COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16171, 27 March 1918, Page 9

COMMERCIAL.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLED REPORT. The Department of Agriculture,lndustries, and Commerce has receno tho following cablegram, dated Lon , don, March 23rd, WIS. from the HiS& Commissioner for New Zealand. (Qu • tions, unless othenvise specified. *ne average market prices). Meat.—Market and prices are without change. Government has arranged that supply does not exceed tlie <.e----mand. , • Butter and Cheese. —small supply 111 each case. It is understood that the Government has purchased quantity ot Danish butter about 4s 4d per lb, to be sold at same rato as other unpored butter, £12 12s per cwt. Hemp.—Manila hemp, superior grac.es are in demand on account of difficulty in obtaining supplies of inferior quality. New Zealand, no change since last report. . . Wheat and Oats.—Market quiet and steady, no change in prices. GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARRETS. (BY OUR COMMERCIAL EDITOR.) Tuesday evening. "Wheat is still offering steadily, and is being readily taken up at tne Government price. Oats are very scarce and firm. Jhe suggestion has been made that the Government should step in and fix a maximum price, but the oats are Ijoing waited for seed purposes, and a restriction on prices would not bring any more forward. The market is likely to be better supplied when there is more threshing done, and when the Southland crop is ready for the market. t Oatsheaf chaff is scarce so far as prime quality is concerned, and it> is now worth £5 to £5 ss. and olt-colour-ed £4 10s to £4 15s. There is a considerable amount ot enquiry from Auckland for potatoes, and some business has been declined as there are not stocks on hand, and there will be a scarcity of shipping space until after tho Easter holidays. The market is ilrmer, and £4 to £4 5s is now being paid at country stations. Although many crops arc affected by blight, it. is found that once the potatoes are dug and kept dry the disease does not oppear to develop any further. Cocksfoot seed is still offering, but tho quality is generally inferior, and will entail considerable loss in dressing. The best undressed samples are selling up to Is 3d. The following are the prices paid to farmers at country stations, free ol commission, sacks extra, except where ptherwisc stated : — Milling "wheat, according to Government price, South Island, JanuaryFebruary, and March 5s lOd. April 5s 10id. May 5s lid, .lane ."is 11 id, July (ss, August 6s 0 l t d, f.0.b., North. Island 4s additional.

Oats —Algerians, Duns, and Danish 4s to -Is Lid; Gart-ons to -Is 2d. Barley—ss (id to os !)d, extra prime to Gs,'medium ->s to or. od. Flour —£15 10s per ton; 1001b bags, £16 os; oOlb bags, £16 10s; 251b bags, £JC los. It ran —Shipping .Co ]os, local £o los per ton. Pollard —£7 10s per ton. Oatmeal —2.51b bags £23 per ton, 7!b bags £26 'per ton. Oat.shoaf Chaff —£-t 10s to £4 los, best £5 to £o 7s 6d per ton. Cocksfoot —IOJd to Is 3d per lb, Ryegrass—23lb to 2Hlb seed 3s Gd to 4s, extra prime heavy, seed to. 4s 6d, lighter seed 2s <>d to 3s. White Clover —Best Is 9d to Is lOd per lb. Partridge Peas —7s to 7s Id. Onions —Main crop £3 los. Potatoes—£4 to i'-t os for present or forward delivery.

IUXGIORA. There was a record yarding of sheep at the market yesterday, fats totalling 3 ( J40. Buyers operated freely, and most lines were quitted at recent values. The range of prices was Extra prime fat lambs 32s 6d to 35s prime 2Ss lid to 31s lid, lighter 2~>s lid to 27s 7d, others 24s 4d, ]?»-imc fat ewes 30s to 345, good 2Ss 2d to 29s 6d. medium 24s 9d and 25s iOd, extra prime wethers 365, prinic 28s Id to 335. The principal lines sold were: Fat Lambs —R. ".McQuillan, 20 at 24s 3d; C. llands, 72 at 28s 6d; Jas. Brady, 57 at 295; G. Loifhagen, 12 at 26s Id, Jas. Douds, 34 at 27s 9d. G. T. Hopkins, 1!) at 27s 4d, T. Mcintosh, 2o at 29s Id, S. Wilson, ( ;9 r.t 25s lid, M. Hanna, 55 at 26s 1:1. L. "Wilkie, 52 at 2(55, W. Cunningham, 118 at 27s 7d; H. Barker, 36 at 275: S. IVlcGowan, 24 at 28s Id ; R. Petrie, G9 at. 31s lid; R. M. Taylor, 26 at 24s 4d; \V. Veale, 53 at 27s Id; Cherrv 8r05.,-63 at 26s 3d; Miss Bowie. :)7 at 25s 6d to 25s 9d: Mrs Brown, '.il at 25s 3d; C. O'ltoarkc, 2S at 23s IOd; W. McHugh, 136 at 31s Id; P. Fitngibfcon, 13 at 36s 6d; Med lev Bros. CI at 31s Id; A. Stewart, 137 at 2Bs lOd ; B. Fergus son, 47 at 37s od; T. \Hide. 62 at 26s 10d; R. Mchrtens, 1.9 at 26s 6d; M. O'Connor, 84 at 29s IOd; A. Pulley, 179 at 27s 9d ; G. F. Geering, 66 at 27s IOd: I''. Hyde, 19 at 29s Id; R. Forsyth, 45 at 27s 3d; A. Carpenter. 61 at 275; S. Gardiner. 171 at 32s 6d; M. Hiatt, 32 at 31s Id; D. Morris. 58 at 29s 8d; W. Atkinson. 30 at 28s 10d ; Medley Bros . ]1 at 27s 7d; A. Carpenter, 26 at 26s 6d; R. Forsytlie, 35 at 29s 2d; W. Meflugh. 33 at 30s -Id.

Fat Ewes.—l'. McQuillan, 70 at 26s lOd to 31s 2d; C. Waters. 10 at 28s 2d; client. 100 at 27s Id; T. Mcintosh, 25 at 295; R. McQuillan,- 71 at 2U 3d; John Petrie, 49 at 30s Od; F. Dixon, 31 at 27s 10d; R. Judson] 210 at 2Ss; H. Bennett. 13 at 3]s<2d: H. Clothier, 19 at 23s (id; Miss Bowie, 23 at 30s od; J. Milne, 14 at '15s; Mrs Brown, 40 at 28s 2d; E. Fantham. 20 at 27s 6d; J. Reid, 14 at 265; 11.

Fitzgibbon. 20 at 29s 4d; .T. B. Catherwood, 10 at 28s 3d: R. Evans. 52 ai 29s 6d to 345; R. Ward, S at 275: A.. AtHnson, 21 at 29s Sci. Fat Wethers—F. Douds. 12 at "2Ss Id; It. Judson, 41 at 31s sd: Medley Bros., 44 at 30s to 31s 9d; 0. M. 45 at 31s 3d, 109 at 32s Sd to 32s 10d: "\V. Eagle-some, 156 at 33s 6d. Store Sheep—There was a yarding of about 10,000. The market was dull excepting for really good ewes, and prices showed a considerable drop. Pigs—There were an entry of 200. Baconers made SOs to 109s. porker's 7os. stores 4Ss to 655, small sorts to 30s. Cattle—There was an entry of 185 head. Store heifers made £S to £10 10s, yearling steers £7 to £8. yearling heifers £6 to £7, calves (mixed sexes) £3 lis to £5 ss. springers £11 to £IS. springing heifers £12 to £15. In the poultry department roosters sold to 6s 6d a pair, hens 3s 6d, ducks 5s '3d, geese 7s, turkeys 335. lit the produce yards chick wheat made 3s to 6s 6d a bushel, oats 4s Sd, grass seed 3s Gd, meal 16s to 17s Gd a sack, oatsheaf chaff 4s. straw chaff 2s, sound potatoes Ss to 10s, tomatoes ljd lb. apples 2s to 3s 6d a case, pears 2s to 3s. poaches 2d lb.

KAIIvOI'RA RAM AXD FAYK FAIR. At the Kaikoura ram. and ewe fair, held in Messrs Pyne and Co.'s yards liist Friday, there was a yarding of about 21.000 sheep. Prices on tin; whole were about on a par with tho February sale. Messrs Pyne ana Co. had a yarding of between 12,000 and 13,000, of which 9500 were sold, the sales including 120 rams. The range of prices was :is follows: —English Leicester rams, according to age and quality to 4 guineas; itomney rams, 1 to 5 guineas; half bred rams (old), £ to li guineas ; Lincoln rams, 1 to 2i guineas. Best ewes made 29s 4d to 345, good 22s 6d to 27s 6d, medium 18s 6d to 21s 6d, best wethers 28s 6d to 33s 6d, two and four-tooth 26s to 275, ewo lanibs 20s to 23s lid, mixed sex lambs 16s to 17s 6d. Messrs Dalgetv nud Co. had a yarding of about 4000 sheep, the bulk of which were sold at auction at satisfactory urices. Prices ranged as under: iwo-tooth ewes to 2Ss 6d, four-tooto uwas to 31s 6d, f.m. ewes to 28s, twotooth wethers to 24s 6d, two and fourtooth wethers to 30s 9d, ewe lambs to 225, mixed sox lambs to 225, weth'.-r lambs to 15s 3d. The N.Z. Farmers' C'o-operativc Association had a yarding of about 400'J sheep. of wiiicii nearly all were sold, the following being tho range of prices: Best ewes 25s 7d to 27s 10d, medium 16s 6d to 25s 4d, cull ewes to 16s, wethers 23s 6d, mixed sex lambs l-, s 4d. culls to lis, rams 15s to 255. Messrs H. Matson and Co. held a successful sale on account of Mr •Chambers, of Jvillinchy, yesterday. There was: a good attendance, and biddin;; was keen throughout. The principal sales were: 39 dairy cows averaging £12 Jos, 29 calves from £4 Is t o £1 lis, 52 store pigs at 3os to £3 7s, 9 horses at £10 to £30.

A«H BURTON" STOCK MARKET. Thero was an exceptionally large yarding of sheep at the Tinw.ald yards yesterday, the number of fat lambs forward I'fin.s; the largest recorded for some considerable time. Consequently there was a severe tax on the pons, and the paddocks had to be utilised to accommodate the overflow. There was the usual attendance of buyers, and bidding was spirited. At the time of the mail leaving for the city the highest price ob-». tamed for fat lambs was 35s 4d for a choice line sold by ~\lr CI. L-amb, Elgin. It wos expojt-ed that priccs generally would improve as the sale advanced. Fat ewes sold at current quotations. There was a heavy yarding of cattle, for which prices were a little easier. The highest price realised was £16 15s for a steer said by Mr A. Clark, of Tinwald.

CLEARING SALE. Messrs Dalgcty and Co. held a clearing solo at Oniihi, on account of Ai*- \\ . Cole, on Friday. Among the most noticeable wiles were: —.Sheep: 174 s.m. ewes at 325, 238 failing-inouth ewes at 24s 3d, 48 lambs at 2is 9d. Draught horses at £22, £2], £16 and £18. Seven dairy cattle at prices ranging from £14 10s to £17 10s. EGG MARKET REPORT. At the auction sale of guaranteed fresh eggs held yesterday by Harris Bros., auctioneers, the following prices were realised: First grade hen eggs 2s Id to 2s 2d per' dozen, sccond grade 2s to 2s Id, duck eggs 2s per_ dozen. 1

PRICE OP OATMEAL. (SPECIAL TO "THE THESS.") DUNEDIX, March 26. The price of oatmeal has been advanced locally by £2 per ton, and now stands at £21 per ton. TIMARU P.AM FAIR. (SPECIAL TO "THE TRESS. "1 TIMARU, March 26. The annual ram fair, under the auspices of the Timaru A. and P. Association, was held to-day, when the entrios numbered IO'JO. ne\rlv double those of last year. A clearance was o.foeUvl at prices which, in the main, were satisfactory to vendors. Romneys wore in good "demand, the top prico of the sale, 22 guineas, being obtained for one of thG breed. Border Leiccsters went to 20 guineas, English Leicester.-; to 8 guineas, S'outhdowns to 4 guineas, Sliropshires to 2 guineas, and Corriedales to '<} guineas. OTAGO RAM AND- EWE FAIR. (r It ESS association tkleuiiam.) nUXEDIX, March 2G. Tho Olago mm and ewe fair was held to-day, when a yarding of over H,\. stu:l and flock sheep was sold, bidding being especially spirited for Romneys, Hotuer Leicester*, and Corriedales. Otago. Southland, and Canterbury In-orders were represented, and Leonard White, llakaia, topped the market with 34 i guineas for a Corriedale stud shearling ram. The range of prices was as follows:—Stud Romneys 15gs to 27g5,Border Leicesters 12gs to 30g», flock Romneys 4gs to 11 gs, flock Borders 3Ags to 7>'-gs. stud Corriedales lOgs to 34Jgs, flock Corriedales ogs to lHgs. CIIKISTCHURGH STOIHv EXOIiANGE. YKSTEKDAY'S TH ANSACTIONS. Sale reported:—Union Bank, £56 los. LATEST QUOTATIONS.

Buyei-s. Sellers. £ a. d. £ *. d. BANKS— Naiiocal .. 5 S 0 Union .. .. 'J IB o — CEMKNTS— N'.Z. Portland .. 0 10 0 — FINANCIAL— Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd. .. T 10 0 GAS— Christchtirca .. .. — 0 6 0 IXSUKANCiiAutional .. .. 3 0 6 — MEATS— N.Z. Kefrigeratin? .. — 2 0 0 MISCELLANEOUS— Masou. Struthers (£1 rd.) 12 0 N.Z. Fanners' Coop. 2 2 0 u 3 o MINING— . Mt. LvcJl 1 .. — 1 11 6