COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2202, 4 October 1907, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

MATAWHERO STOCK SALE,

KEEN COMPETITION AND RECORD PRICES.

Thoro was a substantial increase in the yarding at Matuwhero sale yesterday, tho entry totalling nearly 10,000 sheep and about 000 head of outtlo. T’lio attendance of tho public, also, was larger than has been tho ease, and that buyers were keen to do business was shown by tho fact that almost tho whole of the yarding was disposed of at prices that must, in most cases, lnivo been exceedingly satisfactory to owners. In tho fat sheop pens tho presence of a buyer purchasing for shipment to Auckland—where thoro is just now a great dearth of fat sheep—had tho offect of hardening up prices considerably. Local butchers had to,, pay dear for their mutton, whilst tho prices realised quite precluded freezing buyers from operating. Wethers brought up to 28s—said to bo a record for Gisborne—fat ewes up to 245, and prime hoggets as high as 20s 6d.

A few pens of ewes and lambs came forward, and these also mot with a keen demand. The pick was a line of 69 Romney ewes with 72 well-grown lambs at foot, tho property of Mrs, Alex. Brown, of Wae-renga-a-hika. These were knocked down at 30s to Mr. F. Hall, who thus achieved the distinction of having purchased tho highest-priced pen of ewes and. lambs yet submitted to a local market. The yarding was comprised chiefly of hoggets, and those also sold well, any pens showing good quality being disposed of readily. The keenness apparent at the sale of sheep was also in evidence when the cattle pons were reached, and here again tho business was decidedly brisk. A large proportion of the entry consisted of stores in low condition, but feed prospects are evidently satisfactory, as almost every hoof changed owners. The entry included a big lino of steers from Wha'katane, which brought up to £5 ss.

SHEEP. Tho range of prices was Prime fat wethers 27s 3d to 28s, medium quality 20s 3d to 21s 2d. forward stores 18s to 19s lOd ; prime fat ewes 19s to 245, medium quality 17s to 18s 6d, forward stores 15s 9d, aged and inferior sorts 12s to 14s. Ewes and lambs 17s lOd to 22s 6d and up to 30s for a specially good pen ; prime fat hoggets 17s 6d to 20s 6d, medium quality 15s lid to 17s, good stores 13s to 15s 3d, inferior sorts 11s 6d to 12s

The principal sales were : Wethers : 21 at 28s, 40 at 27s 3d, 25 at 22s 9d, 682 at 21s 2d, 25 at 20s 3d, 34 .at 19s lOd. 9 at I9s 6d, 25 at 19s 4d, 100 at 18s, . 17 ewes and wethers at 20s, 13 ewes and wethers at 20s.

Ewes : 1 at 245, 63 at 23s 3d, 171 at 22s 3d, 36 at 225, 29 at 225, 44 at 20s, 50 at 19s 7d, 25 at 19s 6d, 20 at 19s 6d, 38 at 19s 3d, 74 at 19s, 16 at 19s, 24 at 18s 6d, 90 at 18s 3d, 292 at 17s lOd, 20 at 17s 3d, 70 at 17s, 39 .at 16s Bd, 43 at 16s, 41 at 15s 6d, 43 at 15s 9d, 17 at 14s, 45 at 12s 9d, 58 at 12s, 111 at 20s, 19 at 19s, 15 at 18s. Ewes and lambs: 69 ewes and 76 lambs at 30s, 18 ewes and 18 lambs at 22s 6d, 19 ewes and 18 lambs at 225, 99 owes and 76 lambs at 20s 3d, 121 owes and 123 lambs at 19s 9d, 153 owes and 56 lambs at 17s lOd.

Hoggets: 1 at 20s 6d, 251 at 20s, 70 at 17s 9d, 100 at 17s 9d, 457 at 17s 6d, 69 at 17s 6d, 233 at 17s, 105 at 17s, 488 at 16s 9d,- 515 at 16s 7d, 220 at 15s Id, 116 at 15s 3d, 84 at 15s, 223 at 14s 9d, 138 at 14s 6d, 46 at 14s 3d, 43 at 13s, 172 at 12s, 140 at 11s 6d, 186 at 18s. 80 at 18s, 199 at 15s 9d. 510 at 14s 4d, 332 at 13s 6d, 140 at 10s.

CATTLE. Tho range of prices was:—Prime steers £5 5s to £7 17s 6d; good stores £4 5s to £5; inferior sorts £2 17b 6d to £3 18s; heifers—springers £5 10s; 18-montlis-old stores £2 12s 6d to £2 15s; beef cows £4 10s to £6 ss; milk cows up to £7 17s 6d; weaners of mixed sexes £1 17s; calves 19s to £2.

Sters: 3 at £7 17s 6d, 100 at £5 ss, 11 at £5, 5 at £4 los, 5 at £4 ss, 11 at £3 18s, 8 at £3 8s 6d, 30 at £3 6s, 5 at £2 17s 6d.

Heifers-. 1 (beef) at £4 10s, 6 (springers) at £5 10s, 2 at £2 15s, 5 at £2 12s 6d.

Cows: 1 (in full profit) £7 17s 6d, 1 (beef) at £6 ss, 5 (beef) at £4 10s, 16 (stores) at £2 15s. Eighty-three weaners sold at £1 17s, 9 calves at 19s, and 2 fat calves at £2. PIGS. There were only a few entered; not sufficient to base quotations upon. HORSES. Of a fairly large number offered the only sales were: A brown mare in foal at £9 and a two-year-old bay colt at 25 guineas. WOOL SALES. United Press Association —Copyright LONDON, Oct. 2. At the wool auctions there is a good visible competition, and prices are very firm. LONDON MEAT MARKET. Press Association. NAPIER, Oct. 3. The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company, London, to-d+y cabled .the following report on the frozen meat market:—Canterbury mutton 4id, Napier, Wellington, anil North Island 3|d; lamb, first quality 51,'second s£d; beef, hinds 3|d, fores 22>d.

SOUTH BRITISH INSURANCE COMPANY. Press Association. AUCKLAND, Oct. 3. The South British Insurance Company’s net revenup fpr the" year was £352,679 18s £>d.. After making provision for losses and adding £SOO to the re-insuranco fund there is a surplus revenue of £17,334 6s 2d, to which has to bo added £40,406 Os' 4d, balanco from 1906, loss dividend paid in October, viz,, £25,406 Os 4d. making the amount to credit of profit and loss account £72,740 6s 6d. Tko directors recommend a dividend of three shillings per share, making the dividend for the year six shillings a share; transfer to reserve £20,000, contributed to superannuation and provident funds £2733 9s lid, and to carry forward £19,008 5s 7d.