LATEST COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 29

LATEST COMMERCIAL.

Levin and Co., Limited, have received the following cablegram, date 1 16th May, from their agents, Messrs Dalgety and Co.', Limited, London The sales closed firm to-day. For the bulk of good merino wools prices are 5 per cent, lower, and for medium and inferior merino wools 5 to 10 per cent, lower than the closing rates of last series, tho prices of merino generally being on a par with tho averago rates of tho lanuary series. Tho bulk of crossbred wools arc 5 per cent, to 8 per cent, lower than tho closing rates of last series. Inferior washed merino locks soil relatively well. Out of tho total not quantity available for sale, somo 91,000 bales have been sold for Homo consumption, 105,1)90 bales lor tho Continent, and 1000 bales for America, leaving 75,000 bales to be carried forward to tho next series.”

THE MEAT EXPORT TRADE

The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company, Limited, in their moat report, dated 2nd April, state : There has been no alteration in tho cattle trade at the metropolitan markets, no better demand, and a slow dragging trade. Supplies in the sheep market showed a largo increase, owing to tho number of lambs penned, heavy consignments coining forward, as usual, on tho Monday before Easter. For those there was a good demand at late rates for the choicest, top quotations Is per lb, for others lors money was taken, tho large supply and colder weather influencing buyers. At Deptford trade is reported firmer; best States beasts sold at a slight advance, while the absence of any very rough cattle, _ and generally much better quality of Argentines, enabled sales to be made at Id to 11 d per lb. With a much lessoned number of foieign sheep there has been a steady trade, best pens being quoted at 5d per lb. New Zealand Mutton. —Tho Btar ot Victoria brought 32,212, and Tokoa 36,734 sheep. Trade continues bad, there is but a very limited demand, even for the host sheep, which are no’v offered at 3jd to ->jd per lb in small lots. Dunedins and Southlands have made 2Jd to 3d per lb, but somo are now being offered at 2M per lb ; North Island are sell jug at 2sd to 27(1 per lb; a long line of Wellingtons is reported sold 11 ex ship at 2fd per Hi, but buyers, as a rule, do not care to speculate beyond immediate requirements, from the uncertainty as to how low prices may be forced when ?overal cargoes, now' close at hand, arrive. New Zealand Lamb.—The _ Stir of Victoria brought 3650, and 'D'koa 21,839. Sites have been fairly heavy, but at considerably reduced prices, the marketing of numbers, whose condition made prompt re ilisation necessary, has had the effect of lowering rates, and the highest quotation is now ml per lb for the very host; many are being sold at 4jd to lid per lb.