AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 593, 21 March 1882, Page 2

AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS.

Messrs 11. Matson and Co. report on the Live Stock Market, etc., for the week ending Thursday, March 16th, 1882, as folio W8 : _ Yesterday's sale at Addington proved no exception to the large entries of sheep that have b en the rule at these yards for some weeks past. From early morning- nntil afier (lie commencement cf the auction, mobs of sheep literally poured in from all directions, arid the yards were crowded to exce-s, many lines being unable to obtain pen room. As of late, stores comprised the hulk of the entry, though there was a larger proportion of mutton than at the last two or three sales. Both in crossbreds and inerinoes there were several lines of especially good quality pheep ; a consignment of about 200 prime wethers sent up from Timaru topping the market at 15s 9d. Medium weight mixed lots of crossbreds brought lis to 13s ; merino wethers, 8s to 10s 3d. Taking the average of the day's sales in fat sheep, we consider the various lines were remarkably well cleared, prices being well maintained throughout. For stores there is no falling off in demand, and of between 4000 and 5000 of this class of sheep which passed through our hands yesterday, one or two small lots were all that remained unsold. In the large numbers that are now being brought to hand every week, aged sheep predominate. Pull-mouth crossbred ewes are worth 8s to 9s, according to size and condition ; two, four, and sis-tooth do, 9s to 12s. Merinoes are selling at about the Hame rates in proportion ; full-mouthed fresh-conditioned ewes, 4s to 5s ; culls, 2s to 3s. It is very seldom that any young sheep of this cfass find their way to the Addington market, but where they are procurable, excessive rates are being asked and paid. Looking forward to the approaching Ram Fair on tty 23rd, there ia every prospect of its being a success, as, owing to tne large export of sheep northwards, the entry will probably be a somewhat limited one, whilst the demand promises to bo much in excess of late yeirs. The fat cattle sale of Wednesday brought forward an average supply of beef," though chiefly ot a light description. Moat of the lotß were sold, but competition was a little, dull, and prices slightly more in favor of bikers, Medium weight steers brought from £7 5s to £8 10s; 1 light weights and heifers, £5 10s to £7 j per head ; the tone of the market gener ally being weak. In stores, there was a large entry, but the samo remarks apply I

here (ilioiigh in n slronsrer sense) as to ote fat cattle sale. Fur any but lines soil able for I be gr.-zVr a t-trong rtiTactiou has set in. and owners hive to accept, corisidt'iabiy reduced values. The want i.f r;.in is'dning no th« tVed in many p! t-'s. thereby shutting out would-be buyers Irom tbe market. There was a noticeable absence of outside purchasers yesterday, most of the lots sold going into the hands of local buyers at very low rates. In pigs tbe decline in price noticeable for tho last three weeks has been as rapid as was the rise previous to that time. There is certainly a drop of 25 per cent on all classes of stores, with but very little chance of values improving in the face of tho coming wintci. The totals yarded for the day comprised—ll7ol sheep, 7GI head of cnttle, and 300 pigs.

Messrs It. Wilkin and Co. report:— We held a well attended sale of sheepskins, eic. on Thursday, in oar New Zealand Wool Stores. Tho skins were in hotter condition tlinn those at the previous sale, and as the competition was spirited in consequence, all lots were disposed of at prices in advance of last week's quotations. Butchers' crossbred, large, 3s 3d. 3s Bd, 4s Id ; do do, medium, Is 10d, 2s fid. 2d lid. 3s 3d ; do, do, small, la sd, Is Bd.' Is 101 ; do. merino, Is Bd. 2s, 2s 2d ; country crossbred, large. 4s 3d to 5s 2d. and some very large and heavily wool led skins realised" (5s 8d ; country crossbred, medium, 2s, 2s Bd. 3s 7d. 4s 3d ; do, do, small, Is 4(1, Is 9 I, 2s ; do. merino, Is 4d, Is 8(1, Is lid ; p"lts, half woulled, 9d to Is 4d ; do, late shorn, 2d to 9d. Fat and tallow—There was an average attendance of the trade, and the competition was keen and well maintained ; 59 packages were catalogued and all sold. Fat—Best quality, clean and well saved, to 2|d per lb ; second quality, to 2|d per lb : inferior, to IJ-(1 per lb. Tallow, in small lots, at 2,fd "per lb for good quality and 24d per lb for medium.