Commercial.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 994, 20 March 1891, Page 33

Commercial.

The fine warm weather of the past week has gladdened the heart of settlers in the bush district, giving them a prospect of a fairly successful burn. From one end of the province to the other come reports that bush burning is becoming general almost everywhere. With the improvement in the weather a brisker state of trade may be expected. One good feature is the capital prices farmers are realising for sheep and cattle, more especially in th 9 Wellington province. Country stock have larger entries than has been the case, for a long time past, and sellers are well satisfied with the returns. Town trade ha 3 had a more lively tendency during the week; nothing in the shape of a spurt, but a general healthier feeling all round. Country orders are coming in more freely, and bills are met fairly punctual without much assistance being asked for. There has been but little alteration in prices during the week. Values in all' lines remain stationary. Imported candles are very scarce. A shipment is expected by the next direct steamer. The demand is slightly increasing as the days get shorter. Carbonate of soda is a shade dearer in consequence of the recent advance at Home. The dematidfor vinegar islncreasing, consequent upon the advent of the pickling season. English cisk vinegar is scarce in the local market. Several colonial makers aro pushing their article; but ao little . or none of . it is pure malt vinegar, it does not give the satisfaction to consumers as the oldfashioned English vinegar. This is specially the case when used for pickling purposes. Canned fruit is scarce, and there is but little push among colonial packers. Corn sacks have moved off freely during the week at full rates The demand for paint oil has been better of late, as there is a fair amount of house painting going on while the fine weather lasts. As a sign of a better state of trade there has been a better demand for nails, fencing wire, and builders’ small materials during the past week. Until the next direct s’eamer arrives Juno tobacco and Old Judge cigarettes are almost out of the market. Late advices from Japan report an advance of 53 per ton on rice, owing to some check in the growth of barley, on which the Natives depend for food stuffs. As holders of 'rice are firm, it is probable that present values will be maintained for some time to come. New season’s grass seeds are on the market, and samples from the South show good quality. Southern cocksfoot is worth from 4£d to 5d on the spot. Well dressed ryegrass is worth from 5s to 5s 6d. Merchants are only purchasing as a rule for actual orders, as the supplies of grass seed are restricted, and should the present fine weather continue, and settlers get their burns off successfully there is bound to be a large demand for seeds, as the area of bush felled this season is very large. I. C. Coke tin plates are

scarce, and holders are firm at late rates. Milling wheat has been in fair demand during the past week. Fowls’ wheat is plentiful at reduced rates. Flour—Fair sales have been made during the week. Oats—Very little doing. Potatoes —Market fully supplied. The same remarks apply to onions. Chaff—Prime oaten sheaf is plentiful; inferior unsaleable. Pollard is in moderate demand. Bran—Market overstocked. Bacon and hams—Market quiet. Cheese—Good samples find a ready sale. Fresh butter—The market here has been overstocked. Fruit market is fully supplied with Island oranges. Apples have a small_ margin to shippers, lemons are scarce, pears in good demand. Poultry is dull of sale, with the exception of turkeys and ducks. In grass seed very little is doing. Holders asking for more than purchasers care to give. Messrs Edwards and Mcßeath report wages for the week as follows : —There has been a firm demand for servants during the week. WELLINGTON MARKETS. Wholesale Prices. FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE.

£ s. d. £ 8. d Milk, quart • 0 0 4 Butter, fresh lb farm 0 0 5 to 0 0 6 Butter, factory made 0 0 7 to 0 0 8 Salt butter - • 0 0 6 Cheese (new) • 0 0 4 to 0 0 5 .Eggs, dozen (fresh) - 0 0 10 to 0 1 0 Lard, lb. - - 0 0 5 Bacon, lb. « • 0 0 6 Ham, lb. • C 0 7 to 0 0 8 Fowls, pair . Ducks, pair • 0 2 6 to 0 2 9 - 0 3 3 to 0 3 9 Geese, pair - 6 0 Turkeys, pair - - 7 6 Hay and Corn Market. £ s. d. £ s d Maize, Poverty Bay - 0 3 9 0 Oats, feed - « 0 1 10 to 0 2 Wheat do - - • 0 3 3 to 0 3 9 Carrots • 1 10 0 to 2 0 0 Hay, ton • 3 10 0 to 4 0 0 Oaten, ton - . 3 0 0 to 3 10 0 Straw, ton - - • 2 10 0 to 3 0 0 Chaff, — • • 3 5 0 Wheat straw • 3 0 0 Onions (N.Z.) - 5 0 0 Potatoes (new) - - 2 10 0 to 2 15 0 Floor Market. i. s. d. £ 8. a Sharps, per ton • • 3 10 0 Bran per ton • 3 0 0 Colonial Flour • • 10 5 0 to 10 10 0 Oatmeal • • 9 10 0 Pearl Barley • 15 0 0 nominal Seeds. 6 b. d £ s. n Ryegrass, bushel - 0 4 6 to 0 6 6 Cocksfoot, lb. • . 0 0 4 to 0 0 4^ Wt. Clover, lb. - • 0 0 10 Red, do • 0 0 8 to 0 0 9 Alsyke, lb. - • 0 0 10 Cow Grass, lb. • - 0 0 7 to 0 0 9 Timothy, lb. . 0 0 6 Rape, lb. • 0 0 2 nominal Linseed, perewt. . 0 16 0 nominal Meadow Fescue lb - 0 10