COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2070, 10 November 1879, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

STOCK REPORTS. Messrs Jonas, Hart, and Wildie report a remarkable dullness pervading the live stock market, in all its branches. Very little business has been done during the week, and only of such an apparent spasmodic character, that it is almost impossible to report definitely, either with regard to demand or price. The weather is all that can be desired. The crops throughout the district have an extreme appearance of health and vigor, giving promise of a bountiful harvest. Eefreshing showers fall at the moment they are needed, as if ordered, and yet, with these bright prospects, and with beautiful silver fining edging itself outside the cloud of depression, they cannot report any encouraging improvement with regard to business. , , ml . Fat Cattle are abundant. Their transactions during the week have been very limited, prices released being from 303 to 22s 6d, and with every indication of receding. . Store Cattle.—At Winchester Fair, on Wednesday last, the sth inst., there were an average number yarded, but few sales efiected. At the South Canterbury yards, Timaru, on the 6th inst., all yarded (about 200 a head) found purchasers at good prices, the demand not being supplied. Their transactions were —For steers and heifers, eighteen months to two years, from £3 10s to £4 ss; yearlings, 37s 6d to £2 2s 6d. Sheep.—Very little doing in stores. They sold a small mob of half-bred hoggets off the shears, for 4s 4d. Horses.—The demand is very limited, ynd cannot be expected to improve until narvest. There is no inclination to purchase, even at extreme low rates. There were an average number entered at their yards to-day, principally hacks and light harness horses. Of this class they sold seven, at prices ranging from £8 to £l7; they also sold three medium plough horses of fair stamp, but light, at £62 for the team.

Messrs Palmer and Collins report holding their regular Saturday’s market and sale by auction of horses, cows, farm produce and general; merchandise as follows: The attendance at their sale yards was good, hut buyers were few and far between. They offered some heavy draught horses, but the figures not coming up to owners’ reserves, they were passed in. Hackneys and light harness horses brought from £lO to £lB each; in fact they are the only kind of animals that can be sold. Field roller, plough, and a quantity of harness found buyers. lu their rooms the attendance was large, and buyers well to the fore, at the following rates : —Potatoes. £» 10s per ton, very few offering ; fowls’ corn, 80 sacks at 7s 6d, 104 sacks inferior at 6s; hams. and bacon, none offering, prime samples would fetch a good figure juskriow; fresh butter, B|d to 9d per Id; fat lamb, 4s to 4s 6d per side. The market was well supplied with poultry of all descriptions : —Fowls fetching 2s 6d to 4s per pair; turkeys, 6s to 7s each; geese, 4s 6d to 6s 6d each. Tea, sugar, kerosene, furniture, clothing, drapery, boots, &c., were quitted at vendors’ reserve.