COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1285, 20 June 1884, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

■ Ashburton Guardian Office, Friday Afternoon. , Messrs H. Matson and Co report on the live stock market, etc., for the week ending Thursday, June 19th, 1884, as follows The inclemency of the weather and the low prices ruling at our Addington markets for some weeks past' was no doubt the cause of the limited supply of mutton which came to hand for yesterday’s sale. Affecting as the weather ‘ unquestionably did the day’s numbers, yet we are inclined to think that unless values imE* . owners will, wherever possible, hold their fat sheep for a time, rather than submit to the present reduced rates, and the probability is that smaller markets will be the •; ryle for: some weeks to come. In quality, the major portion of yesterday’s supplies left nb- - . thing to be desired., though of course there was a certain proportion of inferior and second class mutton. ;. For the best sheep—brought about so ely by the limited entry—a little more competition was shown, various lines M of wethers on our catalogue changing owners at from 16s, 17s, and ißs, and in one instance up to 19s 3d, the top value for the day. In , noting this it must be home in mind that we have had one or two moderate markets of late, and the trade having nearly run out, operated with a greater, freedom for the few lots on offer at this market. We quote prime wether mutton at fully 2j£d per lb, and in some instances - to nearly 234 d; crossbred ewes and merino wethers, 2d to 2#d. In stores there is very little to record, a line or so of crossbred ewes in lamb, a few inferior hoggets, and one or or two of cull merinos, comprising the entry. W.th regard to values, we have simply to again repeat that the demand is of the most limited character, ■ ..and to effect sales prices is 6d to 2s per head under April and early May quotations have to be accepted. Among others, we placed 170 mixed age ewes, in lamb, at ns 6d, 290 cull merino wethers at 2s; for Mr Rigson, of St Andrews, crossbred ewes, in lamb, at 12s to 12s 3d, hogge's at gs* for Mr Pigeon, 105 crossbred ewes at 103, etc. In beef there was - a comparatively heavy entry, business ruling much about the same as for some weeks past. ' Really prime heavy weight three to four-year--1 old bullocks sold at the nominal price of from L 6 10s to L 7 lOs per her head, medium ! weightsLs to L 6, lignt weight heifers, etc., L 3 15s to I 4 los per head. The last-named cattle may be quoted at from 15s to 16s 6d per loolb, with a dull sale, the former 17s to 18s. In store cattle there is less doing every week, the inquiry for anything but dairy _ stock being • •. conspicuous by its absence. In pigs we have to report a medium entry, and though prices continue to rule excessively high, yet at yesterday’s auction we noticed less competition between the various curing representatives, . -end as a consequence a slight drop in prices. The totals yarded for the day comprised 4,240 sheep, 322 head of cattle and 247 pigs, of which our entry includcd--2j3QO sheep, 105 _ * 1 1 .f.miTi mill Hill 1 iT£

; The following is th: Christchurch Com Exchange report for the week ending Friday, the Both insL:—There have .been no transactions of any importance in the grain market during -the past Week. Some few inquiries for good ‘ sound wheat have met with little response owing to the low figure that buyers can fairly . offer. - Oats remain in just the same position in regard to values and inquiry as last week. A • good many lines of second-class barley have been offering; buyers, however, are very indifferent, and do not feel disposed to purchase any other, than prime malting quality, of which very little is coming forward. Beans and peas show no animation, and the demand for the latter is flagging. Potatoes, excepting for urgent orders, meet with scarcely any attention. The recent severe frosts have made sad havoc with a large proportion of the crop ' standing bagged and uncovered. It is anticipated in consequence that a rise in value may - take place shortly. The price of cheese is still maintained, while butter is but little sought after, and commands lower rates. The following are the week’s quotations :—Wheat : Sound and-dry Tuscan, 3s 3d ; pearl, 3s 2d ; Hunter’s, 35 id ; damp, 2s to 2$ 6d ; seconds, 2s 6d to 2s gd, Oats ; Bright milling, as 4d ; bright short feed, 2s 3d ; inferior, is 81 to is 10s. Barley : Prime malting, 4s; second quality, 3s 3d to 3s 6d; feed, 2s to 2s 3d. Peas and beans : as gd to 35 3d for the former, • the latter 2S 61 to 3s. Potatoes’: 27s to 30s at stations within 12 miles. Batter and cheese: ’ 7/4d to B#d fot the former, and. 4}4d to jjd for the latter. The above are the prices paid to farmers when delivered f.o.b. Lyttelton, excepting in the cases of barley and potatoes.