LATEST COMMERCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 916, 20 September 1889, Page 16

LATEST COMMERCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Mail Office, - Thursday Afternoon. The rough, cold weather of the early part of the week has had an effect in keeping trade in a quiet state. There is still an absence of speculation, and buyers are only acting from hand to mouth. The strike in London among the dock labourers had the effect of hardening the values of all heavy low priced goods, but as the strike is well nigh over, easier terms will be made. The metal market is firm, and from recent advices from England there is every probability of its continuance. Sugar is without change this week. Rice is more freely inquiretl for, and holders are firm. Salt is firmly held, both tine and course. General grocery lines are without change. The Melbourne tea importers are in a quandary. The Victorian Government announce that they will reduce the tea duty from 3d to Id, but iu deference to the holders of duty-paid stocks, the new duty will not come into force until January 1, The result is that buyers are not inclined to increase duty-paid stocks, while importers must either keep the tea in bond till the new duty comes into force or submit to a loss of 2d per lb necessary to tempt buyers, who see that after January 1 there will be a drop in price equal to the reduction in duty. At the date of the last mail leaving Lon* don there was no New Zealand butter or oheese in the market. Prime Danish was ranging from 110 s to 120 s, and American cheese, prime, 44s to 455. There will most likely be a big demand for butter and cheese daring the coming season. The British Government lately gave large orders to American firms for compressed corned beef and mutton and boiled beef and boiled mutton. There was an absence of tenders from New Zealand firms.

STOCK SALES. Christchurch, September 18. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company report (per Mr E. G. Staveley) as follows At Addington yards to-day there were full supplies of stock. There were about 7000 sheep ; market easier ; mutton, 2d to per lb ; best wethers, 16s to 18s fid; mixed sexes, 14s to 15s 6d; ewes, 10s to 13s ; merinos, 10s to 15s; lambs, 9s to 13s. Bullocks, L 7 to LlO ; oows, L 4 to L6'los ; beef, 16s to 2Qs per lOQlb. Store sheep, fair demand ; store and dairy cattle, good sale. Pigs, full market ; porkers, value; easier. Dunedin, September 18. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company report (per Mr D. Stronach) as follows : - Cattle— 233 were yarded; best bullocks, L 8 to LH ; others, L 3 103 6d to L 7 10s; beef, ordinary, 15s to 17s 6d ; prime, 20s per 1001 b. Sheep—slßQ were yarded ; best crossbred wethers, 14s to 16s 4d ; ordinary, HR 3d to 13s 9d ; best do ewes, 12s to 133 9d ; ordinary j 8s 3d to lls fid ; merino wethers, 5s 6d to 143; mutton, to lfd per lb. Pigs—3ls; suckers, 6s fid to lls ; stores, 17s 6d to 27s ; porkers, 2fis to 36s Gd ; baconers,'4o3 to 655.

KAYE AND CARTER’S WEEKLY RE- ‘ PORT OF THE CHRISTCHURCH GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARRET. Wheat —Tuscan, 3s 6d; Pearl,. 3s 4d ; Hunter’s, 3s 3d. Fowlwheat—Good whole, 25 lid; broken, 2s fid. Oats Mill- j ing, 28 lOd ; bright short feed, 2s Sd ; Danish, 3a 7d; duns, 2s Sd; Black Nubians. 3s Id. Barley—Prime malting, 4s ; medium, 3s 4d to 3s 6d; feed, 2s lOd; pearl, £lB IQs- Ryecorn—Good clean samples, 3s 4d ; medium, ~33 3d ; Flour Best roller, sacks, £9 103 ; stone, £8 15s. Bran,- 70s ; pollard, 70s. Oatsheaf chaff Good heavy, 9Qs. Oatstraw chaff, 555. Wheatstraw chaff, Ejss, Oatmeal (in 25's), £l4 ; in 7’s, £IQ. Peas —blue boiling (very scarce), 4s 3d ; feed sorts, 3s (jd. Beans — : Goqd wrhole,' 3s 5d ; medium, 3s 4d. Linseed, £ls. Rye grass—Machine dressed, 4s 3d to 4s 6d. Farmers’ parcels, 4s. Cocksfoot —Prime seed, 3fd ; medium, 3Jd to 3£d. light,2£dto3d. Butter,7dto7?d. Cheese, 4UI to s£d. Hams, 9d. H B, 7Jd ; bacon, (cloth). Lard (in kegs) 4d ; bladders, 4id. Derwent Potatoes, S7s 6d, sacks ineluded. Kidneys and early potatoos in stock ; Early bath kidneys, 80s; fluke kidneys, 90s ; lapstone kidneys, 90s; walnut leaved, silyer skins, £5 ; Ayrshire heroes, Sutton’s flour balls, £6 153. The above prices current are all f.0.b., Lyttelton ; sacks and packages extra exoept when otherwise specified ; minimum, 2 tons.