COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2614, 6 August 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Times Office, !• aturday Evening. Messrs Wildie, Allan, and Stumbles report for the past fortnight as follows: They cannot report any improvement in the stock market since their, last, and can hardly expect any activity until the spring. The market is well supplied with fat cattle ; sheep, both store and fat, are plentiful, and show no reduction in price from their last quotations. Cattle.—They quote prime fat beasts at from 22s 6d per lOOlbs, with a good supply in the district. Their transactions have been -10 head at £9 ; 3 do, at £6 15s; 4 do, at £8 ss; 24 do, at £6 2s 6d. Store cattle—Steers and heifers (2 to 3 years), from £3 5s to £5 5s ; do do (1 to 2 years), 32a 6d to £3 2s 6d ; calves, 15s to 355. They have orders on hand for a large number. Milch cows (in milk and springing), from £6 10s to £ll 10a. Dry cows— A great many have been brought into the yards recently, but it is impossible to find purchasers for them. During the past fortnight, at country sales, at the Washdyke Yards, and privately, they have sold 174 head of cattle of all classes at the above quotations. Sheep.—The market is well supplied with prime fat sheep, prices being fully up to last quotations. The transactions have been—297 cross-bred ewes, in lamb, at 12s ; 304 fat half breds, at 14s ; 100 do crossbreds, at 14s 91 ; 50 do do at 15s; 126 merino wethers (fat), at 9s 9d , 76 crossbred ewes (in lamb), at 13s; 198 merino ewes (in lamb) at 6s 6d. Horses.—There is comparitivcly nothing doing in the horse market. There are a good number entered at their yards every Saturday, a few only of which find purchasers, and only then at poor prices ; in fact, to effect a sale, in some cases absurd prices have been taken During the fortnight, they have sold privately and in the yards. 14 horses of different classes. They .quote heavy staunch draughts at from £2B to £33; medium do do, from £l4 to £2O ; hacks and light harness horses, from £8 to £22 ; drays, harness, &c., at fair prices. Wool, Skins, and Hides—Their sale on the 28th July last was attended by the usual trade buyers. About 600 heavy woolled skins, besides a quantity of light, were catalogued, all of which were sold at the following rates :—Heavy cross-breds, 4s 9d, ss, 5s Id, 5s 3d to 5s fid ; merino, 8s 9), 4s 2d to 4s lid. Hides, 4d per lb ; rough fat, 2d per lb. Farm Produce—They quote oats, 2s to 2s 3d per bushel ; pota'oes, £2 10s to £3 per ton ; bran, £4 ; sharps, £5 ; bacon and hams, 7d to 8d per lb ; flour (farmers’) £9 per ton.