FIRM PRICES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 558, 10 January 1929, Page 10

FIRM PRICES

N.Z. STOCK MARKETS A GENERAL HARDENING By R.W.C. Very firm markets in all sections were reported in the chief stock-selling centres of the Dominion yesterday. Prices for all classes of stock are maintained on high levels, with nothing occurring at the moment to justify a forecast of an easing of prices in the near future. At Westfield yesterday exceptionally short yardings of sheep and cattle saw a decided advance in prices from the easier levels of the previous week. Isolated lots of choice quality ox beef -old up to 43s a hundred, while prices for the balance of the offering were such as to force exporters off the market. The quality of the ox beef offering was good, the yarding comprising a big percentage of handy-weight steers well suited to the average butcher’s requirements. Several lots of choice quality cattle came from welli vv graziers. Some of the best averages were secured by H. E. Reed, Waerenga; C. G. Stewart, Tahunga; J. R. Hill, Ohinewai; W. Vosper, Cambridge. The cow and heifer offering was a very mediocre one, and, for the most part, the cattle could have done with more finish. Sheep Market Firm Considerably under three rows of fat sheep came forward, to met with a rather dragging sale. In spite of this, however, values were very firm, being well up to the closing rates for December. Top prices for wethers was secured for a line of choice prime bigframed wethers, on account of J. P. Kidd, Te Kauwhata, which went for 345. Heavy prime young ewes made to 245. An average yarding of lambs sold freely at fully late rates. Top price of 31s 3d was secured for a pen of four Down-cross exceptionally choice prime lambs, which went to D. Brideson, Epsom. Slightly under an average yarding of calves met with keen competition. The market generally showed a slight advance on late rates. Pigs met with a very firm sale. Keen Demand In Hawke’s Bay Heavy yardings of both sheep and cattle came forward to a representative attendance of buyers at the Stordford Lodge (Hastings) sale yesterday. Keen competition for all lines resulted in a total clearance. Fat bullocks made £l4 10s to £l6 15s; fat cows, £8 10s to £l2 10s; fat heifers, £8 to £l2 4s 6d; vealers, 35s to £3 6s; 16-months steers, £8 3s to £8 ss; threeyear steers, £8 10s to £11; four-year bullocks, £ll to £l2 15s; cows and calves, £9 to £9 10s; fat ewes, 20s to 25s Id; fat wethers, 30s to 345; two-tooth wethers, 26s to 28s; four-tooth wethers, 27s to 295; mixed aged ewes, 21s to 245; twotooth ewes, 24s 7d to 31s 3d; four-tooth ewes, 27s to 29s 9d; m.s. lambs, 20s to 22s od; wether lambs, 19s 9d to 21s lOd; s.d. lambs, 20s 6d to 225. Johnsonville Market A full yarding of sheep in the Jolinsonville (Wellington) saleyards yesterday comprised a big percentage oi choicequality wethers and lambs. Values held very firm at last week’s rates. Wethers showed, if anything, a slight advance. A short yarding of bullocks was made up mostly of heavy-weights. Cows were in specially short supply owing to an advertised line not coming forward. Bullocks made £l6 12s 6d to £lB Ids; cows, £l2 to £l3 10s; vealers, £3 12s 6d to £5; wethers, 29s 6d to 33s 3d; ewes, 22s lOd to 265; lambs, 23s 7d to 27s Id. Short Yardings at Addington Offerings were limited in all sections at the Addington saleyards yesterday, and the market as a result had a very firm tone. Ordinary two-tooth ewes made to 275; best crossbred wethers to 255. Extra prime fat lambs made to 36s lOd. Butchers took practically the whole of a very small- offering of fat sheep. Wethers made up to 7|d a lb, extra prime heavy-frame sorts, making to 42s 3d; extra prime heavy-weight ewes made to 36s 7d. A small entry of 362 head of cattle saw the market make an advance of from 20s to 30s a head. Choicest ox, in isolated cases, made to 54s a hundred; good prime, 50s to 535; heavy ox, 42s to 45s a hundred; best cow, 41s to 435. Extra prime heavy bullocks made to £25 17s 6d; extra prime heifers to £l7 7s 6d. The Freezing Season Everywhere there appears to be an abundance of feed, and the stock is in the best of condition. At the moment most Auckland works are running at capacity to handle the steady flow of lambs coming forward from all parts of the province. Export buyers are busy in all parts, but as far as Auckland is concerned the situation is controlled by the one firm. Prices are steady at late rates, with the schedule for lambs unchanged. It is not expected that schedule rates for big sheep will be available until the rush of lambs has subsided. The London market for New Zealand frozen meat shows little change, the only interesting item of the week being the report to the effect that the cargo of lamb sent forward to catch the early market made up l to 12d a lb. Prices at Westfield Prices at Westfield yesterday ranged as follow: Cattle.—Heavy prime steers, £ls 15s to £l7 ss; medium, £l3 15s to £ls ss; light, small, and unfinished. £lO 10s to £l3 12s 6d; extra prime young cows and heifers, to £l2; heavy prime, £9 to £lO 10s; medium, £7 to £8 17s 6d; light and unfinished, from £5 10s. Calves.—Runners, to £6 17s 6d: heavy vealers, to £6 9s for an exceptionally choice calf on account K. Anderson, Maungaturoto; medium vealers, £3 10s to £4 18s; smaller, £2 8s to £3 9s; rough and plain, 16s to 40s; small and freshdropped, 7s to 255. Sheep.—Extra heavy prime wethers made £1 13s to £1 14s; heavy prime wethers, £1 11s 6d to £1 12s 9d; medium to heavy prime wethers, £1 10s to £1 11s 3d; light to medium prime wethers. £1 Ss to £1 9s 9d; extra heavy prime young ewes, £1 3s 6d to £1 5s 3d; heavy prime ewes, £1 2s to £1 3s 3d; lighter prime ewes, £1 to £1 Is 9d; other killable ewes, 18s to 19s 6d. Lambs.—Extra heavy prime lambs made £1 9s 6d to £1 11s 3d; heavy prime lambs, £1 8s to £1 9s 3d; ~ lighter prime lambs, £1 to £1 7s 9d; light prime lambs, £1 3s to £1 5s 9d; light plain lambs, £1 1$ to £1 2s 9d.