COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3832, 20 July 1885, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Times Office, Monday Afternoon. Messrs Jonas and Bourn report as follows :

Makikihi Sale—They had a very successful sale at the Makikibi falejards on Monday, in spite of the miserable weather, Years ago the sales at these yards were looked forward to by the farmers of the surrounding district as a capital outlet for stock-now, after languishing for some time, they seem to bo gradually increasing in importance, and it is to be hoped that the farmers of the district will feel the necessity of supporting their local market. At other places, such as Pleasant Point and the Washdyke, where stock-raisers have steadily upheld their saleyards and done what they could to make them a success, they are now feeling the benefit, as certain of finding large and good entries, buyers do not hesitate to attend these sales, and even come from very considerable distances. At the s?le on this occasion there was affair muster of buyers, and they could have placed a far larger number of sheep. They sold 133 cross-bred owe ho-rgets at 9s 6d and 2CO half-bred ewes at 11s. In cattle the bulk of the entries consisted of fat stock, and they placed 1 fat cow at £5. 5 bullocks at £6 6s, Bat £6 15s, 6at £6 17s 6d, and 5 fat cows and heifers at £7, also 2 forward heifers at £3 7s 6d.

Waehdyke Sale—Thay held their first sale in the Company’s Yards on Thursday, and are glad to report that it was a perfect success. Their entries in sheep were all disposed of at such prices as would compare not at all unfavorably with those obtained at this week’s Dunedin and Christchurch markets ; indeed, it is a question whether, allowing for railage, that prices at this sale were not better than those secured for similar lines in the markets named. The rise in the value of all classes of sheep so confidently predicted by them some time ago is now a wellestablished fact. They sold 20 merino wethers at 7s lid, 183 crossbred wethers at I3s, 28 at 13s fid and 201 half-bred ewes at 12s 2d ; 1 fat eow at £5 10a, 4 bullocks at £7 Bs, sat £7 10s, 2 springers at £2 l7s fid, lat £3,1 at £i 7s fid, lat £6 and lat £B, and 3 porkers at 13s. Saturday’s Sale—They had a fair average number of horses entered to-day, and effected sales of the best at prices tanging from £5 10a to £l6 10s. They also disposed of a boggy at £l6 ; harness, dray and frame, implements and trees, all at fair prices.

Messrs Maclean and Stewart report for the past week as follows Horses—A small entry of horses came forward to Saturday’s sale, and, with one or two exceptions, the quality was inferior. The demand for draughts has been for the past few months such as to offer very little inducement to owners to forward stock into the market, but there seems every probability of a better enquiry, and at firmer prices, than has been the case for some time. On Saturday they had both local, and buyers for export, who were unable to secure their requirement 3, and had the right class of stock been offered they would have met a ready sale, and they would recommend those wishing to sell to forward early so that the buyers who are here may been induced to remain. They to-day sold 14 fair draughts at from £l2 to £24 10a. Privately during the week they placed in one line eight three* year-old colts and fillies at a satisfactory price. Sheep,—The weather during the last fortnight has prevented several lots of store sheep from coming into market, and in consequence there has been no great amount of business done at the different yards. At their usual monthly sale last Monday at Makikihi, they report a fair entry of stock and a good alienance of buyers, notwithstanding the wretched day. They sold 250 crossbred ewes at Is sd, also 200 crossbred wethers at 9s fid. At Waehdyke on Thursday last prices showed an upward tendency, and a brisker enquiry, They placed 200 2-tootlr crossbred wethers at 10s 7d ; 250 crossbred lambs at 9a fid. Fat sheep are becoming more valuable, and values may be quoted at fully 2d per lb, for prime mutton. They have placed privately several lines at quotations.

Cattle.—The demand for store cattle is quiet, well forward steers and heifers are enquired for, and which they have placed at their different sales at from £4 to £sl2s 6d. Good beef they quote at about 17s 6d per IQOlbs.