COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3505, 30 June 1884, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

S. 0. Times Office, Monday Afternoon. Messrs Maclean and Stewart report for the past week as follows, viz. : Horses—l 6 horses, draughts and hacks, Were on Saturday offered at their yards lor sale, a good portion of them being heavy draughts. They have to report a Very dull demand for all kinds, and prices offered not being according to owners’ ideas of values, but few lots were sold. They sold 16 bead at, for good draughts, £lB to £22; light and inferior, £l2 to £ls ; ordinary hacks and light harness horses, £6 to £l2. Sheep—There are a few lots of crossbred breeding ewes at present changing hands, but in almost every instance sellers are losing on the transactions. There is also an inquiry for merino wethers suitable for feeding off. Owners are endeavoring to hold on as long as the feed lasts, in the face of the low prices offering. They have bad no auction sales daring the week. Fat sheep are getting not so easy to be picked up, and owners are holding out for fail rates, in view of the probable rise which may be anticipated in two or three months. Values may be quoted at from 2d to 2£d per lb. Cattle—No business is being done at present in store cattle, this description of stock being apparently almost altogether neglected in the district, unless where the ground is unsuitable for sheep. Fat cattle will doubtless improve in value, and owners if able to keep them in prime condition daring the next two or three months, will be able to command a fair price. At present values are from 15s to 17s 6d per lOOlbs, Messrs Wm, Collins and Co, report for the month of June as follows : A satisfactory amount of business has been transacted privately, and at their tegular weekly auctions. Derwent potatoes are in good supply, but with a small demand for export to the adjacent colonies, owing to local growers asking a figure which prohibits shipping to the same market as northern exporters, Present value 35s to 87s per ton on rails at Timaru, sacks extra. Fowl Wheat—Any amount offering; it is difficult to give quotations as the samples vary so much. Dry seconds Is fid to Is fid; damp and sprouty, Is 3d to Is fid, sacks in. Oats are dull owing to the Sydney market being fairly swamped with suppliee from New Zealand. Our agents in that city advise us of the arrival of 27,000 sacks in one week, combined with over 80,000 sacks held over from previous sales. Until the heavy stocks are relieved, they do not look forward to any improvement on present values. For good bright samples, they quote—For Tartarian and Danish, Is 7d to Is 8d ; Canadian, Is lOd to Is lid, sacks extra; inferior lots cannot be quitted. Good salted butter, in teak kegs (kauri spoils the article), 8d to fid per lb; honey, 3d to 3£d (according to packages); cheese, fid to GM; rough fat, 2{d to 2jd ; hides, 31d to 4a per lb (buyers give the most for*heavier and well-trimmed); calf-skins, 3|d; farmers’ Hour, sharps, and bran, £B, £4, and 70s respectively.