LIVE STOCK SALES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1411, 11 April 1912, Page 8

LIVE STOCK SALES.

ADMNGTON STOCK SALES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christcluirch, April 10. There was n decided holiday lone about the Aldington stock yards to-day. for the entry was generally below the *alc of the previous week. Apparently the counterattractions had had um effect upon the ance was smaller than usual, though the patrons of the sale al-o. for th? attend* weather may Have had something to do with tiil3 mattor. fitorq ?heep wait in much smaller supnb' than at prevloun jnarkott. The cattle pcaa suffered to hzziq

extent, and the demand for fat beasts was very slack, though prices appeared to hold up on the sales effected. Store sheep: There was u much smaller yarding or this class of sheep in the pens;. The bull; or the entry consisted of ewes "of a medium class generally, and there were a good number or Chatham Island and oversea sheep. The demand was about on a par with that displayed at the previous sale, and there was a good number of parsings. Good class ewes, twotooth to sound month, brought satisfactory prices, and the weakness was exhibited in the bidding for medium and low-condilioii-ed sorts. Good two-tooth crossbred and three-quartcrbrcd ewes brought 15s. to 16s. 3d.; sound mouth, lis. 6d. to lss.; fourtooth, lis. to 165.; six and eight-tooth, 12s. to 13s. 6d.; four, six, and eight-tooth, 12s. to 165.; good «ound-niouth ewc.s, 12s. 6d. to 145.; inferior, Ps. to 9s. 6d.; full and failing-mouth, 7s. 9d. to Bs. 9d.; and aged, 4s. 6d. to 6s. 3d. Forward lambs were in short supply, and in good demand, and fetched 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d. for the best sorts. Fair lambs made 10s. 6d. to lis. 6d.; others, 63. for culls, to 9s. for ordinary stores. Wethers sold well at late rates, two-tooths making 12s. to 13s. 6d.; four and six-tooth, to Us. 6d.

Fat sheep: There was a rather small yarding of fat sheep, and all classes were represented. The market opened in a satisfactory ma'nner at values comparable with late rates. The range of prices was:—Prime wethers, 18s. to 21s. 9d.; others, 15s. to 17s. 9d.; prime ewes, 13s. to 17s. 3d.; extra, to 195.; others, Bs. 9d. to 12s. 6d.; merino wethers, 17s. Id. to 19s. Id. , Fat lambs: There was a slightly larger entry of fat lambs, as compared with last week, the figures being 7778, as against 75Q8. The entry was an uncyen one, which included a wide range of duality. There was, however, a good proportion of really well finished lambs, and exporters operated freely at times, at prices about on a par with last week. There was :i very hopeful tone in the market, and it is certain that the price of the second grade and lighter stuff hardened at least 3d. per head, and a higher estimate places it at 6d., which is probably a bit beyond the mark. The sale was a very in-and-out one, taking it all through, opening well, then slackening oh? badly, and brightening again at the close. The range of prices was:—Tegs, 17s. 3d. to 19s. lid.; ordinary freezers, 12s. 6d. to 18s.; and graziers took other lines at prices from 10s. fid. upwards. Fat cattle: The yarding of fat cattle wae a moderate one. totalling 185 head, as against 211 yarded last wc»k. The offerings were of a medium quality, only a few better class beasts being noticed here and there. When the sale opened, the demand was very uneven, and a considerable number of passings were made, but ill spito of this the values showed little difference from those of the previous sale. Beef ranged from 21s. to 265. per 10011)., according to Quality; steers fetched £7 ICs. to £13 17s. 6d.; heifers. £5 10s. to £9 10s. 6d.; and dry cows, £5 ss. to £10 10s.

Vealers: There was an average number of fat calves penned, and the demand was unchanged, ranging from 6s. lo £2 135.; extra, to £3 12s.

Store cattle: Only 24 head of store cattle were yarded, and the demand was very weak indeed. Cows made £1 to £4 10s.

Dairy cows: The entry of dairy cows was better, some good useful sorts meetinc with good competition. Prices ranged from £4 10s. to £9 10s.; extra, to £11 15s. Pigs: Thore was only a email number of store pigs penned,' no large ones being among the number. The sale was fairly keen, medium sorts making 30s. to 365.; smaller, 2&5. to 285.; and very small, Ms. to 17s. Weancrs realised 12s. 6d. to 165., and were in somewhat better demand. The entry of fat pigs was bciow the average, but the demand for all classes was fair, bacouers meeting with a little better inquiry. Choppers made £3 12s. to £4 125.; heavy baconers, 70s. to 725. 6d.: extra', to 855.; "and lighter sorts. 555. to 655., these values being equal to sid. to 53d. per lb. Tho best lihe,s of porkers made 16s. t<i 505.; and lighter sorts. 38s. to 445., being equal to sjd. to 6d. per lb.

Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report on their Johnsonville sale as follows:

—A good yarding of bullocks and a medium one of sheep came forward, and sold readily at late rates. Prime heavy bullocks, £9 15s. to £10 2s. 6d.; prime bullocks £9 7s. 6d. to £9 12s. 6d.: fat cows. £6 10s. to £7 55.; vealers, 245.; prime heavy wethers, 17s. 9d.; prime owes, 15s. Id.; medium ewes, 13s. 6d.; plain do., 12s. 4d.; good lambs, 12s. to 12s. 7d.; plain small do., 10s.