COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 995, 14 July 1883, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Saturday afternoon,

Messrs Friedlander Bros, (in conjunction with Messrs R. Wilkin and Co,, per Mr F. C. Tahart, auctioneer) report on the live stock market for the week ending July loth, 1883, as follows: Probably owing to the bad weather there was not a large entry of fat sheep : at last Tuesday’s sale, only one line of merinos, which fetched 8s 3d, and one line of crossbred brought 14s 3d. In store sheep a considerable ■: nnmher came forward, and we quote for broken-mouthed merino ewes from 3s to 3s 6d; merino wethers from £s to 5s gd ; and merino ewes from 4s 4d to 4s gd. Fat cattle we quote £rom 17s to 20s per roolb. Not many store cattle ■ ' were entered, and there was no alteration in prices since previous sales. Messrs Miles and Co, per J, T. Ford, report on the live stock market, etc., for the week ending Thursday; July 12th, 1883, as follows Addihgton ;In fat sheep the entry was larger than the previous week, though the numbers were stfll low. Several lines of very , good quality were yarded, but there was no material alteration in values except where purchases were made for freezing ; in these cases the best quality was eagerly competed for, and in one instance at least 3d per lb was reached. With these exceptions we quote the average at , from 2d to per lb, the lower quotation beingfor merino, of which the supply is more : than plentitul and the demand limited. In fat cattle there was a larger entry than usual, and a, corresponding dull sale. Beef may be quoted at from 17s to 21s per loolb, the higher figure being for extra prime quality. Pigs were in the usual supply, and brought full rates, being in active demand. A limited number of ■stores, either sheep or cattle, were penned, and there was little or no inquiry, owing perhaps : partly to the inclemency of the weather, but also toils being the season of the year when this class of stock does not change hands in large numbers. The total entries were 4,180 sheep, 217 head of cattle, and 178 pigs. ur entries were 1,576 sheep and 46 head of cattle. We sold bn account of flon. John M'Lean, the Mount Hutt estate, the Chatmoss estate, Messrs C. Ensor, P. Grant, P. Clinton, W. McLennan, W. B. Clarkson, W. H. Cooper, Joseph Haydon, E. Clarkson and others.. The Hon. John M‘Lean’s merino wethers sold at 8s fid and 8s gd, the Mount Hutt crossbred : wethers realised 14s, • 14s 3d, 14s fid and 14s 9d, the Chatmoss crossbreds ..brought 13s gd and 14s, Mr P. Clinton's crossbred wethers sold at 14s and 14s and 3d. Mr W. McLennan’s crossbreds realised 13s fid and 14s ; other lines equal to quotations. Mr C. Ensor’s heifers brought L 5 5s and L 5 7s fid; Mr Haydon’s cattle sold up to L 7 12s fid. The returns given above represent our other sales fbr the day. Ashburton—At this market, on Tuesday last, very few fat sheep Were yarded, and the prices were quite equal to our Addington Yard rates. The same may be said of fat cattle possessing anything like quality and of handy weights. A line of heavy bullocks was purchased by a southern buyer, at from L$ to Lg per head; many of them would require more feeding before bringing to the slaughter yard. The store sheep were for the most part old merino ewes and wethers, and. did not excite very great competition. Not many store cattle were yarded ; two-year-old steers brought from L 3 to L 3 15s, heifers from L2 to L 3 10s. Our entries for the day comprised 2,600 sheep, and about 30 head of cattle. We sold on account of the Hon John McLean, Messrs P. Grant, A. McFarlanc, and Others. The Hon John McLean’s merinos brought 8s yd each. Mr Grant’s ewes sold at 4s 3d and 4s fid; the wethers brought 6s 2d. Mr McFarlane’s cattle realised 40s, 62s fid, 82s fid,’ and up to L 5. Other lines equal to quoted rates. Hie New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report on the Christchurch markets as follows for the month ending 12th July Wool: On 4th July we submitted to auction the accumulations into store of the past two months. The attendance was good, and considering the character of the several lots offered, prices were satisfactory. Out of 254 bales catalogued 147 found buyers at—for greasy merino, is 5d to Is fid; scoured merino locks, is oj£d to is id; scoured half-bred, is 2j£d to is 3j£; scoured cross-bred. Is id to Is 2d.—Tallow : Notwithstanding the steady decline in values reported from Home, there is an active enquiry for all descriptions, at close up to previous quotations. Shipping tallow has been placed at 32s fid, and good well saved fat commands 2jid per lb.—Sheepskins ; The quantity brought forward during the month has been large, but with a continued strong demand, no difficulty is experienced in realising. We have to note a marked decrease in prices, however, equal to about 20 per cent, on Merinos—extra growth being taken into account.—Hides : The demand is fairly active, and with only moderate supplies, the market is firm at previous quotations.—Grain : The interval since last we wrote has been very favorable for. farm work, and good progress has been made with the plough. It is, however, evident that the breadth sown down falls short of the average of the last few years at the same date. Extreme dulness has marked every department of the grain trade, and unless intercolonial and coastwise orders flow in more freely, farmers MU experience some difficulty in quitting their stocks, even at the low pi ices now current. —Ryegrass : A slight enquiry for spring sowing has displayed itself within the past few days, but the business passing has been extremely limited. Well dressed samples command 4s ; medium to good, 3s 3d to 3s gd; and farmers’ rough lots, 2s gd to 3s 3d. — Frozen Meat.—The lonic sailed from Lyttelton on nth instant, with 12,755 carcases of frozen mubon, 9,584 of which were shipped by the Dunedin Company, and 3,171 by the Canterbury Company. This is by far the largest shipment that has yet been made from New Zealand—indeed, it is the largest from Australasia —and with arrangements so perfect as those on board the lonic it is confidently hoped that the meat will reach London in prime condition. A Dunedin shipper has made a new departure, in shipping by the lonic 100 legs of mutton—disposing of the remainder of the carcases here. The price at Home continues firm, as advices are to hand stating that fid is being obtained for the Fenstanton’s shipment.—Properties : Although there are several enquirers after properties with more or less capital at their disposal, it is stiU very difficult to bring through sales. During the month, we sold a nice property at Kirwee, comprising 1,018 acres, the property of the Hon. Colonel Brett, at h satisfactory figure; and we have also disposed of several farms and township sectioms at Belfast, the rising district in which the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company’s works are situated.