ADDINGTON MARKET.

Wairarapa Age, 3 February 1927, Page 2

ADDINGTON MARKET.

SHEEP DROP IN PRICE.

CHRISTCHURCH, February 2.

At Addington market all classes of sheep were down in price this week, a smaller entry of fat cattle showing an improvement.

Store Sheep.— Lambs from West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough helped to create something in the nature of a record entry this week. Ewes were forward from the same quarters and also the North Island and the Chathams. Lambs, which had been selling at high rates compared with values in the fat pens, came back 2/- a head, and all classes of ewes except a few pens of extra goods, were also easier. A hot day had the effect on competition. Forward three-quarterbred lambs 19/9 to 21/11, medium lambs 18/- to 19/6, good halfbred wether lambs 18/9 to 21/-, medium halfbred lambs 17/- to 18/6, cull inferior lambs 13/- to 16/6, twotooth halfbred ewes 21/- to 31/3, four, six and eight-tooth halfbred ewes 25/to 27/-, medium ewes 18/- to 20/-, cull ewes 6/- to 10/-, two-tooth three-quar-terbred ewes to 31/4, four, six and eight-tooth three-quarterbred ewes 32/6 to 32/9, two and four-tooth crossbred ewes to 27/10, two-tooth Romney cross ewes to 31/-, four, six and eight-tooth crossbred ewes 23/- to 26/6, four-year crossbred ewes 23/- to 24/-, two-tor/th halfbred wethers to 20/3, small halfbred wethers 16/3, forward wethers 21/- to 22/2, medium wethers 19/- to 20/6.

Fat Lambs.—Four thousand were offered of very poor quality, a considerable proportion being travelled lambs from the Coast and elsewhere. Good export lambs sold at schedule rates, but light and unfinished were lower. Extra prime lambs to 30/6, prime 25/- to 28/-, medium 23/- to 24/9, unfinished 21/to 22/9.

Fat Sheep.—A moderate entry. Values were down on last week by 1/6 to 2/- for ewes and by 1/- for wethers. Ewes sold very draggingly and it is understood that the export schedule for ewes is easing at the end of the week. Th(> top price ,of the sale, 31/7, was secured by an Invercargill consignment, sheep from that quarter heading the market for the fourth succeeding sale. Extra prime wethers to 31/7, prime wethers 25/3 to 27/6, medium wethers 23/9 to 25/-, light wethers 22/6 to 23/6, extra prime ewes to £4/I,' prime ewes 18/- to 21/6, medium ewes 15/3 to 17/9, light ewes 13/3 to 15/-, aged ewes 11/- to 13/-. Fat Cattle.—A small entry of 409 head. The quality was poor, compr?sing for the most part cows. There was an improved demand, medium-weight steers and heifers being better by 21)/per head, other classes less. Best beef made 33/- to 36/- per 1001 b, medium

31/- to 32/6, inferior 25/- to 30/6, and rough down to 25/-. Extra heavy steers £l4 to £l6 7/-, prime mediumweight steers £l3 to £l4 10/-, medium steers £lO 10/- to £l2 15/-, light steers £8 to £lO, extra prime heifers to £ll 17/6, prirt; heifers £8 to £lO 11/-, medium heifers £6 5/- to £8 15/-, light heifers £5 to £6; extra prime cows, £ll 7/6; prime cows, £7-5/- to £9 10/-; medium cows £5 11/- to £7; light cows, £4 to £5 5/-.

Vealers.—A small entry and better sale. Runners to £6 15/-, good calves £5 to £5 15/-, medium £3 10/- to £4 15/-, small and inferior 10/- to 35/-. Store Cattle.—Good cows sold fairlv well. Three-year steers £6 12/6, 24-yea"r forward heifers £4 7/6, good cows to £5, others £2 to £4.

Dairy Cattle,—A fair sale, though prices were easier. Best second to fourth calvers £8 10/- to £ll 10/-, medium £6 10/- to £5, inferior £3 to £6, best springing heifers £7 to £lO 10/-, others £4 10/- to £6 10/-, old cows in profit 25/- to 30/-.

Fat Pigs.—A fairly good demand with prices unaltered from last week. Choppers, £2 10/- to £5, light baeoners £3 10/- to £3 15/-, heavy baeoners £4 to £4 10/- (average price per lb, 54d to 6id), light porkers 48/- to 54/-, heavy porkers 56/- to 64/- (average per lb, 7Jd to BJd). Store Pigs.—A mocfcrate-sized entry, but slacker sale. Small weaners, 14/6 to 18/-, better sorts 20/- to 25/6, small stores 27/- to 30/-, medium stores 32/to 38/-, large stores to 45/-. —(P.A.)