COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1193, 11 January 1895, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

WELLINGTON MARKETS. Messrs Laery & Co. report current whole sale values as under : Farm and Dairy Produce.

Freeman R. Jackson and Co. 's Johnsonville stock report (telegraphed on the 3rd to the Mail) is as follows : —The beef entered for the market to-day was of medium weight and good quality. Prices were a little easier. The sheep pens contained ewes only, no wethers coming forward. Lambs were spare. Cattle—Best bullocks, £7 10s to £7 15s; others, £7 to £7 7s 6d; small bullocks, M 10s to £Q 17s 6d, or equal to 18s per 1001 b. Sheep—Ewes, 7s to 7s lid ; lambs, 7s to 7s 8d; inferior lambs, 3s 6d to ss. Pigs—Porkers, 16s to 21s 6d.

Laery and Co. (Limited) report for the past week as under: — Wheat. —Without change. In the absence of sales, we repeat our last quotations;— Prime milling, 2s 7d to 2s 8d; medium to good, 2s s£d to 2s 6£d, f.o.b. Southern ports ; whole fowl wheat, 2s 7d to 2s Bd, ex stores. Oats. —Local stocks are light, and, in sympathy with Southern advices, values have a hardening tendency. We quote : —Good short oats, Is 9d to Is lid ; medium, Is 8d ; Danish, Is 8d ; duns, Is lOd to Is lid. Barley.—Nothing doing. Our quotations are nominal: —Choice malting, 4s 3d ; medium to good, 3s 6d to 3s 9d j milling, 2s 6d ; feed, is 9d ; Cape, 2s lOd. Peas.—No demand. We quote : —Prussian blue, 3s : Partridge, 2s lOd ; Yorkshire hero, ss.

J&HZE.-—Slow of sale at 2s 3d to 2s sd.

Pollard. —72s 6d per ton.

Chaff. —Supplies of new season's are now offering, but buyers are disposed to operate with extreme caution, as indications are not wanting that the quantity available this year will be both large and of good quality. We quote : —Prime bright heavy (old season's), 72s Gd to 75s ; good, 60s ; prime new season's, 65s to 67s per cwt. New Potatoes. —The quantity coming forward lately has largely increased in volume, and values have suffered accordingly. We quote ; —Auckland flukes, 3s 6d to 3s 9d; Hutt flukes, 4s to 4s 3d per cwt; round, 3s to 3s 3d.

Onions.—Market bare. Prime Melbourne are worth nominally 7s to 8s per cwt; medium to good, 5s to 6s. Cocksfoot. —Market bare. Our quotations are nominal: —Best machine-dressed, 4fd to sd.

Matthew Henry, Palmerston, reports of his sale: —A limited number of both sheep and cattle, composed of odd lots, made up the day's entry. At auction, trade dragged; but ultimately a moderate clearance was effected at quotations. Cattle—3-year steers, .£4 17s Gd ; weaners,Bos to 32s 6d; cows and calves, .£3 7s ; dairy cows (medium), .£3 15s to .£4 15s. Sheep—2-tooth ewes and wethers, 6s, 6s 3d and 6s sd. Weaner pigs, 7s.

Abraham: and Williams' stock report is as follows :—Wo commenced the New Year with our usual weekly sale at Palmerston. The entry of cattle and sheep was only a moderate one. The demand for sheep proved to be quiet, a general feeling of uncertainty existing on the prices likely to rule later on. Store wethers were in bettor demand than ewes, those penned going off with a certain amount of freedom, while, on the other hand, a nice line of 2-tooth ewes were practically neglected. The demand for fresh conditioned steers of good quality still continues; but female stock, fat bullocks and the younger classes of cattle declined in value. Sheep—Good sound 2-tooth wethers, 7s 4d ; others, 6s 3d ; 2-tooth mixed sexes, 5s 4d to 6s 2d. Cattle —3-year steers, £4 9s to .£4 16s ; 2£ do, .£4 6s 6d ; 18month steers, £2 ss; heifers in calf, .£3 4s; steer weaners, indifferent quality, 265; fat bullocks, £6 to £6 ss.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have received the following cable from their London office : Butter — Stocks heavy ; market firmer. Fine qualities New Zealand are worth 94s to 100 s per cwt.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report for week ending 4th January, 1895 : Wool. —Since the close of our last sale, on the 7th ultimo, nothing new has transpired to show any indication of a better tone. Sales have been held at Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, and at each centre about 50 per cent, of the catalogues submitted were disposed of, but at prices in accord with the recent fall experienced at the beginning of the season. The first of the next season's English sales is fixed to commence on the 15th inst., and until then we cannot expect any improvement to take place. The next sale at this centre will be held on the 18th inst., when the local brokers will submit catalogues of about 1500 bales. \

Sheepskins. Factory skins have come forward in large supply, and prices have been well maintained. Best crossbred pelts are worth 10£d to Is 2d ; second quality, 7d to 9d. Lambskins are worth Is to Is Bd. Station skins have not come to hand quite so freely, and late quotations have been maintained. Recent advices from London report a serious decline in prioes. but as yet we are without confirmation.

Hides. —The market is fairly well supplied, and late quotations are maintained. Flax. —There is nothing new to report. London advices show a decline in recent sales, and large quantities have been held over. Locally business passing ia purely speculative. Wheat. —Reports from the South tend to show that large quantities of Victorian wheat are finding their way into the market at equivalent to local prices. Fowl wheat is still in good demand, and quotations show no alteration.

Oats. —Stocks are now light, and buyers are cautious, preferring to wait for the new season's supply, which is expected to come in at a low figure. Best feed sorts are worth Is lid; medium and inferior, Is 8d to Is lOd, sacks extra, ex store. Grass Seeds.—The quantity available is reported to be quite up to last year, and although cocksfoot will open at a high figure, this will not be maintained. Ryegrass at present is stagnant, nothing being done till the new crop is offering. Hops.—Buyers are extremely cautious, as latest quotations for Bavarians are very low, and New Zealand sellers will have to reduce their ideas if business is to eventuate.

A. G. Taine and Co. report of their Saturday's horse sale:—Wo had a fair entry of horses in our yards, mostly light hacks and harness horses, but nothing calling for very special mention. We offered on behalf of a Wairarapa client a pair of nice buggy ponies, but the offer for them not coming up to owner's ideas of their value they were bought in. A nice young trotting mare shared the same fate for want of appreciation. The bidding generally was rather lanquid, except for anything like good express horses, which always command attention. We effected a fair number of sales, and sold useful, aged medium draught gelding for £l2 ; light harness horses at £5, £6 and £1 10s, and hacks at late quotations. Really good harness horses, with any pretensions to style, are in good demand, express horses also. Good, heavy young draughts are in this market at the present time almost unobtainable. We have a draft coming from the country shortly, which will no doubt fill the demand for a time.

Townsend and Paul's weekly report of the horse market: —At our Central Saleyards on Saturday the entry was not particularly attractive, no fresh country or imported horses being present. The attendance was fair, but the absence of buyers apparent. No heavy draughts were offered, and the harness stamps were very indifferent. The fine upstanding bay trotter Milo, a fast mover, was passed in at .£l7, and a capable brown mare that took her jump splendidly did not reach the owner's reserve. Light harness horses and hacks were disposed of at from £3 10s to £7 15s, some seven or eight finding fresh owners. During the week we disposed of the balance of the Talune's consignment, 20 head, mostly unbroken fillies suitable for all kinds of medium draught work at prices satisfactory to vendors. We have advico of a line of fresh young draught horses to come along from South. These may reach us during; the ensuing week, as also some well-

bred cows to calve in February. Of vehicles we sold a spring cart at £9, and a doubleseated buggy, ,£l6 ; saddles, 40s to 50s.

Edwaeds and Mcßeath report that the market has revived somewhat since Christmas.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Ltd.) has received the following telegram, dated 4th, from its London office :—Frozen meats—The mutton market has an upward tendency. Canterbury and Wellington mutton are worth 4d and 3|d per lb respectively. Tallow—There is little demand, and there has been a decline of 3d par cwt since last report. Butter—The market is firm. Fine qualities New Zealand are worth 96s to 100 s per cwt.

London, January 2. As compared with the year 1893, the total number of cattle in the United Kingdom ]ast year decreased by 427,000 head, and the sheep showed a decrease of 1,737,000 head. The returns show that the number of sheep and cattle in the United Kingdom last year was the smallest for many years past. London, January 3. New Zealand frozen mutton—First quality 41d per lb; second quality, 3fd. New Zealand lamb is selling at an .average of 5Jd, and Australian at 4£d. . '

A South Australian wheat cargo, ex barque A dele, sold at 25s l£d.

London, January 4. The Bank of England returns, published to-day, show the total reserve in notes and bullion to be ,£23,972,000, the proportion of reserve to liabilities being 53'34. Consols, 104. Three months' bills are discounted at f per cent. New South Wales 4 per cent, inscribed stock, 108 i; 3£ do, 100£. Victorian 4 per cants., 102; 3£, 93. South Australian 4 per cents., 102£; 3£, 100£. Queensland 4 per cents. 106; 3s, 97£. Tasmanian 3£- per cents., 99! Western Australian 4 per cents., 111. New Zealand 4 per cents., 1064-; 3£, 100£. New Zealand long-berried wheat, ex warehouse, 25s 9d; firm. South Australian do 25s 6d ; firm. Victorian do, 25s ; steady. ' Hemp is unchanged. Sugar—Best German beet, 8s 9d : Java lis 9d, quiet.

No. 1 best Scotch pig iron, f.o.b. in Clyde 41s 6d, flat. ' The principal importations of wool in 1894 were :—Dalgety and Co., 111,000 bales ; Australian Mortgage, Land and Finance Co. 100,000 bales; Sanderson, Murray and Co ' 84,000 bales; and New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, 73,000 bales. ' London, January 5. French beans from Madeira are selling wholesale in London for 6d. Antimony, ,£32 15s ;

Tallow—Medium mutton, 23s ; beef, 225. The English wheat market shows a strong tone, and prices are unchanged. The Continental is firm, and the American inclined to buoyancy.

Buenos Ayres, January 6. The damage to the Argentine wheat crop is more serious than was expected. The quantity available for export will probably not exceed 4£ million quarters. Melbourne, January 5. The Age believes that Victoria will treble her moot export during the year. Invercargill, January 4. At the wool sales to-day about ten thousand bales were submitted. There was a large attendance of buyers, and good competition. Eightpence was obtained for fine crossbred. Good crossbreds are ruling from 6d to 7d. Though prices show a serious fall compared with those of last year, they are somewhat better than those obtained in the North. "Very few lots have been passed in.

London, January 3. No more directors have yet been appointed in Mr C. R. Valentine's new company, and negotiations are proceeding slowly. Nelson Bros/ firm has further increased the number of chambers available for the new thawing process.

A butter salesman, referring to the disclosures as to the illegal use of brands, states that owing to its irregular quality for some weeks he had come to regard the Victorian Government brand as un« reliable.

The produce importers entertained Mr Pateson, of the Fresh Food Company, Sydney, at a banquet. In replying to the toast of his health, Mr Pateson urged that the bulk of the best produce should be shipped to London, and not to the provinces. The days of big profits, he said, had gone by. London, January 5. The prices for frozen meat are likely to keep up, owing to the shortness of the supplies from the Argentine Republic. Nelson Bros, quote good Australian crossbred at 3£d.

London, January 8. Wheat has risen 6d per quarter. Melbourne, January 8. The first shipment of cheese under the new bonus regulations will be sent away during- the. week. It consists of 68 tons graded by experts of the Agricultural Department.

The bonus to be paid is £3 per ton, provided it sells at not less thaa 60s per cwt.

It is anticipated that regular shipments will be made during the next three months.

The Agricultural Department is taking measures to prove thf3 adaptability of the climate to grow kapok, the well-known material used in upholstery.

£ s. D. £ s. D. Milk, quart 0 0 3 to 0 0 4 Butter, fresh farm, lb 0 0 7 Butter, separator ... 0 0 9 to 0 0 10 Salt butter ... 0 0 7 Cheese 0 0 4*- to 0 0 5 Loaf 0 0 si Egg?, dozen (fresh)-... 0 0 7 Bacon, lb .0 0 7i Ham, lb 0 0 8 Fowls, pair 0 3 0 to 0 3 6 Ducks, pair ... 0 4 6 Geese, pair 0 5 o: Turkeys, pair 0 7 6 Flour Maeket. £ s. D. £ s. D. Stone flour 7 0 0 Roller flour 7 15 0 Pollard 3 10 0 Oatmeal 9 0 0 Bran 2 10 0: to 2 15 0 Hay and Corn Market. £ s. D. £ s. D. Maize 0 2 G Oats, feed # 0 1 9 to 0 1 10 Wheat, milling 0 2 9 Fowl Wheat 0 2 8 Rye Corn 0 3 3 Seed Barley 0 4 0 Carrots... 1 10 0 Hay, ton 3 10 0 to 4 0 0 Oaten, ton 3 10 0 Straw, ton 2 10 6 Chaff, oaten sheaf ... 3 10 0 Wheat, straSv 2 5 0 to 2 10 0 Onions, 0 8 0 Potatoes 1 15 0 to 2 0 0 Potatoes (now) 3 0 0 Potatoes (kidneys) ... 4 0 0 Seeds. £ s. D. £ s. %i Ryegrass, Farmers' lots ... _ ... 0 2 9 to 0 3 3 Ryegrass, Machine dressed ... 0 4. 3 to 0 4 9 Cocksfoot, lb .... 0 0 4 to 0 0 5ri Wt. Clover, lb 0 0 10 Red Clover, lb 0 0 9 Alsyke, lb 0 0 9 Cow Grass, lb 0 0 9 Timothy, lb 0 0 4 Linseed, per cwt 13 10 0 Rape, per cwt 1 5 0