COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1028, 22 October 1903, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

Fine weather favored tho Matawhero stock sales, which were held by Messrs Williams and Kettle and the Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Ageucy Company yesterday. There was a large attendance. Bidding was slow at the start, but, however, livenod up as the sale progressed. Sheep : There was a large entry, about 5000 being yarded. Prices were a fraction lower than at the previous sale. Bidding was not so brisk, but most of tho pens sold under tho hammer. Prices ruled as follows : Fat wethers up to 19s, fat ewes 15s to 17s, shorn 2 and 4-tooth ewes 11a, shorn fat ewes 13s 2d to 13s Bd, ewes with lambs up to 17s 6d, forward ewes 14s lid, hoggots 12s 6d to 13s Bd. Horses : There was a small entry of staunch draughts, but buyers of horse flesh wore scarce, and as the bidding did not come up to the market value, they were all passed except one, which Bold at £l6.

Pigs : Thoro was a fair entry and competition waß keen. Prices ruled from 11s to 255.

Cattle : About 400 head were yarded including two Shorthorn lines. Competition was slack in the cattlo market as well as tho sheep. The following are some of the prices : Pure-bred Shorthorn bulls £8 to £l7, heifers from £7, calves from £2 9s, springers from £lO.

It may be that Mr Seddon is no more dictatorial, no more overhearing than he was before lie allowed Sir Joseph Ward to hold the reins. But members have experienced something different. They have realised that bully anti bluster are not essensary to the proper transaction of Parliamentary business.—Wanganui Chronicle.

As the period of easy money rates will be followed by dear money, so we may expect high prices to be followed by a time of depression, and that will cause a serious shrinkage of revenue. Now is the time to insist upon economies in the public services, not to wait until the stress of circumstances forces retrenchment upon the colony, and then effect in haste what should be done with prudent deliberation.—Wellington Post. When the hawkers’ hat is on, his house is thatched. He carries all his stock on paekhorses or in a van, cutting up roads to the cost ol whioh he contributes nothing, and deprives the bona fide business man of trade to which lie is in all fairness entitled How much longer is the present state of things to be tolerated ?—Clyde .Guardian.

Among all the influences that have made for peace, righteousness, clean living, and what we term civilisation during that wonderful period in the world's history, the nineteenth century, it is affirmed by. responsible opinion that none can lay claim ‘ to more conspicuous and solid gains to humanity than that of Christian missions.—Dunedin Star. A generation hence there will he no difficulties on our side in the way of preferential tariffs. Cobdenite economics, rapidly dying, will then •be as dead as the mercantile system. Cut the difficulties felt by the colonies will be insuperable.— l-lawera Star.

There is nothing cheaper in the world than truth, and yet strange to say, in every, community there are always a tew who put so high a price on its value that they deal it out sparingly.—Waihi Telegraph. The people have to learn that under one set of conditions free trade means prosperity and under another ruin, not a sudden collapse, hut insidious underminings This is Mr Cham'berlain’s task, and every wellwisher of the Empire will ass st him in the great work.—Hamilton Argus. The Farmers’ Union has already passed the experimental stage of its history. Its members are convinced that it has a great and useful career. It has compelled Ministers, to recognise its power and influence which is a great victory gained There is still, however, much that it may do in the way of extending its sphere of usefulness. -Napier Herald. The dog-in-the-manger attitude adopted by the principal oppQnents oi State Fire Insurance should be deprecated by all unbiassed people in the colony. The underwriting lrreeoncilables will nei her afford reliei to the insuring-public, nor will thev permit, if they had their way anyone else to do so.—Wanganui Herald. It would be a splendid step forward if the sale of Crown lands were discontinued and superseded by leasing with periodical revaluations. I\y this means we would have in a few years ample funds to provide old age pensions without having to impose a penny of taxation, and, which is of greater importance, a permanent and ever-increasing fund would be piQ' I yided.—Redton Times.