COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1397, 5 December 1884, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian Office, JjFriday afernoon. Messrs H. Matson and Co report on the live stock market, for the week ending Thursday, December 4th, 1884, as follows : —For yesterday’s market the entry of sheep was but a moderate one, the supply, both in fat and stores, being below the average. In the matt' r of quality there was a marked unevenness, the bulk offered coming under the definition of second rate lots. Notwithstanding the fact of the supply being limited, an utter absence of spirit characterised the day s transactions, the market generally—i.e., ip fat sheep—being one of the weakest held here for the past nr nth or six weeks. It may be that the indifferent quality of a number of the lines helped to bring about this feeling, but the chief cause undoubted y is a temporary want of vitality in the retail trade, and the absence for the time being ot export buyers. As the result, a good few sheep went out unsol ', and the average rates in regard to sales made during the day show a decline of from 6d to is per head. The primest crossbred wether mutton may be quoted at 2%d per lb; mixed sexes, ewes and merinos a shade less. In stores the few sheep on offer were for the most part of a better class than usual, and as a consequence nearly all changed hands. On account of Mr J. N. Tosswill we submitted his annual outgoing draft of crossbred hoggets sent to hand as usual out of the wool. Although peihaps not quite as fresh in condit on as some that have been offered this season, they were a remar .ably well grown lot of sheep, and, as may be gathered from the price realised, commanded the attention ol buyers. The lot (450) went in a line at 13s 6d, a price which must be considered very satisfactory in comparison with the values now ruling for mutton. On account of Mr E. Reece we also sold 200 merino wethers (in the wool) atj 10s *iod ; and for various owners about 40U medium class merino wethers, also unshorn, at 7s to 8s 6d. Although the supply of fat lambs was scarcely as heavy as last week, there was yet ample for the trade, a feeling of indifference on the pat t of buyers and ; a heavy shower of rain at the time of offering, making the sale a peculiarly dragging and uneven one. One or two lots went out unsold, and others changing hands at from 7s 6d to 10s 6d per head. In fat cattle there was a full market, and we have again to record rn un mproveo trade. We believe most of the lines were cleared, but biddings flagged considerably, the sale being a dull one throughout. The best quality beef brought 20s to 22s per loolb; second-class, lßs to 19s. In sto e cattle there was rather more doing than lor several sales past, ihc large quantity of feed in the country helping to give an impetus to trade in this direction. In the three-year-cld classes for steers this is especially the case, a fair demand for such being now experienced. With the exception of a few pe s of small cattle the entry was cleared, sales being made on a somewhat better baris. The pig market was a better one than of late in supply and demand ; nea-ly 200 of all classes were yarded, the whole being cleared, prices, owing to the competition of one or two outsiHe buyers, showing a decided improvement The totals yarded for the day compiised 5,995 sheep, 694 head of cattle and 190 pigs, of which our entry included 3,030 sheep, 253 fat lambs, 348 head of cattle and 120 pigs. Messrs Miles and Co. report on the Tinwald live slock market as under :—There was a fair entry in all cla-ses of stock, the totals yarded being 2,081 sheep, 89 cattle and 17 pigs. Fat Sheep : There was a good entry of shorn crossbreds, wethers bringing 14s, and ewes 13s. In stores we sold forward sound-mouthed merino wethers, in the wool, at ns 3d, and a line of fair stores at 9s yd, dry merino ewes at 7s, sound-nruihed ewes with 90 per cent lambs 12; 9d, broken-mouthed ewes with poor percentage lambs 8s yd, shorn 2-tooths brought ns pd. Cattle : In fat cattle there was a poorentry, and the prices realised were anything but satisfactory. Fat cows and heifers br light L 6, L 5 5s and L 4 10s, according to quality. In stores, 2-year-old steers brought up to L 3 10s, and 18 months cattle 45s to 52s 6d. In pigs there was a small entry, we sold small stores at from 16s to 8s 6d.

The fol'owing is the Christchurch Corn Exchange report or the week ending Friday, sth instant :—Transactions in all kind-; of produce for'the week have shown no marked improvement, most lines offering having met with but a feeble response. Hunter’s White and pearl wheats only are sought after, and can be placed at about aid mure than Tuscan. The abundance of green feed has affected oats, which are decidedly easier, and quotations below are according to sales made. Barley of prime qu lity could be sold if procurable in parcels fit for manipulating, while feed parcels remain at former quotatio s, at which a few lines have been shipped th s week. Very little has been done in beans and peas, and values are unaltered. Potatoes are in good request, but stocks having nearly run out the supply is inadequate to the demand. In dairy produce no sales of any importance have eventuated. ? notations for the week are as under:—Wheat: uscan, 3s 2d ; Pearl and Hunter’s, 3s 3d 10 3s 4d, f.o.b.—Oats: Milling, 2s lod ; bright short feed, 2s qd; others, 2s 6d to 2s yd, f.o.b. —Barley : Prime malting, 3s 6d to 4s ; feed, 2s to 2s 3d, f.o.b.—Beans and Peas; 33103 s 3d for the former, the latter 3s 3d to 3s 6d f.o.b.—Potatoes; bominally, L 5, f o.b, — Butter and Cheese : The former 6d to yd, the latter 4 J£d to 5d f.o.b.