LATEST COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 29

LATEST COMMERCIAL.

Messrs Abraham and Williams report : At Pohangina on Tuesday more stock came forward than was advertised. The poor attendance and high reserves prevented much business being done. At Palmorston on Thursday both sheep and cattle mustered up well. We had a large attendance, and spirited bidding for both classes of stock, resulting in an almost total clearance of the yards under tho hammer at prices in favour of vendors. Wethers more than maintained recent rates, whilst good wool led ewes and strong lambs showed a strong upward tendency. Young cattle and beefy cows sold frooly, forward bullock s being perhaps at lower value than other classes of cattle. We quote:—At Pohangina.—2-tooth wethers, 7s Id ; forward ewes, Us and Us 3d ; dairy cows, £h 10s ; 2-year steers, £2 ss. At Palmerston. —Sheep—Store wethers. Bs, 8s 4d, 8s sd, 8s 7d, 8s lOd; others, 7s 3d to 7s Gd ; dry ewes, 4s lid to 7s sd; 2-tooth ewes (empty), (Is Gd to 7s Id; culls. 3s 2d to l.s 7d ; shorn lambs, 3s lOd to 4s Od ; Lincoln d0.,557d. Cattle—Forward bullocks, dfi-1 Gs to £1 15s ; fat cows. .£3 lGs to £1 4s; dairy cows at profit, £1 17s Gd to £~> 10s ; backward do., £3 to £1 10s ; springing heifers, £C ; others, £3 2s Gd ; store cows, £3 to .£3 Gs ; 2-year steers, £2 14s Gd to £2 IGs ; yearling heifers, 32s Gd to 38s ; well-bred shorthorn weaners, .£2; others, 15s to 255. At our sale next week wo have entries of an exceptionally good line of Lincoln owes in lamb, and several linos of good skinned, healthy lambs. Mr MATTHEW Henry reportsof his Palmcrfiton sale on Thursday ; —n. very limite 1 number of stock came forward, the wet weather preventing many entries putting inanappearance The demand showed an improvement on recent sales, more business being done under tho hammer than for some time, and a good clearance made at quotations. Cattle — Forward bullocks, £~> 7s lid ; fat and forward cows, <£3 15s to £1; weaners, 19s to 21s. Shoop—Forward ewes, Gs Gd ; shorn lambs, 5a 3d. Pigs—Weaners, 3s Gd ; porkers, 4s 4d. THE WEEK'S REVIEW IN AUSTRALIA. Sydney, May 9. The fateful fourth passed in a satisfactory manner. City traders' accounts were well met, while country houses asked about tho ordinary amount of accommodation. The feature of tho week was the high prico recorded for New South Wales 5 per cents. Debentures duo in 1902 roalisod 112, wliilo those duo a year earlier netted 110, probably tho highestpiicea ever paid for Government securities either here or in England. Investment stocks continue in fairly good demand, although the higher prices now ruling prevent indiscriminate Inlying. Very little business is doing in steam or insuranco shares. Tho Melbourne Stock Exchange roports continued activity in investment stocks, with a hardening tendency in prices. Local coal shares aro receiving attention, whilo Westport and New Zealand shares have been quitted at a reduced price of 40s. In the Sydney import market, the general charactor of tho opening trade of the month was fairly favourable, although devoid of interesting developments —in fact, matters have settled down to a hand-to-mouth groove, due in a measure to tho unusual dryness of the season. Pain is badly wanted, and a dry winter following a dry summer is not a combination to bo desired by tho mercantile world. A parcel of 2500 sacks Californian wheat, more or less damaged by water owing to a small fire on board tho Ross-shire, realised in onolino 3s Id per bushel. Tasmanian hops are in good demand, largely owing to the shortage in Victoria and the almost prohibitive prices asked for the New Zealand article Melbourne, May 9. Thoro is modcrato trade in tho various markets. Wheat is very slow in demand. Millers' stocks, howovor, aro not largo, and will shortly require replenishing. Orders from West Australia arc coming to hand freely in various lines, but business is somewhat hampered by the lack of facilities at Fremantle for tho delivery of goods A delaidk, May 9 The Exchange experienced dull markets during the week, although business improved slightly at its close. THE MEAT EXPOIIT TiIA.DE. Thk Colonial Coa.sniNMK.vr and DmTRIBUTINO CuMTANY, LIMITED, i.'i their meat report, dated i!nd April, state: There has been no alteration in the cattle trade n,K the mc'ropolitan market-, no better demand, and a slow dragging trade. Supplies in the sheep market showed a largo increase, owing to the number of lambs punned, heavy consignments coming forward, as nsual, on the Monday before blaster. For these there was a good demand at late rates for the choicest, top quotations Is per lb, for others le.-.s money was taken, the lar,;e supply and cold >.r weather influencing buye-.s. At Eeptford trade is reported firmer; best States beasts sold at a slight advance, while the absence of any vory rough cattle, and generally much better quality of Argentines, enabled sales to be made at 4d to 4 Id per lb. With a much lessened number of foieign sheep there h»S been a steady trad", best pens being quoted at 51 per lb. NfiW ZkiAIiAWD ftiunoN.— tliq Star oi Victoria brought 32,212, and Tokoa 30,734 shoep. Trade continues bad, there is but a very limited demand, even for the best sheep, which aro no'v offered at 3.',d to 3.U1 per lb in small lots. Dunedins and Southlands have made 2Jd to 3d per lb, but some arc now being offered at per lb; North Island are vilb ingat2gdto2, i dperlb; a long line of Wellingtons is ropnrtod sold '"ex ship" at 2.M ,< lb, but buyers, as a rule, do not care fcospscu- i late beyond immediate requirements, from too uncertainty as to how low prices may bo forced when several large cargoes, now close at hand, arrive.

New Zealand Lamb.—The Star of Victoria brought 3G50, and Tekoa 27,859. Sales have been fairly heavy, but at considerably reduced prices, the marketing of numbors, whose condition made prompt realisation necessary, has had tho effect of lowering rates, and tho highest quotation is now 5d per lb for the very best; many are being sold at Hd to 4>d per lb.

WELLINGTON MARKETS. Messrs Laery & Co. report current wholesale values as under : Hay and Corn Market.

£ s. D. £ s. D. Fee J barley ... . ii 2 8 to 0 •_> 'J Maize ... 0 0 Oats, feed . 0 3 Wheat, milling (1 3 10 Fowl Wheat 0 i; Eye Corn 0 3 Seed Barley ... 0 :; 0 Hay, ton i 10 0 Oaten, ton 3 10 0 Straw, ton 3 0 0 Chaff, oaten sheaf ., 3 10 0 Wheat, straw... 3 II 0 Onions, 4 0 0 to 6 10 0 Pot ATOI :.s. Potatoes 3 ii 0 to 3 0 0 Fakm and Dai hi ■ Produce. £ ■s. D. £ s. D Milk, quart 0 0 l", Butter, fresh farm, 11 0 0 •!■' to ii 0 7 Butter, separator .. 0 ii K to n 0 !> Salt butter 0 ii I! to n II ii 1 Cheese 0 n 1 to 0 0 1* Loaf 0 n 1JZggs, dozen (Iresh) .. 0 2 0 Bacon, lb 0 ii 5 J Ham, lb 0 n 7 , Fowls, pair 0 2 ii Ducks, pair 0 3 n , Goose, pair 0 t 0 Turkeys, pair... 0 0 (j to 0 7 (i Flwur M.vi 1KB S. T. I>. £ s. D. Roller flour !l .") II Pollard 4 15 II Oatmeal 10 HI 1) Bran 4(1 (1 tit EDS £ S. D. J: B. it. Ryegrass, Fanners' lots 0 'J 0 to 0 3 3 Ryegrass, Machine dressed ... 0 1 0 to 0 4 e Cocksfoot, 11) .., ii I) to t) 0 ■it Wt. Clover, lb 0 II Hi Red Clover, lb 0 0 tl Alsykc, lb 0 n 9 Cow Grass, lb... 0 0 ;i Timothy, lb 0 II •") Rape, per C\vt 1 5 0 Linseed, per cwt 10 Hi 0