COMMERCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13895, 6 May 1907, Page 4

COMMERCIAL

Daily Times Oflico, Saturday evening. IMPORT MARKET. / Definite advice lias been received by lost American mail of tho permanent discontinuance of the San Francisco steam service. This will mean that all Californinn goods will henceforth be shipped to this iiinrkot. via Vancouver. Vancouver is two and a-holf day.?' steaming, from San Francisco, an;l Iho Vancouver steamers will tranship New Zealand cargo into the Union Steam Ship Company's boats at Suva. These two transhipments will entail at least a week's lonjror passage for Californian fruits and other goods than by the old service. Tho freichl, also is slightly higher, but not sufficient to appreciate prices. Californian advices report, a further rise ill the price of seeded raisins, which will now cost 7s bd to lay down, the rate at whiclr they arc selling locally. Prunes are also costing 5s per cut more in California. The local quotation is 6d for bulk and 7s 6d in narlons. Tho Tonionna's kerosene, amounting m all to some 15.000 cases, has all been delivered from the wharf at tho usual reduction in price. Tho price for Morton's tartaric acid is now fixed at Is 5d to Is 6d, according to quantity. Cream of tartar is now quoted at Hid for 95. A lariT" consignment of Robertson's Golden Shred marmalade, which Ic* been out of the market for some time, lias met with a brisk demand. Cloves nro very firm at Is. Other lines remain without alteration. LONDON MARKETS. Press Association—By Telegranh—Copyright. LONDON, May 3. Silver is quoted at 30 5-Gd per ounce. WOOL SALE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 3. There was a brisk sale at the wool auctions. Merinos were very firm, and there was improved competition for croasbrtdt.

OAMARU MARKETS.

(Tftou Ona Own CoaßierosiDisT.) OAMAIIU, May 6. 'Hie wheal market is firm. A few sales have been mode during the week, but luoslfy iu. small parcels, many holders prefering to hold in view of the state of the market. Local millers hold fair stocks, but it is understood that some southern mills are still dependent on the market. Tuscan lias been sold at 3s 4Ail. less commission, at country stations; velvet at 3s 4d, and red chaff at 3s :JJd. while 3a 4d net, delivered in Oiimaru, was abo obtained for velvet. Oats nre held firmly. Duns have been sold at 2s BA, Gartous at 2s Gd, and Danish at '2s sd, at country stations, net. Potatoes are quoted at £i 10s at sidings.

SOUTHLAND MARKETS. [FjtOH Ol'K O\VX COBRF.SI'OXDENT.)

INVERCARGILL, Jlny i. During the week only small lots ot oats have been offering on tile market, and these have been selling at from 2s 3d to.2s 3!cl, on trucks at country stations. Farmers arc not' keen to sell, as they seem to have the idea that prices will go still higher in the near futuro. In consequence, several ot them nro sending their'oats to the Bluff to he held in storage. Merchants are not selling, any great "quantity, though inquiries from the North Island'are. fairly good, as the- bulk of outside merchants want to do business for "forward" delivery, and Ihe

local ones ere not inclined to sell nnytliiiig that will not be taken delivery of during nest month at 2s Sid. A few small sales htvo been effected [or immediate delivery at prices ccjunl to irom '2s 7d to '2s 7\d 1.0.b.. s.i. Chaff is firm at from £i 17s Gd to £4, on trucks at country stations, and the general feeling is that good quality chaff will be higher towards the end oi the year, but anything inferior is exceedingly hard to place. Xokomai and Garstou growers of barley have been selling irom 3s Hid to 4s on trucks at country stations. Several samples orlering during the week have been slightly discoloured, and holders of these have been content io accept from 3s Gd to 3s Bd. ,

Prime milling wheat can bi> quoted at from 3s 2d to 3s 3d, and fowl wheat at 2d per bushel less on trucks at country stations. There is no keenness to operate in potatoes, and prices can be quoted nominally at i 3 on trucks at country stations, but farmers aro not inclined to sell at this rate.

During tho week several slock sales have been held—namely, at Otautim. Wallncetown, Winton, and Tliornbury. There have been fairly large entries at all of {hem, particularly so at Winton, where 17,0011 sheep were yarded. A laigc number o! these were old ewes, and for such the market is rather depressed. Young ewes, good wethers, and "iorwsril" lambs fully, maintained... the

rates Unit liavo been ruling during the pest fortnight, ami. notwithstanding these sales, it large number of buyers went away unsatisfied. Several large 'sales take place during next week, and its it is cow setting late enough for ewee, it is expected that competition will be fairly keen. The following ia a fair range of the values ruling:—Ewes: four-tooth, 23s to 21s; two-tooth,-21s to 21s Cd; four, six, and eight-tooth, 20s to 21s.

"Forward" wethers are in very strong demand, and are seiliiig at iiom 18s to 19s, and in foine case- as high as £1 has been paid. "Forward" lambs are still mnhing from 11s to 15s. The "fat" trade is fairly bri?k al the present lime, lamb buyers operating at an average of from 15s 9d to lGs, and for wethers from 21s to 22a is bsing freely paid- Butchers' sheep hnvo been keenly competed tor during the week, values ruling at about Iβ over above prices equally 'or lambs and wethers. Fat ewes are ecll-

ing , at from 12a Cd to 15s, and young ewes fattened will moke 2s over these values. Owing to the butchers having bought oiitf.ide of the local sales there wns not tho keen demand at last V.'allacetown salo that was anticipated, tut, taken on the whole, the snle was a fairly satisfactory one, and really prime beef fully maintained last week's quotations. Best bullocks were m&king from ''10 to JSU, but tho average price can be put down at from £9 10s to £10. Good store cattle are in strong demand, and bullocks for "turiiippins" are ailing at from £5 'to £G; while some exceptionally nice lines have been placed at an high as £7 to £7 Ms. Younger cattle are also selling at fully up to last week's quotations, but the breeding has to be good, as there is practically no demand for anything not well.

bred. . There lias been rather more inquiry in tlio fibre market, both from London and America, but prices are eo low that neither merchants nor millers feel inclined to make contracts until a more definite improvement takes piece. There is not so much fibre coming forward, and I know of one or two men who are storing their fibre in preference to selling at present prices, taking tho rial; of a further fall in the market, but hoping for a considerable increase in the spring. There is still a fair driimnd for tow. and several parcels have changed hands during, the past week tor shipment by the s.s. Maori and Ripiiroa, loading at the Bluff during the incoming week. These two boats will take away the bull; of the fibre in store, and I do not anticipate any further heavy shipments until well on in the year.

SUBDIVISION OF CLYDEVALE.

Tho agents report Uiat, in addition to {he hoinosteid nin, tho Jlacfarla.no block oi 4569 acres lias been disposed of. Lots 2G, 27, 30, HI, 70, ami 78 (about 1700 acres) have bocn sold to Jlr 11 Tout (manager for the lato Mr John G'riag, at Longbcach) at Jill per aero, and lot 35a, 90 acres, to Mr J. E. Gibson, of Wahvorii, Hour Olydevale. Tho sale oi tho following lets is ulso reporwd:—Lot 32, US acres; lot 33, 330 acres; lot !H, 120 acres; lot 35, 133 acres; lot 30, 732 acres; lot 80, 1120 acres; lot 37, 287 acres; lot 51, 110 acres; lot 38, 448 acres; lot GO, 178 acres; lot .51), 320 acres; lot ■Iβ, 158 acres; lot JO, 251 acres; lot 52, 2-20 acres; lot 39, 217 acres; lot 70, Ml acres; lot 77, 1051 acre , ); lot 47, 1820 acivs; lot 75.'476 acres; lot 51, 205 acres; lot 74, S7O acres; lot 73, 392 acres; lot 72, C3G acres; lot 71, SCD acres; lot 22, 05 acres. Lots 17 ami 79 have been practically sold. There continues to ba gowl inquiry for this property, and numerous buyers are at present inspecting. * It is anticipated that tho Douglas block of sonie 5003 odd acres will shortly find a, buyer, and if tliis should be {ho case there will 1)3 very little of tho esfato loft.

DUKEDIIC HORSE SALEYARDS.

JEcssrs Wright, Stephensun, and Co. report as follows:—Thero was a very good yarding

of horses forward for last Saturday's sale. Included in the lot were some very useful sorle, especially amongst the draughts, from

three years old upwards. The attendance of the public at tho sale was all that could bo desired—in fact, it is a long time sinco so

many people were present at our weekly auction. The chief attraction was the horses and plant belonging to the Dunedin and Suburban Coal Company, which was selling out to wind up partnership accounts. As

it was known that all the company's entry was for absolute sale, a- satisfactory clearance wae effected at prices ranging up to £41 for horses, and £11 53 for drays. For otbur vendors we .sold several horses sit up to x3l 10s, but to do business vendors had to accept prices very much below what has been ruling lately. The principal reason for tho present depressed state of the horse market

is that formers can't plough owing to the ground being too dry, and they can't afford to keep idle horses at the current price of feed. However, as soon as rain comes wo anticipate a very keen demand for plough teams. Our principal transactions for tho week include the following:—Gelding, six years old, at £55; golding, four years old, at .£4l; mare, aged, at i'3l 10s; mare, aged, at £30; gelding, at £21); gelding, at £23 103;

gelding, at JE2C ,10s; mare, at £20; mare, at £25; light mace, at £14 103; ami Eevcral done sorts, at Tip to £11 10s. We quolo: Superior joun" draught seldings, at !rom HH to £50; c;rfra good do (prize-winr.ors), at from £50 to £55; superior young draught mares, at from £50 to .£00; medium draught mart' 3 and ge!dr,'J!*. at irom £30 to £40; aged do, nt from £i sto JEM; well-matched carriage pairs, at from £70 to £100; strong ipriog-van horses, at from £25 to £30; mill:cart raid butchers' order-cart horses, at liom £18 to £25; liglrt hacks, at from £S to £13; extra good hacks ami harness horses, at from £iS to £05; weedy and aged do, at from £5 to £\.

OTAfiO FARMERS HORSE BAZAAR. The Otago Farmers' Co-opcrativo Association of New Zealand loport;—AVe hold our weekly salo of horses at our bazaar oji Satuidiiy. We had an entry of 28 draught, light harness, and hackney horses, included in which were consignments fioni Clyde, Allanton. East Taieri, and Brighton, all of which sold remarkably well. Being young rmd sound they attracted considerable attention, notwithstanding tho fact that they wcio all in low condition. The demand for medium-weight dnuigfe, active sorts, suit-able for lorry and miinjr-van work, is good, ami a good number of this class would meet a ready market at good values. A few spring-carters aro also wauled. We quote: Working marra and gclding3. £10 to i's , ); ordinary plough marcs and geldings, £34 '.o ±'43; lighter sorts, £22 to £;j0; good cliity geldings, sharp workers, and staunch, suitable for van work,- £35 1o £12; lorry geldings, young, sound, and stuuncli, £13 to JE3S; spring-carteri, £22 to £30; bug?y geldings, £18 to £25; hackneys., £17 to £22; light hacks, £10 to £IG.

CLEARING- SALE,

Tho Otago- Farmers' Cooporative Association of New Zealand report:—We- held a. cleaTF.ilo of dnirj- slock, implement?, dairy utensils, horses, harness, ijnd suudrie.s On account of Mr JanMs Ireland. There was a splendid givUicrin;,' of lariuers from tho Peninsula. Wuitati, (ireen Island, mid the Taieri. Bidding was axtj- lively for all cows just calved or cloeo to palvin?. but kick culvers were- not fo kwnly oompcled for. linplonients and sundries realised goott values. Tlio sali> all round was :i <;reat success. Prices for best cows ranged from £8 to £10 10s.