Correspondence.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 23, 26 September 1884, Page 20

Correspondence.

Mr. Donald Sthonach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for tlje week endediSeptember 23, as follows :—: —

Fat Cattle.— 23B head were yarded at Burnside for the week's requirements; two-thirds of these were prime, the balance little better than stores. Competition was not brisk, and prices were very irregular. Best bullocks brought from £9 10s to £10 10s ; others, £5 to £9 ; cows in proportion. We sold a prime draft from the Seadown Estate at from £9 to £10 10s for bullocks, averaging £9 17s : and quote prime beef 22s 6d per 1001 b. Fat Calves.— Four were offered and sold at 9s to 17s 6d. vat ? hee P«— 2 > 5 75 were penned ; of these 760 were merinos, the balance cross-breds, representing all qualities. Competition was fairly active, and prices differed very little from last week's. Best cross-breds brought 19s to 21s 6d, others 11s 3d to 17s 6d, merinos 10s to 148. We sold cross-breds on account of Mr. John Duncan, Cherry Farm, at 16s 3d, and quote prime mutton 3£d to 3£d per lb. Fat Lambs.— 2o were penned, and under spirited bidding Bold at from 14s 6d to 17s 6d.

Fat Pigs.— llo were forward, nearly all in killing condition. Competition was duller, and prices slightly lower. The range to-day was 14s 6d for snekers ; others, 30s to 755. Country Sales.— On Tuesday we held a clearing sale at Mr. John bmclairs farm, near Berwick. There was a good attendance of buyers, and prices realised satisfactory. Draught horses brought up to £30 ; cows, from £3 17s 6d ; cross-bred ewes, with lamb, 13s 6d. Vanouß other items brought prices in proportion. Store Cattle.— There is some slight inquiry for these, but we have no sales to report. stor e Sheep.— There is nothing of any importance transpiring in

Wool.— Telegrams dated London,'l7th inst., report a steadiness of prices has been maintained throughout the sales, and closiug with farm rates. The total quantity sold during the series was 320,000 bales. 20,000 bales have been held over for next auction, which is to open on November 11.

Sheepskins.— We submitted a large catalogue at auction on Monday. Under spirited competition from a full attendance of buyers an advance on last week's was obtained. Butchers' green cross-breds brought ss, 5s Id, 5s 2d, 5s 3d, 6s 6d, 5s 7d, 5s 9d ; do merinos, 4s Id, 4s 4d, 4s 6d, 4s 9d, 4s lOd, 4s lid, 5s ; lambs, 7d ; country dry skins, Is 9d to 5s 6d.

Rabbit-skins.— On Monday we offered a fair catalogue of mixed to good and superior skins to a good attendance of the trade. Com. petion was again brisk, nearly every lot being disposed of at over vendors, reserves. Eight bags broken and suckers brought 3£d to 7*d ; 6 do medium, Is 3d to Is 6^d ; 1 fadge do, Is 7d ; 8 bags prime, Is lid to Is ll£d ; 4 bales medium, Is 2£d to Is 6£d ; 4 do fair to good, Is 5d to Is 8d ; 4do good to prime, Is 10£ dto Is lld per lb. Hides. — We have no alteration to note on late quotations, all coming to hand being easily disposed of. Tallow.— The market is dull, th^re being no inducement for shippers to operate at present quotations, which are as follows ; Inferior and mixed, 20s to 24s ; medium, 24a 6d to 27s 6d ; prime, 28s to 29s ; rough fat, 18s to 21s per cwt. Grain.— Wheat : There is a moderate demand for good sound hard milling wheat. White velvet is in short supply and inquired for ; in fact, all kinds are saleable at about last week's quotations. We sold privately this week 1,800 bushels inferior at Is 6 I, 4,980 do at 2s, 1,960 do at 254d,1,444d0at255d, 400 at 2s 6d 1,256 at2rßd ;400 do medium milling at 3s 4d, 3,572 do g< od do at 3* 6d, 1,248 do do at 3s 7d per bushel in store, bags weighed in. — Ot's : Since all in first hands have been cleared out there in a good deal of speculation on the part of local dealers, and all have to recoid a further advance this week— at auction up to 2s B£d was obtained for a small lot long Tartarians fit for seed. We have sold short Tartarian and sparrowbills at from 2s 4d to 2s 6d, the latter figure being easily obtained for good sound feed.— Barley : There is nothing doing in malting barley, and only a very little in any other, and quotations are nominal. — Rye-grass Seed : There is a fair demand for cl<»an sued from old pasture at from 4s 3d, to 6s 6d, according to quality and locality grown ; farmers' lots which cannot be guarantf edlfrom old pasture are slow of sale.— Cocksfoot is in moderate demand in small quantities at from 5d to s^d per lb. Mr. E. (i. Staveley, Christchurch (for the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited), reports on Ashburton Live Stock Market under date Sept. 23 :— Siieep.— There was an average yarding, chiefly consisting of young cross-breds. With a g*od attendance, the demand was hardly so brisk as it has been being, apparently, somewhat affected by the prevailing nor'-wester,, which blew strongly throughout the day. Fat cross-bred wethers realised 16s 3d to 18s ; in forward condition, 15s ; aged merino ewes in lamb, 7s 5d ; forward merino wethers, 10s 6d ; merino couples, 12s 6d, crossbred hoggets 12s 10d,13s 4d,and 14s 6d. Pigs- Breeding bows brought £3 to £4. Cattle: Very little beef was brought forward.-There was a fair yard of stores, but mostly in low condition. The sale assumed a quiet tone throughout, with a lack of competition Fat cows and heifers made £4 2s 6d to £5 17s 6d ; medium springers, £5 10s ; mixed 2-year-olds, £3 8s 6d ; yearlings, 27s S&.—Lyttelton Times

PRODUCE MARKET.— SEPTEMBER 25.

Mb. F. Mebnan, King street, reports :— Who.esa»e prices including bags : Oats, Is lOd to 2s 3d ; wheat, milling 3s to 3s Bd, fowls Is 6d to 2s 7d ; barley, malting, 3s 9d to 4s 6d, milling 2s 6d to 3s 6d ; feeding 2s ; oaten hay, £3 sstos to £3 10s ; rye-grass, £3 ; chaff, £2 10s to £3 ; straw, £1 16s to £2 ; bran, £1 ; pollard, £4 5s to £4 10s ; flour, £8 10s .to £9 ; oatmeal, 11s to Us 6d ; fresh butter, medium to prime, 8d to Is ; eggs, 8d ; salt butter, nominal, 7d ; for good cheese, 4Jd to 5d j bacon 8d in rolls, hams 10£ d j potatoes, £4 10s to £5.