COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1194, 18 January 1895, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

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

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have received the following cable from the London office, dated 12th instant:—■ Tallow. —In consequence of stocks being in excess of trade requirements, the market is disorganised. New Zealand fine mutton and good beef tallows are respectively worth 23s 6d and 21s 6d per cwt, nominal value. Matthew Henry reports that the second annual show and sale of fat stock took place on the 10th at Falmerston North, when the quantity of stock forward was quite double that of last year. This, however, does not

say much, and is but a humble apology for the capabilities of the district. The quality of the exhibits was good all round, when we consider that the larger entries were the culls from the various grazings that turned away several hundreds during the past season. The entries from the Hon W. W. Johnston and Mr D. Manson in sheep and cattle were both very creditable to the respective managers, Mr Holmes and Mr Allan, while Mr Moore Hunter, Hawera, was not much behind. Mr Hinds and Mr McGregor also exhibited serviceable animals. Mr F. Pery brought forward some really good 4tooth wethers, which would stand their ground in strong competition. The same exhibitor had an entry of young bullocks, which, had they been taken in hand for the purpose of exhibition, would have taken some beating. The lambs exhibited by Messrs H. Bryant and S. R. Lancaster would have been pronounced good at any ordinary sale, but they lacked somewhatin condition, a complaint very general among buyers this season. Messrs Theo. Hislop (Woodville) and A. Urquhart (Featherston) acted as judges, and made their awards in a very satisfactory manner. Subjoined is the prize-list and prices realised : —Bullocks, 3yrs or over —Hon W. W. Johnston, 1; D. Manson, 2 and 3. Bullocks, under 3yrs Hon W. W. Johnston, 1; F. Perry, 2. Sheep Wethers, 4-tooth or over :F. Perry, 1. Ewes: D. Manson, 1 ; Hon W. W. Johnston, 2 and 3. Lambs : 8. R. Lancaster, 1 ; H. Bryant, 2. Bullocks sold from £6 7s 6d to <£7 5s ; lambs, 5s 2d.

Laekt and Co. report for the past week as under : Wheat. —The position of the market shows little or no change.[Stocks in the South are reported low, but on the other hand there is little or no enquiry. We quote—Prime milling, 2s 7d to 2s 8d ; medium to good, 2s s§d to 2s 6id, f.o.b. Southern ports ; whole fowl wheat, 2s 7d to 2s Bd, ex stores. _ , . Oats. —Market continues fairly firm, but m anticipation of early supplies of the new season’s crops buyers are inclined to operate with caution. We quote: —Prime short oats, Is lOd to Is lid ; good stout feed, Is 8d to Is 9d ; Danish, Is 8d ; duns, Is lOd to Is lid. . „ Baelet. —Pending deliveries of the new season’s crop, business in malting lines is at a standstill. Our quotations are nominal: — Choice malting, 4s to 4s 3d ; medium to good, 3s 6 d to 3s 9d; feed, Is 9d ; Cape, 2s lOd. Maize. —Without alteration. We quote 2s 3d to 2s 5d per bushel. Pollard. —Fair demand at 72s fid per ton. Chaff. —A fair quantity of new season’s chaff of excellent quality is now on the market, but in anticipation of heavy supplies during the coming season buyers are not inclined to purchase freely, and business in consequence is restricted. W@ quote : Prime bright heavy, old season’s, 72s 6d ; prime new season’s, 65s per ton. Cocksfoot. —In anticipation of early deliveries of the new crop, the market is easier, and we look for a sharp and early decline on late quotations. Ryegrass. —There is a good enquiry for prime heavy machine-dressed at 4s 3d to 4s 4d ; medium to good; 3s 9d to 4s 3d. Peas. —Prussian blue, 3s ; Partridge, 3s ; Yorkshire Hero, ss. , New Potatoes. —Supplies continue well up to the requirements of the market, and values during the week have suffered a further fall. We quote Best kidneys, 65s to 70s; round, 60s per ton.

A. G. Taine and Co. report on the markets for the week ending- January 11 : Owing- to the holidays our country sales have been interrupted, and we have not yet resumed full operations. Fat sheep The market for fat sheep, or sheep of any kind, is decidedly weak, and lower prices have had to be accepted all round. We quote good lines of fat wethers, 9s to 9s 6d ; medium weights, 7s to Bs. Fat lambs are in good demand for freezing, but are scarce ; we could place large lines at good prices. We quote store wethers, 2 and 4-tooth, 6s to 7s 6d. At our sale at Lower Hutt on Tuesday, cattle sold particularly well, resulting in a clearance, except a few dairy cows. Weaners, 20s to 25s ; yearlings, £2 to £>2 10s ; 2-year-olds, .£3 to .£3 10s ; bullocks, .£4 5s ; old cows at low prices ; store wethers with few ewes, 6s to 6s 6d; Romney rams, f.m., <£2 2s ; store pigs, slips, 13s to 15s, and big demand for more ; young sows, 245. Sheepskins.—All coming forward are quickly bought up at full present market rates, but the late drop in wool has of course to be allowed for We quote from 3d to 4d per lb for good well-woolled skins.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report for week ending 11th January, 1895 : Wool. —There is nothing to report concerning this staple since last writing. * During the week sales have been held at Auckland and Dunedin, and prices have hardened a shade for fine qualities of crossbreds, but show a further decline for all sorts of faulty and inferior qualities. A good quantity as coming forward for the next sale on the 15th inst., when the local brokers will submit catalogues of about 1500 bales.. Sheepskins. —Larger quantities of factory skins are coming forward at the present time, and prices at the moment are as follow Prime factory crossbred pelts, lOd to Is 4d; lambskins, Is 3d to Is 8d; lamb pelts, 3d to sd. Station skins (dry) have not come forward in such Quantity this week, and prices remain without any alteration since last report. . , Hides.— Consignments coming forward receive attention at late rates. Flax. —Nothing new to report, and the market remains lifeless. Wheat. —A slight favourable tendency is reported from London, but this has not reflected on the local markets. Quotations are without alteration. Oats. —The new crop is shortly coming forward, and the market is expected to open at late rates. Grass Seed— The cocksfoot crop is reported to be heavy, and late quotations should show a reduction on the market opening. Ryegrass is beginning to move, and enquiry is being made for prime quality. Poverty Bay new seed is expected to open at 6s for prime qualities. Southern seed is also beginning to attract attention, and a good demand is expected. Edwards and Mcßeath report of the labour market : —We have been very busy during the week with all classes of servants, both in town and country. A. G. Taine and Co. report of their Saturday’s horse sale : —There was a good attendance, and a fairly good entry, but very few really good sound horses in the yard. We offered a few good sorts and placed a fair proportion of our entry, all really good hoyses finding buyers, but crocks were un*

saleable. We sold harness horses, mostly aged, at £B, £8 10s, £lO, and £ll 10s and £l2 was refused for express sorts. Hacks were sold at £5, £6 and £7 10s, all for aged, horses. We offered a number of vehicles of various kinds, but they were all turned out unsold. Not a single draught horse entered. We have a number of buyers for draughts. We will offer next Saturday some first-class harness horses from the country, all by picked sires, and a good lot.

Townsend and Paul report of the horse sale in their yards, Harris street, on Saturday: The entries were not large, mostly local, but some very fine stamps were offered and changed hands. A splendid black mare by Mangle—Lady Yorke brought £l4 15s ; handsome grey mare, £lO ; good useful grey gelding, £ll 15s ; and other sorts, from £7 10s to £3los. There were no draughts entered at all, but we have advice of some from the South. The attendance was large. We sold privately the balance of the Sydney shipment, which were shipped by the Flora last Thursday for Dunedin, at a satisfactory price. We also sold several locally to tradespeople. A splendid, heavy draught, specially brought from the South for a client, £3O. We quote as follows Express horses, £lO to £l2 10s; cab or brougham horses, £lO to £l4 ; draughts, £ls to £2O; polo ponies, £8 to £lO 10s ; ordinary hacks, £6 to £7; weeds, all prices, 20s to 50s. The demand for any sorts is not over brisk. London, January 10. Shares —Union Steamship Co., £7 ; N.Z. Shipping Co., £3 ss. The American visible supply of wheat is 13,100,000 bushels/. London, January 11. The Bank of England returns show the total reserve to be £25,160,000, and the proportion of reserve to liabilities 55'66. Consols, 104 j. Three months’ bills are discounted at | per cent. New Zealand 4 per cent, inscribed stock, 106; 3k, 100 - New South Wales 4 per cents., 108; 3| do, 100§-. Victorian 4 per cents., 101 i; 3i, 94£. South Australian 4per cents., 106|; 3100 i. Queensland 4 per cents., 105 j ; 3i, 97|. Tasmanian 3| per cents., 9S|. Western Australian 4.per cents., 111. New Zealand long-berried wheat, ex warehouse, is firmer at 255. South Australian ditto is at 2os. Victorian ditto, 25s 6d. New Zealand frozen meat—First quality, 4d; second quality, 3fd. Lamb, 4fd. The Ruahine’s frozen meat, and also her consignment of butter, arrived in excellent condition. At the New Zealand hemp sales there was no bidding, and all the bales were bought in. Sugar —German beet, 8s 7|d ; Java, 11s 9d. Silver, 2s 3 5-x6d per oz. No. 1 best Scotch pig iron, f.o.b. in Clyde, 418 7id * T T u London, January 14. A shipment of 8000 tons of tallow from the colonies in December has demoralised the market, and business is almost at a standstill. Dunedin, January 10. The second series of wool sales commenced this morning, when there was a capital muster of buyers. On the whole there was good competition. In the case of all bright deep grown wools it was very keen, and prices for these descriptions were from id to id per lb better than at the opening sales of the season ; but, on the other hand, bidding for off colour and washy cross-breds and half-breds was slack and values from id to id per lb easier. Ordinary merino wools brought, if anything, a fraction more than at last sale. London, January 9.

The American dealers have refused to grant the meat salesmen the rebate of a pound weight on. each, quarter. The salesmen have combined to offer resistance.

It is alleged that the change will involve a loss of a million per annum to England. . London, January 12. A ton of Melbourne winter butter, packed in September according to'the Sewell patent, and shipped as ordinary cargo, has arrived here, and is reported to be in magnificent condition. The process excites much interest, and it is considered that if it will always yield equal results it will revolutionise the trade to the amount of =£9 per ton. Had the butter arrived and been available before Christmas it would have fetched 112 s per cwt. A portion of the butter consignment packed in shellac was of inferior quality, and had gone off. Sydney, January 10. There is an outcry in the country against the removal of the wheat duties. In several centres the price lias fallen to Is lOd. The Agent-General eables. that there is a good demand for rabbits in London. He adds that they must be trapped—not shot —clean paunched, and well packed, The Minister of Agriculture, who has been visiting the artesian bores in the Bourke district; is so impressed with their value in converting what has hitherto been an arid country into extremely fertile regions that he will probably establish homestead settlements in their vicinity. Sydney, January 14.

An English cattle-dealer visiting here, and who is engaged in the live. cattle trade, has purchased 220 head for shipment to England. He strongly condemns the practice of local butchers in handling meat, which he asserts should rest for 24 hours before being killed, and then be hung for_ 48 hours in the chilling chamber before being offered to the public.' He also strongly urges the value of chilling beef instead of freezing it for the English market. He believes that chilled meat would stand the voyage all right, and would realise more than the frozen article. Melbourne, January 12.

Some time ago a number of wheat producers in this colony despatched a delegate to the United States to gather information as to the wheat export trade and cognate matters. They have just received a report from him, in which he states that he sees no real difficulty in the way of bulk shipments of wheat being sent to America at a profit. The inventor of the new whaleback ships now engagedin com eying wheat to England assured the delegate that his ships could take bulk grain on any voyage without the necessity of an increase in the insurance risk. The company controlling this method of transportation will consider a suggestion made by the delegate that they will secure

almost a monopoly of tho Australian wheat trade if they carry bulk cargoes at reasonable rates. If such vessels were procured, he suggests tho oroction of elovators at Melbourne and Geelong. Tho report adds that tho Victorian farmers have so far weathered tho storm of low prices hotter than tho American or Canadian farmers, and declares that, with proper development, they possess advantages which should place them far ahead of the Americans.

£ 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 5£ Egg?, dozen (iresh) ... 0 0 9 Bacon, lb 0 0 n Ham, lb 0 0 8 Fowls, pair 0 3 0 to 0 3 6 Ducks, pair 0 4 6 Geese, pair ... 0 5 0 Turkeys, pair 0 7 6 Flour Market. £ 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 6 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 1 Chaff, oaten sheaf ... 3 10 0 > Wheat, straw 2 5 0 to 2 10 0 Onions, 0 *8 0 Potatoes (new) 2 0 ( Potatoes (kidneys) ... 3 0 0 Seeds. £ s. D. £ 8. u* 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 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 ewt 13 10 0 Rape, per cwt 1 5 0