COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2657, 26 September 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

S. C. Times Office. Monday Evening. Messrs Maclean and Stewart report for the past fortnight as follows Horses—There is at present a fair demand for young draught horses, and for really good sorts satis-actory prices can be obtained. The entries at their yards the last two Saturdays were about the average number, but the quality was considered under the usual lot offered, consequently low prices were ruling. They placed a number at the following prices:—From £26 to £3O for first-class geldings or mares; from £l7 to £2O for medium ;at from £8 to £l2 for ordinary hacks and inferior harness horses. Cattle.-—There has been little, doing in store cattle during the Lst few weeks; the long continuance of dry weaiher preventing farmers from increasing their stf’cks, and the backward spring so far has ma le feed as yet scarce, rain being sadly wanted thioughout the district, They expect a better demand for store cattle should rain set in. They have made no sales of importance, but have placed a few odd lots at ti e following prices From £3 10- to £4 10s for well grown steers and heifers ; £2 10s to £3 for two year olds ; calves at 30s to £2. They sold at their usual sale at Pleasant Point last week a number of fair dairy cows at an average of about £4 15. Fat cattle.—They have sold privately several lines at satisfactory prices, equal to from 20s to 21s per 100 lbs. Sheep.—They have enquiry for several lines of store sheep in the wool; but at present, owners, unless very shoit of feed, prefer to hold on to until shearing, Thera is little doing in this class of stock at present. They have placed several mobs of hoggets privately at satisfactory prices. Fat Sheep.—There is a good supply, present prices being equal to about 2d per lb. They sold a line of merino ewe--, on account of Mr Studholme,at Ds Id ; also on account of the same owner, 250 merino wethers, at lls Id. On account of the Otipua estate, they sold a draft of 250 enws-bred six tooth wethers at a satisfaptory price. These sheep were a splendid lot; in fact by far the heaviest sheep they have sold for many a day.

Mr Moss Jonas reports as follows: — Horses.—The usual number were entered at his yards on Saturday, and rao-tof them ■were sold at fairly satisfactory rates, good sorts being easily disposed of if owners will accept market values, which remain steady at last quotations. For hacks and light harness horses there is but little demand and unless they shew superior quality are not easily disposed. Cattle.—The supply is getting more limited, but in spite of this prices have receded somewhat from last week’s quotations, and 21s per lOOlbs may be considered as the average price for ordinary beef, and at this figure the bulk of his sales have been effected. For a small lot of very prime fat bullocks a price equal to an extra two shillings per lOOlbs was secured. Sheep.—He quotes prime mutton at 2£d, and the market is well supplied at tliat rate. In store sheep he has no transtions of any consequence to report. Wool and Skins—His sale on Thursday drew the usual attendance of buyers, and an excellent catalogue was gone through. In both merino and long wool skins the bulk were of very good quality, and the prices obtained such as to be highly satisfactory to those vendors, who, with the Auctioneer, are endeavoring to create a regular local market for wool and skins, and a steady persistence with this, end in view is now meeting with that success that so laudable an aim deserves ; a full catalogue and regular sales holding out an inducement to buyers from a distance to attend. He quotes best merino skins, 4s to 4s fid; medium, 3s’ to 4s; inferior, 2s; crossbred skins, us lOd to Cs 6d; medium, Sh to 5a 6d.

Miscellaneous,—On Tuesday, at his yards he sold a buggy, harness horses and drays, at satisfactory prices, there being a very good attendance of buyers. On the same day he submitted a quantity of household furniture and miscellaneous goods and this sale was also very successful, a large quantity of goods being cleared out. On Friday,' at .Browne’s bakery, in Wool!combe stiect, he sold iho slock-in-trade, &c, all at fair values. On Saturday in the yards a large quantity of harness, implements, drays, were disposed of, and in the sale rooms the assortment of dairy produce, poultry, &a\.. found purchasers at quotations as under :—Flour, 1 (is per sack; sharps, 8s; brat), Is ; best fowls corn, §s to 10s ; oats, Is fid to 2s per bushel; potatoes, 4s to 4s 6d cheese, 4 ! ; bacon, Gd ; hams, 7d ; fowls, 2s (id to 3s per pair ; ducks, 4s.

Messrs Wiliiara Collins and Co. report holding their regular weekly auction at their rooins on Saturday, of farm produce, 'Toceric-', furniture, and sundries. The ialhndaneo was good, and buyers in abundance for all lines submitted. The following. are the figures obtained for tbo articles "quitted Derwent potatoes, 45s per ton ; seed do, same figure ; legs mutton, Is to 2s each ; sides, 2s (5.1; cheese, 4d per Jh ; butter, (id : hams, (id ; bacon, 5d ; bacon v i ;: j per lb ; towls, 2s Cd to 3s ; geese, 8' per pair ; store pies, Iss eacu ; box tea, J4s; hah-chosK 50 < ; white sugar, 4id ; soap, 7s per box. Furniture, boots, cro( kery, and a general assortment of -metrics b;ought extremely satisfactory figures.