COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13889, 29 April 1907, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Saturday evening. IMPORT MARKET.

.Tho' Calcutta market maintains a very l'.igli level, tho latest quotations for woolpaeks ranging from 2s 10jd to 2s 11-Jd e.i.f. and c. for Ill's. As merchants will shortly havo. to place their orders for shipment by tho' July steamer, thero is every .'probability of extreme high prices ranging this season. Cornsacks nre going into cons'iriiption locally at. 7s fid. but tho latest c.i.f, and e. quotation is 7s 9d. Now South Wales advices state:

Woolpacks are dearer in Sydney than for the last 20 years. New packs, this reason's importations, weighing lljlb, in bales of 50 packs, loose or fast lid, nro 3a each to-day in Sydney, as compared with Is M six years ago. An extra threopence each pack is paid if tho bales are broken. Packs .shipped 1 from Calcutta at tho end of last season are to-day in Sydney 2s lOd each. These high rates affect tho squatters and sheep-breeders generally. A great many more wool packs are \ib«l now than formerly, owing to the increase in the Now South- Wales clip. It is estimated that, there arc ten million more sheep in New South Wales than threo years ago. There is also a greatly increased demand for jute for llio United States and other parts of the world. Jute is used nowadays for a large aditional number of purposes, as compared with, a few years back. New standard cornsacks are now 7s Gd a dozen in Sydney, in lines of 5 to 10 bales as compared with Gs lOd this time last year. Cornsacks in two-bale lots aro 7b 7d a dozen, iii sympathy with the spurt in jnte values iii Calcutta.-

Bran bags arc Gs a dozen in Sydney, in bales of 50 dozen, as against Is Dd twelve months ago.. / Ore bags, for holding silver, gold, copper, and other oros, are imported to Sydney in two sizes—namely, lOoz and 20oz tUcli; 50 dozen to tho bale. Ore bags are flow 4s a dozen in Sydney by the bale, as against 3s 5d twelvo months ago. , Thus the boom in juto is of serious moment to pastpralists, wheat-growers, and niiuiii" companies. "

As fchcro ha 6 been some discussion as to tho cjuality (*f tho wMto lead imported into tho colony from Kngland, tho following analysis made by Hie Government Analyst at Tlobart will bo read with interest:— Hubbuck's Warranted Gexuine White Lead.

Government Laboratories, „„ Hobsrt, April 15, 1907. Messrs Thomas Hnbbnck and Son (Ltd.), 31 Queen street, Melbourne. Dear Sirs,—Acting on your instructions, I purchased on April 11 in Hobart a 111b iron drum unopened ot your genuine whito lead for analysis, the vendors not being informed it was for this purpose. The keg has been examined, with the following results:—White lead, 93.25 per cent., linseed oil, 0.75 per cent. Joth whito lead ni:tl linseed oil were of excellent quality, and were practically free from any admixture or impurity whatsoever.—Yours faithfully,

W. F. WAM, Government Analyst. _ Tho Mail Summary publislictl with this issue contains detailed particulars of market movements for tho past four weeks, together with complete prices current'.

SOUTHLAND MARKETS.

(Fkom Ouit Ows Correspondent.) INTERCAIiCILL, April 07. During tlic week the offerings of oats from tho country have !>een very small, but any that havo been offering liavo found n ready sale at 2s 2d to 2s 2Jd, on trucks, at country stations, and there is every indication of tho prices hardening. Inquiries from the north are 011 a par with last week, a fe)v sales only having been made at 2s 7d, f.0.b., s.i. There is still keen inquiry for chaff, but there is not a great amount coming forward, and any that has been offering ban been readily disposed of at £3 15s to JM, 011 trucks, at country stations, according to quality. Any milling wheat that has come forward during the week has been leadily sold at 3s Id, while fowl wheat has brought 2s lOd to 3s.

There has been very little lyegrass offering during tho week, but from Is to 4s 3d has been paid for any good lines of farmers' dressing, and Timothy remains the same as last week's quotation-—namely, 4d per lb. A fair quantity of linseed has lieeu offered, and up to 5s 6d has been paid, according to quality. During - tho week the only country sales held Hvas that at Dipton, when thore was a very fair entry uf t all classes of. sheep, and prices were a shade easier than was exprcted. Clearing sales were conducted by the National Mortgage and Agency Companv 011 Wednesday and Thursday at Ilokonui' and Wright's Bush respectively. At these ssles all kinda of stock sold extremely well. There was a large number of sheop offered, and values ruled to 23s Gd for two and four-tooth c\ve3 (misctli, and 24s for four-tooth ewes. A number of Romncy stud ewes sold at £2. Ciritie were keenly competed for at from £0 to £5 10s. Horses were a special feature o( tho Wright's Bush sale, as the vendor (Mm J. Milne) lias paid considerable attention to litis part of tho farm. Young geldings sold at £55; mares, from £10 to £45; hacks and

harness horses, from £15 to £2-2. It is reported that a huge number of northern sheep will be forwarded for sales to be held at Otautau and AVinton next week. If this is so, it will have a tendency lo make our market still easier. A largo number of Northern sheep lira at present m Southland only waiting a favourable opportunity io 1» ,sc'!d. There is the keenest demand at the present time for good forward wethers, which arc selli.n» at an high as Ifls. Forward lambs are selling from Mil to Ms Ed, and as fat lamb buyers are operating at about lGs a fair margin is allowed for anything that is got nv.-ay very quickly. The demand for ewes is pretty well over for (lie present, tliough a large number of farmers are still understocked, but it is their intention to writ for another two months before slocking up. 'i'he keenness for cattle is especially marked, and tho tei'dency is for anything good and well forward to sell. Prime beef call bo quoted at 21s, and there is no doubt that the quantity available at tho- present time 13 by 110 moans large. Those who are holders axe very firm in their ideas of prices, and are not inclined to rush them on tho market at the present lime. There have been good inquiries from llio T:i.ieri for bulloiks, but owing to the splendid crops of turnips available in Southland at fairly cheap rates holders arc not inclined to let tho cattlo leave the district.

Ordinary crops of turnips arc being sold at from £2 10s to £215 i per acre, and for good ridged turnips as high ns £-1 us is being paid. The average prices can 1m quoted at Is. Feed for sheep rules at fid per head per week. The fibre market still shows 10 sign of animation, and prices,are still at a very low figure, which lies lhe effect of preventing millers from offering parcels either for present or for forward shipment. Merchants are having a difficulty ill making sales in any classes of fife. There has been a little better inquiry for law, and tho. market ?oem;i in a buoyant state owing to tho large quantities of this proline!, now being used ill the manufacture of twine, both in England and America. It is expected that matters wiil improve very much before next spring, and that prices will lift up afjr.in to something like the pnst. season. Though millers are.'.cluctant to sell at present prices, there is.llo paying to what point .the market may still further reccdo, and in the near future sellers may be unable lo get the prices at present offering.

OAIIARU MARKETS,

(From Oor Own Correspondent.) OAJIAItU. April 27. Tho grain market is quiet, though a fair number of small parcels have changed hands on the basis -of last week's quotations. For velvet tho current values are 3s 2Sd to 3s 3?. d net, nt country stations, and up to 3s Id, less commission; Tuscan, 3s 3:1 to 3s 4d, less commission; mixed parcels have boon sold at 3s 3d' to 3s 4d licrf, at sidings, aeoordmg to quality and description. Oats attract little attention at 2s 6d to 2s GJd net. at country stations, for Gartops, aud.2<! 51(1 for "Danish. Potatoes have <leclinctl to £310s, at country stations.

TEirUIvA GRAIN REPORT.

Markets generally remain on much the game basis as Inst week. There has been practically no wheat offering, as predicted a week or two ago, all the grain appears to have either been sold' or gone to store. Wheat is quoted at about the same as last week, but very"littl-fe business doing. The l'iso in the Australian markets may bring a better demand here, as it will seem tc reuiovo tho danger of importation' of either wheat or flour.

Tho oat market is firmor, with batter inquiry from, the north. Tliis will not affect South Canterbury much, as practically all oats held will ba required for local consumption. Oatsheaf chaff is in good demand, with small offerings. The potato crop is about being lifted. Any so far reported are given as very light, being about 3 to 5 tons to the acre, with some showing blight. Reports come from south, also Nelson and Blenheim, that blight is prevalent. Growers aro consc-. quently not anxious to sell. Clover seed.—Some samples are being shown of good quality, but it io not expected there will bo much to market this year. Holders are consequently asking big money. Farmers are busy preparing for autumn and winter sowing. ' Markets oil the whole may be reported as healthy, with light offerings all round.

WELLINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE. (Feoh Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 27. Saturday's sales on tho Stock Exchange are as follows: —National Bank, £5 ys; Union Bank of Australia, £5 9s sd; Wellington Trust and Loan Company, £7 8s 0d; Palmerston North Gr.s, £7 2s; Donoghyßope Compauy, £5 ss.

PROPERTY SALE.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co, report having sold at auction,' at their rooms, liigh street, by order of the.Public Trustee, in "ho estate of the late Miss Marchbank, the farm at Maiingatim known as " Broomlands." The property was oljered in three lots, a very successful sale resulting:—Lot 1, at £30 per acre, to Br W. 3. Cattail. Lot 2. at £25 per acre, to Dr W. J. Cattail. Lot 3, at Si 10s per acre, to Thos. Gordon, jnn.

DUNEDIN! HORSE SALEYARDS.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, mid Co. report as follows:—For Saturday's sale there was a much better display of horses than thero has been for some weeks past, the entry including a few of fair quality, but tho drawback to tho majority o'f the entries was that they had passed the most saleable age limit. There was (he usual muster of town buyers and a fair sprinkling of country settlers, but as, with c few.eotcept.ions, the quality of the horses offered was not attractive there was a dulness about the bidding and saie3 somewhat hard to make. Taking this fact into account, it was somewhat surprising the number of sales that were effected. Our transactions for tile week includa tho following:—Brown gelding, 4 years old, at £10; bay gelding,' 4 years old, at £10; spring-cart geld.ing, G years, at £29; springcart golding, at £27; spring-cart filly (small), £20 10s; buggy golding, £1!) 10s; buggy marc. £18 10a, bay.mare, £18; hack, £16;- hack, £15; harness mare, £15; and several aged animals at up to £13 10s. We quote: Superior young draught geldings at from'£ls to i 52; extra good do (prize-winnors), £56 to £60; superior young draught mares, £55 to £65; medium draught mares and geldings, £30 to £10; aged do £13 tci £25; woll-matche;l carringo pairs, £75 to £100; strong spring-van horses, £25 to £30; milk-cart and butchers' order-cart horses, £18 to £25; light hacks, £10 to £15; extra good hacks and harness horses, £20 to £25; weedy and aged do, £5 to £8.

OTAGO FARMERS' lIORSB BAZAAR,

Tho Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association ot Now Zealand report:—Wo held our weekly of horsos at our bazaar on Saturday, when wo had an entry of 20 horsos. Consignments came from Inch Va-lloy, Lee Stream, Waitati, Peninsula, l'aieri, and tho Valley. There was a fair attendance of buyers, and for young, sound, fresh eari geldings there was good competition, l'lie wholo of the draughts from the country districts ch'angcd hands at satisfactory values, and a good fow heavy and light horses from different localities also went to fresh stables. Spring-cart horses were wanted, but no young suitable sorts wero on offer. A few good sorts of hackneys and buggy horses', are also wanted. \Vo quote: Working mares and geldings, £40 to £50; ordinary plough mares and geldings, £31 to £13; lighter sorts, £22 to £30; good clifty geldings, sharp workers, and staunch, suitable fcr van work, £35 to £12; lorry geldings, young, sound, and staunch, £1S to £55; spring-carters, ,£22 to £30; buggy geldings, £18 to £25; hackneys, £17 to £22; light imcks, ,510 to £IG,

OTAGO CENTRAL STOCK SALES.

The April series of the Otago Central stock sales commenced at Lauder on Monday, 15th inst., and continued at liough ltidge an Wednesday, 17t.h, Waipiata on tho 13th, ITiddlcmarch on the 19th inst. The total yardings were as follows:—Lauder: 1323 sheep, 75 rams, 11 cattle; Rough Hidge: 10,458 sheop, !)1 rams, 35 cattle; Waipiata: 10,215• eheep, 13!) rams, 3D cattle; Middlemarch: 7632 sheep. 15 rams, 18S cattle. There was a very largo attendance of local farmers and graziers lit all tile sales. A satisfactory feature was tho strong local demand. More particularly was this the case at Lauder, Hough ltidge, and Waipiaia, where, practically the whole of tho stock was purchased by iocal farmers ajid glaziers. Tho demand lor all classes of sheop was equally well sustained. All suitable lots of lambs and wethers were taken up for putting on turnips, while the smaller lambs and ewes were apparently all required to satisfy tile demand of (he local farmers and settlers on tho Blaekstonc Hill email grazing runs. The best all-round values were ol> tained at Lauder ami Rough Ridge sales, although at Middlemarch the prices made tor wethers were equal to those ruling at any of the sales. Kwoh, on the other hand, were easier at Waipiata, and nt Middlemarch cn tho average Is to Is Gtl per head below Rough Ridge rates. Few lambs wore offered at Middlemarch, but. those submitted made gcaod prices, while at -Waipiata, although the prices were very satisfactory, they hardly came up to those mling at tho sales held higher up. Merino wethers and ewes were strongly competed for, and made splendid., prices. Border Leicester rams were also in strong demand, and sold at the highest prices of the season. Cattle.—The only sale of any importance was that held at Jliddlemarch, when a very full yardiug was offered, consisting chiefly of t\TO and three-year-old steers. One or two lots of forward and fresh-conditioned cattle were offered, besides a number of younger steers and cows. The demand at Middlemarch was very satisfactory, and the prices obtained were fully equal to, if not higher than, those ruling at sales lower down the country. Tlie range*

of values was as follows:—Four and pix-toot.li crossbred ami half bred ewes. 15s G;1 to 19s; two-tooth crossbred and halfbrcd ewes, 13s Get to 18s; f.m. crossbred ewes, 10s to 13s; f.m. and failing do, 7s Gd to 9s Gd: boilers, 2s Gd' to 4s; fat wethers and ewe.?, to 18s; two, fmir, awl six-tooth crossbred and halfbred wethers, 13s to 15s 9d; fat lambs, 13s 8d to 15s 6d; forward Jambs, 10s Gd to 12s 3d; medium, 7s to Us G'J, small, 3s Gd to os Gd; sound-mouthed merino ewes, to 8s Gd; failing do, 4s to Gs 7d; sound-mouthed merino wethers, 8s 3d to 9s 3d; tv/G-looth Border-Leicester rams, 3gs to s}gs; full-mouthed, do. 2g? lo 2Jge; two-tooth Romney rams, 3gs lo lijgs; two-tooth Corriedole rams, 2gs to 3gs; forward-conditi&ned two-yoar-old bullocks, to Jt'7 7s; stores, £5 to £0" Is; two and lhrce-year-olc( bullocks, JE3 los to ft lis; fat cows, £1 to £5 10s; store cows, £'S io £'3 10s; yearlings, 25s to 325.

SALE OF STALLIOXiS,

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report having sold to Messrs Watson and Median, of Victoria, the following stallions at highly satisfactory prices: —Account of Mr Waison Abram, oi Kelso: Bay coit G'lenccc, two years old, sire Baucor, imported (11253); tting of llylo (10213); g-sire Princo of Rylo 7155); g-g-sire Princo of Wales (Drew's); darn Jess ol Hawkhill, by Columbia (6G21); g-dani by Lyon Waterloo (2260) Glcneoo's dam is Gyp ll' (1191), sire Lord Lyon (3G7), dam Gyp Ist, by Blue Ribbon (201). Account Mr Thomas Logi.n, Otamu: Bay colt, Captain White, two years old; sire General White— Russell's Fancy; dam Maggie, by Hard Times. General White's sire is by Macaithur, dam Maggie M'Cormack, by Sir William Wallace; g-dain Miss it'Cormack, by Lincolnshire Hero (imported); g-g-dam by Black Champion (imported); Macarthnr'a sire, Macbride (2197); g-siro MacGrogor (M 87); g-g-sire Darnlev (222); Macarthur's dam Maggie 801 l (winner of 36 first and champion prizes), "by Tasnran, by Victor; g-dam Maggie 111, by I'rido of Scotland. Tasman. the sire of Macarthur's dam, was got by Victor (imported), dam Countess. Tasman was champion of Victoria for many years. General White lias been exhibited' several times, and gained numerous prizes, only being beaten by such champions os Dnlmuir Prince, Sandy Erskine, and Clydeband, all imported. Captain White's dam Young Fan, by Hero Again (imported); g-dam Old Fail, by Young Clyde, by Nimmo's Princo. Captain White, who has never boon shown, on the dam's side comes from n- strain of prize-takers, as well as on tho sire's side. His half-brother, Sandy Again, for whom, 200 guineas Wis paid when rising two years, gained first as a yearling at Gore, and" first and champion at Hie Southland metropolitan show as a two-year-old in a iiald of 12. The same year his half-sisler gained first and champion at Gore.

CLEARING SALE AT NORTH TAIERI. ,Tlic Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association oi Now Zealand roport:—Wo held ft displenishing salo on tho 25th inst. at Ardgowan Farm, North Taiori, 011 account of Messrs Muir Eros., whose long torni of lease of Ardgowan Rum had expired. There was a splendid attendance of farmers from all parts of llio Titieri Plain, Pomahaka, Tapaiuii, Milton, Ohitha. Stkling, SlrathTa:cri, Clacks, Pa.pakaio, Habeno, Oamivru, and l)uncdin. Bidding was good throughout, and a complete clcaranco under tho hammer of every lot was made at good prices. Soundmouthed cwe3, in lamb, and in fair condition, brought (smal.l) _13s 6d; four and six'toofh wethers, 16s Gd; t.wo and four-tooth wethers (small and showing signs of scarcity of grass), lis 3d; well-bred bullocks, £6 IBs; aighteeu-months' steers, £3 13s Gi The pedigrcß nraTea and young stock were ?howii m good trim. A few of the former, although grand sorts, and showing a deal of quality, wero well up in years. only brought medium figures. A six-year-old mare, sired by Russd Fancy, by the M'Arthur Dane, by Baron Salisbury, fell to tho bid of Mr 'William Grant, Cloirinch, West Taiori. for £50. Bay filly, rising two years, by Elderslie's Prido, dam by Southhorn, in very medium condition, hut showing an. immense deal of Clydcsdale quality, was keenly competed. for, Mr Robert Charters (Ury Park) being tho purchaser at £63. Tho aged mares, all looking well, sold at corresponding' values. Tho' foalls by Prince Alexander and Twecdalo sold from £20 to £31, and implements and sundries woro cleared at satisfactory prices.