COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5590, 24 January 1879, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Thursday Evening. A fair amount of business has been passing in the import markets during the past week, though less animation has prevailed than during the preceding one. The news brought by the mail of continuous heavy shipments, in conjunction with the very unsatisfactory report of the wool and wheat markets, has produced a depressing effect, which must make itself apparent ere long; but there is hope that, support will be given to trade by an influx df money at easier rates than those i

now current. Teas—The trade having purchased very freely eatly in the month, there has not been so much inquiry during the past week," and sales have been few and unimportant. An impression prevails that stocks are excessively heavy, but we believe it will be found that, considering the increased population, they are not larger than usual at this period of the year. Holders are of this opinion, and decline to sell under current rates. Sugars—Clearances from bond continue on a liberal scale, but business during the week has been slack. We have no alteration to report in prices, which are firmly adhered to by holders, at £27 for browns; £3O to £3l 10s for yellow counters; £3O 10s to £32 for yellow crystals; £33 to £3 A for fine whites, counters and crystals ; and £34 10s to £35 10s for snowdrops. Bottled ale and 'StoutVery little doing in these lines, though a good demand exists for the former, which cannot be satisfied. Bulk ale has been unnoticed. Younger’s, in fine condition, is offering at £8 10s. Spirits continue extremely quiet. Hennessy’s brandy has been placed at 31s 6d and 10s; O.V.P. is offering at 22s 6d and 7s 3d: Mine’s case has been cleared off the market at equal to 29s 6d ; whisky, rum, geneva and gin shown© business. Kerosene is without improvement, and cannot be expected to recover so long as supplies continue to pour in at the same rate as lately. The Signal and Helen Angier have arrived during the week with upwards of 4000 cases. The former comes viA Sydney, and the latter via Port Chalmers. Prices range from Is to Is 4d, Is 8d and Is lid in bond, according to quality and test. The James A. Borland and Albert aro shortly due, and will further augment stocks to the extent of 1500 cases. Cornsacks.—A good business is doing in these goods at last week’s quotations, viz., 8s 3d to 8s 6d for heavy weights in parcels of 50 bales. Growers are being supplied at 8s 9d. Woolpacks aro very quiet. Advices have been received of the departure of the Buttermere from Calcutta at an earlier date than expected. She will call at Port Chalmers before coming on to this port, and may drop a large portion, of her cargo there. Cement continues in active request, and is absorbed as fast as it comes to hand from the vessels now discharging; rates are firm at 18s to 18s fid. Galvanised iron and fencing wire are quite listless, with no prospect of any improvement until stocks are reduced. The following vessels have arrived during the weekWaikato, Jan. 18; Bebington, Jan. 20; Times, Jan. 21—all from London ; Helen Angier, Jan. 17, from New York via Port Chalmers; and the Signal, Jan. 18, from same port via Sydney. The three vessels from London only contribute 2650 casks to cement stocks, but other lines are all fully represented, including the new season’s hops. The Antares sailed for London on Jan. 18, a full ship.

CUSTOMS’ REVENUE. The following was the Customs’ Eevenne collected on Wednesday, Jan. 22

LAND SALES. At the sitting of the Waste Lands Board yesterday the following amounts were sold, realising Ra Sd

LOCAL MARKETS. Messrs H. Matson and Co. report on the live stock market, 4c., for the week ending Thursday, Jan, 23, as follows: Lite Stock Masked. — At the usual weekly sale held on Wednesday at the Metropolitan yards the supply of mutton, although limited, was slightly in excess of the previous week. A fair proportion of store sheep {mostly two-tooth cross-bred being also penned. At the commencement of the auction the attendance was small, and at the first sale one or two prices were a little under the day’s average, but this was soon recovered, and every pen of mutton was cleared with a brisk competition at prices from 2s to 3s per head over rates a month since. Mr James Bell’s prime quality cross-breds being sold at 11s 9d. Store sheep, os now brought to hand, are showing an improvement in condition, and the desire to do business on the part of buyers is certainly keener, advanced rates being offered, but owners, on the strength of the little rain we have hod, are in many cases asking a rise of fully 20 per cent in value, consequently but few changes are being effected. The cattle sale throughout certainly exhibited a decided improvement intone, as not only was the large entry of beef quitted freely, but nearly every line of store cattle changed hands at better values,'a large number being bought for shipment to the North Island. The totals yarded for the day comprised 398 head of cattle, 4100 sheep, and 49 pigs, of which our entry included 249 head of cattle, 1154 sheep, and 3 pigs, for Messrs Morten and White, Jas. Bell, D. O'Cal. laghau, Wright and Murray. E. G. Wright, P. Grant, D. Patchett, W. H. Beer, Henderson and M'Beath, W. Hall, Eestariek, J. Foster, Wiseman, Jno. Duncan, J. Pargusson, W. Bighton, J. Hayes, U. Manocks, Jones, P. Duncan, Jas. Council, M’Nally, J. Kinley, M. Hogen, Simmo’ids Bros. B. Tubman, F. Hack, J. E. Thacker, Mason, 8. Robertson, and others. In fat cattle our principal sales were—4 heifers at £8 10s, 7 at £B, 3 at £9 7s 6d, 4 at £7 2s 6d, 3 at £7 10a, 2 at £9 10s. 5 at £8 2s 6d; stores 3 at £6, 21 at £5 ss, 5 at £2l Ss, 6 at £2 7s 6d, 21 at £3 15a, 13 at £5 ss, 9 at £5 2s 6d, 20 at £3 2s 6d, 24 at £3los, 6 at £4, 7 at £l 7s 6d. 4 at £5 sa, 40. In sheep we sold—6o at 11s 9d, 28 at 9s 3d, 35 at 10s 3d, 46 at 10s, 72 at 11s 9d, 240 at Ua, 36 at 8a 6d, 64 at 11s 6d, 41 at 9s 6d, 34 at 9a, 80 at 11s 9d, 96 at 6s 3d. Fat lambs—s2 at 8s 9d, 20 at 9s, 18 at 7s 9d, 22 at 8a 6d, 30 at 7s, 24 at 6a 6d. Wool, Sheepskins, Bides and Tallow.— At the usual weekly sale of the above, held on Thurs. day, at our Canterbury Wool Stores, 2900 sheepskins and pelts, 232 lambskins, 97 ox hides, and 65 bags and packages butchers’ rough fat and tallow comprised the catalogue. There was but a small attendance of buyers, and prices, with the exception of pelts and hides, ruled lower than at any previous sale, which is only to be accounted for by the sombre tone of the Home markets. All lots were, however, cleared at prices as under—Best cross-breds, 3s 9d, 4s, to ss; medium do, 2s to 3s 6d; inferior. Is to Is lid; best merino, 4s, 4s 6d, to 5s Id; medium do. 2s lOd, 3s 4d, to 3s 9d; best cross-bred pelts, Bd, Kid, Is, to Is 2d; inferior and lately shorn. Id, 2d, sd, to 7d ; best merino do, 6d, Bd, to lOd; inferior, Id, 3d, to 5d ; lambskins, 9d to Is LOd ; salted hides, 3Jd; damaged, ; calfskins, 4d per lb ; rough fat, beat dry, well saved, lid, 2d, 2jd, to 2Jd; medium quality, IJd to ifd. Cantebbcbt Hobse Mabket.— At Tattersall’s on Saturday last there was but a small entry of horses, 72 only being catalogued for the day’s sale. This is no doubt accounted for by the fact of harvesting operations being now in full swing, and therefore vendors and purchasers being both alike busily engaged. Nor can we anticipate large sales or anything very brisk in prices until this is over and stubble ploughing commences, when for all classes of draught stock there must be a great enquiry, as s > much bock work still remains undone, through the sterility and dryness of the soli. We have noticed this last fortnight or three weeks there has been a better demand (or hacks and light horses, a great number having changed bands each week, prices varying as per description. Our quotations are _Best heavy draughts, *SO, £55, £6O, and £t 5 ; medium ditto, £35 to £47; spring cart horses, £24 to £32; well-bred backs and harness horses, £2O to £3O; ordinary ditto, £ls to £18; weeds, from £1 to £l2.’ Messrs J. T. Ford and Co. report on the live stock market for the week ending Thursday, Jan. 23 as follows: —A better demand for all classes of store stock has been noticeable daring the last fortnight, partly on account of our pastures being freshened by the late rams, and partly because the season has its claims for laying in for stubble and winter purposes. All funds of cattle are selling freely, and beef is in good demand, with not an oversupply to hand. Two and three years old steers adaptable for grazing purposes are difficult to obtain, and good quality are bringing from £G 10s to £7 7b per heads Fifteen months old stock are bringing from £3 2s 6d to £3 per head, and there Is also much inquiry (or well-bred young heifers for breeding purposes, which are selling at (air prices. Wa quote beef at from 25a to 27s 6d per lOOlbs if the quality is ripe, and weights not too heavy. Farmers and_ others are beginning to nsk after ewes for breeding purposes, but (ew operations of any note will take place for another month or so, until stubbles are cleared and room is made for them. We do not contemplate that such high prices will be paid for store sheep as in former years, from the fact o( wool being low and money dear, and also of graziers demanding, and justly so, a wider margin for their winter feed. We know that a turnip crop is not only a precarious one to grow, but also attended with considerable expenses and for the last few years there has been little profit m growing them beyond the benefit the land has derived At the Addington Yards on Wednesday 4100 sheep, 398 head of cattle, and 40 pigs were vsrded, and a clearance effectedin every lot. Our sales were on account of the Hon John Hall, W. H Keith Pawsey, Evans, Hsydon, Eovell, Eosalter, Sutton, Baioton, Maddison, and others, com-

COMMERCIAL ““ORAMS. Mr Skene reports a^ o J^7 L^ g BM 3 ris. C0 £"&f»"d f°iA Sos° P 2ss and garienorst 25s and 30s j carpenters, masons, anJ Bradshaw reports na follows. for tho ' Saturday. Jan. 18 :—Shares—National Bank of New Zealand. £3 10s; Colonial Bank of Now Zealand. £2 10s; National Insurance Com. mny.lTssT standari Insurance Company. 19s; {juion Insurance Company, 12s 6d: Colonlal lnsur. anoe Company, 3s 6d; New Zealand Loan and Met osntile Agency Company, 50s paid UP, £5 15s, Walton Park Coal Company, 16s; National Mortiraire and Agency Company, £1; Scottish ana New Zealand Investment Company, 18s. Money secured on freehold property, 9 and 10 par cent, per annum' Invercargill. Jan. 23. Mr Martin, on behalf of the National Mortgage and Agency Company, to-day offered for sale the Strathmore estate, but as the offers were not very satisfactory the land was withdrawn. Private negotiations have since been pending for the putchase of the property, and there is every probability of the estate being disposed of. Auckland, Jan. 23, The stock of grain is large, and millers have raised the price of local-grown wheat to ss.

£ s. a. Spirits ... 138 1 5 Tea ... 8 9 0 Sugar ... 53 14 6 Tobacco ... 26 17 6 Goods by weight ... 163 6 4 Ai valorem ... 606 6 0 Other duties ... 48 14 4 Total £1045 9 1

A. B. P. Akaroa 27 0 0 Waimate ... 0 0 33 Total 27 0 33