COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1986, 24 December 1889, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

auctioneers report. GERALDINE. Messrs J. Mundell and Co. report sales for the week ended December 21 st, 1889, as follows At the Geraldine stock sale on Wednesday we have to report a most satisfactory clearance of all lines of sheep on our books for the day, the supply being nothing like equal to the demand, the following are our quotations t'heep—two-tooth crossbreds, 6s 9d, 7s, to 8s; crossbred ewes with a large percentage of lambs at foot, on account ot Mr Wm, Upton Slack, all counted, 4s lid. Cattle Steers, prime fat, nice qualiiy, passed at a bid of £5 Iss; steer# and heifers, 2-year-olds, £1 12s 6d, £1 15s, to £2 7s 6d; yearling steers and heifers £1 to 16s ; cows in profit, £3 7s 6d to £2 7s 6d; dry cows, £1 5s to £l. Pigs—Small stores, 7s 6d, 7s to ss. Land Sale—On account of the South Canterbury Board of Education we sold 5 -Jacre sections in Talbot and Wilson streets,Geraldine,at the following prices, viz., £77, £SO, £SO, £3O, £29* The remaining allotments, which were withdrawn at auction, are now under offer, and we expect to be able to report the sale at a satisfactory price in a few days. In consequence of the holidays we shall hold our next stock sale at the Geraldine Yards on Tuesday 31st December, 1889. TIMARU. Messrs Gracie, Maclean and Co. report for the past fortnight ending Saturday, as follows: — Horses—At the Timaru Horae Bazaar, our entries have been small, and the quality of both draught and light horses now offering is very inferior. Thera is a brisk demand for young and sound horses suitable for farm work, and owners who wish to sell can now obtain full values for this class. Light harness horses and weightcarriers possessing substance and style are also in demand. We quote medium to good draughts at from £ls to £24, inferior £8 to £lO. Hacks—medium £8 to £l2 10s, light and aged £4 to £7.

Sheep—The supply of fat sheep at Washdyke has not been sufficient to meet the requirements of the local trade. Consequently butchers are

compelled to secure their stock from other sources. The demand for freezers keeps on improving, and all lots offered are readily disposed of. There has been a fair business doing iu stores, several lines of 2-tooths having changed hands at from 7s to 9s, according to quality. We sold 5 wethers and ewes at 7s 6d, 38 wethers at 10s lid, 37 do at 9s lOd, 87 2tooths at 8s 4d, 250 do do at 9s, and, privately, 400 freezers, Cattle—At Washdyke on the 12th, and again this week, the number of both fat and store cattle yarded was much in excess of what w© have seen at these yards for the past six months. A large proportion of fat cattle were of prime quality, and sales effected were equal to 18s per lOOlbs. For stores the demand is confined to yearlings and well forward 3-year-olds. We sold 5 heifers at £4 17s 6d, 7 cows «nd heifers at £5 15s, 34 yearlings at from 16s to 21s, 2 heifers at £2 2a 6d, store cows at 30s to £3, and privately, 12 head fat cattle at quotations. Skins—At auction and privately, since our last report, we sold 4246 pelts and skins, viz., 4046 factory pelts and 200 country skins, all at full rates.

CHBISTOHUROH CORN EXCHANGE. The following is the Corn Exchange report for the week ending Friday, Dec. 20th, 1889: — The market for all cereals remains in the same dormant position. The reported shipments of New Zealand wheat from Sydney to London will give an idea of the present prospect of the Sydney market. Any purchases being made are only where sellers are making big concessions. Oats—No sales have come under notice for export, and even the local demand seems flagging. Barley—A fair demand for prime malting at quotations. Beans and peas are without alteration. Grass Seed —The season being over there is no enquiry. Dairy Produce —Butter is more enquired for as usual before the festive season, our local requirements being generally heavy in anticipation of the holdays. Cheese — We cannot refer to any marked improvement. The following are our quotations for the week: Wheat —Tuscan (prime), 3s Id ; pearl, 2s lOd to 2s lid; hunters, 2s 9d to 2s lOd. Oats—Milling, 2s; heavy short feed Is 9d ; other sorts neglected. Barley— Malting (prime), 3s 6d, feed, 2s. Beans, 3s to 3s 3d. Peas —Prussian Blues, 3s 9d; feed, 2s 9d to 3s.

Dairy Produce —Butter, 6d to 6Jd. Cheese, 3d to 4d according to size. The above prices are those paid to farmers for delivery f.o.b. Lyttelton, sacks extra.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. Sydney, Dec, 20. In many districts a prolific yield of wheat is anticipated, and the harvest promises a capital result. Little damage has been done by rust. Some authorities think the out-turn will nearly meet the requirements of the colony; and at any rate it seems certain that less wheat will he required from abroad than for many previous years in proportion to the population.

ENGLISH MARKETS. London, Dec. 20. Tallow—Best mutton 26s 6d, beef 245. Hides, B|d to 3£d. Galvanised iron, Gospel Oak brand, £2O. Frozen meat is unchanged. New Zealand 4 per cent, inscribed stock is active at 107£. Australian wheat, ex warehouse, is quiet at 39s 6d. New Zealand long berried, ex store, is also quiet at 38s. The copper market is active at £4O 15s. The sugar market is depressed. German beet, 11s 9d ; Java, 15s. Iron is firm at 60s 9d. Dec. 21. Victorian butter in bulk is selling at 86s to 90s per cwt. A few lots of fine quality have reached as high as 100 s to 116 s. Fiji tea is selling at Is 6£d.