COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4990, 25 April 1889, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

(By Telegraph.)

ADDINGTON LIVE STOCK MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH. April 24, At tho weekly sale at Addington the attendance was good and the entry very largo. SHEEP. The entry of store sheep, though principally iu large lines, showed a decidedly upward tendency throughout. The demand for_ young good sorts has very much improved since tho recent rains. Prices wore as follows ;—Fullmouthed merino ewes from 2s 2d to 3s Gd, culled do Is 7d, forward merino wethers 3s Gd, 2 and 4-tooth crossbred wethers from 8s Gd to 10s 7d, 2-tooth crossbred ewes Bs, do mixed up

to 9a 3d, aged crossbred ewes from 3s 6d to 4a 10d. About 6000 fat sheep were yarded, and though one or two picked lines sold at advanced rates, there was an evident drop in the demand. Best wether mutton in most oases realised 2d per jb. For inferior quality there was a lull in the bidding, which caused it to realise a trifle below last quotations. A further drop during the sale showed that the demands of the butchers had been amply satisfied. Buyers of freezers were scrupulous as to quality in consequence. The entry of lambs was far smaller than lately, but the quality was much above that of most weeks, some choice lots reaching up to 11s 3d, while very few sold below 8s to 9s. CATTLE. There was a fair entry of store cattle and dairy cows, particularly the latter, which in some cases were in good demand. In one or two instances young cattle fetched fair rates, but there being no lines for sale quotations were difficult to obtain. Dairy cows sold up to .£8 17s 6d. 2-year-old steers fetched up to £2 10s, and 3-year-olds as high as £3 17a 6d, heifers in proportion. The sale of fat cattle I was more limited in extent than usual. _ A marked improvement was made in the price obtained. Prime beef fetched fully 18s 6d per lOOlbs. One line of steers well forward realised £l l7s 6d and £B. Other lines sold at nearly equal to this, but the_ demand for inferior sorts did not show any improvement. PIGS. The pig yards were crowded. Porkers sold up to 34s 6d, baooners from 42s to 655. DUJMBDIN. April 24. Mr D. Stronach reports for the week ended April 24th, as follows : FAT CATTLE. 247 head came to hand, medium to good, only a few of prime quality. The sale opened dull and continued so down to the finish. Competition lacked spirit, and the prices realised were about the lowest ruling this season. Best bullocks brought £6 10s to £7 15s, light weights and medium quality £4 to £6 ss, cows from £2 17s 6d to £5 10s. PAT SHEEP. 2965 were penned, all crossbreds, and only a few wethers. The greater proportion were ewes representing all qualities. The demand was fairly active all through, and the prices obtained would compare favourably with those of last week. Best crossbred wethers brought 11s 6d to 13s 3d, ordinary 9s 6d to 10s 9d, best crossbred ewes 11s to 12s 6d, ordinary 7s 6d to 10s 6d. GRAIN. Wheat —has come to hand more freely during the past week from the south, the condition of which is somewhat raw. The market shows no improvement. Millers are not free buyers, but when in the market their small purchases are confined to prime hard-condi-tioned samples. Second-rate samples in the meantime have no attention whatever, neither is fowl wheat in much demand. At present the tendency of the market is downwards. We quote prime milling (red straw, white velvet, and Tuscan) 4s to 4s 3d, medium to good 3s 6d to 3s fid, inferior to medium 2s fid to 3s 3d, ex store. Oats—A moderately fair demand continues to exist, but the want of tonnage prevents shippers from operating to the extent that they would do if they could only get their purchases away. Deliveries being somewhat heavy the bulk of the arrivals has to be taken into store. This week’s quotations are somewhat on a par with those of last week, but while there is fair enquiry the tendency is towards lower prices. We quote prime milling 2s 7d to 2s 7M, best bright short feed 2s 6d to 2s 7d, medium 2s 4d to 2s sd, inferior and carelessly dressed 2s 2d to 2s 3d, ex store. Barley—There is some enquiry for shipment if suitable parcels offered. Occasionally prime lots are taken up by the local malsters, but on the whole the market is very quiet. We quote prime malting in suitable parcels 3s fid to 4s, medium 3s 3d to 3s 6d, ex store.