COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7562, 29 May 1885, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Thursday Evening. CUSTOMS REVENUE. The following was the Customs revenue collected yesterday !—Spirits, £ll6 4s 2d; cigars, £ll ss; tobacco, £122 17s ; wine, £6 3s; tea, £2O 7s 4d: coffee, £lss; sugar, £9817s 3d ; goods by weight, £57 Ss Id : ad valorem, £45 18s; other duties, £l 14s ; total, £48115s lOd. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited; has received the following cablegram, dated London, May 26. Wool. —Market unchanged. Wheat.—Market quiet. Adelaide is worth 3fis -6d; New Zealand, 33s 6d; and Tuscan, 36s ;>er 4961 b; Adelaide, f.a.q., is worth, c.i.f. to arrive, Sss 6d per 4801 b. Tallow.—Market flat. Mutton is worth 31s, and beef 29s perewt. Leather.—Market unchanged. Frozen Meat. —Market quiet. Mutton weighing per carcase 701 b to 751 b is worth Sid per lb, and lamb is worth 7|d per lb. LOCAL MARKETS. Messrs H. Matson and Co. report on the live stock market, &c., for the week ending Thursday, May 28,1885, as follows: — Yesterday’s “ fixture ’’ of the Grand National and other racing events militated somewhat against the success of the weekly sale at Addington, both iu the matter of the supply of stock as also in the attendance of buyers. Of fat sheep there were, perhaps, less than half an average supply, i.c ,, in comparison with the sales as ruling throughout the year, though the small number on offer did not fall far short of the quantity to hand for the past three weeks or a month. As before mentioned, buyers were indifferently represented, and this, together with the general weakness of trade, prevented the small market from having any effect in the way of improving values. Throughout the sale competition flaaged considerably, a few lines of the best quality wethers alone oommandiue anything like attention. On account of Mr A. Dawson we topped the market with a small line' of choice wethers, some of which ranged os high as 16s, the balance selling at 13s 6d to 14s 6d. Mr John Murray’s wethers were also very good, and sold up to Xss Cd, making an average of 14s 9d for the line. For Mr Stoddart wo also sold mixed 2-tooth half-breds at lls; mixed cross-hreds for Mr Storey at KW-Gd; a few pens of the Horsley Downs wethers, account Messrs MallocK and Lance, at 0s 9d to 7s 9d; crossbred wethers for Mr Langdon at 13s to 13s 9d; cross-hired owes for Mr Milu at lls to 12s 3d; 2-tooth cross-hreds for Mr Kmley at Hs to lls 6d, merino wethers at 4s 6d, &c. Despite the fact of the increased growth of wool week by week, we cannot quote any improvement in the current average value per lb for mutton, which still rules rather below 2d than over. In stores, there was nominally nothing doing, a tew pens only being on offer, of which not more than a couple of lots were sold. In accordance with a resolution recently passed by the Directors of the Canterbury Saleyards Company, yesterday saw the inauguration of the new system of commencing_the fat cattle sales at these yards at eight o'clock in the morning, instead of holding them in the afternoon, or, we may say, evening, as heretofore. The day being a partial holiday, and this the first sale at the newly appointed hour, there was hut a small attendance at the opening; hut this was soon augmented by others of the trade, the result being that we were able to clear the whole of our entry , at prices certainly exhibiting more firmness than those ruling for many weeks past. There is no doubt wha sever but that buyers will soou realise the advantages of this early morning sale, enabling them, as It does, to have a choice In their purchases, as also to transact their business at-such an hour , of the day that the stock may be removed before nightfall. On account of Mr TV. Boagwe sold 6

head steers at £7 10s, 4at £7 7s 6d; account Mr Mason. ’ 6 at £5 10b ; account Messrs Hendersm and M*Beath, 4 at £5 s * *S £6 7s 6(1: account Mr Tabor, 6 at £6 10*; account Mr Stack, 4 at £4, 2s 6d; account Mr Kruse, 3at £5 15s, 3 at £4 ss, *c., equal to lucent quotations of from 16s to 18s per 1001 b. In store cattle, tlie entry was but a moderate one, most of the lines ou offer changing hands at late ruling low rates. Pig* again formed au important part or the day's sale, over 300 of all sorts being penned. Although mostly bacon pigs, they were of a lighter class than usual, and consequently failed te command the same amount of competition that more suitable weights have done hitherto. Still every lino was cleared, stores, and the class of pigs above referred to, alone foiling to uphold recent quotations. tiur entry we quitted as under:—3s at43s, G at 365, G at 325. 6 at 27s 6d, 5 at 265. 6 at 395, 7 at 255, 6 at 24a, G at 235, 8 at 24a, 3 at Sts 6d, o at 40s, o at 395, 5 at 375, 5 at G' s, 8 at 49s 6d, 8 at 525, 5 at 2-3 fid 6at Sis. &c. The totals yarded for the day comprised 3857 sheep. 236 head of cattle, and 326 pigs, of which our entry comprised 1148 sheep, lio head of cattle, and 160 pigs, tor Messrs John Murray, W. J. Stoddart, Mallock and Lance, Thomas Langdon, J. M'Guinem, A. Dawson, John Miln, C. Storey, F. Curtis, James Kinley, Hendcisou and M‘l3eath, William Boag. J. Mason, James Stack. W. Fahey. W. Tabor, T>. Kruse. C. Ponnmghaus, A. M’Meekan, L. Gills, W. Milson, K. C, Candy, D. McCarthy, T. S. Kelly, F. Ward, h. Gerkon, W. F. Pannett, W. Baker, W. Miles, G. Barty, J. Taylor, J. Bowfield, C. O Lonnor, W. J. Norrie, C. H. Parker, W, H. Cooper, B. fubman, G. Litchfield, J. Falcon, and others. ‘‘ Canterbury Hobbe Market.—At Tatrorsall s ou Saturday last our entry for the day compris-d 98 horses, including the usual assortment of heavy draughts, plough and farm horses, hacks, &c.» &c. The most noticeable features of the sales at present is the comparative scarcity of young horses coming forward. Of aged stock, there is any quantity on offer, which the somewhat weakened state of the market makes it at present difficult to quit. It is true that about tho same number of exchanges take place week by week, but icr all ‘descriptions of draughts prices are ruling lower, horses ou the shady side of six years old buffering to the greatest extent. For such there is a failing off in price of from £3 to £5 per head during the past two or three months, the heavy shipments from this and other ports to New South Wales having to a certain extent blocked the Sydney market, and so weakened that of our own* As special lines, we sold on Saturday, account MrJ* Tierney, a team of six contract horses at from £ll to £25 : account Mr D. Cameron, six or seven of a lighter class at from £9 10s to £l2; for various owners, a number of average farm horses at from £l2 to £22 lOs j good hacks, £J7 to £3O; ordinary do, £8 to £l2; three-year-old unbroken colts, £l3 to £l4los. In all we placed about 65 horses during the day, as also a quantity of harness, &c. ■ Wool, Sheepskins, Hides, Hough Pat and Tallow.— At our usual weekly sale of the above, held at the Canterbury Wool Stores, the catalogue comprised 2452 sheepskins, 57 bales of ditto, 147 ox hides and calfskins, 182 bags and packages rough fat, several casks tallow, and a few bags of wool, all of which found buyers equal to quotations as under. —Butchers* cross-breds,from Ss, 3s 6d, 3sOd, 3s lid, 4s, 4s 3d, 4s 6d, 4s Bd, 4s 10d to 5s each, the latter price being obtained for a line sent to hand by Mr A. S. Bull; butchers’ merinos, from 2s, 2s 3d, 2s 6d, 2s lOd, 3s, 3s 4d, 3s 6d, 3s 8d to 4s each; hogget skins to 3s 3d each; country skins, crossbreds, up to 4s 8d each.; ditto merinos, up to 3s 8d each. Sheepskins in bales sold at the following rates; 36 bales of merino skins at 4fd per lb; 16 bales of merino skins, 4jd per lb; 3 bales of crossbred skins at 4fed per lb; 2 bales of lambskins at 4&d per lb. Bough fat, Ud, 2d to 2Jd per lb, the bulk of the entry selling at 2d per lb; tallow (inferior), at 23s per cwt; hides at late quotations. Merchandise Auction.— On 'Tuesday last, at our salerooms, Cashel street, we held an auction of surplus stores on account of the New Zealand Shipping Company. The stores being all first quality, made up of the best brands in the market, Induced a largo attendance of buyers, who competed keenly for every lot, resulting in a clearance at very satisfactory prices.

Messrs Robert Wilkin and Co. report:—At the Addington Yards on Wednesday, a very limited entry of fat and store stock came forward. There was only tv modertvto attendance of tli© trade, and. the small supply offered proved fully equal to requirements. A new feature in the order of the sale was effected for the first time in starting the sale ot the fat cattle at eight o’clock, at which hour the first lot was offered, and the various lines were all cleared by nine o’clock, at prices ranging from £5 to £7 XOs. In fat sheep tho few lines offered found buyers at, for prime cross-hreds, from 13s to 16s, good do from 11s 6d to 12s fid, or equal to an average of 2d per lb. A large entry of pigs again came to hand, which met a dragging sale at a further reduction ou last week’s prices. Wool, bheepskias, Hides, Fat, and Tallow.—At the New Zealand wool stores on Thursday, we held a very good sale ot the above; fall entries coming to hand, and a clearance of everything being made by a full gathering of local buyers for every lot offered. We sold butchers’ cross-hreds up to 4s lid; ditto merinos, 2s lid ; cross-bred wool, 7d; merino, G’d; dead wool,s|d; pieces, 3id; sundry lots, up. to 7id per lb. Our catalogue comprised 1940 sheepskins, 37 bales and bags wool, 108 packages and casks fat and tallow, 59 hides and calfskins, which wo sold at the following prices:—Butchers’ crossbreds, 2s lOd, 3s 3d, 3s Bd, 3s lid, 4s, 4s Id, 4k 2d, 4s Bd, 4s lid ; ditto merinos. Is lid, 2s 2d, 2s 4d, 2s 7d, 2s lid ; dry country skins, various, is 6d, 2s, 2s 6d, to 6s 6d; rough fat and tallow, IJd, 2d, 2’d, 2-id per lb; tallow in casks, 16s 6d to 20s per cwt; wool, various, ns above; hides and calfskins, at current rates.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports on the Live Stock Markets for the week ending May 28: — Totals yarded at Canterbury Saleyaeds on May 27Sheep, 3357; cattle, 236 ; pigs, 326. Sheep.—With only a moderate number, penned, and a good attendance of the trade, firmer values might reasonably have been expected for fat sheep. This, however, was scarcely the case, though, in some instances, for superior quality, better prices were obtained than those recently quoted. But though, as stated, values were, to some extent, irregular, yet in few cases was there brisk competition, and the indifferent attitude so frequently of late exhibited by the trade was pretty well subtained throughout the auction. Mutton of prime quality can only be quoted at 2d per lb, while inferior is slow of sale at a less rate. We sold excellent fat ewes for Messrs Mathias and Bandall at 11s 9d, and for other owners at quotations, yarding for the day 1109 sheep, and only returning 80 unsold. Prime' fat cross-bred wethers realised 12s 3d, 12s 9d, 14s, 14s 9d, 15s 6d and 16s; mixed sexes, 9s 3d, 10s Sd, Us 3d, 12s 9d and 13s; ewes, 9s 6d, 10s, lls, 11s Bd and 12s 3d; merino ewes, Ss, 6s and 7s 0d for fair quality, and inferior 4s 6d. In the store department the entries were few and the proceedings devoid of life. Doubtless the counter attraction of the races had a deleterious influence on the attendance at the yards. For Mr K. Tarr, wo sold mixed ages cross-bred ewes in lamb at 8s fid and lambs at 7s 4d, and placed a large line of aged store merino wethers at 2s -Od. Pigs.—An average number yarded, and all were sold at prices showing no alteration from our late quotations. If any difference con be noticed it was slightly in favour of buyers. Cattle. —Pursuant to announcement, the beef auction started at 8 a.m,, aud with a fair attendance of the trade—who doubtless require time to get accustomed to the innovation—the result must do gratifying to cattle owners. For without doubt there was, if not a hardening of values, at least bettor competition, and the sale passed off with more spirit than has been lately shown. Prime quolity made 18s per 1001 b. Store cattle weie to hand ia moderate numbers only, and little business resulted. Private Sales. —During the week we have placed 1072 merino owes at 7s 3d, 1283 do at 7s fid; also, 500 cross-bred lambs at 7s fid. District Sales. At Ashburton County Saleyards, on May 26, there was an unusually small entry of sheep, not more than WOO of all sorts being yarded. Fat Sheep.—Only 15 cross-bred ewes were. yarded, and these failed to find a buyer. Store sheep sold as follows:—Merino ewes, 5s Sd, 2s lOd and Is fid; cross-bred lambs, 7s lid; 2-tooth crossbred wethers, lls Id, lls fid and lls Bd. Cattle.— Small entry aud no quotable alteration in prices.

Messrs Bennetts Bros, report on the Live Stock Market for the week ending Thursday, May 28, as followsAs was to he expected, hut a small number of stock were yarded at Addington on Wednesday, the figures being 3357 sheep, 236 head of cattle, and 326 pigs. Sales commenced in accordance with the new regulation, at 8 o’clock, with fat cattle, in the presence of a limited attendance of the trade. This however, quickly improved, and most lots found purchasers at about late rates. On account of Mr James Kimber, we offered a line of 20 head prime bullocks, which fetched up to £6 7s 6d per head, other lines to £7 7s 6d; heifers, £4 ■ 15s to £5 17s Cd. The fat sheep were of raised quality, the demand proving very dull, late values ruling. Cross-bred wethers sold at from lls to 15s fid ; do ewes, 9s 9d to lie ; merino wethers, 6s to 7s 9d. Very few store sheep were on offex-, a line of cross-bred wethers at 10s 6d; a line of ewes and lambs, at 8s 6d ; and lambs at 7s were about the only sales. A very little demand was shown for store cattle; dairy cows sell very freely. Bigs were in good supply, both haooners and porkers meeting with a good enquiry at late rates. Our entries were on account of Messrs W. Burke, F. Beeves, A. Jordan, J. Calder, J. Coe, 6. Bell, W. Palmer, F. Bevan, H. Bane, J. Kimber, F. Greeno, H. Toppin, F. Perry, CL Knight, A. Grant, A. F. Bennetts, and others, and our sales included 65 sheep at lls 9d, on account of Mr J. Coe, Irwoll ;71 at lls 3d, 30 at lls, 34 at 10s 9d, 82 at 9s 9d, 7 steers at £6 7s 6d, 4 at £6 7a 6d, 6at £5 10s, 6at £5, 3at £1 17s 6d. In dairy stock we sold springers at £6 7s 6d, £7 Ss, and £8; and during the week privately we have disposed of several lines of store sheep and cattle at market rates. Sheepskins, Hides, Fat, Tallow, &c.—At our yards this day we held our usual sale of above. A good attendance of fellmougers assembled, and biddings for the various lots were keen. • We sold cross-bred skins at from 3s 3d to 4s Bd, merino skins 2s lOd to 4S, and country skins Is 3d to 3s Bd. The fat market showed a little better tendency; we cleared our entry at l-Jd to 2d per lb. Hides are wanted; we sold our entry as follows :-Colb and upwards, 4d per lb; 501 bto 601 b, 3sd; and under 501 b, 3d per lb; calfskins, 4d per lb. Poultry, &c. —At our yards on Saturday last we held our usual weekly sale, cataloguing a heavy entry. Table fowls sold at from 2s 9d to 3s Cd per pair; ducks, 3s to 4s; geese, Cs to Bs.

Messrs W. A. Brown and Co. report:—At our Lichfield street Yards last Saturday there was, as usual, a very large attendance of buyers and sellers, and prices right through were in advance of the previous week. Wo are also very pleased to state that the demand for pigs was certainly much tetter than for some time past, the prices realised being somewhat better; and there is no doubt of there being an upward tendency in this respect, and we expect to see prices ruling a good deal better for the future. There was a very large quantity yarded, and the following are some of the prices realisedWeaners, Ss 6d, 6s, 7s Od, 10b, 13s, up to 15a fid; stores (small), 175,18 s fid, 22bifid, 255, to 27s j porkers, 255, 27s fid, 30s fid, to 345; baconers (nice weight and quality), 30s, 355, 4fis, to 49s fid. Cows in nulk are in demand, but not many

yarded this week. Calves. —A good entry, and the prices realised were from Is 6d. 2s, 3s 6d, 6s. 8s 6d, 9s 6d to lie. Poultry,—A large quantity entered, prices ranging, ■on the whole, slightly in advance of last week. Good table fowls realising from 3s 3d to 4s 9d a pair; medium ditto, from 2s 9d to 3s Id; inferior birds, from Is 3d to 2s 6d ; chicks, Is 9d to 2s 3d ; cochins Os to 7s 6d, and brahmas up to 8s a pair; bantams fetched from 3s 9d a pair. Ducks realised from 3s to 4s 6d a pair, and geese from Os, Os 04, 7s, to 7s Cd, and extra fat geese up to 9s a pair; turkeys, 10s £o 15s a pair; pigeons. Is 3d to 2s 9d a pair ; doves, from 5s to Os Od; rabbits, from Is, Is 6<l, 2s, 2s 6d, to 3s a pair; guinea p’gs, from Is to 2s a pair. Mutton. — A large quantity of carcases and half-sides sold freely at fiom 2s to 4s Od for carcases, and Is 6d to 3s for half-sides. Produce. —Potatoes, kidneys, fetched up to 3s Od, and Derwentsup to 4s Od a bag, while onions realised about Os to Os Od a sack, amt carrots Is 6d to Is 9d; chickwbeat about the same as last week, viz., about 7s to 8s a bag. On Tuesday we held a clearing sale of furniture at Sydenham, at which there was a fair attendance of buyers, add prices ou the average throughout were exceedingly good.

Messrs Muxs and Co. report upon the Local Markets for the week ending Thursday, May 28, as follows : - Addington.—Owing, no doubt, in some measure to Wednesday being a half-holiday, the ‘entries at Addiuetou were very light, comprising only 3357 sheep, 23G cattle, 326 pigs. Uf the sheep, a very small proportion of fat were penned—scarcely more than half the usual supply coming forward. Such ns there were, however, proved fully sufficient for requirements, which, owing to the absence of enquiry for export, were rather limited. Amongst the entries were two or three very jirimo lots, the hulk, however, consisting of merino wether and cross-bred ewe mutton. The sale was dull throughout, and no. appreciable alteration in values has to be recorded. Crossbred wethers sold from 12s 6d to 14s, and for a small consignment of heavyweights, up to 15s Cd each- Fat Cattle. —Acting ou a resolution passed at a recent meeting of the Directors of the Saleyards the auction of beef started at eight o’clock a.m. Although at the commencement buyers wore not in great force, their numbers wore considerably augmented as the sale jiroccedcd, aud business, which at the beginning was rather dull, improved considerably, values ou the whole being, if not enhanced, at any rate firm, at recent quotations. There can be no question as to the wisdom of the step taken in holding the beef sale at this hour,, and we feel confident it will meet with the approval and support of both buyers and sellers. Store Sheep.—The store sheep on offer comprised only a few pens ot cross-bred ewes, merino wethers, and cross-bred lambs. Business was without quotable alteration in values. Cross-bred wethers sold np to 10s 6d; do, ewes, at 8s ; cross-bred lambs, at 7s ; merino wethers almost unsaleable. Store Cattle.— Small entry and business extremely dull aud limited. Dairy stock are still in g-iod demand, good springers close on calving, realising up to £7los. Pigs.—The entry ot pigs was scarcely so large as ot late. As regards quality, some very choice lines of baconers came forward. Although the demand was good for this class of stock, it was evident that buyers had made up their minds not to exceed certain figures, and competition was therefore anything but keen. In' porkers somewhat better business was transacted, but ou tho whole 3id per lb can he taken ns tho quotation for the day. Country Sales.—On Friday lost we held n clearing sale at Mr John Brown’s farm, Hororata, when a fair catalogue ot stock, Ac., was disposed of at prices equal to quotations. Private bales.—Privately during the week we have sold, on account of various clients, 750 cross-bred sheep for export at full rates. Land Sale.—We have also sold, on account of Captain M'Clatohie, 456 acres land at Waikori at £3 per acre. Skins, Fat, &o.—At our Wool Stores, on Thursday, we quitted a good catalogue of the above to the usual attendance of the trade. Biddings were not so spirited, and prices show a decline on recent rates. We sold butchers’ cross-hreds at up to 4s 6d; ditto merinos, to 3s 9d. Pat, IJd, 1-Jd to 2d per lb. Privately, last week, wo disposed of several lines of factory cross-bred skins as follows: 1000 at 4s Bd, 500 at 4s 6d. -