COMMERCIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11434, 8 January 1912, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

HOME MARKETS,

[Bi Electric Telegraph —Copyright.]

(Pee Press Association.)

Received January S. at 10.10 a.m

London. January 7. The rabbit market is qiiie'.: best Sydney, in store. 16s. Holders an? hrm m view of the small proswrtiv arrivals. There is no demand for hares. Mutton.— Canterbury and North Island, none ottering: Southland, nominal, 4id: New Zealand ewes. 3-d. Lambs. —None offering-Beef.—-Fores, 2;d : hinds. 3id. Australian quotations. —Mutton. Ugh* 3fd', heavy 3id: «v S 3Jcl. Lambs, best brands 41d. fair quality -i;d,_ inferior qualitv 4d. Beef, lores 2iid, ntnus South American quotations.—-Uiuton. light 3*d, heavy 3id. Lambs, first qualitv 4*d. second quality 4ld beet, frozen fores 2;d, hinds 3:; d. dulled lores 2id, hinds 4*d.

THE LOCAL MARKETS

Oamaru Mail Office, Monday Afternoon

Business on the local' markets has scarcely vet recovered from the usual holidav quietude. There has been some inquirv for wheat by nailers, but otierings are of a very limited nature and consequently little business has resulted The Home" markets showed abnormal activitv towards the close ol last week, and several cargoes of good dimensions were sold at an advanced figure prices being, without doubt, mriuenced by the Argentina weather reports. Some weeks ago" we indicated that the Key to the position was held by the Argentine, and if adverse weather conditions prevail in tHat country the influence on the market Will be in the direction oi increased activitv and better prices. As regards the' position locally, everything depends on the weather. It is now certain that the harvest will be much later than was the case last vear. and it is not anticipated that aiiv great quantity of the new season's wheat will be available before March, unless the weather improves to such an extent as to allow ot a little stook threshing. It is questionable, however, if stook threshing will be a safe proposition this harvest, as the grain, even though, it may be hard, might not keep unless it is thoroughly dried off in the stack. In the absence of business it is difficult to gauge prices. For red wheats it is stated to be 3s 6d, less commission, and for velvet 3s 6d nett. At the moment buyers are very anxious regarding the future. _ Lnless the'.weather takes up. there is likely to become anxiety to secure old wheat for mixing purposes. The market for old oats is much easier. "Only a few lines are now held,' and these are expected to be quitted before the close o"f the present harvest. The price quoted is :2s 9d on trucks. So much wet weather has delayed the barvest. At this 'time hist year oats were well on the market, but as conditions now stand the main crop will not be harvested for some considerable time to come." In the meantime orders are being booked for forward delivery, the price at present ruling being is 4d per bushel.

Principally business doing in potatoes is 'of a consignment nature with Dunedin merchants, with whom they are realising up to 9s per cwt. It is anticipated that this years prices will rule high in North Otago for all classes of stock. Breeding ewes especially will command a good figure, sellers now asking 16s to 20s for goodframed two to four-tooth ewes. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE.

(Pee Press Associatios.) Wellington. January S. -Following is the- High Comniis.-iouer'.= cable, dated London. Janaury 6th:— Mutton —The mutton market is firm. New Zealand stocks or' mutton on hand art- and r.ve firmly held in few

hands in anticipation of small arrivals. Quotations (nominal): Caritebtuy 4ld, North' Island -i\d. The lamb market i"s quiet. Only a small number of New Zealand lambs have arrived. The average price is 6id- Australian is in large supply,'and is at 4 : ; d, Argentine is plen* tiful at 4id. The beef market is firm with an improved demand. Stocks of New Zealand beef on hand are light. Quotations (nominal): New Zealand hindquarters 3;d. New Zealand forequarters 2|d.

The butter market is very firm, for there is a general and active demand affected by the expectation of light arrivals. There is general confidence mi

the maintenance of present prices. The average price for the week for choicest New Zealand butter per cut. is 1345. Australian 131, Argentine 130s. Danish 1375. Siberian l2Ss. The cheese market is very firm with good demand. The average price for the week of fine;t New Zealand cheese is 73s per ewt. ..The wool market remains firm. ~'. . Buenos. January 6. The following shipments of producehave been despatched from the Argentine to United Kingdom ports during December, 1811 (comnaied with Decern" ber J9lo):—Frozen beef—l9ll. 104.000 quarters: 1910. 57.319 quarters; chilled beef, 166.000 and 154.685 quarters: frozen mutton, IDG.OiV) and 150,251 carcases; frozen lamb. 122,000 and »5.6b'l carcases. Butter. 11.393 and 5:140 cwts.