Commercial.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 36

Commercial.

There seemed a sigh of relief all round business circles generally when the financial year closed without showing signs of a heavy deficit. When the governing powers of a country can successfully make two ends meet, there is some encouragement for trade, and naturally prospects brighten and feeling is more hopeful for the future. During the past week a more healthy tone has pervaded the local market. Up country reports are more satisfactory. Cattle and sheep are hardening in price; so much so that in several towns the butchers have been compelled to raise the retail prices. The prospects of the frozen meat trade are so good that farmers are taking heart of grace, and are looking forward to far better times than they have experienced in the past. With hopes more bright money is more freely spent, and thus a general stimulus is felt all round. In the southern markets sugar is stiffening in price to an extent of about 10s per ton, but locally no advance has yet taken place. The reason assigned for the advance is that stocks on hand are light, and there are no further shipments expected yet awhile from Mauritius. Whether this will mean a drain on the Northern markets is yet to be seen. In other grocery lines business is brisk, but without change in values. The long nights coming on has increased the demand for kerosene, and it is probable that as stocks are decreasing prices will slightly harden, especially as stocks in the Southern cities are light, and values there have already advanced. Cement is in better demand, and Southern holders are asking more money. Respecting teas, Messrs Mackie, Copeland and Co. report : —“ A quiet tone pervades the market, in sympathy with business generally. Prices continue firm in all grades, with an upward tendency. At auctions held importers have been firm, and have only sold when their ideas have been reached. The Clitus arrived on the 10th instant with 153,0471 b for Melbourne and 5 ‘,ooolb for other colonies. One or two shipments have been sold privately at fully up to auction rates. There is nothing in leaf tea with fair liquor to be had under 9d, and we think that anything at this figure _ is well worth buying, in view of the certainty of very high opening rates in Calcutta _ for the new crop, which is unusually deficient in strength and character. .For this grade we are now Id to l£i under London rates. We may expect one more shipment from Calcutta, say 1000 to 1200 chests. The holders hive already shipped 1300 chests, originally bought for Australia, to London, takiug advantage of the better prices ruling there. The Chingtu, via Hong Kong and various ports, arrived on the 7th inst. with 6500 half-chests and 5000 boxes, which closes imports for the season. One or two auctions have been held, but the trado has evinced very little inclination to buy. There is no alteration to report vn prices. Business, especially for export, is undoubtedly checked by the almost prohibitive price of common tea, buyers naturally working on old bought stocks as long as possible.” The Nelson hop crop is lieai ly all harvested, and the yield has turned out fairly well, the colour being well up to the general average. A Lonoon correspondent writes respecting hops :

The market has been extremely quiet. Very little business has been done, but prices remain firm, except in a few instances where a few planters are disposed to make concessions in order to effect a sale. Holders have held continental hops throughout the season for such inordinately high prices that no business has been done for some time past; but since our last their demands have been more reasonable and transactions have been comparatively large. American and Pacific hops are selling more freely at about late rates. The latest quotations are : —IB9O, Kent, Lsosto Ll 5 15s ; Sussex, L 5 to Lll; Farnham and country, L 8 to Ll 4 ; Worcester, LBtoLl 4 ; Californian, L 8 10a to Lll; other American, L 9103 ; Burgundy, L 8 to L 9 10s ; Bavarian, L 8 to Lll; Belgian, L 5 to L 6. 1880, English, L6to L 10; old, all kinds, LI 15s to L 4 per cwt. Laery and Co. report as follows : —Flour has advanced LI per ton. Fowls’ wheat is plentiful. Oats are without alteration. Oatmeal sales for local consumption steady. Fowls’ barley is in moderate demand. Onions — Market overstocked and values have again fallen. Potatoes are in fair request, Pollard and bran have risen, and prices are iirm. Bacon and hams—Market fully supplied. Eggs are scarce, and are now worth 2s per dozen. Fresh butter continues a drug. Only small sales have been made of cocksfoot, and rye grass seed prices are easier. Poultry is neglected. Low prices are now ruling for all kinds of fruit. The following are the prices for the past week:—Potatoes, 50s to 52s 6d; oats. Is lOd to 2s ; pollard, 70s; bran, 60s ; chaff, 50s to 70s; oatmeal, L 9 10s; milling wheat, 3s 9d ; roller flour, made Lll; stone do, L 9 10s; wheatmeal, L 1 0; new cheese, 4d to 5d ; eggs, Is 7d ; turkeys, 7s 6d; geese, ss; ducks, 3s 9d; fowls, 2s 9d to 3s per pair; garden peas, 5s to 6s 6d; bacon, Dimock’s cure, 6d ; hams, 8d ; honey, 3d to 4d ; butter, dairy-made, 5d to 6d ; factory made, 7d ; salt do, 6d ; onions, 4s 6d ; apples, 4s 6d to Bs. Messrs Baker Bros, report the following sales : —Taranaki street, 4-roomed house, with land 15ft sinx 100 ft, Mr Burgess, L 250; Broadway terrace, 4-roomed house, land 20j x 78|, part acre 72, sold for Mr Larsen, L 19 0; Horokiwi, Petone, part section 18, containing 71 acres 2 roods, L 365 ; Roseneath, part section 66, 75 x 80, L 7 5; Kilbirnie, section 71, £ acre, Mr William Stourton, Ll4B 10s ; Karori allotments, 4 and 8 of section 36, containing 10 acres, sold for Mr Robert Donald for L 400; Pahautanui, section 66, containing 100 acres, with residence, L 567 10s ; YVindsor place, 4roomed cottage, land 19 x 66, sold for L 225. Brooklyn—Section 35, containing 3r 3p, L3O ; section 140, containing 36p, L 4 5; section 76, containing lr Sp, L 23 15s; section 108, containing Ir 2p, L7O (the last two at former purchasers’ risk). The firm report leasing a section in Mulgrave street, 36 x 100, for 21 years, at Ll 5 per annnm; also section in Aro street, 30J x 120, leased for 21 years at L 7 10s per annum. Messrs Edwards and Mcßeath report * There is very little demand for labour. WELLINGTON MARKETS.

Wholesale Prices. FARM AND DAIRY FRODDOE. £ 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 J5ggs, dozen (fresh) 0 2 0 Lard, lb. - 0 0 5 Bacon, lb. • 0 0 6 Ham, lb. C 0 7 to 0 0 8 Fowls, pair . 0 2 6 to 0 2 9 Ducks, pair 0 3 3 to 0 3 9 Ow.se, pair 6 0 Turkeys, pair - 7 6 Hay and Corn Market. £ 8. d. £ 8 d Maize, Poverty Bay - 0 3 9 Oats, feed - • 0 1 10 to 0 2 0 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.) - 4 0 0 to 4 10 0 Potatoes - 2 10 0 to 2 12 6 Floor Market. £ 8. d. £ 8. d Sharps, per ton - • 3 10 0 Bran per ton . • 3 0 0 Colonial FlouF - 10 5 0 to 10 10 0 Oatmeal . 9 0 0 to 9 5 0 Pearl Barley - 15 0 0 nommal Seeds. £ . d. £ n. d Ryegrass, bushel • 0 4 6 to 0 6 6 Cocksfoot, lb. . 0 0 4 to 0 0 4f Wt. Clover, lb. - - 0 0 10 Red, do . 0 0 8 to 0 0 9 Alsyke, lb. * - 0 0 10 Cow Grass, lb. - - C 0 7 to 0 0 9 Timothy, lb. * 0 0 6 Rape, lb. . ' 0 0 2 nominal Linseed, ner cwt. 0 16 0 nominal Meadow Fescue lb • 0 10