COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2513, 28 May 1909, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

LI AT AWHE It O STOCK SALES

The last weekly stock sale of the present season held at Matawhero yesterday was conducted under very trying circumstances, mud being in large supply everywhere, and auctioneers, buyers, and' seders had great difficulty in moving about the yards. The sheep and cattle pens were churned into slush by the trampling stock, while the alley-ways between the pens were ankle deep in mud and water. Complaints against the condition or tinyards were loud and numerous, and the opinion was expressed that if the auctioneers would not improve the pens for the comfort of stock, they should at least obtain a hundred or so yards of shingle and some tar or cement and form passable tracks between the pens, where their clients must walk to watch the progress of the sale. The nature of the soil at the yards is porous, and. after each shower it becomes soaked and seddened, and with the constantly trampling feet is soon converted into a puddle. The condition of the yards was responsible, doubtless, to no srna.l iegree for the absence of many buyers yesterday, and stock owners consequently suffered for a condition of < Mings over which they had no control. Prices for both sheep and cattle receded on recent nuotations, for while h« yarding in both classes of stock was a large one, buyers were few and far between, there was scant competition, . and sheep and cattle had to be parted with at medium rates, or driven homo again. SHEEP. The sheep pens held about 10.000 head, about 4000 being in the yards conducted by Messrs Dalgety and Co. and Messrs Common, Shelton and Co., while the balance were divided between Messrs "Williams and Kettle and the Xew Zealand Loan and Mercantile «r<Micy Co, Fat stock did not sell well, the sheep not being in really prime condition. The principal pens sold were: 120 wethers at 8s Id, 66 fat ewes 7s Od-, 25 fat ewes Ss, 32 fat ewes 3s, 97 ordinary wethers 8s Id, 167 wethers 10s, 217 wethers 9s 10d. 976 bigirameu 2-tooth wethers from Hawke's 10s. 35 ewes in lamb 6s, 145 ewes in lamb 8s 6d, 46 ewes in lamb ss. 23 small 2-tooth ewes 6s 6d. 33 ewes 4s 9d, 20 cull ewes 4s Sd, .500 soundmouthed ewes 6s 6d, 8 cull ewes 3s Id. 103 old ewes 4s, 69 old ewes 4s, 61 aged ewes 3s 4d, and 9S cud ewes 3s. CATTLE.

The cattle pens held about 500 head, mostly stores and yearlings. The few beef cattle on offer were net in prime condition, and the whole lot was passed ini The store cattle sold slowly, most of the pens being disposed of privately. The principal sales under the hammer were: 30 forward bullocks at L'4 12s, S forward big-framed bullocks at £4 16s. and 49 young steers at £1 10s. PIGS. Pigs sold: 1 porker at 15s 6d, weaners at os, os 6d, 7s, and Ss 6d. THE FROZEN MEAT MARKET. NAPIER, May 27. The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company cable: “There is no improvement in the frozen meat market. Prices for lamb are slightly lower than last week. To-day’s quotations are: Canterbury mutton 3fd, Napier, Wellington, and North Island 2fd: lamb, first quality 4lid, second quality Beef: Hindquarters 3jd, forequarters 2-id.”

United Press Association—Copyright (Received May 2?, 1.10 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 27. Hides: Excellent competition; light hides fully one-eighth higher; supplies moderate.