COMMERCIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 5099, 8 October 1891, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

DUNEDIN MARKETS. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report as under for th« week ending October 6 : Fat Cattle. —ISO head were yarded, medium to good. While prices for a few extra prime were higher, the sales on the whole were not np to last week. Best bollocks brought L 9 to LI 1 : medinm to good, L3sato L 8 7s 6d: light weights and in* ferior quality, L 3 17s 6d to I>s 10s ; best cows, L 6 2s 6.1 to L 7 2s 6d : medinm, L-t to L 5 2s 6d ; inferior, L 3 to L 3 17s 6d. Fat Sheep.—l 644 were penned, of which 232 were merino wethers. Competition was fairly active, especially at the opening, although towards the finish prices obtaining were slightly lower. Best crossbred wethers brought 16s to 15s 6d ; a few pens extra prime, to 2ls ; ordinary, 133 6d to 15s 6d : best crossbred ewes, 14s to 16s 3d ; ordinary, 1«3 3d to 12s 9d : merino wethers, best, 123 to 13a 6d; others, Ss to lis. Wheat.—We notice the market assuming a slightly improved tone both privately and at auction. I>nring the week prime milling reached ss. Nearly all available lots of prime quality in store have been taken np, and doubtless ere long the small parcels of medium being still held will command more attention. Inferior quality snitable for feed purposes has had a good inquiry all along, and sells at a much higher price than prime, quality compared- There is very little of any sort now in sellers' hands, and present values are not likely to further advance. We quote Northern best milling velvet and Tuscan, 4s lOd to Ss: medinm to good Southern, 43 od to 4s 9d; inferior to medium, 3s 9d to 4s 3d (ex store, sacks weighed in, terms). Oats.—The market for these lacks animation, the business passing being only to *a very moderate extent, and the prices ruling earlier in the season not now obtainable. Speculation i 3 apparently langnishing, buyers manifesting no keen desire to operate except to the extent of actual requirements. No donbt a good deal more business could be done if sellers were disposed to quit at prices that would enable shippers to operate for export. Quotations : For best feed and milling. Is 6d to Is 6Jd ; medium to good, is 5Ad to Is 6<l ; inferior to medinm, Is to to Is 4d (ex store, sacks extra, net cash ; jd more f.o.b. Pnnedin). Barley.—stocks in sellers' hands are almost cleared, especially malting qnality ; but maltsters being fully stocked in the meantime, there is no demand for this quality of any consequence. Feed and milling has good attention, and any lots offering are easily placed. Quotations: For malting nominal—say, for prime, 2s 9d to 3s; medium, 2s 6d to 2s 3d ; feed and milling, 2s 2d to 2s 6d {ex store, sacks extra, terms). Potatoes.—These are still in over-supply and difficult to place at from 20a to 303 per ton (sacks weighed in}. Chaff!— Deliveries continue on a moderate scale, but rates in consequence are firmly maintained say, for best, 52a 6d to 57s 6d ; medinm to good, 47s 6d to 50s; inferior, 30a to 45a per ton.

THE ENGLISH MARKETS. The foTJowing is an extract from the Nation*! Mortgage and Agency Company's private report oa the London markets, dated 21st August:— Except In cereals there has been little change in oar produce markets daring the

past ten days and the same eisc has continned in finance matters as we recorded by last mail There are, however, indications of some advance in the value of money, consequent on the heavy imports of grain from America now in progress, and as these will not be much less than one million sterling in value, weekly, it is very probable that gold must flow out of Europe to pay for them. How far that drain will be met by France, to the relief of the English market, remains to be seen. woof. The arrivals for the next series still continue and Xew Zealand supply especially will be very heavy—probably about 107,000 bales. The consuming centres on the Continent seem to be suffering from dull trade in their manufactures and the rise in the price of grain will tell adversely by lessening the spending powers of the artizans. In England manufacturers are fairly busy, and, as they hold small stocks it is hoped their demand will compensate for the reduced takings of the continental buyers. The demand from the United States promises to be good for the classes specially wanted there. DAIRY PROm'CE. There is no colonial butter in the market, but the dealers are inquiring as to the prospects of imports during the winter, and it is hoped the New Zealand Dairy Associations will combine to secure good packing and proper treatment till the butter is safe in the steamers cool chamber, so that buyers here may have no cause to decry it. Cheese from New Zealand is comparatively neglected, and the very finest is not quoted over 465, and, as very fine Canadian of recent import is being held for 50s only, and it is not surprising that New Zealand sorts are quoted at 46a. The Canadian is milder in flavor, which seems to suit the demand in warm weather. FROZES MEAT. The supply of all sorts of animal food is beyond the demand at present. Lambs have some day 3 been comparatively scarce, and as high as 3s Sd haa been made for the best. The general price has been 3s 2d to 3s 4d. Mutton has met with a dragging sale; Queensland and River Plate sheep are selling from Is 6d to Is lOd per stone ; ewes from New Zealand have fetched abont 23 Id on an average; wethers, 2s 4d to 2s 6d, with some few superior ones at 23 7d to 2s 9d. Beef has fluctuated with the American supply, but leaves off alwut 2s for fore-quarters, and .Is for hinds.

CEREAJJS. The determination of the Russian Government to stop export of rye created great alarm in German and Dutch markets, and prices for that grain were run up to an extravagant degree. \\ heat followed, as it will be required to supplement the rye for human food. Maize advanced more in proportion, as it 13 not proving a very gcoJ crop in the United States. It will be wanted for distilling purposes as a substitute for rye. Oats and bear.s will l>e wanted for feeding purposes in greater degree owing to the diversion and comparative shortness of maize. Wheat rose 2s on the week, maize nearly 3s, and beans and oats Is. The latter have remained steady at the advance and also maize, but wheat has yielded Is. Tuscan is worth 44s to 44s 6d, good Hunter white, 42s 6d; heavy oats 275, Danish 26s per 3S4lbs; beans 35s to 35s 6d per 5041bs ; maize 30s per 4Solbs. The weather has been rather broken for harvest, but on the whole little harm has been done as yet. Prices for the end of the year are very firm at higher figures than the present currency, and from that date onwards it is expected prices will rule firm and higher, tempered only by the prospect of supplies of new grain from Australia or your colony. The supply from India is not expected to lie heavy owing to the short rainy season they have had.