MARKET REPORTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 9428, 1 June 1891, Page 2

MARKET REPORTS.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, reports on the pram and produce markets, as follows, for the week ending May 30, 1891

Wool/— There will not likely bo any development of importance, pending the opening of the third series of London sales on June 9. It has been decided to close the list when the new arrivals shall reach 400,000 bales. The fourth series is fixed for Sept. 4, and the fifth and final for Nov. 24, in both cases the quantity to be offered being unlimited. Hides.— No deviation from list prices* Tallow and Fat.— Tallow in small lots, 12s Gd to 16s 6d per cwt. Best rough fat. If dtolf d per lb; inferior. Id per lb.

Sheepskins. Catalogues of average quantities were presented this week to the usual attendance of buyers. Owing to the lateness of the hour at which our turn came, we held our catalogue over till next week, when we sell first. Values were somewhat irregular during the day, prices, on the whole, being hardly bo good as before, Butchers’ best cross-bred skins made 4s 9d to 5s 104, ordinary 3s to 8s lOd, best merinos 3s 9d to 4s 6d, ordinary 2a 3d to Ba, lambskins 2s 8d to 4s, country skins 5a 6 d apiece. Wheat.— Our latest cable from London reports the demand steady, and the market unchanged at last quotations. Locally, matters continue quiet. Holders are waiting developments, and millers, being well stocked, are content to remain quieecerit for the time being. Consequently transactions are few, and values remain much as quoted last week, though there is no doubt that the receipt of any extensive orders would promptly affect prices. We quota to-day:—Tuscan, 4s 2d; Pearl, 4s; Hunter’s, 3a Hd; f.0.b., sacks extra.

Oats. —There is a good inquiry for prime qualities, and holders are asking an advance of Id per bushel, but secondary lines are neglected. We quote present prices:—Prime milling la 9d to Is lOd, heavy feed le H to Is BJd, ordinary Is 4d tc Is 7d per bushel f.0.b,, sacks extra. Bablbt.— No improvement to note in this market. Nominal quotations are t Medium 2a 9d to 3s. secondary 2s 3d to 2c 6d, and feed Is 9d to 2s per bushel ex store, sacks extra.

Beans 2b 6d to 2s 8d per bushel, f.0.b,, sacks extra.

Peas.— Prussian Blues 2a 9d to 3a, sacks extra.

Rtegbass.— Town machine-dressed 5s 6d per bushel.

Cocksfoot. Best quality machinadressed s£d to Sid per lb. Potatoes. —Owing to the collapse in prices on the other side, the market here is stagnant and prices nominal. Bine Derwents are quoted at 17s 6d to 20a per ton at country stations. Kidneys 20s to 22s 6d par ton at country stations. Daibt Produce without alteration.

The New Zealand Fabmebs* Co-opera-tive Association of Cantbbbdbt, Limited, report for the week ending May 30, 1891:—Wheat.—Owing to outside inquiry the market is rather firmer, although the orders placed do not cover a very large quantity. Prime Tuscan 4s 3d, Velvet 4s Id, Hunter’s 4s. Oats.—The quantity offering continues small, and the recent improvement in values is maintained, but outside markets are sluggish in responding. Prime milling Is 9d to Is lOd, short feed la Bd, Dans ls§d, Danish Is 6d. Barley.—Transactions are restricted to a few sales of medium quality, for which low prices have been accepted. Prime malting 3s, medium 2s 3d to 2s 6d, inferior 2a. Beans continue in fair request up to 2s 9d f.o.b. Bine Prussian pecs have receded, and 2s 9d is highest value. Potatoes.—The market is still congested with offerings, and sales are difficult to effect. Prices nominally 35s f.0.b., sacks in. Butter— Prime fresh lOd to lid, salt 7d to Bu. Cheese in over supply at 3£d to 4d.

The following is the Corn Exchange report (per Mr N. P. Meyers, Secretary) for the week ending Friday, May 29: Business daring the week has been limited. Some growers are holding, anticipating an increased value, whilst buyers are not anxious to put up prices beyond present quotations. Oats continue firm, more particularly prime milling, but no advance in value can be noted. Barley.—Only really plump malting is wanted, and maltsters are not particularly anxious to buy any but really prime parcels. Beans.—An export inquiry is noticeable for well-threshed lines. Peas.— A better demand can be noted. Potatoes are going into pit, as growers decline to accept the prices offering; quotations are nominal. Dairy produce is unchanged. Quotations; —Wheat: Tuscan 4s Id, Pearl 8s lid. Hunter’s 3s 10d; oats—prime milling Is 9d, short stout feed Is 7d to Is Bd, long and discoloured sorts Is 5d to Is 6d j barley—prime malting 3s to 3s Id, second quality 2s 6d to 2s 9d, feed la 9d to 2sj potatoes (Perwents) 20a at country stations within a twelve-mile radius of Port; peas—Blue Prussians 3s, Dun and other varieties 2g 6d; beans 2s 8d to 2s 9d; Butter, farmers’ beg 7d to Bd, factory make 9d to lOd; cheese—large 3£d, small loaf 4d. The above prices are those paid to farmers for delivery f.o.b, Lyttelton, sacks 6s 6d per dozen.

Messrs H. Matson and Co. (associated with the National M. and A Company of N.Z., Limited) report for week ending June 1, 1891:—Wheat.—The market has undergone very little alteration during the week, business being of a restricted nature. S rices are equally as firm, and holders are not exhibiting any anxiety to quit. Quotations: —Tuscan 4s, Pearl 3s lid. Hunter’s 3s lOd. Oats.—Beyond the local demand there is not much doing. Australian prices are lower than ours relatively, and do not appear likely to improve just now. Milling may be quoted at Is 8d to Is 9d, short feed Is 7d to Is Bd, Dans Is 7d, seed sorts Is 10d. Barley.— More business has been done during the week than for some time past, but prices have not improved the slightest. Best samples 2s 9d to 3s, medium 2s 4d to 2s 6d, common 2s to 2s 3d, feed Is 9d. Potatoes have gone from bad to worse, and can only be quoted at 17s to 20s at country stations. Growers are pitting freely rather than accept those prices. The complaints this season as to quality are numerous, owing to the quantity of second growth. Grass seeds are dormant at present. Beans are better value at Home, and consequently meet with more support here at 2s 7d to 2s Bd. Peas.—Blue Prussians 2s 6d to 2s lOd, feed 2a 6d. Dairy Produce. — Butter 7d, cheese 4d. Quotations are f.o.b. (potatoes excepted), sacks extra. Grain Sales.—Saturday's auction was well represented by the trade, and the prices realised for various lines were as follow: Wheat.—Chick 2s 9d, milling 3a lid, seed (Pearl) 4s Id. Oats Is 6d to Is 7d. Barley. —Malting 2s 3d to 2s lOd. Potatoes.— Derwents 17a to £l, Early Kose <£3 10s to £S 15b. Onions J 34 per ton. Prices are ex store.

Mr D. Thomas reports upon the live stock market in the Ashburton district for the week ending Friday, May 29, as follows: On Tuesday at the Tinwald yards the usual weekly sale of live stock was held. The attendance of farmers and others was below the average, caused no doubt by the Hon W. S. Peter’s funeral taking place on that day. Tho deceased gentleman was so highly respected in the district that farmers and others.

travelled from great distances to pay a U.'. tribute to his memory. To all classes o? sheep,except those fit for turnips, prices declined to a very considerable extent, whilst for turnip sheep the reverse was the case, better values being obtained than we have yet seen this season. The contributions of merino sheep from the back country this season have been heavier than usual, and on Tuesday over 2000 of them were yarded, thus swelling the catalogue and making the shareholders of the Yards Company to rejoice. The catalogue for the day comprised 5024 sheep, 30 head of cattle and 7 pigs, of which my entry consisted of 1234 sheep, 30 head of cattle and 7 pigs. My principal sales wore—33 fat croas-breds, list 25 fat merino ewes, 5s Sd; 42 fat cross-bred ewes, 10s 6d; 42 ditto, ds 9d; 26 fat crossbred ditto, 9s 9d; 60 fat merino ewes, fie 2d; 200 cross-bred ewes in lamb, 10a 9d; 23 merino ewes, 2a 7d; 77 cross-bred ewes, fat; 11s lid: 185 two and four-tooth oross-breds, mostly wethers, 15s 9d; 275 merino wee, 6a fid; 214 cross-bred lambs, 9s 10d; In cattle the demand was simply disheartening in the extreme.' I bad the! whole entry to myself, and 'although the ; quality was good, I could .only sell atlowj figures. I sold a springer at X 77s fid; S head of cattle at £5 7s fid; 6 head at JB* 3s each; 8 head at £5 18s fid each ; 2 head,’ at 6s | I ditto. JB4 ; 2 eighteen-month- ; old heifers at 81s each. No demand totpigs. On Friday I held my usual forte; nightly sale of sheepskins, hides, fat and! tallow, at which there was a good at-'; tendance of buyers. My catalogue con-; sisted of 974 sheepskins, 10 hides, 2 bags! fat, 12 bags of wool looks and pieces,: all of which were cleared at. values higher by fid a skin than those realised a fortnight ago. Best cross-bred skins brought 4s, 4s 3d, 4s fid to 4a 9d each; second; quality, 2s lOd, Ss 3d,Bs fid, 8s 9d to 8s lid; each; best merinos made, for woollies, 6s fid to 5s lOd each; this year's skins, 4s to > 4s 4d; second quality, 2s, 8s 3d to 8s 10d' each; inferior and dry, 3d, 9d to Is .fid each; hides, l£d per Id ; fat, l£d per lb ; wool, Gd to s£d; pieces, 2£d to Bsd par lb. On Thursday I held a clearing sale tot Mr T- Holmes, of the Hinds. There was a' good attendance of buyers, and for cattle, pigs and sundries good values were .ob-; tained, but for horses the demand was slack; most of these were passed at the sale, but several were disposed of afterwards at satisfactory prices.

Messrs D. Thomas, Qeobqb Jameson and Feiedlandeb Bros, held a sale ,of skins, wool, hides and tallow at their respective stores, Ashburton, yesterday. About a thousand skins were offered, the competition was brisk, and .the prices realised very satisfactory. ’ Merino Slnn* sold at from Is Id to 5a lOd, oroSa'-brods 2a lOd to 5s 2d, pelts 3d to la 4d, wool 4Jd to Did, hides 3d for 601 b or over, 2d for 601 b, lid for 601 b, Id for bull's and damaged, fat lid.