COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2057, 21 May 1909, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

MAT AW HERO STOCK SALES

'The sheep market saw an advance in prices at the weekly sale of stock at Matawhero yesterday and though the yarding was not large, nearly all the pens' were disposed of at prices hopefully in advance of recent .rates. Bidding the better class pens of ewes to lambi) was keen, and the market advancer Is 6d on rates ruling a month ago, while wethers were wanted and lamfe.'were taken at a ligure. The quality Mf the sheep was noticeably above the ! average, and as the sales will only be held fortnightly, commencing with next month, appearances point to a staple stock market for the winter. There was a quantity of sheep in from the Coast district on account of several consignors, while among the cattle was a nice iot of steers horn Mr St radian's place at Waimata, the latter selling as forward stores at good prices. There was not much fat stock on offer; but the few small pens of ‘kiliable sheep and cattle sold well, die top prices of the day was 11s Sd for cues and 10s Id for wethers, as against 9s 9d and Ss 6d ruling in April.

SHEEP. The total number of sliccx) yarded was about 6000, chiefly owes in lamb. Eat wethers sold at 9s Sd, 200 fat owes at Bs, 56 fat ewes at Ss, and 24 fat ewes at Ss. In stores, a nice pen or 153 ewes in’lamb sold at 11s Sd, 92 ewes at 10s 3d, and a lot of 569 2-tooth ewes in lamb 9s 3d; while a peri of 458 good sound-mouthed owes brought 10s 3d. A poor lot cf owes sold for Is each, v. bile other pens were 173 s.m. empty ewes 4s lOd 86 2-tcoth wethers Ss 3d, 5 wethers -ss, 292 2-tooth wethers from Tokomaru 9s 6d, 344 hoggets os_locl, 76 lambs 4s 3d, 37 lambs 3s 8c;l, 154 iambs 5s 6d 436 wethers at Ds lOd, and 1000 wethers at 10s, Id. Later 240 4-tooth owes in lamb sold at 11s Id, zb - tootli wethers 7s 2d, and 250 2 and 4-tooth wethers 9s 6d. CATTLE. The cattle on offer all looked well, but there was an absence of prime stock. In butchers’ supplies 6 mt rows brought £4 2s 6d, 10 heifers £4 [Os 5 fat cows at- £4 15s, and one steer £-5. Store- cattle brought brisK biddinir and sold, the principal pens bci„o- 6 big bullocks at £4 17s (id 8 torward cows £3 Ss 6d, 0 forward cows :C3 6.5. 16 cows and calves £2 los, 3/ voting steers :t,3 os, 3o cows, £1 —4 young steers £4, 43 steers £3 os, ana 46 young cattle £1 10s.

WECDELL AND CO.’S REPORT

BUTTER

Messrs AY. AYeddel and Co., London, report as follows on the butter market for the week ending April Stli: The general condition of the butter market lor some weeks has been one of increasing inactivity, which appears to have culminated in almost a state _ot •stagnancy last [week. This week nr London there has been more enquiry and a considerable amount of business has been transacted, 'lhis improvement is without doubt due to the decline in prices which has ■•-brought Australian and New Zealand down to a basis which makes the shilling retail price a fairly profitable one for the ordinary grocer, and gives a good remunerative return to the multiple shop concerns. The prices cf butter are now such that the large business, which; for the last twelve months has prevai.ed in margarine mixtures, must begin to feel the keen competition of the genuine article. Shipments from Australia this week have been 15,000 boxes and from New Zealand there is a great falling olf from the last ship, tlie"Athonicwhich sailed with only 21 000 boxes. Arrivals this week have been L2 770 boxes in the “Oroya” from Australia, and 36,500 boxes from New Zealand in the “lonic.” Prices have recovered from the irregularity winch prevailed, and those holders who declined to submit to the pressure of .the U) 1110 have held their own and cleared thenstocks fairly well. Receipts next week will total duly 3,000 boxes and these are Australian.

FROZEN MEAT. Thev report as follows on the frozen meat market for the same date. - The improved demand for frozen meat (especially lambs), has _ arrested the downward course of prices ‘recreated a distinctly firmer feeling. Ihe improvement is much, overdue, and bavin a- regard to the heavy stocks in store and close at hand, it is hoped that the low prices current will cause even greater expansion in the trade than is usual at this time of year. • Mutton.—-New Zealand.—Arm als during the oast two weeks amount to 139,301 carcases. A little better demand has been experienced for alb descriptions of mutton, but the stocks or heavy weight sheep are still considerable,' and have to be pushed for sale. Small and medium weights are mostly enquired for, and as the supply of these is not large, it has been possib.o to slightly advance prices Ganterburv sheep under 4Slbs. and 48 ( o6ibs. now realise 3-fd to 3RI per lb the 06/64 11,s. grade selling at 3Jd to 3|d per lb. Heavier weights are difficult to sell at 9-jd to 3d per lb. for 64/72 lbs., and 2-id per 11). for carcases weighing over 721hs Best North Island are offered at 2|d to 3sd according to weight, -Second qualitv carcases are quoted at 2-'d to 2hl per lb. Ewes are rarely enquired for even at 2*d to 2-gd per lb. Lamb. —Arrivals consist of 01,4iy carcases from New Zealand, 6538 caicascs from Australia, and 7,968 carcases from the River Plate. Theresome improvement in the demand for lambs both at Southfield and in the provinces, the market being helped by dearer home-killed mutton arid by nous nail v mild'weather for this time ot the vear.- Delay in the discharge pt steamers now in dock is responsible for a temporary shortage of Canterbury lambs,' prices for which have consequently firmed up to 4 4d to 4- s d ioi under 361b5., and 41 d to 4gd. for 36/42 lbs., while 42/501b. carcases realise 4kl to 4RI. Australian lambs of beM qualitv and small weight can only bo sold With difficulty at 3|c!; good quahtv being obtainable at 3jd to 3, - the lower qualities at fid perlb. | nw Plate lambs are offered at 3 ? d. Reef •—Frozen. — Din ing the -ortiiig it arrivals amount to 500 quarters from f Australia, 11,408 quarters from ; N Zealand, 74.728 quarters from the Ri|ver Plate, and 13,814 quarters from iCruguaya. Very little change «> • - Icon place in the frozen * beef ti ade. PFore-quarters are only realised mtli - Stacu’tv -although hind-quarters ax fteacly and firmly W, ™ ““"""hi/ Moderate stocks and more tavolatile loather for this latter description. Klues of hinds are quoted about 1-1 <?d ler lb higlier, hut fore-quarters remain unaltered.

LONDON WOOL SALKS

nu-n PjtF.ss Association- Cocvi'.ioht

LONDON. Mry 19. ... +ha wool sales Waotatapia- clip Patoka 10d, aud f -

ll£d. The July sales, are limited to 140,000 bales. The September and November sales are unlimited. Australian wheat cargoes have been sold at 43s 7-Jd to 445. At the tallow auctions l 1567 casks were offered, and 1000 sold, prices being unchanged. FROZEN MEAT MARKET. NAPIER, May 20. he Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company cable: “There is no improvement in the frozen meat market. -Prices are unchanged.”