COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2009, 18 February 1890, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

AUCTIONEERS’ REPORT,

TIMARU. Messrs Grade, Maclean and Co. report for the past fortnight ending Saturday, as follows; Horses—As farmers are occupied at the present time with harvest opexations, there has been no business worth mentioning done in horses of any kind. We have enquiries for a few good useful draughts, for which full values would be given. Sheep—The demand for sheep fit for freezing continues brisk, and all lots offering ..command good prices. For these and fat lambs we have several buyers, and also for young storqs. At Pleasant Point monthly sale on the 3rd inst., we bad a large entry of all classes, and every line changed hands at fully up to owners’ expectations. At Washdyke yards the entries have been small, and at

Winchester monthly sale only a few lines came forward. We sold 26 lambs at 7s 9d, 104 fat wethers at 12s 3d, 91 fat ewes at 10a 9d, 154 do at 6s 3d, 22 wethers at 10s, 121 2-tooths at 10s 9d, 77 ewes at 9s 9d, 115 jbalfbred wethers at 9s, 34 fat wethers at 12s 6d, 16 merino wethers at 4s 6d, 75 half bred ewes at 9s, 220 ewes and lambs at 4a 4d each, and privately 370 fat lambs and 1400 half and three-quarterbred stores.

Cattle—There has been very little business doing in either fat or store cattle, and the entries at the various yards since we last reported bare been small. We sold 12 bullocks at £6 10s, 9 store bullocks at £2 15s, 9 steers at

y ~ 345, cow and calf at £4, 5 yearlings at Bs, and 5 cows at 30s to 40s. Pigs—-At Pleasant Point we sold 9 wpanera at 9s, 5 do at 10s, 9 slips at 17b. ;

Sjrins—Wo have disposed of 2173 butchers’ and country skins, at for

pelts 6d to Is 8d ; full-woolled country skins, 5s to 7s 9d; lambs’, 2s to

3s; and 2200 factory pelts and lambskins at full rates. OHEISTOHUROH CORN EXCHANGE. Tbe following is the Corn Exchange

report for the week ending Friday, Feb. 14th, 1890

! The weather has been most favor-

able to harvest operations, the rain

that has fallen having but slightly interfered with the ingathering of the crops, and this bias been more than

compensated for by the good done to the grass and turnips. On the

beginning of the season there is always a diversity of opinion as to what the opening price will bo, and our market

is at present in that stage, buyers standing aloof and, so far, sellers not

anxious to sell This will of necessity right itself in the next few weeks, when, threshing having been more general, farmers will be .coming into

town and inclined to do business. The outlook is not favorable to sellers, and there would seem a great probability of tbe holding policy (so unfortunate last year) being very

1 generally followed. Certainly prices offer little inducement to sell. Against the weak demand, where are we to look for a renewed enquiry? Wheat would seem to be governed entirely by the European demand, and for oats Australian Federation has not yet placed us in the enviable position of being able to supply our cousins duty free. Freights are yet too high to look for an outlet for our real milling samples in the London market, but given a reduction in cost of transit there ia a good market there for our prime heavy oats. Barley— Several parcels have been offering. The quality, as far as can be judged from the samples seen, is a fair average. Buyers and sellers are somewhat at variance as to values, maltsters and brewers being anxious to see more of the crop before purchasing largely. Extra prime making has been sold at prices above quotations. Ryegrass —Farmers are too busy with ~ the general crops to pay much attention to the small seeds, and there has been a disposition to purchase in view of autumn requirements, which has not been satisfied. Cocksfoot—But few samples offering. Opinions vary very much as to the general crop, and moreso as to the demand likely to arise later on. Our advices are that the crop is not a heavy one, but we do not look to high prices ruling. Dairy produce does not call for any special comment. The following are our quotations for the week : Wheat —Old, tuscan, 3s Id; pearl, 2s lOd ; hunters, 2s 7d to 2s Bd. Oats—Old milling, Is 6d|to Is 7d ; short stout feed, Is 5d to Is 6d ; new, Is 4d to Is sd. Barley-—Prime malting, 3s to 8s 3d; medium, 2s 6d to 2s 9d. Ryegrass—Old, 4s for machinedressed ; new farmers’ parcels, 2s 9d to 3s 3d. Cocksfoot, 3d to 3^d. Dairy produce is unaltered. The above quotations are those paid to farmers for delivery f.0.b., sacks extra. ENGLISH MARKETS. London, Feb. 14. New Zealand 4 per cent, inscribed stock is quoted at 107 ; improving, Australian wheat, ex warehouse, 39s nominal. New Zealand ditto, ex store, 37a 9d, quiet. Sugar—German beet, 12s 6d, with a rising tendency ; Java, 15s 3d. No. 1 best Scotch pig iron, f.o.b, in I the Clyde, 52s 3d, steady, 'the wool market remains steady, although there is a slight decline on the opening rates, The sales close on »the 24bh.