COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1162, 8 April 1884, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

AUCTIONEERS’ REPORTS GERALDINE.

Messrs J, Mundell and Co. report sales of stock, etc., for the week ending April 4th, 1884 :

At the Geraldine monthly sale of stock on Wednesday last the day was fine, and from an early hour in the morning stock began to be yarded, and by the time of starting the auction one of the largest entries was penned that has been for several months, consisting principally of stores in all classes. The attendance was good, and considerable interest taken in the sale during the day, which evidently shows that farmers intend in future to go m ore into dealing in stock and do less grain growing. The total yarded for the day was—3476 sheep, 117 head cattle and 36 pigs. Prices realised were as follows; — F.'.t sheep (ewes), 14s ; crossbred 2-tooth hoggets, 13s 3d; halfbred lambs, 9s ; L'ncoln-Leicester rams, £1 IGs 6d to £3 17s 6d; 3-year-old steers, in low condi fion, £3 10s ; cows, springing, at from £3 17s 6d to £5 15s ; pigs, in good demand, at from 10s to 12s for small stores ; fit for the butcher fetched from £1 16s to £2. We also offered, on account of Mrs Eavens, farm and draught horses, but failed to find a purchaser at owner’s price. At Winchester Fair on Thursday there was a large entry of stock brought forward, but buyers were few, and afraid to speculate, consequently little business was done. At auction, our entry was 968 sheep, 61 head of cattle and 15 pigs. We only sold 101 merino ewes at 4s 2d. We held a clearing sale on account of Mr Frederick Hide at his homestead on Friday, at which the attendance was small. We did not succeed in selling his farm or horses, the sheep being the only line sold ; and prices realised were—for 2-tooth crossbred hoggets, 12s ; crossbred lambs, 7s. TIMAKU. Messrs Maclean and Stewart report for the past week ending Saturday as follows : Horses —A decided improvement both in the demand and in prices for draught horses was shown to-day at their yards, and though the unfavorable weather prevented many buyers and sellers from putting in an appearance, still there was a cons’derable amount of business done, and the greater bulk of their entries were placed. Good geldings to-day brought from £22 to £3O ; medium, £l6 to £lB ; hacks, from £lO to £l4. They anticipate good young stock will be in better demand.

Sheep—The number of store sheep offered privately and at the different auction sales has been very large, and though prices scarcely maintain their late rales, a large number have been sold at remunerative values. At Winchester last Thursday the usual monthly sale was held, when fully 14,000 sheep were yarded. They sold the following lots—--320 halfbred ewes at 8s 6d, 150 crossbred ewes at 9s 6d, 300 merino ewes at 4s, 50 crossbred lambs at ss, 170 crossbred ewes at 12s 3d, 170 crossbred lambt at 8s 3d, 50 do at 9s 6d. Privately they have sold during the week at satisfactory prices 500 merino ewes, and 200 crossbred lambs. Fat sheep—Present prices may be quoted at about 2jd per lb. Privately they have placed several lots at that quotation.

Annual Pam Fair—This was held on Wednesday, the 2nd inst.. on the grounds of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and was successful both in point of numbers and the quality of the sheep entered. One particularly good line of rams, Border Leicesters, bred by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, from their Clyde vale Station, attracted considerable attention. The total number entered for exhibition and for sale was about 600, of which they yarded and offered for sale 400. The sale was quite up to the average of former years, and they succeeded in selling over 220 longwoolled and merino rams at the following prices—Shropshire Downs rams, from 3| to guineas ; a line of 60 Border Leicesters averaged £5 11s 6d each ; a line of 40 full-mouthed Leicesters from 1 to 1-| guineas ; 10 full-mouthed Leicester rams at 1-i guineas each; 22 LincolnLeicesters at 2 guineas each ; 30 fullmouthed merino rams at 15s ; and 45 full-mouthed do at 9s. Cattle —There is little animation in the trade at present for store cattle, these being vary difficult to sell unless very low prices are accepted, and only for wellgrown and forward store bollocks is there any demand. At Mr McDonald’s sale a line of 42 well-forward steers as sold at from £3 18s 6d to £4 17s 6d. They sold a few young heifers at Winchester last Thursday at 37a 6d. Fat cattle are obtainable at about 17s 6d per 1001 b. At this quotation they have placed a few small lines.

ENGLISH MARKETS.

London, April 2. The second of the year’s series of wool sales opens on Tuesday, the 29th inst. No limit will be placed on the quantity to be offered. April 5. Colonial breadstuff’s—Adelaide wheat, ex store, remains at 43s ; New Zealand ditto, 35s to 41s ; Adelaida flour, ex store, remains at 395. Australian tallow is unchanged. The total quantity of wheat aifloat for Great Britain is 1,960,000, being 9000 quarters above the quantity last week.