, if prime, meet ready sale ad quotation*, but indifferent lots aa*e not readily placed, Best oaten sheaf, £4 os to £4 7s 6d; choice black oat, £4 10s; medium to good, £3 5s to £4 2s 6d; light and discoloured, £3 5s to £3 10s per ton, bags extra;

Messrs Dalgety and Co. report as follows :—We held our weekly auction sale of grain on Monday, when wo offered a fairsized catalogue to the usual attendance of the trade. Bidding was slack, and the bulk of the offerings were passed in. The following are quotations:—Oats: The market remains in the same quiet state. In the absence of shipping demand, the market slightly easier. Very few lines are coming in from the country. Prime milling, 3s; good to best feed, 2s lid to 3s; medium, 2s 9d to 2s lOd; inferior, 2s 7d to 2s 9d per bushel (bags extra). Wheat: There is nothing fresh to report. Millers are not operating, and quotations are only nominal. Prime velvet, 3s lOd to 3s lid; prime velvet ea.r and Tuscan, 3s to 3s 9jjd; beat whole fowl feed, 3s 7£d to 3s Bd;' inferior, 5s 3d to 3s 6d per bushel (bag 3 extra). Potatoes: Owing to the small prices ruling consignments have esa/sed. There is a good demand for any prime lines coming to hand at from. £1 to 25s per ton bags in. Chaff: Prime oaten sheaf is sought after. Medium quality is very difficult to place. Choice black oaten chaff, £4 10s; good chaff, £4 5s to £4 7s 6d; medium, £3 5s to £3 15s; inferior, • £2 10s to £2 15s per ton (bags extra). HIDE SALES. MELBOURNE, December 14. At the hide sales there were moderate supplies. Competition was keiya, and prices were very firm. Messrs Waters, Ritchie, and Co. report as follows: —We held our sale of hides at our stores, Crawford street, yesterday morning, when there wa3 a good attendance of buyers. Competition was keen, and prices ruled very firm at late quotations. Calfskins "were again eagerly inquired for, and we obtained up to lOjd per lb. As it was only a week ago since we held our last sale ouir catalogue was a small one, being made up to 252 hides and 471 yearling and calfskins—a total of 723. Our top price for ox was B|d and for cow 6§d. The following were some of our best prices : —Ox : One 611 b, B|d; one 661 b, 8d; five 631 b, 8d; five 631 b, 7gd; one 651 b, 7|d: two 611 b, 7|d; one 721 b, 7^d; one 641 b, 7|d; six 581 b, 7§d: three 631 b, 7|d; two 551 b, 7£d; three 631 b, 7£d; three 621 b, 7£d; one 721 b, 7£d; three 581 b, 7d; eight 531 b, 7d; one 681 b, 7d: three 711 b, 61d; three 481 b, 6f d; two 531 b. 6|d; three 451 b, 6M; two 521 b, 6|d; 12 561 b, 6|d; six 451 b, 6|d; one 521 b, 6|d; three 471 b, 6|d; four 541 b, 6Ad; three 431 b. Cow: Three 531 b, 6|d; three 511 b, 6?d ; seven 441 b, 6'fd ; three 521 b, 6|d; nine 541 b, 6fd; three 491 b, 6|d; 14 441 b, 6|d: eight 431 b, 6|d; 16 461 b, 6|d; three' 451 b. 6|d; one 481 b, 6fd; three 351 b, 6id; nine 451 b, 6£d; six 631 b, 6Ad; two 521 b. 6£d; three 471 b, 6id; four 371 b, 6£d; three 341 b, 6£d per lb. We quote: Ox —Extra stout heavy, 8d to 9d; stout heavy, 7|d to 7|d; heavy, 6£d to 7d; medium, 6d to 6f d; light, 6id to 6|d. Cow—Stout heavy, 6£d to 7d; heavy and medium, 6£d to 6|d; light, to ; damaged and bad-conditioned ox and cow, from 4JL-d to 6d; bull and stag, 4£d to s£d. Calfskins, 9|d to 10W for best; medium, 9d to 9|d; damaged and inferior, to B£d per lb. SHEEPSKINS.. The Bank of New Zealand ba s received the following advice from London:—" Tho market is strong for all kinds of sheepskins. Prices are higher 5 per cent, to 7| per cent." DUNEDIN HORSE SALEYARDS. Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report as follows:—Wo had a fair entry of horses forward for Saturday's sale, but there were no animals of outstanding merit in the yard. Tho country consignments were staunch, reliable sorts, but were mostly aged and showing signs of hard work. Town buyers were present in force, on the look-out for sound young horses fit to go into hard work, and several farmers were asking for the same class of animal. As usual, aged and stale horses were hard to place. With one exception we sold all the country consignments at satisfactory prices. We quote: Superior young draught geldings, £4O to £SO; medium, draught mares and geldings, £35 to £4O; aged draught mares and geldings, £ls to £2O; strong spring van horses, £25 to £3O;

hacks, £lO to £l2 for medium ; extra good, £lB to £25. OTAGO FARMERS' HORSE BAZAAR. The Otago Fanners' Go-operative Association of New Zealand (Ltd.) report: We held our usual weekly sale at our bazaar, Crawford street, on Saturday last, when he had an entry of over 20 horses. The bulk of the entry oonsisted of light harness and buggy horses. There was a fair attendance of town and country buyers, and although bidding was slow at the commencement, as the sale progressed we managed to dispose of a pood number at fair values. Quotations: Extra good Clydesdale mares and fillies, suitable for stud purposes, 50gs to 75gs; good young diraught mares, £35 to £45; superior young draught geldings, suitable for shaft or lorry work, £35 to £45; extra, to £55; ordinary draught mares and geldings, at from £25 to £32; aged draughts, at from £8 to £2O ; strong upstanding vanners, at from £lB to £3O; heavy spring-carters', at from £lB to £25; ordinary spring-carters, at from £l4 to £25; upstanding buggy horses, at from £l6 to £22; hackneys and cob ponies, at from £8 to £l2. TIMARU FARM SALE. TIMARU, December 14. An auction sale took plaoe to-day of a farm called Rocky Hundreds, of 456 acres, the part being one-eighth of a mile from the south town boundary, subdivided into 37 lots of three to 37 acres. Bidding was spirited for all but the four larger lots, and the sections sold at prices from £42 to £67 per acre for the small sections, and £34 to £3B for the larger sections. FARM PROPERTY SALES. Messrs E. L. Macassey and Co. report having sold tho following farm properties recently:—-On account of Mr Robert Brun ton, his freehold dairy farm of 90 acres and milk run d-t Anderson's Bay, together with all stock, implements, and crop, to Mr James 1 Burns, of Gore, at a satisfactory figure. On account of Mr William Gourley, his freehold dairy farm of 45 acres, at Anderson's Bay, together with milk run and crops, to Mr S. Hazlett, of Milburn. On account of Mr F. Read, his farm of 800 acres, at Glenham, to Mr Andrew Fell, of Waikouaiti. On account of Mr John Johnstone, of Sawyers' Bay, his freehold house and orchard, at Alexandra, to Mr William Tucker, of Albury, Canterbury. On account of Mr James Burns, his freehold farm of 90 acres, at Anderson's Bay, together with milk run, stock, and crops, as a going concern, to. Mr Adam Biockie, of Green Island. On account of Mr A. Chricton, his,, leasehold dairy farm of 92 acres Green Island Bush, together with milk run and stock, as a going oonceirn, to Mr Peter Howman, of Dunedin. On account of Mr M. Barritt, his leasehold farm of 54 acres, at Seacliff, to Mr H. Thomson, of Palmerston. PROPERTY SALES. Messr3 Todd Bros, and Company, (Ltd.) report having negotiated the following sales: —On account of Messrs John Haugh, jun. (to George Cockburn)—2so acres L.i.p., Pomahaka Downs Estate; Thomas Aitohison (to Edward Duff) —212 acres freehold near Kelso; W. F. Sim (to W. May)—-202 acres of freehold, Crookston; W. Shearing (to W. M'Coakerry, jun.)—247 acres 1.i.p., Pomahaka Downs Estate; Thomas Mayow (to Andrew Honour) —206 acres freehold, near Heriot; Edward Duff (to R. Corri-gan)—-1 acre freehold, with cottage thereon, in Heriot township; Wm. Brownlie (to George Towns) —j-acre freehold with buildings thereon, in Heriot township; George Duff (to Donald M'Duff) —Leasehold section at Edievale, with dwelling thereon; Joseph Sheath (to Thos. S. Mason)—9 acres 32 poles, planted out in orchard, with dwelling thereon, adjoiring Fruitvale; Miss Bennet, Raes Junction (to Messrs Duff Bros.) —56 acres freehold, and 150 acres leasehold land. Also (in conjunction with Messrs Wright' Stephenson and Company), on account of Messrs Malcolm Carmichael (to Mrs Wilkins) —739 acres 3 roods, Moa Flat homestead block; J. G. Sutherland (to John M'Kenzie)—lßß acres freehold, Crookston; , T ames Palmer (to John Hough, jun.)—s22 acres freehold, known as Island Block, Millers Flat district. They have also sold the following lots for Mr Jas. L. Herbert, Fruitvale :—Lot I—l 71 —17 acrts. to Mr Vanes, architect, Dunedin ; lot 2—52 acres, to Mr 11. Turner, exporter, Dunedin; lot 12 —50 acres, to Mr Walter Young jeweller, Dunedin; lot 13 —90 acres, to Mr Fred Duncan, solicitor, Dunedin. At their rooms on the 13th inst. Messrs Park Reynolds, (Ltd.) offered for sale 12 budding sites in St, Clair. The sections comprised the late Mr R. M'Quaid's property, and had frontages to Ravenswood street, lying between Allandale road and Valpy street. There was a large attendance of tho piiblic, and competition for the lotg was good throughout. The following are tho details: —Section 1 (38.3 poles)", £145; section 2 (lrood 2.5 poles), £137 10s; section • 3 (1 rood 2.8 poles), £170; section 4 (38 poles), £180.: section 5 (21.5 poles),

£80; section 6 (20.6 poles), £65; section 7 (19.6 poles), £65; section 8 (17 poles), £SO; section 9 (1 rood 0.5 poles), £9O; section 10 (1 rood 9.2 poles), £80; section 11 (1 rood 14 poles, two conservatories, house and shed), £150; section 12 (1 rood 8.1 poles and .conservatory), £IOO. Sections 24 and 25 ia Sea View.. Terrace, Allandale, were also submitted to auction, and found a buyer at £65 each.

The Perpetual Trustees, Estate, and Agency Company report holding a sal© of freehold quarter-acre section and fourroomed cottage in Melbourne street, South Dunedin, in the estate of the late John Dunster, at their auction rooms on the 14th. There was an exceptionally largo attendance and many bidders. The propertystarted at £250, and rapidly reached £442 10s, at which price it was knocked down to Mr Goldsmith (as agent). Messrs Alex. Harris and Co. on the 14th submitted for sale by auction at their rooms, Princes street, 12 sections in the new township of St. Clair Park, near the intersection of District road and York road. The attendance was very limited, doubtless owing to the attractions of the second ballot declarations. Out of the 12 sections submitted four found purchasers as follows: Section 4, coirmrising 29.9 poles, with & frontage of 55ft to P. Ireland, £65; section 10, comprising 29.3 poles, with a frontage of 50ft to York road, to P. Ireland, £651 section 11, comprising 29.9 poles, with a frontage of 50ft to York road, to A. Taylor, at £6O; section 7, comprising 28.3 poles, with a frontage of 50ft to York road, ttf Walter Wood at £6O. The' remaining seo tions were passed in owing to the reserves not being reached or no bids being received. Messrs Alex. Harris and Co., auctioneers, on Friday offered for sale a city freehold property at the oorner of St. David and Forth steets. The property offered comprised one-quarter acre, together with building, and was submitted on behalf of the trustees in the estate of the late Mr James Robertson. Bidding stopped at £BOO for the property in one % lot. The property was then submitted in separate lots. Part section 41, block XXXVI, with a frontage of 66ft to Sit. David street and of 66ft to Forth street, realised £3OO, thd buyer being Mr James Oliver. The section with dwelling, conservatory, etc, was passed in at £545- Part section 41, block XXXVI, with frontage of 37ft to St. David street and by a depth of 66ft, started with a bid of £IOO, and was finally quitted at £2OO. Messrs Sievwright and Haggitt offered for sale at auction on Friday at midday 84£ acres of fruit land situated at Island Block. There was only a limited attend: ance of buyers, and the price offered did not reach the reserve and the section was passed in. Dater on in the afternoon it was sold privately at £6 8s per acre.

Dec. 8. Dec. 15 New South Wales 4's .. 105 105 New South Wales 34's . .. 99 984 New South Wales 3's ,. 874 874 Victoria 4's 1014 101 Victorian 3's .. 97 964 Victorian 34's .. 84 844 Queensland 4's .. 1011 1004 Queensland 34's .. 98A .. 84* 984 Queensland 3's 844 South Australian 34's .. 984 97 South Australian 3's .. 82 804 New Zealand 4's ... . ... . 105 105 New Zealand 34's ... . .. 964 964 New Zealand 3's ... , ... 864 864 Tasmanian 34's .. 964 964 Tasmanian 3's West Australian 34'a .. 85 85 .. 954 954 West Australian. 3's „ ... 86 86