COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1385, 21 November 1884, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Friday af.emoon. Messrs H. Matson and Co report on the ive stock market, etc., for the week ending Thursday, Nov. 20th, 1884, as follows Yesterday’s double market at Addington (there being none the previous week) brought forward a large entry of sheep, though perhaps less than was expected under the circumstances. A noticeable feature of the sale, however, was the genei ally prime quality of the mutton on offer, which, taken on the whole, we have seldom seen equalled in the yards. With the large entry of prime quality to choose from the tra e naturally became somewhat fastidious 1i * their selections, and as a consequence the day s values were errat c and uneven. Any very choice lines, either in crossbreds or merinos, met with a good sa’e at prices showing a slighr advance on recent rates, while on the other hand, for second-rate merinos and extra heavy weights in any kind of crossbreds, trade was and reduced prices had to be accepted. Mutton in the wool is now a rarity in the market, and scarcely quotable, but a few lines changed hands yesterday at from 17s to 20s, being equal to about 3d per lb as the outside value for best quality. For shorn crossbred wethers values luled from 14s to 17 s ) a t which latter price we placed some exceptionally grand wethers for Mr Wm. IJoag, and for the Acton f state a few choice crossbreds at 16s od. We qoute shorn merino mutton at from 2%d to per lb, the major portion being sold at the former rate. Instore there was a better class of sheep on offer than for many weeks previous, and as a consequence more business generallg was i.done. Although we have experienced some rough and uns-asonable weather of late, yet there is now an abundance of feed in the country, thus creating a better demand for store stock of all da sses. With fat lambs the market was crowded, and though all were absorbed, yet buyers had matters mortheir own way than usual, and a slight drop in prices has to be recorded. On account of various owners we offered over 4°o> selling the lot generally at about 9s bd to 10s 6d, a few inferior at as low as 7 S » 'be best lo 123. In beef there was just about an average supply of the dlffe ent classes of quality, though the bulk would come under the definition of second rate. Throughout the sale the demand was anything but brisk, still a clearance was made of most of the lots at prices equal to about 19s to 22s per loolbs. In store cattle, as in store sheep, the increase of feed is giving a little impetus to business 1 transactions, most of the better class lines yesterday changing owners. What no doubt helped to bring about this clearance was the presence of one or two outside purchasers, since judging by late sales it must be admitted that locA buyers have shown but little disposition te operate, even at excessively low rates. The pig trade yesterday showed but little alteration either in supply or demand —just a moderate market being cleared at about late rates. The totals yarded for the day comprised 7,742 sheep, 556 head of cattle, and 155 pigs, ot which our entry included 3,697 sheep, 409 fat lambs, 163 head of cattle, and 69 pigs. Messrs Matson, Cox an I Co. report upon the live stock market for the week ending November 18th, as follows On Tuesday we held our usual weekly sale of sheep, cattle and pigs. There was a fair entry of sheep and cattle, but no pigs came forward. The attendance of fa mers, dealers and others was fair, and the bidding spirited for good lines of crossbred hoggets, ewes and lambs, also for merino ewes with good percentage of iambs. In cattle we cannot quote any change for the better. We quote mutton out of the wool at pei lb, and in the wool at 3d per lb. Prime quality beef 19s to 20s, medium 15s to f6s per loolbs. Fat sheep—Fat crossbred ewes and wethers out of the wool 14s, merino wethers in wool 13s lod, merb o wethers shorn 9s to 9s 6d. t 1 -res —Crossbred hoggets ids, crossbred ewes and lambs 15s nd, do 16s 6d with from 80 per cent to 100 per cent., merino ewes and lambs 11s to 12s 6d, fat lambs 9s, Southdown ewes and lambs Fat cows 6s, heifers L$ 15s, springers L 4 16s to L 9, yearlings' 20s to Li 10s, store steers L 3 to L2 23. On November 1 ith we held a clearing sale at Methven, in the bankrupt estate of Mr J. Scrimgeour, of builders’ material, which realised most satisfactory prices. We would draw the attention of our clients and others to a most important clearing sale on account of Mr J. Hibbs, Methven, on Friday, 28th November.

Messrs Friedlander Bros, (in conjunction with Messrs Robert Wilkin and Co.) report upon the live stock market for Tuesday, Nov. I»th, as follows On account af the Christchurch Show and races, there was no sale at the Ashburton Yards on the nth inst., consequently the sale this week at Tinwald was slightly better than ordinary Notwithstanding that the attendance was not very large, the prices were fully maintained. Sheep : There were several good pens of fat sheep yarded, of which merino wethers in wool brought 13s 10s and 16s gd, and prime shorn sheep made 14s. We sold on account of our clients 240 shorn hoggets at ros rod, 290 crossbred ewes and lambs at 16s, 268 ewes and lambs, 125 crossbred wethers, 374 merino wethers. There was a good supply of beef yarded, but most of it was turned cut unsold ; lor stores the bidding was very low.

.The following is the Chri'tchurch Corn Exchange report ; or the week ending Friday, 21st instant:—The latest intelligence from the London market continues to depress values here to such a degree that it is difficult to place wheat, except for urgent local consumption, at anything like 1 enumerative prices. A few small lines have this week changed hands at from 3s to 3s 4d f.0.b., chiefly for intercolonial trade, and these prices may be .'aid to be the outside values. Oats are not nearly so well inquired for, and quotations are therefore slightly easier, 2s $d f.o.b. being about the fgure for short stout feed, and bright plump milling up to 3s f.0.b., other kinds are almost neglected. Farley remains in just the same condition as to valu s and demand, as has ruled for some months and doubtless will show no no iceable alteration until the p esent growing crop comes to market. Beans and ; eas are very little sought after, although quotations are not effected, 3s to 3s 3d for the foimer and 3s 3d to 3s fid f.o.b. for the latter. Potatoes arc more eagerly inquired for, but without eliciting any active response, while pi ices are a little firmer, viz, 50s to 52s 61 at country stations within twelve miles. In dairy produce not much business has been done. Cheesa is in slightly better request at to 3d per lb, while butter of prime quality can be bought at from fid to yd per lb f.o.b. kegs extra.