COMMERCIAL.

Western Star, 30 August 1918, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

SOUTHLAND STOCK AND PRODUCE MARKET. The very rough weather during the week has prevented the supply of sheep coining on the market, and prices in consequence have been firm, especially on northern markets. As the supply coming forward is likely to remain about the same for the next week or two, prices, will probably go a little higher.. Very little business in store sheep; has been done, and prices are purely nominal. Probably business in this section will again become active in three or four weeks’ time. Fat cattle are in good demand, at the present time, but the numbers, coming forward are not nearly sufficient to supply the demand, butchers being the main buyers. In the store, cattle section dairying cows are in the greatest demand, and good sorts are making up to £l7 10/-. Owing to. the rough weather the turnip cattle are a little backward. Approximate prices may be quoted : Fat Cattle.—Extra prime bullocks, £2l to £24 10/-; prime from £ls 10/to £l9; lighter sorts., £l3 10/- to £ls; extra, prime heifers from £l3 to> £ls 15/-; prime from £lO 10/- to £l2 10/-; lighter sorts from £8 to £9 10/-; extra prime cows from £l4 to £l6; prime from £l2 to £14.; lighter sorts from £lO 10/- to £ll 5/-. Store Cattle.—Three-year-old steers, forward condition, from £l2 to £l3 10/; 18-months and two-year-old steers to £8 15/-; 18-months steers and heifers, from £7 10/- to £8 : . Fat Sheep.—Extra prime wethers from 40/- to 44/- ; prime from 36/- to 38/-; lighter sorts from 33/6 toi 35/6. Store Sheep.—Four and six-tooth store wethers from 30/- to 35/-; twotooth wethers, 26/6 to 29/-; good mixed sex hoggets from 22/- to 24/-; sound-mouthed ewes, 28/6 to 33/-; good four and six-tooth, ewes, 33/- to 35/-. Oats. —The market is firm in spite of the fact that there is not much enquiry from the North Island, except for heavy milling Gartens. There are very few oats offering from the country, the price to farmers being nominally the same as last week, namely, from 4/1 to 4/2, on trucks.

Chaff. —There is more demand for chaff both locally and; for shipment, but shipping space is very hard to. secure. There is very little chaff offering by farmers in the meantime, but anything approaching prime quality . would be readily taken at £5 10/-, on trucks.

Potatoes.—The market for potatoes is firm, both for seed' and table. Table potatoes are now worth £9 to £9 10/per ton in ton lots, delivered in Invercargill, the above prices being subject to deduction of agent’s commision, railage and cartage. There Ts better enquiry from the North Island, but it is unlikely iso long a® importations from Australia continue that prices will reach the level of the prices now current in. Invercargill. Ryegrass.—There is a moderate demand for heavy-weight ryegrass from the North Island, but otherwise the market continues very quiet. In another month the local retail .demand will greatly assist in reducing stocks, which are only moderate'. Hemp.—The hemp market continues quiet, and sales have been made on the basis of £37 per ton, on trucks, for low-fair. Unless shipping facilities to the London market improve, the demand: -is likely to he very moderate far some time. EXCHANGE SALE ROOMS. McKay Bros, report: Poultry.—Good: demand. Hons, 1/4 to 1/8; roosters-, to 2/10. Pig's.—Suckers, 8/- to- 12/-; weaners, to 17/6. Pork. —We are cash buyers in unlimited quantities at highest market rates. We are also 1 prepared to accept live pigs in lots, paying on dead weights. - Produce.—Potatoes, prime, up to £11; others from £9 to £lO. Onions, 20/-. "Pollard, 18/6. Bran, 10/6. Wheat (very fine -sample), 26/-. Oats, 20/- to 21/-. Inferior, 14/- to 16/-. Chaff up to £7 5/- for prime. Oatdust, 6/-. Straw, 3/- bale; hay, 3/6 bale. Parsnips, 3/6. Carrots, 2/6 (small bags). Cabbage, 4/6 sack, Vegetable marrows, 9/- cwt. Seed Potatoes. —We have' Robin Adair, White Elephant Early Puritan, Up-to-Datc, King Edward, Gamekeeper, etc., at from 10/- to 18/- cwt. Muttonbirds. —Salt, very few left, 8/- dozen (in boxes); 21/- tin containing three dozen. Fruit. —We handled very large consignments during the week from Canterbury, Nelson and Central Otago. L.W. apples, 9/- to 10/-. Stumers, 12/- to 14/-. Doeherty, 12/- tol4/-. Scarlets, 9/- to 11/-. Cleopatras, 9'/to 11/-. Pears, 4d to sd! (W. Cole and W.N.); Adelaide oranges, 20/-; Navels, 22/6; Mandarins, 20/- to 22/-; pines, 18/6; lemons, 18/6; bananas, 26/-. General.—Furniture has been in good demand, and our -stocks are well assorted, while prices are more than reasonable for cash. Harness, g.c. iron and tanks are in good demand. Horse-covers (not many left), 35/-. Cow-covers, 15/- and 17/6.