COMMERCIAL

Evening Star, Issue 7751, 24 October 1888, Page 3

COMMERCIAL

The amount of revenue collected at the Custom-house on goods cleared to-day for consumption was L7510s 7d.

STOCK AND STATION REPORT.

Mr Donald Stronaoh (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy Company, Limited) reports for the week ended October 24 as follows:

Store Cattle.—We have just completed some large sales at satisfactory prices, and have still in our hands for private sale some very choice stores. With the favorable spring weather we axe having, there are sure to be more inquiries,

and prices will no doubt prove to be more in accordance with sellera' views. There is considerable inquiry both locally and from the north for the Glunbam-Ayrshhu cattle, to be offered for Hale next week. Store Sheep.—With the exception of odd lots brought forward at the weekly .sales there is nothing doing. We have, several inquiries for good half-breds. 4 to C-tootli. Wool.—The London Septemher-October sales having closed firmly at increased prices, the market has a firmer tendency. There are only odd lots now being ottered, principally small parcels of follmongers' wool, for which there is always a ready sale at full rates. Several growers have intimated their intention to sell in the local market this year instead of shipping. Certainly, the results of the past year fully justify the wisdom of this course. Sheepskins.—There was a good attendance at our sale on Monday, when we submitted a large catalogue, including some very choice skins. For all lots offered there was good competition. Quality considered, prices realised were quite equal to last week's. Country dry cross-breds, low to medium, brought Is Cd to 3s 8d ; do do merino, Is fid to 3s 7d : medium to full-woollcd cross-breds, 3s lOd to 7s ; do do merino, 3s to 4s lOd : butchers' green cross-breds—beßt fn 3d, 5s 9d, ft* Cd, 5s 4d, ss, medium 4s 4d, 4s (id, 4s Bd, 4s lOd; do do merino, 4s Cd, 4s 7d, 4s MM : lambskins, Bd, fld. During the week v.i sold 2,000 freezing skins at 5s to Gs 3d. Rabbitskius.—The market is without quotable change sinco our last report. Wo submitted a small catalogue at our weekly sale on Monday, when prices realised were on a par with tli* previous week. Hides.—There is no alteration in the market. We find no difficulty in disposing of all lots coming to hand, at following prices:—Inferior and bulls', lid to ljd; light, 2d to 2Jd; medium, 2Jd to 2Jd ; heavy, 3d to 3} ; over 001b and in faultless condition, 3jjd to 3Jd per lb. Prices are now lower than for some time past; it is therefore all the more important for butchers and others to pay proper attention in slaughtering to ensure that the hide is saved free from cuts and scars.

Tallow. —ln sympathy with the London market, prices for this product show an improvement, We quote: Prime rendered mutton 19s 6d to 21s fid, medium to good 17s to 18s 6d, inferior and mixed 14s fid to lfis fid; rough fat—inferior 9s to 9s Gd, medium to good 10s to 13s, best 13s 6d to 14s per cwt. All lots coming forward are spiritedly competed for by the local bnvers.

Grain.—Wheat: At present the local market is not very active, millers evidently being well supplied for their present requirements, and prices being rather high to induce buyers to operate for export. Considering the continued favorable tone of the London markets, sellers are not anxious to sell at less than quotation!). Prime milling velvet and Tuscan, 3s 7d to 3s 10d ; medium to good, 3s 8d to 3s Gd ; inferior to medium, 2s 3d to 3s (ex store, sacks weighed in). —Oats: It is now questioned whether the stocks of oats on hand in town and country will meet the requirements of the trade till the new crop is harvested. Stocks are now in very small compass; and in view of the severe drought extending over many parts of Australia, it is believed that the demand will be in excess of the ordinary consumption at this season of the year. Should this anticipation be realised, a further rise seems inevitable. All lots coming forward from farmers' spring threshing are readily sold. We hear of veiy few large lots offering, confirming us in the belief that supplies in farmers' hands arn not considerable. A full breadth of crop has been sown this year, the weather for the most part having been very favorable. We quote short, bright milling, 2s 2£d to 2s 3d, with little business passing: best feed, in strong demand, 2i 1M to 2s 3d; medium to good, 2s to 2s Id; inferior to medium, Is lid to 2s (ex stere, sacks weighed in); for f.o.b. quotations add fd per bushel.— Barley: The business passing is unimportant. We have mado further sales during past week of choice Northern barley, but maltsters having bought largely are disinclined to purchase, even though admitting that pricea may be higher before the new crop is available. For inferior sorts, of which there is a moderate quantity still unsold, there is absolutely no inquiry. We quote prime malting at 3a lOd to 4s Id (sacks extra), medium (nominal) 3j 3d to 3s 6d ; feed and milling, 2s to 3s (ex store). Grass Seed.—Byegrass: We have sold several farmers parcels during the past week at our quotations. While prices are so low stocks have now been reduced to a small compaes, and it may be hoped that the new crop will realise better prices. The season is now almost ended. We quote local grown undressed Is 9d to 2s 3d, dressed 2s 6d to 3s 3d, Poverty Bay undresped 3s 3d to 3s 9d, dressed 4a 9d to 5s 6d (sacks extra).—Cocksfoot: A moderate amount of business has passed during the week. We quote best 3f d to 4M, medium 3d to 3£d per lb. Nearly all spring"sowing is now completed. Potatoes.—The market is much easier than it w.s a short time back. Good Northern are saleable at from 70s to 72s 6d, Southern 45s to 60s per ton. Dairy Produce.—Butter: With the exception of an occasional line from Taranaki, there are no wholesale parcels of any consequence on the market. Prime salted is obtainable in small lines at 9d to lOd per lb. It is gratifying to find as the result of all the information that has been distributed lately by ourselves and others that farmers in some districts are realising the importance of marketing their butter on the most appioved principles, having regard to evenness of quality, packages, etc. _ A factory is about to commence operations in tho Peninsula district. We trust it may be so successful that many other districts may follow the eyample. Cheese : Owing to the presence of several English buyers in the market, there has been a considerable inquiry during the past week for prime factory cheese. Nearly all the wellknown factories have now sold their new season's production at highly favorable rates. Prices, so far as have been di«closed, range from 4£d to tosid,(free on board). We sold during the weefi 50 tons, the product of a Southern factory, The market is completely bare of old factory cheese.

CARRIAGE OF GRAIN. *

The Hon. Minister for Public Works has gazetted a notice, to come into force on the Ist December, that goods of Class E—grain and all other agricultural produce—will be carried at actual weight—2,24olbs to the ton.

RAILWAY RETURNS.

The following are the detailed returns on the Hurunui-Bluff section for the four-weekly period ended September 15 : 10DO 1007

Passengers— S. R. 8. R. First-class .. 8,607 16,982 9,449 16,820 Second-class 32,171 65,308 33,367 56,418 Total 40,778 71,290 42,816 73,238 Soason Tickets .. 264 I .. .. 302 No. No. Parcels, etc. .. 10,484 17,233 Goads— No. No. Drays 18 16 Cattle.. 958 884 Calves 3 6 Sheep .. .. 48,190 45,458 Pigs .. .. 1,393 1,558 Total .. 60,563 47,897 Tonf». Tons. Chaff, etc. .. 1.475 1,665 Wool .. 649 1,373 Firewood . .. 2,080 1,930 Timber .. 0,547 5,581 Grain .. .. 21,450 20,964 Merchandise .. .. 19,247 21,687 Minerals .. 24,890 22,258 Total .. 76,344 75,3 58 Revenue — £ £ Passenjfors .. 11,291 11,780 Parce's and luggage .. .. 1.383 1,413 Goods . .. 24,609 24,479 Miscellaneous . 638 724 Rents and commission .. 339 331 Total .. £38,262 £38,729