COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9241, 19 December 1888, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald Office, Tuesday evening. The Customs duties to-day amounted to £672 7s 2d. At Messrs. Arthur and Buddie's mart today the splendid property at LakeTakapuna belonging to Sir Frederick Whitaker, consisting of 23 acres of land and a seven-roomed residence, was put up for auction. There was a large attendance of buyers, and the bidding starting at £1000, progressed briskly till £1250 was reached, but as 110 advance upon that figure was offered, it was withdrawn, as a higher price has, we understand, been offered privately previous to the sale.

WAIRARAPA.

Messrs. Lowes and lorns' Report.—All sales during the month have been noted for their briskness, and all kinds of stock and produce offered find buyers at figures favourable to producers. The firmness of beef, mutton, tallow, and wool in the home markets cause a good demand for all classes of cattle and sheep, and the Australian markets are absorbing all surplus grain, which have caused produce to reach prices that have not been experienced for years. At our last stock sale we penned 200 head of cattle and 1000 sheep, besides horses, pigs, vehicles, etc. Beef ranged from £5 to £15 for bullocks, and £3 to £4 for cows, and 12s Cd to 14s per 1001b respectively ; forward bullocks, £-! ; medium stores, 60s ; store cows, 4Us ; heifers, 50s; steers from 18 months to 2 years, 20s to 40s ; dairy cows, for springers good, £3 10s to £4 10s ; old cows, 40s. Fat wethers made !)s ; fat ewes, shorn, 7s 6d ; stores in the wool, 9s (3d ; ewes and lambs, 7s to 9s ; ltftnbs, 5s to Cs ; store pigs, 9s for small, and 13s (id for medium ; no large pigs came forward. In horses little business was done, and that was conlined to hacks, which sold at prices that could pay for breeding. In produce, etc., the transactions have been principally by private sale. Oats, when we last quoted, were 4 6d, but have receded, and now remain at 4s, the stocks in the district being in the hands of a few grain dealers. All surplus is going to Wellington, where they are worth from 4s 3d to 4s Sit ; ■wheat, 4s t'd ; bran has advanced from £3 10s to £5 ; peas, 4s; chaff, 40s. The market is quite bare of all kinds of potatoes. We sold a few lines of old potatoes at £8 10s, and now at £14. Onions, lid lb.; cheese, 6d ; bacon and hams, Cd to 7d ; ryegrass, 2s (id per bushel; cocksfoot, best, 3Jd; poultry, 2s to 2s 8d per young table sorts ; turkeys, Cs ; ducks, 3s ; sheepskins, well washed, 4Jd; pelts, (is to Bd. In machinery, representing Messrs. Iteid and Gray, we have placed several reapers and binders, reapers and mowers, besides ploughs, seed sowers, Cambridge rollers, harrows, etc. All sales of furniture have been dull, but are improving of late.

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST.

calls. £ S. d. Due. Trenton G.M. Co 0 0 3 — Dec. 21 Te Aroha S. and G.M. Co. .. 0 10 — Jan. 5 Archhill Brick and Tile Co. (new issue) .. .. ..010 — Jan. 5 NewMoanataiari G.M. C 0... 0 0 a — Jan. 7 DIVIDENDS. Saxon G.M.Co. .. .. 0 0 6 — Dec. 19