COMMERCIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIX, Issue 5953, 24 May 1894, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

DUNEDIN MARKETS. The New Zealand Land Association reports as under for the week ending 23rd May:— Fat Cattle.—l 34 were yarded, mostly medium, with a good many aged cows and light steers, three parts fat. Competition lacked spirit, late rates being hardly maintained. Best bullocks brought L 8 15a to L 9 10s ; medium to good, L 6 17s 6d to L 8 7s 6d ; light, L 5 to L 6 12s 6d ; best cows, L 6 17s 6d to L 8 12s 6d ; medium to good, L 5 to L 6 2s 6d ; light and aged, L2 17s 6d to L 4 12s 6d. Fat Sheep.—2l7l were penned, of which 230 were merinos. Crossbred ewes, mostly aged, were difficult to place, while a very fair demand was experienced for wether mutton, though prices did not show any improvement. If anything they were again easier. Best crossbred wethers brought 12s 6d to 13s 9d (two pens extra heavy, 14s 6d) ; ordinary, 9s to lis 6d ; best crossbred ewes, 8s to 10s 3d ; extra heavy and young, lis 6d to 13s ; light and aged, 5s 3d to 7s 9d ; wethers, 3s 6d to 8s 9d. Wheat.—A fair amount of business has transpired during the week, chiefly medium quality, at values on a level with those recently quoted. The Home market still remains unsatisfactory, and at the moment most sellers would rather not iquit at present somewhat unprofitable rates, and display less readiness to meet : the views of buyers. Holders of prime quality are firm in their belief that the local demand for such lots must ultimately recoup them for their persistence in declining current rates. Really good milling, hard and well grown, is in such limited supply that millers will require all that is available, more especially white velvet, which has good inquiry now, and could readily be disposed of at a slight advance on late quotations; indeed, there are buyers for all sorts offering. We quote prime milling velvet, 2s lOd to 2s lid; medium to good and Tuscan, 2s 8d to 2s 9d; medium ta good red wheat, 2s 5d to 2s 8d; inferior to medium, 2s to 2s 4d (ex store, sacks weighed in, terms). Oats. —There is no change of any consequence in the position of the market with regard to these since we last reported. A moderate demand is experienced for both good short feed <*nd bright stout milling, which are being disposed of in medium sized lines at about equal to last week's rates. The quantity so far to hand is still a good deal less compared with last season's deliveries up to the same time. The quantity offering in consequence is limited, which doubtless accounts for the market remaining so steady, while the demand is not extra strong; indeed, it does not require very many to satisfy present needs. Quotations : For best milling, Is 6|d to Is 7d ; prime feed, bright and stout, Is to Is 6d ; medium to good, Is to Is sid ; inferior, Is 3d to Is 4d (ex store, sacks extra, net.) Barley.—This cereal has had some slight attention, but not very much. Buyers for malting are not disposed to purchase except at a considerable reduction on the prices ruling earlier. There are very few really prime malting samples now offering, the bulk being second rate quality ; but of-such small sales are being effected. Quotations : For prime malting, 3s 6d to 3s 9d ; medium to good, 3s to 3s 3d ; milling, 2s 3d to 2s 9d ; feed, Is 6d to Is 9d (ex store, sacks extra.) Grass Seed.—There is still some inquiry for well-dressed ryegrass seed, but sellers' and buyeis' ideas of value differ rather too much to allow of very much business being put through. There is no demand for undressed unless really prime. Quotations: For best machinedressed, 2s 9d to 3s 3d; choice, guaranteed perennial, 3s 6d to 4s (ex store, net). Cocksfoot: Only a very moderate amount of business passing in this seed. Stocks are low and firmly held—say, for best dressed, sid to 6d ; medium, 4d to 5d per lb. Potatoes. —A moderate demand exists, but with the large quantity now on the market prices have further receded. Quotations : For prime Derwents, L2 5s to L2 7s 6d ; medium, L2 to L2 2s 6d ; best kidneys, fit for seed, L 3 to L 3 10s per ton (ex store, sacks weighed in, net). Chaff.—Owing doubtless to the fine weather prevailing, the supply this week has been somewhat heavy; prices in consequence are slightly easier. Quotations : For best, L2 Is to L2 10s ; choice, L2 12s 6d ; medium to good, LI 15s to L2 2s 2d : inferior, LI 5s to LI 12s 6d per ton (ex truck, sacks extra, net).