Commercial Intelligence.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 2946, 3 March 1884, Page 2

Commercial Intelligence.

Timaru Htrald Office, Saturday Evening. AUCTIONEERS' EEPOBTS. Messrs Kobt. Wilkin anil Co. report for the week ended Friday, 29th February, 1884, as follows : — Horses — The market for this cLiss of stock is very inactive. The demand at present 19 simply nil. There have been several sales privately of some of our beat dran|»ht marea for shipment to New Sonth Wales. If this goes on they cannot help thinking that ero long firstclass draughts will be scarce and prices must improve. Cattle — The supply of fat cattle is still very plentiful, and they cannot report any alteration on last week's prices, viz., 18s to 20s per lOOlbs. At Washdyke Yards on Tuesday last, the entry of both fat and stores was again a very light one, the attendance wan also small, consequently little or no business wai done. A3 soon as harvest operations aro over, the demand for stores will be very much better than they have seen for some timd. Fat Sheep — The market 13 well supplied. Thoy quote prime mutton at 2 id ; medium about 'Jid per lb. At Washdyke Yards on Tnesday last, there was an average supply of fat and stores forward, with the exception of one or two lots, the bulk of tho entry had to be turned out unßold. Privately during the week they passed through about 2000 stores of varions sorts, and have several other ti'ansactions pending. Wool — They held their third sale of the season at their wool stores on Wednesday 27th. Thero was an average attendance of both local and Christchurch buyers present, and the various lots sold were fairly competed for. The few lotH passed under the hammer were all sold after the salo at very satisfactory prices, being a shade higher than last sale. The following are tho prieoa : — — nnder V. 1 bale pieces, 2jd ; — under V, 1 bale half-bred pieces, sd ; — under V, 1 bale black, (i£d ; — under V, 1 bale merino, 7jd; H S, 12 bales half-bred, 6Jd ; E. T., 1 bale morino, 7i<l ; RC, 3 bale 3 merino, 7{d ; RC, 2 bales lambi, old ■ R C, 4 bales half-bred, 7Jd ; B. C, 3 bales vbred, fid ; Am circle, 2 balos crossbred, aid ; J G, 1 bale merino, £;d ; J G, 1 balo mixed, s^d ;DB, 1 bale merino, 7d ; V, 3 bales half-bred, Oid : 4 bales at Hie. ; bags made from "J^d upto ki. Skins — Theyaold on Wednesday last a catalogue of 970. At the commencement of tho salo biddings were not so spirited as thoy havo Been them, but towards the closo of the sale a decided improvement took pla<:k, resulting m a clearance of every lot at the following prices : — Best crossbred, from 2s nj> to 3s ; second, Is to Is 6d ; best merinos, 33 to 4s Id : second, 2s to 2s 9d ; pelts, from 4d up to Is according to qnality and condition. Messrs Maclean and Stewart report for tho past week as follows, viz. : — Horse3 — There is very littlo business doing m this class of stock at present m consequence of owners being busy with harvest operations. At their yards to-day there wero only a few entered for sale, and thoso wore of a class m which there ia at present no demand, and they have no transactions of importance to report. They report present valuos for fair good draughts from 1.26 to L3L' ; modium and inferior sorts, from Lie to L 18; light harness hoi sea and hacks, from L8 to LI6. Sheep — The demand for store sheep is steadily increasing and most of tho lot) offorcd for salo are bcingplaced mthout much trouble. Owners aro generally ondoivvoring to keep back thoir stock from markets for 11 few weeks m anticipation of bettor prices an noon as stnbblo feed will be ready, at which time they expoct a big demand for the right cliiss of sheep, both for breeding purposes and for feeding olf. At tho yardi s.t Washdyko last Tuesday there was a short entry. They placed a nico lot of about &#) croeabred lambs at 9s SA, and privately during the weel: they havo disposed of, at satisfactory prices 250 crossbred lambs, 1000 half-bred lambs, am 1200 crossbred ewes. Fat gheop— They quoto values at nearly 2]d per lb. At Wa3hdyko Yards they sold 260 croßsbrod ewes at 11s, GO do at 13s Od, and privately they have wold a small line consisting of 103 very primo cross, breds at a satitifiictory figure. Cattle — The market m dull for utore cattlo, and m fact but littlo attention is being paid to this class of stock, tho fow lots that are brought forward to their auction hiilch generally being of a very inferior description. Theno aro almost unsaleable, und though holdont aro prepared to accept very low values no ono seems inclined to purchase. Good cattle are noiv very scarce m thin district, having been almost entirely snperseded by Hhecp, and holders of woll-bred steers andheifurfi will bo able to command their own values. They havo sold privately a small line of 30 head mixed stcors and heiforH, at a satisfactory price. At tho Washdyke Yurclslaat Tuesday, a fiiw odd lots wero sold, but, there m nothing of importaneo to roport. Fivt catllo— Predonl; values aro about 17n Cd por lOOlbn. At thui quotation thoy gold a few small lots during the we«k. ilessrn William Collins a.nd (Jo. roport a. fait attendance of buyers at their regular woekly sales hold during tho month. Thoy qnoto the following fifjuros, obtained for the different ontrit« of produco : — Potatoes, Laputonoß, 50b to COh per ton; onionn, 10a por