COMMERCIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1714, 14 March 1873, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

♦ D. Macrorie, auctioneer, report* : — It is seldom bo large an attendance is secured at a country sale, as, in spite of *cry uufavorable weather, mustered at Mi M'Callum's on Wednea day, and lona fide purchasers of every class of rock were well represented. Through neither of the farms changing hands (the highest bid being £2 7s 6d per acre) the after bidding seemed thoroughly dispirited, and this languor was materially assisted by want of proper accommodation for the classification and allotting of the sheep. My highest bid for the 2 tooth Leicester rams was 25*, and 44s for older rams, 19s being also offered for the originally imported ewes, bow 9 years' old. The attendance falling off, no further lots were submitted by auction, tut I quitted prWately the ewe lambs at 30s each. I received applications also afterwards for the properties, which remain in abeyance for a week's time. The enquiry for all sorts of 6he«p is ot such a nature that an opportunity was afforded on the ground for placing under offer several lots belonging to other breeders, and Mr M'Callum was solicited to name any figure for a pick of seventy of his ewes for etud purposes, which was declined so long as th» farm remained in his possession. Invercargill, March 13, 1873.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report for the week ending Bih March a* follows : — Fat Cattle.— The supply was insufficient for the wants of the trade. 20 head were yarded, which brought fully 20s per lOOlbi for prime quality. We sold privately 60 head to the Meat Preserving Company at 17s per lOOlbs. We quote prime quality at 20s per 1031bs ; medium, 17s. Eat Shefp.— The market was again overstocked, 18C0 being penned, of which only a few were disposed of. *We sold privately, for forward delivery, 600 merino wethers at 2}d per lb. Store Cattle are dull of sale. We sold 75 head mixed cattle at £3. Store Sheep. — The demand for all classes is good, and especially so for young sheep. We sold 2000 full and broken- mouthed ewes at 3s 3 i, and 120 Leicester rams and ram lambs at from £2 to £3 each. We quote cross-breds, 2 and 4-tooth, 10s to lls ; mixed lambs, 8s to 8s 6d ; merino wethers, 6 and 8- tooth, 6s 6 i to 6i ; do ewes, 4 and 6 tooth, 6s 6d ; full-mouthed, 4s to 4a 6d. Country Sales. — On Tuesday, the 4th instant, we held our monthly sale at Mosgiel, and disposed of the following stock : — On account of D. Maitland, Esq, 12C0 full mouthed merino ewes, at from 4s 6d to 49 9d ; on account of £. A. Chapman, Esq., 1254 full-mouthed merino ewes, at from 4t» 3d to 4s 9d ; on account of John Gow. Esq., 20 Leicester rams and ewe lambs, at 47s 6d each ; on account of A. J. Bamford, Esq , 50 head of store cattle, at from £> to £3 15s ; also, 20 head fat cattle, at from £4 to £5 ss. On Thursday, 6th instant, we held our monthly sale •f stock at Palmerston. The attendance of buyers was good, and everything brought full rates. 2000 full and broken-mouthed merino ewes fetched 3s ; 35 head fat cattle, £4 to £5 ; 30 mixed stores, 30s to 555. On Friday, at HillhampUn, Palmerston, we held a sale by auction of Leicester rams and ewes, and half and three-quarter-bred ewes and lambs, on account of E. Au: yes, Esq. Buyers were numerous, and the prices obtained were satisfactory. Leicester ram lambs brought 47s 6d ; do ewes, 2 tooth to full-mouth, 35s to 47s 6d ; half and three-quarter-bred ewes, lls 9d. Horses. — Heavy draughts, and horses adapted for coaching purposes, are in good request. We quote first-class draughts £50 to £60 ; medium do, £25 to £35 ; good hack and light harness horses, £20 to £25 ; medium do, £11 to £14 ; light and inferior, £3 to £5. Wool. — No public sales have been held this week — the news received by cable, via Australia, of a fall of Id to 2d per lb at the February sales then being held, having deterred brokers frm offering any in the present unsettled state of the market — more especially as the scourers, who are now the only buyers, have very large stocks on hand. Grain.— Wheat : Good samples saleable at 4s 6d per bushel. Oats in request at 2s 3d, for milling ; and 2s Id to 2s 2d, for good feed. Barley, scarce. Malting saleable, at 6s to CU 61 per bushel.