COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1927, Page 1

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

GRAND NATIONAL DOUBLE MARKET. SMALLER DISPLAY OF SHOW STOCK. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. -i. Tin.. Grand National double market was held at Addington yesterday. This sale of recent years has been noted for its display of show cattle and sheep, but the entries ol lat cattle and fat shec-p yesterday did not include nearly the usual number of outstanding pens. This was particularly so in the ease of cattle, there being few ol the heavy show bullocks that have been a feature of recent National sales. Moreover, the butchers were not prepared to pay any ••fancy” prices for the show cattle that were offered. One bullock made CIO. the top price of the sale, but the purchaser was not a butcher. Ap.ut from this figure, the prices paid were on n strictly commercial basis, and generally the show cattle were cheaper than the ordinary prime sorts. The entry of fat cattle totalled 6.60 head, not a large yarding for n double market, and the sale was a keen one for all decently finished sorts. There was an all-round improvement in price, hut it was most marked in the ease of prime medium-weight beef. For a double market there was also a short entry of fat sheep, and they sold particularly well, val’ues lor tile greater part of the sale being well ahead of anything that has been obtained at Addington for a long time. For nearly all classes of sheep there was a marked advance on late rates, and the show sheep forward met keen competition and sold well. Top price for wethers was C 7 15s and for ewes £6 7s. There was a small showing of spring lambs, though only one or two of them were genuine spring lambs, the bulk having been horn as far back as last April. They met keen competition. The entry of store sheep was a large' one for this lime of the year, but there was also a large attendance ol buyers, .and compel it ion was much freer than was the ease last week. Ewe hoggets especially sold well. Yealers were again in short supply, and the high prices obtained last week were fully maintained. Sales of dairy cattle were hard to make, and prices declined on "fate rales. The demand for fat pigs was

The demand for f:it piji's was not very jictive and prices showed n tendency to ease. Store pit's, on the other hand sold well. fat cattle. For a double entry market the entry of fat cal tie was licit a very large one, only OHO head being penned, and the number of show eattle forward was far less than has been the ease at j National markets ol repeal years. There were one or two particularly | heavv bullocks and also a few lines of j cattle of outstanding quality, but, as | far as the general quality was concern- < ed. the market was Vittle different from an ordinary one. though old and inferior cows were less numerous than usual. The yarding was made up of cattle drawn from many districts outside of Canterbury, together, of course, with several lines from local graziers. There were drafts forward from the llangitikei district of the North Island, from Southland, South Otago and the West Coast. The sale was it good one throughout, hut it was evident I ruin the outset that butchers were not going to pay " fancy ” prices for the show eattle. As a matter of filet, this class, its a general rule, made less per 10011) than ordinary prime quality hcef. At the start of the sale prices were slightly better than fast week, and they improved as the sale progressed for till decently finished heel ol medium weight. Taking (he sale its a whole, tlto hotter class heel was 2s (Id to .‘ls a 1001 h dearer than last week, while other quality was up to 2s dearer. Apart from the show ealtle. which sold comparatively cheaply considering their quality, prices a 1001 b were:—Extra prime heifer heel to Ids, prime heifer and extra prime steer beef 41s to -Ms (sd. medium quality tills (Id to 10s. heavyweight .‘lds to 375. unfinished 32s to .‘lds, .•tm! rough 2ds to 27s fid.

Top price of (lie sale was £4O. which was paid for a massive Shorthorn billlock sold on account of Mr W. bockbead ' lbdclnilia). This bullock won the first prize at the recent winter show in Dunedin, and at that time bis live weight was 31801 b. He was bought yesterday by Mr .T. O. Coop (Ataaliua). Top price last year was £OO for Mr J. A. Keiths’ world champion bullocks. Another big bullock sold on account, ul Mr .1. F. Cbattorton Diinsantlel). made 021 7s fid, and two from Messrs X. Beattie and Son (ForIroso, Southland) made .£23 12s fid and £23 17s fid. Easily the best line of steers was forwarded by Mr T. A. Duncan Mluntervili'e. Xorth Island). It was the primest line seen at Addinglon for many years. There were ten in the line, all Shorthorns, and they were wonderfully even. They made an average price of £23 9s fid, the top pen making £2 f 7s fid. Considering their weight and quality, these cattle sold remarkably cheaply. A fine line of sixteen heifers from Mr P. Anderson (Ihdeluthn'i sold at an average of £l4.