COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10310, 31 March 1894, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Friday evening?. Business during the week has been interrupted by the holidays. The demand has been much on the same scale aa in the previous week. In all departments complaints of the want of life in trade are made, and not much improvement for a time at least can bo expected. The one bright spot in the meantime is the continued high prices ruling for frozen mutton in the London market. The difficulty in securing shipping accommodation this season has been felt more than usually. In the report presented on Thursday to the shareholders of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company the grievance was forcibly alluded to, and it is to be hoped that the attention which has been directed to this blemish in the conduct of the trade will load to an amendment. If farmers would only gi?o a more sustained support to regular shipping, the difficulty would be greatly obviated. The output of the local dairy factories_ ir meeting with fair support, and is selling readily at lOd to the distributors. The London price, according to the latest cables, is somewhat easier. The market is extrenmly bare of locally grown cowgrasa and red clover, and priest', until the new season’s crop is available, are almost prohibitive. The incoming crop will, it is evident from appearances, be a heavy one. Kerosene has lately been offered at a ebado under recent quotations! The price la nominally Is 6d, but for parcels less money would bo accepted. The last of tie Queensland augara ia coming, in*

and the market will soon be dependent to some extent on the Victorian and Auckland refineries. In teas the inquiry for Oeylona and Indians has been languid. Stocks of both are more than ample to meet the inquiry. Dried fruits ate being ** out/' importers being forced to meet the lower values of consignments to arrive. In oils there is little doing. Castor is quoted at 2s 93 to 2a lid, boiled and raw linseed 3s 3d to 3a sd. In the present depressed state of the building trade a slack inquiry for galvanised iron excites no comment. Paints outside of trade demands are without life. There is not much doing in fencing wire, but as winter draws on importers look for a more active notice. Wire sheep netting is being distributed at 3£d to 4 jd to farmers, according to gauge. For bluestone the inquiry has slackened. In wines and spirits only a moderate business has eventuated.

GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

The Easter holidays have somewhat interfered with business in the grain market. A limited trade in wheat has transpired, transactions carried throngh having been on the basis of Is lid to 2s id. Oats. —For the finer sorts the market is a shade firmer. We quote milling 1s 7d to Is Bd, short feed Is 6d to is 7d, Duns and other sorts Is 4d to la 6d. Barley. —Not much has transpired in this cereal. We quote prime 8a 9d to 8a lOd, medium 3s 3d to 3a fid, Cape 2s to 2s 2d. Beans and Peas.— We have no change to report. Beans 2s 7d to 2a 9d, Frusaian Blue peas 2s 8d to 3s. Flour.— Roller JB7, stone JBS 10s. Oatmeal AlO. Grass Seed.— The demand (or ryegrass has slightly slackened, although prices have not altered. Cocksfoot is unaltered. Holders of good seed are not offering in quantity. Dairy Produce.— Butter fid to 7d, factory 9d to lOd. Cheese 3£d to 4d.