COMMERCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1630, 17 February 1883, Page 14

COMMERCIAL.

Customs Revenue. The following revenue was received at the Custom house, Dunedin, miring the week ending Wednesday

The grain market is very weak. Pending the arrival of the new crjp, there i 3 no demand for wheat, the top value of which may be quoted 4s per bushel. There are inquiries for the new crop, but a3 samples are not yet to hand, actual business is delayed. Oats have again receded during the week, and good feed do not secure over 2s 4d per bushel. Flour sells at £10 per ton in sacks to £10 10 a per ton in small bags. Oatmeal we quote £14 10a to £15 per ton. Cornsacks have been dealt in at low prices, but; the general quotation by holders stands at 78 6d per dozen, and they appear confident of improved prices being secured later on in the season, when it U seen that to bag the plentiful harvest all present stocks will be required. In woolpacks there is nothing doing on the spot, but sales have besu made to arrive tot delivery next season at 9s 4£d per pact in bond. Fencing wire moves off slowly, this lino receiving but little attention while harvesting is in progress. No. 8 we quote £14 10s to £15 per ton in ordinary lots. The New Zealand and Australian Land Connany has just sold to the New Zealand Grain Agency Company 4000 tons of wheat, grown on the Company's properties in Canterbury, for immediate delivery; and the two Companies are also treating for 1000 tons Krown in Otago. This transaction, we should imagine, is the largest ever made in the Australasian Colonies between the producer and the grain merchant. The Christchurch Co-operative Association report that immense quantities of wheat changed hands on Saturday and Monday at a marked increase in value. Inquiry is still very brisk, and 4s at country stations is offered. The Southern Cross Soap, Candle, and Glycerine Works at Burnside have changed hands, the purchaser being Mr H. Driver, of thia city. The works nave been but recently erected, and the machinery and plant combine all the latest improvements, the whole forming the most complete establishment of the kind in the Colony, aud being capable of producing candles and soap sufficient for the requirements of all New Zealand. Mr Driver's connection with it ought to be a guarantee ttat the business will bo pushed to its utmost extent, and conducted so as to command the respect and confidence of the trade. The wool exports for 1882 compare favourably with those of 1881. They amounted to 65,322,8071b, valued at £3,118,554, as compared with 59,521,5641b in 1881, valued at £2,914,046. The total number of rabbifcskins exported in 1882 was 9,198,837, valued at £83,725, against 8,514,685, valued at £84,774, in 1881. Messrs Fenwick and Kennedy report the sale of the Woodlands property, North-East Valley, for the sum of £2200 to Messrs J. and W. Gage. On Tuesday there was quite a large attendance of buyers at the Bangiora market, and the price is said to have leen well maintained at 4s. Mr K. M'lntosh Murray, of Stoke, sold 3000 bushels of his wheat, wh'ch was a splendid sample, at a price equal to 4s 2\d 'delivered in Christchurch, or 4s 3£d if delivered in Lyttelton. This was the highest price spoken of, and given by a well-known firm at the west end of this city.— Christchurch Press. Considerable agitation has been going on in Invercargill for some time over the delivery charges. At a meeting of the local Chamber of Commerce on Monday the following resolution was carried, on the motion of Mr M'Donald :— " That, as the wool trade of the district is likely to suffer unless the differences recently existing between the buyers and sellers of wool as to the delivery charge per bale are permanently arranged and settled, it is resolved that the Chamber offer its services towards the settlement of the question by arbitration, with the view of having no such dispute in the future ; and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the agency companies, and principal buyers of Invercargill." This was seconded, and*barried unanimously.

The Southland Grain Report. The Southland Farmers' Co-operative Association's report for the week ending Friday, 16th February, is aa follows : — Harvesting operations in Southland have commenced, and are now general. The accounts to hand ac to the weight of the grain crops are somewhat varied, and confirm previous roporta that on the high lands the returns will barely be an average one ; but on the more favoured parti the yields are expected to be remarkably good. On the whole, both the wheat and oat crops of Southland are likely, if the weather keeps fine, to give moat satisfactory results. The prospects of remunerative rates ruling ate encouraging, and more especially so with respect to the value of wheat. This is fully borne out from advices which are to hand from the other Colonies. Under date the Ist inst., Elder's Wool and Produce Company, of Adelaide, report with respect to wheat as follows :— "The market continues very firm, with a good demand. Advices from the country continue to give a poor account of the crops in many districts, and it la now generally expected that the average of the Colony will not be over four bushels to the acre. During the week a few salea of shipping parcels have been made at equal to 6s 3d per bushel f.o.b. at Port Adelaide, and the market to-day closes very firm at this figure, holders not wishing to sell. Farmers' lots are worth 5a per bushel at Port Adelaide." The same firm feeling is reported in Melbourne, which has been caused by purchasers being compelled to buy to complete shipping engagementa. There is a prevailing feeling that the local wanta. aa well as those of the exporters will, in both the Adelaide and Melbourne wheat markets, tend to further harden values. Wheat in shipping parcels is quoted at 5s 3d per bushel f.o.b. Oats are a little easier in price, which has been mainly caused by increased arrivals from the country ; prices vary f rpm 3s 4d to 3s lOd per bushel.dutj'paid.'Malting barley is scarce; spot parcela are freely sold at 63 6d per bushel, and as the barley crop in Victoria is reported a short one, higher rates are oxpected to rule. Freighta both in Melbourne and Adelaide are very low, and at even 15a per ton to the United Kingdom no grain cargoea are obtainable. In Victoria this fact is easily accounted for, considering that at most of the inland agricultural centres the price of wheat ia high, and in some of them even higher than the Melbonrne quotations. Reviewing the grain markets of the other Coloniea aa a whole, prices have a hardening tendency which must sooner or later influence the markets of New Zealand. From New South Wales favourable advices are to hand with respect to the maize crop, and should the weather continue seasonable an exceptionally heavy maize yield will be harvested, which will for the present check any improvement in the oat market. The local markets are likely to open at satisfactory prices for both wheat and oata. In Canterbury a large business haa already been done, and eapecially in wheat. Tho reporta to hand are that wheat is in request at 4a per bushel at country stations, and that a large business has been done. In oata a*f ew forward-delivery sales have taken place at 2s per bushel at wayside railway-stations, but the market is easier, and there is less desire on the part of purchasers to operate except at less value. Wheat.— No business to report. Oats.— Sales of new oats in prime condition have been made through the Association at 2s per bushel at wayside stations. The demand at this figure ia weak, and the present quotation at which business has been done ia one that cannot be looked for, except for exceptionally fine parcela. Grass Seed. | The bulk of parcela that are arriving are being town dressed, and exported on producers' account;.

Dunedin Produce Market. J. H. Kilgour, grain and produce broker, reports under date 14th February aa follows :— Flour.— Prices are the same as quotations of last week — viz., town flour, in sacks, £10 per ton ; and small bags, £10 10s. Country flour, £9 10a in sacks, and £10 in small bags. Oatmeal is rather cheaper— say, £14 to £14 10s per ton. Wheat. — There are no lota of new crop in town, but I hear of sales being made in tho country at 3a lOd to 4s for prime milling samples. I have no transactions to report. Fowl feed ie worth 2s 9d to Ss. Oats are altogether unsaleable, as buyera are holding back for the new crop, which is expected to be

cheap. Prices are nominally 2a 3d to 2s 4d for milling and prime feed, and inferior 2s to 2s Id per bushel. Barley.— There ia nothing doing, and little will be done until the new crop comes in. Potatoes.— There is a good demand for" 4 kidneys, and any lots coming forward ara readily placed at £5 per ton, but as these are scarce, buyera are taking Derwents, of which I have placed several lots during the week at £4 per ton. Chaff. - Good paten sheaf chaff, well saved, and which has been in the stack for some time, ia saleable at £4 per ton. Hay. -I have inquiries for ryegrass hay for shipment, the price being about £i per ton. Rabbitßkins.— The market is quiet. I have placed during the week a lot of summer skins at is per lb, which may be taken a? the full market price. Grasa Seed. — Byegrasa ia worth 3s 6d to 4s per bushel, but the demand ia vory alight. Cocksfoot is saleable, but only at a very low price, the highest price offering being 4d per lb. Hides are in fair demand at late quotations— viz., 4d per lb for sound heavy and well-trimmed, and 3d to 'did per lb for light and inferior. Tallow.- Prime, 30s to 31s 6d ; medium, 253 to 26s 6d ; rough fat, 18s to 21s per cwt.

Dunedin Markets. FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs Mercer Bros, report paying for produce during the week ending 14th inst : - Fresh butter, favourite brands (in Jib prints), Is per lb Fresh butter, good ordinary (in lib and £lb prints), lid per lb Salt butter (in kegs) 9 Jdlb I Hams, 9Jd per lb Fresh egga, Is Id per doz | Honey, 4d per lb Cheese, 5d per lb I Potatoes, 4s per cwt Bacon (roll), 7£d per lb | . VnOLBSAIjB PRODUCE REPORTS. Mr J. Fleming, Princes street south, roports under date the 14th inafc : — Wheat : Beat milling, 33 Oaten hay. £4 103 6'd to 3s 9d per bshl. Straw, £2 7s 6d per ton Medium mill., 3s 3d to 3s Chaff (oaten) £4 10s per 6d per bushel ton Fowls' wheat, 23 9d to Bran, £4 per ton 3d (according to quality) Pollard, £4 103 per ton New oats, milling, 2a tflour, £10 to £10 10a per 3d per bushel. ton Old Feed oats, 2s 6d to 2s Onions, £8 per ton 9d per bshl. Barley dust, £5 per ton Malt barley, 4a to 4a 6d Bacon, rolled, 7}d per lb per bußhel Sides bacon, 7£d per lb Feed, 2s Gd to 33 p t (grain fed) bushel. Hams, 9Jd per lb Peari barley, £18 per ton Cheese (old), 6d per lb New Grass hay, £3 10s per New cheese, 6Jd perlb ton ! Oatmeal, £14 per ton New kiftney potatoes, local grown, £3 10s to £4 per ton ; imported, £3 per ton. Oats are offering freely at reduced rates. Messrs Andoruon aud Co., millers, report under date the 14th inst : - Oatmeal, £14 10s per ton Pearl Barley, £17 per Pollard, £5 per ton ton Bran, £4 per ton Fowls' wheat, 8s 8d per Barley Dust, £5 per ton bshl. Milling Wheat, 4s 3d bshl. Oats, 2a 9i to 3a per bushel. Flour — Sacks, £10 per ton ; hundreds, £10 5s ; fifties £10 10 a. ORBKN OROOBRIKB. Mr H. Lamer reports under date the 14th mat:— Apples — eating, 6d ; Cook- New Figs, Is per box ing, 4d. P. a'B,a 'B, 6d per lb Lemons, 4s to 6a per doz Plums, 3d to 8d per lb Apricots, Is per lb I Oranges, 4 and 6 Is Peaches, Is per lb | POULTRY. Fowls, 5s to 6s per pair j Ducks, 7s to 8s per pair Geese, 10a to 15a per pair j Turkeys,lßs to 20s each VR9KTABLBS. Cabbages, 2d and 3d each Beet-root, 2s per doz. Do per dozen, 2s Potatoes, 141ba Is Carrots and Turnips, Is Onions, 121bs Is per dozen Rhubarb, 3d per lb Cauliflowera,3d,4d,<)deacb Peas, 81b Is New Potatoes, 81 b la Cue imbers, from Is each French Bean a, 6d per lb Broad Beans, 4d per lb MBIT. The City Company report under date the 14th inst : — Hoaxing beef, 3d to 6J Mutton, 2d to 4d per pound • Pork, 6d Stoaks, 4d to 6d Veal, 4d to 6d Boiling, 2d to 3d Lamb, 2a 6d to 4s 6J To hotels and boarding-houses the charge all round

4d to sd. Sydney Grain Market. Messrs Mort and Co. report on February ,3rd as follows : — Town millers are anxious to operate in wheat, but the quantity available is limited. We quote prime samples at from fis to 5s 3d per bushel. Oats from 2s 8d to 35 4d, according to sample Bran at our sale this week realiged lid per bushel, and pollard, lOJd.

Stock and Station Reports.

Mr Donald Stronaou (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited), reports for the week ending 14th February as fol owa :-'• Fafc Cattle. —The number forward for to-day's market — 184 head — was rather in excess of requirements, and in consequence last week's values were not maintained. The greater portion nere light and medium quality ; only a few pens were in piime condition. Competition way fairly active, but the trade evidently seemed to have fixed their limits, over which there was no desire to purchase. Bullocks fetched from £6 5s to £10, and cows £5 5a to £8 ss. We quote beef at 20a to 22a 6d per 1001b. Fat Calvea.— Twenty -five were yarded, and sold at equal to last week's prices. Fat Sheep.— l7o4 were penned ; of these one-third were merinos, and the balance crossbreds, nearly all of medium but useful quality, and a few pens prime, which went up to 16s, the range being 8s to 13s 3d, and for merinos 6s to 10a 9J, showing an advance on last week's rates of fully Is each. We quote mutton 2Jd per lb. Fat Lamba.— 639 were penned, being all taken up by the trade at similar prices to last week's— ss to 103. Fat Pigs. -Sixty-one penned, and sold at from lls to 48s. Store Cattle.— Quiet grown cattle are saleable, but difficult to obtain. We have no important transactions to report. Store Sheep. — An active demand exist 3 for young sheep— crossbreds and merinos of 'both sexes— while full-mouthed and culls are somewhat neglected. We have disposed of a large number during the week, and have several sales pending. Wool. — We have held no public sale since date of our last report, but privately have disposed of several lota at satisfactory prices. There is no change of importance in the market to record. Our fortnightly sale, which should have been held on Tuesday, 13th, is unavoidably postponed till Tuesday of next week, 20th inst. Sheepskins, — On Monday last we offered an average catalogue, when every lot was actively competed for by the usual representatives of the trade, aud sold at for station and dry crossbreds, 2a 8d to 5s ; merinos, la 6d to 4a 2d ; lambskins. Is to Is 7d ; pelts, 4d to la 4d. Rabbitaklns.— We did not offer any this week, but will catalogue several balea next Monday. Hides.— We diaposed of several lots which came to hand during the week, at late rates. There ia no alteration in values. Tallow.— -On Monday last we sold 21 ca9ks medium rendered at from 29a to 30s 6d, and rough fat at 203. I Grain. -Wheat : Samples of new are offering, and although not quite so full as we would like, the condition ia good. Millers, however, do not seem to be over anxioua to purchase yet a while, ao that it ia almost impossible to say how the market will open : there is an impression that from 3s 9d to 4s will be about the mark. Fowl's wheat and inferior is moving off slowly at from 2s 6d to 3s 4d. Oats : When a buyer turns up from 2a 3d to 2s 5d is got for bright feed, but that is a rare occurrence. We may say that there is no demand whatever, and quite impobsible to make sales, more especially if they are tho least discoleured or out of condition. Barley : No transactions. Ryegrass Seed.— Still without demand.

Mesars Wright, Stephbnson, and Co. report for the week ending 14th February as follows : Fat Cattle.— This week's market brought forward a full supply, 184 head being yarded. The quality for the most part was only medium, the exception being a, small extra prime draft from the Waimate Estate. Bidding was fairly active, but last week's prices were not sustained. We sold 103 head as follows :— For Messrs Tapper and Carmichael (Edendale), 30 bullocka at from £7 7s 6d to £9 17s 6d ; for Messrs Craig and Wylle (North Taieri), 10 bullocks at from £5 5a to £6

15a ; for Robert Charters, Esq. (East Taien), 12 bullocks at from £6 5j to £7; for Mr Peter Duncan (Waikouaifci), 9 cattle at from £4 2a tfd to £8 103 ; for Mr Benjamiu Bray (Waikouaifci), 17 cattle at up to £7 15s for bullocks, and at up to £3 5a for cows ; tor t James Gow, Esq. (Invermay), 12 heifers at from £5 to £6 ; for Mea3rs K. and W. Renfcou (Otakia), 8 bullocks at £8 10s ; and for other vendors, 28 head — cows at up to £7 7s 6tl, and bullocks at up to £3 153. We quote really prime beef at 22a 6d per 1001b; medium at 20s. Privately, at quotations, we have sold 60 head during the week. Fat Sheep.— A short supply, consisting of 1104 crossbreds and 600 extra prime morino wethers, caused prices to advance before the close of the sale from Is to la 6d per head on last week's quotations. Our sales comprised 1052, as follows: — For Messrs James Smith and Sons (Greenfield Estate), 547 maguifisent extra prime me*ino wethers at 93 ; for James' Logan, Esq. (Greenvale Estate), 24 three-quarter-breds at 13a 9d, 43 halfbreda an 12j, and 32 very prime' merino wethera at 10s 9d ; for Edward Menlove, Esq. (Windsor Park), 133 very prime three-quarter-breds at 13s 3d ; for Messrs Ross Brothers (Meadowbank), 12 1 crossbred ewes at from lls to 11s 6d; for Jamea Allan, Esq. (Hopehill), 19 crossbred wethers at 12a, and 41 crossbred ewea at 103 6d ; and for Mr F. Freeman (Green Island), 89 cios^bred ewes at from 10a 3d to 10s 6d. We quote prime crossbred mutton at fully 2d per lb ; merino, l|d to 2d per lb. Fat Lambs —539 penned. We sold on account of Mr F. Freeman 40 (small) at 6a. Pig 3. — Sixty-six penned, mostly porkers. We sold 10 at from 223 to 36s each. Fat Stock Sale for next Week.— Wednesday being a race day, the weekly sale at Burnside place on Tuesday, 20;h inst., ins teal, at the usual hour. Store Cattle. — We note an inquiry for well-grown bullocks, but have no transactions to report. Fat Sheep — '1 he demand for young merinos and cross'>red3 of all age 3 continuea very brisk. Tho quantity of sheep of these classes on offer is, however, very small. We are negotiating now for the s«le of several lots, but hive no tiansactions of any consequence to report. On Tuesday n^xt, at Burnside, we shall sell 1300 crossbred ewes. Horse". - Since our last report we have little to add with regard to the state of this market. On Saturday list there waa a large catalogue for our weekly sale, tho major portion of which was cleared at quotations. We quote first-class draughts at from £30 to £35 ; medium, £18 to £25 ; good hacks and light-harness horses, £18 to £25 ; medium, £10 to £15 ; light anl inferior, £3 to £8. Sheepskins.— Las'; Monday out weekly sale took place. There waa the usual attendance ot buyers present, and fair prices were obtained. Butchers' green skins— pelts fetched up to 12 J, and lambskins up to Is 9d. Station skins fetched from 8d to 4s sd. Hides. — We have sold all to hand at quotations, which are— for wet-salted oxhides, free from offal and averaging about 60lb, 4Jd per lb ; over 501b and under 561b, 4d ; others, from 3d to 4d per lb. Tallow. — No transactions. Grain.— Wheat : Since our last report the market has assumed quite a different aspect. Prices then were reported to be in favour of buyers, but now they show a decided upward tendency, and at the moment the market is very firm. The sale of a parcel of 4000 tons for delivery at Lyttelton ia reported, but the price ia withheld. In this market some transactions in the new crop have already taken place at prieea satisfactory to growers. We have sold during the week 41,000 bushels. We quote best milling samples (in shipping condition), and containing a proportion of Tuscan, at from 43 to 43 2d (f.0.b.), delivery February and March ; ordinary samples, 8s lOd to 4s ; fowl's wheat, 2s, 6d to 2a 9d. Oats : Samples of this season's crop are to hand, but no transactions of any note have jet transpired in this .market. We hear, however, of sales of good bright milling for prompt delivery at 2s f.o.b. Lyttelton. Barley: Notransac-' tions to report. Choicest samples of the new crop will, we anticipate, rule at from 43 to 4s 6d this season. J Grass Seed. — There ia no demand for local use, but sales of farme rs' lota in Canterbury at from 2a 9d to 3s 3d per bushel for export are reported.

Messrs Maclean and Co. report for the week ending 14th February as follows :— Fat Cattle.— To-day's market consisted of 184 head, comprising for the most part; fair to good quality, the balance being prime. The number was rather in excess of trade requirements, and a reduction of fully 2s 6d on last week's prices had to be submitted to. Prime bullocks brought from £7 to £10 17s 6d ; fair to good, £4 to £6 165 ; cows, from £3 15s to £8. We sold 7 head bullocks on account of James Rutherford, E-q (Summerhill), at from £8 to £10 ; on account of Mr John Bruce (Brighton), 16 head bullocks at from £5 2s 6d to £6 10s ; on account of Messrs Mcc Bros (Brighton), 9 head at £5; and on account of Messrs A. M'Kay, John Miller, A. and J. Brown, J. Mills, and others, 20 head at quotations. We quote prime beef 20* to 22a 6d per 1001b. Fat Calvea —Twenty -five were yarded, and sold from 8s 6d to 28a. We sold 3, from 143 6d to 28s. . Fat Sheep.— The number penned today conaiated Of 1704, of which 115 1 were crosbreda and the remainder merinos. With the bare market to-day and the moderate supply last week there waa good competition, and a sligat improvement was perceptible. The quality of the greatest part was good to prime, with a few pens extra- prime crosabreds, which brought up to 16s 3d, the others 8s to 14s, and the merinos 63 to 10a 9d. We sold 122 crossbredts on account of Messra Dickson and Ross (Portobello) at from 10a Gd to 14s ; on account of A. H. Anderson, Esq. (Stirling), 65 do at 10s 3d ; and on account of Messrs Smith Bros. (Stirling), 8 do at 103 9d. We quote prime mutton 2Jd per lb. Pigs — Sixty-one of all sorts were penned. We sold 34 as followa : — On account of Mr Clark, 10 suckers at lls ; on account of Mr W. Reid, 10 suckers at 7s to lls 6d, 8 porkers from 17a to 24a, and 6 bacon pigs from 31s to 48a. N B.— ln consequence of next Wednesday being one of the race days, the sales at Burnside will be held on Tuesday, the 20th inst. Store Cattle.— Fifty head store cattle and dairy cows were jarded at Burnside, and sold at— for steers 33a to 70s, and for heifera 25s to 60s ; dairy cows, £2 10a to £5. Horses. — At our yards last Saturday the majority of the entries consisted principally of dealers'. For young and sound draughts there is a good demand, and fair pricea are ruling. We quote j oung drau^hta £25 to £36 ; good hacks and light-harness horses, £12 to £18 ; medium, £7 103 to £10 10s. Sheepskins.— On Monday last at our usual skin sale we had the ordinary attendance of fellmongera, and with fair competition our catalogue was disposed.of at pricos on the level of last week's rates. Station crossbreds, 2s 3d to 4s 6d ; merinos, 3s 7d ; butchers' pelts, Is to Is 5d ; lambskins, Is 6d. Hides.— We have cleared out all to hand without difficulty at the following prices :— For .well-condi-tioned wet-salted, say 601b and over, 4d ; 50 to 58lb, 3JI ; under 501b, 3d per lb. Tallow ia readily saleable at up to 31a per cwt ; rough fat, 19a. Grain. — Few samples of the new crop are yet to hand , but we have had teveral inquiries during the past weak. Millers' stocks arc low, but still they show little inclination to purchase in the meantime. Prices are expected to open say at 3s Sd to 4s, but in the absence of salea it is difficult to give a correct idea. We have sold several lots of medium at from S3 to 3s 4d. Fowl feed, 2s to 2a Bd. Oats: We have sold several lines of old oata during the week at from-,2s to2s 5d for ordinary to bright feed, but there is presetly little demand. Barley : Nothing doing.

Messrs Donald Reid and Co. leport for the week ending 14th February aa follows : — Fat Cattle.— There waa a full supply forward today, 244 being yarded. Of these some 60 were stores and dairy cattle ; the bulk of the rest were only medium weights and quality, with, say, about 60 prime. The latter cold at almost last week's rates, but others were dull, and difficult to sell at a considerable reduction. Bullocka sold at £4 7s 6d to £10 2a 6d ; cows, £2 17s Gd to £8 23 6d. We yarded 69 head, and aold for Mr D Scott (Berwick) 3 cows, £6 2a 6d ; for Mr Jamea Oughton (Janefield), 7 heifera at £5 7s 6d ; for Mr Wm Lindsay, 3 heifera at £4 17s 6d for Mr W A Todd, 6 cows at £6 7s 6d ; for Mr J M'Nab (Kurij; 15 young cattle up to £4 2a 6d ; for Mr J Wilson, 2 bullocka at £6 17 a 6d ; from Timaru, 18 prime bullocka at £8 15 ato £10 2a Gd ; and for others, 11 head store, &c. up to £3 12a 6d. We quote beat beef 203 to 223 6d per 1001b. Fat Calvea. — Twenty-five In, these were mostly good quality, and sold at 7s to 23s each. Fat Sheep.— l7o4 were penned, consisting of 601 merinos of very good quality andllOO crossbreds, the greater part of which were reilly and useful mutton, and included some old pens of heavvj weights. There waa brisk demand right through the sale, prices averaging Is to la 6d higher. We sold for Mr J. Challia (Portobello), 25 croaabred at 12a 3d • for Mr W. T. Shand (Otakia), 16 crossbred at 10a ; for Mr William Hutchinga (Henley), 60 cossbred at 9s ; for Mr John Allan (Taurima), kl3k 13 crossbred at 10a ; for Mr William Barr (Otepopo), 21 merino at 83

3d ; for Mr John M'Cullock (Clinton), 66 crossbreds at 11s to 12a 6d; for Mr William Heckler (Waikouaiti), 20 crossbred at 15s— the highest of the day, and 16 crossbred at 12s 6d ; for Mr John Findlay (Kindlayston), 65 crossbred 103 6d to 12s Od • and for Mr WiiHim Heenan (Mauugatua), 30 crossbred at 13 6d, 24 do at Us. Fat Lambs.— sß9 penned. These included all qualities. For best pens there was keen bidding, and prices quite up to last week's. We penned 623, and sold for Messrs Ross Bros. (Kartige), 43 at 8s 9d ; for Mr J. Challis, 10 at 9a 9d ; for Mr W. S. Shand, 63 at 9s 3d ; for Mr William Hutching, 70 at 5s 3d ; for Mr John Allan, 49 at 8s 3d ;for Mr William Barr (Wairca), 61 at 6s 3d to 6s 6d ; for Mr J. Findlay, 36 at 4s 9d ; for Mr D. MEwing, 91 at 5s and for Mr William Heenan, 10 at 10s — the best price of the day. Next Wednesday (Cup day) being a holiday, the weekly sale of fat stock usual!}' held at Burnside will take place on Tuesday. Fat Pigs.— Sixty-one came forward, chiefly stores. These sold at 11s to 245, a few porkers to 40a. Store Sheep. — We have a few lots for sale, but just now business is quiet. Wool.— We purpose holding our next sale on Friday, February 25tb, at the usual hour. Sheepskins. —On Monday we put out a large catalogue. There was a fair attendance of buyers, who bid well for full-wooled merinos ; other sorts were not in such brisk demand. Merinos sold at 2s 4d to 4s lid ; crossbreds, Is lid to 4s 4d; pelts, 8d to Is 6d; lambskins, 13d to 20d; skins, in bales, 5d to 6d per lb. Rabbitskins.— At our sale on Monday we cleared out most of the lots forward. There was a good demand, but prices were lower. " The lots were sold at prices varying from 8d to 14d. Hides. — Very few having come to Land during the last few- weeks, there is better demand for all serts, and prices are firmer. Tallow.— On Monday we sold 13 casks at 28s 6d for mixed, and 30s to 31s 6d for best rendered ; butchers' rough fat, best, 19s to 21s ; inferior, 15s to 17s per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : The new crop is now inquired for .by both millers and shippers, but as prices have not yet been established, little has been done. In old _/*»heat the market is still overstocked with inferior and medium quality : to effect sales low prices have had to bo taken. We cleared out 691 sacks at quotations. Oats : We have placed a few odd lots of bright at 2s 3d to 2s 4d ; but dark-coloured and musty are quite unsaleable at any price. Barley : None offering. Potatoes are now arriving freely, and are quoted a shade lower, say £3 10s to £4 per ton. ' We quote : — Wheat : Best milling, 3s Od to 4s ; medium, 3s 3d to 3s 7d ; inferior, 2s 6d to 3s. Oats : Bright heavy feed, 2s 2d to 2s 3d.

7s ; heavy, 8s and 93 ; hotelmen, 20s, 30s, and 60s ; grooms, 20s and 255 ; gardeners, £80 to £120 ; milkers, 10s, 12s, 15s, and 20s ; hotel females, £40, £45, and £62 ; domestics, 10s, 12s, to 16s ; boys, 63 to 10s ; atoremen, 60s ; barmaids, 20s to 30s ; housekeepers, £40 to £80. ; harvesters, 9d to Is per hour, and 36s to 428 per week ; stackers and mill-tenders, 60a and 6'o<.

P. M. Grant and 00. report wages : - For harvesters, 30a ; couplod, £60 to £75 ; gardeners, shepherds, £60 to £65 ; plough Tien. £52 to £65 per annum, and all found ; farm hands, grooms, milkers. 20s; station and farm cooks, smiths, carpenters, engine-drivers, 25s to 30:t ; youths boys, 5s to 10s ; hottl hands, 15s to 25s per week, and found ; day labour, 7s to 8s ; smiths, carpenters, 83 to 10s ; domestic servants, farm, country, £30 to £45 • hotels and town, 12s, 15s, 20s ; nursegirls, ss, 10s ; barmaids, cooks, 20s, 30j.

Messrs Stbphenson and Co. report for the week ending.l4th February as follows :— Fat Cattle.— 244 head yarded to-day at Burnside (including about 60 stores and dairy cows). Supply proved in excess of trade requirements, and consequently last week's prices were not maintained. The . greater portion of the cattle were not prime, but for prime beef bidding was brisk. Bullocks fetched from £6 5s to £10 ; cows, £5 5s to £8 ss. We yarded and Bold 28 head on account of Messrs M'Nab, Brimstead, Lindsay, Jenkins, M'Gill, and others, at quotations. We quote prime beef at 22s 6d, and inferior at 20s per 1001b. Fat Calves.— Twenty-five yarded. We sold 15 head at from 5s to 15s per head. Fat Sheep — 170 i penned, of which about 600 were mannos. Bidding 1 was brisk, and prices showed an i nprovement of fully Is per head as compared with . list week's prices. We sold a draft of merino ewes on account of Mr P. M'Laren at 8s ; crossbreds brought from 8s to 16s ; merinos, 8s to 10s 9d. We quote mutton at 2Jd per lb. Fat Lambs.— s39 penned, and sold at from 6s to 10s. We sold 39 on account of Mr P. M'Laren at from 7s to7a9d. Fat Pigs.— Sixty-one yarded, and sold at from 11s to 488. Store Cattle are in fair demand, particularly quiet cattle. Store Sheep. — Any offering are easily sold, if young. Old sheep are difficult to quit even at very low prices. Sheepskins.— Our sale on Monday was well attended, and competition was brisk, for (dry) station crossbreds, 2s 7d to ss ; merinos, Is 6d to 4s 3d ; lambskins, Is to Is 8d ; pelts, 4d to Is 4d. ■ Hides.— No change in values as quoted last week. Tallow.— We-quote for well-rendered tallow up to 32s 6d, and rough fat 20s. * Grain. — Wheat: Condition of any lots reaching us is good, but we can report no transactions in new crop ; we quote, nominally, 3s 9d to 4s ; fow's' feed, 2s 6d to 3s 2d. Oato, 2s 3d to 2b 6d. Barley : No transactions. Country Sales.— Our monthly sale at Stirling was well attended, when a large number of fat and store cattle, also fat and store sheep,*bhanged hands at very satisfactory prices.

Thursday Friday Saturday Monday Tuesday Wednesday £ n. d .. 3957 16 6 „ 3573 16 3 317 8 1 .. 1734 16 11 .. 1260 9 8 „ 1223 13 2 Total ..£12,063 0 7