CHRISTCHURCH HORSE MARKET

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1417, 15 May 1886, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH HORSE MARKET

Messrs 11. Matson and Co. report as follows For our last Saturday’s sale at Tattersall’s 91 horses were catalogued, the entry consisting of a moderate number of draughts, the balance hack and light harness horses, with a few unbroken colts. We regret to say that, as far as the exporters to Sydney are concerned, there is very little doing, this outlet for a time being pretty well blocked by the large number that have been sent over. Fluctuating as the trade has been there for some time past, it is now reported as being at a very low ebb ; so much so, that shippers decline to operate here until there is a better prospect on the other side. We only trust that this cessation will be but temporary, and that the Australian markets may continue to relieve us until a strong local demand sets in sufficient to absorb the horses coming to hand. Failing this, business cannot bo other than dull during this winter, and prices rule at a low level. Of our entry on Saturday a few useful farm horses sold at from £ls to £2O 10s ; aged descriptions, £7 to £l2 ; medium class hack and light harness horses, £9 to £l9 ; others, £5 upwards. On the whole, the sale was perhaps the weakest experienced for some time, the class of horses offering being for the most part second-rate, while buyers were scarce and those present very cautious.