COMMERCIAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4702, 23 May 1924, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

WAIKATO MARKET REPORT. The Farmers’ Auctioneering Co. reports Beef. —Beef lias not maintained the buoyancy remarked upon in our last report. Good yardings are notice - able everywhere, cow beef especially being very plentiful. Mutton.—This line has not shown much alteration, autl values are still firm. Store Cattle. —Little improvement is apparent in the store cattle market, competition for all classes lacking spirit. Grown steers are the subject of fair inquiry, but the failure of the turnip crops must limit competition for that class. The export companies are still in a position to deal with forward-conditioned cows, and within their limits are consistent purchase!; . Young steers are now so scarce that it is not possible to report. The inquiry for such, however, is not strong. The turn of the wheel still shows an unfriendly disposition towards the dairy section. Very considerable stocks are on' hand, and many would welcpmc inquiry. Calves still remain unpopular, except for occasional choice lots. Stoic Sheep.—These are everywhere in keen demand, all classes tending to advance. Many good sales of ewes in lamb are reported. Pigs.—All fat pigs offering arc quickly absorbed. It is worthy of notice that this class is from 15s to 20s per head more valuable than at the same period last year. It .seems evident that dairymen will turn their attention more extensively to this branch in the season to come. Horses.—There is a constant inquiry for heavy draughts suitable for city work, but for other classes the demand is not strong. We quote'as follows: Bullocks, heavy prime £9 lOfe to £ll ss, medium £7 ,10s to £8 10S ; cows, heavy £5 10s to £7, medium £4 to ‘.5 ss, forwards £3 to £3 15s, stores £1 5s to £2 ; steers, forward 3%-year £5 to £5 10s, stores £4 to £4 15s, best 2 l:l /2year Shorthorn £3 10s to x 4, medium £2 15s to £3 5s ; best 8-months steer:, £2 5s to £2 12s 6d, medium £1 15s to £2 2s 6d. Wethers, prime heavy, shorn, 36s to £2, medium 32s to 341 Gd ; ewes, prime heavy, shorn, 24s to 27s 6d ; store wethers, shorn 4-tooth 28s to 31s, 2-topth 24s to 27s ; ewes in lamb, 5-year 24s to 28s, S.M. 18s to 22s 6d; lambs, forward 19s to £1 Is, good store lambs 17s to 19s, medium 16s to 17s, small 10s to 13s. Pigs : Heavy baconers £4 to £4 10s, light £3 5s to £3 15s; heavy porkers £2 10s to £3, light £2 to £2 7s 6d slips £1 to £1 7s 6d ; weaners 10s to 16s. Horses: Heavy draughts £45 to £55, medium £24 to £32, light £l7 to £2O ; harness horses £lO to £l5, hacks £5 to £lO. HAMILTON STOCK SALE. At Hamilton on Tuesday last the average number of stock came forward, and was with slight exception cleared. Competition for fat sheep was not quite so keen as at recent sales, ewes making from 25s 2d to 27s 6d ; wethers in forward conditions sold at from 30‘s to 32. s ; very forward lambs, 20s to 21s; a line of 2-tooth store wethers, 27s lid. Ewes in lamb, of which a good number were penned, made from 22s 6d to 24s 4d for F.M, lots, aged and in low condition 15s 6d. The supply of beef was. rather short, and in consequence values were firm at a Tittle better than the previous week. Best ’ cows made from £4 10s to £5 ss, medium £3 15s to £4 10s, unfinished £2 15s to £3 ss, stores £1 5s to £2 ss. Calves were, again dull of sale, although a few pens were disposed of privately. Best steers made to 355, smaller from 15s, weedy sorts from 6s. Fair competition existed for cows close to profit, £5 to £lO 101, according to quality. The pig pens were again well filled, and competition opened strong but eased a little towards the conclusion. Prime heavy baconers made £4' 3s to £4. 10s, medium £3 10s to £3 17s, light £3 Is to £3 7s ; prime porkers £2 16s to £3 Is, light £1 17s to £2 2s ; good stores £2 4s to £2 6s best slips 27s to 33 s, smaller 23s to 26s ; best weaners 18s to 21s, small 12s to 15s. MEAT FROM SOUTH AMERICA. Tlie New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board has received a cable from its representative at Buenos Aires, South America, advising the following shipments to the United Kingdom for the fortnight ended I.7th instant from the Argentine and Uruguay : Chilled beef, 141,110 quarters ; frozen beef, 39,973 quarters ; frozen mutton, 26,078 carcases : frozen lamb, 35,609 carcases. The quantity shipped to tlie Continent of Europe during the same period totalled 141,350 quarters of frozen beef and carcases if frozen mutton. The cable also states that caltler are now dearer.