COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 4620, 4 December 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Friday Evening. GRAIN AND PRODUCE. Tho markets continue dull. Regarding wheat there Is very little to report. A tow sales have taken place at Is to (armors, and the quality delivering is not in first-class condition. A few shipments of second quality havo been made by English ships last week. Millars' ore well supplied for grinding purposes. Thero is a very dul; market for oats, at 2s to 2s Sd to farmers, there being no demand for other than retail lots. A small shipment of barley was made dining the week to cleat out ono store at very unsatisfactory rates; this cereal generally is very unsaleable. Flour ,is dull for export, the ordinary bakers’ demand being moderate. Tho late rains may tend to ro. duoo tho prices of dairy produce, but wo do not hear of any export sales being made in consequence of tho prices ruling higher than tho buyers care to givo. Owing to the unsettled state of the market wo can givo no reliable quotation. STOCK AND STATIONS. Tho weather since the early part of the week has been fine, and stock has had a change of recovering from tho effects of the violent storm which raged through Saturday and Sunday, and which must have tried newly shorn sheep very much. Fortunately the bulk of the stock in the country is in good condition, and to this fact, in a great measure, must bo attributed the small loss which has occurred. At the yards, on Wednesday, 3338 sheep and 275 cattle were offered, and every Hue was cleared.' In sheep wo have little change to notice, although the numbers brought forward fat are not excessive. This, however, dose not arise from any scarcity, hut because shearing having been retarded by the inclemency of the weather many farmers Hive been prevented from getting their stock ready for market. Our quotation for mutton is IJd to 2d per lb, but the latter must be considered an extreme pries, taking into account the abundant supply, and there will certainly be a move in a downward direction before long. Lambs are worth from 7s to 10s, and are not offered in excessive numbers. Two-tooth cross-breds may be quoted at 7s after shearing, but few transactions in this class of stock have as yet taken place. A largo proportion of the cattle offered were large framed station stores, and these commanded prices up to £7 for bullocks, and £5 10s for cows. All other store cattle sold at very high rates, especially well-bred young stock in good condition. Fat cattle were in moderate supply, and brought prices up to about 30s per lOOlbs for prime quality. We cannot, however, quote beef at more than 27s 6d per lOOlbs on the average. ,