COMMERCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 18

COMMERCIAL.

The revenue collected at the Custom House during the past week on goods cleared for consumption amounted to £4702 4s 2d. The beer duty amounted to £165 6s 9d, and the gold duty to £703 3s Bd. . Millers' lines have ruled during the week as follow :— Flour, £9 to £9 103 per ton ; oatmeal, £8 10s per ton ; pearl barley, £L 8 per ton ; pollard. £3 10s per ton ; chaff, £2 5s per ton ; bran, £2 10s per ton. Mr O. F. Black reports the sale of the Mavora station at a satisfactory price. He also reports that there are numerous investors both for freeholds and leaseholds at a price that will return a moderate interest. A Blenheim telegram states that a statement of assets and liabilities has been filed in the estate of J. M'Kenzie and Co.— the largest bankruptcy recorded here for many years. There are no secured creditors. The assets amount to £1132— £600 being put down for £1100 of book debts. The deficiency is £1929 12s 2d. The South Canterbury Refrigerating Company made a net profit for the year, including £579 brought forward, of £3815 afLer allowing £807 for depreciation. The directors recommend a dividend of 9 per cent, per annum, and a bonus of 2d per sheep to shippers during the laat season, leaving £2138 10s to be carried forward. The total number of sheep manipulated during the year was 74,105-vi7... 65,606 sheep and 8499 larabß, as against a total of 61,331 last year, showing an increase of 12.774. The above figures include 5161 carcasses frozen for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company. The average weight of sheep was 5873 per head, and that of lambs 33371 per head. WEEKLY STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT. Tuesday, November 29. Fat Cattle.— l7l head were yarded, chiefly of fair to good quality, and including prime drafts from Edendale, Gladbrook, and Strath-Taieri. Bidding was lifeleßs, owing to many of the butcherß having stocks on hand, and consequently not competing. Prices, as compared with last week's, were lower by from 10s to 20s per head. The second-prize bullock (in the class not over four years old) at last week's show brought £14, Mr S. G. Smith being the purchaser. Best bullocks brought from £7 2s 6d to £8 ss ; medium, £5 12s 6d to £6 15s. Best cows from £5 10s to £7 ; medium, £4 12s 6d to £5 ss.— i Wright, Stkphenson, and Co. sold 85 head aB follow : —Yov New Zealand and Australian Land Com- ! pany (Edendale), 13 bullocks at from £8 5s to £7 2s 6d ; for Mr Charles Dore (Middlemarch), 21 bullocks at from £7 17s 6d to £6 7s 6d ; for the Hon. M. Holmes (Castlerock). 14 cows at quotations; for Mr John Sutherland (East Taieri), 6 bullocks at £6 10s ; for Mr Wm, Lindsay (East Taieri), 4 bullocks at £6 ss; for Mr William Puddy (Flag Swamp), 6 cows at £4 17s 6d to £3 10s ; and tor other vendors, 14 head at quotations.— Reid. Maclean, and Co. sold drafts for Messrs J. Gall, W. Todd (Islington), James Liddell (Taieri Beach), and M. Fagan, at for bullocks £6 7s 6d to £7, and cows from £3 7s 6d to £6 7s 6d.— Donald Reid and Co. yarded 67, ttnd sold for Messrs M. and A. Gerrard (Winton), 14 prime bullocks at £7 15s ; for Mr William Kirklands (Klmgrove), 12 prime bullocks (very heavy weights) ab £9 ; for Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. (Gladbrook), 12 heifers at £5 10s to £7 .ss. and turned their bulh/cks out for next week; for Mr William Lindsay (Birch Grove), 4 heifers at £5 ; for Mr M. O'Connor, 4 bullocks at £6 7s 6d.— H. M. Driver (on behalf of the Mutual Agency Company) sold : On account of Messrs Todd Brothers (East Taieri), 7 bullocks at from £3 12s 6d to £5 17s 6d ; on account of other vendors, cows at from £115s to £4 10b. Fat Sheep.— 2l2l penned. This number (under ordinary circumstances only an average supply) proved much in excess of the trade's requirements, and in consequence a further decline in prices took place.jwoolly sheep falling Is to Is 6d a head, and shorn from Is «d to 2s. About four-fifths of the sheep forward to-day were shorn, and 600 of the total entry were wethers, and the rest ewes of all qualities. A few pens of the best wethers were taken for export, whilst mo3t of the half and three-parfca fat sheep were bought by graziers. Best crossbred wethers (in wool) brought from 14s to 15s 6d; medium, 11s to 13s 6d. Shorn sheep sold as follOW1 OW8 ;— Best wethers, at from 10s to 11s; medium, 8s to 9s; best crossbred ewes, 7s 6d to 9s; medium, 6s 6d to 7s.— Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sold 943 as follows :— For Mr James Henderson (Tapanui), 16 prime crossbred wethers (in wool) at 15s 6d, and 49 do do (shorn) at 10s to 11s ; for Mr It. Cupples (Uunstan), 60 prime crossbred wethers (shorn) at 11s to 10s ; 44 halibred wethers at 9s, and 26 halbred ewes at 8s 3d ; for Mr K. Kaitou (Ayton), 39 halfbreds (shorn) at 9s to 9? 6d; for E. Menlove (Windsor Park), 252 crossbred ewes (shorn) at from 8s to 8s 7d ; for Messrs E. Price and Son (Waimate), 265 shorn four-tooth halfbrcd ewes and wethers (half fat) at Cs 9d ; for Mr James M'Fadzien (Fortroso). 11 halfbred wethers (shorn) at 7s 9d j for Mr David Andrew, jun, (The Grange), 42 shorn halfbred wethers at 10s 3d ; for Mr James flow (Invermay),Bs shorn halfbred wethers at from 9s 6d to 10s ; for Mr Godfrey Foster (Milburn), 17 crossbred wethers (in wool) at 14s 9d, and 13 halfbred wethers (in wool) at lls ; aud for Mr Wm. Souter. 9 shorn crossbred ewes at 9s.— Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantilft Agency Company, Limited) 6old on account of Mr Daniel Clarke (Waipahi), crossbred wethers at lls 6d to 12s 3d ; for Mr J. A. Duthie (Milton), crossbred ewes at 10s to 10s 3d ; a Southern client, mixed crossbreds, wethers aud ewesat 10s to 12s 9d.— Reid, Maclean, and Co. sold 702 as follows :— ForMrT. M'Glashan(Summerhill), 30 crossbred ewes (in wool) at 13s 3d ; for Mr James Gall (Edendale), 227 crossbred ewes and wethers (in wool) at lls 9dto 14s 6d ; for the New Zealand and Australian Land Company (Pareora estate), 374 shorn croshbred ewes from 6s 6d to 8s 9d ; for Mr W. Harwood (Portobello), a pencrossbred ewes at 8s 3d ; for Mr A. Worth (Portobello), 25 shorn crossbred ewes at 6s 6d ; for Mr P. Ryan (Portobello), a pen crossbred ewes at 8s ; and for Mr P. Martin (Bellevue), 38 shorn crossbred ewes at Gs 9d.— Donald Rhid and Co. sold drafts for Messrs Irvine (Wairuna), Heads (Milburn). J. Finch (Tokomairiro), Thompson (Green Hills), and others, at for crossbred ewes (in wool) lls to 13s 9d ; merino wethers, 9s 9d.— H. M. Dkiver (on behalf of the Mutual Agency Company) sold on account of Messrs Anderson and M'Donald, 60 sheep at from 9s to 13s ; on account of Mr Walter Miller, 10 lambs at 7s. Fat Lamb9.— 63l penned of all qualities. The demand was slack and prices easier by fully Is 6d a head.— Wbioht, Stephenson. and Co. sold 248 as follows:— For Mr Win. Souter (Flag Swamp), 41 at 7s ; for Mr Wm, Gregory. 20 at 7s ; for Mr James M'Fadzien, 40 at 6s; for Mr Alex. Bannatvne, 40 at 5s 9d ; for Mr Godfrey Foster, 51 at from 3s 6d to 6s 9d ; and for Messrs *J. and A. Macandrew, 56 at from 4s to 4s 9d.— Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) 6old on account of Mr J. A. Dnthie (Milton), one pen at quotations.— Rkid, Maclkan.and Co. sold 248 as follows:— For Mr J. M'Glashan (Summerhill), 45 at 6s 3d; for Mr W. Meek (Eniield), 79 at 6s 6d to 7b .'3d ; for Mr W. Duff fOutram), 29 at ss; for Mr W. Harwood (Portobello), 21 at 4s 9d to 6s ; for Mr Alfred North (Portobello), 41 at 4s ; and for Mr P. Ryan (Portobello), 30 at 5s 6d to os 9d.— Donald Reid and Co. penued 310 and sold for Mr W. J. Shand (Otakia), 70 at 5s 6d ; for Mr Angus Ross (Herbert), 40 nt 6s 9d to 7s ; for Messrs Todd Bros. (Tottingh tm), 63 at 4s 9d ; for J Heads, 25 at 4s 6d ; for Mr Tobias Burn, 25 at 4s ; for Mr John Finch, 20 at 6s 9d to 7s ; and held over some small lots. Piga.— lso penned, consisting in about equal proportions of baconers, porkers, and stores. The j demand was good, indeed keen, for stores, and prices for these, jf anything, higher. — Wright, Stkphen'SOX. anp Cq. BoM 73. at from 32s to 50s for bacQuern ; at from 22s to 2Ss for porkers ; and at from 18s to 27s foi' stores.— Donald Stko-VACH (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) $old on account of Mr S. Grimsey(Orari), 42 light stores at 21s 6d to 26s.— H. M. Driver (on behalf of the MuLijal Agency Company; sold on account ot Messrs Anderson &nd M'Donald, 23 pigs at from 25s 6d to 3 ls; on account of D. Grant, 17 pigs at from 33s to 41s. Store Cattle.— A good demand exists for grown bullocks, also for good one and two-year-old steers and heifers, but old cows are not easily placed. Store Sheep.— No business doing yet. Wool.— The unfavourable weathsr of the past few weeks has greatly retarted sneariog operations, and the season to all appearanc?s will be a late one. ■ Sales of oddments and of ba« lots will probably take place weekly, commencing next month, but the first sales of magnitude have been fixed by the brokers to take place on 28th and 29th proximo. Judging from Melbourne reports as regards values, we anticipate that first-class combing halfbreds. three-quarters, and seven-eigths bred merinoß (combing lengths also) if sound, properly skirted, and light in condition will command within a shade of last year's 1 nrxces ' but on wasty, earthy, seedy, and ill-bred wpoli of 'ail kinds a Recline of from Id to 2d per lb

seems Inevitable. In the Immediate future there seems little prospect of an advance in values at Home, as from all quarters we learn that the woollen industry, especially on the Continent, is in a most unsatisfactory state. Growers, therefore, will do well ! not to refuse a fair price for their clips when offered in this market. Sheepskins.— Large catalogues, chiefly of country skins, were submitted to public competition by the different salesmen on Monday, There was the usual attendance of buyers, but they operate with extreme caution, and prices all round were much easier. Town butchers' green skins sold as follows : — Crossbrpds at 4s 9d, 4s 7d, 4s 6d, 4s sd, 4s 3d, 4s Id, 4s, 3s lOd, 3s 6d ; 38 3d, and 2s lOd ; merinos at from 3s6dto 4s sd ; lambskins at from Is to Is 3d ; and pelts at from 6d to 8d ; country skins sold at from Is to 4s lid. Hides.— A good demand prevails at slightly improved rates— sound, dry-salted lights and heavies being most inquired for ; medium weights only command about the same value as lights, and in some cases less. We quote heavies at 3§d to 3Jd per lb; mediums and lights, 3d to 3?d ; out of condition, less. Eabbitskins.— The market continues firm at late quotations, but supplies are falling of considerably, and they now consist for the most part of spring skins. Medium winters on ;Monday realised from 15d to 16d per lb ; spring and winters mixed, from 12d to 14d ; springs alone, 8d to ild. Tallow.— There has beeu a better feeling during the week, arising from the increased firmness of the London market. Shippers and the local manufacturers are operating freely, and we quote best mut- i ton at from £18 to £19 ; medium and mixed, £15 to £17; inferior, £11 to £13 10b; reugh fat, £6 to £11 10s. Grain.— Wheat: There Is an abundance of medium quality and inferior offering, but prime samples (with plenty of glutine or strength) are very scarce, and prices for such have advanced during the week. Values, on the other hand, for weak wheats are lower— in fact, at the time we write they are almost unsaleable, and quotations given below for them are therefore only nominal. We quote the choicest Tuscan, pearl, and red straw at from 3s 9d to 3s lOd per bushel, with an upward tendency (sacks weighed in); medium, 3s to 3s 6d per bushel. Oats: Stocks are by no means large ; but in the absence of either an export or a local demand we must quote values easier and sales almost impossible to effect. Nominally we quote prime milling at from Is 8d to Is B|d per bushel, and prime bright short feed at Is 7jd to to Is 8d ; medium, Is 7d. Barley : No transactions. Prime malting is, however, very scarce, and we hear of a shipment of Californian on the way for our brewers which will stand them over 5s ex steamer. Grass Seed.— Quite unsaleable. HORSE REPORT. Messrs Weight, Stephenson, and Co. report as follows : — For last Saturday's sale about 80 horses came forward, including some really good country lots. The attendance was large, but bidding was slack. We sold drafts ;on account of Messrs J. Cook (Lawrence), J. Waters (Milton), W. Waddell (Gore), W.! Baxter (Taieri), aid others at quotations ; also one really first-class hack (prizetaker at Outram) to Messrs W. and J. Bacon at £30, on account of Mr J. Wilkie (Oamaru). We 'quote first-class heavy draughts at from £20 to £25; medium do, £10 to £16; lirst-claBS hacks and light harness horses, £18 to £25; medium | do, £8 to £12; light and weedy, £1 103 to £1. Owing to next Saturday being a race day, our usual weekly sale will be held on Friday, 2nd December, instead. WOOL AND GRAIN REPORT. Messrs Samuel Orr and Co. report for the week ending November 29 as follows : — Wheat.— Our market is in much tho same position as when we last reported, while there are still large quantities offering from the North, but of a quality a little unsuitable for milling ourposes. 'lip-top parcels are all that is Belling at present, and these at prices say from 3s 7d to 3s Bd, though for a line of red straw we obtained 3s lOd. On the whole prices nro aB before, viz., for prime milling, 3s 7d to 3s 8d ; ordinary, 3b 3d to 3s 4jd ; fowls' feed, 2s 6d to 3s. Oats. — The market tor chia product is. if anything, easier since last week, prices on the other side having receded to such an extent that to ship there at late rates gives speculators no margin whatever, and this they are not inclined to do. Oatmeal is also easier in price, consequently millers are also drawing in in their prices. We quote: Extra prime milling, Is B|d; ordinary, Is 8d; medium, Is 7d to Is 7§d; inferior, Is 5d to Is 6jd. Barley.— There is no local grown quality. A small shipment, about 1000 sacks, came forward per steamer from California for all New Zealaud ports, some of which has reached this market. The quality is good, but not so prime a3 we have seen from there. Sales have been made of it at a very good figure indeed— much higher than could be got, of course, for any local production. Our sales of all classes of grain for the week have been about 6000 bushels. Chaff .—Market easier ; prime oaten being worth only £2 12s 6d, inferior 30s to 355. Wool.— The weather during the past few days has been more favourable for shearing purposes, and in the course of a week we may expect to ace the result of it comiug in in the shape of a few odd clips, which so far has been limited indeed. Prices are without change, and in the absence of any sales it is difficult to give prices, which would be purely approximate. We would again draw attention to an important point in the get-up of wool for sale— viz., properly skirting and docking of their fleeces before being packed. It is a wrong idea to leave bellies, daggs, or any kind of dirt on the fleeces, as good bellies and pieces sometimes fetch as much as the fleece; but when they are left on, it depreciates the value of both. Dairy Produce.— We have been requested to give the rates ruling for these in connection with our resort—seeing that there are none published by sellers bn farmers' account,— and which we shall affix every week, but we will only give actual prices procured by us for such during, Jho week, and like all produce, are liable to a daily fluctuation. Farmers and those interested in this line will therefore please note this. Cheese.— Sale is lax at present. However, a few new are changing hands at about 4d. A large quantity is being shipped Homo by steamer, whioh of course in time will help to mend matters here. Eggs.— Not over-plentiful, while the demand is brisk. Prices, 8d to B£d. Butter.— lf anything, prices are better during the past few days— ld to 4§d being obtainable for mixed lots ; while for salt, if prime and new, 5d is got. Kegs extra. WOOL MARKET. Messrs Remshardt, M'Donald, and Co. report as follows :— As the wool season Is now at hand we wish to draw the attention ol farmers and others to theadvantageß they can derive by selling their clip in the Melbourne market, instead of locally. In the first place, Melbourne, is the largest wool market in the Australian colonies, and sellers there obtain the competition not only of speculators, but English, American, and Continental houses (who are represented in unueually large numbers this season), and thereby secure the fullest possible value for their goods. Secondly, the priucipal difference in the expense between selling in Dunedin and Melbourne is the freight, which (by special arrangement) is only 5s per bale, so that there is now no longer any obstacle in the way of opening up the market reterred to, to growers in this country. We have completed arrangements with Messrs It. Qoldsbrough and Co. (Limited) which enable us to offer unusual advantages to shippers. Our country friends can safely depend that no trouble will be spared to obtain the best possible value lor their wool, and we are thoroughly satisfied that shippers will have no cause to regret having offered their clips to Melbourne competition. We extract from Messers R. Goldsbrough and Co's (Limited) circular, dated 9th inst., the following :— " Wo catalogued 6 )10 bales for our sale to-day, about one-half of whichconsistedofbright.light-conditioned wools in the grease. The attendance was large and competition very spirited and well sustained, every lot on the catalogue commanding full attention, Average to superior merinos ranged fr^m 8d to ll£d, bulky pieces to Bd, and bellies to 6jd ; lambs, in grease, superior lots, lid to 13d, and good 9d to lOJd. In all 5293 bales were sold, making j a total of 5940 bales disposed of by us for the week." From priced catalogues also to hand, we gather that rates ruling in Melbourne are in many instances more than equivalent to present London values. Our charge is only la per bale, and we are prepared to make most liberal cash advances against all consignments entrusted to our care. The new clip is beginning to arrive slowly, and, j judging from the quantities already to hand, it promises to be thoroughly equal to that of la»t year,

fNo public sales have as yet been held. The locftl market is therefore quiet. „,,. j Our Melbourne agents, Messrs R. Goldsbrougb. ] and Co., reporting on the 16th Inst., state as follows: " We catalogued 6224 bales for our sale to-day, and sold 5012, in addition to which we have placed 527 bales by private contract; thus making, inclusive of Monday's sale, 5854 disposed of dur- ! ing the week. There was a large attendance i of buyers, and bidding opened with great spirit, which was maintained to the close, small lots being as eagerly competed for as large clips. Superior | merinos ranged to 11-Jd ;;s;oodcrosßbreds, 10|d ; bulky pieces, Bfd ; superior lamb3, l2£d ; and good average Bcoured to J6£d perlb." We would remind growers that the Melbourne market being so easy of access, a speedy return of account sales is the result. Notice.— On and after the Ist March next the style and title of our firm will be changed to that of Arthur M'Donald and Co. INTERCOLONIAL MARKET REPORTS. Sydney, November 19.— Flour: Business slack. Demand confined to small quantities. QuotationsSouth Australian town brands, £9 103 per ton ; do country. £8 15s to £9 ; New South Wales, £8 10s to £9 15s ; Victorian. £8 10s to £9 ; roller and special makes, £9 10s to £10 ss. Wheat : Best milling parcels, medium qualities, 3s 6d to 3s 8d ; poultry feed, 2s Cd to 2s 9d. Cats: Heavy arrivals (fully 17,000 sacks) from New Zealand check any upward tendency in prices, which are -For bright heavy feed, 2s l£d to 2s 2jd ; medium quality, 2s to 2s Id ; dark and discoloured to Is lid. Maize: In addition to river and rail supplies, an American consignment of 3770 bags has arrived. Prices continue steady at 4s to 4s Udfor prime; African white, 3s 6d; medium quality, 3s 9d to 3s lid per bushel. Bran and pollard dull of sale at 7§d to 7|d per bushel. Chaff -. Adelaide and Victorian, £3 to £5 5b per ton. Potatoes : old, neglected; nominally— Circular Head, 25s to 30s ; New Zealand, 20s to 25s per ton. Butter : Best Illawarra sorts, 5d to t3d per lb ; factory-made, 6d to Bd. Cheese: Loaf cheese, sd; ordinary colonial sorts in weak request at 2d to 4d perlb. Bacon: In demand at 6Jd to 7d for hand-cured Southern; machine-cured, 6d to 6£d ; New Zealand bacou, 8d ; New Zealand bams, lOd to lid per lb. Melbourne. November 19.— Flour during the W6ek has been slow of sale, and only quitted in small quantities ; 300 tons were sold at £7 10s to £7 15s tor stone-made and up to £10 for roller. Wheat is in short supply, and some millers have stopped gristing in consequence. Wheat during the week has shown greater firmness, and there is some diffi- I eulty in obtaining supplies. Prime milling is quoted at 3s 6d,and up to 3s 7d per bushel for choice parcels. Oats are in good demand, and, because of diminished shipments irom New Zealand, holders are firm. New Zealand stout qualities have sold at 2s lOd to 2a 10|d per bushel (duty paid)— one lot, of 200 bags, at 2s lid, "and the market closed firm. Barley: Little doing, no 'prime malting offering. Maize: A slight advance has been made, and as stocks are light it promises to be sustained. Quotations are 3s to 33 lljd per bushel lor prime. Butter : Now in large supply; prime, 5Jd to (i£d; select private dairies, 7d to 8d ; low qualities difficult to quit ; potted butter in demand, being preferred to fresh by many. The suppl}', however, is large ; prime is quoted at fd to 7d; medium quality, 5d to 5Jd per lb. Cheese: Prices fairly firm at s£d to 6§d for prime new, medium to good, 4£d to 5d ; prime old, to 6d per lb. Bacon : Town cured, B£d per lb ; country cured, 5d to7d. Hams— 7§dto9d. Adelaide, November 19.— Flour : Market quiet at £9 per ton for roller, and £8 5s for ordinary superfine brands. Wheat: Old, 3s 5d per bushel at Port Ado laide ;at out ports, 3s 2d to 3s 3d. Oats : New Zealand, 2s 10s to 3s. Barley : Malting, 5s 3d to 5s 6d ; Cape barley, 3s 6d. Butter : Dairy lots of fresh, «?d to B|d per lb ; store and collectors' Hues, sjd to 6id ; potted butter, 7d to 8d (kegs given in). Cheese, dull, at B£d to 9d per lb for best large ; new local, 5d to 7d ; inferior, from 3d. Bacon meets a steady sale at 7Jd to 8d per lb for best factory-cured ; farm lots, 6d to7d. Bbisbane, November 19.— Flour, £11 10s to'£l2per ton. Oats, 3s Id to 3s 4d per bushel. Barley, 4s 6d to 4s 9d. Mftfefr, 4s lOd to 4s lid per bushel.; Wheat, 4s 3d to 4s 6d. Bran and pollard, £5 to £5 10s per ton. Chaff— oaten (imported), £7 10s to £8 per ton. Butter, lOd to Is per lb. Hobart, November 17.— Flour, £10 to £10 10s per ton. Wheat: Intercolonial and Tasmanian,4s 6d per bushel. Oats, to 2s 6d. Barley : Cape, scarce at Is to 4s 3d ; English, to 4s 3d per bushel. Bran, lid to Is. Butter: Fresh, 8d to 9d per lb ; prime potted, Bd. Cheese, 4d ; Pardoe do, Bd. Bacon, 6£d to 7£d ; hams, 8d per lb. Freights.— Adelaide advices (November IP) state that a number of vessels have been chartered for the conveyance of grain to the United Kingdom at 253 to 27s 6d per ton, but more money is now demanded. COMMERCIAL TELEGRAMS. Sydney, November 25. New Zealand wheat fully maiutains last week's quotations— namely, 3s to 3s 3d per bushel. New Zealand oats show a slight improvement, and realise Is lOd to 2s 2d per bushel. Maize is rather firmer at ■Is per 561b. Melbourne. November 25. The circular of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) just published confirms the opinion already expressed that the Victorian wheat crop will average fully 14 bushels to the acre. Melbourne, November 29. The local manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand reports on the Melbourne grain market aB follows : — Shipping wheat is firm at 3s 8d to 3s 9d per bushel. Quotations for barley are nominally 4s to 5s per bushel. New Zealand feed oats meet with fair demand at 2s 9d to Us 11 per bushel ; milling sortß remain steady at 2s lOd to 3s. New Zealand oats, under bond, are quoted at 2s to 2s Id per bushel. THE SYDNEY MARKET. Messrs Habkison, Jones, and Devmn report under date Sydney, November 21 :— The arrivals during the past week have been somewhat heavy. Fully 17,000 odd sacks have come to hand, which will prevent any rise in our oat market at present. Since our last report we have quitted about 3900 sacks at prices ranging from 2s l£d to 2s 2Jd for prime heavy feed ; medium quality realising from 2s to 2s Id ; dark and discoloured at Is lid. There is little or no business doing in wheat. Quotations nominal. Maize continues brisk, and we have to report sales from 4s to 4s l§d for prime ; medium, 3s lOd to 3s lid. Bran and Pollard.— Easier ; sales being made at 7d to 7id. AUCKLAND WOOL 'SALES. Auckland, November 30. The first wool sales of the season were held here to-day, 386 bales being catalogued. The auctioneers had decided to hold the sales on the same day in order to encourage competition from the South. Buyers here objected to pay the charge of 2s 6d per bale imposed for delivery, but the auctioneers, without any explanation of their change of front, agreed at the last moment to waive this charge for delivery, and the dispute which has continued for some time was thus ended in triumph for the buyers. The prices obtained equalled those of last year, and for some varieties were higher, theaveraga being 6jjd per bale. DUNEDIN MARKETS. FARM AND DAISY PRODUCK. Messrs Mercer Bros, report paying for produce during the week ending 30th ult. ;— Eggs i 7jd per dozen I Salt butter, 4d per lb and Bacon (roll), 6d per lb | very plentiful Hams, 7d per lb | Fresh butter, beßt brands, 8d per lb. Fresh butter, good ordinary (in lib and Jib prints), 4d to 5d per lb. WHOLHBAIB PRODUCK REPORTS. Mr J. Fleming. Princes street south, reports under date the 30th ult. j— Wheat: Beßt milling. 3b Chaff (oaten), £2 5s to £2 6il to 3s 9d per busnel 15s per ton Medium milling, 3s to Bran, £2 10s pertoa 3s 3d per bushel Pollard. £3 10s per ton , Fowls' wheat 2a 6d to 2s 9d Flour, £9 to £9 10s per per bushel ton Oats, milling, Is 9d per Barleydust. £3perton bushel Bacon (rolled) 6d per lb Feed oats, 1b 4d to Is 7d Side bacon, 6jd per lb per bushel (grain fed) Malt barley, 3s 6d to 3s 9d Oatmeal, £8 10s per ton per bushel Cheese 3Jd to 4d per lb Pearl barley, £18 per ton Smoked Hams, 8d per lb Onions, 14s per cwt Straw, £2 per ton Feed, 3s to 3s 6d per Cape Barley, 4s 6d per bushel bushel Oaten Hay, £3 per ton j Grass hay, £3 pet ton Best potatoes, £1 5s per ton. Local Grown Kidney Potatoes, ljd per lb ; Imported, 8s per Gwt,

THE LONDON PBODUCE MARKET. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have received the following market report from London, dated 22nd inst.:— Wheat.— Market steady. New Zealand, f.a.q. in grmary, has advanced Is per 4931b since last report, Tallow.— Market firm. SHARE MARKET. The Dunedin Brokers' Association reports the following prices for the week ending November 26, 1887 :— anks— From To Colonial ... ... £2 1 6 £2 2 0 National ... ... 1 14 0 1 15 0 New Zealand ... ... 12 12 6 12 17 8 Insurance — Colonial ... - .„ 0 4 9 0 5 0 National ... ... 017 0 017 3 New Zealand ... ... 3 8 0 3 9 0 New Zealand Accident ... 0 5 0 0 5 3 Standard ... ... 0 12 3 0 12 6 South British ... ... 1 14 0 1 15 0 Union ... ... 1 3 0 1 3 6 Miscellaneous— Dunedin and Suburban Tram 0 2 9 0 3 0 Kaitangata Railway and Coal ... ... 15 17 6 16 2 6 Mosgiel Woollen Factory ... 37 0 3 8 0 (ex div.) New Zealand Drug Company ... ... 018 3 018 9 New Zealand Land Mortgage ... ... 10 0 110 WestportCoal ... 18 6 19 6 Mines (Reefton) — Big River ... 0 3 0 0 3 3 Globe ... ... 13 0 13 6 Homeward-Bound ... 0 9 3 0 9 6 Just-in-Time ... ... 0 5 0 0 5 3 Keep-it-Dark ... ... 112 0 113 v Nil Desperandum ... 03 6 03 9 THE LABOUR MARKET. Mr Skene reports under date November 29 :-— November has been a fairly busy month. During this month most station engagements are made, but there is far from the " stir and go " of years gone by. There is a large local demand for dairy people, priucipally light weights. There is no steady town work to be had. Late wages as under :— Shepherds, £55 to £60 ; cooks, 30s ; grooms, los to 20s ; stone drlveis, 15s; station couples, £75; ploughmen, Al, 20s; labourers, 15s ; bushmen, 4s and 5s per ton ; hairdressers. 60s ; milkers, 20s, 15s, 123, and 10s ; boys, 68 to 8s ; country girls, 10s to 12s ; housekeepers, 15s ; grooms and gardeners, 20s.