PRODUCE MARKETS.

Press, Volume XLI, Issue 6028, 10 January 1885, Page 2

PRODUCE MARKETS.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Limited report on the produce markets for tine week ending January 9th as follows :— Wool—By the Tongariro'a mail delivered during the wcei we are in possession of .priced cat?* o * o**0 ** for the last series of 1984 up to November 20th. 'A huge quantity of New Zealand wools had bean sold to that date; and the. prices obtained show that fine eroasbreda and well grown merinos fully maintained tbe rates current at the close of the AugustSeptember, series, but all faulty wools were ■lightly in.favor of buyers. The deliveries m*o store during the past few days ban* been consider-: able, and wffl swell, othe quantity for offer at«*. series of sales to fee field on I4tb, 15th, and ltth inst., to Bereral thousand bales. We hear of several new buyers having arrived, and .anticipate keen competition for the various clips to be offered. Sheepskins—The presence of new buyers in the market *>iig week caused considerable animation at Thursday's auctions, and prices ruled higher than the previous week by 2d to 4d on pelts, and 6d to 9d on f uU-woolled skins. Privately and at auction we have placed 2562 skins at the following pricesi;— country merinos, 2s 2d to 3s 7d, 4s to 6s 2d ; country crossbreds. 2s 4d to 3s sd, Ss 7d to 4s lod ; batchers' and factory pelts, 7d to Is sd; lambskins. 4d to Is 2d. „ . . v Tallow and Fat-Buyers are more discriminating than hitherto in the quality and condition of the rough fat brought forward, and bid accordingly. For clean well saved we realised 2}d, but for inferior and heated as low as Id had to be accepted. The bulk of our catalogue was cleared at ljd to id : medium quality tallow made 23s 6d. i Hides-These were all cleared at established rates. The demand for heavy hides is very keen. i and we can place a considerable number at 4d per lb. _ . , Wheat—The cablegram received on Wednesday advising a substantial rise in the London market has given intense satisfaction to all concerned in the trade, and we could fain hope that it is the first impulse of a st.ady advance to Mlow, bnt unfortucately we hear from private sources to-day that rates have again receded Od per quarter. With the near approach of harvest the prospects of the market at Mark Line are of significant importance, acd it is to be hoped that they may present a much brighter appearance here in the course of another month. It is satisfactory to note that reports from the country agree in tenor as to the splendid condition and prospects of the crops. The harvest will neees- ! sarilv be late, but the yield promises to be excellent. Business during the week has been more general than for some time past. Several lines of milling wheat have changed hands at 3s Id to 3s 3d f.0.b., and for second quality there is an improved demand at up to 2s 6d ex store. Chickwheat also meets with more enquiry, and sales i have transpired at up to 2s 2d, inferior Is 6d I to Is 9d. Oats—Holders having given way somewhat in ! their attitude has induced buyers to operate, and Iwe have to report sales of milling at 2s Bd. and good stout feed at 2s 6d ex store. Barley—Some inquiries have been instituted for this cereal, but we have not heaid of business resulting. Dairy Produce—Disappointment is felt that the Tongariro is not taking cheese or butter in her cool chambers, as several parcels were being prepared for shipment by this steamer. These will now have to be stored or placed in the market, which must tend to a further weakening of prices. Prime butter is selling at 6Jd to 7d fco.b., and new cheese is offering at 4d.