COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 510, 16 December 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Friday afternoon. The grain market during the past fortmight has been exceedingly quiet, and very little alteration in values has occurred. If anything, wheat is slightly lower than when we last quoted prices. For small retail lots of good quality milling wheats, about 4a 2d to 4s 4d can be obtained here, but very little business has been done at these prices. A moderate demand for flour in trade lots has been experienced, but prices are very much easier, and wo quote best samples at about L 9 to LID. The prices for oats remain the same, and the fall in Melbourne does not seem to have effected values |hei-e to any extent, but we hear of greater activity for this cereal in the neighboring provincial district b£ Otago, Barley for malting purposes meets with some little enquiry, but only good samples can find buyers at anything like a price worth quoting. The weather has been dry, and winds more or less strong, have had a good opportunity to affect our crops, especially in the light lands. We hear of the hay seed crops being severely shaken already in some parts of the County, bftt a large quantity of hay has now been stacked in good condition. For shearing purposes and for station work the weather has been all that could be desired, and large quantities of wool are now finding their way to the railway stations and stores. The clip is said to be a very fair one, and much heavier than last year’s. All kinds of grain are now coming out in ear, and it is to be hoped some good showers ef rain will soon follow to fill the kernels out well.

Auctioneers’ Reports. Mr T. Bullock reports for the week ending IDeceaiber 10: —At the Bazaar, Burnett street, ,3a Saturday, there was about the usual attendance of country settlers and others* and a somewhat more spirited bidding than on the previous week. There was an enquiry for first-class draughts, most of those entered being only of medium quality. The entries of the day were 25, comprising draughts, light harness horses, hacks, and weeds, of which I succeeded in disposing of to at the following prices, namely:—Medium draughts, from Li 5 to L2O 10s; light harness horses* L j 15s to Lll; hacks, from Lio to LlO ids; weeds and scrubbers as low as L2 and L 3. I held a sale of freehold properties at the Bazaar immediately after the horse sale. There was a fair attendance, and a fairly spirited bidding for the several properties offered, but the reserve placed en two or three were considered rather 400 high by buyers, and consequently passed. Several lots were sold at the following prices, namely;—Town section 682, Havelock street, L 43; town section, 105, Tinwald. > _Lu.iGH tor f-orock}, Town section 464 and other properties were passed, not reaching owners' limit, but there are several enquiries for them, and they will likely be sold privately. 1 also sold engine, combine, and elevator, with everything complete, on account of Messrs Eden and Moorhead, for the sum of 0295.

Messrs J. T. Ford and Co. report as follows :—On Thursday, at Messrs Friedlandet Bros.’ salerooms, Ashburton, we submitted, on behalf of the trustees of the late Sir J. C. Wilson, a portion of the Hinds Estate, comprising 1,858 acres of freehold, divided into ten farms. Hie estate has been highly cultivated and under skilful management ; fences, etc., in perfect order. There was an unusually large attendance, and competition was very keen for the various lots. The sale was a success, and also an evidence of better things to come.