COMMERCIAL

Southland Times, Issue 19517, 17 May 1922, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

WALLACETOWN SALE BIG YARDING FAT CATTLE The fortnightly sale was held in jthe Wallacetown yards yesterday, with a good entry in all classes. Fat Cattle. The entry was the largest for the year and all sorts of stock were penned, many being only fit for the store pens. The demand was never keen and in the closing stages of the sale several pens were passed in without an offer being made. The top price was £ll 15/-, paid for a pen of extra prime bullocks, which Mr J. L. Hannon secured. With the big yarding prices suffered, and the top price per hundred for prime ox beef would not exceed 23/-, while the average price for ox beef would be in the vicinity of 20/-, although some pens were sold at a lower figure. Heifer beef was lower still, and the top was 17/6 per hundred with little demand. Many pens were secured by dealers and graziers, the yarding being too large for the butchers to absorb. The following were the prices received at auction:—Extra prime bullocks £lO 15/- to £ll 15/-; primes £8 5/- to £9 7/6; mediums £7 7/6 to £8; light and inferior £3 2/6 to £6 10/-; prime cows £7 to £8 2/6; medium £3 5/- to £5; heifers from £3 2/6 to £5 15/-. Store Cattle. Although there was a better demand for young stock prices did not show any advance on those ruling recently. A good line of 3-year-01d bullocks were sold at £4 10/-. About 50 head of dairy cattle were offered, and heifers, suitable for dairying, sold well. Fat sheep. The bulk of the yarding was comprised of ewes -and there was a good demand for this class of fat sheep, prices showing an advance on the previous sale. In some instances the prices obtained were almost as good as those obtained for wethers. Extra prime ewes ranged from 19/6 to 23/3, good ewes from 16/- to 18/9, light and inferior selling at from 12/3 to 14/-. The yarding of wethers was small, and at the opening brought good competition, but the demand slackened towards the end of the sale. Prime wethers sold at from 25/- to 26/4, mediums from 20/9 to 24/3. The yarding of lambs showed a falling off in quality, and prices suffered accordingly. The competition was not so keen as at previous sales, and prices for freezing weights ranged from 20/6 to 23/3, unfinished lambs bringing from 18/- to 19/-. Store Sheep. There was a fair yarding in all classes, and good 4,6, and 8-tooth ewes brought up to 24/-, sound mouth ewes ranging from 15/- to 17/6. There was practically no demand for old ewes and prices ranged from 8/- to 10/6. A line of good wether lambs were passed at 13/6. The following is a comparison of the entries at the last three sales:—

CANTERBURY GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. The grain and produce markets are practically unaltered from the week-end report. A grade Garton oats are worth 2/5 to 2/6 at country stations, and B’s from 2d to 3d less.

While clover is firm, good clean farmer’s ssed selling at 1/4 to l/6d per lb. The cowgrass market quieter, but quotations are unaltered from lOd to 12d. Partridge peas are also firm, good lines being worth 8/- to 8/3d to farmers. Potatoes are still depressed, but the bulk of opinion is that a decided firming is probable. The South Canterbury crop is not turning out as satisfactorily as was expected. Cocksfoot is still firm at a basis of 53d to 6d to farmers, sales at that figure being frequent for July and August delivery. Onions have firmed, and are worth £6 to growers. A fair amount of business at that figure has been. done. Supplies in local growers’ hands are shortening. The local crop is more marketable this year, being a much better sample than for some seasons, showing better keeping qualities. DUNEDIN STOCK EXCHANGE. (Per United Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 16. Sales on ’Change: South British Insurance 37/-, Huddart, Parker 46/6, 47/-, and 47/3, Mount Lyell 15/6. CHRISTCHURCH STOCK EXCHANGE. CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. Sales reported: South British Insurance £1 16/-, Goldsbrough, Mort. £1 16/1, United Pictures £l. GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORT. Messrs Dalgety & Co., Ltd. (Dunedin), report as on May 15 as follows: Oats. —The market is weaker. We quote: A Gartons 2/8 to 2/9, B Gartons 2/4 to 2/6, Undergrade 1/9 to 2/3 per bushel; sacks extra. Potatoes.—There is no change in the market. There are large supplies on hand to satisfy the demand, which is not very strong. The only enquiry is for prime lines, any lots showing signs of blight being neglected. We quote: Prime Up-to-Dates £4 10/- to £4 15/-, others £3 10/to £4 5/- per toh; sacks in. Chaff.—There is some little demand for prime lines, which, are saleable at late rates. We quote: Prime oatensheaf to £4 15/-, good to best feed £4 5/- to £4 10/- per ton, sacks extra. Messrs Donald Reid & Co., Ltd., report as under— Oats. —The market is easier. We quote: A grade Gartons, 2/8 to 2/9; under-grade, 1/9 to 2/3. Wheat.—-Millers are only taking goodconditioned lines. Fowl wheat is in over supply. Potatoes. —Best tables, £4 5/- to £4 15/-; others, £3 to £4, bags in. Chaff.—Prime, £4 10/- to £4 15/-; medium, light, and discoloured, £3 to £4, bags extra. LONDON WOOL SALES (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 15. At the wool sales there was a good selection of average top making Merinos and a lot of crossbreds. All prices were well maintained at last week’s level. The Bradford market is firm and unchanged. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE LONDON, May 15. The Stock Exchange confirmed the resumption of fortnightly settlement contangoes, commencing next Monday. THE WHEAT MARKET. LONDON, May 15. (Received May 16, 5.5 p.m.) Cargoes are steadily held at late rates. Australian parcels on passage, 58/-, 58/3, 58/6. MELBOURNE WOOL SALES. MELBOURNE, May 16. The wool sales attracted strong general competition. Merinos are distinctly dearer than last week. NEW ZEALAND APPLES. LONDON, May 15. The Athenic’s New Zealand apples are in moderate condition, fetching 9/6 to 12/6. Many are brown inside similar to the Wan-

THE PRICE OF BUTTER. FURTHER RISE AT MELBOURNE. MELBOURNE, May 16. Butter has increased a further nine shillings per cwt., equivalent to a penny a pound. The wholesale price now ranges from 190 s to 1965. The retailers’ committee are recommending the trade to increase the price to 2/1 and 2/2.

April 21 May 3 May 16 Fat cattle 74 175 231 Store cattle .. 67 372 306 Fat sheep .. 1636 1134 1117 Store sheep .. 1192 1450 1250