COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 66, 17 March 1908, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

/ The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.. Limited, have received the following cable from their London house:— "Sheepskins: Prices have declined since last sales as under: Combing merino sheepskins, id per lb. Fine crosbred sheepskins, Id | per lb. Coarse crossbred sheepskins, _Jd per lb." LONDON CABLE. (Received 9.45 ami LONDON. March 16. The wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom ; s estimated at 4,530,000 quarters; for the Continent at 2.855.000 quarters; At- ' Untie shipments. 135,000 quarters; Pacific, 45.000 quarters. Silver is quoted at 25 9-16 d per ounce. PRODUCE NOTES. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LOXDOX. February 7. Wool.—The first series of the current year commenced on 21st January. There was a large al tendance of the trade, and competition, both on Home and Continental account, was active, some reserve, however, being noticeable in the biddicg from the French section. For the better descriptions of merino, values, as compared with December closing rates, ruled par to ."> per cent dearer, hut faulty sorts were generally 5 per cent cheaper. In crossbred, values for greasy showed but little change, medium and coarse grades and scoured, however, being occasionally in turn easier, while slipe marked a depreciation of id per lb. With the progress of the sales grcaay merino has shown a hardening tendency. and most descriptions vow rule 5 per cent dearer than in December. In scoured, however, while inferior and faulty are rather dearer, other sorts rule about 5 per cent lower. Crossbred of really fine quality ' shows little if any change, but in medium and coarse grades the slight weakness manifest at the opening has become emphasised iv a depreciation of fully 5 per cent.. Sheepskins.—Although there was an improved tone regarding wool, owing io the continued depression in the market for roans, several available parcels of skins were not intalogued ior the auctions of 16th anil 17th January, but the reduced offering of 2.">00 bales Australasian met only a poor demand, and abon. ( uo bales were liouirht in. As compared with the rates ruling at the preceding sales, Decemi ber 19 and 20. prices for merino combing deiiined Id. clothing id. fine crossbred Id to *d. coarse id to Jd, and crossbred lambs id per lb. Short and shorn skins were almost unsaleable, and for the few bales disposed of quotations mark a decline of id to Id per lb. i New Zealand Hemp. — A fair amount of ] business has been traiisaeted at fluctuating j prices in sympathy with Manila, and there !is a rather weak feeling at the close. Latest quotations: Good fair spot £28 JanuaryMarch £27 35/ to £28, March-Hay £_7 15/ to £2S. fair spot £27. January-March £27. and fair enrrent Manila _._m" 10/ per ton I e.i.f. Tow is in moderate request at £10 i to £11 per ton e.i.f. Frozen Meat.—Generally speaking, the i trade passing in New Zealand mutton has heen very unsatisfactory. Canterbury de- | scriptlons are scarce, and for this reason | holders have been able to obtain more money; bin values for North Island sorts, which are iv more plentiful supply, tend I in buyers' favour. River Plate, the quality of which Is decidedly good, are freely offered at 2jd to 3 1-Sd per lb. A few newseason North Island lambs, the quality of which is equal to the standard of last season, have made up to CJd per lb. while old season New Zealand, which are nearly cleared, are worth 4 7-Sd to 5Jd per lb. New Zealand beef hinds sold at 3Jd to "id. Canterbury lamb (old season) 5d to old. N.Z. bepf fores 2j>d to 23d. North Island lamb (new season) sld to fiid. Australian beef hinds 3d. North Island lamb (old season I 4 7-Sd to 5 1-Sd. Australian beef, fores. 2 5-Sd to 2Jd, Australian lam" .'lid to 5d per lb, off the hooks at Smithueld.