INVERCARGILL MARKETS.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 32, 3 November 1894, Page 12

INVERCARGILL MARKETS.

The J. G, Ward Farmers’ Association report having held their fortnightly stock sale at the Invercargill yards' on Tuesday. The entry was a fair one in all classes, and large in fat cattle. The attendance was fair, but the demand was limited, especially for fat cattle, a good number being passed and several pens sold to graziers. The total entries were 526 fat sheep, 597 stores, 61 fat cattle, 180 stores, and 19 pigs. We yarded and sold 78 fat sheep, 353 stores, 42 fat cattle, 85 stores, and 8 pigs, and the following are the prices realised by us for some of the leading lots : Fat Cattle—Pens of bullocks, L 9 10s, L 9 ss, L 8 ss, LB,. L 7 10s; small, L 6 10s, L 6 7s fid, and LB.Store Cattle —41 steer, L 4 10s ; small do, L 3 to L 4; yearlings, 30s to 40s ; two year olds, L3to L 3 10s; ar.d dairy cows, on account Mr Robert Wallace, a pair in splendid condition, at L 8 and Lfi ; and on account other vendors at L 4 to Lfi ; dry cows for fattening purposes, L 3 IGs to L 4. feheep —Fat, 12s to 14s; ewes, with lambs at foot, in low condition, at 7s to 8s 9d. Pigs, L2 to L 3 for breeding, and slips 20s to 30s. The want of rain has had a bad effect on the sale, many farmers being very short of grass

The National Mortgage and Agency Co. report of the Invercargill stock markets on Tuesday:— The entries were much below the average, and the demand certainly never was worse ; fat cattle and sheep butchers did not appear to want at all, and could with difficulty be persuaded to buy. Other classes were also quiet. Fat Cattle —61 entered, butchers only buying a very small number; graziers took a fair quantity, but a considerable number were turned out unsold. Bullocks brought L 7 to L 8 ; cows L 6 17s 6d to LB. Store Cattle —180 head yarded. Although the demand was very quiet a good deal of business was done, three year old bullocks selling up to L 4 12s fid, two year olds to L 3, yearlings, 30s to 40s ; store cows, L 3 to L 4; milk cows, L 6 to L 8 ss. Fat Sheep—s 26 entered. Market very dull. Heavy wethers brought up to 17s; ordinary, 12s 6d to 14s Id ; a pen shorn ewes, 8s 9d ; lambs, 7s 3d. Store Sheep—s 97 entered. A few hoggets brought HslOd; small do, 5s 6a, and others at corresponding prices. Bigs —19 yarded. The demand was very weak, good young sows selling at 34s to 365. Skin and Fat Sale—For Monday’s sale our entry was pretty large, every lot selling at top rates, and the demand being rather better th in usual.

Winton Sale. —About 4000 sheep were yarded, a few of which were shorn hoggets, the balance being mostly hoggets in the wool, with a few lines of crossbred ewes and lambs and wethers, The demand was not nearly equal to late sales, and was also very irregular, some pens selling much dearer than others. Taking the sale all through, buyers appeared to be acting on the safe side, and preferred to go without rather than give big prices. Owing to the grand rain that had fallen and continued, shortness offered was not the cause of dullness. Prices ranged from 7s to I2s 3d for hoggets, the latter price being paid for a line of 30U very choice sorts from Drummond, showing that feed had been plentiful there. Our entry of shorn hoggets, a line of over 200, were bred by Mr Swale, and were perfect pictures, being in very forward condition and beautifully shorn. These were passed at 7s each, and Mr Swale had to take them home again. Good wethers brought ils to lls Gd, and crossbred ewes and lambs from 9s to lls each. Cattle.—About 50 head yarded. Demand pretty good, especially for dairy cows. Small yearlings and low-conditioned cows were almost unsaleable. Best cows brought £6 to £6 ss; heifers, £4 to £4 os; fat cattle, £6 to £7 10s. Privately we have placed a few small lines of hoggets and ewes and lambs at market prices. Tothill, Watson and Co. report on their Winton sale, held sn Thursday, as follows : A fair number of entries were forward, of which hoggets formed the bulk. There were

also two lots of shorn hoggets offered, but these were passed in, buyers preferring to buy with the wool on. Values ranged from 11s to 13s 2d for best hoggets ; smaller do, 8s 9d to 10s; ewes with lambs at foot from 5s to 11a fid. Cattle—Cows brought from L 4 15s to L 6. Heifers ranged from L 4 to Lo.