COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2718, 5 December 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

S. C. Times Office. Monday Evening. Mr Moss Jonas reports for the past week as follows:

Taking into consideration the fact that the present is the dullest time of the year, and that things generally ore almost stagnant in commercial circles, he has to report having done a very fair amount of business, particularly in store sheep. Horses—The demand is limited, and to effect sales, low prices have to bo accepted, Although only a few were entered, they all found purchasers at market rates. He quotes good draughts at from £25 to £3O; medium, £ls to £2O ; hacks from £l2 to £lB ; light, £6 to £lO. Cattle—Fat stock are in better demand, with a slight upward tendency. This can be accounted for owing to the dry weather and scarcity of feed dowjj South. He quotes prime beef at 24s per 1001b§ : medium, 20s per lOOlbs. At Winchester he sold a few at these prices, In stores very little is doing, farmers and graziers are turning their attention more to sheep at present. Sheep.—Pat sheep—the market is well supplied, and no improvementin prices can be quoted. Privately during the week he has placed 360 at current rates. He quotes prime mutton at IJd per lb. Store sheep are in fair demand, and all lots that are placed in the market at reasonable prices find purchasers. He sold a large number at quotations—2-tooth cross-bred », at from 7s to 8s for wellgrown good sorts ; 6s to 6s 9<J for fair to medium ; merino wethers, from 3s 6d to 4s 6d ; merino ewes, with lambs at foot, 7s to 7s 6d. Pigs.—He sold 50on Saturday by auction. Although no improvement in prices can be quoted, still there is a better demand; 18 at 20s, 17 at 8s 6d, 13 at 5s 6d each. Miscellaneous. —On Monday last a quantity of contractors’ plant, wagon and horses were sold by him at his yards, there being a good attendance, and the price-* realised were quite up to the mark. On Tuesday And Wednesday he sold the stock of a oordial manufacturer and bottler at fairly good prices, At Winchester Fair, on Wednesday, but little business was done, and although a large quantity of stock was penned, but very little changed hands.

At hia sales on Saturday there was the usual attendance, and a good business-was done, a large quantity of farmers’ produce, tea, sugar, and the usual assortment of sundries finding purchasers at the market rates. He quotes flour at 18s per sack (guaranteed); sharps, 6s, and bran, 4a per sack ; fowls’ corn, 10s ; oats, 8s 6d ; and potatoes, 5s per sack; bacon, ad io 6d per 1b; hams, 6d; cheese, 4Ad; butter, 4Jd to 6d; fowls, 3s fid to 4s per pair; ducks, 3s fid ; geese, 4s fid per pair.

Messrs Maclean and Stewart report for the past week as follows: Horses.—Their entries for Saturday were 63 horses, comprising a considerable number of very good draught mares and geldings, a few good light harness horses and saddle hackneys, and the usual sprinkling of very ordinary to medium sorts. They report rather a better demand than last week, and notwithstanding the full values asked by sellers, they succeeded in placing 28 head at the following quotations:—Good draught mares and geldings, from £25 to £33; medium, from £l6 to £22 ; good hacks, £l2 to £lB 10s, and ordinary from £6 to £9los. Store sheep.—They have a large number on hand for sale, but no transactions of any importance to report. A few small lots of crossbred hoggets have been sold at 7s fid to Bs. At Winchestei Fair, on the Ist inst., they disposed of a small lot of merino ewes in the wool at 6s 9d. Fat sheep— The local market is being well supplied, and prices the same as quoted last week. Cattle.—At Winchester monthly fair there was fully over the average number of stores entered, but from some cause, probably the continued dry weather, buyers were not much inclined to operate, and consequently prices were easier than last month. They report having entered 87 bead, and disposed of 80 head at the following quotations Calves, 31s to 35s ; yearlings, £2 os to £2 13s fid ; steers, £4 to £5 2s fid. Fat cattle are still inquired lor, and realising good values, prime beef being worth 22s 6d to 255. Privately and at auction they sold 160 head at equal to quotations.

Messrs William Collins and Co. report holding their regular weekly market and auction at their rooms On Saturday of farm and dairy produce; furniture and groceries. The attendence was large, and buyers were in abundance for all lines submitted to the hammer. They quote :—Derwent potatoes 70s per ton ; new .potatoes, 16s per cwt; Victorian grown onions, 3d per lb ; cheese, 3M per lb ; hams, B£d per lb ; bacon, per lb ; butter, -id per lb ; lamb, 3s fi i to 4s fid per side ; flour, mill rs’ £lO per ton ; do, farmers’, £7 per ton ; fowls, 2s to 3s fid per pair; boxes tea, 13s ; white sugar, 4d per lb; kerosene, 16s per case ; currants, 4id per lb ; sperm candles, 7£d per lb ; soap, 6s fid per box ; salt, is fid per cwt. Household furniture, boots, and a large quantity of general sundries found buyers at fair rates. They held a clearing sale of farm stock and implements at Silverstream daring the week, at which there was a good .attendance. The sale, taken all round, was the most successful ever held by them in the district.