COMMERCIAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12253, 1 June 1914, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

HOME MARKETS.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.]

(Per Press Association.)

Received May 31. at 5.5 p.m.

London, May 30.

Copra is weak. South Sea is freely offered, and in bags sells at £24 10s to £25. Hemp is quiet, High point, fa^r Mar-July shipment £24 10s. Cotton —May-June shipment, 7.32 d. Rubber—Para 2s 93d, plantation 2s 52d smoked 2s 4d. Tin plates, 12s 9d and 13s 9d. Fencing wire. 140s.

SOUTHLAND MARKETS

By Telegraph.

(Special to the Oamaht? Mail.) Invercargill, May 30. Oats.—The market is quiet. The volume of business passing is of small dimensions, and it is evident, for the time being, that oats will come forward only in small parcels. Farmers still have stocks in stack or in store, but it would appear that only n few are holding on,"in anticipation of an improvement, now that the freights to London have been reduced. There has been some business done for shipment to'the United Kingdom", but, if anything, the English market is a shade weaker. North Island merchants are; doing the bulk of their business in Canterbury, whore oats slightly under the grade are offering fairly cheap for prompt delivery/ Prices locally, however, .remain unchanged, merchants working on a' basis of Is 7d on trucks for A Grade Gartons, with proportionately less for lower srades. Chaff.—The demand is purely local, and merchants are at present well supplied.' The price to fi*mers to-day is £2 15s on trucks for prime quality. Grass Seed.—There has been little business- doing in this commodity, as growers, in almost all cases, have disposed of their stocks. What undressed seed is coming on the market is bringing from 2s 6d to 3s 3d. to quality and weight. In view of spring requirements, the demand for dressed seed is fair, but local merchants are somewhat reluctant to sell on account of the fact that the quantity remaining in farmers' hands appears to be within small compass. Business, as is usually the experience at this time of the year, is not so active as was the case some weeks ago. During the past two or three seasons the price of "winter feed has been at high water mark, and a good many farmers are anticipating that the same condition of affairs"will prevail this winter, with the result that they do not feel disposed to operate at present, and those on the other hand, who are inclined to_ speculate do not seem anxious to give the stme price this winter. As a consermprco" business has been hampered. The prospects throughout the province at the present time, however, are much more favorable than was the case at this nnri/-.d during the two previous years. in the season the dry weather affected the turnip crops to a certain extent, but the mild conditions of the two months have had a -beneficial effect, the crops coming away in such a manner that" an ample supply of feed is; assured. To-day's quotations are as under: —

Store Cattle. —All classes of store cattle are'inclined to be somewhat easier. Good bis three-year-old forward bullocks are worth from £B-to £8 10s, average 2-Jd, and three-year-olds £6_ 10s •to £6 15s. two-year-old steers £5 to £8 10s, yearlings and IS-months £2 15s to £3 ss. dairy-fed calves 30s to 355, smaller 255. Fat Cattle.—The bulk coming under the hammer is principally unfinished stuff. Prime beef is worth from 29s to 30s. unfinished 27s to 28s, prime heifer beef 26s to 275. unfinished 24s to 255, cow beef 24s to 255. unfinished 22s to 235. . ~ -, Store Sheeo.—Yardings are inclined to ease off slightly, and the demand is not ouite so active. Good two-tooth ewes are selling at from 20s to 21s, fourtooth ewes 22s 6d to 23s 6d, six and eight-tooth paddock ewes 18s to 19s, eignf-tooth sound-mouth ewes los 6d to 16s sound and failing-mouth in good condition lis to lis 6d, older sorts os to 6s. good mixed sex lambs in forward condition 13s 6d to 14s, average 13s to 13s 6d, wether lambs, well grown, 13s 6d to 13s 9d, good ewe lambs 15s 9d to 16s. . Fat Sheep.—This class of stock is still selling well, freezing buyers operating freely" with the result that the bulk of stuff' coming forward is being disposed of. Good butchers' wethers are worth up to 22s 6d .extra good 235, lighter sorts 21s to 2is 6d. Fat ewes, extra good, are fetching from 18s to 19s, and lighter sorts from 15s 6d to 16s.

CLEARING SALE AT KAKANUI. Messrs Bruce Christie and Co, report holding a very successful clearing sale on account of Mr H. A. Turnbull, of Kakanui, on Wednesday last, when there was a good attendance of farmers and others. The day was beautifully fine which put buyers in good spirits, and' there was a rattling good sale throughout. The sale commenced with the dairy cows. July-August calvers sold at £lO 5s to £ll 7s 6d for best cows ; medium class cows, August-Sep-tember calvers, sold at £8 to £9; aged, cows, September-October calvers, £5 to £7 ; some nice Jersey cross 2-year-old heifers, September-October calvers, £6 7s 6d to £7'2s 6d; 2-year-old Jersey bull sold cheaply at £5 15s; calves (small) sold at 23s 6d to 255. Breeding sows sold well, one at £6 7s 6d, one at £8 12s 6d one at £7, and a sow with 9 pigs about a week old at £lO. Store pigs sold at 355. The horses, implements, and sundries realised full values.