AUCKLAND MARKETS.

Northern Advocate, 8 December 1888, Page 3

AUCKLAND MARKETS.

Auckland, Friday. The developments of the week have been more financinl than mercantile. The fourth, of the month was anticipated to bo free from surprises, but we regret to state it was not so. A prominent merchant in the city has failed. Large speculative purchases have have been made in jams. The bottom level in price is considered to be touched. A gale of several days on the west coast of both islands, and the drought in New South Wales, have reduced tho yiold of fruit immensely. Unfavourable advices of the fruit crop come from Tasmania, and it is considered not unlikely that New Zealand jam will, next season, be imported largely into New South Wales. Agents in Auckland are now making purchases of wheat as far in advance of crops as possible which will bo harvested in Feb., 1889. They are offering 4/ per bushel, paying 25 per cent, of price down. There is a certainty of a good market for a considerable time. One miller in Hamilton has been commissioned to purchase up to 9000 sacks of wheat at 4/G per bushel, delivered at any railway station in the Waikato. GRAIN MARKET. Maize is worth 3/9 on the wharf ; oats, local, according to quality, worth 3/fi to 3/9, but not much doing in southern oats, quotations debarring business. The rainfall in New South Wales has checked speculation in wheat, which remains at 4/3 for local, for southern 5/3. Fowl wheat 4/, but scarce. PRODUCE MARKET. Hams and bacon scarce, and rising as the Christmas demand is overtaking supplies. In produce there is little change. Best dairy butter remains at 8d per lb. wholesale and lOd yetail. Eggs are becoming scarce, but remain at 8d wholesale and lOd retail. KAURI GUM MARKET. The kauri gum market supplies continue heavy. Last month they were 751 tons, and for the eleven months of 1888 they amount to no less than 8131 tons, which is more, by about 2500 tons than the largest supply ever had in one year. We therefore look for quiet markets, and probably a decline as soon as summer gum begins to arrive. The supplies for five days of December are about 80 tons. We quote fair ordinary 33/, best ordinary 34/. East Coast 43/. MR. ALFRED BUOKIAND's REPORT. At the Hay market, during the past week, oaten sheaves of good quality sold better, meadow hay and straw at late values. On Friday there was a full muster of horses, good auimals kept their value, but inferior at lower prices. WOOL SALES. At tho wool sales on Wednesday, between 500 and 600 bales were stacked $nd all sold. Bidding was brisk throughout the sale, but prices obtained were similar to that at last sale, or about id 11). better than last season. At Eemuera on Thursday, dairy cattle were in demand, and advanced in price fully 20/ each. Store cattle in good request. Fat cattle short of usual number at lower values about 1/ per 100 lbs; 14/ per 100 lbs was the ruling prices for good steers. Fat cows maintained late values. Calves in full numbers, without alteration in price. jßbeep plentiful at -last week's values ulanibs abundant, best lambs lower injfrrjces, but madium and store lambs b^ettlar worth, were bought freely by graziers, and prizes ranged 6/ to 9/ each. Pigs in limited number and sold satisfactorily.