COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

Freeman E. Jackson and Co.'s Johnsonvllle stock report (telegraphed on the 29th to the New Zealand Mail) is as follows : The beef was from medium to prime at our sale to-day, and it sold briskly at the quotations. Sheep generally were an inferior lot. A large, entry came forward. Prices were lower than those of last sale. Pigs were good sorts, but did not realise satisfactory prices. Cattle —Best bullocks, <£7 to .£8 2s 6d ; others,, <£6 5s to £Q 17s 6d, equal to 17s 6d the 1001 b. Sheep— Light wethers, 9s; ewes, Cs 6d to 7s 7d ; store wethers, 7s to ,7s 6d ; lambs. 6s to 8s id. Pigs—Baconers, 2;>s to 27s ; porkers, 15s to 17s 6d.

Freeman R. Jackson and Co.'s Wanganui report is as follows : —We had a good muster of both cattle and sheep at Waverley on Monday, and succeeded in disposing of all the sheep and a good portion of the cattle. At Wanganui we had a large muster of sheep, but cattle were in small supply. Cattle —At Waverley : Bullocks, £i ; steers, £2 to .£3 ; yearlings, 37s ; cows, .£2 17s to .£2 17s Gd. At Wanganui: Forward bullocks, .£4 Is ; steers, £2 5s to .£3 12s ; cows, <£2 18s to .£4 17s 6d ; yparlings, 33s to <£2. Sheep—At Waverley : Fat wethers, 9s ; wethers, 7s Id to 8s ; fat ewes, 6s ; shorn lambs, 3s 7d ; woolly lambs, 4s Gd to 5s Id. At Wanganui : Fat wethers, 9s 5d ; store wethers, 7s 2d to 8s Gd ; fat ewes, 5s 4d to Gs 2d ; hoggets, 5s 3d ; fat lambs, 7s 3d ; shorn lambs, 2s lid ,- woolly lamb.?, 4s to 5s 8d ; culls, 2s Gd ; old ewe 3,2 s 3d to 3s Gd.

Matthew Henry reports of his Palmerston sale :—A good muster of both sheep and cattle came forward, and the attendance was good. At aiiction the bidding was well maintained, although the prices were low and the buyers evidently bent on starting the various lines at low value. A practical clearance was effected, mostly at auction. Cattle—Good forward cows, .£3 8s ; odd lots of cows, £2 15s to .£3 ; 2-year steers, £2 10s to .£2 19s ; 18-months steers, £2 2s. Sheep—Two-tooth ewes and wethers, 7s 3d ; 2-tooth ewes, small, 5s 4d ; wethers do, 5s to 7s 9d ; woolly lambs, 4s 9d.

Abraham and Williams report ;—On Tuesday at Colyton we commenced operations by selling off some excellent sheep on account of the breeder, Mr Pudney, when fair prices were realised. We offered some steers, which were readily disposed of at quotations ; 2 and 4-tooth wethers, 7s lid ; 2-tooth ewes, 8s 8d ; G-tooth ewes, 6s 2d; ewo lambs, 4s 5d ; wether lambs, 4s 7d ; 2.V-year steers, <£3 9s ; 2-year do., £2 16s ; 20-months do., £2 Bs. At the yards same day wo had a full muster of sheep and cattle. Both these receded in value. Bidding under the hammer was dull, and rnost of the business was effected privately. We cleared most of the sheep, but a good many of the cattle failed to find purchasers. Fat ewes, 5s to 6s 8d ; fat wethers, 8s to 8s lOd ; 2 and 4-tooth store wethers, 7s to 7s 9d ; 2 and 4-tooth ewes. 6s 6d ; ewes, mixed ages, 4s Od to 5s 3d ; culls, Is 6d ; lambs in wool, 3s 4d to 5s 3d; mixed yearlings, 27s Gd; 2i-year steers, £3 8s ; fresh 3-yoar steers, £h 2s Gd ; fat heifers, .£4 Is to £i 12s ; fat cows, .£3 to £3 7s. At Palmerston on Thursday cattle and sheep were abundant. For the former, fresh steers and forward bullocks commanded competition ; other sorts neglected, though most was afterwards quitted at lower rates. Sheep were dull throughout. Well-grown 2tooth Romney ewes, 7s Gd; others, 6s; 2tooth store wethers, 5s 9d to 6s ; 2 and 4-tooth do, 7s 6d ; 4 and G-tooth ewes (small), 5s 4d ; shorn lambs, 3s ; culls, Is 9d ; woolly lambs, 4s 4d ; fat ewes, 4s 8d to 6s 9d. Forward bullocks, «£5 10s ; fresh 3-year steers, <£4 15s ; fat heifers, light-weights, .£3 14s 6d ; 2i-year steers, .£3 ss; 20-months steers, .£2 10s; yearling do, £1 7s ; 2-year heifers and steers, £2 10s ; mixed yearlings, 33s 6d.

A. G. Taine and Co. report of their horse sale on Saturday :—We had a large entry of 50 horses, including a truck of harness horses and. spring dray sorts from Wairarapa, and also a truck of broken and unbroken horses from Taranaki, all good sorts. The balance was made up of consignments from Manawatu and local owners. The attendance was large, but bidding dragged a good deal. Still wo effected a good'many sales, good harness sorts bringing from <£lo 10s to .£l3 10s, and lighter sorts from £6 to <£B. The unbroken horses were unsold. Of the ordinary entry we sold useful aged harness horses from £o to £7 10s. Hacks still unsaleable. We had no draughts to offer, and a few good ones would sell up to .£25 for the right sort.

The following cablegram has been received by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, from their London office, under date 30th January :—Butter —Market depressed. Fine qualities range in values 102 sto 106 s per cwt. Quotations nominal.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agkncy Company, Limited, report for the week ending 31st January, 1890, as follows :

Wool. —Under date 30th inst., our London office cables as follows:—The sales closed firmly this day. Since the close of last sales greasy, washed and scoured merino super, greasy and scoured merino medium and inferior, greasy merino lambs super, medium and inferior, and greasy crossbred lambs are |d to Id per lb higher. Washed merino medium and inferior, fine greasy crossbred and slipe merino are id per lb -higher. Medium greasy, washed and scoured crossbred, and coarse greasy, washed and scoured crossbred are par to £d per lb lower. Other descriptions unchanged. The total quantity sold during the past sales is 183,000 bales, of which 84,000 bales have been taken for the Continent and 21,000 bales for America. It is estimated that 22,000 bales have been held over for future disposal. Locally we have done a considerable business in private sales at prices on a par with those ruling at our auction on 17th inst. Lambs' wool and late shorn clips are now coming forward for our next sale on 14th February, when we expect to have a satisfactory catalogue to offer buyers. In view of the reported advance in crossbred lambs, this description will doubtlecs command the attention of buyers at an advance on the figures lately ruling.

Sheepskins.—An active demand prevails for all good lines, broken and inferior parcels being somewhat neglected. During the week we brought forward, a large catalogue of all descriptions, for which prices lately ruling were readily obtained. vVe quote ; Prime full-woolled, 5d to sid; special lines, 53d ; medium to good, 4£d to 4id ; dead and faulty, 3d to 4d ; inferior and broken, l£d to pelts, 6d to Is 9d ; lambs' pelts, Is 2d to 2s each. Hides. —Except for prime stout ox the market is rather weak. Quotations: Prime stout ox, 3£d to 3id; medium, 2fd to 3d;

light and sloppy, 2d to 2Jd ; green cowhides 2d to 2|d ; calfskins, to 3|d per lb. Tallow. —There is a fair demand for prime mutton, of which there is still a small supply available. For this description we have enquiries at .£l7 10s to .£lB per ton. Mixed and medium rule at .£l6 to £l6 10s ; inferior and badly rendered, .£l4 10s to 10s per ton ; rough fat, lid per lb. Tare on casks 151b : per cwt. Hemp.—London advices report this market firm •at £ls per ton. Locally the demand continues inactive, and quotations nominal. Fungus.—ln fair demand at 3?d per lb for clean dry parcels.. Grass seed. .Burning-. operations not having commenced . yet, the demand for autumn sowing is limited. Should the season Continue favourable an active enquiry will doubtless be in evidence early in February. We quote for prime machine dressed Poverty Bay ryegrass, 5s 6d to 5s 9d ; Southland, 4s 3d to 4s 9d.

Cocksfoot. The quantity offering is larger than for some time back, and prices in consequence are likely to rule lower than last year. The market has not opened yet, but we anticipate values to rule at 3d to 3Vd for clean, bright heavy; machine dressed, at 4d to per lb.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have received the following cablegram, dated Ist inst., from their London office : —Tallow —Market quiet ; quotations irregular. Sheepskins Long staple merino and tine crossbred quotations unchanged since last telegram; others, id per lb lower.

Sydney, January 29. Wheat—Prime, new milling, 4s 2d to 4s 3d ; chick, 3s 9d to 4s. Flour —Boiler brands : Old, .£lO 5s to .£lO 10s ; new, .£9 15s to .£lO. Oats —Prime, 2s 3d to 2s 4d. Maize, 3s 2d. Barley—Gape, 3s 3d. Bran, 9id ; pollard, scarce, 10-Vd. Peas—Prussian blue, 4s 9d to ss. Potatoes —Local, £4 5s to .£4 10s; New Zealand kidneys, £5 10s ; Circular Heads, £6 10s. Onions, dull, £b to £6. Butter —Dairy made, 9d to lOd •, factory, lid to 11M. Cheese —New Zealand, 6d to (>id. Bacon, 5d to Gid.

Melbourne, January 29

Wheat, slow of sale, 4s Hid to 5s id. Oats —Algeriar, 3s to 3s Gld ; stout, 3s 3d to 3s4id. Maize 3s Sd-. bran, Is id to Is Id; potatoes, dull. ; onions, £5. Melbourne, February 3.

The Govern it Dairy Expert estimates that the expo) butter to London will be short by abou '0 tons compared with last year's, represc -.ing a loss of J.loo,<joo. He hopes the shortage will be made up by the increases in the export of mutton, mbbits, poultry and eggs.

Adelaide, Januaty 29. Wheat, firm, 4s 2-ld. Flour—-Boiler brands, £9 10s. Bran and" pollard, ll.Vd ; oats, 2s 3d to 2s 4d. Barley—Malting, 3s Gd to 4s 3d ; Cape, 2s 6d to 3s.

London, January 29

The New Zealand Trust and Loan debentures are quoted at £23 ; Australian and New Zealand Mortgage Agency Company, at £lO2 10s.

'1 he total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,560,000 quarters, and for the Continent 560,000 quarters. The American visible wheat supply is 98,500,000 bushels.

London, January 30. The Manchester Guardian says the Gulf of Siam's butter is excellent, and if the quality is maintained a regular sale is ensured.

London, January 31

The Bank of England returns published today show the total reserve to be £39,828,000, the proportion of reserve to liabilities being 62"14 per cent. Three months' bijLls are discounted at 1 per cent., market quiet. The following are the latest quotations for Government securities: —

payable in May and November. •{-Interest payable in January and July. Now Zealand long-berried wheat, ex warehouse, nominal ; South Australian ditto, 30s firm ; Victorian ditto, 30s 3d, firmer. New Zealand frozen meat —First quality, 3>jd ; second quality, 3|d. Lamb, 4jjd. The hemp market is firm. Prices are unchanged. The butter market is lifeless. Danish and colonial quoted at 107 s. The cheese market is quiet, and prices are unchanged. London, February 2. Tallow Medium mutton, 22s ; beef, 20s 6d. The English wheat market has a strong tone, and prices remain unchanged. Both the American and Continental markets have an upward tendency. At the sales of Australian sheepskins, competition was weak, Best merino crossbreds brought prices on a par with December rates. Others showed a 5 per cent, decrease. Over 90,000 Australian rabbits are stored by a London syndicate, and are selling at Bid each.

— Price. Variation as compared with last week. Im. Consols, 2 J p.c. N.S.W. 4 per cent. N.S.W. 3i p.c. Victorian 4 p.c. Victorian 3.V p.c. S. Australian 4 p.c. S. Australian 3i p.c. £ 108 118 108 110 104 112 108 112 10(3 112 105 121 10G s. 0 0 5 0 0 5 5 5 10 5 0 0 0 d. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5/- higher 30/- big-ber 15/- higher 20.'- big-ber 20 - big-ber 30/- big-ber 25/- big-ber 35 - bigber 30/- bigber 20/- bigbor 5/- higher Unchanged 10/- higher Queensland 4 p.c. Queensland 31 p.c. New Zealand 4 p.c* New Zealand3£ p.c.f W. Australian 4 p.c. Tasmania 3k p.c.