MARKETS.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 525, 27 May 1880, Page 3

MARKETS.

CANTERBURY STOCK MARKET. Messrs Matson and Company’s latest report says :—The chief feature at the Metropolitan Yards was the heavy supply of both fat and store sheep—the market being filled from one end to the other. There was an average attendance of the trade, but the large entry of mutton naturally had its effect on values, and during the greater part of the sale prices as ruling represented a decline of from Gd to Is per head under last week’s rates. At the close, however, competion was rather more brisk, and several lines of prime cross-breds were quitted at prices recovering the drop of earlier sales. The quality of the fat sheep generally was very good—Messrs Gould and - Cameron’s, Springfield wetherq realising 12s to 12s 9d. For a small line of prime merino wethers 10s Gd was obtained; ordinary lines of medium weight cross-bred being taken up atfrora 9s to 10s Gd per head, or equal to barely 2d per lb. Store sheep were penned in larger numbers . than they have been before this season, late rates being in all cases fully maintained. Light weight three-quarter fat cross-bred,

for turnip feeding, are in demand at from 8s 6d ■ to 10s, for which purpose a good number are being placed. A large line of mimed age cross-bred ewes were quitted by ns at G.s Gd to 6s Bd, aged merino ewes at 3s 4d to 4s Gd, two and four-tooth do to Gs 34. Considering the full market, we look upon the sheep sale as being very satisfactory, nearly every line changing owners at the above mentioned rates. The in t cattle sale was well supplied, nnd although prices exhibited but little imqrovement, butchers operated more extensively, and we disposed of the whole of nur entry at from 17s Gd to 20s per 100 lbs, as per description. In stores there is little or no alteration in price, not more than half the usual number being penned this week. Good useful lines of two to three year olds are worth from £4 4s to £5 ; eighteen months’cattle, 50s to £3 ss; woaners,2os to 30s. Fat pigs are now being sent forwaids in large numbers, but from the keen competition shown, it is evident that bacon enters arc very short of supplies, and that those sent into the market in no way represent actual requirements, The totals yarded for the day comprised 8,708 sheep, 400 head of cattle, and 126 pigs. > Messrs Acklaxd, Campbell, and Go’s. latest report says: —At the Addington Yards, 8364 sheep came to hand. The demand for fat sheep was tolerably brisk, and most lots were cleared at prices about equal to last week’s rates. We quote heavy-weight cioss-breds up to 12s Gd, one pen of very fine Downs making 13s, Medium, 9s to 10s ; merino wethers, from 9s to 10s 6d. There was a large entry of stores, principally merino cws, all of which found buyers at good prices. Merino ewes in lamb, 5s Gd.

CANTERBURY HORSE MARKET. Messrs Matson and Company report that their weekly sale comprised an entry of 125 head of mixed horses, but coming so close after the special auction of the previous Thursday, business was dull and spiritless, and comparatively few lots were sold. “We disposed of a line of horses, drays, harness, &c., under bill of sale, at current rates. Aged horses from £l3 to £2l, drays to £IG. About 30 unbroken colts wore yarded, but they were chiefly of a light character, and but few were cleared. For three-year old heavy draught colts there is a demand for ploughing purposes at from £22 to £3O, as per description . Weedy hacks are every wcekgetting more dull of sale, and as far as can be seen there are large numbers that will not pa} r owners to hold through the winter at any price. Our quotations are young, sound, heavy, draught horses, of good quality, £35 to £45 ; medium do., for ploughing £25 to £32 ; spring cart and cab horses, £lB to £25 ; well-bred, useful backs ami light harness horses, £lGto £22 ; ordinary do., £lO to £ls; weeds, £3 to £B.” Wool, Skins, Fat, Tallow, Hides. Messrs Matson report :—At our Canterbury Wool Stores, we held usual weekly sale. There was an average attendance of the trade, and prices have partly recovered the decline quoted last week. Our catalogue was unusually large, and every line was quitted at even values, and contained 6394 sheepskins, IG2 bags rough fat, 2G4 hides, several casks and packages tallow, and a few odd lots of wool, locks and pieces, the whole being disposed of at values as under, viz.—Butchers’best crossbred skins realised 4s 3d, 4s Gd to 4s 9d ; second quality, 3s 3d, 3s Gd, 3s 9d, 4s to 4s 2d ; medium, 2s, 2s 4d, 2s 8d to 3s Id each. Butchers’ best merino, 3s, 3s 3d, 3s Gd to 3s 8d ; second quality, 2s, 2s 3d, 2s Gd, 2s 9d, to 2s lid each. Country skins, best, 3s 9d, 4s, 4s Gd, ss, 5s Gd to 6s each ; inferior, 4d, 9d, Is 3d, 2s Gd to 3s Gd. Lamb-skins, best, 3s 3d to 3s 8d each. Butchers’ best dry rough fat, 2j-d to 2|d per lb; second quality, 2d to 2£d per : b; inferior and heated 14d to per lb. Hides over 601b, 3£d ; under 601b, 3{d per lb. Calfskins, 3d. Tallow, 24s no 25e Gd per cwt. Wool fid to7£d per lb ; pieces, 3jfl to 44 per lb ; locks, l|d to 24 per lb.