COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 58, 7 February 1880, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Messrs. J. T. Ford and Co. report on the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, February 5, as follows :—The Addington market was fairly supplied with fat sheep and cattle on Wednesday last. The total sent forward comprised 62G0 sheep, 267 cattle and 48 pigs ; mutton at about l|d. pier lb., and beef from 17s. 6d., and, in some instances a shade over. Pigs and lambs are in capital demand. Pork at sd. per lb, and fat lambs at from 6s. to Bs. each. Store cattle are also moving away more freely than they were, and the demand for store sheep is exceedingly active, especially wethers for stubble feeding and turnip) purposes. There is also a good demand for young merino ewes and wethers, but there are very few offering, and buyers of this class of stock, if they must have them, will have to content themselves with good, sound, healthy, full-mouthed sheep. Privately we sold 33 head of fat steers at L 7 15s. to L 8 ss. per head, and fat steers by auction at L 7 12s. 6d. each; also, fat cows at L 6 os. The above prices were equal to about 19s. per lOOlbs. In sheep we quitted all our entries at pirices equal to our quotations. Our fat lambs we quitted at from 7s. to Bs. each. At our skin sale we had the usual attendance of buyers, and sold full fleece skins at from 3s. 91. to 5s each. Pelts at from Is. Id. to Is. 9cl. each, and lambskins at from Is. 6a. to Is. 9d. each. Privately during the week we have sold 2800 cross-breds of mixed sexes at 7s. each, but these sheep were early shorn and the condition was very forward ; also several lines of store cattle at from L 3 17s. 6d to L 4 each. Messrs. Acland, Campbell and Co. report on the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, Feb. 5, as follows :—At the Addington Yards 6260 sheep were yarded, amongst winch wore several lines of prime cross-bred sheep), one of the best lots in being from St. Leonards. These sheep were driven down from the station, and reflected great credit on the driver, as they looked very fresh and well. The sale of fat sheep was brisk, at about the same rates that have been ruling, or if anything at a slight improvement for best lots. Store sheep did not sell so freely, very few graziers being present. We quote best cross-breds, heavy weights, from Bs. 9d. to 11s.; medium weights, 7s. to B.i. 3d.; light weights, 6s. to Gs. 9d. best merino wethers, 7s. 6d. One line of two-tooth cross-breds, in very good condition, went to a grazier at 7s. 6d.; lambs sold from 4s. 6d. to Bs. 207 head of cattle were yarded. There was a good supply of beef, but the market was very dull, and the trade did not apipear at all anxious to opierate ; a considerable lot of fat cattle were therefore turned out unsold. Beef fetched up) to 20s. for lOOlbs., but a good deal was sold at lower prices. There were very few store cattle in, but most of those were sold at late rates. We held the usual fortnightly sale at Timvald on Tuesday, when very few stock were yarded, and there was a small attendance, owing to all the farmers being busy harvesting. However, wo cleared nearly all lots at fair prices.

ASHBURTON RETAIL LIST. s. d. Butter, inferior to best I"? lb I o to s . 0 d. .6 Eecs, 1? dozen i 4 to I 6 Clxeese, prime quality, lb o 9 to 1 0 Bacon, nrirne smoked, I? lb o 10 to I 0 Hams in cloth, 1? lb - I 0 to I 4 Flour in baajs, I? loolb 14 6 to 0 0 Oatmeal, k? 25Tb - 6 O to 0 0 Lard, $ lb • • - 0 9 to 0 0