Commercial.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue VI, 27 December 1881, Page 2

Commercial.

AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS

Messrs H. Matson and Co. report on the Live Stock Market, etc., for the week ending Thursday, December 22, as follows: —Tbe supply of sheep and cattle penned at Addington on Wednesday last was somewhat below an average entry, the bulk on offer being chiefly fat stock. Although this was what might bo termed the Christmas market, yet most of the trnde had previously supplied themselves and throughout the sheep sale there was an entire absence of spirit, tbe various lines of mutton changing owners at a still further decline in values. The best and heaviest lots of crossbred wethers brought from 9s to 10s 6d, a few extra heavy 12s, 9s being about the ruling rate ; mixed weights and sexes 8s to 8s 6d ; old ewes, 7s to 7s 9d. In Stores few were brought to hand, prices at which business was done being more in the favor of vendors. On the whole the sheep sale was marked by great depression and lower prices. Of fat lambs there were* about 700 submitted, several lots of which were certainly superior to any sent to market this season. For a few of the choicest pens 8s 6d to 10s was paid, the bulk being di-posed at from 6s lo 7s 6ci per head. The supply of beef though not large, was just sufficient to meet the wants of the trade, and to cauge a satisfactory clearance at slightly better values. In point of quality Messrs Hay Bros, bad it all there own way with a draft of the Annandale heifers, which both for weight and quality were equal, if in weight they were not, too heavy, but their breeding was undeniahle and grazing perfection. As before mentioned, trnde t-howed a little more animation, but this i* chiefly accounted for by the superior quality of the on offer rather than any actual improvement in values. Messrs Hay's cattle brought from £7 15s to £9 7s 6d per head, or an all round average of about eight guineas. In stores there was very little doing. The class cf catt c submitted were a very idditferent lot. Except for a few goool throe-year-old steers, which chrmged hands at from £5 to £5 10s per bead, prices may be quoted as nominal. Ihe totals yarded for the day comprised — 6396 sheep, 259 head of catt c, and 50 pigs.

Messrs R. Wilkin and Co., report:—On Thursday we held our weekly sale of sheep skins. rough fat. etc., in our New Zealand Wool Stores. The attendance of buyers was i not so numerous as at, previous sales, owing lo the wool mile having been held two days previously. The biddings were animated and well maintained. Butchers' crossbreds sold to 5s 2d ; butchers' merinos were disposed of up to 4s 6d ; lambskins, .large, Is BdtOjls lid ; second quality, Is 3d to Is 8d ; pelts, large and early shorn, Is 4d, Is 7d, Is lOd ; do, medium, 9d, Is, la 4d ; do, small and late shorn, sd, 7d, 9d ; country crossbred, large, 4s 8d to 5s lOd ; do, second quality, 3s to 4s 8d ; do, merino, very large, heavy and double fleece skins, realised 7s ; country merino, large, 5h 4d. 5s lOd, 6s Id ; do, second quality, 2s Id, 2s lid, 3s 7d, 4s 6d, 5s 4d ; do small, Is 2d to 2s Id.. Fat and tallow.— feixty-two packages were catalogued and all sold. There was an average attendance of buyers and the competition was spirit 'd Fat, best quality, clean and well saved to 2|d per lb ; second qudity to 2£d per lb ; heated and inferior at Id per lb ; tallow, in small lots, at l£d per lb.