COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8927, 16 December 1887, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealahd Herald Offioo, Thursday •renins;. The Customs duties to-day amounted to £490 13s 3d. . „ There are many circumstances to justify belief in an early improvement in business. The week bow dosing has exhibited a. fairly strong all-round demand, more particularly In consumptive goods. The rise in iron in the home markets can be accepted as significant of a revival in general trade. Advices from the United States are exceedingly hopeful of » long continuous run of prosperity, and from Australia we hear of very brisk, and sound profitable business as V>; general rule. Looking at the heavy accumulation of wool at the Southern ports, and the rush for freights, the splendid crop prospecti, the revival of the export trade in timber, and other indications of a return to better times, we seemnoh to warrant confidence in a very early and favourable change. Beyond a reduction in quotations of salt, an increased firmness in sugar, with a hardening market in rice, the import market remains as last week. A large business is going through in dried fruits. Island orders are alio good. Owing to the accident to the Ohelmsford, supplies of maize are bare, and prices are firm at 3* 7d ; oats run from 2« 2.1 to 2i 4d ; wheat, 3s 9d; new potatoes, £4 15s to £5 lO*. The market in much easier. In the' local produce market the price of butter remains the same as last week, 6d per lb wholesale and 84 per lb retail, and is coming forward in excess of demand. Eggs have increased in price, and are now quoted at 8d per dozen wholesale and 10d per dozen retail. The local fungus market is weak and Irregular. Latest cablegram! from Hongkong report au overstocked market with a small demand, buyers being disinclined to operate till lower prices rule. Any going forward now will arrive in China at the " off " season, and will not be saleable at any price till March or April. Wo quote good sun-dried parcels at 3|d to 4d. We cannot too strongly caution country settlers and storekeepers against the praotice of cramming excessive quantities into the sacks or woolpacks. It is said that some con tract ore who are supplying kauri timber orders to Melbourne are cutting and shipping without proper regard to the condition of the wood. If so this will do injury to the character of our kauri pine. In the interests of all steps should be taken to let this be widely known, so that buyers should clearly define between green kauri and well seasoned timber, and not blame the wood when sold under circumstances so detrimental to its repute. Prospects of a continuance of good prices are very favourable, and it behoves ali nterested in the trade to endeavour to check any such practices as we have referred to above.

KAURI GUM MARKET. The gum market continues weak, with supplies in excess of demand. Quotations for ordinary are unohanged since last week. Stocks of East Coast continue to augment in town and country, but holders are still unwilling to meet buyers. Two small lines, amounting to about ton torn, sold at 54s and 50s respectively, for immediate requirements, but we no not see how an average of £17 above the price of ordinary oan be maintained. Supplies of all qualities, for 14 days of December, are about 268 tons. As there are no buyers of Kant Coast in any appreciable quantity at prices above referred to, our quotations for this grade should be considered purely nominal. Wβ quote :—Fair ordinary, 345; best ordinary, 36e, and East Coast (nominal), sellers, 50s to 545.

LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE MARKETS. AUCKLAND. Messrs. Htjntbr and Nous's Report.—Herse feed and grain: There has been a steady denanad, and an average quantity changed bauds. We quote: Feed oats, 2s 3d ; oaten chaff, 4s per cwt. Horses : An Increased number were submitted by auction at the Durham yards on Friday. Bidding was slow, but prices realised were about the same as on the privious week. Wool, hides, and skins: There was a fair quantity pitched at the Derhtm yards on Tuesday. We quote: Ox hides, from 44 to 6d per lb; cow, from 3id to 3Jd per lb ; calfskins, 4}d to 5(1 per )b; uhtep. skins, ?s Id to 6s Id; lambskins, 6d to Is 4*l each ; pelts, 0d each ; wool, in bags, 6}d to 6}d per lb. Cattle : The supply has been ample, but there was a slightly upward tendency in value. There was a very short muster at .Newmarket on Tuesday. The de mind was steady and prices for well fatted oxen were higher, 17s per 1001b having been given (or well fatted Steers. There was a large muster at Pultekohe on Wednesday. Dairy and store stock were in steady demand, and fully Newmarket prices w-i* given.Sheep : There was again a very short muster at New i market on Tuesday, and there remained an unsatisfied

demand for good wethers ; medium weight, averaged 1C 3d ;in wool. 16e. Lambs were plentiful and sold at from 6i 9d to 9s 6d. Pigs : Scarce, sold at from 2Jd to Sd per Ib, live weigh*. Mb. Altbkd BncKLiND'e WMiLr Kwom.At the Haymarket, on Friday '««. loose J° dd *! brought from Is 6d to 2$ 6d ; chaff, 3s the cwt, but sales were limited. Hone stock were plentiful, and price, better than of late: Rood medium draught ranged from £9 to £15 ; riding horses up to £12 each. At the hide and skin s%le, on Tuelday.ox b|de« ranged from HA to 4jd ;o w hide.. 8* to Sid the l**Uovr, Us 6.1 to 13s 6d the cwt; pelts/from 6d upwards , sheep skins up to 4s 8d; lamb skins, Is to 2s each , wool in bags and dumps, from 6d to 7Jd, looks and pieces, from ltd to 4Jd the to. At Romu.ra on Thursday, dairy cattle were at late values. Store cattle were in moderate number only, and better Inquiry. Fat cattle at the ,°P e , n,n « h 0 the ■ale were at last week's values, but rallied as the .ale proceeded fully 6s each. Price* ranged from lie to 15s Ibe 1001b for goo.l oxen. Fat calve, scarcely maintained previoDs values. Store fheep were In fair inquiry, and f«t sheep better worth about Iβ each, lambs also, although plentiful, sold better han last week. Pigs were plentiful, but of good quality, and sold freely. " ' _ , _, Messrs. O. W. Brass* and Son's Rsport.— Large sale of hides, staeeepskinj, Ac Prime ox In demand and sold up to 4jd per lb; heavy, 4id to 4|d; medium, 4d to 4iA; light, S*d to SJd; 00-, 3d to 3}d ; kip, 3id to Sjd ; calf, 4d to fid ; Breon ox at each, prime. 2Gi to 30«; heavy. 22» 6d ; medium, 20» to 21s each; cow, heavy, 18s to 14s ; medium, 10s to 12s 6d. Sheepskins sell freely : Prime longwool, 6« to re Sit ; heavy, 4s 6d to 4s fIJ ; crossbred, 4« to 4s 8d ; half bred. Si Od to 4s <sd ; merino, 2s to 3« 6d; lambs, 6<l to Iβ 9d ; pelts, tailed, 6ii to 9d : dry, 21 to 4d. Wool : In b«es>, 6d to 6*d ; pieces, 3jii to 4d ; lqcks, 2d to 2*d. Next wool sale on Thursday, 22nd instant Tallow : Beit, lSi to JUs per cwt; rough fat, Id per lb. Bones, 4a 6d per cwt ; shanks, 6a 6d per cwt.

THAMES OATTLB MARKET. MKeens. Banks and Co.'s Wk«lt Report (by telegraph.)—At Parawai, on Thursday, fat cattle were In less demand than usual, but supplies not belnii heavy, alt the lots were told. The prices were, however, rather in favour o( the buyers : Steers sold at from £4 17s 6.1 to £5 10s etch ; heifers and cow«, £2 l"i 6d to £5, betne from IDs to 17a per 1001b ; dairy cows brought from £3 to £3 15s. Sheep were penned ii) tally averag* number*, and lite prices were barely maintained. Heavy wethers eade 10a 6d to 12i. lambs were well Inquired for, and supplies were hi-dly sufficient, prices being from 5s 9d to Bs.

JOHNSONVILLE CATTLE MARKET. JoHNSONViLur, Wednesday (by telegraph).— Messrs. Broeman K. Jackeou and Co. report: Our yards today were well filled with piimo cattle. I'rloos improved on thOio of last sale, and the bidding was brisk throughout. We had some grand heavy Christmas bullocks, bred by Mr D. Buchanan, of Hawer», which sold up to £11. Sheep were in limited numbers :tbey r.«nule at last sale value*. Lambs were in plentiful supply, telling at Uir prices throughout. Pigs were well competed for, and brought extreme rates. . at tie, one line, £7 2i 6d to £3; average, £7 10s 0d ; Urge Christmas bullocks, £10 12a Cd to £11 ; otter line* averaged £6 9s id, £6 lls 10d, £7 7» 6M, £6 8s 6d. Sheep: Wethers, 8s to Ss 10d ; ewei, 8s to 6« 8d; inferior lambs, Is lid to 4» 2d. Pigs: Porkers, 14s 6d to -'Os «s>l ; larger sorts, 25s to 27s tid ; sinill stores, 6s 3d to 10i 6.1. We quote: Beet: 16s 6d the 1001b; mutton, lid the lb.

MESSRS. VIOKitaS AND HULL S NTEEKLk* STOCK AND SHARK LIST AND INVESTORS* OOIDK.

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. calls : a *■ a. New Zealand Stud Co. _ ..060.. Dec. 17 Trenton G.M. Co. .. ..003.. Dec 23 DITIBISCS: Cambria U.M. Co 0 0 0 .. Dec. 20

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