COMMERCIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13898, 8 May 1909, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

ST. ANDREWS SALE. The regular fortnightly sale was held at St. Andrews yards yesterday; when only a small yarding was forward. Witli the exception of fat lambs, all classes of stock so}d well. Fat ewes, 9s Id, 9s 6d to 10s; forward lambs, 9s 3d to 12s; full-mouth ewes, 9s to lis lOd; eight-tooth ewes, 13s 6d; two-tooth ewes, 16s 2d; two, four, six and eighttooth ewes (off tussock), 12s Id. Cattle. —Fat heifers to £5 lGs, springing cows £4 to £5 10a. TIMARU GRAIN MARKET. ' Compared with the rapid fluctuations of the wheat market of a fortnight ago, the business during the past week has been quiet, though a steady stream oF wheat has been passing through the hands of the local grain merchants. Reports from the Home and Australian markets have recently been of a morn reassuring nature and consequently farmers seem inclined to hold out for prices that, in a great many instances are Id to Sd above the merchant's limit. Notwithstanding this, several big lines have changed hands and sales are reported of 750 bags at 4s delivered in Timara, and lines of 300 bags and 500 bags passed into different ownership at the same rate. One local farmer with a line of 1500 bags has asked 4s 2d on trucks, but so far his offer ha* not been closed with. There is a good enquiry for oats, but the general price asked by growers is Is 6d on trucks-, which is, in the great majority of cases considered a penny too high, though a considerable quantity of business could bo done if owners would take Is 5d on truck? or Is 6d delivered. Merchants are keeping away from potato transactions as they consider that the risk of blight is far too great to warrant their doing business on the usual lines, though they would bo willing to handle them throuph the store, as is done in Oamaru. One merchant s artvice to farmers is to pit their potatoes and then in the subsequent pickinc over, anv tnbers that showed signs ot develotring blight could bo d.scarded, with the result that a clean and trustworthy sample would be obtaincrt.

PROPERTY SALES. The Canterbury Farmers' Cooperative Association report the sale of the undermentioned properties at «it'sfactory prices:—For Mr J. AVilsoti. -< acres of Allandalc estate, to Mr C. Cordes, also 200 acres of the same estate to Messrs Archibald Bros., also 150 acres to Mr H. Manaton. For Mr C Connolly, 166 acres to Mr R. skinner. For Mr C. Galwey, 105 acres and buildings afc Totara Valley, to Mr I/. Inwood, of ChristchuTch. For Mr A. 1,. Barker, 40 acres at Winchester, to Mr J. Opip. For Mr Neil O'Boyle, 130 acres at Landsborough to Mr Frank O'Boyle. For Mr H. Woodley, 2<. acres at Orari, to Mr W. Seward. tor Mr C. Brosnahan, lease of _ 100 acres homestead at Rangitera Valley, to Messrs Matthews Bros., of Claremont. For Mr A. Hamilton, 160 acres at Glenifci, to Mr W. Marion. For Rev. P. Farley, lease of 100 acres Levels V alley, to Mr P. Brennan. of Sonthburn. For Mr A. K. Macdonald. lease of 82 acres Marchwiel estate, to Mr W. Grant. For Mr C. M. Strachey, 31 acres and residence, Waimatartai, to Mr J. I*. Richards. For Mr C. Malthus, J-acrc nnd residence. Maori Hill, to a client. For Mr A. "Wilkinson, i-acre and residence at Geraldine, to Mr G. B. Creemer. For Mr W. Martin, £-acre, Sarah street, to Miss Hedges. For the estate of the late Mrs C. Rapsey. i-acre afc Beaconsfield, to Mr S. Copp. For Messrs Bagrie and Rock, -?.-acre at Geraldine, to Mr "W. Thomas. For Mr W T . K. Macdonald, 1 acre. Gernldine. to Mr \V. Thomas. For Mr Sam Lindsay, 1 acre, with shoo and goodwill of business to Messrs Wood and Co-.

For Mr Thomas Kingston, goodwill of lease and confectionery business at Timaru, to Mr J. T. Mitchell, of Hastings. For Mr W. K. Macdonald, lease of fil acres, with homestead, to the Kev. Mr Nansen. For the same owner, lease of 85 acres to Mr J. Connolly. THE CHRISTCHURCH MARKETS. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 7. The recovery in tho wheat market in America and London has encouraged local exporters to again operate, and there is, therefore, a fairly keen demand. The price has firmed, and 4s at country stations is now ofFered. A fair quantity changed hands during the last few days, and between merchants there has been a considerable turnover. Amongst the sales that have taken place lately were 2750 bushels of Hunters at 3s lid, 10,200 bushels of Tuscan, and 2000 bushels of Huuters at 4s, at a country station. Business in oats is restricted, owing to there being no further shipping space available this month; otherwise there would be a demand for export at present prices. In the meantime there is very little doing. There has been a sharp rise in potatoes, as growers declined to sell at 40s, and were pitting their crops iustead. In order to fill orders for the North Island and West Coast, merchants have had to increase their limit, and 45s to 50s is now being paid at country stations.