WEEKLY LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT.

Otago Witness, Issue 956, 16 May 1889, Page 18

WEEKLY LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT.

, WKDNHBDAY, MAY,IS. • Fat Cattle.— 2o4 were yarded for to-day's sale, ooaslstlng of about one-third prime bullocks, and the balanqe medium bullocks and oows. There were' prime drafts from Travenna and Waimate estates, also a very prime draft of bullocks from Mr James Brown, of Taieri. ' Sales opened with a good demand and fair competition. Prices -were somewhat irregular daring the sale, but on the whole better than those .obtained last week, especially so for prime aorts, whioh met with good competition. Best bulBooks sold; at £7 10« to £9;. medium, £6 to £7 10s; C ow» and heifers, £9 bo £7.-Do!ta£d Bin> AWD Co. yuded 77, and sold for Mr D. M'Bala (Otsmt}, 9

bullocks at, £7 10s. to £9 12s fid, 2 cows at £$, ss; "for Berkley, estate, T buttock at £7 2s 6s; for Mr M. Joel (Henley), 6 bullocks at £5 12> 6d to £i 17s M; 6 heifers at £4 15s to ' £4 7s 6d; for Messrs .M'Leod- Bros. (Wardlands, 'Out tram), 11 bullocks at £7 10s to £ss, 1 heifer at £4 12s 6d ; for Mrs Jas. Brown (Mosgiel), 10 prime bulloeto at £8 2s 6d to £7 ; for Mr Eoberf Brown (Mosgiel), ,4; bullocks at £5 7s 6d, 1 cow at £7 2s 6d ; for Mr Alex." Douglas (Eiccarton), 3cows at £s 3s 6d to £2 75 6 d; for Mr A. Lee Smith (Lakeholm, 7 heifers at £4 10s to £3 j for Messw Harvey, Lindsay, M'Master, Moore, and others, 30 head. cattle at ,up to, £6.-rr ,| Johit GinpiaT (on beKalf of the Farmers' Agency Company, Limited) ' sold j— For Mr 1 James Guild (Trevenna), 6 prime bullocks from £7 15s to£ 9; for Messrs Grey Bros. (Milburn), 6 small heifers at £4 12s 6d $ for Mr, James Gow (Invermay), 11 heifers j to £5 ; for Mr Joseph Early, 5 heifers at £4 10s ; for { Mesirs Harrison, J. Wation, Isaac Green, and others, j 15 cowt up to £6.— Beid, Maolkait akd Co. yarded ; 35 head and sold for the Waimate estate, 12 bullocks as under— 2 at £8. 2 at £7 17s 6d« 2at £7 17s 6d, 2at £7 6s, 2at £7, 2 at £8 17s 6d; on account Mr John Bruce, 9 haul, 2 bullocks at £6 2s 6d, 2 oows at £5 7s, 6d, 3at £5 2s 6d, 2at£s 2s 6d ; on account,, Mr J. Moir, 3 bullocks at £6 5s to £7 15s ; j on account Mr G. Johnston, steers at £4, cows at £4 4s, heifers to £4 7s 6d ; on account Mr W. ;Lindsay, 1 bullock at £8, 2 at £0 ss, &o.— Giobgb Todd (on behalf of the Mutual Agency Company of New Zealand, Limited) sold on acconnt of Mr Malcolm Morrison, 13 head heifers and steers at quotations.— Wbighi, Stepheksoh, Asd: Go. sold 54 head as follows :— On account of Mr James' Guild (Trevenna), 6 prime bullocks at from £9 to £7<7s 6d;:| on account of Mr George, Mortimer, 12 bullocks at, from £7 to £S ss ; on account of Oloverly estate, § J heifers at from £4to £3 7s 6d ; on account of Mr Jas. j Wyllie (Outram), il heifers at from £5 to£4'j : on account of Mr G. G. MAuley (Portobello), 10 cqws at] from £7 to £4';" and on account of Messrs Alex. Douglas (Biccarton), James Thompson,. and others, 7 cows at quotations. . ' Dairy Stock,— Eked, Macxba*, amd Oo^ offered and sold about 16 head (hone passed) at current rates. In store cattle they had placed privately during the week one or two Hueß of two-year-olds (mixed sexes) at Jfull market rates. . ..,

Fat Sheep.— The supply to-day consisted of 200 merinos', and 3858 crossbreds, About half were wethera of exceptionally good quality, and the balance ewed of from prime to medJura'quality. There was a good demand, and good competition for all sorts. There were several, buyers, for freezing purposes, and nearly all the prime crossbred wethers and maiden ewes forward were secured by them. Sales opened at about. Is per' head advnnoe on last week's prices for prime wethers and maiden ewes, , but prioes eased as the sales advanced, and towards the close ruled muoh the same as last week; Crossbred wethers sold at 9s to, 15s; crossbred ewes at 0« 6d to 14s; merinos at it 3d to 8s 3d.— Dohaxd Rhid akd Co. yarded and sold, for Mr Wm. Calder (Chatton), 22 crossbred wethers aj; 14s, S9 crossbred ewes at 12s 8d to 12s 3d ; for Mr Matthew Baxter (Wingatui), 63 orossbred ewes at 9s 6d- to 0s 6d ; for Mr P. Williamson (Milburn), 33 halfbred wether* , at 10s ; for Mr John Pinch (Milburn), 34 crossbred ewes at 12s 9d; for Mr Wm. Klrkltnd (Elm Grove), 25 crossbred wethers at 13s 9d, 25 crossbred ewes at 13s 6d ; for Mr 3. Harrison, 23 crossbred ewes at ss, 89 crossbred ewes (stores) at 3s.— Johtc Gbhu>i<by (on behalf of the Farmers' Agency Company, Limited) sold for Mr W. Grant (Blloughton Graage;, 44 Southdown ewes at lls 9d, 97 crossbred do from lls to 9» ; for Mr H. Oupples (Otautau), «8 crossbred owes and wethers from lls 6d to lls; for Messrs Manchester Brothers (Waimate), 34 halfbred ewes at 10s 9d ; for Mr J. H. Watson (Burwood). 83 halfbred wethers from 12s 6d to 12s, 94 merino wethers at 8s 3d ; for Mr L. Thomson (Flag Hill), 120 halfbred wethers from 12s to 10s 6d ; for Messrs Grey Brothers (Milburn), 25 halfbred ewes at 7s Bd, 56 merinos at 6s 6d.— Bbid, Maclkan, and Co. yarded 658, and sold on account of New Zealand Agricultural Company, 120 crossbred ewes- 40 at 12s 6d, 30 at lls 6d, 26 at lls 6d, 24 at lls 3d ; on account of Mr G. H. Rhodes (Olaremont), 179 crossbred ewes— 2s at 12s 9d, 25 at 12s fid, 34 at 12s, 30 at Us 6d, 35 at lls, 20 at lls 3d; on account of Mr.W. Jaff ray (Bast TalerJ), 30 Ught-welght two-tooth wethers at 10s, 29 at 9s 9d, 10 crossbred ewes at 8s 6d ; on account of Mr J. A. Duthie (Milton), 35 orossbred ewes at lps, 35 at 9s to 9i 3d ; on account of Mr Orbell (Waikouaiti), 24 crossbred wethers at 13s 9d, 16 at lls 3d ; on account of Mr Jas. Oullen, 24 crossbred ewes at 10s, 20 at 6s 6d, 31 merino wethers at 6s 3d, 84 at 6s 3d, 34 at 5s 9d.— Wright, Stkphbnsok, and Co. sold 1851 as follows a On account of Mr James Matheson (Tabletop farm), 45 extra prime orossbred wethers (heavy weights) at from 16s to 15a; on account of Messrs M'Leod Bros. (Wardlands),lSo very prime 'halfbred /wethers at from 15s to 14s ; on account of Mr James Logan. (Gree'nvale), 168 crossbred wethers at from 14s &d to 12b 9d ; on account of Mr Alexander Maxwell (Southland), 168 halfbred wethers at from 13s 9d to 11s 3d ; on account of 1 Mr Peter Smith,' 72^ prime crossbred ewes at from. 14s to lls 9d : on account of Mr F. M. Riokman (Waimate), 69 Shropshire Down wethers -, at 14s, and 63 crossbred ewes at from 11b 9d to lls ; on account of Messrs O'Brien Bros. (South Canterbury), 120 prime crossbred ewes at from 13s to lls 9d ; on account of Mr Bobert Paterson, jun; (Hill-, end), 10 prime crossbred wethers at 15s ; on account of Mr William Murcott(Hampden), 31 crossbred* at from 12s 3d to 9s 3d ; on account of Mr John Smart (Tinwald), 75 halfbred ewes at 'Bs; on. account of Messrs A. Brown and Co. (Wairuna), 140 halfbred ewes at from 9s 6d to 8s 7d ; on account of Mr James Wright (Broomlands), 77 crossbred ema at from 12s to 10s 9d ; on account of Mr Peter Grant (Gowrie), 72 halfbred ewes at from 9s 3d to 9s ; on account 'of Mr Alexander Douglas (Biccarton), 87 crossbreds at from 13s 3d to 9s 3d; on account of Mr David Grant (Granton), 228 merino wethers at 68 ; and on account of Mr. Peter Duncan (Waikouaiti), 274 halfbred ewes at quotations,— Donald Sthonach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) sold on account of Mr John Henderson (Bulyondale) and others, orossbred ewes at 12s to lls 6d; Private Sales.— Beid, Maoxkan, and Go. report sold 2000 freezing wethers for forward deliver? at a satisfactory figure. Btore Sheep.— Bbid, Maolban, ak» Co. sold for Mr,W. Jaffray, a line of six-tooth and full-mouthed crossbred ewes at 7s ; and have placed during the week 1800 cros»breds of various olasses at full market rates.— Johh Gbindiby (for the Farmers' Agency, Company, Limited) reports having held on Friday last their usual monthly sale at the Crown Yards, Balclutha. There was an unusually large attendance of farmers and others; several buyers being presentfrom outside districts, having come a considerable distance to attend the, sale. The active inquiry within the last week or so for freezing sheep caused a brisk demand to be experienced, and all the store wethers were cleared at ' highly' satisfactory prices. We yarded in all 3235 sheep, and with the exception of one small line of aged ewes we cleared the yards. -The sales resulted as follows :— 552 four-tooth crossbred wethers at Us 3d, 155 do halfbred do at 9s 3d, 42 quarter-back do. at 6t 9d, 306 eight-tooth crossbred ewes at 7s Id, 461 merino do 4s 4d, 243 do do at 2s 6d, 59 crossbred wethers at 10s lid, 818 halfbred do at 10s, 70 quarter-back do at 9s, 58 orossbred ewes at 7s, 130 merino do at 2s 3d, 400 do wethers at 4s. Privately -600 quarter-back ewes, 100 merino do, 200 crossbred wethers, 200 halfbred ewes, 762 two-tooth crossbred*, 800 halfbred lambs. Total, 5889. Flook Bams.— Wbight, Stbphknson, akd Co. regort having sold privately on account of the New ealandand Australian Land Company (Ardgowan estate), 30 Border Leicester rams at a satisfactory price. > ' ■' '' '" " Clearing Sale.— On Friday, 10th May f Dokaib Stbonaoh (on behalf of, the New, Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) held an extremely satisfactory sale at Cherry Farm on account of Mr John Duncan, whose lease had just expired. The well-known high character of our client's stock and his careful ' attention for years past to the breeding of first-class stock induced a very large attendance, including buyers from very long distances. Bidding was spirited, and prices realised on the whole must have been highly gratifying to the- vendor ; sheep especially sold exceedingly well. Two-tooth to full- mouth Leicester' breeding ewea brought 14s 3d; crossbred wethers, 14s 9d; lambs, 8s 9d: other sheep In proportion. Three-year-old steers, to £6 10s ; two-year-old do, £3 7a 6d; one-year-old do,' £J 2s 6d; two-year-old., ' heifers, £3 11b to £i 17s 6d ; 6ne-yeaH-old do, to £215s; draught brood mares, from £34 10s to £10 10s ; dairy cows, up to £8 2s 6d ; pigs, from £3 7s 6d to £2 2s 6d ; slips, to 14s, , - . « •■ S Fat Lambs,— Only 435 came forward to-day. These with very few' exceptions were a splendid lot of lambs; and deserved a better sale. The season is now praotieally over, and not a great number are required' by the butchers, There 1 was* ; a fairly good ( demand, for those offered, but at prioes a shade lower than, were obtained last week. Best lambs sold at 7« fld to 9s 6d ; a pen of extra prime up to lls; ordinary, 4b 0d to 6s 6d7— DOKAIJ) sin) akp Co. yarded 187 and ■old on aooount of Mr P. WillUmson (Milbum), 84 at 0> 6d : ,on aooount of Mr John Finch, (Milburn), 45 atS»M o nf^nntofMrWm.^]^d(Blin6i»ve).,

Jomr.&Rnn>iarr(on I^ebmlf of .theltamer^Aj'ency OqmpSny, limited) .sold 'for. Mr MrJlUsm , Orant (Blloughtori Grange), 61 at 7s : fa-Rup, Mjlot£a» ? xxv 00. yartied 50,aud c01d 42 on*aocount ; of Mr A. 0. Thomson (Mosgiel), at 6s 9d to 7« 9d, and a imall line on acoount of Mr W. Jaffray (Bait Taleri), at 7ti— IVBIGHT, BTBPHSNBOV, MND CO. SOld 361 «• folIow»j 4 -On, account, of Mr Bobert" T'atenpn, Jan. (Loveir* flat); 35 (extra prime) at lli.and 28 (do, smaller) at 9s 6d; on account of Mr James Taomp•on, IB at 8s fid • on acoount of Mr Alexander Douglas (Biooartoa), B6 at 8s 6d-; on account of, Mr, James <Matheion,BO at, BB 3dj on account of .Mr Peter Grant (Qowrie), Z1 at 6s 3d; and privately, on account of Mr D. T. Shand (as administrator of the.

Otakia estate), 120 at 7s 6d. '< - :> Pigs.— For to-day '»! market 221 came forward. Only a few pens were suckers, the balance prime porkers and baconera. There was fairlyjgood demand, all sorts receiving good competition atprices on a level with those obtained last week.* Suokers, 5s to 10s 3d; stores, 13s to 33s 6d; porkers,aßs to 34s; bacouers, 40s to 68i.— Donald Skid and Co. yarded 30, and sold on account of Mr John Mackie (Tapanui),, 16 1 at 59s to 82«; on account of Mr Wm. BUckie (Glasgow farm, Moigiel), 8 storef at 325 ; on account of Mr Wm'. Kirkland (Blm Grove), 8 suckers at Bs.— Bbid, Mloxbak, amd Co. yarded 100, and sold on aocount Mr G. F. Craddook (Leeston), 48 prime bacon piffß as follows:— Two at £2 198,5 at.£2l9i, sat £2 17«, iat £3 145, iat £2 165, tf at £% 15s, 6at £3 145, 5 at £2 9s, 8 at £3 lls, 0 at £2; account Mr G. A. Hardy. 52 bacon pigs as under— l at £2 10s, 6at £2 3 18s, Bat £3 175. S«t £2 155, 7at £fi 9s, 7at £a 4s, Bat £2 5»;6d, 6 at £2 3s, 4 at»£l 16s 8d,3 at £3fis.WBXGHT, STBPHBNSOW, AMD CO. Sold 108 88 follows {•— • Bxtra heavyweight bacon pigs at from £3 to £3 8s; ordinary, £2 2s to £3 15s ; £1 6s to £1 16s ' suckers, 6s to 15s;. ' ' Wool.— Shice the date of last report there is nothing of importance to record. The buoyant tone of the London . markets shown in the- substantial advance in prices throughout the sales, and which was fully maintained at the close, has had a beneficial effect on our local sal6s. In our local market there Is not xsuoh doing, with the exception of small oddments otgreasy and stragglers' wool, and occasional losts of fellmongers' scoured, which meet with fair competition and satisfactory prices, considering quality and condition. Scoured wool, oellies and skirtings/sells at Is to Is 3d ; sllpe, "at 9d to lOfd ; greasy, at 7d to 9jd. ' Sheepskins.— There is a strong demand, and all sorts are well competed for. A$ the -usual weekly sales on Monday last large catalogues were submitted of both butchers' green skins and dry country lots before the usual gathering of buyers. Bidding was animated, especially for green skin's, which met j with -keen competition. Dry croesbreds sold at 2s I 3d to 6a 6d ; do merinos, at 2s 2d to. 4a 7d ; do pelts j and lambi, at 8d to 2s 6d ; green, cros&breds, at 4s 6d to 3s lOd ; do merinos, at 3s to 'it \ lambs, Ss lOd to Hides.— Considerable consignments continue to arrive, but the greater proportion consist of o&ly medium quality and weights. There is a strong demand for really good heavy hides; of these the market may be described as quite bare. T,here is inquiry for heavy ox hides, well flayed and cured for shipment, and any number could be placed at top rates. Best heavies at 3d to 3jdj medium, 2jd to 2M ; inferiors lid to 2d ; bull and slippy, l±d tol^d. .Tallow.— Market very bare of all qualities; there is a good demand, and all ooming forward is readily placed at last week's quotations. Medium rendered sells at £20 to £18 per ton ; rough fat, 8s to 13s per owt. Grain.— Wheat t A fairly large supply has come into the local market, and as the demand is not particularly brisk, stocks on hand are accumulating. Miller* are, however, buying more freely, and although prices cannot be said to have undergone any material alteration, there has been some little Increase in the business done. Prime Tuscan is scarce, and prices for that description may be quoted as slightly firmer ; inferior and medium milling are not in present demand ; fowls' wheat is in good request, both for shipping and for local requirements. Quotations : -Prime milling, 4s Id to 4s 2d ; medium, 3b lOd to 4s ; fowls' wheat and inferior, 2s 6d to 3s 9d. Oatsj Arrivals dnring the week have been very large, and a large quantity has been taken Into store for the present. There Is a brisk demand for all qualities, both from mfllers and shippers, but as there are comparatively few offering, only a moderate business has been done. Shippers show a decided preference for heavy bright Sparrowbills and Sutherlands, which'fetch highest prices ; while long oats, unless of extra good quality and suitable for seed, are difficult to dispose of. Latest reports j from Australia show a slight easing off in demand and values there, put this can onTy be. considered | temporary, and has produced no effect, on, the local' I market. Vendors appear dieposed rather to hold for ; j increasing 1 rates than to acsept anything below late ruling prices. • Black oats are seldom inquired for: At time of writing the market Is very firm with an- j upward tendency. . Quotations s— Best milling, 2s 7d to 3s 8d ; short bright feed, 2s sjd to 2s 6Jd ; soft and discoloured, 2s 4d to 2s 5d j all bags extra, or lfd per; bushel additional, Bags weighed in. Barley : A good I ■demand exists, and a considerable quantity is Ahposed of for shipment. . All offering, in ■ suitable parcels are saleable, while hitherto , the quantity taken up by our local maltsters is. comparatively small. We quote prime malting 3s M.to 3s 9d; medium, fes 9d to 3s 6d (ex store). Byegrass Seed— There is a considerable amount of Inquiry for shipment, also by not a few who are under the impression that the supply Is very much short of requirements. Quotations are: For undressed, 2« 9d to 3s 3d ; dressed, 3s 9d to 4s 3d. Cocksfoot does not command much attention. Quotations are:— For best, 3fd to 4d ; medium, 2jd to 3jd per lb. Potatoes.— The market this week Is somewhat livelier ; sales are easier made, and prices slightly, firmer.. Northern are worth 80s to 85s; Southern, 72s 6d to 77s 6d per ton. Dairy Produce.— Butter : Market continues dull. Buyers are not inclined to give the prioes asked, but; we look for an improved demand, as stocks are not large, and winter setting in.— Cheese : Factory, 6d to 6|d for large and loaf, with a moderate business doing. HORSE REPORT. Messrs Wbight, Stkphknsok, and Co. report as,, follow*:—' Saturday's sale brought together a fair number of horses, but very few of them were what could be termed good sorts ; in facb they were taken as a lot of as nondescript a character as we have seen in the ■ yard f«r a long time. The few good draughts forward on account, of Messrs John Shaw , and JamesAnderson sold well, and there was a market for more, several buyers of useful plough horses having to return to their farms unsupplled. There were also buyers present for first-class upstanding bay carriage horses (with black points) and for good cross-country steeds, showing a fair amount of breed T ing, but as neither of these descriptions were represented in the entries no business was done. Aged hones of whatever deicriptiqn, weedy and inferior sorts, are almost unsaleable at any price ; but consignments of good useful draughts and first-class light horses would find a ready sale at present. We quote a» follows:— First-class young heavy draughts at from £17 to £25; medium do, £9 to £16; light do, £5 to £8; first-class backs and light harness horses, £15 to £25 ; medium do, £3 to £12 ; light and weedy, £1 10s to £3. {The individual reports of wool, rabbitskin, or grain brokers can be inserted in the Daily limes and Otago Witness at special rates.] GRAIN REPORT, Messrs Samuel Orr and Co., Stafford street, report for the week ending May 16 as fdllows :— ' ' The weather during the past week has been very unsettled, but taken altogether it is verjnnild indeed, considering the season of the year. In some districts, however, they complain of having too Uttle rain, aud of ploughing operations being, affected.in . consequence, but as a rule it is universal that we have had a remarkable'season altogether, unparalleled for harvest work.' Arrivals of grain how give indications of already falling off, threshing not only being got /through, but the roads being bad for carting, and the eagerness ;to make preparations for another crop being the causes, but a vital and more serious one Is, the true cause, and one which we purpose dealing with minutely Iv the'oourse of a few. days. ' ' ' Wheat— For this important cereal the ' market remains.in much the same position' lt' has done for some weeks past, void of any animation, and nothing like the demand exhibiting itself that, generally, characterising it at this time of the year. Of the ' American' and Bur'opean markets there is also little to report upon; The former i» Bteady,'as it. is on • the Continent, while the latter just evinces a slight ohariffefor the better, brought about no.donbt bythefaot of the Busslan supply getting exhausted. If there is to be a. change in the Home market it must come soon, as the harvest there and in America iwill be on In three or lour months' time. We qaofe prime mllUog Tuscan up to 4s 3d; velvet and red straw, Ba ßd to 4s Id; medium, «s Mto Bs, 7d }

, Oats.r-As we said previously, the arrivals are not 'aoflargefcfiis as last wwk, but the demand has not, diminished ; and contrary to all expectations prices,, instead of- going back, have rather improved,, and , this too in the fece of very desponding advices by 1 cable to-day of the Sydney and Melbourne markets. The chartered vessels are now all about- finished loading, so that specnlatora will have to depend upon j the facilities of the steamers in making their pur- j chases. Locally, for, manufacturing purposes, the demand is good, as large orders are coming forward i for oatmeal necessitating the millers working night and day to cope with them. We quote prime he&vy milling, 2s BJd to 2a 9d (though for a lot of Canadians we were offered 2s lOd, the finest that ever reached this market arid which we are selling for seed pur-, poses); heavy, short, bright feed, 2s 6id to 2s 8d; inferior and off colour, 2& ssd to 2s 6§d; and sold about 40.000 bushels at these quotations. For Messrs A. and J.M'F., North Taieri, and J. M., Hast Taieri, we sold long Tartars at 2a 10§d, sacks 6d. , , . Barley.-tA fair demand exists for shipment, but 'growers' limits here being far ahead of what can be got in Melbourne little business, is, being done. Locally maltsters are not doing much. ,We quote firime malting for shipment up to 3s 9d, sacks 6d ; medium, 3s 5d to 3s 7d ; milling, 2s 9d to 3a ; feed, 2s 6d. , , ■ , Obiff.—Ooming forward freely, as growers having the engines threshing get them to cut chaff after, so that market is a bit full. We quote prime oaten sheaf, well-out and soreened, £3 10s ; ordinary, £3 to £3 6s. Potatoes.— The markets on the other side being lower has caused a dtop here, and £3 15s to £3 17s 6d (in quantities) in all that Is obtainable now.

JH^NUFAOTURERS AGENTS' REPORT. Messrs Abthuk M'Doitau> and Co. report' as follows for the week ending Wednesday, May 15?— • ■ Wool.— Considering the season of the year a fair amount of business Fs passing, and a brisk inquiry exists for all descriptions. " The following is a list of our transactions for the week :— CO over heart, 3 bales first comb half bred 9d; 6 do quarterbred 9d; 2do halfbred pieces 6d ; Ido quarterbred and black 8d ; X; 2 do dead wool Bjd ; CT over HBRIOT in half circle, 1 do fleece greasy Bfd; 1-do 'slipe halfbred ,10d; 1 do slipe comb crossbred 9Jd; 1 do acoured quarterbred bellies 16d; 1 do slipe comb merino lOjd; 1 do scoured merino bellies 14id; ! PHN, 3do crossbred and merino greasy B|d ; BICHi MOND over BROOK, 1 do first comb merino 7fd ; \3 do first comb scoured 17d ; 1 do second pieces I and cloth merino scoured 16Jd ; Ido halfbred scoured lid; 1 do merino slipe 10|d; JD, 2 bags, halfbred 7£d ; JO, 1 bale greasy fleece 6d ; 1 bag dead Ad; 1 do dags and locks Id. ;' Sheepskins continue in active demand for shipment at for really good .lines' Sfdjtp 6d; others, 4d bo bid. ' ■ , , „ .' „ ■ Habbifcskins.- Cablegrams reporting a decline In tha London market were published by us on Monday last. N6twithstanding this Information we are glad to say. that the local market remains unchanged. Tfiis is. accounted for by the faot that large orders were in hand here 1 before the decline took place, and until these are satisfied prioes are certain to keep steady. The machinery for our fur.Cutfcing and dressing department is now constructed, ,and we have this week commenced operations. The result of this new industry is watched with considerable interest byalarge«ection of the community, for if successful (and we have no doubt on that point), it will dispense with the necessity, of importing felt into the colony, and for Jthe most part with exporting rabbitskins out of the colony in consequence of the higher prices we can. afford to, pay as compared with the ordinary shipper. Further than, that, as a very large proportion of the work is done by hand, it will give employment to hundreds of hands. For this purpose alone we will require a very large quantity of skins. Since our last report we have transacted the following business in rabbitskins, the bulk of which consist of summers and inferior with a few lots of autumns :— LANGDALE, 3 baleß 7fd. ; TAIBRI LAKE, Ido 3id ; Ido 6d ; 4do Bid ; Mm diamond, 1 do 4id; RICHMOND over BROOK, 1 do BMjj 1 bag 7fd ; G, Ido 9d ; 88, 2do 7sd ; BB over conjoined J's, 1 bale B|d ; Ido 7d ; 1 bag (black) 7*d ; Ido suoters 2id ; GO, 2do 7sd ; RM, Ido 6J ; A over B, 2do 7d ; L and S, 3do 7Jd ; , l do 6d; Star in circle, 18 bales lOd ; JH in square, 5 bags 7d ; PJ in square, 2do 7d ; JL, 3do 8d ; X, Ido lOd ; H, 3do 9d;'WP,2d»6jd; WW, idolOid; BD,ldo6d; 1 doEd;2do9|d; Idols; Hin circle, 2do 7Jd ; GW, Ido 6jd ; 0, 1 do Bjd ; 0, 3 do 7sd. Total, 31 bales and 43 bags. „ Wheat.- Advices from Australia report a dull market for wheat. We have orders in hand for a large quantity, but at limits which make business difficult, Our shipments for the week have been 364jsaoks per Loch Naw and Otago. 1 Oats remain firm, but it.ißOJjp.ectedtbafcpric.es '•will recede when the large quantities t>6v( afloat reach Australia. We quote ptimesfc milling, 2s 7d (bags extra) ; bright, heavy'feed, 2s 6d to 2s 7d (bags extea); ordinary feed, 2s 4d to 2s 6d ' (bags extra). Our shipments for the week, have been 1006 sacks perbarque Loch Naw, 600 per Hauroto, and we are loading 2500 on the barque Otagol ;N,ote.— The abb^e prices are free of all charges, WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. liowttzsoN and Hopkin, Millers, Grain, Produce, and Commission Agents, Manee street, Dunedin, re-, port a» follows :— . ' VfHOLESALB BBPOBT. • Wheat.— Market unaltered, if anything slightly weaker, as millers will not operate largely. Northern Tuscans, 4s to 4s Id ; velvets. Hunter's, and red straw, 38 lOd to 3s lid ; Southern Tuscans, 3s 10dto3s lid; other milling sorts, 3s 6d to 3b 9d. Fowls' wheat : Good shipping parcels in fair demand from '3s to 3s 3d ;" other sorts, from 2s 6d to 2s lOd. Barley s Very little doing, and brewers are still holding back. Prime malting, 3s 8d to 4s (nominal) ; beat milling, from 2s lOd to 3s 6d ; feed sorts in dome demand from 2s 6d to 2s lOdi OatB : This cereal has maintained its price very well this week, and we plated all good feed sorts forwarded to us at from 2s 7d to 2s 7fd; milling sorts, '2s 8d to 2s B§d; inferior feed sorts. 2s 6d to 2s 6Jd ; off-colour musty, 2s sd. Flour: Timaru roller, £11 f.0.b. ; Oamaru, £10; Southern .and town brands, £9 10s— 50's 15s on these prices. Oatmeal s Long ton in bulk, £13 10s ; 25's, £13 10s ; 7's,£ls. ' Bran: £4 f.o.b. Sharps: £5 f.o.b. Pota : toes : Kakanul Derwents, £i to SA ss ; inferior, £3 10s to £3 15s; kidneys now in demand. Pigs: , Well fed up to 1801b, 4d to 4jd ; fat and heavy sites, 3d to 34d. Chaff : Heavy oaten chaff, £3 15s to £4 ; medium, £3 10s ; straw, £2. Turnips : 18s to 20s, Oarrotß: 40s.- Straw (oaten and wheaten): 40s. Hay (oaten): «ss. Clover and rygrass hay: 65. Butter t Prime salt, lOd (kegs extra) but Uttle demand; 9d is price easily obtainable. Honeys 4id to 44d, kegs extra. CRese t Best Akaroa, 4fd to sd; 'loaves, 6sl to sfd; fa.'ary, Temuka. 5Jd; loaves, 6id. Hams and, baccc t Hams, 9d; rolls and flitches, 6M. Grass seecs : Ryegrasa, farmers' lots, 2s 9d to 3s 3d ; dreseed, 4s to 4s 3d ; cocksfoot, 2sd to 3Jd. RABBITSKIN MARKET. Messrs BbmßHAM>t anj>>~ Oo.r Manufacturers' Agents, Water street, report as follows:— We are in receipt of the following cable from our London House, dated lOthJtost. »— ''At the sales to-day the prices showed a decline of 1M to2dper lb for all classes.of rabbitskins. . The., bidding lacked animation, consequent upon stocks of felting wools acd'felfc being larger than required for the demand. Most of the lines offered consisted of inferior and low season, and thedeoline was; more, marked in these than in other descriptions.!' This decline had naturally a depressing effect on the weekly sales, especially with Treapect to lower grades of skins. Notwithstanding this, as our limits for orders remain unchanged, we continue to pay late rates, raisins our prices, in proportion as the quality of the eklns becomes better, with the advance of winter, -. ■ THE AUSTRALIAN MARKETS/, s Sydney, May 15. ' Wheat j Chick, 3s 6d to 3b 8d ; New Zealand, 4s 6d to 4s 9d ;■ South Australian, 5s 3d to 5s sd. Potatoes : New Zealand, £t 10s to £4 155 ; Circular Head, £5 ss. Onions, £14. Maize: Inferior, 2s 9d ; best sorts, 3s sd. ■ Oata, are dull at, for best, 3a 3d; aeed(Tartarlans), 3s 34 to 3s sd. Bran, Is to la Id. ( Pollard is scarce at Is 2d'. Blue Prussian pease; 4s 3d to 4s 4d, Batter: New Zealand dairy niade, 9d to Is; iepa^ rator, Is to Is "2d ; local dairy made, lOd to 4fl 3d ; separator Is 3d to 1b 6d.. Cheese, 7d to 8d; bacon, 8d ; New Zealand ham», Is. , - AdbUIIDB, May 15. The wheat market is quiet. Farmers' lots for outporta are quoted at 4s 8d at Port Adelaide ; ahippers' paroelß.Sa. Flour: Stone made»'£ll rroller made, £12. Bran, lid; pollard. Is Id; New SJealand oats, 4s 4d (market quiet). ; . ■ _• • - : ' . ••■ . ' ' , . . . Mblboubnb, May 15. There la « better demand for wheat at, for milling sort*, 6s (Jd to 8« WU Flour t Stone made, £11 10s ; roller jnade,-'£l2. Oats: Victorian Danish, 8s :7d;'•tonfc KemZwUand, &!10d to 3. lOfd/ Barley -, Qkusj\

~Otiin%i)ugax f $2s;Mte> Queensland greyi, £35 10t to ,, £ssss. J .,, .-:■,,.;- ,•, . , ,c, . ,;■ , ( ; CHRISTCHUROH CORN EXCHANGE. Beporfc for week ending Friday, May 9 1— Tbfi large quantities of grain offering during the past week, together with che drooping tendency of the Sydaey market, hat had the effect of easing tb* markets. The' shipments being light. during the week .have necessitated large quantities going, into store. Most of the English ships have now com* pleted their cargoes, and with the exception of small parcels by the direct steamers we shall .not expect to see much wheat find itsjray beyond the Australian colonies. Oats, have a. fair demand at, last .week's values.- Barley has bad a slightly better inquiry for prime malting;, large lines are being, shipped ' to Melbourne and Adelaide.. .The condition of t grain . . is at present very .unsatisfactory, large-, . quan-, titles being delivered in a sweaty , condition. Potatoes are being offered very freely? £3 being asked at country stations, but .buyer* do not seem inclined . to operate. Byegrass is quiet for, the time, being, but .cocksfoot haß,.a alight* inquiry' at the^low prices ruling. Dairy produce markets are .dull, and very little business Is being transacted. The follow ing are our week's values :— Wheat (Tuscan, prime) 33'10d to 3s lid'; pearl, 3s 7d : Hunters', 3s 6d to 3a 7d ; whole ohlbkwheat, 3< to 3s Id ; broken. 2s 3d to 2s lOd. Oats (milling), 2s 9d to Sit iOd ; stout short < feed, 3s' 8d ; long and inferior, Ss 6d to 2s 7d. , Barley . (prime malting), 3* 9d to. 3s ; l0d ; medium, 3s 4d.to 3s6d; feed, 3» 6d to 2» 9d. Beans, 3s 3d to 38 4d ' (when dry).,. Pease (Prussian blues, true), 3s-8d to „ 3s Yd ; feed, 3s to 3s 2d. Grass teed (ryegrasj, ; machine dressed), 3a 9d to 3j_lod; farmers' paroels, 2s;9d to 3s 3d; cocksfoot (machine. dressed), 3d; farmers' cleaning, 2£d to 2sd. Potatoes (Dements), 60s to 55s (at country stations).- Dairy produce; Butter is quiet at 8d to 9d;' for prime cheese (small), 4|d ; large sizes, 3jd. The above prices are those paid to farmers for delivery f .0.b., sacks extra. . - - ; .. , THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. , Messrs Nelson Brothers limited) have received a cablegram from their London house intimating that the frozen mutton market is firm at 4jd to 4}d per . Ib. The beef market is depressed, hindquarters .. selling at 4d per lb and forequarters at 3Jd per Ib. • LONDON RABBITSKIN MARKET. Messrs ARolHtra'M'DozuM) and Co.. are In receipt of the- following cable from their London agents, dated lOthittik «t- ' , •f There was a good attendance of buyer* at the rabbitskin auctions to-day, but competition lacked ' spirit, and prices were 2d per lb lower as compared with previous tales. The decline is attributa'bja to large stocks held in manufacturers' hands.' The offerings consisted for the most part of medium and inferior descriptions^ whioh showed thq greatest decline. Very few eeleoted New Zealand were offered." '' ' ! ' ,',, "^ y' \ DUNEDIN MAR^ET^. : WHOLBSiXK PRODUCB BBPOSTfI. Mr J. Fleming, .Prince* street $out^, sports under date the 15th inst.t— '• . Wheat: Best milling, 3s Ohaff (oaten), £3 7a 8d to 9d to 4s per bushel $3 12s fid per ton Medium milling. 3s 3d, to Bran, £4 per ton 3»6dper bushel Pollard, £5 per ton Foyrls'wheat2s9(ito3s3d Flour, «9' los,- £1« to per bushel .' ' £10, 10s per ton. Oa(s milling, 2s $d to 2s Barley dust, £4 por ton "9d per bushel"' " " Bacon (rolled) 6Jdperlb Peed oats, 2s 3d to 2« 5d Side bacon,. 7d per lb per bushel ' (grain' fed) Walt barley, 8s 7d to 8s Oatmeal, £13 10sp«ittpt\ 9d per bushel ' ° Cheese 4*d to' stt per lb' Onions 14s. per ewt - Smoked Hanu^'Bfd 'party Feed Barley, 3s per bushel Stfew, £1 1,5s perton" - Pearl- barley, £18 per ton Cape'Barlev, '3s 6d per Oaten Hay £3 10s per ton ' bushel. ' " ' T " ' Good salt "butter 7d tc?9d i'erllß Best Qamaru, potatoes £4 ncr ton ; good kidney potatoes, £4 10s to £5 per ton.' New rye grass hay £3 5s per ton., The market is well supplied with potatoes.' Flour OSilve ' Dust), in 60's, £11 10s per to& " T '• "v T r " KXEM JJXV DXlJat PROptTOI. ' Messrs Mercer Bros, report paying' for produce during the week ending 15th inst'.'t— Kggs. U9d pt*r doz I Salt" butter, new season* Bacon (roll), 6Jd" per lb | Sdpe'rlb '" " Hams, 9dper lb ' | Fresh butter, best brands Is per lb. Fresh but* fcer, good ordinary (in lib) and |Ib prints), 9d to, lOd per ; lb. ' , '.- ', ;' v ( NEW ZEALAND! FLAX. Mr 0. SpmtLiHQ, 27 Leadenhall street, London, reports, under date March 21 «.— ' ' * ' '=» • My last advices, to Which 1 beg to refer, 1 were of the Bth'inst.," since which our market for New ZtQßr land flax has been very dull, and in aome few oaoes— in [sympathy with the decline in Manila" hemp - holders have. accepted rather lower .prides foir'tho commoner, descriptions of Wellington;' good and well-cleaned sorts, although' quiet, show but little, if any, decline in value, either as regards Auckland or , The only arrival worthy of "note since 2lst inst. is that of the' Banklands, wifeo 1288 bales flax and 205 hales tow. 1 At present only a small part of f^bi? cargo has beea exposed at auction; the bulk, however, being sold for arrival, and a considerable part passes into consumers'- hands. It . is worthy of note that several parcels imported by. the fianklands, show a' decided falling off in quality, together with a 'want of proper cleaning and preparing, Many of'-the marks are of poor, coarse fibre, and would lead to the inference that, stimulated by the high rates which have ruled here some months, shippers are sending awayflax of oldgrowth.the.flbre— -Improperly steeped or retted -showing great hardness and want of vegetable sap and nature. ' Having already in my circulars of 21st February and Bth March directed attention to the various, points necessary for the improvement of New Zealand flax-points which I mutt again press on shippers' and exporters' notice— l need not now say more, than to express a hope that our market will not be over-loaded with low and ordinary sorts of flax, and thus bring into disrepute -an article which is still gaining, in public favour. The public sales of flax during the fortnight have been very unimportant, and consignments have been, mostly disposed of by private contract. During the past week about 100 tons, "guaranteed fair average," Wellingtonrhave been sold afloat, February-May shipment, at £31 per ton, c.f . and 1., equal to • about £34, landed London terms. Our market closes today quiet for common flax, while good and finesre Btill inquired for. Wellington.— Fine, £38 to £39 ; good,' £36 10» to £37 ; medium, £36 to £38 10s ; common and medium, (nominal), £34 10s to £35 lObj \ Auckland.— Fine, £38 10s to £39 10s; good, £37 10s to £38; medium, £36 10s to £37 ; common and medium (nominal), £35 to £38 10s. PROSPECTS OP THE WOOL TRADE. At the general meeting of the shareholders of Qoldsbrough, Mort, and Co., held ia Melbourne on April 24, the directors' report showed, that the neb profits for the year to March 31 were £58,1fi«, out of which an interim dividend of 10 percent, had been declared for the September half year, leaving available for distribution £43,245 j appropriated to paying a dividend at the rate of 10 per. cent., the placing to to the reserve fund of £10,000 (making it £810,000), and carrying forward £16,746. The amalgamation with Mort and Co. was most satisfactory, and there has been an Increase in the year's buslnes* in wool of 73,580 bales. The chairman (Mr J. S. Horsfall) m the course of an interesting address referred as follpws tothe prospects of f the wool trade j-The mdi» cations at present are encouraging, as nob only is the market increasing in firmness, but it, fr rapidly becoming evident, to all interested in the trade that the demand is fully*, keeping pace with the supply. The production of wool in Qreat Britain, the Continent of Europe, and in the United. States M either stationary or actually decreasing, whilst population is steadily increasing, and wool lft< constantly, coming into greater' consumption.—(Hear, hear.) In thickly populated countries land can be utilised to much better advantage than in. growing wool,.the great demand for dairy producta ensuring better returns than can be gained by shaep-farming. It therefore follow* that in most of the countries referred to there U a steady decrease In the number of sheep. The only rival that we need, take into serious account is South America, ana so far as regards that country, the progress made faa» not been nearly so rapid as was at. one time antaci" pated, the prevalence of worms in wet seasons, scab, and other diseases to which sheep are liable causing great mortality amongst the flock*. « A large P ro j^f* tionof theLCOuntiy whioh haa. been rtooked vrlta sheep haeMeii found to be unsuitable, owing to the rank herbage and 'too, rich pastures, whlUt the. fe^SitomXye led to greg'towes. jThe lafeclor condition and qunUtypf the. ihwp, owing n» a great measure to tho, defective £ maoaiemenfc wnjoiiwl V[ith; #»< stetg&^i^^SffiJ™ L ; .^# ',

iheepfarming In. . the "Elver Plate provinces. Here on the contrary, we have the finest climate and pastures in the world for woolgrowing, and the most enterprising -sheepfarmers.— (Hear, hear.) In no other country is wool grown and got cot up to the same perfection, and if the Australian governments will fo»ter this source of our great national wealth by reasonable land legislation, and by comprehensive water conservation and irrigation, we ahall no doubt continue to distance all our competitors in the growth of splendid sheep, and in ; the production of the d^oicestwools.— (Applause.) There , Is a great fwiture before companies like ours, ac the time is certainly approaching when the bulk of the ; wool grown in' these colonies will be sold in the i country where it if produced.— (Hear, hear.) In support of this statement, I need only refer to the business transacted during the past season, when out of a total of 1,030,005' bales exported fromAus-' tralia, no less than 456,961 bales, or nearly one-half, were told in the warehouses' in Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, and idelaide, a very large proportion of which was bought by French, German, and American buyers for direct tram mission to the mills.— (Applause.) Wool can now be'placed in the manufacturers' hands in six weeks after its tale here. Contrast this with the system of shipping in sailing vessels occupying 90 to 100 days in transit, and add the month or two more of additional' delay before the wool can be offered in London, and the enormous saving of time and expense, aiio the great gain in interest, becomes at once' apparent. — (Applause.) Altogether, after 33 years' experience in this bu«inesi, I feel satisfied that there is a great future for Auitralian wool, and for the colonial wool tales, and ■ 1 trust that with careful management our company ■ will continue to deserve and maintain its proud position at the head of the Australian wool trade.— (Applause.) .We command the disposal of more than one-sixth of the entire export of Australia, and our , total sales of wool, produce, 'and properties during this past year amount to over £3,000,000 sterling.— (Applause.;) The favourable season which has now. get in through the splendid rains we have had during the past three weeks will ensure a good lambing, and the prospects are now highly favourable v We j may therefore look forward to excellent returns in the year which We are ■commencing.— (Applause.) i