STOCK SALES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 114, 23 May 1901, Page 3

STOCK SALES.

IMPROVED PRICE OF SHEEP. Tub Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Co. and Messrs Williams and Kettle held their monthly stock sale at the Matawlioro yards yesterday. The fine weather had the effect of drawing a large attendance of settlors, and prices generally showed a marked improvement over previous sales, thoro being a considerable advance in the price of sheep. The firms mentioned yarded upwards of 4000 sheep and 180 head of cattle, and every line was disposed of. Tho riso in the price of sheep is not accounted for in any way by tho increase in the price of mutton, but is mainly owing to the magnificent season that wo are having, giving everybody a flush of grass. In addition, a good deal of the bush land foiled last year is now bringing forth its first yield of grass and turnips. Storo wethers, with a fair proportion of forwards, sold up to 13s, the latter prices being obtained by the Loan and Mercantile Company for a fine lot. Mossrs AVilliams and Kettle’s lines were mostly .for storo wethers, which brought from 12s Id to 12s 9d. Fresh full-mouth ewes, in lamb, brought up to 8s fid, whilst empty aged ewes brought from 5s 6d to 7s 9d. Cattle sold remarkably well, a special line entered by Mr Ewan Cameron, consisting of fifteen months old Polled Angus heifers, realising £4 lss. This was undoubtedly a first-class price, but still the quality of the cattle was excellent, and fully warranted the figuro ‘‘paid. Mr B. Bellerby had a largo entry of cattle, and the several lots wero disposed of at very satisfactory prices, his eightoen-months-old steers bringing up to AS 12s fid, while his two-vear-old steers fetched £4 2s 6d. The

latter lino was the cheapest in the sale, and had competition been equal to previous sales they would probably have realised another five shillings. A splendid lunch was provided by Mr J. H. Aislabie, of tho Royal Oak Hotel, and was well patronised by settlors.