COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2297, 24 December 1891, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH STOCK MARKETS. At the Addington yards on Wednesday there was a large entry of stock. Store Sheep—There was a fair demand for 1800 odd crossbred ewes and hoggets offered at from Is to 2s less than the prices which ruled a month ago. Crossbred ewes with lambs sold at 5s Id to 7s, all counted; and some hoggets at 10s fid and 9s 6d ; while a nice line of two-tooths brought lls 4d. The last line was the best sale of the day. Fat Lambs—Christmas is always a good season for this class of meat, and prices showed an advance on late quotations, up to 12s 3d being given for some nice plump little lambs. The bulk of the entry, however, sold at from 8s to 10s 6d. Fat Sheep—The decline in the Home market made exporters indifferent bidders, and sheep had to be very prime and sold below 2d a fi> to attract these operators. Butchers being well provided with beef and lamb, and having a large supply of mutton to choose from, were also shy. Hence the sale was a dull and dragging one, and values fell considerably. The best crossbred wethers and maiden owes, weighing from 60lb to 751 b, sold at from 12s 3d to 14s lOd, and a few 80ib sheep brought 15s fid, leaving their owners a net return of about 2d per lb exclusive of pelts and fat. Second-rate sheep suffered a more pronounced decline in value, and mixed sexes sold at from IJd to Ifd per Jb net. Merino wethers, with the exception of a few very prime sheep, which brought nearly as much as the best crossbreds, were dull of sale, and ewes sold at from 3s fid to Bs, according to quality. Fat Cattle—An immense number (300) were yarded. Of these 70 came from Hawera. The result of the heavy entry was disastrous to the shippers and agents, as well as to the local suppliers, as the supply was in excess of the demand. The imported steers were nearly the first sold, and but for a speculative spirit would not have realised much, as their appearance Avas against them, the travel stains not having worn off. The lot averaged a trifle over 800!b each, and they sold at from £6 10s to £6 15s, or about 15s per 1001 b. A few nice sorts of heifers and steers, locally bred and in prime condition, brought a trifle more than this, and were secured by leading tradesmen. Anything of a second rate character, and cows, sold at from 12s to 15s per 1001 b. Store Cattle—A few yearlings sold at 245, two-year-olds from £2 to £2 17s and £3, the bulk of the entry being “ rejects” from the fat pens and dry coavs. The sale of dairy coavs offered no criterion as to value. Pigs—Only a small number of porkers and baconers were on offer. Porkers sold at from 14s fid to 20s, or at the rate of 3d per !b, and baconers at from 23s to 275, or equal to 2£d to 2fd per lb.

CHRISTCHURCH WOOL SALES. Chrittchurch, Dec. 22. The second sale of wool was held today in the Chamber of Commerce. A large catalogue was submitted, and there was a good attendance of buyers. Competition for the best lines of halfbred and crossbred was fairly keen up to a certain point. Strong wools were neglected. Merinos were very dull. Taking the sale as far as it has gone values are slightly easier than they were at the first sale. Choice halfbred, light in grease, sold at from B ; jd to KMd; inferior, 7jd to 8d; crossbreds, Gkl to Bid, according to quality and condition ; merino, 5d to 7d ; bellies and pieces, 4d to Gd; locks, 2d to 4d. ENGLISH MARKETS. London, Dec. 20. Tallow, medium, mutton, 25s 9d; do beef, 24s 6d. The English wheat market is dull. Continental inactive, and American declining. Forward business in Australasian wheat is inactive, the arrivals of foreign grain being large. Dec. 21. The annual report of the New Zealand and River Plate Mortgage and Agency shows that sufficient profit was made to have allowed a 5 per cent, dividend being declared, but the directors had decided that the amount should be carried to the detained dividend fund. Dec. 22. Auckland Harbor Board debentures have fallen £2.

ILLEGAL SITTING. Hobart, Dec. 23. Owing to a breach of- the Standing Orders, Friday’s sitting of the Plouse of Assembly was illegal, and all business done will require to be retransacted, or a Bill passed next session to validate it.