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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 12, 18 July 1890, Page 20

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Messrs. Donald Stbonach and Son report for the week ending July 9, as follows :—

Fat Cattle.— The number yarded— viz, 176— being below the requirements of the trade, a very brisk sale took place, and excellent pricer were paid throughout, best bullocks making from £9 to £11 5s ; ordinary, from £7 to £8 10s ; and light, from £5 to £6 10s — Best cows made from £8 to £9 7s 6d ; ordinary, from £6 to £7 15a • medium, £4 10s to £5 15s ; inferior, £2 to £3. We sold bullocks on account Mr. William Kirkland (East Taieri), from £7 to £8 10s ; and on account Mr. Bruce (Grejtown), at quotations. Fat Sheep.— 3234 came forward to a somewhat irregular sale, prices in tbe case of really prime freezing sheep being: witLin a shade of last week's values, whilst ordinary butchers' sheep ruled from Is to Is 6d a head lower. This observation applies particularly to ewes, of which probably two-thirds of tbe snpply consisted. The quality of the sheep this week was for the most part good — the consignments of freezers from the New Zealand Agricultural Company (Waimea estate), from Mr. Andrew Telfer (Waitahuna), from Messrs. M'Leod Bros. (Woodlands), from Messrs. J. and J. Allison (Tokomiinro), from Mr, Waison Shennan (Conical Hill), and from Messrs. W. and N. Reid (Broomfield) De i ng tne Deat . wn ii Jt Messrs. Ellis Bros. (Five Rivers), and Mr. J C. Ellis' (Merrivale) ewes were the best in their class. Extra prime crossbred wethers brought from 16s 61 to 17s 3d ; prime do. 15s to 16s ; ordinary do, 14s to 14s 6 1 ; light do, 12s 3d to 13s 6d ; extra prime crossbred ewes, 14s 6d to 15s 3d ; prime do, 13s to 14s ; medium do, lls 6d to 12s 6d ; light do, 9s to lls; merino wethers. 7s to lls 6d. We sold wethers on account Messrs. A. and J. Brown from 14a 9d to 159 3d. t Fat Lambs. — Only 88 penned of medium quality. These met a dull sale, butchers at this time of the year only caring for the very best quality.

Pigs.— 246 penned. — Guaranteed grain-fed bacon pigs of light and medium weights were ia good demand and sold at fully late rates. Porkers and stores, however, commanded less attention. Store Cattle.— A demand exists for three-parts fat bullocks for finishing off on turnips, but other descriptions are quite unsaleab'e. Stoic Sheep.— Theie are numerous inquiries for good wethers for fattening on turnips, and for good crossbred ewes in lamb, but there are not many offering. Wool.— Under date 7th inst., the following cable message has been received from London :— " At tho wool sales prices were steady. Merinos are firmer." In this market there is nothing of importance doing.

Sheepskins.— The sales on Tuesday were well attended, but buyers operated cautiously at reduced values in sympathy with the Home market. Butchers' green crofsbreds, best, brought 5s 2d, ss, 4s 10d, 4s 9d, 4s Gd ; good to medium and inferior. 4s 4d, 4s 2ii, 4s, 38 lOd, 3s 8, 3s 6d ; green merinos, 3a 3d, 3a Id, 3s, 2a lid. 2s 9d ; country dry crossbreds, inferior to medium, Is 4d to 3a lid ; do do merino, 18 2d to 3a Id ; full-woolled crossbreds, 4s 4d to 6a 9 1 ; do do merino, 3a 3d to 4s 9d ; dry pelts, 2s to la 3d. Rabbit skins. — Contrary to general anticipations, there was no decline at the sales held in LoLdon on the 4th inst. There was a Bhort supply— only some 70 bales being offered,— and it was due to the smallness of the quantity catalogued that recent values were maintained. In this market prime winter grey skins command from 16d to 16£ d per lb.

Hides.— Consignments coming forward are difficult to place at late quotations.

Tallow. — An active demand exists for both rendered and rough tat, and prices are firmly maintained. Inquiries are made for good mixed tnllow, but of this description the market is bare. We quote —Prime rendered, £18 to £19 ; medium, £16 to £17 ; inferior, £11 to £13 ; best rough fat, £12 to £13 ; inferior to medium, £8 to £11. Grain. — Wbeat : Nothir g new has transpired during the week, but if the heavy rains iD England and on the Continent continue, we may lo<k for some activity in the market. Latest cablegrams already announce a rise of 6d per quarter in the London market. Stocks in the North are by no means heavy, and a slight rise has taken place trier-* within the last few days, and a more decided advance ia expected shortly. If this takes place it will have tbe tffect of bringing into consumption our Southern wheat, which, except for very prime samnles, is just now neglected. We quote— Prime Tuscan and velvet, 3s 4d to 39 6d ; fair to good, 3s Id to 3s 3d ; medium, 2s lid to 3i Id ; inferior, 2s 8d to 2s lOd ; fowls' wheat, 2s 3d to 2a Bd. Oats: A small shipping business is being done, but for this season of the year it is insignificant. The market is exceedingly lifeless, as was exemplified at the auction sales on Monday, when lot after lot was withdrawn without eliciting a single bid. We quote — Prime milling, Is 4d to Is 4Vi ; heavy bright feed, Is 3J-d to Is id ; medium, Is 2Jd to Is 3d ; inkrior, Is to Is 2d. Barly : No transactions. Grass Seed. — The demand for spring sowing is now coming on, and considerable quantities of both ryegrass and cocksfoot have changed hands during the week. Prices are very firm, and promiss to be high throughout tbe season. We quote— Best machine-dressed ryepraf-8, 5s to 5a 6d per bushel ; medium, 4s 6d to 4s ad ; fannersdressed, 4s to 4b 6d ; cocksfoot, 4 1 to 5d per lb.

Messrs. Donald Reid and Co. report for the week ending July 16, as follows :—: —

Sheepskins. — Our Catalogue this week was a small one, and consisted principally of butchers' green skinp, very few dry skins coming forward. TLere was a full attendance of buyers and brisk bidding all through the Bate, butchers' green skins being in good request, especially fine blaf-breds, which were well competed for. — Green crosabreds sold at 3s 4d to 4s Id ; do halfbreds, 3s 5d to 5a ; do merinos, 2s 6d to 3s 4d ; do lambs, 2s 8 1 to 33 6d ; dry crossbreds, 2s 3d to 4s 9d ; do merinos, Is 9d to 4s 3J.

Babbitskinß.— This week we offered a moderate oatalogne, about one half were winter skins, the remainder autumns, summers, and half-grown skins. We have to remind clients that it is desirable that the skins should be thoroughly dry before beiDg sent to market • several lots have arrived rather green, skins in this condition do not keep well, and buyers shun them. At to-day's auction there was a lull gathering of buyers, and bidding was brisk for all descriptions, prices showing a decided advance, winters fetched ud to 1751 per lb. r *

Hides.— Since our last rep rt we have not sold any, but will clear all forward tfcis week.

Tallow.— The market continues bare, aud all coming forward meets a reidy sale, Render* dis inquired for in shipping condition, but supplies are small. Medium and other grades are in brisk r< quest ; rough fat also is firm, with a tendency to harden in value We quote— Medium rendered, 16a to 17s ; inferior, lls to 14s ; roueh fat, 9a 6d to 13s per cwt.

Wheat.— Although there has been no material improvement in the amount ot actual busices") done during the past week, a much greater degree of confidence is felt in the future of the market as regards this cereal, and sellers are not disposed to part with prime samples, except at full market rates. Reports from London, received befoie the interruption in the cable communication, intimating an advance in price owing io the wheat harvest prospects being injuriously affected by continuous rains, has caused a more hopeful tone in tbe market. Stocks oru now more firmly held, and renewed cable communication is awaited with much interest. The amount of really prime milling wheat offering is very small, and anything prime meets with ready s<!e at quotations : Prime milling, 3a 21 to 3* 6d • medium, 2g lOd to 3s Id ; fowls' wheat and inferior, 2* 6J to 2s 9d. ' Oats.— Tbe market is unaltered. A fair business has been done in prime milling oats during the week at quotations, while inferior and long oats h*ve been quite neglected. Inquiries, indeed, are almost wholly confined to bright sutherlands, next in demand being sparrowbills of quality. With the advance of the season, the export demand for oatmeal has decreased, and millers' requirements aie much less than formerly. We quote— milling, Is 3£d to Is 4£d ; feed, Is 2d to Is 3d, sacks extra. Barley. — No inquiries. Potatoes.- Only a small supply forward, and prices are unaltered. We quote— prime, £3 to £3 2s 6d ; medium, £2 15s to £2 17s 6d. Chaff .—The wet weather has delayed supplies, and as the consumption is at present large, better piices ma> be expecttd. At time of writing the market is quite bare of all sorts, and any coming forward would arrive to a brisk market. We quote— prime heavy £2 5s to £2 10s; ordinary, £1 15s to £2.