COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 634, 12 May 1882, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Friday Afternoon

The business in the grain market- has not been very brisk during the week. Prices, however, remain firm at last ouotations, and for seed samples of winter sowing quality a fair demand exists at from 4s 10d to 55., with an upward tendency. Deliveries are getting fewer every day, and owing to the fine weather experienced during the early part of the season, threshing operations are all but completed, even in the most backward districts. Oats have not been actively enquired after, yet a steady business has been doing at previous quotations. The Australian markets are still very firm, and prices there for this cereal have a hardened tendency, so that we may look forward for an improved market here before the winter is over. Barley, for malting purposes only, meets with any enquiry. Large deliveries of potatoes have taken place in Christchurch during the week, but growers are inclined to hold back for higher prices than are now obtainable in our market. The weather has been rather cold during the week, bub very favorable for ploughing and winter sowing of crops on the whole. No great area has yet been put in, as farmers generally are very late in this district.

Messrs Matson, Cox, and Co. report of their sale at Tinwald on Tuesday last as follows : We sold 2,727 sheep at 10s 9!, 11s, 13s, 13s 7d per head for best, and for merinos 4s, 4s id, 4s 2d ; ewes, not sound, and crossbred lambs, at 8s 3d; merino store wethers at 7s; 139 head of cattle, for various owners, at fair rates.

Messrs J. T. Ford and Co. report as fol- • lows:—On May 4th we held a special sale at the Ashburton County Yards of horses, cattle, and sheep, on account of the Lowcliffe Estate, the executors of Sir J. C. Wilson, Rangitata Station, Hon. John McLean, E. H. Dobson, A. McColl, I- E. Corsbie, Esqs., and others, i.. j j The Lowcliffe horses varied from light harness horses to good heavy draughts, bringing from Ll 3 up to Li 7, Ll 9, and so on up to L3l each. Horses from the Rangitata Station " brought L 7, Li2 12s, and up to Li 7( each, • chiefly light horses. Mr A. McColl’s line ‘ brought Ll 3, LiS, an d Ll 6 each, and others were disposed of at satisfactory prices. Aline of fat sheep, on account of Hon. John McLean, - brought 105 all round. We also disposed of a number of rams On the 9th inst., we held our usual sale at Tinwald, when we yarded a very full entry of sheep and pigs. The principal transactions were as follows : —A line of 610 fat wethers, on account of Hon. John McLean, lOS all round. A line of crossbred ewes, on account of the Chatmoss Estate, at 10s gd and lOS lod ; 690 merino ewes, on account of Dr Trevor, at 4s gd ; 244 merino ewes, on account of D. Oliver, Esq., 4s 3d; 227 cull merino ewes, on account of T. Raine, Esq., 3 s each. A.line of pigs, on account of G. Cole, Esq., 303 each. Other lines at about equal values. Owing to the large entry several lines had to be withdrawn, biddings not reaching owners’ : limits.

Com Exchange report for the week ending Friday evening, the 12th instant: —The markets dnringthe week exhibit great firmness, with the exception that oats are slightly weaker. It is observable, however, that the oat'market in Australia is good, which will probably cause a reaction. As pointed out in a previous report, the weakness visible here is probably attributable to the unusually mild weather which has been experienced up to the present time. Wheat.—Good sound milling samples are worth from 4s gd to 4s nd per bushel, f.0.b.; extra fine samples, fit for seed, would command id per bushef over the highest quotations. Second-class quality wheat ranges from 4s 3d to 4s fid per bushel ; chick-wheat, 3s fid to 3s pd per bushel. Oats.—Not much business has been transacted during the week. , Holders are unwilling to do business at a loss, • the conviction being that values will improve. Latest telegraphic intelligence strengthens this ■idea j sellers will, however, experience a difficulty in obtaining more than 3s 2d to 3s 3d for best milling, feed samples 2d per bushel less. Barley.—Business in this cereal moves slowly, consequent on the difference of opinion to value between buyers and sellers ; for prime malting 4s fid to 4s yd is obtainable ; secondclass quality has a wide range, extending from 3s fid, to 4s 4d per bushel. Beans. —A little more enquiry has manifested itself during the week, values have, however, not improved ; as yet 4s to 4s id is obtainable, delivered in Christchurch, Potatoes.—A good deal of ~ business has been transacted during the week ; 32s fid to 35s per ton, delivery at stations within ten miles of Christchurch, sacks extra. Grass Seed. —There is little or nothing doing in rye grass, but values are unaltered. Cocksfoot, to Sd per lb. Cheese and Butter.— ’ There is no alteration to note in values ; the former is worth to the latter gd to lod per lb, delivered in Christchurch.