COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2603, 8 May 1869, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Friday Evening,

The month has opened up fairly, but transactions have been rather limited, principally on account of the li?ht stocks caused by the non-arrival of the Dagmar. The Celoeno cleared the Customs on the 6th inst., for London, with a cargo of wool and wheat, in addition to a few small parcels of flax. The fourth of the month passed over satisfactorily, as engagements were met promptly. Most staples have become very bare, and prices in several instances have improved. No sales by auction have taken place during the week, but business generally has been brisk, as the retailers have been laying in their month’s supplies. Sugars continue in active enquiry, but importers’ stocks are very low. Teas are commanding more attention ; supplies, however, are still ample. Spirits have met with an animated enquiry. Brandies find a hardening market, as first houses are nearly out. Old tom is readily quitted at a slight advance on recent quotations. Geneva is not so active, as stocks are in better supply. Kerosene continues to command attention, as the Melbourne prices current quote a farther advance. Candles also are in fair request, at 12fd to 13d. Cornsacks are scarcely so active, and the extreme values lately ruling have somewhat subsided. Dried fruits are coming into favour, and with few exceptions, are meeting with a good enquiry. Fine salt is out of first hands, but coarse is in plentiful supply.

Wheat continues to come forward freely, and quotations have not been affected to any great extent by the severe fall in Melbourne. Large parcels continue to be sent forward to Auckland and Wellington, and prices have slightly improved on last week’s quotations. A line of 20 0 1 ushels changed hands during the week at 3s lOd, but the sample was superior. Several parcels have been offering at 3s 9d, but purchasers are only closing to Complete orders. Oats continue to come forward freely, but the anticipated advance has not yet taken place ; speculation has somewhat subsided, although heavy shipments are constantly made for Melbourne, Auckland, and Hokitika. Superior samples may be quoted at 2s 6d, but the bulk under offer will not realise over 2s 4d. Several extensive operations in barley have come under our notice, at 4s 6d to 4s 9d; but it is rarely found, on delivery, that the bulk is equal to the samples, and in consequence large parcels are constantly rejected. Provisions meet with a moderate demand, and values remain unchanged.

STOCK AND STATION REPORT. The stagnation which exists in this description of business renders the report of actual transactions an easy matter. In Stations there has been nothing done for the past month, except the sale of a property in the Tiraaru district, for delivery in March, 18'o—the price being i'25,000 for 40,000 acres of run, 4000 acres of freehold, with very extensive improvements, 20,000 sheep, and a few horses and cattle. “ Wantwood,” in the province of Marlborough, was to have been exposed for sale by public auction yesterday, but, as no buyers came forward, it was never put up.

The present uncertain position of the London wool market operates in preventing people desirous of investing in this description of property from meeting the view* of sellers as to price, and the result is a perfect deadlock.

Fat Sheep are nominally worth IJd per lb, but there are no large transactions to report at that or any other price. At the Carlton Yards, on Wednesday, ewes in medium condition were sold at about IJd per lb, but no doubt the buyers had the best of the transaction. . Store Wethers have been enquired for at 4s, but we have not heard of any sales being effected For Cattle there still continues a brisk demand ; and at the Carlton Yards, on Wednesday. the result must have been highly satisfactory to sellers. The value of fat cattle may be quoted at 32s 6d per lOOlbs. In Horses there have been few tr msactions excepting at the different yards, where, during the past fortnight, considerable numbers have been knocked down at fair prices, considering the quality of the animals offered. ~ x . Boiling down may now be said to have ommenced in this province, the first to begin being Messrs Rhodes and Wilkin, who, by a few trifling alterations, converted the dipping apparatus at St. Leonards into one for melting. They are at present engaged in boiling sheep of their own, but it appears from an advertisement that they are prepared to melt sheep for the public at one shilling per head. Mr Tinline, of Lyndon, is also on the point of commencement. His apparatus was procured from Melbourne, and is said to be a very complete affair, embracing as it does all the recent improvements. Mr Mein has nearly completed an establishment at his farm, on the Lincoln road, the apparatus for which was turned out from Mr Anderson’s foundry. We understand it will be in full operation early in next week. The Surplus Stock Company have ordered a boiler and vats from Melbourne, but it seems doubtful whether or not they will be ready to commence operations this season. We trust the sheep-farmers of this province will avail themselves largely of this method of disposing of their surplus stock. It is true that many of the sheep which must begot rid of will yield little more tallow than will pay expenses, but still they must be got rid of before the flocks of the province are brought to a standard suitable for the present times, and as the class of sheep to which we allude are brought into competition with proper marketable sheep for ordinary consumption, we fully expect, when they are out of the way, that good fat wethers will command a fair price.