COMMERCIAL

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13867, 1 April 1909, Page 4

COMMERCIAL

"customs returns. The. following is a comparative statement'showing/the amount of Customs duties collected at Timaru during March 1908 and 1909:—. :.- : 1908. 1909. - , £ s. d. £ s. d. Spirits . 912 IS 4 767 V 5 Perfumed ... ..- 4 S Cigars 36 < 2 Cigarettes ... 98 8 9 54 13 9 Tobacco . 433 13 0 426 9 6 Sparkling wine 5 8 Australian wine 5 0 0 Other .kinds .... 111 Hl2 9 Ale, beer, etc. 20 0 0 Coffee, cocoa, etc. 21 14 0 Goods bv weight— General tariff 348 15 11 7 2 9 Piref. tariff ..... 18 9 19 8 Goods ad valorem — ... General tariff 3350 310 1405 1 6 Prefr tariff '_... 64 13 0 15 13 6 Otter diities not specified above — General tariff ' 588 17 1 12 15 4 Pref. tariff ... 15 1 9 4 Totals 5846 14 32744 12 4 Beer duty ...... / 205 8 9 199 17 3 ADDIXGTON STOCK MARKET. Per Press Association. V--' CPPJSTCHURCH, March 31. Sheep.—The number of stores offered was below, that at. recent sales, and was composed very largely of ewes of various ages an,d descriptions, including a, few lines of two-tooths of exceptionally good quality. For the latter and others of good class the demand was good, and practically all were cleared at a small advance on late rates. The improved tone of the market was principally due to the late rains and the fact that feed prospects were* more favourable than a week ago. Oulv a few lots of wethers came forward, and the demand Mas very restricted, consequently the sales made were at low prices compared with ruling vahip.s. Ewes of averaae lines made 9s 6d to 10s 6d, very forward 12s to 12s 9d. Very few lambs were offered, arid they sold at late rates. The yarding'of fat lambs was very-small compared with last week, 2835 being offered.' The quality was fairly good. and prices on a par with those obtained at- the previous sale, in some cases slightly above the basis at which exporters are now. doing business, the reason being that freezing orcters had to he filled. Several export buyers declined to operate, but the sale taken throughout was more animated than on Wednesday last. Freezing buyers took 2354 at from 10s 6d to 13s 3d. a few extra quality 13s 6d to 14s; butchers purchased 481 from 10s 9d to 13s 7d, extra making 14s. In the fat sheep yarding, wethers were more numerous than usual, and prices easier by Is to Is 6d. Freezing buyers operated fairly freely, especially fanlighter sorts. ' Prices —Prime wethers 15s to 16s lOd, extra to 18s, lighter 12s 5d to 14s 9d. prime ewes lis to 15s, others 7s 3d to 10s 6d. Cattle'. —365 head were yarded, including a considerable number of _ fat cows of the- best description. Steer beef prices were slightly easier than at the previous sale, .while the demand for cow beef was very weak, and prices showed a marked decline. Best steer beef realised 20s to 21s 6d, medium 18s to 19s 6d, and cow beef 15s to 17s 6d per lOOlbs. Steers sold at £7 10s to £lO os, heifers £5 to £7 15s. and dry cows £4 10s to £8 2s 6d. There was a small entry of stores, and sale dragging a fairly large proportion of the entry being passed; fourteen to eighteen months' old sorts 25s to 30s, two-year steers 45s to 555, two-year heifers 40s, two and a half-year steers £4, dry cows 20s to 70s, dairy cows £3 6s 'to £lO 7s 6d. Pigs.-—There was a medium entrv; those of good quality met a keen demand. • Choppers realised to 63s 6d. heayv bacopprs 55s to 635. lighter 48s to 545; no large stores came forward, fair-sized sorts made 28s to 325. smaller 22s to 275. weaners from 8s 6d to 16s, smaller sorts meeting with a poor demand. BURXSIDE STOCK MARKET^ DUNEDIX, March- 31. Cattle. —196 head were yarded, of fair quality. Prices were much the same as last week. Best bullocks £S 10s to £9 7s 6d, medium £7 to £7 15s. inferior £5 15s to £6 10s. best cows and heifers £5 10s to £6 10s. medium £4 15s to £5 ss, inferior £3 10s to £4. Sheep.—2676 were penned, vei-y few prime wethers being forward. Prices for good wethers were equal to last week's, but inferior showed a drop of 2s. Best wethers 17s 3d, medium to "ood 14s 6d to 16s 9d. inferior 16s 9d, best ewes 17s 6d. Lambs.—l2oo were yarded, prices declining by about Is per head. Best lambs 13s, medium to good lis 6d to 12s 6d, inferior 10s. DUNEDIX GRAIN MARKET. Oats. —There is a very fair local demand for good feed lines at from Ift 4d to Is 4Jd, ex but little or no enquiry for shipping. Wheat. —The market has an improved tendency, and there is enquiry for prime milling lines, especially Velvet, at from' 4s to 4s Id, delivered Dnnedin. Fowl wheat is in better supply at from 3s Sd to 3s 9d.