COMMERCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 4046, 26 September 1887, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Timaru Serald Office, Saturday Evening. AUCTIONEERS' EEPORTS. Messrs Gracie, Maclean and Adam report lor the past fortnight as follows : — H083E3. At tho Timaru Horse Bazaar on the 17th in»t., our entry of draughts was a small one, bat tho quality of the lot was remarkably good, and every hoof suitable for farm work found buyers, as under. To-day only 23 head (exclusive of entires) were entered. Sales at auction were slow, but nearly all the good draughts were subsequently disposed of privately. Hacks and light harness horses — All lots coming to hand under this heading may (with few exceptions, and without any ■light to the owners) ba characterised as inferior and weedy. We quote beat draughts at from £18 10s to £24, medium to good £12 to £16 103, hacks (ordinary) £8 10s to £12 10s, inferior £3 to £5 iOs. Horse Parade — The heary rain which fell during the forenoon prevented horses being tamed out at the appointed hour. A postponement was made till one o'clock, and at that time all the horses on the card but one put m an appearance, and went round " the block " for half an hour, after which we offered four at auction, but without effecting a single sale. CATTLE. At Makikihi on the 12th inst., we sold dry cows at 27b to 455, yearlings 275, calves 7a to 14s. At Washdyke on Thursday there was a good supply of fat cattle, and nearly every fine changed hands at equal to 20a per lOOlbs for prime, and 18s for second quality. The demand for well grown etore cattle-of both sexes still continues brisk, but there are few good lines coming forward. Our entry this week was chifflr old cows. Wo sold 5 fat cows at £6 5s to £7 ss, 5 steers at £6, 8 steers at £4 7s 6d to £4 12s 6d, 6 cows at £4 to £5 7a 6(1, 16 head store cattle at £2 5s to £3 7s 6d, 12 calves at 9s to 14s, and gold priratfly during the week 9 prime fat cows, 20 bullocks, 10 bullocks and heifers at quotations, and 16 head store cattle. SHEEP. There was a larger entry of fut sheep on Thursday than we have bad for some months, bnt as the trade was present m full force every lot was disposed of, although at a slight decline on values of last sale. There was very little business done m stores, owing principally to the scarcity of feed, but we anticipate a better demand from this forward. We sold 100 fat crossbred ewes and wethers at lls 9d, SO Z-tooths at 10* 6d, 30 at Ye, 90 merino wethers at 9s Id, 45 at 8s 9d, 80 halfbreds at 8s Id, and 125 J-bred culls at 5s 9d. During the week wo Bold privately 77 fat ewes and 350 crossbred hoggets. PIGS. At Waabdjke wo sold slips at 11. sKrsg. At our fortnightly sale on Wednesday we catalogued and scld 2600 skins. There was a fall attendance of buyers and a marked improvement m prices, all good lots realising considerably above owners' expectations. Best crossbredß sold at ss, 5s 2d, 53 sd, 5s 6(1, 5s 9d, 5a lid, 6s, 6s 2d, 63 3d, 6s 4d. Connlry light skins 2a to it fld, merinos 4s 3d, 4s 6d, 4s 10d, ss, 5s Sd. lIIDE3. We disposed of 55 at 3d, 3|d, to 'Id per lb, according to weight and quality. Mr B. B. Guinness (for the New Zealand loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) , reports for the week ended Saturday, 24th Sept., 1887, as follows .— CATTLE. At the Waßhdyke yards the supply of fat cattle broaght forward was not m any way remarkable for numbers or good quality, m fact, no primo beef being penned, we quote about 18s por lOOlbs for prime beef, and 16s for medium, with a fairly good demand. Stores. — A moderate number woro yarded, principally inferior old cowb and young stock. There is a limited enquiry for 3 and 4-yoar-old steers, with not many offoring. BH£Er. The market is well supplied and no improvement m prices lias taken place, m fact values has receded, and prime mutton cannot bo quoted at more than 2d per lb. At the Washdyko yards there was ft large supply of fat. Although very few lots changed hands under the hammer, sales woro effected privately afterwards for nearly every line. We obtained top price- of tho day m fat sheep for Mr Bristol's crossbred owes which, being heavy weights and grazed to perfection, wade 12s and J2s Id ; for merino wothors wo got 9b, and crossbred ewes m low condition 7s 6d. Stores. — Thire was a small entry with only a limited demand. Prices m consequence had a downward tendenoy j U-tooth crossbred) brought 6< 9d ; hoggotU. rery small, 4a Hi, others woro passed at 7s 3d. PBIYATK BALES. We have Bold 1000 primo crossbred wethers tot freezing at a very satisfactory prico, and have lereral other linos m treaty for. SHEEPSKINS. At the fortnightly sale, held on Wednesday last, a large attendance of buyers was present. Biddings woro very spirifcod, resulting m a clearance of every lot nt prices ranging from 3d to 6d higher than last sale.

The bulk of our catalogue was made up with butchers' and country lot*. Privately and by auction out 'offerings have been about 1500 loose and 20 bales, at the following prices:— Biwfc : butchers' crossbreds..ss6d,J>» '. 9d, 6s to 6s 4d, second quality do. 4s 6d, 4s 9<i, 5s to 5a 3d, bsstmerinos 4s 9d, 4s lid, 6s 3d, 5s 6d to 64 lld,f»otory skins 6s to 6s Bs, country lota 2s to 4s 9d according to »iz« arid condition, skius m bales per lb 6d, 65dto 6Jd. HIDES. Continue m good demand at late quotations, viz., 60 lbs and ovor 4d, 60 lbs to 60 lbs Sid, light and inferior from 3d to 3Jd. At the ~ above prices we haTe quitted 10S. SAT... . ... . .... .. „, ... "■" The market remains steady. All on hand hat been sold at S3 6d to 9s 6d per cwt. CHBISTOHDBOH CORN EXCHANGE. "1 The following is the Chrißtchurch Corn Exchange report for tho week ended Friday,SSto t t. 23rd, 1887 :— We have little fresh to report on the grain markets. Bales that havo been effected have been mostly m faTour of buyers, and lower * prioes aro still expected. The English market gives no hope of being able to ship unless at ballast ratC3 of freight. Large quantities of potatoes have been shipped en growers' account, and account sales to hand show but small margin to shippers. ■wheat. Millers aro holding off anticipating lower prices, and we do not expect to sco much business transacted m this cereal for another month. Prices remain at for small orders for immediate- execution 3s 5d to 3s 6d Tuscan and pearl, and 3s 4d fov Hunter's whito. Second quality is chiefly taken for chicken wheat at 3s Id to 3s 2d. Broken wheat is m fair demand at 2s 8d to 2s )od. OATS. Have been slightly easier during tho week, but as prime short samples are m few hands we rather expect a firmness than otherwise during tho next few weeks. Second quality | short feed are finding buyers at Is 9d to Is 10d, and Danish and Tartars are dull at Is 7d to Is Bd. BAHIKY. Holsters aro not m the market, and any small Hne3 offering are taken for seed or : shipment to Victoria, at prices ranging from 3s 3d to 33 9d for second quality. BEAKS Are quiet at 3s 2d to 3s 3d. peas ' Are almost unsaleable at 3s 3d for Prussian blues and 2s 9d to 2s lOd for feed lines. ' GBAS3 SEED. £ Ryegrass has a rerj limitod demand. - Farmers have m the main sowed their own seed, and the outside orders are very limited. Cocksfoot has a fair inquiry from the south at 3£d for second quality, up to 4Jd tor prime heavy seed. POTATOES. Have been sold as 10s a ton at country stations. DAIBT PBODPCB. Salt butter may be purchased at almost any price, as really there is no outlet. Cheese , is without demand, good quality can he purchased at 3d. The above prices are those paid to farmers and delivered f.o.b. Lyttelton, eaeks included.