COMMERCIAL

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9284, 2 May 1891, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

New Zealand Times Office* Friday Afternoon.

Trade continues fairly brisk in town, while in many country districts a better feeling is reported. Through the rise in flour the bakers in several towns have advanced the retail price of bread. There has been but little or no alteration in prices during the week. The advent of the cold weather has created a better demand for bottled stout. Sperm candles are firmly held, as stocks are light, pending expected arrivals. The principal run ia on the lower qualities of colonial makes. Cement is well stocked and ie now worth about IGs Gd ex warehouse. Further supplies of currants have been received, and prices are a trifle easier. American advices report that canned fruits are higher. They are still scarce in the local market. The Alice, from New York, brought 5500 cases of kerosene for this port, and fairly large sales have taken place at JLlJfi per gallon in bond for 150 test.

Laery and Co. report prices for the past week ; Oats, Is IQd to 2s ; potatoes, 48s to 50s ; pollard, 755; feed barley, 2a 3d; baled straw, 70s; maize, 3* 9J ; pollard, 755; bran, Css ; chaff, 50s to 70s ; oatmeal, L 9 10s; milling wheat, 4s 6d ; flour, roller made, Ll 3; whe&tmeal, Lll ; new cheese, 4d to sd; eggs, 2s ; turkeys, 7s 6d ; geese, 5s ; ducks, 3s 0J ; fowl?, 2a Gd to 2s 9d per pair ; garden peas, 5s to 6s Gd; bacon, !Dimock*s cure, Gd ; hams, 8d ; honey, 3d to 4d ; butter, dairy-made, bcl ; factory made, 8d; salt do, Gd ; onions, 4s Gd ; apples, 4s Gel to 8s : pears, llstolCs; quinces, Is 4d ; oranges, os to Gs ; rye grass seed, 4s Gd to 6» ; cocksfoot, Ss 2d to 4s 4d.

The following is Nelson Bros.’ (Limited) frozen meat report for the month ending 20th March, 1891 -From the date of our last issue, 20th ult, until a week ago, Homo killed sheep continued to be forced on the market with the natural result that prices ruled low, then supplies coming shorter, a rise of Sd to- Is per stone was recorded, and although this advance has not been maintained wo believe that the pressure to sell is gradually passing away, and that the market will shortly assume a decidedly more healthy condition. Frozen mutton fully maintained its enhanced value until quite recently, when considerable arrivals exercised a depressing influence. \Ve quote best New Zealand sheep at 3s to 3a Id, with ordinary qualities at 2s lOd, while prime Sydney sheep are making 2a 7d per stone of 81b. Frozen Jambs have realisnd as much as ss, and considerable sales were made at from 4s Gd to 4s Bd, but owing to heavy arrivals prices have dropped away until 4s to 4s 4d is the current value of selected parcels. Frozen beef hue remained remarkably steady, the supply being very limited, we still quote hinds at 3s and fores at 2s Gd per stone of 8 lbs. The following interesting record of the character of the weather during the past six months appeared in the Times of tho 17th Instant The past week has witnessed a new phase in the extraordinary character of the winter of 1890 91, and now we have four distinct phases in which it has made a ‘record,* In the first place, it has been a long winter, for now we have had a

good six months of it. Next it has been marked by one of the longest and most severe frosts of the century, this being followed by the driest February ever recorded *, and on Monday and Tuesday last we had one of the heaviest snowstorms and blizzards ever known, and more disastrous than than those previously recorded in l fl l4, 1830, and 1831. The combination of these four features in one winter makes it the most extraordinary of tlm century, and its effect on our agriculture will be watched with more than passing interest.*’