MASTERTON EWE FAIR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1939, Page 5

MASTERTON EWE FAIR

WRIGHT, STEPHENSON & CO. Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co Ltd report:—The first Masterton Ewe Fair of the season was held in the Colombo Road yards yesterday. The entry was rather disappointing in both numbers and quality. Buyers this year have been very cautious and very few paddock sales have been made, and graziers are inclined to hold their ewes until the later fairs, hoping the market might harden. Prices so far this season arc hard to follow. In some districts prices arc in the vicinity of last year, while in others there is a very considerable drop. There was chly a moderate attendance of outside buyers at yesterday's sale, while most of the local farmers seemed to be onlookers. The demand for young ewes was good, and' the competition for these was animated, and the demand was unsatisfied. Certain lines of 5-year ewes met with fair competition, but quite good sheep were only making 15s Gd to IGs Gd. and looked good buyers. The old ewes, of which there were a big number yarded, were hard to sell, and prices were only slightly above fat values. We made a total clearance as under—2lh ewe a/c. 11. Renall, 275; a/c D. 11. Smith, 275; other vendors (small). 19s to 235; 4th and 6th ewes, 18s Gd to 22s 6d, 5 year ewes, a/c R. A. Cameron,

16s, a/c. R. Graham, 16s 6d, other lines up to 17s lOd, 6yr ewes, 9s to Ils 6d. Store lambs sold as under, b.f. lambs (good), 15s to 16s Gd, small 8s to 9s 6d, w.f. lambs, Ils 6d.

N.Z. LOAN AND MERCANTILE. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. Ltd report: "We held our first Ewe Fair of the season yesterday, when a large entry of ewes came forward and was submitted to a good attendance, buyers being present from as far away as the Waikato. The ewes on the whole were only a medium lot comprising chiefly old sheep, and they met a dragging market. Good young ewes sold well. Most vendors met the market. and we have to report practically a clearance at the following rates: Ewes: Good 2th ewes. 28s to 28s 8d; med 2-th ewes, 21s, 22s to 23s Gd; small ditto, IGs fid to 18s Gd: 4-th ewes. 19s 3d to 22s fid: 5-yr. ewes, 15s Gd to 17s; fi-yr. ewes. Ils Gd to 12s 3d; s.m. ewes, 9s Gd to Ils; cull ewes, 3s fid to ss. Lambs; Good woolly wether lambs, 13s 6d to 14s; med ditto. 10s to Ils 3d; small, 6s fid to 8s; med. b.f. lambs. 10s 3d; to 11s 9d; good ewe lambs, 16s Gd to 20s; med. ditto 12s 5d to 14s; small ditto. 8s Gd to 10s 2d. Fats: Wethers, 17s fid to 18s; ewes. 9s to 10s 3d; lambs, 21s 2d to 225. Pigs: Good weaners, 13s Gd to 16s Gd; med. 12s to 12s 6d.