COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5017, 27 May 1889, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

AUCTIONEERS’ REPORTS. Messrs Gracie, Maclean and Co. report for the past fortnight, as follows : HOESES. At the Timaru Horse Bazaar, on the 18th inst., our entry comprised a few good draughts for which there was a good demand. To-day we submitted a consignment of 10 draughts,on account of Mr Robert Ferguson, of Lawrence, Otago, and sold them at satisfactory prices. We have enquiries for hacks up to weight, and upstanding harness horses. We quote medium to good draughts at from .£l4 10s to ,£25, aged £6 to ,£lO. Hacks —Medium ,£0 10s to .£l4, light and weedy .£4 to £B. SHEEP. At the Washdyke yards on the 16th, and again this week, the entries of fat sheep were small and not equal to the demand. Stores, however, were well represented, and a large number changed hands at improved values. We sold on account of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Messrs M. Gentlemnn, J. Millar, A. Grant, A. Brown, W. Grant, C. Bourn, J. Greig, and otherslol fat ewes at 9s, 70 2-tooths at 10s, 299 crossbred lambs at 8s 9d, 70 merino ewes at ss, 688 merino wethers at 3s 4d, 60 merino wethers at Bs, 209 half-bred ewes at 10s 6d, 18 do at 9s lOd, 109 2-tooths at 12s 9d, 200 crossbred ewes at ss, 191 do at 6s 6d, 61 ewes and wethers at 11s lid, 60 half-bred ewes and wethers at 11s 3d, 60 2-tooth wethers at 12s 3d. We have also placed privately 2271 fat an cl store sheen, viz., 200 crossbred store ewes, 250 do do, 395 half-bred lambs, 600 fat crossbred ewes, and 826 freezers. At Makikihi we sold 300 merino ewes at 3s. CATTLE. The fat pens have been very thinly occupied of late, consequently all lots coming to hand fit tor the local trade have met a ready sale at equal to 17s 6d per lOOlbs for prime quality. There is little business doing in stores, yardings being principally made np of yearlings and 6-year-olds, for which the demand is limited at present. We sold 7 bullocks (small) at .£4 17s 6d, 6 prime heifers at <£6 2s 6d to ,£6 7s 6d, 8 steers at £'i 15s to .£4 2s 6d, 7 heifers at ,£2 15s, yearlings 255, calving cows at .£6 to .£6 7s 6d. COUNTET SALE. We held a clearing sale on the 15th inst., at Makikihi, on account of Mr John Burke, who has sold his farm. There was a large attendance of local farmers, and the sale generally was highly satisfactory. Messrs William Collins and Co., auctioneers and produce merchants, report a- fair amount of business during the week in all classes of produce, excepting milling wheat, which remains in a very depressed condition, and from the present outlook likely to continue so. As previously notified by us, wheat from California is beginning to arrive in our only market, viz., Sydney. The English and Con--tinental markets show a downward tendency. The next question is, What are we to do with our wheat ? Perhaps those who advocated storing at the beginning of the season can tell the growers. Just fancy a farmer refusing 4s, 3s lid. and 3s 9d a bushel direct from the threshing mill. To the buyer we must say it was gambling and nothing else to refuse those prices. To-day milling wheat could have been bought at 2s lOd to 3s, the large buyers actually refusing at these figures several big lines. Oats are in good demand at 2s 3d to 2s 5d for Danish, milling 2s 6d to 2s Bd, fowl wheat Is 6d to 2s 6d, according to quality. We shall be offering at onr next produce sale about 4000 bushels Jof fowl wheat. Timaru Derwent potatoes, 60s to 65s per ton, Camara do, 85s per ton ; fowls, 2s to 3s 6d per pair ; hares, 3b per pair ; carcases pork,3d to 4£d per lb ; fat sheep, ss, carcases equal to lid per lb ; carrots, 35s per ton ; Swede turnips, 27s 6d per ton ; 1 dray load oaten sheaf chaff, Is 9d per bag.

CHEISTCHUROH COEN EXCHANGE. The following is the Christchurch Corn Exchange report for the week ending Friday, May 24th, 1889 Markets all round are easier, and the demand from Sydney is not equal to the quantities offering, but shortly we expect to see this reversed, as the deliveries are fast falling off, and our wheats find more favour in the Australian markets during the colder weather. We were pleased that Mr Olivier was able to give the Dubbo farmers’ slander a most positive denial, as regards the growing qualities of onr wheat. It is quite evident that some damaged and sprouted grain has been foisted upon them. Farmers should not be open to such tricking. The arrival of the Reaper at Sydney has depressed that market, but we shall soon expect a revival. Stocks now chiefly in store will only be drawn as demand requires. Oats do not improve. Our southern neighbours at present are executing all the orders. Very little prime malting barley is coming forward, consequently the demand is strong at our quotations. Grass seeds are dull, the sowing season having passed. Potatoes are now in full swing, and considerable sales have been effected at 50s to 52s 6d at country stations, off the forks, while d£3 is required for forward delivery when they are pitted. There are buyers of dairy produce for the London market at 3£d for cheese, and 7d for butter. The local demand is limited. Shipping space is plentiful in London, and to Sydney it is now more easily obtainable. Largo portions of it, however, are being taken for potatoes, so that the grain will not bo got away any faster than heretofore. Our quotations are as follows ■ WHEAT. Tuscan 3s 8d to 3a 9d, Hunter’s and pearl Ss 4d to 3s sd, second quality 3s to 3a Id, chick wheat 2s 6d to 2s 9d. OATS. Miiling 2s 9d, short stout feed 2s 7d to 2s Bd, long and inferior kinds 2s 3d to 2s sd. BARLEY. Prime malting 3s 9d to 3s lOd, medium 3s 4d to 3s Gd, feed 2s Cd to 2s 9d. BEANS. Beans 3s 2d to 3s Sd. ’ PEAS. Prussian blues 3s 8d to 3s lOd, feed 3s to 3s 2d. GRASS SEED. Machine dressed 3a 9d to 3s lOd, farmers’ parcels 2s 9d to 3s 3d. Cocksfoot—Machine dressed 2,{d to 3d, farmers’ lines 2d to 2-|d. POTATOES. Potatoes 50s to 52s 6d at country stations. DAIRY PRODUCE. Butter from 8d to 9d. Cheese 3£d to 4d. The above prices are those paid to farmers for delivery f.o.b. at Lyttelton, sacks extra

A curious combat was witnessed on a recent Sunday by a resident of Cavendish, remarks the Hamilton (Victoria) Spectator, He says s—“ When driving along near Cavendish, my attention was called to a large snake gliding and glittering in the sun, and a common grey hawk darting Jdown upon it. The snake appeared anxious to get to cover ; but this was not allowed, as the hawk swept in upon it from right to left, - and from left to right, in double quick time, and was bravely met on each occasion by the snake, sometimes two feet from the ground. The hawk evidently wanted to take some of the strength out of the reptile, and this it soon accomplished, as the snake’s springs soon became less vigorous. The bird now changed its mode of attack. Resting for a few seconds three or four yards distant, it would dart in, clutch the snake by its talons, and hold on for a short time, which appeared to be no easy matter, As the fight became more fast and furious, the hawk seemed to lose all fear, and closed with the snake, when both rolled about like a ball. The bird, when leaving, after one of these exciting rounds, recived a stroke which sounded like the crack of a whip, and feathers were seen to fly. The brave bird took a longer rest on this occasion, making up its mind for a final struggle. Sweeping in, it laid hold of the reptile just behind the head, when all the writhing of the snake could not secure release. The hawk then brought its beak into play, soon had the head of its enemy bruised and bleeding, and tried to carry off its prize; but this was more than it had strength to. do, as it could only drag it along. The snake was of the brown species, 3ft 6in in length, and thick in proportion. The hawk must have been struck many times by the fangs of the reptile, but whether they could not penetrate the feathers I cannot say.”