Commercial.

Bruce Herald, Volume VII, Issue 653, 27 November 1874, Page 4

Commercial.

Mr Henky Driveb (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co ) jeports as follows for the week ending November 25th : — Fat Cattle.— l3o head were yarded to-day at the weekly sale, about one third of which were of from fair to prime quality ; the remainder very ordinary. This number would not be an over supply tor the week were it not from the fact that the trade have been buying largely from private sources ; consequently the bidding to-day was not nearly so spirited as that which has characterised the market for some months past. It is evident that late high prices must give way to a considerable extent, although pens of really prime quality and medium weights will always command keen competition. Of the number yarded, about 40 head were turned out, prices not realising owner's expectations. I sold at the yards on account of Messrs John Anderson, of Wyndham Station, and Lindsay, 45 head. Mr Anderson's draft, as is usually the case with his well-bred cattle, topped the market. Best bullocks brought from 10 guineas to £14 each ; do cows, from £8 10s to £15 each. The average price obtained throughout the day 'for good quality I estimate equal to 35s per lOOlbs; second quality, from 27s 6d to 30s. I have also sold during the week 40 head by private contract. -, t, „ Fat Calves. — None were quoted. Really good veal is scarce, saleable at late quotations. Fat Sheep — -850 were penned, all of which were sold to the trade at, say 25s to 27s 6d for good quality crossbreds in the wool, and 15s to 16a for prime shorn crossbreds, I

quote present market value of crossbreds in the wool at 4gd to 4£d per lb ; merinos at 4d. Have sold privately, for forward delivery, 600 crossbreds and merinos at quotations, Fat Lambs. — 150 were penned and sold at from 78 to lOs 6d each. I sold 50 at the latter quotation. Medium quality lambs are plentiful, while well-grown prime quality ate very scarce. Store Cattle.- — There is no abatement in the demand for really good bullocks and cows from three years old and upwards, the former being saleable at from £5 to £7, the latter from £4 to £5. Mixed herds at from 60s upwards, according to ages, sexes, and condition. I have sold during the week 250 head for forward delivery at full rates, and will offer 4UO head at Palmerston on Tuesday, Ist prox. Store Sheep.— -I have heard of no transactions of sufficient importance to report. A few odd lots have changed hands, but they are no criterion of the market value. After shearing has been generally finishel I anticipate the usual amount of business will be done, but as yet prices for different descriptions of shorn sheep have scarcely been fixed. Crossbreds, 4 tooth and upwards, are saleable at from 9a to 10s 6d ; hoggets do, at from 7s 6d to 9*. Wool. — Very little business has been dono in this staple during the week. I have received small lots and portions of clips into store, but none of the new wool has been offered, n<»r is it probable (hat any will be sold until the market has been tried by pub lie auction. The priced catalogue to hand by last mail is not so satisfactory as was generally expected, a'thou^'h exceptional lots have realised extreme rat^s, more especially superior hot wa'er washed, one lot of whioh, Knapdale, reached 2s 91. Sheep Skins. — The market remains steady, at about late quotations, and all lots offering can be readily sold at the following prices, viz. : — Green butchers' skins, crossbred; from 6s 6d to 7s 3d ; do merinos, 5s 6d to 5s ltd ; lambs, Is 6d to Is 9d r station skins, fullwool led, up to 5s 9d ; pelts, 2d to Is 6d. Hides. — The demand continues good, at late rate. I catalogued a large quantity of light to medium weights, the whole ef which I sold at from 16s to 18s 6d. Tallow. — There is a fair demand for local requirements I have placed privately a parcel of inferior, at 22s 6d. Grain. — Wheat, good samples are ready saleable at 5s 6d ; medium to inferior, 4s 6d, to sd. Oats continue very scarce, and consequently high prices are ruling for this cereal. 1 quote g od milling samples at 6s ; feed do, 5s 5d to 5s 9d ; barley, malting, at 5s to 5s 3d ; inferior, 4s 6d. Messrs Maclean Bros report for the week ended November 26, as follows • — Fat Cattle. — About 130 head were penned, at the weekly market on Wednesday, the greater proportion being only medium quality. The prices realised showed a considerable decline on late rates. About 50 head were turned out, the balance realising up to £14 for bullocks, and up to £'15 for cows. Our sales consisted of 40 head on account of vendors. We quote — Really prime beef, 35s to 37s 6d per lOOlbs j medium and inferior, 27s 6d to 30a. Fat Sheep.— About 900 of all sorts were penned, which were taken by the trade at, for crossbreds in the wool, 25s to 27s each ; do shorn, 15s to 16d ; Merinos in the wool, 13s 9d. Our sales consisted of 100 at above quotations, and 500 privately for forward delivery. We quote — Prime quality crossbred mutton in the wool, 4d to 4Jd per lb ; do merino, 3|d to 4d. Fat Calves. — None forward. Fat Lambs. — About 150 were penned, and were taken by the trade at from 7s to 10s each. Store Cattle. — There is "still a good demand for stores of all descrip-ions, more especially well grown bullocks and heifers. We beg to call the particular attention of graziers, dealers, and others to our sale at Crawford ? fj yards, Palmerston, on Friday next, the 27th instant, when we will offer iv lots to suit purchasers 250 head really good store cattle, comprising spayed cows, steers, and heifers, all over 2 years old We quote good well grown bullocks, £5 10s to £6 10 ; do cows, £3 10 to £5 10s Store Sheep — iNo transaction to report. Imported Stock — On Monday last, the 23rd instant, we held a sale of pure Lincoln ewes and lambs, at our rooms, Manse- street. Th. re was a large attendance of buyers and others. For the ewes the bidding was spirited, and the whole lot was sold. The rams did not attract so m"eh attention, only a few being disposed of, the balance being passed. The following is a list of those sold, viz :— 1 2-tooth Lincoln ewe, 52 guineas, James AlUn, Esq. ; 1 do, do, 40 guineas, W. Hay, Esq. ; 1 do, do 41 guineas, Jas Allen, Esq ; 1 do, do, 41 guiueas, Jas. Allen, Esq. ; 1 do, do, 41 guineas. W. Hay, Esq ; 1 2 tooth Lincoln ewe 43 guineas, to Jamea Allan, Esq ; 1 do do. 36 do, to W. Heeklar. Esq ; 1 do do, 37 do, W Heeklar, Esq. ; 1 do do. 37 do, W. Hay Esq ; 1 do do, 37 do, James Allan, Esq. 1 2 tooth Lincoln ram, 74 guineas, to James Alan, Esq. ; 1 do do, 56 do. the Hod. H. R. Russell ; 1 do do, 48 do, W. Heeklar, Esq ; 1 do do, 50 do, the Hon, H. R. Russell. Wool and Sheep Skins. — M our last Friday's sale we catalogued a large number of sheep skins, which realised up to 7s each for green half-breds ; do merinos, to 03 10d. ; dry station skins, from 2s 6d to 4s 6d. Hides, &c. —We catalogued 80 light weights, which were disposed off at from 16s to 22s 6d each ; yearlings, 6s each ; calfskins, la 3d to 2a 3d each. We also sold a small parcel of tallow, at £23. Grain, &c. — We have no alteration to make on last week's quotations, viz — prime samples, wheat, 5s 0d to 5s 9d ; medium, 4a 6dto4s9d; malting samples, barley, 5s 3d to 5s 6d ; medium, 4s 5d to 5s ; oats very scarce at 5s 6d to 6s for milling samples j good feed, as 3d to 53 6d. We have sold during the past week 180 sacks barley at above quotations.