DUNEDIN MARKETS -STOCK, &c.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1415, 24 December 1887, Page 2

DUNEDIN MARKETS -STOCK, &c.

Btjbksidk — Wednesday.

Messrs Reid, Maclean and Co. report for week ending 21st December as follows :—: —

Fat Cattle. — 255 head were yarded at Burnside to-day, about half of which represented prime beef, the wst ordinary to store quality. This large number following last week's overstocked mai ket, as might be expected, proved more than sufficient for requirements, and naturally butchers held off, bidding throughout the sale? being extremely dull, very low prices ruling. Bullocks brought from £4 2- 61 to £8 2s 6d (a few extra prime pens from £9 17s 6d to £10 7s 6d ;) cows, £3 to £7. We Bold for Mr •Fohn Sutherland (Moegiel), 3 bullocks at £5 7s 61 and 4 heifers from £4 15a to £5 sa ; for iVf r Hanry Pilmer (Olakia), 9 bullocks from £4 7* 6i to £5 17e 6d; for Mr Joseph Smith {Stirling), 6 bullocks at £6 5?; and for fiiugsra W. Miller, ?. Wilson, W. Geaiy, S. Wright, and otherß, cowb at up to £5 ss.

Fat Sheep.— 2olß came to hand to-day. Of these about 100 were merinos, all prime quality, the ballanoe crossbreds, ordinary to prime mutton, but eh efly ewe*. Buyers for freezing were in the market, but. owiug to the small number of pens suitable for their requirements their competition was not felt to any extent, and as the number penned proved beyond butchers' wants, lidding was much duller then at previous week's sale, lower prices by Is 6d per head than then ruling having to be accepted to clear tbe y»rd«. Best crossbred wethers brought from 9s to 10* 3d ; others, 7s 6d to 8s 9 1 ; be t crossbred ewes, 8) to 2i ; others, 5s 6 1 to 7s 9< ; prime merino wethers from 8s to 10s 6d.— We sold 685.

Eat Lambs. — Although a large supply name forward— viz., 831, competition was brisker and better prices ruling all round. This was doubtless owing to butchers' anticipations of 1 >rger rates during the earning holidays. All offered found buyers at prices ranging from 4*91 tol(K

Figs.— l4l penned, nearly all porkers and baooners, only a few pens stores and suokers being offered. The number of fat pigs offered proved considerab y in excess of requirements, and necessarily prices were mu<-h easier. Stores and suckers were agaio in good demand, and brought prices muoh higher in proportion than fat. Porkers brought 23s 6d to 33* ; baconers, 35s to 38s; stores, 18s to 21 «; tuckers, 12' to 17s 6d. — We sold four for Mr W. Kelly (Eaitangata), from 22s to 33s

Store Cattle. — There are buyers for all offering at auction. Well-grown bullocks in forward condition meet with a ready sale at prices although low compared with those obtained in previous years are full value taking into consideration present low prices ruling for beef.

Store bheep.— Numerous ii (Juiries are being made for young orossbreds, and lines of this description are readily plaoed at prices which, if compared with last year's, must be considered highly satisfactory. Other descriptions are also ia demaod, but as shearing is not yefc completed sod holder* not in a position to give full particulars, business transactions as yet are unimp irtant. Country Sales. — We held at Stirling on Tues« day lest the first of our regular monthly sales in that district. The yards were well filled with store cattle and sheep, and the attendance of both farmers in the district and outside buyers large. Good competition was experienced throughout tbe sale, more especially for sheep, every line cflered changing hands at satisfactory prices. Cat (la also were in demand, and brought fair prices. We sold 420 sheep at prioes ranging from 5s to 8* 3d ; and 77 head store cattle from £2 12s 6d to U 15s.

Wool. —The firit sales of this season will be held here on Thursday and Friday, 291h and 30bb, and should the weather continue, it v expected that large catalogues will be offered, deveral new buyers are expected to be present, and brisk competition may be anticipated. Sheepskins.— Country dry crossbreds, Is 3d to 4s 2d ; do do merinos, It 2d to 4s 5d ; pplts, 2d to lid j butchers' green do, 7d to 12d; green crossbreds, 3s 3d to ss; green merinos, 3s 4d to 3s lid ; lambskins, Is to Is sd.

Babbitskins.— Odd consignments of inferior suokers and summer skins contir ue to arrive, and are sold at the usual weekly sales, but for these descriptions, of course, low prioes bave to be accepted. Any lots of good-class skins find an active market, and high values are realised for any lots offered.

Hides. — Quotations : Inferior and bulls', lid to 2d ; light, 2£d to 2s -1 ; medium, 3i to 3id ; heavy, 3}d to 3fd per ib. Tallow.— Quotations are : Inferior, 10s to 14s i medium, 14s 61 to 16s 6d; prime mutton, 17* to 18a ; rough fat (inferior), 6i to 7s 6d • medium, Bfl to 10a $ best oaul, 10a 6d to 11s*