COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1391, 28 November 1884, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, Friday afternoon. Messrs H. Matson and Co report on the live stock market, for the week ending Nov. 27th, 1884, as follows Yesterdiy’s sale at Addington was one of the smallest held for some weeks past, not more than about half the’ average number of fat sheep being penned. Although shearing is fairly advanced among many of the larger flocks it is by no means finished, especially at this end of the province, a fact whichmust, in a measure account for yesterday’s sparse supply of mutton. 'I he quantity on oner, however, proved ample for the requirements of the trade, no general advance in values being noteable. At the commencement of the auction buyers were noticeably apathetic and careless as to purchasing, one or two small lines of sheep being passed unsold. As the sale progressed the trade began to recognise the fact that unless they improved in their biddings they would soon be “ out of the market,” and as a consequence the various lots were cleared with a little more freedom. Sti 1, considering so small a market, there was an absence of that spirit generally noticeable under similar circumstances. There is no doubt but that a heavy market would, undoubtedly, have meant a very dragging trade, and in all probability considerably reduced rates, late quotations bring, as it was, just mai tained. We quote the best shorn wether mutton up to 2Vjd per lb, second quality to 2 With fat lambs the mark twa crowded—in fact, we may say overdone—th- sale in point of values being he lowest of the season. Of course the heavy supply was the primary cause of this, many of the lots towards the cl se of the sale having to be forced upon the trade at prces is to is fid prr head below recent quotations. What also helps to militate against maintaining h gh rates is the number of .nfe ior lambs sent forward and sold at from 7s to 8s fid per head, these being taken up 1 y a certain class of buyers and retade 1 at a low price per quarter, thus virtually placing the, vendor of go Equality at the disadvantage of having to sell at an un: rofitable rale 10 compete wdli second-ra'e lots. The sooner the retail lamb t.ade is conducted upon the same system as beef, mutton, etc., i.e , at the price per lb; so soon will the va ious c'asses of fat lambs be snld in our live stock markets at correct relative values. In itore sheep the entry was a light one, all of which were cleared. Shorn crossbred ewes to 235, shorn ewes with lambs at foot at from 13s 3d to 14s, mix_; d _ crossbred and merino ewes in the wool, with" lambs at foot, at 14s fid, a few pure bred I eicester ewe hoggets at 30s, ewes of the same breed with lambs at foot at 2fis. The general tone of the store sheep market may be said to be firm, if not improving. In bee there was but a moderate supply, the result of the sale being a clearance of nearly every line at about recent quotations. In the comparative rates paid for first and second quality there was a considerable difference, several lines of the former selling at prices showing an improvement, some of the light weights on the other hand being marked by a decl ne. We 'quote ißs to 22s per loolbs as the day’s values, according to quality. The store cattle trade again exhibited a little more buoyancy of spirit, most of the best lines of stofle penned yesterday finding buyers. In pigs there was a small entry, the smaller sizes selling at rates much higher in proportion than heavier sorts. The totals yarded for the day comprised 4,679 sheep, 512 head of cattle, and 143 pigs, of which our entry included 1,913 sheep, 388 fat lambs, 237 head of cattle, and 75 pigs.