THE WEEK'S BUSINESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1505, 18 September 1880, Page 15

THE WEEK'S BUSINESS.

' "1 . .Witness Office,. " Wednesday Evening. The opening 1 of the spring season has made trade in the import market show more signs of activity during the last week or two, and at the present momenta fair demand exists for most 'descriptions of seasonable goods. GRAIN. During the last week or 10 days the grain market has been less firm, amjalthoughquotationsarenot much reduced, there is very little business doing. Millers' parcels of prime milling are quoted at up to 4s 6d per bushel ; medium and ordinary at 3s lOd to 4s 3d ; infe.rior, 3s 6d to 33 8d; fowls' feed sells at 2s Cd to 3s per bushel. Oata have been in good demand at increased values, but at the moment the market is quiet again. We quote prime milling at up to 13 8d per bushel, and good f«ed Is 6d to Is 7d. In barley there is a little more business doing. Small lots of prime malting are saleable at up to 3s 6d, and for a considerable parcel 3s 3d has been paid ; ordinary samples realise 2s 6d to 3s; and milling 2s to 2s Gd per bushel. SEEDS. The advent of the seed season has brought about a brisk inquiry for all descriptions, and sales are freely passing at about the following rates, according to samples :— Alsyke and white clover, 112s to 120s per cwt.; cow-grass, 95s to 105s ; red clover, 75s to 85s ; timothy seed, 47s to 525; rape, 37s to 425. Cocksfoot sells at 3d and 3£d per lb, and ryegrass at 8s to 4s per bushel. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) have received the following cablegram from their London office, dated September 13th :— " Wool.— Competition is increasing, and quotations are on average $A to Id- better than at the opening. Trade in the manufacturing districts is slightly better Up to date 175,000 bales have been sold. Tallow: Market quiet. Best mutton is worth 36s per cwt. ; do beef, 33s 6d. ( Wheat: Market quiet. Adelaide is quoted at 45s per 4961b; New Zealand do, 42s Leather : Market firm. Best sides are worth 113 d per lb." 3 Messrs Cargillb, Gibbs, and Co, have received the following telegram from Messrs Helmuth Schwartze and Co., dated London, 13th inst. : " Sales continue animated. Prices for combine fleece and grease, and for crossbreds, are equal to close j of last series. Prices for clothing sorts and scoured i are rather low." Messrs Mitrrat, Roberts, and Co. have received the following telegram, dated London, September 11th :— " Victorian wools unsteady. Market stronger for crossbreds; improving for superior scoured, but is weaker for medium and faulty scoureds, and shows no material change. Foreign buyers operating saodtnrteJy,' 1 *

Christchurcii. The grain market during the past week has been quiet, and actual business has been of a restricted nature. As was anticipated, the scarcity of freight has brought the" rates down, and advantage has been taken of the fact to make large shipments of oats and barle}. Wheat: A few sales can be reported dll rin rr the week at prices fully sustaining previous quotations! Good milling is saleable at4s Idto4s 2d, and extra prime 4s 3d. ' Lower grades have been sold at 3s Gd to 3s lOd. I The inquiry for seed Tuscan hag greatly abated. Oats : Fair sales of both milling and feed samples are reported, the former at Is 6d to Is 8d ; the latter at Is 4d to Is sd. Inferior quality has been sold at prices varying between Is Id and Is 3d. Barley, potatoes, and flour : Nothing to report. Considerable parcelg of dressed samples of ryegrass have changed hands at prices varj ing between 2s and 2s 7d ; machine dressed, of extra quality, has beeu sold at a shade over the latter rate. Cocksfoot has not been selling- so readily lately,- and prices for this seed are without alteration. The stock market was much brisker this week. Mutton reached 3d per lb, although over 6000 sheep were yarded— all fat, and not a store a mong them. Beef, 22s per 1001b— also in good demand. • Wellington. Messrs Laery and Campbell report :— Potatoes, 45s to 50s ; maize, 3s to 3s 3d ; flour, in 1001b bags, £12 12s ; bran, 7Ad to 8d ; pollard, £5 15s; fresh butter, 7Jd to B^d, with a downward tendency ; eggs, 9*d to lOd. Salt butter is quite unsaleable, a few kegs of good that was forced off brinjring 3d, and no charge for kegs. •Hams and bacon the same as last week. No poultry in the market. Cheese, s}d to 6kl for very prime. Auckland. 1 Stocks of general produce are plentiful. Potatoes are overstocked, and some were sold at the costio import them. Oats are well supplied, but the market" is firm. A line of coast maize changed hands at -3s 4d", and prices range from 3s 3d to 3s 6d. Fijian maize of second quality.ia quoted at 3s to 3s 3d. Firstclass is almost out of the market, and is worth 3s 6d. Holders of Sydney maize are asking 3s 6d, as being in limited supply. Brandies are firm, biit'dull. Flax is firm ;, more than is produced could.be absorbed.