OUR ENGLISH WOOL LETTER

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 13

OUR ENGLISH WOOL LETTER

(Fhom Otjb Special Corbespondfnt.) BRADFORD, December 20. ARRIVALS OF WOOL FAIRLY LARGE. The question that is still uppermost in the. minds of the entire trade is that of supplies, and the only source of information regarding this important subject is the monthly Board of Trade returns. It is significant that, ■ up to the present, no issue of Dalgetty's Annual Review is 'to hand, which should have been published early in July. There has been no Australian mail now for many weeks, and we seem, to be going through a period similar to that when Australia and England were ,only connected by sailing vessels. It took Samuel Marsden nearly nine months to reach Australia, and nowadays mails are arriving three months .after being posted. However, so long as the Board of Trade Returns are published, the indus'try will be < able to gain an intelligent idea of arrivals, and the monthly figures are being watched like a cat looking for a mouse. The cutting down of the civilian ration for the current four- months has struck consternation into the entire trade,' including workers, because everyone now realises that it means short time or else the stoppage of considerable machinery. The National Service Department raises seriousobjections to running short time, and urges the stoppage of machinery. This is not the idea of spinners and manufacturres. In days gone by,, when a firm has been slack, they have not adopted the American method of shutting down entirely, but rather letting hands play in their turn. It has been no uncommon thing in days gone by to see a weaver, on "felling out," stay at home one or two weeks, and they have resumed work in 'their turn. That is the policy favoured 'to-day; but the officials of the department, in their suoerior wisdom, think otherwise. During the past 12 months it has been seen that men who have never been inside a factory, and who do not know local conditions,. profess to be able to manage 300 to 1000 work-people better than those who have been at the all their life. The fairest way in face of the present shortage is to let masters run what machinery they like and the hours they like, leaving it to them to dole out work 'to the operatives. We have little doubt this would find acceptance with their whole staff. These wise officials seem to overlook the important fact that, when machinery comes to stand, it soon spoils and leaving mastdr3 to do as they think best would mean the running of their machinery in a way which would keep combs, spindles, and looms in a fit condition for running full time when supplies were adequate. . THE STATISTICAL POSITION. ' Last, week-end the Board of Trade Returns for November were published, and the imports of overseas wool suoplies set forth below cannot but be regarded as fairly satisfactory. The imports have been maintained in a better way than the majority expected in view of the rumours which have been current. According 'to Messrs Dalgety and Co (Ltd.) an Australasian wool bale during recent years has averaged round 3301 b. Taking that as the basis, the arrivals last month totalled 106,148 bales, compared with 86,713 bales in the corresponding month of 1916, and 74,147 bales in' Noyember, 1915. In an ordinary time November always sees the arrival of considerable quantities of Australian new clip merino wool, and about 100,000 bales can be regarded as average arrivals, because frequently at the last series of London sales there were available £O,OOO bales ■ of new imports. If we take the 11 months of this year, the amount of colonial and -foreign wool retained in this country—that is, after deducting re-exports from im-

SOUTH AMERICAN WOOLS. The Board of Control at their ninth meeting last Tuesday had up for consideration the importation of South American wools, and at last it has been roalised what a huge blunder the* department has made in practically telling the trade that when thg opportunity served any wool landing on these shores from South America would be commandeered at their price, and not a market one. This meant holders. being faced with serious loss ; hence no buying has been done since last June, much to the detriment of stocks in this country. It has taken the wise members of the department six months to wake up to the position, and now they are prepared to grant facilities for buying. But it is too late. The bus has been missed, for when freight .was obtainable and wool could have been landed here safely, not a bale came to hand. There has been great heart-burnings in Liverpool among the selling brokers there, who for many years have handled some of 'the bestgrown South American crossbred clips owned . by Englishmen, for every bale has gone to Boston. However, the Board of Control now suggests the advisability of granting every facility for members of the trade operating at Buenos Aires, Bahia Blanca, and Montevideo, and no objection is to be made to the sale oi this wool Eroviding it comes to hand. High as values ave been in South America, Bradford topmakers could easily have paid the figures, landed wool here, and sold same at a profit but for State interference. The Joint Rationing Committee has now to go thoroughly into the question, and to co-opt advisory members with a view of considering it in all its bearings. All .that they have to do is. to guarantee importers a profit of 3 to 5 per cent., because whatever wool arrives is worth all that it will cost. EFFECTIVE RABBIT POISONINGMr Thomas Davidson, of Waitahuna, has been very successful in the use of strychnine for destroying rabbits, according to the Tuapeka Times. His property comprises a fair amount of rough ground. Since the New Year he has had _ the ground trapped twice (some parts six or seven times), and in addition used 801 b of phosphorised pollard poison. As battalions of rabbits continued to visit his turnips at night time he decided to try a recipe strongly recommended by Mr Blair, a, Hillond farmer, which had appeared in the Otago Witness. This is the use of steamed oats mixed with treacle, with finally a dusting of strychnine. Mr Davidson ran a furrow round" his hundred-acre turnip field, and for three nights he laid out in the furrow a quantity of the steamed oats with which the treacle had been mixed, and found that the mixture was apparently relished by bunny, for on each morning the furrow was bare. On the fourth night he laid 421 b of the mixture after having dusted over it £oz of strychnine', and again it was eaten with avidity by Mr Rabbit; but this was his last feed. On going round his field in the. morninjj Mr Davidson had the satisfaction

of picking up 156 dead rabbits, and on the following morning he got 132, and expects yet another gathering. He is delighted, and supplies lis with the result "of his experiment so that his fellow-settlers might be' made aware of the effectiveness of this inexpensive mode of dealing with the pest. The whole cost was, ho says, not more than 15s, and the price of the skins obtained will cover this two or three times over. THE WEATHER. (Fhoji Odb Own CoEBjcaPONrvENTS.) GERALDINE, March 1. The rainfall registered here for February was 3.425 points. Rain fell on 18 days, the maximum fall being 1.775, on the 15th. Mean barometer 29.76, maximum 30.20; average 29.24. -Mean temperature 62.75, maximum 84, minimum 42, mean minimum' 72.85, mean minimum 52.25. HILLGROVE March 2. The rainfall registered here for'the period ended February 28 was 2.66 points. In this district the rainfall just stopped short of spoiling the grain crops. Turnips and rape are doing better than has been the case for years. WAIKOUAITT, March 1. The rainfall recorded here for the month of February was as follows: —February 4 59 poits, sth 11 points, 6th 13 points, 7th 52 points,, Bth 6 points, 9th 7 points,_ 16th 4 points, 17th 34 points, 18th 1 point;— total, 187 points. CROMWELL, February 27. During the last two days the weather-has shown a marked change from the dry conditions prevailing for the last six -weeks. Several light showers fell yesterday, and again this morniog, followed by indications of a further fall, but beyond unsettled weather, with a cold southerly wind, the rainfall has not been sufficient to meet the. requirements of the pastoralists. DIPTON, February 26. The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9.30 a.m. was 56 points. TBI BREABSTIjFFS Atfß PRODUCE SIAIJKRTS. ' Friday evening. So much has been saidl recently in connection with the world's supply of wheat and flour that statistics published in Messrs King and Cb.'s weekly circular of November 13 are of interest. Therein it is stated that the world's stocks during October increased by 28,000,000 bushels, and are the second largest in j recent years. These include Australian wheat, which is only partlv available. American stocks increased 33,000,000 bushels in October, against 51,000,000 bushels a year ago. The total figures of the world on November 1 compare with those of preceding years at the corresponding date as follows: Millions of Bushels. 1913. 1914. J 915. 1316. 1917. November 1 ... 228 234 200 276 264 A parcel of Australian w r heat on passage has been sold at 79s 6d per 4801 b, c.i.f. Recent statements to the effect that Great Britain- has found it necessary to draw upon ■ her reserves of wheat in the United King-' dom owing to reduced shipments from the United States brings the Argentine more conspicuously before the wheat-importing centres. Estimates of the current season's surplus wheat in Argentina leave a good deal to the imagination, owing to the wide margins . between the various authorities. The Government indicated that the surplus would reach 176,000,000 bushels, but other sources gave as low as 112,000,000 bushels as the likely figure. "Broomhall's" .report at the end of November states that "owing to frost his agent at Buenos Ayres has reduoed his estimate of the surplus to 132,000,000 bushels. This, is a good quantity for export, and proba-bly it will not be shipped in 1918 unless feeding grain and linseed! are greatly neglected. It is unlikely that all will be sold to the Entente Powers, but as they control practically all supplies of coal and bags, ■it should not be very difficult to effect a satisfactory arrangement on their behalf." Supplies of Canterbury and North Otago grown wheat are again coming to the local market, and millers should now be able to resume gristing operations. Flour is quoted at £ls a ton. Oatmeal £2l a ton for 25's : pearl barley, £25 10s; pollard, £7 10s (fixed by Government); bran, £4 5s (fixed by Government). Government prices for wheat: 5s 10d per bushel all round! for February, x March, and April delivery. The local market is bare of. oats, and there is not a great many yet being offered from the country. Taieri-grown have been sold at 4s, and the supplies from further south are not yet coming forward in any quantity. The Canterbury crop has not been too plentiful, and as a result buyers who have required oats for prompt delivery have been forced to seek supplies in the south before the oats were fully available. A line of heavy A Cartons was purchased from the Tapanui district by a Dunedin buyer during the week at 3s 9d on trucfts. There is not the keen desire to secure oats experienced early last week, and the market has a slightly easier tendency. Farmery, however, generally speaking, are firm holders. ■ PRODUCE REPORT. There is little change in the chaff market. Any consignments of good) quality are realising £6 10s, delivered Dunedin. Supplies of potatoes are on the short side The first crop is about finished, and the main crop has not yet commenced to arrive in quantity. There is no oaten or wheaten straw Coming forward, but, on the other hand, there is very little demand. Both local and Christchur.ch bacon rolls have advanced) id per lb during the week. There was only a- medium yarding of fat pig 3 on offer at Burnside on ■ Wednesdsv. with a larger number than usual of small pigs. Although competition was keen, prices for all classes were somewhat below last week's high rates. Best baconers sold up to B|d per lb, and best porkers from Bid to Bid per lb. Current wholesale prices -are as follow : Fowl Wheat.—Australian, 7s 3d a bushel; New Zealand grown, unprocurable in the meantime. Chaff.—Prime oaten sheaf, about £6 10s; medium to good, £4 to £4 10s (sacks extra). Potatoes, £6 10s to £7 per ton (sacks in). Straw.—Oaten, £3 10s; wheaten, £3. Eggs, Is 8d to Is 9d. Butter.—Milled bulk, Is Id to Is 2d per lb; second quality, Is; dairy separator, in lib packages, Is to Is 2d. Honey.—New season's, 9d per lb. Pigs.—Baconers, 8d to B£d per lb; porkers, to B|d. Bacon.—Rollfl, l«cal. Is 3d} Gkririciiurcli

rolls, Is 3£d; sides, Is 3d; hams, Is 3d; lam rolls, Is 3d. FRUIT REPORT. A small lino of Rarotongan bananas came to hand during the week. The fruit was in indifferent order. Prices ranged from 143 up to 27s 6d per case. A few cases of Rarotongan oranges had to be repacked. These brought 20s 9d a case. The Monowai also brought a small parcel of. Auckland grown passions. The condition of the fruit was not too good, and it averaged about 5s per case. Large quantities of tomatoe3 have- been eent in from Canterbury, but prices have been well maintained. A fair quantity, in crates, have also been forwarded by the Otago Central growers. Apricots are about finished for the season. • Late peaches are now commencing to reach the market. Fairly good samples have reached up to 4d per lb. Some of the fruit is far from ripe. Central grown nectarines have been bringing remunerative prices—practically nothing less than 3d per lb up to as high as s£d for choice, in crates. Lines of Bon Ohretion pears from Canterbury and Otago f"antral have met with a ready sale. The majority of the fruit has been Williams's variety, and these have been quickly -old for bottling. Blackberries have commenced to make their appearance in quantity. There is evidently going to be a good season for this fruit. A small lot of Californian grown lemons, transhipped from the north, have made a timely appearance, and were quickly taken tip by retailers. Current wholesale prices are as follow: — Apples.—New season's dessert, 7s 9d to 10s per case; cookers, 5s to 5s 6d for best; medium, 3s to 4s. Cox's orange pippin now ooming forward. Pears.—Best to 3d; others, lid to 2d; Christehureh Bou Chretiens, Lemons. —Californian only, 455. Cuoumbora.--Local hothouse, 3s to 5s for fcfst; cutsido grown, la 9d to 2s 9d per box. Plums.-—Daasert, in crates, to sd; others, Bid to 3d; jam, l£d to 2d. Nectarines, In crates, to 5d per lb; in oases, 3d to 3Ad for best; small, 2£d to 3d. Peaches. —Cuses, 3d to 3£d; cratjs, to 4^d; jam, 2£d. Bananas, to 26s fid per case. Oranges, to 20s 9d per case. Passions.—Poor condition, 5s to 7s fid. Blackberries; 4£d to 6J>d. Quinces, 5s fid to 7s per case. Tomatoes.—Local hothouse, .fid and 7£d; Christehureh. outside, 2d, 2|d, and 3d; Central, to sd. Raspberries, fid to 7d. Grapes, Is to Is 3d. Green Peas.—Plentiful, l£d for best; Others, Is to 2s per bag. New Potatoes. —Peninsula, 9s 4d per cwt, firm; Taiori, 8s 6d per cwt. Cabbage.—Choice, up to Is 6d per dozen; inferior, Is to 2s per sack. Cauliflowers, up to 6s per dozen; medium, 2s to 3s. Lettuce, 6d to Is per case; choice, Is per dozen. Parsnips, Is to Is 6d per dozen. Carrots. new, Is per dozen. Spring onions, 2d to 3d per'bundle. French beans, Id to l£d for choice; others, Is 6d to 2s per bag; butter beans, Id per lb. " MERCHANDISE MARKET. O. and B. essences, which have just been landed, are costing moro than the local

selling price up ".to the present. The current quotation is now 14s per dozen. Morton's curry powder is worth 10s to 10s fid per dozen. The latest prices for glaxo are 12e 6d, 255, and 645. ', The wholesale prices for tinned ox tongues show a considerable divergence. The high cost is restricting the demand. Arrowroot is now quoted at 7d per lb. Sardines, halves and quarters, are in short supply. A shipment of Burmah candles arrived during the week, and is meeting with a keen demand at lid per lb. The shipment of coarse castor oil has been prohibited from. Calcutta. Local stocks are fairly heavy, a direct shipment having just come to hand. The new season's crop of Blenheim blue peas is expected 'to be available in about a fortnight's time. The quotation is 33s per cwt. Gear meats are not too plentiful. A shipment of Big Tree benzine is due to arrive within the next six weeks. Advice received from San Francisco under date January 28 states that the prospects of the output of canned and dried fruits are not encouraging. The rainfall for the season up to date had been the_ lowest the State had ever experienced sinca records had been kept. Trouble was also resulting from the lack of sufficient labour. Black spot has made its appearance in the .Mildura fruit fields, and the sultana crop has been affected. Reports state that it will be almost certain that there will be none available for export. Currants have also been affected, but not to 'the same serious extent, but here again there may be little, if any, available for export. Lexias are not so badly hurt. Apricots are a light crop, and notwithstanding the advance of 2d per lb in the commonwealth it is thought they will all be absorbed there. In view of these reports, local prices for these fruits are hardening. Tea —The quantity of tea to be offered at the Colombo sales at the end of last month was reported by cable to be threequarter million pounds— rather less than half the quantity normally offering at this time of year. The quality of the teas is reported ae good. There is a rise to-day of 3d to 3ad per lb on the landed co.it of 'teas, as compared with rates current in October last, taking freight, exchange, and other factors into account. At the last Calcutta sales common teas showed an advance equivalent to £d per lb. Other teas were also dearer'. Values were enhanced by reason of the fact that the offerings were rather small for the market's immediate requirements, extra demands having been made on account of the British tea control. COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS. LONDON, February 25. Tin: Spot, £314 10s; three months, £314 ss. Silver: 42£d per oz. February 28. Bank of England returns : Gold coin and bullion in stock, £58,287,000; reserve, £30,552,000; proportion of reserve to liabilities, 18.24 per cent.; notes in circulation, £47,251,000; Government deposits, £42,650,000; other deposits, £124,767,000; Government securities, £56,350,000; other securities, £98,641,000. Discount on short loans, 3i per cent.; throe months' bills, 3 9-16 per cent. Consols. £54 12s 6d. War loans: per cent., £B6 ss; 4 per cent., £93 15s.

West Australian 3's 69 1-5 69j * 1921-6 currency. 11920-30 currency. Butter: No distribution was made this week. Good quantities have arrived, and the Food Controllers hope to distribute onehalf the .applications for March and April. Wheat and flour: Lifeless. Oats, peas, and beans: Firm at full rates. Sugar: Unchanged. Copper: Spot, £llO ss; three months, £llO ss. Tin: Spot, £319; three months, £316. Lead: Spot, £29 10s; three months, £2B 105... Spelter: Spot, £54; three months, £SO. Silver, per oz. March 2. Hemp: There is a good demand, with prices unchanged. Rubber: Para, 2s 6d; plantation, 2s sd; half-smoked, 2s sd. Tallow: The stock numbers 695 lots, the imports 89, and the deliveries 671. HAMS AND BACON. MELBOURNE, February 28. The wholesale prices for Australian and New Zealand hams in cloth has been fixed at Is 4£d, in seed Is sgd, bacon sides Is Id, flitches Is o£d, middles Is 3d, shoulders lid. The retail prices are higher. DUIfEDIN MARKETS. FABM AND DAISY PBODUCB. ' Mr B. J. M'Abthttb (successor to Messrs M'llroy Bros.). Gecrge street, reports paying for produce during the week ending the 6th inst., as follows: Stamped fresh Eggs Honey (} lb pat), 4/6 J/9 doz Homy (bulk), Sd lb Salt Butter, 1/- lb Honey (section), 7/6 doz Sep. Butter, l/-lb Honey (Cartons), 1 lb, 6/- | 21b, 15/- doz I Beeswax, 1/8. Compressed yeast, 8d packet. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. - WELLINGTON, March 4. The High Commissioner reported as follows on March 2 (Note: The quotations, unless otherwise specified, are the average market prices on spot): . Meat.—Notwithstanding very limited supply of all descriptions of meat, present supplies meet requirements. The demand Is limited owing to the fact that supplies consist chiefly of English meat, Patagonian lamb, and Argentine mutton, ■which were selling at maximum prices. New Zealand lamb and chilled beef were in small supply. Butter. —Butter is extremely scarce, and the supply falls short of the demand. There is no change in prices. Cheese.—Stocks very light, with tho ex-

eeption of Dutch. It is estimated that the Canadian cheese stocks in London, Liverpool, and Bristol are 5144 boxes, against 23.163 boxos at tho samo time last year. Wheat.—Moro offering, and moderate business has been done at last week's quotations. Oats.—Oats are in active demand at full prices. Hemp.—The Manila hemp market is steady, with a moderate demand. Tho output during the two weeks ended 23rd February is 40,000. bales. For New Zealand spot tho market is strong. The market is quiet and steady for forward shipment. THE OAMARU MARKETS. (Feom Oub Own Correspondent.) OAMARU, March 2. Farmers, taking advantage of tho favourable weather, have been fully occupied with harvesting operations throughout the week, and consequently few samples of grain have been submitted. Some business has been done in wheat at Government prices, a few thousand sacks having changed hands in lines of from 700 sacks downwards. Oats have leaped up in values, which are about 6d a bushel higher to-day than they were a week ago. No satisfying explanation is forthcoming for this rise, and there is a feeling of uncertainty as to the future: Some in tho business are disposed to the view that present prices are not likely to be maintained, and that if Australian oats can be transported northern buying markets will case and bring down values generally. The samples of Gartons coming forward are generally of high quality, and sales of A grade have been made at 3s lOd, 3s lid, and 4s net, at country stations, while B's have touched as high as 3s lOd. Algerians have been sold at \from 3s 6d to 3s 7d net, at country stations, but no samples of really prime quality have been forthcoming. A little business has been done in perennial ryegrass seed at 3s 8d for 23-2411> samples, 3s 6d for bright but light seed, and 3s 5d for indifferent, all net at country stations. A good "heavy-weight line of mixed perennial and Italian changed hands at a country station at 3s 9d, less commission.

SOUTHLAND MARKET REPORT. (Fnoii Ouh Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, March 2. The oat market is firm, merchants' ideas of selling values being 4s 4d for B grade Gar'tons and up to 4s 6d for A grade Gartons f.0.b., s.i. This is quite the equivalent to growers of last season's high rates. Thrashing is now general, but very few samples of new season's oats have yet been offered. The yield is reported heavy in all cases, and, though the area 'under crop is considered to be less than last season, the total crop should exceed .that of last, season's; the quality also will be decidedly superior, and it is hardly likely that any Southland oats will be under B grade. Old chaff is more inclined than ever to be easier, but the recent price of £6 on trucks still holds good. It is anticipated that new chaff will open up about £4 10s to £4 15s on trucks, so a corresponding drop in values of old chaff must take place shortly. '■ With little outside demand, the grass seed market has a backward tendency. Extra heavy clean samples from the mill would probably still reach 4s 6d on trucks, but lighter samples are almost looked on with aversion, 3s 6d being full value for 211 b seed. Italian ryegrass, owing to the belief which is general among merchants that the north is well supplied, is in very little request, and even the best samples are unsaleable at anything over 3s 8d per bushel. Merchants are more disinclined than ever to do business in hemp. The shipping difficulty is more acute 'than ever, and it is doubtful if there will be any allotment of space made for Bluff shippers before May. Under these circumstances it is useless taking into consideration the London market, and values are accordingly based on the demand for local and Australian wants, which are practically confined to cordage makers. The market is by no means firm on the basis of £4B for low fair and £SO for high fair on trucks. GRAIN AND PRODUCE SALES. Messrs Dalgety and Co. report:—Oats: There is a strong inquiry for all grades, and values have firmed during the past week. Lines suitable for milling and seed requirements are in most demand, and samples of this description- meet ready sale at 'quotations. Sparrowbills are in short supply and readily quitted on arrival for local feed purposes. Prime milling', 4s Id to 4s 3d* good to best feed, 3s lid to 4s per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: New season's milling wheat is readily taken by millers at Government rates, while fowl feed is meet ing ready sale at full regulation prices. Potatoes: The market has been barely supplied during the past week, and values have firmed in consequence. Best freshlydug lines are readily quitted on arrival at quotations. Diseased and faulty lots are not in request. Best freshly-dug tables, £6 10s to £7 per ton (sacks in). Chaff: The bulk of old season's chaff coming to hand is not of 'the best quality, and as a consequence prices arc somewhat irregular. Choice heavy oaten sheaf is not too plentiful, and meets ready sale at full rates. Oaten -heaf, £6 10s to £6 15s; medium to good, £6 to £6 5s per ton (sacks extra). Messrs Donald Reid and Co. report:— Oats: There is keen demand for all new season's oato in good to prime condition, and sales have been readily effected for immediate delivery. Prime milling, 4s Id to 4s 3d: .e,ood to best feed, 3s lOd to 4p Id; inferior to medium, 3s 3d to 3s 9d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat: The new crop is now making its appearance in the local market. So far nearly all the wheat thrashed is in good to prime milling condition, and is being secured by millers at the maximum Government price. Potatoes: Moderate supplies are coming forward. There is good demand for freshly-picked lots free from' blight, but lower qualities are not in favour. Best table potatoes," £6 15s to £7; medium, £5 10s to £6 10s per ton (sacks included). Chaff: The- demand is almost entirely for prime oaten sheaf, while most of the consignments arriving are of only medium quality, which is not in request. Best oaten sheaf, £6 15s to £6 17s 6d; medium to good, £6 to £6 10s; light and discoloured, £5 to £5 15s per ton (bags extra). Grass seed: The demand for Italian ryegrass < has slackened. Heavy perennial is inquired for, but light samples are not readily placed. Best perennial is worth 4s to 4s 6d ; others, 3s 6d to 3s 20d on trucks at country stations. Cocksfoot is in strong demand. Best samples sell at 13d to 14d; lighter, 10id to 12d per lb on trucks.

OTAGO FARMERS' HORSE BAZAAR. The Otago Farmers'" Co-opcrativo Association report:—Wc held our usual weekly sale of horses in our bazaar on- Saturday last. The entry was small, principally mado up of light draughts, spring-carters, and harness horses, also a few unbroken colts and fillies. The attendance was good a 9 far as a gathering of people was concerned, but buyers were so limited that very little business was done, either at auction or privately. We may mention, however, that wo have a few inquiries for about a dozen good young clifty geldings, and owners need not hesitate to send along for any Saturday's sale any horses of the abovo. description they may wish to sell. PROPERTY SALES. Messrs Park, Reynolds (Ltd.) offered by auction on the 27th a nine-roomed residence at Littlebourne, owned and formerly occupied by the late Mrs Blakeley. —A large crowd attended. Bidding started at £ISOO, and quickly rose to £2OOO, and then by fifties and twenty-fives till £2300 was reached. The price rose by bids of £2360, at which figure the property was knocked down to Mr G. CroW. Messrs Alex. Harris and Co. submitted by auction on the 28th some freehold property consisting of a little over two acres, with fruit trees and improvements thereon, situated in the township of Queenstown. A sale resulted, Mr T. Binney being the purchaser.

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Quotations for coionial stocks, as compared with those for the previous week:— Feb. 21. , Feb. 28. Victorian 4's , ... 96J 96J Victorian Si's ... ... 851 86J Victorian 3J"s * ,.. 70 •701 Victorian 3's V. ... 62* 624 New South Wales 4's ... ... , ,.. 82J 82J New South Wales 3J's ... . ... 99J 99* New South Wales 3£'s f ••• ■ .. 71i 71J New South Wales 3's ... 69g 69g Queensland 4's ... 91 91 Queensland 3*'s ... 89 88f Queensland 3's ... 62J 62 New Zealand 4'a ... 86=; 86f New Zealand Si's ... 73J 73 New Zealand 3's ... 63.1 63f South Australian 3J's ... 72J 72 South Australian 3's ... 67 y 67 Tasmanian 3i's ... 71g ■ 715 • Tasmanian 3's ... 65 651 West Australian Sh's ... 76S 76?