COMMERCIAL

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1928, Page 12

COMMERCIAL

TARANAKI STOCK MARKET. Newton King, Ltd., report: At Mahoenui, Awakino and Okau on February 2, 3 and 4 respectively, we conducted our annual sheep fairs. Splendid entries came forward to each and complete clearances were effected. The enquiry' throughout the series was particularly keen, every class of sheep selling readily, and at prices well in advance of those ruling at the same period of last year. The present dry weather had no effect on tlie market whatsoever. The majority of buyers were from Taranaki and most of the sheep came this way. At Mahoenui there was an unsatisfied demand for two-tooth wethers, and all lines yarded sold readily at the following prices: 23s 2d, 22# 3d, 22s 9d. Other classes realised: Two-tooth ewes, 27s Gd; extra good 4-year ewes, 26s 6d, 255; 5-year ewes, 20s lOd, 20s; 5-year ewes, low iu condition, 17s, 16s 4d; m.s. lambs, 15s lOd. At. Awakino the quality of the sheep y'arded was the best we have had at this sale for many years, this in particular applying to the breeding ewes. The annual draft from Nukuhakere station topped the sale at 26s 6d. These were closely followed by Mr. W. C. Ordish’s annual draft, which realised 26s 4d. Papahia ewes made 245, Pioi 23s and Mr. H. C. Kelly’s annual draft 23s 3d. On behalf of other vendors 4 and 5-year ewes sold for 19s sd, 22s Id; f.f.m. ewes from 15s to 16s 6d; 2-tooth wethers 23s lOd to 22s 7d; fat and forward wethers 23s 5d to 245; 2-tooth ewes 295; wether lambs 14s 3d to 15s 6d; m.s. lambs 14s Bd. At Awakino we also had the full advertised number of cattle, the whole being disposed of at very satisfactory prices, the principal quotations being: Fat bullocks, £ll 10s to £lO 15s; 4-year bullocks?" £6 17s 6d; good conditioned 3-year bullocks, £6 to £6 18e 2J-year steers £4 10s to £5 8s; cows -with calves £4 10s; store cows £3 to £4 Is. At Okau the prices for sheep were even a shade better than at the previous two sales, particularly for lambs, and the specially advertised Mohakatino ewes created much attention. These sold at from 23s 6d to 21s 3d. On behalf of other vendors 4-year ewes made 235, 24s 3d; 4 and 5-year ewes in low condition 19s 3d, 17s 8d; fat and forward wethers, 25s 2d; 4-tooth wethers, 235; extra god m.s. shorn lambs, 2Os Id; good m.s. shorn lambs, 17s 4d, 15s 3d, 14s sd; good wether lambs, 15s; small lambs, up to 13s. LONDON WOOL SALES. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated February 2, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, London:—

Wool sales closed yesterday. There was a large attendance of Home and Continental buyers throughout; competition brisk and general. Compared with closing rates last series, super merino 5 per cent., good shafty 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, dearer, other sorts unchanged. All grades of greasy crossbred in small supply, closing generally 10 per cent, higher compared with December, with exceptional lots of medium crossbred frequently 15 per cent. Only small quantity of slipecl offered, which advanced 7A per cent. Average closing rates:6o to 64’s, super (nominal), 2s 4d to 2s 6d per lb, average Is 9d to 2s Id; 56 to 58’s (nominal) 2s 3d to 2s 6d; 50 to 56’s 2s to 2s 3d; 48 to 50’s Is 9d to Is Ud; 44 to 46’s Is 7d to Is 8d; 36 to 40’s Is 5d to Is 6d. Of the total Colonial offerings, 88,000 bales were sold, 51,000 for export including 2500 bales for America. Market closed very firm, with all sections of trade buying. Next scries commence on March 13. HIDE AND SHEEPSKIN SALE. Murray, Roberts and Company report:— We offered a catalogue of sheepskins and hides in Friday’s sale to a good attendance of buyers. Bidding was brisk at last sale’s level for all sheepskins, the market tending to harden. Hides were in small supply, and our offering consisted of hides in poor condition, and prices were not so high as at recent sales, but showed some disposition to ease slightly. Tallow was firm. The range of prices is as follows: Sheepskins.—Half bred, 12d to 16%d; fine crossbred, 14%d to 15%d; medium to coarse crossbred, 12*/ a d to 15d; short to half wools, 7%d to 13d; lambs, lOd to 15Jd; dead and damaged crossbred, 10}d to 13%d; inferior and badly damaged, 5d to 10%d; pelts, to. ll’/ 2 d; damp, salted and green, 5s to 12s Id; pelts, salted, 2s 6d to 4s 8d; lambs, salted, 2s 6d to 5s lOd. Hides. —Ox, extra heavy, 12|d to 13 5-8 d; ox, heavy, 12%d to 13Jd; ox, medium, 12’/ 4 d to 13 l-8d; ox, light, 12d to 13 3-8 d; cut, slippy and inferior, 7 5-8 d to 11 l-8d; cow, heavy, 12jd to 12 7-8 d; cow, medium, HJd to 13%d; cow, light, I2d to 13Jd; cut, slippy and inferior, 7d to 124 d; bull, stag, 7 l-8d to 8d; yearlings, 12%d; yearlings, 12%d to 13%d; calf, superior, none offered; calf, medium to good. 15d to 17d; ealf, damaged, 4d to 12 ! / 2 d. Tallow.—ln casks, 21s to 24s 9d; in tins, 15s to 22s 6d. Sundries.—Horse hair, 25%d; cow tails, 19’/.d. LONDON MEAT MARKET. The New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received the following cablegram from its London office, dated IFe'bruary 3, advising Smithfield delivered prices at that date as follows (prices for the two previous weeks are shown In parentheses):— New Zealand Wethers and Maidens.— Canterbury quality, selected brands (old season): 561 b and under, Rid per lb (6 Id and Rid); 571 b to 64'lb, 6d (fid and fid); 651 b to 721 b, 5Jd (sjd and s|d). Other brands (new season): sfilb and under, 6 7-8 d (6id and 6|d); 571 b to 641 b, 6d (6 l-8d and 6Jd); 651 b to 721 b, s}d (5 3-Sd and 5 5-8 d). New Zealand Ewes (old season): 64l'b and under, not quoted (not quoted. 4 7-Sd). New Zealand Lambs.—Canterbury quality; Not quoted. Selected brands (new season): 361 b and under, 10 3-8 d (10 3-8 d and lO^d); 37H> to 42l’b, 10 3-8 d (10 3-8 d and 10|d). Other brands, first quality (new season) i 38Jb and under, 9 7-8 d (lOd and lOJd); 371 b io 421 b, lOd (lOd, Lft£d); second quality,

301 b to 321 b, average, Ojd (9jd and 9Jd). Australian Lambs.—Victorian, first quality: 361 b and under, 9d (9d and 9 l-8d); 371 b to 421 b, not quoted (9d and 9 l-8d). Argentine Lambs.—First quality: 361 b and under, 7}d (7 3-8 d and 7 3-8 d); 371 b to 42'lb, 7}d (7Jd and 7}d). , New Zealand Beef. —Ox fores, 3-jd (3Jd and 3jd); ox hinds, ad (5d and sd); cow fores, 3}d (3?d and 3}d); cow hinds, 4d (4d and 4d). Argentine Chilled Beef.-—Ox fores, 4}d )3fd and 3}d); ox hinds, 5 »-Sd (5 5-8 d and 5 5-8 d). Argentine Frozen Beef.—Ox fores, 3Jd (3fd and 3Jd); ox hinds, 5 5-8 d (5 5-8 d and 5 5-8 d). Frozen Pork. —Porkers: GOlb to 801 b, 7}d (7Jd and 7Jd); 811 b. to 991 b, 7<l (7d and 7d); IOOI’b to 1201 b, 6Jd (fifd and 6|d) ; baconers, 1211 b to 1801 b, 6|d (6Jd and 6}d). Frozen Veal.—-Not quoted. Remarks. —Lambs: Market steady; present light arrivals are sufficient to supply market. Mutton market: Wethers, heavyweights, slightly weaker; there is a good demand for lightweights. Beef market: Owing to better prices for Argentine chilled beef there has been a 'better demand for New Zealand beef. Frozen pork: 801 b to 1201 b market still overloaded; 1201 b to 1801 b, demand is 'better owing to improvement in bacon prices. DAIRY PRODUCE MARKET. The Farmers’ Co-op. has received the following cabled report from its London representative:—The butter market is firm but quiet at the advance. New Zealand, 100 s to 102 s; Australian, l's6s to 158 s; Argentine, 146 s to 1545. Cheese is steadier. New Zealand, 91s to 925.