THE SHEEP MARKET.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13393, 29 May 1914, Page 3

THE SHEEP MARKET.

NOT AFFECTED BY FLOOD

"No mistake there was a splendid demand yesterday," stated a manager of one of the mercantile firms, when discussing with a pressman to-day the results of yesterday's stock sale. The recent flood, he said, Contrary to expectations had no effect on prices, "m fact," he remarked, "prices were higher than ever for all classes of sheep. There • was a continued firmness and demand?'

The gentleman remarked, that there weT6 not tlie same after affects from this flood aa on the previous occasions. There was not so much silt left. Another thing there were not so many sheep on the flats this time, as there was more dairying, done. It was the dairymen who were .feeling the results more than sheepfarmers. The cattle market. was slightly easier yesterday, but that could not be fiut down to the flood. With the flush of eed m the country' districts dairymen were able to get grazing. "Even the demand for pigs 'was' keen yesterday," stated the manager. He went on to say that 21s 5d was obtained for wethers, which was an enormous -price for this time of the year. Hoggets, which, during the drought last year were sold at 3s and 4», brought lis and 12s yesterday. 'Shorn hoggets went as high as 16s. "I consider, he said, "that all sheiep are 5s per head above the normal value m comparison with other years. Hoggets were making 12s, and m any other year you could get them for 7s, and ewes that sold at 20s, could be got for* 15s and 16s this time last year. Another thing, this should affect the land sales, for land carrying two sheep to the acre would be worth' 10s an acre more."

He said there was a large crowd at the sale yesterday, many attending m the hope that they were going to pick up some snips after the flood, but they went away disappointed.