COMMERCIAL NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1920, Page 1

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

ARAHURA FAT STOCK SALE Messrs M. Houston and Co. report as follows: We held a sale of fat stock at the above yards on Monday, our yarding comprising 14 head of cattle and 81 lot sheep. The usual buyers were present, but competition was not at all keen, prices realised being considerably io.ver than at last sale. We sold on account of Nolan Bros., Okuru, 81 fatsheep (shorn), at 325; on account of Mrs Cummings 2 bullpcks at £ls 15s, A at £l6 7s 6d, 2 at £l4 17s 6d, 2 heifers at £ll ss, 1 cow at £l3 15s, 1 cow and 1 heifer at £ll 1 Os, 3 heifers at £lO. nDCJSTON STOCK MARKET. A SLOW MARKET. Jy Ts!-graph.— Special to Guardian.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Messrs Matson and Co. report as follows regarding their stock sale yesterda3’:

Store Sheep.—A small entry, practically all wethers. The market was absolutely lifeless and all sales were hard to make; and any. dealers and travelled sheep were unsaleable. Best wethers to 25s lid, others 18s 3d to 245, two tooth 15s fid to 225; inferior sorts 'ls 6d to 14s. Very few ewes were offering. Best 4 and 6 tooth to 24s 6d. The weather is still very dry. Store cattle.—A small yarding and nondescript entry. The.general tone of the market was absolutely depressed and all sales wore hard to make. One good line of 3 year steers brought £lO 10s, 2 .year steers £5 15s to £8; good m.s. yearlings £2 15s to £4. One good straight station line of Hereford and Polled* Angus yearling heifers brought £5 10s to £6 10, but it was an exceptionally good line. Fresh store cows £4 15s to £6.

Beef.—A smaller entry, and not sufficient for two weeks’ requirements, consequently the market showed a firmer tone all round. Best steers £23 to £2(1155, ’ prime £lB 10s to £22, medium £l4 to £l7 15s. light and unfinished £lO 15s to £l3 10s. Cows and heifers showed "the same proportionate advance. The advance in prices can only he attributed to the fact that supplies were below butcher’s requirements till next sale.

Mutton.—Although the yarding was not so large as. last week’s, butchers evidently were keen on mutton for Xmas business. Considering there is no sale for a fortnight, the demand throughout was very spasmodic, although slightly 'firmer than last week. Best wethers to 14s 6d, prime 33s to 38s, lighter 28s 6d to 3.25, unfinished and inferior 26s to 27s 9d. Ewes were in the same proportion. A large entry of lambs sold exceptionally well. - The next sale is on January sth.