COMMERCIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8018, 25 September 1906, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

CAMBRIDGE HORSE FAIR Messrs McNicol and Co.. report:—On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, of inst week we held our annual spring burse fair at Cambridge, and although wo have had many exceptionally good sales, this year's stands out as the most successful ever held in Waikato. The class and quality h>ive never been equalled before, and the farmers aro to he complimented on the manner and condition in which they brought their horses forward. In addition to buyers from all over trie North IsUnd, Mr Hawkins, a Christchurc'a buior of remounts, wai present as usual, and all were there to do business, —directly a horse i entered the sale rmg, an < ffer, fairly well up to value, was forthcoming and a large number of horses left the district; consequently farmers iuve encouragement to continue breeding. By keeping to good legged sound stock and feeding properly, there is every indication of a good return from this branch of farming,—certainly the prospect never looked brighter. On Tuesday we offered 180 unbroken horses, the best yardins; we have ever had, practically every one a good sort. Best unbroken 3 and 4-ypar old draughts made from £34 to £4B; medium draughts, .£22 to £3O; 2-year old draught, up to £29; yearlings, to .£l6; unbroken hacks and light harness sorts, £lB to £26 ss; smaller and cobby norts, £8 to £l6. The draft from Galatea Estate were an exceptionally gooi legged, upstanding lot, and elicited keen competition, making from £lB to £26 ss, a few cobs, £9 to £l4. Those from the Assets Board were a w-II grown lot and made from £l2 to £2O lOe. Of broken draughts it is sufficient toeay

that the demand was unsatisfied at the end of the sale. The highest price £7O, was obtained for a 5-year-old Benmore mare from Mr C. Day, purchased by Mr Grant, ot VVaihou; another mare from the same breeder made £52 10s; a 4 year-old Field Marshall mare from Mr J. Malcolm, made £6l, and a 4-year-old Dr. Seddon gelding from Mrs McNicol made a like amount. A great number made from £4O to £53, and hardly a horse was sold under £3O, tut we must admit the yarding comprised chiefly 3, 4 and 5-year-olds—very few aged horses—and all the well known Waikato farmers were represented. To indicate the class brought forward, we may mention that a draft of 23 3 and 4-year-olds from Mrs McNicol, of Hukanui, averaged £4l. Messrs Dobbs, Sinclair and Gibbs, of llaetihi, purchased some first class stock, and Mr K. D. Knight, of Longburn, bought 20 exceptionally good three, four or five-year-old draughts. Mr Hoult, of Feilding, was a keen bidder on anything of quality; Mr John Clarkin also bought well. On Thursday and Friday haoks, cobs, ponies and light harness horses were submitted, and the stamp was really good; there was a good enquiry and spirited competition, and good prices were obtained right up to the end of the sale, which finished at 2.30 p.m. on Friday, Mr Ben Armitage (Pullen and Armitagi), Auckland, and Mr P. Hogan, of Te Aroha stables, securing some first class animals. Good upstanding hacks and light harness horses made from £23 to £3O, useful haoks and harness sorts £ls to £23, smaller sorts £3 to £ls, a few aged and worn harness horses £6 downwards. A mare (Leolantis —Castanette) from Mr J. J. McNicol made £4O; Mr Lake's hunter, Happy Jack, £35 5 a fast buggy mare by Pieasanton, £37; a pair of buggy horses, £25 each; blaok cob (a beautiful mover;, £3O; and several pairs of buggy ponies from £8 to £lO 10s per horse; but there were so many g >od sorts brought for-

ward that we cannot mention the lot, and will just state that a dratt of 26 light harness horses and haoks.ohiefly 3 and 4-years-old from Mrs McNicol, averaged £2O 10s. A total of 881 were offered and 660 sold; comprising (offered) 184 unbroken horses, 255 broken draughts, 442 hacks and light harness horses; sold 14S, 19S and 314 respectively. TE AWAMUTU STOCK SALE. The IN ew Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited report: On Saturday our Te Awamutu yards were exceedingly well filled, 320 being yarded. Fat cows made £5 5s to £5 10s ; 3-year-old steers, £4 10s; yearlings, 37s to £i 2s 6d; springing heifers (a nuuioer in), £4 to £c 2s 6i. A choice shorthorn cow sold for £9. Piga penned in large numbers and sold very readily, weaners making up to 20s. Fowls, Is 3d to Is 6d ; potatoes, .£1 per sack. Nearly all the cattle sold, the only ones not going off were in poor condition.

CLEARING SALE AT PIRONGIA. The New Zealand Loan and Mercintile Agenoy Co., Ltd., report:—On Friday last we held a clearing sale at the farm of Vlessrß W. H. and J. S. Hall, at Pirongia, when everything offered was sold at satisfactury prices. Young cows at profit made from JEb' 123 6d to JB7 2a 6d ; older cows, £5 5s te £6 ; 18 months, ,£2 os; calves, £1 7s; light farm horses, .£8 to £io. All furniture and implements were quitted at prices that pleased the vendors. SHEEPSKINS. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, have received the following cable from their London house: —Merino sheepskins have declined $d per lb since last sales and crossbred sheepskins id. LONDON TALLOW MARKET. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., have received the following cable from tneir London Office re tallow;—" We quote present spot values for the following descriptions of tallow: -Fine mutton, 34s 6d; 33s 3d; mixed, 31s 3d. The market is firm/' THE GRAIN MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The local grain market is still lifeless. There is more disposition on the part ni holders of oats to realise, but they are asking id s.b jve buyers' Hunts. A small sale of fair average quality Tuscan wheat at 2s lid at a 2Jd station is reported. There is, however, little inquiry for wheat at present. ANTWERP WOOL SALES. LONDON, September 20. The Antwerp wool sales opened to-day with a small attendance. The demand was quiet nnd prices irregular. Compared with the July prices, merinos fell 5 per cent., crossbreds 10 per cent., while fine crossbreds barely maintained July prices. Two thousand four hundred and seventy-four bales of La Plata were offered and 68b' sold.