COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 7797, 19 December 1888, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

The amount of revenue collected at the Custom-house on goods cleared to-dc»y for consumption was LB6O 0? 9d. The creditors of J. Buchanan, merchant, of Auckland, held a private meeting yesterday. The estate showed a deficiency of about L 27,000, the result chiefly of bad debts during the last four years. A committee was appointed to investigate affairs. The successful tenderers for the coal supply for the railways in Otago are:—The Kaitangata Company for the Dunedin section, and the Kiglitcaps Company for the Southland section. STOCK AND STATION REPORT. Mr Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ended December 19 as follows :

Fat Cattle.—27o head were yarded at BurcI side for this day's sales, mostly good to prime. There was a good attendance of the trade, but owing to the very full markets of the last two weeks this full entry agnin to-day proved rather in excess of requirements. Competition was therefore only moderately active. Best bullocks brought 1910s to Lll; medium, L(J I'm to LS 15s ; small and inferior quality, L 4 to L 0; cows in proportion. We sold on account of various clients twelve pens at quotations. Fat ' heep.— 2,546 were penned, only a very few mciinoes, nearly all cross-breds, mostly off shearn, and chiefly ewes, representing all qualities. Theic was no demand for export. All, however, were disposed of to the trade, a few going to the graziers, but at prices considerably below la.«t week's rates. Best cross - bred wethers brought 10s I)d to IL':>, others 0?, to lCs; host do ewes its to 10s 9d, others 7s (id to 8s fid. A few specially got up wethers and ewes reached 15s to 15s (id. We sold, on account: of Mr J. T. Donaldson (Tlampdcn), nice quality cross-bred ewes at iU 3d ; Mr William Dunn (Milton), mixed cross-breds, email, to 9s Id. Fat Lambs.—A very large entry was penned to-day—viz., 1,461. A good demand was experienced, and the whole disposed of, but at prices showing a decline from laßt week's. Best brought 8s 9d to 103 3d, others tanging from 5s t... !M. Pig?.—22s weie penned, comprising all sorts, all of which* met with a very ready demand, prices for porkers and baconcrs especially showing an advance; suckers ils to IK stores 17s to 255. porkers 283 to 375, baconcrs 40s to 555, extra heavy to 70s each. Store Cattle—A little better dcmind has bren expciiencnd during the last few days, but sales are still limited. Well-bred three to five-year-old steers in forward condition would sell, while mixed mohs in low condition are difficult to place even at very low figures. Store Sheep.—The market utill continues quiet; but the season is hardly far enough advanced justyet to expect very much busings, and until buvenhave a good selection transactions will be limite 1, although thereafter it is anticipated that all available lots will be quickly taken up, as the supply is not expected to nearly satisfy requirements. Wool.—Catalogue to the close of the fourth series of London salep, ended October 10, arc to hand via San Francisco; also our London circular, which snya that iluling +-ho few days which elapsed between the date of our last c'rcular and the termination of the series the market remained steady. As compared with tho closing rates of the third Eories, the position of the market may be set forth as follows : Good cmnbing merino greißy and washed id to Id per lb advance, good combing merino scoured Id per H) advance, clothing and medium combing merino greasy id per lb advance, do do washed and scoured to Id per lb advance, fiic cross-bred of good style greasy and scoured per lb advance, medium and coarse cross bred greasy, about par, coaivic cross-bred scoured (more especially skin wools and slipes generally) par to id per lb decline. Reports telegraphed of the progress of tho fifth and last series of colonial wool sales in London have been, so far, very satisfactory, competition being fairly active all through the scries, and prices, as compared with closing rates at the previous sales show, on greasy meriuo combing id to Id per lb advance; inferior scoured has improved Id, and superior l.'.d. For cross-breds, from $d increase is reported. Inferior and faulty sort*, prices aro unchanged. The next scries ope.u nn January 23. In the local market there is nothing doin?, pending the opening of the season with the first 3ales on the 3rd and 4th January A good attendance of both foreicn and local buyers is expected, when full catalogues will be offered. Sheepskins.—We had the usual attendance of bnvers at our weekly sale on Monday, when we offered a very full catalogue, comprising a variety of classes. Competition was fairly hut prices realised showed no advance on last week's rates. Country dry cross-breds, low to medium, brought Is 6d to 4s; do do, merino, 1b 9.1 to 3s 101; medium to full-woolled cross-breds, 4s 3d to 6s lOd; do do merino, 4s to 5s 5d ; dry pelts, 2d to Is 3d ; butchers'green cross-breds, 5s 9d, 5s 7d. 5s stl, 5s 3.1, sa, 4s lOd: green merinoes, 5s Id, 4s 9d. 4s (>', 4* 4d; green pelts, 17d, lOd, 15d, 13d, 12d, KM ; do lambskins, 2s 6d, 2s 3d, 2s, lsßd, Is yd, Is 3d each. Rabbit3kinc—The consignments coming forward now are destitute of really good winter skiiif. The bulk of tho offerings are made of spring takings, and mixed, weather-stained inferior sorts. There aro buyers for all offered, but owing to the few in the field now, competition is not so spirited, although invariably prices obtained compare favorably with those ruling lately. We sold on Monday several lots, medium to good spring skins, at Is l|d to Is 2d per lb. Hides.—The demand continues fairly active at late rates, while heavy, good-conditioned hides have the preference. All sorts aro saleable at prices according to quality. We quote inferior and bulls', lid to l?d; light, 2d to2id ; medium, 2.} d to 2:}rf; heavy, 3d to 3jd ; over 601b, clean and well-llayed, 3Jd per lb. Tallow.—A keen demand is experienced for both rendered and rough fat, chiefly for local manufacturing purposes; prices are also improving weekly. We quote prime mutton rendered, 24s 0d to 25s 6d; good to prime, 22s 6d to 23s fid ; medium, 19s (id to 2ls (id ; inferior and mixed, 16s 6d to 18s 6d. Rough fat—lnferior to medium, 13s to 15s; best, 15s 6d to 16s 6d per cwt. Grain.—Wheat: While prime samples of velvet and Tusc*n can be placed oceasiona'ly at up to last week's quotations, tho market can hardly bo coDsideied so firm. Millers are less eager to do business, even some declining to operate at all in the meantime. Fowls' whe\t is in full supply, and sales more difficult to effect, except at lower prices. Wo quote prime milling 4s 7d to 4s 9d, good to prime 4s 3d to 4s 6d .inferior to medium 3s to 4s (ex store). —Oats: These are in fair demand, and saleable at a reduction of 6d to 9d per bushel on top price this season. Holders, however, except on very rare occasion, d«clino to sell in the meantime for less than prices obtaining a fortnight or three weeks ago, feeling confident (on considering the limited quantity for disposal) that prices further on must of necessity i» prove. Present mirkdt values are as follow:- Prime milling, 3s 7d to 3s 8d ; best feed 3s fid to 3s 7d, medium 3s 3d to' 3s 4d, inferior 3s to 3s 2d (ex stoie). Very few. however, could be picked up at these figures. - Barley: The market is quite bare of nearly all sorts, and in consequence there is little or no business passing, Prime malting,

full and bright, in limited quantities, could <? placed, but for any other description there is little or no demand. Quotations nominal. Craw Seedn.—There ih little or no animation in the market, which is still fully stocked, although in fewer hands. Ryegrass teed : We quote local grown undressed 2s to 2h (id, dressed 3s to 3s 6d ; Poverty Bay undressed 3s 31 to 3s 9tl, dressed 4s 3d to os 3d —Cocksfoot, best 3| ! d to medium 3d to 3jd. Potatoes— The market is now more fully supplied with new, which arc gradually receding in price. Old are nearly out of the market. At auction they reali e from L 5 5s to L 7; new sell at L 8 to LIS per ton. according to quality. Dairy Produce.—Butter: Prime farmers lots, lOd to lid per lb, with very little to hand; factory, Is Mto Is 3d.—Cheese : Factory firm at twl to (i.W ; Akaroa cheese, 0(1. Owing to the news of "rain on the other side the market is in the meantime weaker, if anything; but we anticipate an advance in price, as supplier both of cheese and butter will he lighter than usual, owing to the oold, inclement weather experienced up to the present. MINING NOTES. The mine manager of White's Reef Gold Mining Company. Limited, reports for the week:—"The weather during the week has been veiy severe. All the water races were blocked with snow, and in consequence the battery only crushed three days this week. The tramway from the tunnel mouth to the battery was also blocked with snow, which prevented any trucking being done. The main tunnel was extended 16ft. The rise was also put up 15ft, malting a total height of 25ffe. A cross-cut was driven from the main tunnel to the foot-wall, a distance of 13ft. The mullock was taken from these places into the old stopes underfoot. To make up for lost time I havo put all hands on quartz and will ba aide to keel) the battery going steadily until the wash-up. I have seen the local directors, and it is agreed to wash up on Friday, the 21st inst. As there will be a lot of work to ho done in connection with the wash up, we will not be able to retort until Saturday, the 22nd inst. It is my intention to keep four or six men employed during the holiday.", as portions of the main shaft and tunnel have to bo repaired. Quantity of stone crushed : 25 tons, yielding 2(>oz of amalgam, three days' crushing. Total quantity for five weeks: 2200z."