Commercial.

Clutha Leader, 20 September 1878, Page 3

Commercial.

♦ A. &H. Mercer report for the week ending Sept. 18, as follows : — "Retail prices only. Fresh butter best quality, Is 9rl to Is lOd ; second quaiitv. Is 6d to Is Brl ; powdered and salt butter, Is 3d. Fresh butter is now very plentiful and prices are falling anrl will continue so according; to the demand. Salt butter in kegs lO.^d to Hd ; cheese best quality, lOd ; side and rolled bacon, lOd ; Colonial hams, lid to Is. English hams and cheese are now almost out of the market. Egsjs are very plentiful and retailing at from Is to Is 3d per dozen.

Maclean Brothers report, for the week ending Sept. 18, as follows :— Fat Cattle.— A full supply of 191 head was yarded to-day; About 150 head were of ajood to prime qtiality, the balance being very ordinary. Competition was fairly spirited throughout and all offeied were sold a shade under last week's rates. Best bullocks brought from £15 to £16 15s ; medium do, from £12 to £13 12s 6d ; cows, from £9 to £11 10s -or equal to say 40s for be<rt quality, and 35s for medium per 1001 b. We sold, on account of Messrs Simpson, fif 'Donald, and Patrick, 55 head at above quotations. Fat Calves. — Only a few penned, which sold at full prices. Fat Sheep. — 1781 were opened— cross-breds and mevinoes, nearly all good to prime quality, all of which were taken by the trade at a slight advance on last week's rates. Best cross-breds brought from 15s to 17s 9d ; medium, from 12s? to 138 6d : tnerinoes up to 13s— or equal to 3d per lb. We sold a prime draft of cross-breds, on accsunt of John Gibson, Esq., Ashley Downs, at from 14s 6d 17s 9d. Fat Lambs.— 74 were penned, and sold at from 7s to 10s each. Pigs.— loo were penned, chiefly stores, which fetched from 15s to 60s each, according to weight and quality. Store Cattle and Sheep. — The market is without alteration, and no transactions of any consequence have transpired during the week. Wool.— Latest cablegrams to hand from the Home market report a downward tendency in prices as the sales progress, faulty and medium descriptions being, as might be expected, those which suffer most: For fine combing qualities, opening prices appear to be pretty well maintained. In the local market there has been no business done, i Sheepskins. — Our usual weekly sale on Monday last was well attended, competition throughout was active, and notwithstanding above advices of a decline in wool, previous week's rates were maintained. We quote green cross-breds at 5s 4d to 5s 9d ; do merino, at 4s 6d to 4s lOd ; dry skins, at from 23 to 5s 6d, according to quality/ Hides — Continue in fair demand, but prices may be quoted slightly easier, or say 4d per lie for medium weights wet salted, and for heavies a shade over that figure. We sold 90 during the week at above rates. Tallow.- -Very little offering. Quotations without change. Grain. — The .market for all descriptions has been exceedingly quiet during the pasb week, Wheat has been inquired for for export, bul milters are buying very sparingly. Prices are without change. Oats meet with good demanc at from 3s 9d to 3s lid for good to fine feed, anc 4s to 4a Id for prime milling and seed. Barlej is much wanted, and best malting would com' mand readily 6s. per bushel. There is nont offering.