COMMERCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2265, 10 December 1896, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

♦ ADDINGTON MARKETiri. (Bx Telegraph.} CHRISTCHUROfI, December 9. CATTLE. The yarding of fat cattle consisted of about 200 head, mostly light weight steers and heifers suitable for trade requirements at the present season, and a number of inferior quality heavy weight cows. Bidding lacked animation and prices were easier than those ruling last week. Best steer beef ranged from 16s to 18s 6d, and inferior and cow sorts from 13s to 15s 6d, per lOOlbs. Steers brought £5 5s to £8, heifers £4 2s 6d to £7 10s, and cows £3 15s to £6. In dairy cattle a number of very good cows and springers came forward but met with little demand, prices ranging from £3 to £5 10s, and up to £6 10s for an extra good springer. The store cattle yarding comprised some good sorts. Prices realised were — yearlings to 355, 18 months old to 455, 2i-year-olds to £3 15s, 4-year-old steers to £5 12s 6d, store cows to £3 155. SHEEP. The fat Bheep department was well supplied, both with freezers and trade lots. The sale opened fairly well, but ewes, with the exception of some maidens, were a perfect drug and several lines were withdrawn. Good freezing wethers sold at 10s 6d to 12s lid, butchers lots 9s to 10s, maiden ewes 9s 6d to 10s lid, good ewes 8s to 9s 6d. aged and medium sorts 6s to 7s 6d. All the fat lamb pens were occupied, and although there was a fair proportion of really prime sorts there were a great many which can only be described as culls. Owing to the reappearance of several buyers for export all fit for freezing were largely competed for, and a slight rise took place on last week's quotations, this also being helped by the fact that butchers were also m competition for best sorts. Inferior and weedy sorts were decidedly easier. Prime freezers brought 11s to 13s 6d, and up to 13s lOd for an extra good line, good trade lines 9s to 10s 6d, and inferior and cull lots from 6s to 8s 6d. There was only a very small entry of store sheep, and these were all cleared at laßt week's rates. PIGS. A medium, yarding of pigs contained very little of really prime quality and prices eased somewhat, baconers and porkers bringing from 3d to 3£d per lb. i