COMMERCIAL.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13934, 17 July 1917, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

HOME MARKETS. ■ (Per Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian anil N.Z. Cablo Association) LONDON, Jilly 15. , Danish butter is firm at from 2.10s to 2135. •: ';. Hemp—New Zealand is (Inn; .high point, fair; "July-September; delivery,. £9O. ' -'-W ,': : '' ' . Coprft,—Spot, 4,51. •Rubber.—Para 3s Ojd,. plantation 2s. sjd,- smoked 2s s§<l. • • ' Mutton.—South, American is quotedat fl Oil and laiiib, lid; Australian and New Zealand are unchanged. The imports into Britain last, month decreased by £809,338, the exports- by £3,622,900, and it he re-exports by £244,013, as "compared with last June, The principal import increases included grain and • Hour, £8,134>457; meat, £939,125; non-dutiable goods aiid drink, £1,240,812; pol, £2,953,890,' The/largost import, to decrease coinprised dutiable goods a:id drinks, £1,983,480, SOUTHLAND MARKETS.

INVERCARGILL, July 14. The oats market is at a complete standstill, no business whatever passing with the north, and there is no indication of an improvement for some weeks at. least, northern merchants being supplied with-Australian oats, Although merchants' ideas of values have not receded, they are unwilling to buy, Farmers are more inclined to sell, but there are still a number of them who think it worth while to hold the small quantity they have in store. The oats in this district, both in farmers' and merchants' hands are in such small compass that it. seems hardly possible that there will.be any drop in values worth speaking of. In the meantime values are nominally on the basis of 3s Sd to 3s 9d on trucks for A grade Cartons, B grade being worth about 2d per bushel less. The local demand for chaff is being well supplied by those few farmers who are disposed to sell at current rates, which are £4 10s to £4 lfis on trucks for prime qualify, depending on tije distance from town. Though there do-?s not appear to be any considerable quantity of chaff in the country, a run through the district shows that with nothing, but a local demand' thpro is ample for requirements. Shipping chaff to any of the northern ports, of course is quite impossible, freights being so scarce.

The wholesale demand from northern quarters for ryegrass is still fairly brisk, but supplies in merchants' hands are now decidedly limited. In fact, it is doubtful if there is more than enough for the local,trade. Sales have been made at from Cs 6\l to 7s 3d on. trucks for machine-dressed seed on trucks at Invercargill, If the demand still holds prices must certainly improve.

The hemp market is in an excited condition, and it is hard to fix a value, merchants' ideas being so varied. Binder twine makers have recently put up their prices to a considerable extern, but if these are on the basis of export values for the small quantities fotvwhich space has been available they are hardly a criterion. It would probably be a safe to say that good fair is- worth in the region of £54 on trucks at'-country stations. It is expected that. facili-

tics for shipping, will-be somewhat better duripg 'tlio noxt few, montha owing to the"Primp Minister's statement that very shortly a .considerable, aniount ot space will be available for the Old Conntry, In tlutt case space may be allotted for n fair quantity of liemp. There is probably' a total , of:between 50.Q ;• and 600 'tons in store at Bluff, ami if this quantity • cair be- reduced by !■half it

should have a considerable effect on the values, Toftj on the other hand, 'is absolutely, unsaleable, shipping space for this coiiimoditv being altogether out. of the question. , In stock there is not a' : great deal offering, but any lines are readily disposed of as the market,is keen and feed plentiful. There is a big..demniid i'o'v 18-month-old cattle, and for store sheep. The open and good weather experienced in Southland up to the present seems to hnvo made the'turnips'last loiigcr than otherwise would have been the ease, with'the result that the farmers are wanting.stock to eat the turnips off, as the season is getting fairly "advanced. During the week siries have been held at Mossburn, Woodlands, Otautau, .am] the usual weekly sale at

Wallaeetown. At the Otautau sale there was a yarding of some 4000 sheep, mostly wethers and hoggets, with a sprinkling 6f young ewes. The prices ruling were high for all classes, th? whole entry being cleared, The market for fat stock remains firm witli prices on a par those of last week. Values may be quoted: Fat cattle: Ox beef, 4;ls to 475; heifer beef, 42s fid to 43s fid. Fat sheep: Extra heavy butchers' wethers, Mr, fid .to 43s fid; prime, 37s to Ms; medium, 35s to 365; prime ewes, 35s'to 3Gs (id; medium ewes, 3,18 to 34s fid, Store cattle; !U-year : ol;l bullocks £l2 lfis to £l3 15s; 3-year-old, £ll 155.t0 £l2 15s; 21-year-old £lO l'Os to £l2 ss; 2-year-old, £8 15s to £11; IS months, £6 10s to £7 15s; yearlings, £5 10s to £6 ss; calves, £3 to £4 10s. Store sheep: Two-tooth ewes, 30s to 3Ss; fourtooth, 37s to 38s; six-tooth ewes, 35s fid to 375; fresh and failing-mouth ewes, according to quality, 23s to 20s; mixedsex hoggets, best sorts, 2Ss to 30s; medium sorts, 25s fid to 27s fid; ewe hoggets, 29s to 325; two-tooth wethers, 33a Gd to 355; four and six-tooth, 35s Od to 37s Od.