ADDINGTON YARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11029, 18 March 1914, Page 6

ADDINGTON YARDS.

THE METROPOLITAN MARKET. TO-DAY'S SALE. ■ fpjta Tin, "Stab's" Pigeon Express.] Once again tho weekly sale at the Addington Metropolitan Yard's was conducted under perfect weather conditions, and as a result there was a very large and representative attendance, farmers,, graziers, dealers, freezing operators, butchers and others interested in the live stock trade being present in much larger numbers than is usually customary at this season of the year. The entries were again large, those of store sheep being once' more of exceptional dimensions, a considerable amount of additional accommodation having to bo secured in various parts of the yards. It was late in the afternoon before the final pen of stores wa.s reached. FAT CATTLE.

Fat cattle were represented by a yarding totalling 325 head, against SOo at the previous sale, 273 on March 4, 249 on February 25 and 211 on February 18. The quality was quito np to the usual satisfactory standard of the Addington Yards, and included some bullocks of great excellence, as is clearly shown by the comparatively high prices realised in a market certainly not conspicuous for briskness. Last week, it will'be remembered, prices suffered a decline equal to about- Is per 1001b compared with the rates ruling a week earlier, and when to-day's sale opened prices were on a. par with those ruling _on that occasion, and there was no improvement as the sal© pi'oceedcd, the consequence being that passings were fairly- heavy. Beef realised 27s to 30s. Quotations are:— Stews, £8 7s (3d to £ll as Gd', extra to £ls. Heifers. £5 17s 6d to £ll 2s 6d. Cows, £5 2s 6d to £lO 12s 6d. , FAT SHEEP. " The entry of fat sheep was about the same; as last week, seven races only being filled. As usual 'of late, ewes formed the largest portion of the yarding, and the quality was about the usual average.

FAT LAMBS. Thore was a larger entry of fat lambs than Inst week. The quality also showed an improvement, there being a good proportion of well-finished lines. The competition was not quite so keen as last week, although all the . buyers were operating. ' Prices were a little easier per pound, the average being about (3d, but there was little difference per head, as the skins are now weekly increasing in value.. The range of prices was:—Tegs 19s 6d to 22s 4d, average weights 17s to 19s, light and unfinished 15s 6d to 16s Gd.

STORE SHEEP. Store sheep were gain in very large supply, the yarding showing .an increase compared with the previous week. As at several recent sales, overSea sheep formed a large proportion of the entry, and a-large number of the pens vvero of only medium quality, rough lines being numerous. Jliwes again formed the bulk of the entry, the balance being made up chiefly of lambs, with a few ''lines of wethers. There was an exceptionally large attendance, and the sale was followed with keenness from start to finish. With the stubble paddocks cleared and ready for grazing, the demand for breeding ewes was even more general than nitherto, these remarks applying to every class of breeding sheep from two-tooth to sound-mouth, and if anything values showed ■an upward tendency ; not the least difficulty being experienced in placing ail lines of ewes at'full quotations. Older sheep, including those with broken mouths, also made full values, the demand for this class showing no weakening. Summed up, the demand for .ewes may be described as quite.remarkably,keen. The, majority' of the lambs ya.rded were of a medium class, ahd the prices obtained showed no variation from the previous week, and the same remarks also apply to the few wethers on offer. PIGS. ■ -\ ; ,

The yarding of fat pigs was a fairly large one, and in point of quality was one of the best seen at the Addington Yards for some time. There "was a good demand, buyers being present for all classes. In some , cases higher prices, perhaps, were obtained than ,at the previous sale, but this must be set down to the better quality rather than to an improvement in the price per lb, which remained practically, unchanged, although the , demand was more spirited. Quotations were:— Choppers £4 to £4 15s. Heavy baconers 63s'6d.to 765. Lighter baconers 52s 6d to '6os:' price per lb, 5d to s£d; Heavy porkers 48s to 50s. Lighter porkers 40s to 47s 6d; price per lb 6Jd.