COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3323, 26 November 1883, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

S. 0. Times Office, Monday Afternoon. Messrs Maclean and Stewart report for the past week as follows, viz. Horses—About 45 draught and light horses came forward to their yards for sale. They have to report a very dull demand for almost all kinds, and prices offering not such as to induce any business being done. They do not anticipate much business in this class of stock until harvest lime approaches, They quitted to-day about 15 head at from £25 to £3O for good heavydraughts, £l6 to £23 for medium sorts. For hacks and light harness horses there is almost no enquiry ; a few changed hands on Saturday at from £5 to £l2.

Sheep—Store sheep are now being enquired for, and prices asked are far in advance to what were current in former seasons. At the Washdyke Yards last Monday they yarded 400 crossbred ewes ; these were sold privately after the sale at a satisfactory figure. They have also placed privately a small line of crossbred hoggets at a good price. Fat sheep—They sold privately a line of 200 wethers at market prices, and notice that both in Dunedin and in Christchurch markets last Wednesday a considerable rise in price took place, good mutton fetching from 3d to 3|d per lb. Cattle—The demand is somewhat better for store cattle, and as these are becoming rather scarce in this district, it is more than likely that prices will be better than they have been. At the Washdyke Yards last Monday a full entry was received ; they penned over 170 bead, the most of them finding purchasers atjthe following prices, viz.:—Well forward steers, up to £6; heifers, £3 to £4 10s ; one to two-year-old steers and heifers, £2 3s to £3; yearlings, at from 30s to £2 ; calves, 25s to 30s. They sold privately on Saturday a small line of steers, consisting of 30 head, at a satisfactory price. Fat cattle—Present values are about 25s per 1001 b, at which price they Bold a few lots at the Washdyke on the 19th inst.

Clearing Sale—On account of Mr W. Evans, who has sold his suburban property, they held a clearing sale last Tuesday, and sold a variety of stock, &c., at market prices. They also sold a section in the Salisbury township at the rate of £3O per acre.

Messrs William Collins and Co. report a good demand for all classes of produce during the week, and at their regular weekly market and auction on Saturday. In the wholesale market potatoes have declined to 30s and 35s per ton, sacks extra; cats, Is 4d to Is 8d per bushel; fowl wheat, samples coming forward vary so much that a quotation is hardly possible ; fresh butter, market fairly glutted with inferior lots—good brings 6d to 8d down to 3d to 4d per lb j cheese, 4£d tosd per lb; sharps,Bos per ton ; farmers’ flour, 100 s per ton. They sold during the day a quantity of furniture, obiuaware, and a general assortment of sundries at fair figures.