COMMERCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11985, 6 February 1903, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received 9.27 a.m.. February sth. LONDON, February 4. Copper, on spot, £55 2s 6d per ton; three months. £55 17s 6dTin, £l3O 10s per ton. Silver, Is 9|d per oi. At the tallow sales 609 casks were offered, and 119 sold; fine mutton, 35s 9d per cwt. Other descriptions are unchanged. SYDNEY, February 5. In reply to inquiries, the Commercial Agent of New South Wales at the Cape has informed the Premier that the price of sheep, c.i-f. at Capetown and Durban, is ewes 22s to 30s; wethers, dressed, 601b, 28s 6d. THE HOMEBUSH SALES. Received 9.35 p.m., Februarv sth. SYDNEY, February 5. AE the Homebush sales 40,000 sheep were penned. Prime ewes were firm, and showed a slight advance, whilst others were easier. Sales were made aa follows: Crossbred wethers, best, 15s; good, 12s 6d to 13s 6d: medium,' 9s 6d. Ewes, best, 14s; extra, 15s; good, 12s to 12s 6d; medium, 9s. Cattle were easier; bullocks, best. £l3 ss; extra, £l4 12s 6d; good, £lO 10s ; medium, £7. Cows, best, £9 15s; extra, £ll 7s 6d; good, £6 15s; medium, £5 15s. Best beef averaged about 35s per IOOIbs. CANTERBURY RAM AND EWE FAIR. Per Press Association.

CHRISTCHURCH, February 5. The ram and ewe fair under the auspices of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pasto- j ral Association was "held to-day. There | was a good entry in point of numbers, and i the general quallt f of the sheep was -above j the average, though some very poor lines were shown. Otherwise, however, the experiment of holding a sale at this period did not prove satisfactory. The attendance was very small, the large North Island sheep-farmers having for the most part supplied the season's requirements, while the Canterbury farmers are occupied with harvest. The few North Island buyers present were the largest purchasers, but bidding was very slow and a very large proportion of the lots were passed in. The demand ran chiefly on Southdowns, Shropshire* and English'Leicesters, and for which were sold fairly satisfactory prices wmre realised. Border Leicesters, Romneys and Lincolns were neglected, and there was very little enquiry for stud rams. A considerable number of the lots which were passed at auction were afterwards sold" privately. The following were the current prices:—For sheading flock rams (registered} of fair to good quality, English Leicesters 2£gns to 4gns, Southdown: 6gns. Shropshire Down 2jgns to 3|gn«; stud rams," English Leicester 9gns to 15gns. .