COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1921, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Melbourne, April 15. Hides. —Large catalogue offered. Market firm for stouts and kips, other sorts declined a farthing to a halfpenny. Barley.—English 4s to 4s 3d; Cape, 3s 2d to 3s 3d. Oats.—2s 6d to 2s Bd. Potatoes. — £6 to £7. Onions. —'£3 10s. SYDNEY WOOL SALES. Sydney, April 15. Wool-selling brokers have decided definitely uo announce that auction sales of wool will be resumed in May.

RUAKURA FARM SALE.

The Farmers’ Co-op. Auctioneering Co. report: —At the Ruakura Farm on April 12, we conducted, on behalf of the N.Z. Government, the second annual sale of pedigree Jersey bulls, registered Milking Shorthorn 'bulls, and. pedigree Berkshire boars and sows. Buyers, representing all parts of the Waikato and many of the outside districts were present, although to account for the large gathering some credit must be attached to the manager’s hospitality. Owing to the serious decline that has taken place recently in the stock markets, opinion was somewhat pessimestic regarding the reception that the offering would meet with. Such misgivings were, however, very early quelled. It is evident that farmers are disposed to recognise and appreciate the care and attention that has been used in bringing the Ruakura herds to their present excellence, and to take advantage of the opportunity of obtaining at practically their own valuation the progeny of high-class and proved antecedents. It was amply demonstrated that the day of the Shorthorn has not passed, as many assert. On the contrary the record shows that values were on a much higher plane than last year. The pigs were, as usual, beyond fault. Taking into consideration the adverse times that had befallen the bacon industry, it was not to be expected that the briskness of the previous year would be repeated. Competition was, however, fairly good, and most of the lots offered found purchasers. The highest values recorded were as follows:—Shorthorn Bulls: Lot 1, Dominion Bon Ton of Ruakura (red and white), from the Ruakurabred cow Cora, by the Weraroa bred sire Prince Daphne, whose forbears are heavily charged with Darbalera blood, 90gns. This was the top price of the day, paid by Mr. J. Clothier, Matamata. Lot 2, Gamister of Ruakura, by the farm stud bull Banker (imp.), also from a Ruakura bred dam, realised 67gns, and fell to Mr. R. Stock, junr., Paeroa. Lot 5, Saturn of Ruakura (red and white), from Ruakura bred animals on both sides, fell to Mr. G. H. Boyd, at 72gns. Lot 33, Banjo of Ruakura (roan)', by Banker from Snowdrop of Ruakura, both sides evidencing the Dabalera strains, was purchased at 71gns by Mr. Hilton Hutchinson, Whangarei. Other lots in this class ranged from 13 to 41gns. Amongst the Jerseys there was not the competition that might have been expected, although this might be accounted for by the fact that most of the animals were young and consequently small. The highest figure realised in this class (GOgns), was for Lot 38, Dominion Witness, by Hawkesbury Grace Fulman from the Ruakura bred Dominion Princess. This purchase was made by J. K. Deah. Paeroa. Other lots realised from 21 to 38gns. Pedigree boars realised up to IGgns for good serviceable animals six months old; others, 3 months old. made from 5 to Bgns; sows were not in keen demand, and a number were passed in. Prices ranged from 5 to 10 guineas. BURNSIDE SALES. ‘ Dunedin, April 13. There were fair yardings in all departments at Burnside to-day, more particularly in the fat stock divisions. Fat cattle, considering the quality, which was not up to the average Burnside standard, sold well at last week’s rates, which, it will be remembered, were from 20s to 30s below the previous week’s. Fat sheep were in average supply, and a decline of 2s 6d a head had been recorded. Fat lambs also declined to the extent of 9d per head, compared with last week’s rates. There was a slightly better demand for baeon pigs, but the bottom-appears to have fallen completely out of the store cattle market.

Fat Cattle: A medium yarding of 184 head, of which only a fair proportion were good prime cattle. The market opened fairly brisk on a par with last week, but as the sale progressed prices eased somewhat, and as vendors’ reserves were not reached a number were passed. Average beef was worth 355, and prime a little dearer. In extra prime bullocks prices realised were from £l7 to £22; prime, £l5 to £l6 10s; medium, £9 upwards; extra prime heavy cows and heifers made from £1,3 10s to £l5; prime, £lO to £l2 10s; lighter, £7 upwards. Fat Sheep: A fair yarding, numbering 29.34 of very mixed quality. Wethers and ewes’ supply was in excess of the demand. The proportion of plain ewes was large, as also were medium-weight wethers, while heavy prime sheep were relatively few. A further decline all round took place. Opening at about last sale’s rates, exporters were able to operate, and, although not at all keen, secured odd lots, thus marking an easement of Ad per lb; wether mutton making round about 3d and ewe 2Jd, a decline on the previous week’s values of nearly 2s 6d a head. At the last sale of the day the market lifted a trifle. Extra prime wethers sold up to 27s 3d; prime, 20s to 255; medium, 15s to 20s; light and unfinished, 12s upwards; extra prime ewes, up to 26s 9d; prime, to 18s 3d; medium, 12s 6d to 15s; light and inferior, 12s upwards. Lambs: There was a small yarding of 936 only, a portion being heavy and of finished quality Values showed a decline of 9d /a head, lamb making s?d per lb. Extra prime heavy sold at up to 29s 6d‘; prime, 17s to’2os; medium, Ils to 15s; light and unfinished, 8s upwards.

Store Cattle.—There was a small yarding, and the sale proved to be a ’most stagnant one. There appears to be practically no demand for stores at the present time, as was proved by the prices which ruled. Good three to four-year-old steers were sold at £4 12s each, while aged cows in medium condition could be bought at from £2 to £3 each. Pigs: There was a fair yarding, consisting mostly of baconers.’ The demand was good, and sales were effected at slightly enhanced values. ADDINGTON MARKETS. DOWNWARD TREND ARRESTED. Christchurch, April ],3. There were big yardings of all classes jrt stock at Addington. The downward

trend appeared to be arrested in all sections, excepting beef, which sold iyStore Sheep.—There was an overflow yarding, mostly ewes, which met with a shade better inquiry. Lambs and Wethers were not wanted. Good forward lambs, 8s 6d to Ils 6d; ordinary, 3s 6d to 7s 3d; cull, Is Cd to 2s 3d; good 2tooth ewes, 16s 9d to 255; ordinary twotooth, 9s to 14s 6d; good two, four, six and eight-tooth, 41s <6d to 14s; ordinary two, four, six and eight-tooth, 5s to 10s 9d; good four-year, 10s to 16s 8d; four and five-year, 3s 9d to 9s lOd; aged, Is 7d to 5s 3d; good four and six-tooth wethers, 9s 6d to 11& 3d; ordinary four and six- tooth '6s €d to 8s 3d; good twotooth, 7s 9d to 10s 6d; ordinary twotooth, 6s to 7s 6d.

Fat Lambs.—42oo penned. A shade better tone. Heavy-weight lambs brought s£d, lighter 4{d to sjd; extra prime lambs, 265; prime, 18s 6d to 20s 9d; med-, ium, 16s to 18s 3d; light unfinished, 12s Jd to 15s 9d.

Fat Sheep.—lo races penned, the biggest for some months. Butchers’ wethers were down,’ but freezing buyers operated more freely for lighter mutton and strengthened the values for euch slightly, (Extra prime wethers, 245; prime, 19s 6d to 235; medium, 16s 3d to 19s 3d; inferior, 12s Id to 15s 9d; prime ewes, 15s 9d to 17s 10d; medium, 13s to 15s 6d; light, 10s to 12s 9d; light unfinished, 5s to 9s. Fat Cattle.—All classes were easier in price, values receding about 20s per head. The bulk of the beef sold at 22s 6d to 27s 6d per 100 lb, the primest to 335. Extra prime steers, £lB 17s 6d; prime, £l3 10s to £l6 ss; medium,. £8 10s to £l2 10s; light unfinished sorts’ £4 5s to £7 15s; extra prime heifers, £l3; prime, £7 to £lO 10a; medium inferior, £4 7s 6d to £7 10s; prime cows, £6 5s to £9; medium inferior, £3 7s 6d to £5 17s i6d. Vealers.—A big yarding, but lifeless demand. The top price for runners was £5.

Dairy Cows.—An active demand for third and fourth cal vers, £9 10s to £l7; serviceable cows. First calvers £l4 15s; third and fourth calvers, £9 ,10s to £l7; good springing heifers, £7 10s to £l5 15s; inferior cows, £2 10s. •Store Cattle.—A poor yarding, consequent on recent low prices, and few sold. Fat Pigs.—A shade better demand. Choppers, £4 to £6 10s; light baconers, £4 15s to £5 10s;’heavy, £6 to £6 ss; extra heavy, £6 10s (average price per lb, 8d to 8^d); heavy porkers, £3 15s to £4 10s (average price per lb, 9£d to

Store Pigs.—Good stores, 50s to 535; medium, 37s 6d to 48s; small, 18s to 30s; weanere, 7s to 12s.