Commercial.

Colonist, Volume XLI, Issue 9265, 5 September 1898, Page 4

Commercial.

STOCK REPORT. Messrs Bisley Bros, and Co., report particulars of stock market as follows :— Live stock sales at the Eailway Sale Yards, Richmond, have been held weekly since August 10th, and patronage has proved almost beyond cur expectations. Entries have been good, with fair yardings of fat and store sheep, cattle, and pigs; the attendance on each occasion was large, the province being well represented, and on one or two occasions West Coast buyers were present. Entries were sent from different quarters, including Thorpe, Ngatimoti, Motupiko, Motueka, Motueka Valley, and the Waimeas. Both stocfc owners and buyers have shown their appreciation in the weekly sales, and all acknowledge that this step is in the right direction, and should prove the means of regulating the market and livestock values. Store cattle have been fairly plentiful, with slow demand, but good inquiry should set in from now. Old cows have been almost unsaleable, while young springers, well grown, and in good condition, have sold well. Few fat cattle passed through the yards during the time under review, which is owing to our district being practically without supplies. Owners of fat cattle should during nest month obtain full market rates, as the bulk of the supply must now be drawn from the North Island, where prices are daily advancing. Store sheep have sold fairly well, shown considerable advance on the autumn rates. Forward hoggets and ewes in lamb are now in good demand, entries not meeting the wants of buyers. The fat sheep market has appeared a little easier, brought about to some extent by running contracts, as most of the butchers did, in expectation of a firm market, making early contracts which are still running, and from what we can gather are fairly supplied for the next week or two, but after that must again come upon the market, and prices should, in our opinion, advance to be in keeping with outside rates. The apparent easier market has been brought about to a great extent by the mixed classes of sheep that have been yarded, and in most cases where fats have been offered, the lot would include a number of stores and forward stores/which of course has the effect of depreciating the whole line. This mode of selling, unfortunately is an old one, and owners would find it greatly to their advantage, to class more carefully. Among the principal sales were — for Mr John Liramer, of Motueka, a really prime lot of turnip fed crossbred wethers, weights 601bs to SOlbs, these were secured by Messrs Wilkie and Co,, and on account of Mr Currin, of Wakefield, a prime lot of heavy crossbred wethers of similar description, secured bj Mr P. Track, lull market rates being paid on both occasions : — ' Prices realised at our sale 3 held on the 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st of last month were as follows : — Store hoggets from 4s to 5s Gd, while a specially good line bred by Mr Ford, brought good competition, and were passed at 18s. Well bred Romney ewes sold from 10s 6d to 11s lOd, others 5s to 6s 6d, and in forward condition to 8s 6d ; fat mixed sexes showing a number of light weights 10s 6d to 12s 6d, and heavy weights to 13s 6d, while we know of a line of extra prime heavy weight wethers to have changed hands, delivery at Nelson, equal to 16s. Cows '. According to age and condition, sold from 20s to £5 7s 6d; two year old mixed cattle, 38s to 50s : 3 year old stores £2 15s to £3 2s 6d, and 4 year olds in forward condition £4 10s to £4 12s 6d, fat bullocks equal to 17s 6d per lOOlbs. Anything prime should now reach twenty shillings per lOOlbs. Pigs: We have had considerable entries of these, and the demand throughout has been good, weaners 6s 6d to 7s Gd, 10 week pigs 8s 6d to 12s 6d, stores according to size 13s to lGs.

Centerbury markets on Wednesday ruled . as follows : — Cattle : Ordirtaryjto good stores brought £5 10s to £7 10s, good £8 to £9, extra prime up to £12; Sheep : Prime heavy weight wethers 18s to 20s, freezing quality los to 17s Gd, unfinished wethers 10s to 14s, prime heavy weight ewes 15s to 17s 3d, medium Us to 14s Gd, new season's lambs 13s to 14s Gd. Pigs: Baconers and porkers 4*dto4sd per lb, stores 11s Gd to 16s, suckers and weaners 6s»6d to 10s 9d. Dates of sales to be held during the month, at the Railway Sale Yards, Richmond, will be found in our advertising columns, and if desired forward entries can be made.