COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1404, 13 October 1885, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

AUCTIONEERS’ REPORT.

GERALDINE. Messrs J. Mundejl and Co. report sales for the week ending Saturday, 10th . Oct, 1885 ; At the monthly sale of stock, m the Geraldine Saleyards on Wednesday, there wan a large number of stock brought forward for the day's sale, and, considering the dry weather and the scarcity of feed in paddocks at present, the major portion of their entry changed owners at prices satisfactory to the vendors. The totals yarded for the day were—629 sheep, 209 • head of cattle, and 16 pigs. The following prices were realised -Sheep—Crossbred hoggets, 9s 3d to lls 3d. Cattle — Fat cows, £7 ! forward store steers. £5 12s 6d ; three-year-old steers, in low condition, £4 5s ; two-year-old steers and heifers, £2 12s 6d ; yearlings, lls to £1 2s 6d. Dairy cows, in full profit and close on c dying, sold readily at £5 5s to ' ”£6. Store Pigs—Small size, 6s 9d to lls. At the Souih Canterbury Saleyards on Thursday, tha entry of stock was small, and at auction vary little stock changed

owners. Of their entry they succeeded in selling one pen of fat heifer* at £6 10b, At their Salerooms, Geraldine, on Saturday, they sold u small property, on account of the mortgagees, in the town district of Geraldine at a satisfactory price. They desire to direct the attention of dairy farmers to a clearance sale of dairy oows to be held at the Geraldine Saleyards, on Friday, the 16th October. TIMARU. Messrs Jonas and Bourn report for the past week ending Saturday as follows : They report that business is still steadily improving, and though the continued dry weather has no doubt a great influence on the live stock markets, yet, judging from recent sales, noMo such an extent as might have been anticipated, as prices, when compared with those obtained elsewhere, are fairly good. For young sheep there is a good demand, and no lot submitted has been secured by the purchaser without some keen competition, Prices reported below show iliAt tin’s is the case, and also that fat sheep are but little lower than they were a mon tb ago, which, taking the state of things into consideration, and also that those sold could not be in such a condition as was desirable, indicates a steady demand and no serious fall in values. For cattle of all descriptions there has been a contant demand, and fat stock by auction and privately has sold well. Pleasant Point—The yards were comfortably filled for their sale on Monday, and there was a large attendance at what is now looked upon as a regular monthly sale. All through the sale biddings were animated, and scarcely a lot passed out of the pens unsold. They disposed of 71 merino ewes and lambs at 7b fid, 75 cull half-bred hoggets at 7s Id, 256 quarterhack hoggets at 10s, 300 crossbreds at 10s 3d, 498 throe-quarter-breds at 10s 7d, 187 fat crossbred wethers at 13s fid, 233 at 14s, and 81 at 14s fid. In cattle they sold 10 fat steers and heifers at from £5 10s to £7 ; stores—s steers and heifers at £2, 5 at £2 ss, 2 at £3 2s fid, 2 at £3 ss, and 20 at £4 ; 1 springer at £3, 2at £3 2s fid, 2 at £3 ss, 1 at £3 17b 68, and 6 at £4 ; milch cows—3 at £3, and lat £4 15b ; calves—4 at 20s, Washdyke Sale—On Thursday their regular fortnightly sale in the South Canterbury saleyards was quite as successful as usual. They sold 76 f«t merinos wethers at Bs, 100 crossbred ewes at 10a, 160 crossbred hoggets at 10 s, and 160 at 10s 7d, 116 fat wethers at 14s fid. In cattle they sold 5 fat steers at £6 10s, 5 at £7 10s, 4 fat heifers at £5 17s fid, and 6 at £6 10s, 4 springers at £4 12s fid, 4 cows at £2 15s, and 13 yearlings at £1 2a fid. Saturday’s sale.—There was a large entry at their yards, principally of hacks and inferior draughts. They could have sold a number of staunch mares and geldings had any been offering. Serviceable farm horses sold at up to £l6. For light hacks there was a little demand ; prices, however, not rising over £ll, They sold seven at £5 5s upwards.

HOME AND COLONIAL MARKETS,

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, 1885, report as follows; WOOL. We are advised by cablegram from our London Office as follows: —The sales closed on October 5, at an average decline of about. per cent, on last sales’ closing rates, except for long staple merinos and crossbred of medium quality, light in grease, and superior merino lambs in grease, for which the mar set is unchanged. The principal decline has been in medium and inferior merino, greasy, vaehed, and scoured. Wools of a faulty character are neglected. The American and Home demands are good. The demand on German account^is moderate, but on French account it is dull. The sales comorise about 268,000 bales, of which 8500 have been taken for America, 97,000 for the Continent, and 70,000 have been held over for future disposal. GRAIN. Dunedin—The weather has been extremely wet and stormy, and, in consequence, farming operations in a good many districts have been very much retarded. For the last ten days or so a change has been experienced for the belter, and a more genial temperature prevails. With a continuance of the present fine weather, sowing will proceed rapidly with those who have been delayed on account of the rains. Our market is almost bare of wheat, and only a very limited quantity can come forward, Oats are low instock, but there are quite as many still in tha country as at this time last year ; a large proportion, however, are scarcely worth shifting, being too much damaged for almost any purpose. Wheat: In the early part of the month very little business was done. During the last few days, howaver, a brisk trade has been experienced in all classes, prime milling, white velvet, and Tuscan realising Ss 3d to 3a 4£d ; medium, 3a to 3s 2d. Fowls' wheat, is scarce and in demand at from 2s 8d to 2s lOd, according to quality. Oats ; During the month a large trade has been passing ; an active demand having sprung up for shipment, and the offering of cheap freights has resulted in prices demanded last month (vie., 2«) being obtained for medium feed, and 2s Id for prime. For the last two or three days the demand has somewhat slackened, still prices are in no way altered. Stocks are low, and holders being firm, present prices are likely to continue for the next two months. Barley . This market is quite bare of good 1o prime quality, but as malsters are nearly all fully supplied, there is not much demand. Milling is saleable at 2a 4d to 2s Bd, and feed at Is 9d to 2s 3d, ex store. Christchurch —Spring threshing has been prosecuted with vigor during the recent fine weather, and farmers who have held their crops till now are reaping the benefit of enhanced values. The superior condition in which the springthreshed wheat is turning out should convince farmers of the undesirability of too early threshing in a moist summer. Wheat : The principal transactions have been in the newly-threshed grain, for which there is a brisk demand at a slight improvement on last month’s prices. Prime winter— especially the hard varieties—are readily placed, Tuscan and soft winter have good enquiiy. Second quality wheats bring but little over the prices obtained for chick feed, for which there le e strong demand at en

advance of 2d per bushel. Oats : The advance noted m our last report is well maintained, and prices have further advanced 2d to 3d. All descriptions are readily bought at quotations as soon as they are offered on the inaiket. Barley ; Business has been very slack throughout the month, and has been confined almost entirely to feed and milling parcels. Quotations are, if anything, lower than last month’s.

Timaru—The weather continues dry, and min is very much wanted, nevertheless advices from the country districts report that the crops are looking well. Wheat: The market for prime milling continues firm. During the past month there has been placed several lines for shipment and local consumption, namely : -Red chaff, up to 2s 10s ; Tuscan, up to 3s 3d; and velvet, up to 3s 4d, all ex store, and other transactions are pending at equal to above rates. Fowls’ wheat continues in good demand, and we have made sales at Is 10d to 2a 2d, 3X store. Shipments for the past month amount to 14,020 sacks, including 11,700 sacks for London, per Rangiiiki, Oats; A fair demand exists for this cereal, and we have placed several lines at quotations. 11,565 sacks were shipped during last month. Barley : Not much business is doing in barley. We have quitted a few small lines of medium quality at 2r 6d to 2s 9d, ezstore. GRASS SEEDS. Dunedin—Ryegrass : There is a better demand springing up, but no improvement in prices. Stocks are low, and anj increased demand would cause values to harden. Cocksfoot: This is in ample supply, with only a moderate demand for small quantities Christchurch—Ryegrass : During the last few days values have sensibly declined, 4s fid being top price for heavy machine-dressed. Cocksfoot: For bright heavy seed the market continues firm ; extra good lines bring 4d per lb over last month’s prices. Discolored lines are quiet at 2d to 2|d. SHEEPSKINS. Timaru Owing to the unfavorable advices from Home regarding the wocl market, a drop of fully 6d to Is per skin has been experienced during the past month. Present values are as follows :—Butchers' crossbreds, up to 4b fid ; do merinos, 3s fid ; country skins, Is to 3s fid. TAILOW AND EAT. Timaru—The market for rough fat is weaker, and sales are difficult to effect at anything over per lb. BIDES. Timaru—All lots coming forward are readily placed at current rates, namely, 2sd to 4£d.

ASHBURTON HORSE MARKET

Mr T, Bullock reports on the horse market for the week ending Saturday, October 10 :—25 horses were yarded for the day’s sale. There was about an average attendance of farmers and others, but biddings were rather languid, except for fairly good stock. Nevertheless, out of the entry of 25, 16 were sold at the following prices, viz :—Medium draughts, £l7 10b to £18; do, aged £l4 ; hacks, £7 to £8 15s; do, a fonr-year-oid of a good stamp, brought £lB, which is a proof that os a rule good stock will always pay well for breeding ; hacks, inferior, £4 to £6 15; a pair of yearling colts brought £l3 ; inferior light harness horses from £3 10s to £6 10s.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS.

Sydney, Oct. 9. New Zealand wheat is at 3s per bushel; New Zealand oats, 2s 2d ; maize, 56lbs, 3s 9d. Sugar Company’s No. 1 pieces are at £26 per ton. Adelaide, Oct. 10. Wheat is quiet at 4s to 4s Id. Town flour, £8 12a 6d to £8 15s; country brands, £7 15s to £B.

ENGLISH MARKETS.

London, Oct. 10. Wheat market—Wheat is dearer; ex warehouse, 375. Three off-coast cargoes have been sold, the latest of them being disposed of at 35s 9d. Holders of shipments are asking 36s for the new crop. Shipments of December and January are quoted at 38s.