COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5603, 8 February 1879, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Time* Office, Friday evening. GRAIN AND PRODUCE. We bare bad a few days’ boisterous weather during the week, which has slightly impeded harvesting. The bulk of the work in the country adjacent to Christchurch is, however, well in hand, and no inconsiderable quantity of grain him already passed through the threshers.

A severe gale of wind and rain has unfortunately visited the southern districts, where the harvest is later than with us, and has done some damage to the crops. "Waimate and Oa.mn.ni way are the localities mostly affected, hut it is not for a moment enpposed that prices will be in consequence influenced in the slightest. The reports to hand from South Canterbury are in every way satisfactory, and, favoured with fine weather for the gathering, the harvest of 1879 in these places gives promise of being an excellent one, and the yield equal—if not surpassing—the average.

A number of farmers have been in town during the week, and the business resulting has been a pleasing change to the stagnation we have had to record for many weeks past.

Wheat. —A number of purchases have been made since our last report, the bulk having gone into the hands of the millers. Comparatively little has been bought by the dealers, who are standing aloof until the few pressing orders in the market and the millers* wants are satisfied. The attitude of the merchants is marked by extreme caution. They do not care to repeat the mistakes of last season, and will not enter the market until the competition of the miliars ceases, and prices are more in accord with the values ruling in the Home and other outside markets. Firstclass milling is quoted at 3s 3d to 3s 4d, and slightly inferior at 3s to 3s Id. A few small lots of good old wheat have changed hands at 3s 8d to 3s 9d.

Oats. —We have not muck change to note in oats. Trices remain about the same. There is, however, a feeling of uncertainty about the future value, and there are indications of lower rates obtaining by-and-bye. The knowledge that supplies to an almost unlimited extent can be got from the South, has checked any disposition that existed to speculate heavily. Sales are reported at 3s lid to 3s Id, for feed quality 5 milling, 3s 2d. Baelet. —'There are buyers for immediate delivery at rates slightly in advance of what is tendered for parcels later on. Sales have been made at ss, ami a shade over that figure. At the moment prices of buyers and sellers are very far apart, but with a fuller market, rates must very shortly assume a definite basis when quotations can be given with greater accuracy. pLOtfE.—There is a moderate demand,for. flour at old rates, hut business is limited until deliveries of the new. begin. Contracts for considerable quantities have been mode. Gbass Sbkd continues tb be offered in quantity, though sellers are hot disposed to part with it at the rates tendered. The market. is decidedly easier, lirat-class is quoted at 5s 6d to 6s 9d ; inferior, is fid to ss. Cocksfoot, both of home growth and" from tEe Iforth Island, is coming forward. In this seed we have also ;to notice the wide gap between dealers and grocers’prices, which in many instances is as much as one penny,per pound. With greatly curtailed orders traders do hot feel justified m giving the money asked, and are firm in not offering more than 50s to 56s for the best cleaned seed.

Several small lines have been purchased at these quotations. Daibt Peodcce.—Butter is hot over plentiful, and is quoted at lOd to 10id. The inquiry, however, is very slack. Most brought forward is going into consumption in the Province. Cheese remains at the same value, 6id to 7id. Hams and bacon in cloth, Bd, STOCK AND STATIONS. Since our last- report there has been a heavy south-west gale which has been mors or loss destructive to the formers, according to exposure, all along the Bast coast, in some places threshing out a large perot ntage of ripe grain. Altogether the weather during the past week has been cold and unsettled to an extent to retard harvest especially threshing. A few parcels of the hew crop are in the market, in good order, butprioes are unsettled. At Addington, oh Wednesday, 5020 sheep and lambs, 696 head of cattle, and 64 pigs, comprised the entries for the week. : Bat Shbbt— ln fair supply, selling readily at about last week’s quotations. Fat Lambs— ln excess of demand, and a few lines had to be cleared at reduced prices. Good lambs made 7s 6d, inferior 4s upwards. Fat Cattub.—A full supply in the market, and many of superior quality, especially a' .m.ll Une from Wanganui, which were much admired by the trade. Best quality made froth 27s 6d to SOs, medium from 24s to 275. Pigs—ln demand for stubble feeding. Siobb Oattlb—ln brisk demand, selling very readily at improved prices, according to ages and forward condition. Stoeb Sheet neglected.

Hr Charles Clark reports recent sale* of land by him as follows:—Two qaartec-corea to Worcester street, with house of sis rooms standing on each section, £1000; small section at Opaw* for £IBO j tiro open sections off Ferry rood, near Mr Omrier's, at £75 and £BS each: two seotions (each one-eighth of an acre) on Alkman’a road, with cottage on each; SS feet frontage on Manchester- street, near Woreeatec street, for £looo} three cottages, each of four rooms, standing on smallsactiona off Durham street south, £750; quarter-acre, New Cambridje, £9O; fire sores on fit. John’s road, Woolston, for £SOO cash; two quarter-sores at Opawa tor £BO and £SO respectively ; one-eighth of an sore and small oottage on Altman's road for £110; quarter-sore on same toad for £UO. Mr Alport yesterday sold a house and quarteracre of land to Woolston for £230 cash. COMMEECIAL TELEGEAMS. IsTXßCixom* Feb. 8. Bosiness during the week has been doll. Stocks of breadstuff* are large* and values unchanged. Flour, £lolos. Wheat,-very little of any good to market, Ss lOd to is being the best price offered for good mining; fowl-feed, 2s 9d to 3s; bran, £5; polsrd, £S 10s; oats, 3s 6d to 3a Bd, according to quality: chaff,£slos; oatmeal, £BO. Bank of New Zealand, with right to new issue, £23: without right to new issue, £22; new issue; £2 5s premium ; National, £3 10s; Colonial, cum dir, £2 Ms; usuiance—New Zealand, 77s 6d; National. 25s ; Colonial (7s 6d paid). 68 6d; Union - (15s paid up), 16s; South Britian, £8 7s 6d; Scottish «,iiS New Zealand Investment Co., 17s; Union S.S. Co , £3: New Zealand Shipping Co., ex div, £3l7s 6d ; Moetoel Woollen Factory. £3 7s; Guthrie and : Istraaoh’s Wood wars Factory, £5 ; Otago and Southland' Investment Co., 295. FateattltoWsper lOObs; ordinary, 21s to 2te. Fat aheap .are in fair supply; beat crosa-breda bring from lls6d to 12a ; medium, 10s to Us. ■ Store cattle are to very moderate demand; bullocks, £6 7a 6d ; three year old steers, £5 10s ; cows, £3 3s 6* to £5; yearlings, 42s 6d. Store aheep are in fair demaniL.

CUSTOMS' BBVSNUE. TbeitoHowliurwaa the Customs’ rerenuo collectedoaThunday, reb.8r'v ‘ ' £ s. d. Wioea ... ~ „. ... 3013 8 - Spirits - ... - ... ... 848 3 2 ... ... 87 15 0 1 ... ... 86 8 0 Sugar ~. ... IS* 8 4 - : Treacle ... ... 23 0 10 Goods bj weight ... ... r ... 800 15 10 Ad valorem ... ... 715 6 0 Otherdatles ... ... 4819 0 Total .» ... 40519 2 8