COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7863, 4 February 1887, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herat.!) Office. Thursday evening. I The Customs receipts to-day were £924 19 < 51. j The import market has been rather quiet this j week—a somewhat unusual thing at the com- , mencement of a new month. Demand is mostly confined to everyday stuff, j in which the only change occurring has been a rise of £1 per ton on Company 6 No. 1 sugar, and a greater inquiry for salmon. Trade wanes in this line are now not easily supplied. Stocks all over the colony are very low. A little business has been done in Californlan table fruitssfor the South. Cornsacks are a iittlo stiffar ; a fair distributing trade being done at 5s 91 by the bale. In the grain market maize has gone up to 3s 6d, with scarce supplies at that. Oats remain at 2s to 2s 6d. Milling wheat is worth 4« 3d to 4s 6d. Chick wheat, none in the market. Potatoes are worth £4 10s. In the local produce market eggs have ad-, vauced to Is 3d per dozen wholesale, and Js 6d per dozen retail. Butter remains as last week, prices being merely nominal, and the quality supplied very bad. Several of the large butterproducers have ceased attempting to make butler for the present. Wholesale prices range from about 6d per lb upwards, according to quality. Practically the trade In butter, save that stored from the spring yield, has for the present ceased. Another "departure" has, we understand, caused anxiety to confiding creditors. This time it is an auctioneer who has sought fresh fields and pastures new, Southern houses being considerable victims. The Cape Colony, says the European Mull of December 17, is likely soon to lose the n onopoly of one of its important special local industries—ostrich farming. Enterprising men in various parts of the world, attracted by'the profits to be made from the feathers, hare imported these birds, and we find them thiiving now in the River Plate, at Dslhi in India, in South Australia, and New Zealand. The first consignment of over 2000 feathers from the fetter colon; was lately received by the Rimu-

BID ? na.-Air-waiK.wi '■■■■ — i ■———■ J f.Rk* from the ostrich farm of Mr. John J. Mitson, Springfield, Papanui, Christchurch, and have been offered at the public sales this week. They wore forwarded to the firm of Messrs. lvedfern, Alexander and Co., of Great Winchester-street, and a hotter selection could slot he mills, seuinß that M-. P. Vandorbyl, a member of that firm, was the first to suggest and carry into practice some twenty years ago domestication of the ostrich in the Cape Colony, though others hare subsequently takon the credit of organising this industry, which has now attained such a high degree of importance as to reach in one year a sum of one million "terliug in value for the feathers exported. Mr. Mitson has sent instructions horn# to have two fans made of the choicest feathers, to be presented to Her Majesty the Queen and the Princess ot Wales. W'hgtbor the climate of New Zealand is suited to the production of the ostrich remains to bo proved ; but as other ostrich-like birds—the moa and tho apteryx— formed part of its indigenous avi-faunn, the inferences are favourable. The Capo Parliament, by putting a prohibitive export duty of £100 on each bird, and £5 on each ostrloh egg, have tried to check competition, but are too lata in their efforts. At tin? last auctions of tho present year, held from December 13 to the lGth, there was a good attendance of buyers, and whites and famlu# were well competed for, the former at fully 10 per cent, advance, especially the common and Medium qualities, and tho lattor averaged 10s 'v lb above th>-> October auctions, The auctions comprised 18:56 oases Cape and New 'alaud, ami 26 cases Egyptian, of which 1702 of the former and 18 of the latter sold. The quantity sold realised about £77,000. Quotations are sot down as follows by Messrs. Hale and Son White primes and bloods, superior cut or light quills, £10 to £12 ; ditto, Ists, £6 lOi to £10; ditto, 2nds, £4 to £7 ; ditto, 3rds, 40! to £4 10s; ditto, stalky and inferior, 25s to 50* ; white femiua tipped. £4 to £7 ; feuiina, light lsts and 2nds, good, £:> 10* to £6 10.1 ; ditto, ordinary or defective, 35s to £4; ditto, dark, ordinary to good, 50s to £4 10* ; ditto, 3rds or defective, 20j to 40« ; byocks, £4 to £6; black, long and medium, 55* to 80s ; ditto, medium, 30« to 05< ; ditto, medium aud short, 12s 61 to 22* Cd ; ditto, inferior o<- very short, 7s 6d to 10s ; drab, long and medium, 251 to 45s ; ditto, medium, 15* to 35»: ditto, medium and short, 7s 6 1 to 15» ; ditto, ditto, inferior or very short, 4s to 6* ; 11 >ss, bUok and drab, 7s 6d to 22s 6.1 : spadonas, light, 25* to 40* J ditto, femina. 15* to 30s : ditto, drab, 2s to 5s : boos, white, 50s to 60s ; ditto, femina, 25> to 32* Cd ; ditto, drab, 15* to 17s 6.1 } ditto, thirds, inferior, 5* to 10s per lb. On Dsoember 17 the London market was quite lure of New Zealand kinds of homp, and «upplies moet a re-uly sale. F*ir to good Auckland is quoted at 21s to 265. Mtnila has been sold largely for arrival. Value of fair current on the spot, £>0 10s to £31. Sisal scarce and wanted ; fair to good at £26 to £27.

KAURI GUM. This market is steadier than it has been for some time past for ordinary gum, and pending arrival of mall next week, there is very little now to report. East Coast gum is in more demand, and has risen. Supplies for January wero about 404 tons, and are expested to come in more freely, as tho production is certain to increase during present high r ices. We quote : Fair ordinary, 4ti«; best ordinary, 47<; East Coast, fair quality, 56s ; best quality, 60s. THE AUCKLAND MARKETS. (Corrected up to noon of Thtirhlav.) Farm and Dairy Proouus.— WholtiaU : Butter fresh, 6d ; salt, 6jd, nominal, not being la demand ; Cheese, good local. BJ to ti^d : Canterbury. do., none ; Errs, i.er dot, Is 31 ; Lard, in bladder, per lb., (Jjd to 7d ; Bacon and Haras, Provincial, (id to Nd ; Hams. 6jd to SJd: Canterbury Bacon 7d (new enre): equal numbers Hamaand Bacon, bare, 7Jd ; Haras, SJd ; Jams, per case, 5 do*.. 27a to :i0»; Fowls, per pair, 2i to 33 66,1 ; Feathers, baked, clean and selected. Is CI to Is 9d per lb. He tail : Milk, per quart, 4d : Butter, fresh, 81 per lb. ; salt do., prime 6id to "id ; interior salt. 3d to (Jd ; Cheese, per lb. tSd to Is; Kggs, per dot.. Is 6J ; Lard, per lb, fid to 9<t; Fowls, each, 2s to 3a; Ducks, do., 2s to 3s; Geese, do., 5s to "3; Turkeys, each. 6s to 7s (id Baron, per lb.. 7sd to is : Hams, do.. ikl to Is 3d. Flour Mabkit.— Ifholeialt: Holler Flour, per ton, £14 las; ttuporflua Flour, silk dressed, £13 los ; do., do., household, £12 10s (tacks free): Southern, do., £11 f>s to £1'- ; Bran, per ton (sacks

included), £(i 10.<; Sharps, £(>; Cabin Bread, do., £.6 . Oatmeal £13 ; Heart Barley do.. £17 10s to J!IS. UJMIS AND Okouakd I'aoDOos. — Wholesale : Apples, 6s 6d to 12s per case ; 3d to (3d por lb.; Lemons, por do*., up to Od ; Onions, per lb., Id to 2d; Celery, per dor., 2s ; Garlic, ed per lb.; Pumpkin, 2s rid to 5s per cwt: Cocoanuts, 7s to 13s per sack ; Oranges. Is 2d per doz., l)« fid |H)r case ; Bananas, 21 to Kd. He tat I: Lemons, up to 2s per do* ; Onions, per lb.. 2d to 34 ; Apples, per lb.. 4d to 8a ; Oranges, Is fid to 2s per doz.; Celery, per bundle,2d to 3d ; Pumpkin, per lb. Id ; Bananas, 4d to Gd ; Garlic, lod per lb.; Cocoanuts. 2d to 3d each. Hay isnOims Market.— K'boutcle (current selling rates) : Malie, local, 3s 6d ; Oats, 2s to 2s (id Barley, 3s to 3s 3d; Halting liarlej, -is to 4s 3d; Wheat, 4» 3d to 4s 6d; (owl, 4s 6d ; Hay meadow, per ton, pressid, £4 to £5 ; Lncerne, do., £ti to £6 lu» (nominal) ; Straw, per load, ISa to £1 10s; Chaff, mixed, £3 10s to £4 10s; Oaten Chaff, £4 ; Hay. oaten, £4 to £4 1C& : Clover. £6 10s to £7 ; Potatoes, llobvrt, £5 to £6 per ton (or kidneys. lUtatl: Chalf. 5a to ds ; New Potatoes 6s 6d to Cs per cwt.; Maize. 3s 9.i ; Oats foed, 2s 3d to 2s 9d ; seei l , 3» to 3» 6d ; Wlioat, 4i 6d to 5s Od ; do. (owl, per bushel, 4i 9d to 5s Barley, feed do., 2s 9d to 3s ; Hay, per cwt., 0s (id to 7s ; Lucerne, do., 7s 6d to »s ; Oaten, do., Us to 7s ; Straw, do.. 3* to 4s. Preserved and Dried Fruits. — fFholttale : Dried Prunes, Bid to 7d; Preserved Ginger, 8d; Peanuts, 2d to 3sd ; Barcelona, fiid per lb.; Shelled Nuts, 9d to Is; Brazil. fld 10 »d. Retail: Dried Prunes, 8d to lOd ; Shelled Nuts. Is to Is 6d; Brazil. 3d to Is. Kauri Gum akd Flax Market.— for month of January, 104 tons. We quote prices: Fa r Ordinary, £40; East Coast, tihti to £(50; Superior Ordinary (free from swaiap), £47. Flax per ton, £14 to £17 ; Tow, do., £5 to a 7 , Fungus, per lb., 2jd to Sjd; cocoanut Fibre, per cwt., 16s to 17»; Beeswax 7d to 9(1 per lb. AliscttLLANXoub.—Kerosene. 130' test (duty paid) from Is 5d to Is 6; 150" test (dMty paid), ls9d to lslOd ; Fencing ire, No. ti, 7, and 8, assorted, £13, £13 10s, and £12 respectively per ton ; Lime, slacked, Is per bushel ; nuick Lime, in stone, Is Gd to 2s. New Zealand Palings, sft., 7s 6d to 13s; 6ft., 14s; Ti-tree Kails, £2 10» to £4 pot 100 ; Puriri Posts, £6 to £7 ; Shingles, 13s to 16s 6d par 1000 ; Hobart Palings, 6ft., 17s to 20s; lift.. 18s to 21s; Hobart Rails, SO* to 90s ; Wire, 61n., £12 ; 7in., £12 10s ; Bln £13 ; Barbed Wire, 30s per cwt. Buying and selling quotations. Manures.Bonedust, Sydney, prime, £8 10a to £9 inferior. £7 15s to £S ; Boneflour, £9 to £10 ; Auckland £8; Peruvian guano, £14 14» to £17; Coral Queen do., £6; Long Island do.. £4 10s, bags Included; Superphosphate of Lime. 26 per cent, to 28 per cent. £0 to £6 10j ; do , do., £6 per cent, to 38 per cent. £a to £S 10j ; Hurst's Chemical Manure, £13; Freezing Company's Superphosphate. 32 per cent.. £8 ; do. do., 25 percent., It'; Corn Manure, £8 ; i.cot Manure £* Ids; I owto Manure, £8 10a per ton; Bone Manure £S; Manure, £7 15< ; Boneduit. £8 10s. i'.rn,PiM> Materials.—Timber: Boards and Scantling, 100 ft., 10s to lis, best dressed, 16s t His; second class, 7s to 10.! ; rustic weathe; boards, 15s to 16«. Mills: Carfcv,, best, 9s to 12s, second class, Us to Bs. Balk, 5s to Cs. Brlckt (at Whan), Ms to 40s ; Town Yards. 35a -to £2 per 1000. Lime, Is to Is (5d per bushel Drain Pipes, per \\jWj, c inches bore, £1&; 4 inches, £7 lOd; 3 ircher, £5; v inches, £2 10s per 1000; Sockot Glazed Pipes, IS inches, 4s ; 15 inches, 4s Cd ; 12 inches, 3s; 9 Inches, 2: 6 inches. It; 4 ; inches. 9d ; 3 inches, 7d per loot; English slates, £1 1 per 1000. New Zealand Flax Rope.— subject to trade terms. Kope of all sfses, per ton, £30 to £40; Tarred Yam do., £30 to £40 ; Wool Lashing, do., £35 to £38. Coal and Firewood Market Coal .Newcastle (ship's side), cargo, 22s 6<l to 25s per ton ; yard, 28s to 31? ; Bay of Islands, at yards, 22s 0d ; screened, 265; ditto at the mine, 13s; ship's side. 20s; Waikato, steam Bs, household, 12s; in Auckland, IBs to 225. Karno, 10s per ton at loading ground. Tau- ; piri at mine, 8s to 12s; at yard (steam), 17s 6d, • household, 225. Whangarei, at mine, as »sd; yard (Steam;, 17s; household, 20». Firewood: Uncut at 1 wharf (carcol, 9a to 10s per ton; delivered, 10s to 12s > cut. ISs to 16s. i Butch Ens' Meat.—Retail: Bcasting Beef, per b. 4(1 to Cd ; Boiling Beef, do., Kd to 6d ; Mutton, hind quarter, do., 4d ; do., fore-quarter, do., 3d; Pork and Veal, per lb., do,, 5d to 6d; Steaks do., 6d tc 1 Sd; Chops and Sausages, 4<l to 6d. WhoUtale: Tallow, mutton, per cwt., 28s to 40s; mixed, do, 22s to 355. Butter and Fogh.— Auckland Groeeis* As--1 sociatlon quotes the wholesale prl 0 ( f fresh butter ! Is per lb, and fresh eggs Is 31 per I'ozen delivered, - for tho week ending February 10, I*B7. Is 3d would 1 be read! y given if buuer coula be brought In [ marketable condition, but tlie excessively hot weather . lenders that impossible, hence merely a nominal quotation of Is per lb is given.

LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE MARKETS. A u c: K I. A N IX Mr. Alfred Bi cki.aud's Weekly UrronT— At the lny market on rnday. January 58, fodder was in moderate supph, ar.cl sold at lust week'* value*, varying with quality from 'It (id to 3s Ud per cwt; oats, 2s fid per t usbel ; lior-.e stock was fairly iepre--entoii, but s»!cs were limited to litfht harness and rising Mock, thore was no alteration in values. A full muster of hides, skins end wools, wis offered on Tuesday: Hides sold freely, the greater number brought from 3jd to 42 i per lb: calf skins, 4j l ; i-hsep pelt', from 3d to Is (Jd each ; and wool, from Gj l <) 7i I per lb. At the I'ukekohe cuttle sale, bold on Monday, there was a full muster of uti.ek of all classer, and a hotter demand than could have been expected from the dry weather ; very fen passed and pr ces were fairly eadifactory. At Hemuera, on Thursday, dairy cattle sold more freely than of late ; Btoro cattle, at late values ; fat cattle, of good quality, were better worth, but coarse animals an) cows wore at latu values; sheep maintained their previous value*, and lambs recovered the value lest at last market; pigs continue at the low vanes lately ruling. Mrssrts. Hiisikh asd Nolan's Hkpubt. — Horses: The market has continued moderatoly active, with no perceptible alteration in valtto. Au average number were submitted by auction at the Durham Yards on Friday, and found purchasers at about the provious week's values, t\o horses of a really kco.! stamp were entered, consequently no high figures "ere reached. Wool, hice*, and skins : Supply was rather limited. At the Durham Yards on Tuesday, competition was Steady, at from 3jd to 44d for cx hides, and XJd to 3Jd for cow-hid es; sheepskin*, from Is to 3s 3d ; greasy wojl, fr.mi 6jd to 7d; lambswool, 7d to 7id. Cattle : There was rather a short muster of fat cattle on Tuesday, and a moderate supply of store and dairy cows, and at the Pai akura Yards on Wednesday the yards were well tilled with ill descriptions of sure cattle ; there being no noteworthy change In the value of any description of stock, fat cuttle remaining at last week's quotations Sheep were in adequate numbers, a: d remained Him a last week's values; wethers sold at. from 9s to lis 6d ; mixed sexes, from 81 to 9s Id ; lambs were yarned in moderate numbers, and fluid at from 4« to 10s (id. tigs: There was a good m uaWr of an average class, with no alteration in 1 rice, prices distinctly in favour of purchasers. M SSKS. 'i. W. ISISNI.Y and Sons' Kkport. — At our sale of hides, sheepskins, etc , there was a full attendance of buyers, and prices realised weie quite equal to last week's rates. > rime heavy or sold up to 4jjl per lb(3ls each), the average for local butchers burnt; !235. Heavy ox were, also in brisk demand up to 4i<i pir lb 21s tit h). Cow and steer hides : steera sold fie-ly up to aji', and cow realised sjd per lb. C.-.lf-skins, 4d to 4jd (or prime, and id to 3jd for medium Qualities : damaged and stag hides dull of sale At

nominal rates—sold 800 at quotations. Sheepskins : At auction we sold, delivered at the slaughter, yards,pc'ts, Is id to Is C}d;l'mbtkins, Is flcl to 2seach Salted pelts ars in brisk demand tip to 1. Id each, bnt dried are dull of sale up to fid ; lull-wool skins un to 4s €d each ; damaged pelts quite unseeable. Tallow, 10» to 14» per cwt; horiee, 4j to 48 8d per cwt. Wool: The competition for lot.* was brisk, and showed a strong advance on late rates. Wo sold, viz. : AN, 3 bale , crossbred, £jd ; AH, 6 bales, 6}d ; H, i bal"S, fijd ; Bushy Park, 2 bales, 7id ; 2 bales longwool. Of d ; 1 bale, eroisbreil, Cjil: 3 bulef, ewe?, 6Jd ; K, 1 bale, locks and pieces, o6'l ; AH, 1 bale, cotted, BJd ; R, 1 bale, dmgy, 6Jd ; JaLIJ, 2 bales, crossbred, TJd. THAMES CATTLE MARKET. Messrs. Bankh and Co.'s Wekkly Rbport [by telegraph.]-At t'arawai, on Th'irsday, there was the usual supplv of fat cattle, for the moat part moderate weights. Stcors were sold at about late rales, but good heifers commanded higher values, Be ling at from £3 fis to £4 10« eacii, which would in somo cases be up to 181 per lOOlb ; steers brouilit from £4 109 to £7 7*6.1. or from 15s to 16« per 1001b. hhaep wor penned In average number, all being ewes, with the exception of a few yearlings, and were readily accepted at the improved rate of 8s to 9s each. A moderate supply of iambs brought from 5a 3d to 7a Cd each.

A. saundem, C. Alexander, 3. Vlckers, J. F. Clarce, II rater, John Alowhray, J. It. Morpeth, J. M. Lennox, 0. 11. McDonald, D. G. MaoDonnell; Aitken Carriek. R. Spratt, Francis Hull, James Keid, R. G. Macliy. Joseph Nnruill Chairman,

MESSRS. nOKKKS AND HULL'S WEKKLy STOCK AND SHARK UST AND INVESTORS' GUIDE. £ 8 jsiwt-ioeoas j o j | co j 05 5J nc,H " , ■2® S>« S'iO t->« I -t* I coS?"° I "'S*'* "S" | 2 *-S S c3 £3 37 I cSi?" 0 I 05 S*" "J 1-1 , M *|00 a CO P » ,_ ® 3 .oMHo«)ai«0'»OMJ , «maoiM to io C it H *""* r-* CO r "* r "< H | «r-< Q qj^ r,^ ,|, 2 H000^0^ H0HINrt £K ° +• • TJOOOOOOOOOO 0,5'©0000<000> S rt N 5 ■OOOOOOOvflOOlN'iNOMOOClOOAl = "CJ r-« rH HrtH *"* r~* r-\ ll CijONMWMNOOGHOgHiOO^NOHiOO O »QOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 2 Jj « 0000 000000000000000 0 xi r "* gaQ i^OOU3gOOOOOOHlONiaH»OOHO>OW ■< - 1 <* 1! 11 11111;111 -1 § 11 i i O CO* r—i" r-T »-i* r-T r-T 0$ f-i" I: II i I : i i 1 ; : 11 :§ 1 : § 2 S> o : i ! I i : e " ."i 4: HNg«© . j . 8 , o 't|3 • £■ -S 8 AS ago « sgasSgSg 9 T £ 3" 5 » d o 5Z, S o 5 S.S'O >5 S 3 I 5 ° c 3f£ 5 3i=a u ► 2 S g g £ g *„*>— ~r3-s>r3"e-a o 23,2.5 S S-o g r am 2 « g *- g-K* S o«CJ 2 VT3J5 a £-l% ■*< - 3^S»35 , 3> s ''S» t «-r2£s22g J* §-5 "3 a Sll?5| 1 -3I«^S5 , SS§5?55 6 AZ.z: s- ifi Q~-> 4. < - <£'/.Z'AZ, Auckland, February 3, 1887. t Ex illv. STOCK AND MINI NO ASSOCIATION. AITOKI.ANI). Fkhboauv 3, 18fe7 — Company. utuluea*. Closing Prices. Banks— Buj-t»r«. Sellers Nrw Zealand ... £17 17 0 0 — Co.omul, ex dlv .. — 2 0 0 — btVUHAKCI! — New Zealand .. 65/ 3 3 6 — South British _ — — 1 9 0 National .. _ — — 0 14 0 Colonial .. .. — — 0 4 0 Accident, ex di? .. — 0 3 6 — Mibcki-laneous— Auckland Uas, old 10/15/0 10 12 6 — Union Sa*h V Door — — 0 10 0 Auckland Timber.. — —200 N Z. Loan and Mer. — — 4 2 0 N.Z. Land Mortgage — 10 6 110 Mining — Cambria .. .. — — 0 5 0 New Slanukftu ,, — —013 Old Caledonian .. — — 0 2 6 Adeline .... — — 0 2 2 Sxxou .. .. — — 0 12 Frinco Imperial .. — — 0*0

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. 04I.IJI. £ d. Dit«. Auckland Agricultural and Mercantile (Jo. . • ..0 6 — Fob. 8 North >'.Z. Farmers'Co-opera-tl*o A«*oct»ilon „ ..010 — Fob. 11 SutroGil. Co 0 0 4 - Fob. 8 Auckland and North Shoro .steam Ferry Co .. .. 0 2 6 — Fob. 10 Kenilworth G.M. Co 0 0 2 — Fob. 14 Tauplri Reserve Colliery Co... 0 0 4 — Feb. 26 DIVIDKJCDB. N.Z. Accident Insurance Co. 0 0 3 — Now