COMMERCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3604, 19 April 1886, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Timam Herald Office, Saturday Evening. AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS. Mr D. Maclean (for Messrs James A. Gracie nnd Co.) reports for the past woek as fo lows:— HOMES. At the Timaru Horao Bazaar to-day thoir entry was smaller than usual, and consisted of 25 head, principally modium to good draughts. Forthese there was a better demand than has been experienced for months past, and nearly nil found buyers ni fully owners' values. Several farmers and contractors were unable to supply their want 3, and we would consequently advise owners who have good, useful horses suitablo for tho farm to dispose of, to send them forward without delay, at tho same time reminding them that even first-class horses m low condition are not saleable Wo quote medium to good draughts at from .£l2 to .£2l loa, aged and inferior £6 to .£lO. At Woshdyke saleyard3 on Tuesday and Wednesday, 13th and 14th inst., the first South Canterbury horse fair was inaugurated, and proved to be, as anticipated by the promoters, an unqualified success. It is intended to hold those fairs m futnro m the spring and autumn of each year, an arrangement which, wo havo no doubt, will be to tbo mutual advantage of both breeders and bnyers of horses. Tho principal entry on this occasion was a draft of 210 head of the far-famed horses from Mr Sibbald's Lillybonk station, Mackonzie country, whioh they, m conjunction with Messrs Jonas and Bourn, sold at very satisfactory prices, viz., from .£2 10s to .£l7 10d. Considerable interost was taken m Mr Sibbald's mob, and surprise univorsally oxpressed at tho excellent quality of tho greater number of them and also the good condition m which they arrived. The draughts wero medium woights, very active and hardy looking. In tho haok class were a number of woll-bred powerful horses down to lightweight clovor sorts. Mr M. Gray's catalogue of 43 head wore much admired, and from tho fact of formor lots sold by us on account of the samoownor having turnod ont remarkably well, competition for these was keen and resulted favourably to tho owner. Thoir entry, exclnslvo of Mr Sibbald's lot, consisted of 159 head, on acconnt of Mossr3 M. Gray, Jas. Sullivan, Alex. Snthorlmd, Tripp, Hennessy, Andrcw3, Boyle, Mitchell, Tapp, Hope, Wightinan, and others, of which wo sold 87 head. Prices realised throughout both days were highly satisfactory, SHEEP. At the Makikihi monthly salo oa the 12th instant there was a largo entry, composed mostly of ewes and lambs, with a few twotooths. Competition was dull, and prices low. They sold lambs at Is 6d and 3s Ik! ; ewes, at 4s 2d. At tho Winchester ram fair on Thursday thero wa3 only a small entry, but quite enough for the domaud. They sold ram lambs from 21a to 30a, and a few tsvotooth Lincoln Leicesters at from 10s 6d to 21a. CATTLE. They havo no transactions to report .m either fat or stores, but havo sovoral inquiries for the formor, and any lot 3 coining to hand now will command good prices. SKINS. They sold privately dnring tho weok over 1000 skins, at an improvement of from 2d to 3d on former quotations. CLJSABINO BALE. On the 9th instant we held a clearing Bale on acconnt of John Reid, Esq., at his Marapuna Farm near Makikihi. Prices realised were highly satisfactory, the wholo of tho stock, impliments, etc., being disposed of. We had previously leased the farm to — Perrin, Esq., for a term of five years with a purchasing clause. On the 16th inst. wo held a clearing sale at the farm, Totara Valley, lately m the occupation Wm. Newton, Esq. Prices for cattlo, horses, impliments, and furniture wero good. Messrs Jonas and Bourn report for tho woek ended to-day : — Wo are sorry that wo cannot report any improvement either m demand or price for store sheep, for althongh holders aro open to tako ruinously low prices, thero is great reluctance m purchasing. This is partly, if not entirely, owing to the scarcity of feed which provails through the whole of this district, Fat sheep aro improving slightly, and will no doubt be very dear beforo long. The following are our transactions for tho woek : — Makikihi Saloyards. — Tho regnlar monthly ealo was held at these yards on Monday last, the 12th inst. There was more than an average number oL. stock yarded, but few buyers present, consequently the majority of tho lots wero turned ont unsold. We sold a few pens of sheep and lambs at vory low prices. 6 fat bullocks at .£5 17s Gd and 6 steers and heifers at £% 15s. HORSES. At the South Canterbury ealeyards, Washdyko, on the 13th and 14th inst., tho first horso fair was held m this district. Tho entries woro numerous, and comprised upwards of 400 horses of all olasses, including a draft of over 260 from Lilybank station, tho property of Wm. Sibbald, Esq. Tho salo attracted a very large assembly of buyers, both local and from Christoburph and Dunedin, many export doalors boing also present. The fair was a great buccobs, and although no high prices wore obtained, a largo number of horses wero sold and the' bidding throughout the sale was very spirited. Mr Sibbald's horses consisted of hacks and sorts suitablo for any kind of harness work — such as bnggy, coach, cab or van— and having been bred at his station, Mount Cook, they are all of a vory hardy, wiry nature, sure-footed, and wo considor that they .will turn ont to be the most durable horses ever sold m this district for light-har-ness purposes. This draft was all unbroken, ranging from 3 to 7 years old, and wero sold by us conjointly with Messrs Gracie and Co. A few woedy and inferior sorts brought vory low prices, tho balanco bringing from ,£3 to .£l7 ss. Our sales altogether comprised 157 bead, tho broken m heavy draught portion bringing from .£lO to .824 10s, and one mare, p. grand sort, £49, medium draughts from £7 to £11, hacks and light-harness horses from £1 to ,£lB. All horses of good stamp, with reasonable reserves, fonnd purchasers, and many intending buyers could not supply their wants. Tho fair altogothor was a decided success, and general satisfaction was expressed by both aollnrs and buyers. verV t li^f Ho ' :8e bazaar to-day tho entry was a fewrf rt T Th l ßale was well attended, a aW f q vu h o o tati°on S eß P ntoha^ « »* danoo of buyers, and the prices obKd wow

— For lamb skins la to Is 6d, morinos sd, 7d, 8d to la 3d, crossbreds Is 3d, la 6d, la Bd, lsfld, 2s, 2s Id to 2s 4d. HOUSEHOLD FCTBNITTTRE, &O. They hold a very successful sale of furniture for Mrs Nelson at her rosidonce, Beach road, on Monday last, the 12th inst. The attendance was good, and the prices obtained satisfactory. They also hold a sale of unredeemed pledges at their rooms to-day for Mr M. Sales, when a largo quantity of watches, jewollory, and other n3ef ul articles wero sold at prices fnlly up to vendor's expectations. PEOPEBTIES. We sold privately during the week tho Criterion Hotol, Waimate, together with the household furnituro, at a satisfactory figure ; and by auotion on Wednesday last, the 14th inst., tho windmill property lately owned by Mr William Parr for .£525.