A FIRMER TENDENCY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 990, 5 June 1930, Page 13

A FIRMER TENDENCY

N.Z. STOCK MARKETS WESTFIELD REVIEWED By R.W.C. A rising tendency was recorded in prices at the principal stockselling centres of the Dominion yesterday. This week’s sales fixtures have been somewhat disorganised on account of King’s Birthday week race meetings. At Westfield yesterday there were slightly below recent numbers in practically every section and, in spite of the fact that cold heavy rain fell during the greater part of the sale, prices showed a rising tendency. The cattle offering was made up of some of the best quality for several weeks; there were one or two lines of exceptionally choice heavy prime steers on account of well-known South Auckland graziers. Medium weight steers predominated and met with a ready sale, going mostly to the bigger but-

chering firms. The quality of the cow and heifer section was mixed, but there were several lines of choice young station cows and heifers on account of backcountry graziers which sold readily.

The market throughout was firm at last week’s improved rates. Best beef made to 3Ss a hundred; best young cow and heifer beef made to 33s 6d a hundred. Extra heavy prime steers, generally, made up to £ 17, heavy prime, £l3 10s to £ls ss; medium, £ll 10s to £l3 ss; light and small, from £S. Extra choice prime young cows and heifers made to £l2; heavy prime £9 to £lO 10s; medium, £7 5s to £8 15s; light and small, from £5 15s; unfinished and inferior, from £3 10s. Calf Market Firm

The calf market was very firm at late rates. The quality was mixed, but there was not the same percentage of extra well-finished heavy prime station sorts seen at recent sales. The demand for light to medium-weight calves was keen.

Runners made from £ 4 10s to £ 8 12s 6d for a particularly heavy prime heifer. Heavy vealers made £ 3 to £4 6s; medium, £2 2s to £2 18s; light, small and fresh dropped, from 10s. A ilne of well done Shorthorn calves on account A. A. Meyers, Kirikopuni, averaged £4 10s. Mutton Market Improves Slightly below an average offering of sheep came forward to meet with a very firm sale, prices ranging from par to slightly in advance of late rates. The quality, generally, was good. Extra heavy prime wethers made up to 32s for a special pen, which sold at premium prices to a buyer who can generally be relied upon to give a little more than average market rates for a top-priced pen; good quality heavy prime wethers, not too big in the bone, mad© to 29s 6d; medium, 23s 6d to 25s 6d; light to medium weight good quality wethers made from 19s to 23s 6d; a* line of 371 on account of R. Boddy and Company, Te Kuiti. making those prices. Good quality young ewes made up to 21s 6d; ordinary heavy prime ewes made from 16s 6d to 18s 6d; medium, from 14s; small, light and unfinished sorts made from 5s upward. A small entry of hoggets made up to 24s for extra well finished sorts. Pork Makes 8d a lb

A small entry of fat pigs sold freely at higher prices. Porkers sold around the equivalent of 7d to Sd a lb in isolated instances; very little good pork sold under 7d. Baconers were also a little firmer, selling around the equivalent of 5d to 54d a lb. There is a better retail demand for pork in Auckland shops at the moment, owing, to a large extent, to the colder weather, and indications are that even higher prices may rule over the next month or so. Store pigs also met with a better sale and good stores made up to 40s; good weaners made from 14s to 19s; small and weedy, from 6s. Johnsonville Market At the Johnsonville (Wellington) sale yesterday there was a small yarding of cattle and an average yarding of sheep. The cattle offered were of very mixed quality, comprising two pens of good bullocks, -which met with a ready sale. Plain and unfinished bullocks were not in demand. The sheep penned were generally of good quality and a fair sale resulted, at prices showing no alteration on late rates. Lambs were yarded in larger numbers than usual, the supply being in excess of the demand. Bullocks made £l3 10s to £l4 10s; bullocks, light, £lO 12s 6d to £l2 10s; bullocks, plain, £8 15s to £9 10s; cows, heavy, £9 10s; cows, medium, £6 to £7 15s; vealers, £1 5s to £3 2s; wethers, heavy, 26s to 27s 6d; wethers, medium, 20s 9d to 255; ewes, heavy, 15s to 18s; lambs, 15s 9d to 235.