COMMERCIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 18822, 15 May 1920, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

SOUTHLAND STOCK AND PRODUCE MARKET. TIMES OFFICE, May 14. Of course, there has been no sale of fat stock during the week, and, owing to the uncertainty of the yarding of prime wethers at the Wallacetown yards, butchers hove been filling most of their requirements privately, good quality prime heavy wethers being especially sought for, and ewes, unless in extra prime, condition, being hardly touched at all. There has been movement as regards fat cattle, and the store cattle market is practically lifeless, with f the exception of good dairy heifers, which are still meeting with a fair demand. Good store 4 and 6-tooth wethers are meeting with keener competition than of late, and all big framed well-woolled sorts are being sought after. Young breeding ewes are still in demand to a fair extent, and lambs at some of the sales have been showing an advance of as much as from 1/6 to 2/- per head. The demand for horses, which has been rather stagnant of late, is brightening considerably. Four to seven-year-old geldings, at clearing sales especially, are being bought readily and several truck loads have been sent north to sell extremely well. OATS. —The market is firm and sales have been made for forward delivery at a slight advance on last week’s prices, but the prices asked by farmers are still above what is obtainable in the North Island. CHAFF. —The market is firm and offerings are not very plentiful. Prime lines are readily saleable at £7, on trucks. POTATOES. —It has been announced by the Commonwealth authorities that they will not admit potatoes this year owing to the prevalence of disease. A protest is being lodged by New Zealand growers, but their efforts will have probably no more effect than those to get the Dominion Government to permit export last year. The effect will mean another' loss of Australian business this year. Canterbury merchants have been quick to realise this and are offering local-grown to Southland merchants. It is doubtful whether the New Zealand market will absorb a good crop existent both here and in Canterbury- A good deal of business has been done locally on the basis of £6, on trucks, sacks in, which is more than equal to the price received by Canterbury growers. Local buyers are, however, not inclined to purchase more at this price, especially in view of the fact that offers received from Auckland lately of £6 5/-, f.Ovb., s.i., Bluff, for August delivery. HEMP. —There is a steady demand for the higher grades and good-fair is saleable at from £37 to £3B, on trucks. There is, however, very little demand for fair. Tow is in request, but stocks are at a low ebb. RYEGRASS.—There has been more inquiry lately from the north for both dressed and undressed. But buyers and sellers are still fairly divergent in their ideas of value. There is very little seed left in farmers’ hands.

WYNDHAM STOCK SALE. THURSDAY, MAY 13. Henderson and Co., Ltd., report a small yarding of both sheep and cattle; but a fair attendance of buyers. Prices for sheep were 2/- to 3/- in advance of late rates; but cattle showed no improvement. Their sales were:— Sheep.—ls4 2-tooth ewes at 30/-, wethers at 31/-, 58 fat ewes at 29/-, C 9 do. at 26/10, 14 old owes at 11/-, 28 do. at 10/-, ewe 26/10, 2 rams at 30/-, 19 at 17/-. Cattle.—Dairy cow £l6, other cows at £7, £6 5/-, £3 7/0. bull £4 10/-. Hunter Bros, and Rice report a small yarding of cattle, for which prices were on a par with late markets. The sheep market reflected an improved tone, and we disposed of most of our yarding. Our sales are appended:— Cattle.—6 springing heifers at £lO, 5 heifers at £8 10/-, dairy cows at £lO, £ls, and £7 19/-, fat heifer at £8 17/6. Sheep.—3o lambs at 22/-, -23 do. at 15/-, 78 at 21/6, 65 at 21/6; 44 fat ewes at 32/10, 127 wethers at 27/1, 199 do. at 32/1, 6 ewes at 19/-, 33 do. at 15/6, 25 at 18/1, 2 rams at 2gns. Pigs.—2 at 38/-, others at 37/-, 33/-, and 29/-. We also sold (in conjunction with Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd.) Mr Johnston Wylie’s purebred Friesian cattle, as reported elsewhere. National Mortgage and Agency Co., Ltd., report cattle as being again dull of sale; but there was an improved tone in the sheep market. lambs and wethers selling well above last sale values. Their transactions were;—• Sheep.—63 mixed-sex lambs at 17/11, 59 do. at 22/7, 8 small do. at 12/8, 20 fat lambs at 32/-, 1 at 33/-; 10 fat ewes at 28/2, 52 sound do. ot 17/-, 11 full and failing-mouthed at 19/-; 198 wethers at 30/6. Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., report an extra small yarding of both sheep and cattle for the ordinary fortnightly sale, with little improvement in price. Their sales were:— Sheep.—Account James Cuslmie, 19 fat ewes at 32/10 to Walter Crighton; account John Stuart, 16 m.s. lambs at 24/2 to Patrick Fahey; account Charles Milne, 152 2-tooth ewes at 25/- to Wm. McFarlane. Cattle.—Account Patrick Casey, 2 fat heifers at £lO to P. A. Botting; account James Sutherland, fat heifer at £9 to P. A. Bolting, store heifer at £8 10/- to William Curran, do. £5 17/6 to P. A. Botting; account William Dunlop, 6 18-month steers at £4 12/6 to John Craig. FRIESIAN CATTLE. We sold (in conjunction with Hunter Bros, and Rice), Mr Johnston Wylie’s purebred Friesian-cattle, which met with fair competition. The vendor was forced to sell owing to his giving up farming. The following were the sales;— Dairy cow, “Queen of Elgin,” 69gns, to Robert Wylie; do., “Elgin Mary II.,” 45gns, to Hugh Fraser; do., “Elgin Lady III.,” 39gns, to H. E. Clarke; heifer, “Queen of Elgin IL” 484gns, to T. R. Eades; do., "Myrtle Grove III,” 29gns, to Robert Wylie; do., “Daisy Bell III," 62gns, to Robert Wylie; do., “Elgin Mary III,” 48gn.s. to E. J. Humphries (Charlton) ; 2yr-old bull, “Lord Elgin,” passed; 2 Friesian cows, passed at 41gns. CLEARING SALE AT MAKAREWA. Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., report having held a most successful clearing sale at Makarewa last Tuesday on account of Mrs S. B. Lawrence. A large number of the surrounding farmers were present. The sheep were well woolled and good doing sorts, and all the cattle were in excellent condition. The horses met with keen competition and realised full market values. The following are some of the sales:—lßl 2, 4, 6, and 8-tooth ewes at 26/6 to E. Rumler; 8 wethers at 27/to Wm. Baird, 29 f.m. ewes at 19/- to Win. Baird, 199 lambs at 21/6 to Wm. Baird, 18 lambs at 14/- to J. A. Gilmour, cow £ls 5/- to D. McDonald, cow £l4 to D. McDonald, cow £ll 10/- to W. H. Butler, cow £8 to Wm. Baird, 2 cows with calves at £5 15/- to Wm. Baird, 3 bullocks at £l2 10/- to Wm. Baird, 5 steers at £6 5/- to Wm. Baird, 6 heifers at £3 12/6 to Wm. Baird, 2 steers at £4 12/6 to P. A. Price, 4 heifers at £8 to W. H. Butler, bay gelding £3O 10/- to Wm. Baird, bay mare £35 to Jno. R. Toogood, 1 bay mare £34 to Jno. R. Toogood, grey gelding £ls to M. Mcßandle, bay gelding £2l to A. Herman, bay gelding £36 10/- to Fred Waldron, bay gelding £l7 to Wm. Baird, gigs £22 and £33 10/-, pony £2l, dray £24, drill £65, roller £2l, ridger £lB, dray £l7, etc., etc.

CLEARING SALE AT FORESTVALE, WAIMAHAKA.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., report having held a most successful clearing sale at Forestvale, Waimahaka, last Wednesday on account of Mr John Fraser. Although Mr Fraser had not been long in the district, his reputation had gone before him, and a large number of the surrounding farmers had collected to give him a good send-off on the eve of his departure for a trip to the Old Country. Perfect weather prevailed and everything that came under the hammer was in Cip-top order and met with keen competition. The ewes were a fine even line and the Hereford cross heifers were in good condition and met with a keen demand. The following are some of the sales:—397 4, 6, and 8-tooth ewes at 22/- to John Muirhead, 23 ewes at 10/6 to Shirley Bros., 19 lambs at 11/to John Muirhead, 38 Hereford cross heifers at £5 and 11 do. at £6 2/6 to John Muirhead, 1 cow £2O to H. J. Middleton, bay gelding £l2 10/- to John Muirhead, bay hack £ll 10/- to John Muirhead, dray £22, piano £26, sideboard £ls, billiard table £4l, woolpress, etc., £27, etc., etc.

CLEARING SALE AT SOUTH HILLEND, The Southland Fanners’ Co.-op., Winton, report having held a very successful clearing sale, at Mr Chas. Wilson's, of South Hillend, on Thursday last. There was an extra large attendance, buyers being present from both the Eastern and Western districts. Mr Wilson’s stock and implements were shown in first-class order, and all brought exceptional values, and the sale was considered to be the best held in the district for some time. The following are some of the prices:—Horses, £44, £52, £47 10/-, £4B, £4O, £4O, £45, £35 10/-, £44, £4l 10/-, harness mare £3O, dairy cows £23, £2O, £l9, £l6 10/-, 3 at £l4 10/-, £l3 15/-, 2 at £l4, 4 heifers at £lO. 3 at £5 15/-, 2 at £ll. Sheep—ss 2-tooth ewes at 26/1, 83 wethers at 37/10, 162 wethers at 29/7, 264 4, 6 and 8-tooth ewes at 27/6, 107 2-tooth ewes at 25/1, 150 wethers at 28/6, 149 lambs at 22/7. Implements—Binder £sl, harrows £ls. CANTERBURY MARKETS. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 14. There has been a strong movement in oat-s during the week. It is reported that business with South Africa has been done through Australian sources, and this unexpected market has given a stimulus to the position. North Island merchants are now operating to cover forward business, and possibly the South African opening has hastened their activities. Up to 5/11, f.0..b, s.i., (equal to 5/2 at, country stations) has been paid during the past few days, and generally, although the amount of business with farmers has been small, the tone of the market is healthy. Wheat is continuing to come forward fairly freely, though lack of trucks is hampering its delivery. Merchants say this is easily the worst year in this respect for many seasons. Wheat is being held up all over the province for lack of trucks. There is a tone in the white clover market. Lack of shipping is hpving a disastrous effect on the potato market. Merchants are disinclined to operate until stocks on hand are pot. away, and any initiative is coming from growers themselves. Deals have taken place at £4 at country stations, but. quite a number at £3 15/-, and that is about the limit of merchants’ offers at present. The Knromiko, which sailed for Auckland on Thursday, was compelled to shut out from thirty to fifty waggons of produce, a good proportion of which was potatoes, on account of insufficient labour. There is a good margin for North Island business on local quotations if shipping were available.

VICTORIAN MARKETS. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE. May 14. Barley, English, 7/3 to 7/9; Cape, 6/3 to 6/6. Oats, Algerian, 5/10 to 6/-. Potatoes, £l2 to £l2 10/-. Onions, £l2 to £l2 10/-. Hides, top grades, unchanged; medium and lower grades, a halfpenny to a penny decline.