MARKET REPORTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6137, 25 March 1898, Page 4

MARKET REPORTS.

ASHBURTON RAM AKD EWE FAIR. There was a fair attendance of farmers and breeders at the ram ancl ewe fair, held at Tinwald yesterday, but the sale itself, as was expected, in the absence of rain and feed, was one of the dullest that has ever been held in the district. About 7500 ewes and 500 rams were yarded, and a considerable amount of business was done privately, but at auction the prices offered were only such as could be accepted for boiling down, and many of the best breeders did not sell a single ram. Amongst the ewes offered there were a good many low-conditioned lots, but a line from the Alford Estate attracted great attention, being one of the evenest, best grown and best woolled lots of ewes ever offered in the yards. They were said to be out of Canowiemerino ewes by Lincoln rams. They easily topped the market at 10s each, other lines of ewes not realising much more than half the money. Ordinary cross-bred ewes made from 3s lld to 5s lOd, merino 2s lld to 3s Gd. Rams sold as follows: — Lincolns from /{gto 4igs, English Lecesters from lg to 2jjgs, Border Leicesters from ig to lg, Hampshire Downs from lg to 2gs, Shropshire Downs 3g to SAgs. A large number were passed.