COMMERCIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1353, 16 December 1885, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

AsitsoitoN Guardian Office, ■ ■. _ Wednesday afterpeom. Messrs Zouch and Macpherson repoit on their weekly sale held at the Central Auction Mart, Saturday, lith December, as follow Horses: I hack, I 4; aged.cows, L 3 15s; 1 heifery tsfa wars old, L 3; calves from is 6d to ss.- Pigs, 8: weeks old, 9s *d. Fowls, is Bs, 2s, 2* 54 ? ducks, 2s sd, 2s 6d, 3s <d; geese, 4s and 5s each ; oats, is Bd, is led, Is per tasheL Barley, as, is rid; chick *heat,7S id, 8s 3d, 8s 6d, 8s pd P« sack; straw Xs 3d per bag; oat-sheaf chatt, as, *s 3d i turnip seed, 2j£d and 3d per lb ; new potatoes, iTsd, per lb; old ditto, 6s 3d and 6# 9d'per sack; flowers in pots, is to is 3d each; buoo, 6d J hams, So. usual quantity of sundries sold very well, bidding - Very spirited throughout. \ Addington Live Stock Market report.— Large ntunbers of both sheep and cattle were sent to the Add ngton Yards yesterday. There

was about an average attendance of buyers Sheep.—A full market of fat sheep was penned, which, taking into consideration the alteration in the day of sale, was rather unexpected. The quality on the whole was not first-class, for there were but-lew prime lots of wethers, the majority comprising medium and inferior lines of ewes and we'hers. The supply was much in excess of the demand, and trade

was very depressed. Values were most irregular, wi h all- round tendency to decline ; this was especially the case in second and inferior quality, aged ciossbr d ewes, etc. For the latter prices ruled from 5s 6d to 8s; heavy ores sola up to 10s. Prices for the best wethers ranged from Ss 6d to Izs 6d, the lastmentioned price being for exceptional quality. We quote mutton at from i#d to for medium quality; and up to in one or two instances, for prime wethers. A few magnificent merino wethers from Mr Leonard White’s estate brought l?s 6d, but this was merely a fancyprS paid tor the wonderful quality. Good . merino wethers sold up *0 8s ; second rated at from 4s 6d to 6s. There was hardly so large an entry of fet lambs, but the demand was exceedingly dull and prices very low. Good lots sold o an average from 6s 6d - to Js fid, a few very prime lots from As to 10s. Another numerous entry of store -sheep was penned, a considerable proportion consisting of 3-tooth - crossbreds. Very little enquiry was shown for roost lots, and the majority were turned put unsold. The principal sales were a-tooth crossbreds at 7s +d and 8s 6d, the latter a exceptionally good line; and crossbred ewes io the wool with lambs, at 6s 3d. — jßattle.—A full supply of fat cattle came for- ' ward. Among those on offer were some of the steers exhibited at the late November show. These realised fair prices and sold up to L l 4. Good steeis brought from L 6 to L 9 10s, an average ol about 2os per inolb. Not many store were yarded, the continued dry weather ‘ preventing business in this direction. Owners do not care to sell at present prices, and there are ver* few owing to the scarcity of feed —Pigs.—No alt; ration to report in connection with the pig market.