COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1291, 27 June 1884, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Wednesday Afternoon.Messrs H. Matson* and Co report on the live stock market, etc., for the week ending Thursday, June 26th, 1884, as ..follows;—The improvement in the weather on. vyednesda-y, the small sale of the previous week;, and its ' slightly enhanced values, all tended; to increase •yesterday’s simply of iputtcn, which*, without 0.1 fa MiAjiMay jm'prdoiog the market, represented a fiur average entry, sufficient to meet requirements. With a few exceptions the quality varied from medium .to'prime, there being less inferior sheep to hand than for some time •ipasL • At -the commencement of the sale auction progressed competition for good lines ' improved somewhat, and for such we consider prices cdhsiderably better than three weeks or a month since, and quite equal to last market week. With light weight mixed crossbred '. ewes, etc., this was not so ; in fact, every week prices‘for sheep oflthis class are becoming lower, inasmuch- as of late .“store buyers have been out of the* market, and there has been, no competition between “outsiders” anrfffi* limi-al trade to stimulate or strengthen values. Of our own entry in fat sheep bendy every line, was prime mutton. ' L’Wc quote the best wether mutton for the day up to 2jfd per lb, prime merinds 2% to crossbred ewes and mixed light weights 2d to 2!£d, as per quality. In stores we quitted 100 two-todth first’cross wethers at 9s qd, 180 crossbred ewes in-very fresh condition at 10s 'gd, and one or two other odd lots at low rates. Nominally speaking there is but little enquiry . • for any class of store’sheep just now, breeds it having-supplied themselves long since; whilst "for grazing sheep the low price of mutton and the comparative scarcity of feed checks opera- ■ tions in' this direction. With regard to the CttUe trade, perhaps the least said the better, Since in no way can we report anything, satis■factory either in fat or stores The supply of beef yesterday was made up of all classes, ranging, from very inferior to some of the best earner that iiave come under the hammer for many weeks.. Buyers were, however, most apathetic' in -their . biddings, and cou'd only be tempted at extremely low prices. Ijghtr - cattle ". sold at from Lr io Is'' ss, equal to about 15s or 16s per ioolb, heavier weight steers L 6 to Ly, averaging 17s to 18s per loolbs. As an evidence of the state of the beef trade, we regret to record that even the best classes fail to command the attention- noticeable a short time since, one or two good lots bein£ passed yest«^Kyisa«ld.' Tn stores, we fal to detect the fittest inclination to do busines , any transaction taking place being of the most limited “ description and at absurdly low prices. No ' doubt as the spring approaches an enquiry will fora time set in, but Until then trade will probably remain in its present dormant state. The pig market was better suppLcd yesterday tSia for srame weeks past, though the bulk of the entry was made up. of small size'. A few lifted of heavy 1 Weights sold ‘ remarkably well, from E 4 to Ls being paid in one or two in--3*R&eeßifotStome remarkable ’ specimen’s of the graziers art, medium weights ?SOs to 60s and 70s, For porkers and stores prices were a little easier, but sort* suit b e for curing sold as well as ever. Th totals yarded for the day comprised 6,850 sheep, 290 head of cattle, and 241 * p’gs, of which our < ntry included 3,421 sheep, 136 hejtdofpaUle, -and 144 pigs.

The. foliowing is tha 'Christchurch Com Exchange 'report for the week endi g Friday, the 27th • insl ;~The grain market for the past wetk has not been marked by any change of Importance. The ■ slight inquiry for sound wheat still c ntinues, without, however, .eliciting a-.y advance in values, although the tone of the London market appears somewhat stronger. Oats are a shade weaker in consequence of the low rates ruling for peas, beans, and secondclass barßy.. " -All other kinds of produce remain in the same state as regards inquiries apd values, as shownin last week’s report. The . following quotations are the latest to date : ■Wheat; Sound qualities-of Tuscan, pearl and Hunter’s, from 3s 3d,'3s 23, and 3s id respectively; seconds, 2s 6dtoasgd.—Oats: Prime bright milling, 2s 3#d ;bright short feed, 2s 2)id to 2s 3d.— Barley : Prime malting, 4s; second quality, 3s 3d to 3s 6d > feed, 2s to 2s 3d. —Peas s 25 gd to . 3s, for good sound quality.—Beans : 2s 6d to 3s, for good sound quality.—Potatoes : 27s 6d to. 30s at.country stations Within twelve miles,—-Butter and Cheeseyd to B#d for the formpv and 4#d to sd* for the latter.., The quotations given above are paid to farmers delivering f.o.b. at Lyttelton, excepting ; harley and’potatoes.