COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 8157, 5 March 1890, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Tbo amount of revenue collected at the Custom houßt- on goods cleared ti-r ay for consumption was—Customs, LI. 86617s 6d; ptifciage, LB7 10) 3d; total, L 1,954 7s 9d. ¥he report of the New 2ealahd Drug Company for thp year ended .January 31 Btates that the net profit for the yeir was L8.40113s Bd, to which baa to be added the balance from last year 1.13,458. less the dividend then declared (L 2.930). Of the balance of L 18.900, L 2,960 was devoted to the payment of an interim dividend in July, 1-1,000 placed to the credit of the fire insurance fund, and LSOO added to the Staff Fund. Of the available balance of L 14.422 it is proposed to declare a dividend at the rate of 7 per cent for the year, absorbing L 3,060, and to carry forward L 11.562. Since last meelog the directors disposed of L 6.600 of 5 per cent, debentures, making a total of L 15.000 now sole'. The ' Daily Times' Company have declared a 7 per cent, dividend for the year. STOCK AND STATION KEPORT. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report for the week ended March 5 as follows : ' Store Cattle.—There is no alteration to note in the tone of the market, which remains exceedingly fUt, chiefly owing, doubtless", • to the continued dry weather prevailing for so long a period, and now telling most seriously cm pasture. The price for beef Btill continues low. This also contributes to the wpakness of the market for stores. Small lots, are being disposed of, but at prices more in favor of buyers. • '■ • Store Sheep.—The business done in these is only to ft very moderate extent. Aged sheep ara offering in considerable numbers, but buyers are exercising a very large amount of caution, hesitating to give prices asked while the season oontinues so parched. The number of young Bheep offering is within small compass, and are frequently inquired for; but purchasers, being unr'-er the impression that they can secure their iequ ; rementa at lower prices fuither on, decline at the moment to operate. They may be disappointed. ■ Wool. —There is nothing to record in reference to the position of the' Home market since the close of the first 'series of the year last week; but it is satisfactory to note that the prospect is considered good. A London circular dated 9th January just to hand Bays that stocks were light to begin wite. The colonies promise but a moderate increase, and the Eiver Plate States a rather, serious deficit. There is, therefore, no likelihood of the industry having too much wool on its hands'daring 1890. . Such is the state of the supply. The condition of the wool trade itself we hold sound, the outlook peaceful, and the tendency of business generally towards improvement; and this being the case, we think that there is a reasonable prospect for the maintenance of present prices, good as they are. Sheepskins.—There was a large attendance at our auction sale on Tuesday to compete for the unusually heavy supply brought forward, and we have to report that competition was well sustained throughout, prices being more even than for some time past, and mle on a par with those of the previous week for dry skins.

Our catalogue was chiefly made tip of country skins, for which. full rates " -were secured. Butchers' green oroas-breds had an, excellent demand,' as also green lambskins. Country dry cross-breds, inferior to medium, brought la Ed to 4s Cd; do do merino, Is 46. to 3a lOd; medium to full wooiled cross-breds, 4s 7d to 6a sd; do do merino, 3s lid to 5s sd; dry pelts, 8d to Is 4d; green cross-breds-best, 2s 9d, 2s Bd, 2s Cd ; good to mrdium and inferior, 2s sd, 2s 4d. 2s 2<l, 2i, Is 10d, 1« 8d; green lambskins' 3) Id, 3 3 , 23 lid, 2s 9d, 2s 7d, 2s sd, 2s 3d, 2s Id, Is lid. Is 9d.

Rabbitskins.—A gond demand exists for all offered, but owing to the limited supply coming forward in the meantime, the business put' through is somewhat small. On Tuesday we offered a few lots, which were keenly competed for, realising full rates. "We quote good spring and summer skins at 7d to 8d; inferior to medium. 4d to 6d; suckers, ljd to 3d per lb. Hides.—This market is unchanged. Lato rates continue steady, and although the supply nny not bo quite so heavy, there seems to be quite sufficient for requirement'. We quote prime heavy ox hides, free from blemish, 2|d to 3d; medium to heavy, 2£l to 2M ; light, 2d to 2i-d ; inferior, ljd to 13d per lb." Tallow.—There is no new feature to report in the position of the market at Home. Prices continue exceedingly low, and until some improvement is manifested rates locally cannot advance. Meantime we quoto medium to good, 15s to 10s; inferior and mixed, 12s to 14s; ■ rough fat, best muttnn lis to 12s, inferior to | medium 8s to 10s per owt. Grain.—Wheat: Too dry weather expo- , rienced is enabling farmers to make wonderful | progress with harvest. Cutting in rather more than g.neral to the southward, a considerable portion being in tho stack, and from the various reports coming to hand the prospect of a good yield is highly encouraging. There in no new wheat from south of this on the market yet. Irade supplies are e,till taken from tho small stocks of prime old wheat on hind, supplemented by an occasional small parcel of the new f.om tho North. The business passing however, has been quito trivial; and until the new crop is in the market we do not look for any improvement in trade. We quoto best Tuscan 2s 8d to 2s 9d; beat white velvet, 2s 6d to 2* 7d; medium to good, 2s 4d to 2s 51 • inferior to good fowls' wheat. Is 9d to 2s 3d {ex store).—Oats: These have been in somewhat better demand during the past few days, and buyers now finding that very few lots in shipping condition remain in store, are more willing to give slightly higher prices. On Monday a very prime sample of milling (new crop) was sold at auction for Is 6d. Since then several lines of old were sold privately by us at Is 5d to to Is 6d ; medium to good fe:d are being disposed ? I ?i l ? tS i° f forty to fifty saoks at from la 3d to Is oM, but should the weather continue so favorable the probability is that the supply may exceed tho demand, thereby frustrtting the chance of any further advance for a time at any rate. The above prices are all ex store, sacks extra.—Barley: The market continues quiet. Some samples of the new crop from the Noith are being offered, but the quality so far is not altogether what could he desired. Maltsters are prepared to purchase, but only the primest samples; any other description meets wi'h little or no demand. We quote prime 3i to 3« 3d ; medium, nominal. 2j 6d to 2s 9d;'inferior, Is 9d to 2s 3d (ex store, sacks extra.) Grass Seeds.—The market for ryegrass seed continues very fhm. There are very few consignments coming forward, and any offering is freely disposed at advanced prices. We quote machine-dressed 4s 3d to 4s 9d; undressed, 2s Cdto 3s Gd, (ex store).—Cocksfoot seed has a little more inquiry, but very few sales are effected, and at low prices. We quote, nominal, 3d to 4d per lb (ex store). Potatoes.-The supply has hardly been quite up to requirements lately, and. in consequence, prices aie hardening. All offering are easily placed at higher figures. We quote best L 3 10s to L 3 153; medium to good, 553 to 60s per ton Chaff.—The market is more than fully supplied, and late rates being scarcely maintained we quote nrime, 50s to 52s 6d ; inferior to medium, 27s 6d to 47s dl per ton. Dairy Produce.—The quantity of both cheese and butter on offer is pretty considerable, but the latter, if of prime quality, meets with soni9 demand at from G3 to 7d. Cheese is not so much inquired for, and difficult to place except at reduced prices. Medium size realise, in retail lots, 4Jjd ; small, 4Jd to 5d ; dairy made, 31 to 4J per lb. MINING NOTES. Ten tons of quwtz, taken from the Waitahun-, Quartz Mining Company's claim at Waitahuca, were sent to the Exhibition buildings yester.lay, for treatment at Messrs Sparrow and Co.'s battery. Crashing was commencod to-day, and will probably be completed by the end of the week. A good payable result is expected, The secretary of tho company (Mr Leslie A. Norman) reports having visit-d the claim on Monday, in company with Mr David M'lntosh, of Lawrence, and advises that the leef is fully oft in width, acd increising under foot. The lode Is composed of several veins] of hard quartz wi'h seams of "casing" or "mullock," this latter being also payably auriferous, and possibly as good as the ore itself.