COMMERCIAL NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 15, Issue 1295, 9 June 1893, Page 6

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

THE DUNEDIN MARKETS. The Farmers' Agency Company, Limited, report for the week ending Wednesday, June 7 : — Fat Cattle— l 63 head yarded. To-day's supply of beef — as will be seen from the above numbers— was scarcely an average one as regards quantity, but there was a decided falling off in quality, the bulk of the cattle in hand consisting of cowa and heifers and light-weight bullocks. The comparatively few lots of prime beef sold at a shade only below last week's rates, but for other descriptions a dull trade was experienced, ana a gcol few lots were passed duiing the early stages of ihe auction. Towards the close of the sale competition improved for all classes, and the various lots were then cleared at more satisfactory prices. Best bullocks brought L 7 10a to L 8 103 ; medium to good, L 6 10a to L 7 sa ; light, Lsto L 6 ; best cows and heifers, L 6 2i 6d to L 7 10s ; medium, L 5 6s to L 5 15s ; light and inferior, L 3 to LI sa. Fat Sheep— 237B penned, of which about 500 were merinos. The consignments by rail this wesk were by no rueanß heavy, but several good sized lines by road from the Taieri and other districts brought the day's numbers well up to an average entry, and considerably in excess of the supply for several weeks past. With but few exceptions, the sheep on ofler were of good class— this remark applying to both crossbreds and merinos, the latter comprising several of the best lots sent to hand this season. As the I " trade " had few if any on hand.jfche larger number offered to-day was readily absorbed by the local buyers, bidding coming freeJy throughout the sale, resulting in a ready clearance of all lots. It is trua that the top prices to»day were scarcely fqual (o those of last week, but this was due more to the difference in the weight and quality of the sheep than to any falling off in prices. We consider that the best wethers sold at very little below last week's exceptionally high rates— i.e., calculated at perlb, — but secondclass lines were secured on terms rather mor&> favorable to the purchaser, and especially so towards the finish of the sale. On (he whole, however, a very satisfactory clearance was made. X&e primest and best crossbred wethers brought fjom J6s 3d to 17s 6d — a few extra good to 18s ; medium to good, Us to 15s 6d ; light weights, 12s 6d to 13s 6d ; heavy weight ewes, J53 to 17s | 3d ; medium, 133 to 14s ; ethers, 10s 6J to 12?. The merino wethers were, with come few exceptions, especially good ; a portion of Messrs J. and H. Wilson's consignment selling at 14?, other good lines ils 6rt to 13s, medium Us to 103, light and inferior 6s to 7s 6d. Lambs— 32 penned, which sold at from 8s 6d to 103 6d. Pigs— To-day 'a entry consisted of 69, r?presenting all classes. There was a good demand for bacon pigs and porkers, and for such very satisfactory prices were obtained, weanera and stores changing bands &t late rates, which may be said to have been in buyers' favor. Bacon lines brought 36s to 43s ; porkers, 23a to 32a ; stores, 193 to 22s ; weaner?, 9a to 10a 6d ; slipg, 14s to 163. Wheat. — The local market is in nearly the same position ac last week, and sothiDg of importance has transpired to affect values one way or the other, indeed, latest ad rices from Home indicate a drop, but so far this has not affected our pricfg, and prime lots, wlicb un fortunately are rather Bca r ce, can be reanily placed at quotation*, JJedium is almost neglected, ana tj tffect sales low | prices hive to be accepted. It is impossible to fcrecast the probable outccme of this cereal, but in the face of English and Ameiican advices we do cot see that prices can improve for seme considerable time. Quotations are '. Prime milling velvet an! Tuscan, 2a 9d to 2s lid ; red sir.iw, §i 8 1 to 2s lOd ; medium to good, 2s" 5d to" 2s 8d ; infeiioi, 2s to 2s 4d (ex stor°, sacks weighed in, terms). Oatf. — Business haa rather decreased and buyers are not so arxious to operate nnle s at prices lower ih:n hays been lately ruling. Fortunately the quantity cffeiing is also on the decrease, aad f,his ha* the tffect of keeping puces firm in the meantime. Quotations '. Bright, stout milling, Is yj to la 1.0-1 j best hxight feed, Is 9d to Is 9_l ; medium, ls.Bd to is 84-1 ; inferior, Is 61 to Is 7_i ; black and Danish, Is 7d to Is S^d (ex store, sacks extra, ne'). Grass Seed. — Inquiries have been made during the week, but no business has resulted. Quotations ; Machine dressed, 3s Ql to 3s 9J ; medium, 3s to 3* 3d (ex store, sacks extra, net). Cocksfoot. — Best diessed, 3£d to 3f 1 ; medium, 2d to §d. i'otatygs have jaofp inquiry, and all con-

signments coming to hand meat with ready i sale at for best Derwents, 67s 6d to 62s 6d ; j medium, 50s to 55s (ex store, sacks weighed ' in, net). . . • , Cb&ff — Market still over supplied, and priceß in consequence, even for prime, are suffering, and until the large quantities of inferior and medium are cleared values are likely to remain at for best, 45a to 47a 6 i ; medium, 353 to 423 6 1 ; inferior, 25s to 303.