COMMERCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 26

COMMERCIAL.

At the Studholme stock sale on Friday about 8000 sheep and 30 head of cattle were yarded. The demand was solely for fat sheep and boilers, stares (whether forward or ordinary) being not required owing to the extraordinarily dry weather which has prevailed for some time. Prices 'realised were : Fat ewes, 63 to 6s 9d ; store twotooths (mixed sexe?), 53 to* 8s ; lambs, 2s b'd to 9s Id, according to quality and condition ; boilers, Is to 2s b'd. A feature of the sale was the large sale of well-bred young rams, which went at the very low price of 3< on the average. A few goo.i rams sold at 10s. In cattle, fat steers sold at X' 3 10?, but stores were quite unsaleable.— Oamaru Ma.il.

AUSTRALIAN .COMMERCIAL. Sidney, April Z.O Wheat : Chick. 2s 6d to 2s 9d ; milling 4s to 4? Id. Flour, £10 to £10 10*. Oats : New Zealand feeding, 2s 2d 'to 2s 5d ; milling, 2s sd ; Tartarian seeding, 2s 5d to 2s 7d ; local feeding, 2s 2d. Maize, 2< 3d. Barley : Cape, 2s 9d to 33 Peas : Prussian blue, 4s 9d to s^. Bran. BJI. Pollard, 9id. Potatoes : Circular Heads, £G ]0s ; local, £5 to £5 153. Onions : New Zealand, £6 ]5s to £7 ; Victorian, £6\ Butter : Dairy, lOd to 10W ; factory, lid to lUd. Cheese: Large, 4d ; loal, sd. Bacon, 6sd to Bd.

Melbourne, April £0. Wheat, 4s. Oats : Algerian feeding, Is 41 to Is 6^d ; milling, Is lOd ; stout white and Danish, Is Ho. Barley : Cape, 2s Bd. Maize, 2s 61 to 2s 7d. Bran, 10£ d Pollard, lid. Potatoes, £7 10s to £7 255. Onions. £5 to £5 10s.

Adeiaide, April £0. Wheat, 4s to 4" 0W ; maikfthtudening. Flour, £10 15s to £11. Oats : New Zealand, 3s 5d to 3s 9d ; local Algerian, 2s 5d to 2s 7d ; dun, 2s 4d to 2s b'd. Bran, Is. Pollard, Is 2d.

WEEKLY LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE REPORT Wednesday, Apjul 20.

Fat Cattle — 150 head yarded, the majority being osly medium to good quality. Prime beef was, as usual, eagerly competed for and satisfactory prices weie obtained. It was noticeable to-day that sales ruled fairly even all through for prime, but other descriptions were practically unsaleable at the last sales. Best bullocks £7 10s to £8 ; good do, £6 10s to £7 5s ; best heifers and cows, £5 10s to £6 10s ; good do, £1 to £5 ss. Inferior to medium quality beef was at a discount, and could only be sold at give-away prices. — Maclean and Co. yarded 45 head, and sold : For Mr G. H. Gilroy (Stirling), 7 bullocks at £7 10s to M ; Mr R. Chatters (Ury Park), 6 do at ,£7 12s 6d to £6 10.3 ; Messrs .John Bain, Early, W. Townley, T. Lynn, G. Crawford, John Murray, G. Hendry, J. Baird, A. Walker, T. Richards, J. Allan, AY. Robiuson, J. Gardiner, and Mra Kirkland, 32 head cows, <Jrc. at up to £5 — The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) sold for Mr R. M. Turnbull (Linburn), ]5 bullocks at £6 12s fid to £4 5s — Dalgety and Co. (Limited) yarded 19, and 3old as follows :— For Mr R Charters (Ury Park), 2 bullorks at £7 ; Mr J. J. Hewitt (Owaka), 4 do at £6 to £4 ; and turned out unsold 13 head ; also for Messrs Maxwell, Beel, and Gilmour, 47 head (stores) at quotations. — The Farmers' Agency Company (Limited) penned 28 head, and sold : For Mr Jno. Kirk (Mosgiel), 5 heifers at £3 2s 6d to £4 2s ; Mr W. Kirk (East Taieri), 2 bullocks at £6 15s, 2 heifers at £4 10s; Mr W. Li iKUay (Allanton), 4 bullocks at £o to £6 10s, 1 heifer at £3 15s ; Mr R. M. Turnbull iLinburn). 14 bullocks at £4 12s 6d to £6 12s 6d —Stronach Bros, and Morris yarded and sold 43 head. For a client, bullocks up to £6 10s ; Mr Wm Kirk (Mosgiel), 2 bullocks at £7 10s, and cows at quotations ; and for Mr John Sidey, heifers at £4 10s.— Donald Reid and Co yarded 37, and sold : For Messrs N. and A. Rl 'Bride (Berwick), 7 bullocks at £8 to £6 30s, 5 heifers at £6 10s to £6; MrJno Fimllay(Finc!layston),Sbullocksat£72^6dto£ss3;Mr W. Quinn (Maoii Kaik), 4 bullocks at £7 7s 6d to £5 Us ; Mr Wm. Kirk (East Taieri), 2 bullocks at £6 17s 6d ; Messrs Thomas Moffat, 11. Heath, and others, 11 head at market rates.

Sheep. — 2802 came forward for this wetkV supply. The bulk was only medium quality, aisa demand, even by farmeis and giazisrs, being dull, priceß were not excitiog. Piima wethers and ewes elicited the usual keen competition, and sold well up to last week's rates, quality considered. Best wethers, 103 6d to lls 6d, extra to 12s 9d ; good do, 9s to 10s 3d ; best' ewes, Da to 103, extra to lls M ; good do, 7s to 83 9d ; inferior to medium sorts at very low prices.— Maclean and CO. penned 121, and sold : For Measrs Murray, Roberts, and Co (Glndbroolc estate), 51 wethers at lla to 9s 3d ; Mr James Wyllie (Outram), 17 ewes at 9s 9d to 8s 6d ; Mr A. Lee Smith (Tifcri), 53 ewuv.— Dalgety and Co. (Limited) yarded 39S and sold as follows : For Sir F. Freeman (Enfleld), 135 twotooth wethers at S?3d to 5s 9d , Mr A. Andrews (The Islind), I7S crossbred do at 10d 6d to 8a 9d ; Mr S. Thompson (North Taieri), 35 do ewes at 6< Sd ; Mr A. Douglas (East Taieri), 50 merinos at Bs.— The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) sold For Mr James Liddell (Taieri Beach), 101 crossbred wethers and maiden ewes to lls ; Mr R. Campbell (Invertiel), 123 do wethers and ewes to 103 6rl ; Mr David Morgan (Taieri Beach), 60 do at 10s 9d ; Mr W. Merrilees (Taieri Beach), 20 do at 10s Id , Messrs Croue Bros, CQtaki^ 130 <\o {Vu&Mti &k~

The Farmers' Agency Company (Limited) yarded 37G .usd sold : I'Yr Mr John Ross (Waitahuna), 42 crossbred wethers at 10s 9d to 11s and 20 do ewes at 0s 3d; Mr P. ai'Clusky (Waipiata), 220 two-tooths at 6s to 8, 9d ; Mr A. Douglas (East Taieri), 40 crosbbred wetheri (extra) at 12s 9d ; Mr Jamas Gow (Invermay), 44 Leicester ewes ut 10s to Us 6d ; Mr J A. Riddell (Sandy mount), 30 crossbred do at 63 6d. — Stronach Bros-. a:*d Mohris sold: For Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co., crossbred ewes at 10s and 9s 9d ; Mr John Foote (Purakanui), halfbied ewes at 8s ; a client, wetheis at 8s 9d and ewes at 7s.— Donald Reid and Co yarded 438, and sold : For Mr E. Fricker (Uxbridge), 46 crossbred wethers and ewes at lls ; Mr W. JenniDgs (Purakanui), 27 crossbied wethers and ewes at 6s, 35 crossbred ewes at 3s 6d ; Messrs Wilson and Scott (Waihola), 26 crossbred wetheis and ewes at 10s t)d ; Mi Sam Thomson (Wyllie's Crossing), 66 crossbred ewes at 6s to 5s 6d ; Mr Frank Wright (Mosgiel), 32 crossbred wethers at 9i ; Mr G. Buchanau (Greenbauk), 40 crossbred ewes at 5s lid ; Messrs A. and ,1. Boyd (North Taieri), 171 merino wethers at 3^ 6d.

Lambs. — 1040 penned. Demand, except for prime lots, ww slow, aud 3ale3 were difficult to effect even at low prices. Best, 7s 3d to 8s 3d ; extra, 9s (id ; good, <5s to 7s 3d ; others at any money.— Maclean and Co. sold : For Mr Jas. Wyllie, 24 at 7s 9d to 63 9d ; Mr A. Lee Smith, 22 to 5s 9J.. — Dalgktv and Go. (Limited) sold a draft for a southern client at 6s 3d.— Donald Reid and Co. yarded 282, and sold : For Mr JK. Kricker (Uxb ridge), 15 at 9s 6'd ; Mr I). Walker (IliJlgiove), 70 at 5s to 4s Id ; Messrs Wilson and Scott (Waihola), 24 at 7s 3d ; Messrs A. aud J. Brown (Green Island), 29 at 7s ; MrS. Rollinson (Whare Flat), 20 at 4s; Mr G. Buchanan (Given bank), 42 at. 7a to 6s 3d ; Mr F. Wright (Mo=gi"l), 20 at; 4s 3d ; Mr Prauk Kowolski (Allantou), 34 at 4s 7d ; Mr J. A. Riddell (Saudymount), 28 at is, Ski.— The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile agency Company (Limited) sold : For J. O. Buckland 73 at 7s 6d, 7 do at 4i 9d ; Messrs Crane Bros (Otakia), 17 ai 7s 3d, 5 at 5s 6d, 10 at 5? 3d ; Mr (aeorge M'lntosh (Kuri Bush), 14 at 7s ; Mr H. Merrileea (Taieri Beach), 9 at 63 6d ; Mr David Morgan (Taieri Beach), 32 at 6s ; Messrs A. and J. Bsown (Abbotsford). £9 at 6s 6d.— The Farmers' Agkncy Company (Limited) penned 91, and sold : For Mr W. Blackie (Glasgow farm), 31 at 6s to 7« ; Messrs A. and J. Brown (Abbotsford), 29 at G3 9d to 7s ; Mr J. A. Riddell (Saudyinount), 31 at 4s — Sthonach Bros, and Morris sold : For Messrs Murray, Robeits, and Co. (Oladbrook estate), 1 pen *t 8s 3<), 1 pen at 7s 3d ; Mr John Foote (Piirakanui), 2 pens at 6s 9d ; and a client, 1 pen at Ss. P)ga.— 32s yarded. There, was a noticeable falling off in the demand, espscially for suckers, and prices all through ruled iv favour of buyers. Suckers, 5s to 10s ; clip", 14s to 15s 6d ; stores,. 16* to 2is Gd ; porkers, 27s 6d to 34i ; baconers,. 41a to 50s; heavy, to 59*.— Macle\N and Co. sold: For Mr a Cnllen (Owhiio\ 3 at 3:is ; Mr W. Hall (Anderson's Bay) 6 at 16?, 3 to 10s 6d.-T)ALGETY and Co. (Limited) yarded 35, ami sold a3 follows : — For Mr J. Duncan, 10 at 5s fid ; Mr J. Biack (Waikouaiti), 7 at 7s 6 J ; Mr 11. J. Spsrks (Mauugntua), 18 from 9s 6d to 7* b"d. — Donald Rbid a>d Co yarded 50, and sold : For Measrs James Gray and Son (Milton), 14 at 593 to 10s ; Mv A. Grieve (Middlemarch), 5 at IBs ; Mr A. F.. Young (Bieadalbane), 16 at 1(h to 9s 6'd ; Messrs Christie (Allanton), 2 at 11s ; Mr S. Harrington (Pine Hill), 1 at VSi 6.1 ; Messrs P. and A Robertson (Huntly), 1 at 40s; MrH. Beckingsale (Goodwood), 5 at 15s ; Mr John Gamble (Otakia), 6 at 12s 6J.

Country Salts. — MacH'UN and Co. report Lr.ving held their usual fortnightly sale »t Balclntha on Friday. Their entry was a Jarge one, and consisted of 151 head cattle, 124t sheep and lambs, 13 pigs, and 35 rams. The attendance of farmers was good, and bidding, although slow, was fairly up to tho mark and all bona fide farmer*' lots found bujers at th-s following lates : Wethers to 9a 31, ewes to 7s 9d, lambs to 5^ 9d, pig' 8s to 16s, bullocks £3 10* to £4, ste rs smd heifers to £2 15s, yeailingb to £1 o's, rams to lifes. They told on account of Messrs W. Samson, John Gcggie, J. F. Ayaon, P. Ayson, W, Hay, Jos. Smith, jun., R. Hawker, W. Morton, Murray Bios., T. Weir, A. M' Donald, R. Tulloch, and O. Walker. — The sime firm raport having held iheir usual monthly sale at Stirling on Thursday. Tha entry was a fair one, but farmers being bu^v demand was very slow. They sold for Mes-sns J. Petrie, E. Boyd, A M'Donald, W. Sani'on, P. Rutherford covvß and heifers to £4 2s 6d, bullocks to £1 si, pig^ to 17s, sheep to 5s 6.3. — Dalgetv and Go. (Limited) report having held their monthly Pale at, Owaka on Thursday, 14th inst., when they offered a full yarding of sheep and cattle. There was but a j>oor demand, but nevertheless the great teulk of the entries changed hands. In cattle the most ioquiry was experienced for steers and heifers in forward condition for turniping, and all of this class found buyers at price 3 compiring favourably with rates rulirg at other centres. Young cattle were very slow of sale, even at low values. They also report having held a very successful pale at Balclutba on Friday, the 15th inst Their entry comprised 1077 sheep, 44 rams, and S9 head of cattl?, the whole of which were offered on account of various farmers in the district, and as they had brought them forward with the intention of accepting current prices the whole entiy was cleared at fair values. Owing, however, to a large number of the farmers not having their stubbles cleared, and also to the fact of the turnip crop being in a very backward state, the bidding was not so brisk nor prices so high as they no doubt otherwise would have been ; bur, notwithstanding, the values obtaiued were fully as high as those ruling at any sales held this season. Crossbred wetheis brought 7s 6d to 9s 3d ; do ewe', full-mouth, 6s to 7s ; do, young, 6a 6d to 7s 6d ;do lambs, is 6d to 6s ; Border Leicester rams, £1 Is to £2 23 ; Romney rams, £1 Is ta £2 2* ; store bullocks, 3yrs, £3 to £3 10s : do steers, 2Jyrs. £2 10s to £2 133 ; young cattle, £1 5s to £1 10s. They also report having held their fortnightly sale at Gore on Tuesday, 19th inst., when they yarded. 1890 sheep of all classes. The harvest in the district being still far from completed, the attendance was rather smaller than usual, and the biddirig, in consequence, was not very brisk. Crossbred wethers brought 7s to 8s 9d ; twotooth, mixed, 5s 6d to 6i 6d ; young ewes, 7s to 83 3d ; merino ewes, to 3s.— The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) report haviDg held their usual fortnightly sale at Balclutha on Friday, loth inst , where they had a yarding of abjut 2000 sheep, principally ewes, the demand for which was by no means what one would have expected./ However good-framed mixed sixtoothed and full-mouthed sold up to 7s ; lambs to 7s ; and mixed two and four-toothed wethers and ewes to 9s 6d. On Tuesday, 19th inst,, also they held their usual fortnightly sale at Milton, where they yarded about 3000 sheep, principally ewes. These were very hard to quit, and a large number were withdrawn. Other classes, too, were hard to move, except good wethers, one line of which went to 10s. Altogether things in the way of store stock sales in the country are very slack, the only classes easy to move being good lamb 3 and forward-con-ditioned wethers, and these are by no means celling at pr ced obtainable in former years. Grain.— Wheat : There is practically nothing riMug just vow," and quotatiom arc only misleading. Oats • Market i<s firm enough at late rate?, but there is no special demand yet. Sutherland 9, 2s 2>i to 2s 3d ; prime sparrowbills, 2s Id to 2s3Jcl ; feed, Is lOd to 2s o£d. Barley : All prime lines meet with ready sale at last week's rates. Chaff : Prime quality is inquired for, and may be quoted at £3 103 to £i ; but medium sorts are hard to place even at low prices. Potatoes.— Average supplies have tended to firm prices a little, and trade quotations may be taken at £3 53 to £3 12s 6d , retail parcels more money. Rabbitskins, Sheepskins, Hides, and Tallow.— The u=ual sales continue to be held, and all lots offering are readily taken at full market»values.

[Thi niiividual reports of Stock Agent*, Wool, Rabbitslcin, or Grain Brokers can he inserted in the Daily Times and Otago Witness at Special Rates.'] 'WRIGHT, STEPHENSON, & CO.'S WEEKLY REPORT. Wednesday, April 20. Tat Cattle.— lSO head yarded. Not many of tbesiq were really ei'iw, and none of. them were

heavy weights. The demand for good quality cattle was. fair, but half-fat lots met with a' very poor tale. Prices as compared with last week showed no chaage. Prime bullocks sold at from : £7 to £8 10s ; msdium do, £5 to £0' 103 ; small do, \ £3 10i to £4 10s ; prime cow-i and heifWy sold at fr m £5 5s to £6 12s 6d : eood, £4 to £5 ; medium, £2 to £3 10»- ; inferior, 15s to 30s We sold 61 head as follows :— For Mr Allan M'Pherson (Car<<e I Farm), 10 prime bullocks at from £7 15s to j £8 10s ; Mr John Bruce (The Firs), 10 prime bullocks at from £7 to £S ; Mr Robert Martin j (Heathfleld), 8 steers at fiom £5 17s to £6 10a ; and for Messrs George Aitcheson, James King, Thomas Godfrey, Thomas Lang, Robert Ings. It. Phimister, S. Townlev, B. Young, J. Harty, Wm. Townley, L. D. Robertson, and others, 33 head at market rates. i Fat Sheep.— 29o2 made up this week's supply. j Fully two-thirds of the number consisted of ewes of varying quality ; the remaining third wag for the most part wetlvr mutton, but mostly light weights. Wethers and pihue ejves were fairly competed for, but asred and inferior were a drug in the market. We are unable to quote any chaDge on last week's- prices. Prima crossbred wethers sold at IU to 12s ; medium, 9s to 10* 6d ; light, 7s to 8s 6cl ; extra heavy crossbred ewes, 10s ; to lis 91 ; ordinary, 7s to Sri b'd ; inferior, 2s 6d to j 6?. We sold 857 as follows :-For Mr John j Williamson (Kim wood), 80 very prime crossbred j wethers ai lls 9d ; Mr Robert M'Aulay (Totara 1 Park), 16' crossbred wethers and maiden ewes at j 10j 6d, 44 aged crossbred ewes at 8s b'd ; Messrs j Bryce Bros. (Lovell'a Flat), 62 crossbied wethers ;. and maiden ewes at 8a 6d to 9* 6d ; Mr W. G. ; Hi 11 c (Ku row), 55 crossbred ewes and wethers It i 7s 6d to 10? 3d; N.Z. and .Australian Land Com- ! pany.(Moeraki), GOciossbred wethers (light) at 7s ! to 9s 3d ; Sir F. P. jmd Mr A. D. Bell (Ida Valley 1 station), 2521>alfbred"wethefs and maiden ewes at : to 10s 3d ; Mr George Nichol (Taurima), 14-2 cross- . bred ewes at 6, 6d to 7s 6d ; and Messrs Wilson and Scott, W. C. Burns, S. Rollinson, and others, eros-shred ewes at from 4s b'd to 6?. Fat Lambs.— lo4o penned, mostly of indifferent quality. The season being past the demand was poor, and sales most difficult to effect. Prime lambs bold at from 7s to 8s ; ordinary, 5s t)d to 6s , Od ; medium, 4s to os ; small, 3s to 3s 9il We sold 1 drafts for Messrs D. Larnach, J. A. Riddell, and F. J. Wright. Pigs.— The market was well supplied with all classes, 335 being penned. Prime bacon pigs, wellfed porkers, and grown store pigs met with a . great sale, butsuckeis and slips were not in much I demand and values for these declined 3s to 4s per \ head. -We sold 220 pigs as follows :— Extra heavy pigs (choppers) at 51s to 60* ; prime bacon pigs, 36s to 50s ; porkeiv, 24s to 33s ; growD stores. 21s to 263 ; slips, lls to 16s ; 3uckers, 6s to 9s b'd. Store Cattle.— We could place 50 to HO head wellbred very forward bullocks, but there is no demand for other classes at present. Store Sheep. —There is some inquiry for forward threa quarterbred wetheis for turnips The demand for ewes has gone off somewhat, .md lambs are exceedingly difficult to place. Horsehair. —Demand keen ; rjrices advaoced Id per lb. Best lots brought 15Jd to 16d per lb. * Wool.— On Tuesday we offered a catalogue of 50 bales aud a large number of bags, fadges, &g. Theie was a large attendance of buyers and competition was fairly good, prices s-ho wing no change on those ruling at our last sale. Bidding showed most animation for fine halfbreds an. l merinoa, but there was very little of these classes offering. Sheepskins. — We offered a large catalogue on Tuesday to a full attendance,of the trade. There was good cuuipfttition, and prices were on a par with those ruhp? at our last sale. The bulk of our catdlr-gue consisted of pelts and quarterwoolled skins. These are not in as good deloand as threequarler and full-woolled skins. We quote : Gieen pelts. Is 3d to 2s 3d ; extra good quarter-woolied, up to 2s 9J ; do l-ioubs, Is 6d to 2s id ; di y crossbreds— good to best 3s 8d to 5s 6d, f»ir to* medium 2^j Id to 3j, pelts and inferior ! 7d to Is 6d ; dr,y merinoa— good to best 2s 9d to 4s, fair to medium Is 61 to 2s 6d, peKs (iriiall or damaged) 3d to Is each. Kabbitskins.— We submitted a good catalogue at Monday's sale. The market fairly " hoomed," j and fancy prices ruled throughout the sale. 1 Values as compared with our last sale advanced j fully Id per lb. Incoming skins fetched 12d to 1 13 d Dsr lb ; autumn?, lOd to lid; summers-, b'd to J Sd : half-grown, -id to s}d; sucker*, SJd to Md. 1 Hiile*. — Sirica we list reported we have held our ! usual fortnightly sale, when we cleared out all I consignments ax full rates. Stout, well-fhyed I ox, ot which there are very few offering, are in gooJ demand, and realise full I prices. We quote : Prime heavy ox, 3Jd to ' 3Jd ; medium, 2Jd to 3d; light" and inferior, ljd to 2*d.

Tallow.— All consignments meet wilh rdjidy demand at the following prices :— Beit rendered mutton, 10s to 12s 6d ; extra good do, up to 13s 6d ; medium, S)s to 10s ; decoloured and inferior, 7s 6d to 9s ; rough fat, 7s 6d to 10s per cwt. .

Graiu.— Wheat : The market during the week has continued dull, but 6ince the cable was received from London quoting an advance of 2s in that market our local market has show-n a little more animation, and millers are more inclined to operate,. They display, however, great cautio *, anfJ no improvement in price* can be quoted. We quote : Prime Tuscan and red .sorts, 4s 4jd to 4s s|d ; medium to go:>d, 4s 3^ti to 4s 4Jd ; velvet, prime, 4< 6d to 4s 7d ; medium to' good, 4s 5d to 4s b'd ; chick wheat (whole), 3a 7d to 3s lid (off trucks Dunedio, sacks in, terau). Oamaru velvet, 4* 2d to 4s 3d (on trucks country sidings, net cash," bags extra). Oats : During the week we have done a considerable amount of business afc prices on a par with those ruling last wsek. We have good inquiry for all descriptions of fead and milling, and c*»n place any quantity at full rates. We shall be glad to receive sampie3 from growers. We quote: Good to best feed, 2s Id to 2s lid , fair to medium, 2s to 2s o£d ; dUcoloured and inferior, _ls 9jjd to Is lOd ; best milling, 2s 3d per bushel (sacks extra, net). Bar ey : Market remains firm, and ! pjics3 are on a par with .those quoted . last week. . There is a strong demand for all lines fit for malting. We can place any quantity of this description at very full ratas. We quote : Prime malting,. -J? 9d to 5a 3d ; fair to medium, 4s 3d to 4s 8d : feed and milling, 2s 6d to 3s 6d per bushel (sacks extra, net).

Chaff.— Moderate supplies have come into the market, and prices have advanced 2s 6d to 5s per ton. Bright, heavy, well cut oaten sneaf is in good demand and saleable at full rate 3. We quote: Piime oaten sheaf, £3 15s to £3 17s 6d ; extra prime up to £i ; good do, £3 7s 6d to £3 12s 6d per ton (sacks extra, net). llyegrass. — Very little offering. Price 3 are fully equal to those ruling last week. We quote : Farmers' divssed, shotty and clean seed, 3s 2d to 3s 5d ; ordinary clean seed, 3s to 3s 2d ; medium seed, 2s 8d to 3s ; light and inferior, 23 3d to 2s 7d per bushel (sacks extra, net). FORTHCOMING SALES. - fAt Dunedin Horse SaleI yanl3, noises. « n <.,,^ n ,, os»ri ;« O 4- JAt Gore, Mr Gladstone Saturday, 23rd ins Mili lo binson's Waikoikoi esI tate and far;r.<3. V.At Ophir, stock sale. ( At Becks, stock sale. Monday, 25th inst. \ At our wool stores, rabbitI (kX Chamber of Commerce, I sheepskins. Tuesday, 26th iust. J At Wedderburn, stock sale. j At Waikoikoi, sale of Mr 1 Gladstone Robinson's Vv stock.

("At Burnside Saleyards, fat Wednesday, 27th -J stock. VAt Eweburn, stock sale. Thursday, 28fch insfc.—At Kyeburn, stock sale.

WEEKLY MARKET REPORT. Messrs Moritzson and Hopkin report for week ending April 20 :— Wheat. —The demand is not so keen owing to millers holding off the market. Even at reduced prices it is very hard to make sales. We quote : Best velvet, 4s 8d ; best Tuscan, 4s 5d to 4s 6d ; fowls' wheat, 3s 4d to 3s 9d. Oats : The market is brisk, but prices are without alteration. We quote: Best feed, 2s to 2s Id ; medium, Is lid per bushel ; Sutherlands, 2s 3d. Barley : Feed sorts are quoted at 2s 3d to 2s 6d ; milling, 8s 3d to 4s ; maltina ftemißftltofc. Ilyecorn, 3s 3d.t0.359d, FOomml

We quote £11. Oatmeal in 25'?, £11 10s. Pearl barley, £21 10s. Bran, £3. Pollard, £4 Wi. Nelson hops are quoted at IOJd to Is. Chaff : Arrivals have been light, and prices have hardened. Extra prime, £3 15s to £4 ; medium, £3 to £3 12s 6d. Ryegrass : The" demand is good for small, sho'ity seed. We have large orders to fill, and can place any quantity. Farmers' dressed, 2s to2-il0l; machined, 3s 3d to 4s. Cocksfoot, 3i to 3Jd for fanners' lots, and 4id to 5Jd for machined. Linseed (wanted), £10 10s to £11. Tressed straw, 255. Clover hay, £3 ss. Nitrate of soda, £15. Basic slag, £5. Clovers, rape, <fee., just landing. We can offer all classes of seeds pure and fresh. Potatoes. — The demand is rather better, and prices are a shade firmer. We quote : Derwents, £3 lOdto £3 12s 6d ; northern, to £3 15s. Kidneys have little demand at £2 10s per ton. Hides, lid to 3fd, according to weight and condition. Tallow : Rough fat, 9s to- 11s ; rendered, 12s to 15s. Horsehair, Is to Is 3d. Rabbit°kins. — The market here is very firm^ and »rices show an advance of Id on late quotations. We sell by auction every Monday. Sheepskins. — The demand is very keen and prices firm at quotations. We quote : JDry crossbreds, 2s 6cl to 5s 9d ; inferior, Is 3d to 2s 4d ; dry pelts, 4d to Is 3d ; dry merinos, 2s 3d to ss ; inferior, Is to 2s ; green pelts, Is to 2s 3d, extra to 2s 9d ; green lambskins, Is 3d to 2s 5d each. _ We undertake country clearing sale 3. FRUIT AND PRODUCE REPORT. * Butter : Prime salt, SJd to 9d. Butter cases, with parchments. 18s per dozen. Cheese : Good Akaroa, 3Jd to 3|-d ; factory, 4d to - 4\a. Pigs. — For;good quality, 4d. Poultry received for sale any day. Roosters (young), 2s 6d to 3s ; hens, 2s to 2s 3d ; ducks (young), 3s to 3s 3d, according to quality. Beeswax (wanted), Is 2d to Is 5d for prime quality. Fruit. — We receive consignments of all binds of fruitand garden produce, which we sell either by auction or privately, as we think best in the interests of consignors. Apples : Dessert, l£d to 2d ; cooking, Id to l^d. Pears : Dessert, 2d to 3d ; cooking, Id to 2d per lb. Tomatoes, 2d to 2|d per lb ; bananas, 2d to 2&d per lb. THE GRAIN AND SEED REPORT. Messrs Samuel Orr and Co.. Stafford street, report for the week ending April 20 as follows :—: — Better weather could not p~o3fcibJy be for harvesting couth, and threshing is now in full swing, while continued reports of short crops reach us. Wheat.— Recently the market locally has been very dull, sales being most difficult to make, as millers are nearly all stockel ; still this war scare may now cause a bit of excitement, as it is doing in London. Prices nominal. Oats. — In the early p\rt of the week these went back close on Id a bushel, and sales difficult even then to make. From some unforeseen cause, however, they righted themselves again, and we made several good sales at recent" rates. The market at the moment is critical, as there is no place outside, the colony at which speculators can flace them to meet present prices. We quote : 'lime milling Sutherland^ up to 2s 3d, bright heavy feed- up to 23 2d, ordinary 2s. Barley. —Ddn.- and still fairly, good, but no speculation, prices having reached too high a figure for this. Chaff — Market firmer <igain, as supply not too great. '• GRAIN" AND PRODUCE REPORT. Messrs William E. Reynolds, Bond street, report for the week ending 20th April as follows :— Wheat.— There is little of moment to note; buyers continue to hold off, anticipating no doubt being able to buy later at -less money. We quote rPrime velvet, ,4s 5d ; Tuscan, 4s 4d ; red sorts, 4s Id to 4s 3d ; fowl feed (in v.cry good request), at up to 4s. Oats : The new crop is now offering more freely, still the' demand s > far has been large' enough to meet the extra deliveries. Prices keep firm, though with increased deliveries it _is difficult to say how prices will go. We quote:' Prime millirjg, 2s 2d ; feed, 2s Id; ordinary quality, Is lid to 2s. Barley still keep 3in good request, and all offering finds a ready market at recent quotations, which we give at up to ss, for prime Lakes ; medium quality, from 4s to 4z 4d. Chaff f Prime is much sought after, and worth up to £3 17s 6d ; medium to good, £3 to £3 15s. Potatoes are somewhat scarcer agaiD, and we can quote to-day up to £4 for prime. Ryegrass. — We have a good inquiry for small shotty seed, and invite our customers to send us samples. Haystacks. —We have to advise our many clients and supporters that as chief agents for the Imperial Insurance Company (Limited) for Otago, we are now in a position to insure grainstacks and haystacks at lowest cut rant rates, and . will be pleased to send particxilars, together with proposal form, on being requested to do so. FRUIT AND PRODUCE REPORT. Meßßra Thomas Paterson and Co.. Manse street, report for 'the week ending April 20 :— - Fruit.— Market fairly well supplied with locally grown fruit. We quote :— Oranges : Italian, 183 (double cases) ; halves, 8s 6d : Tahiti, 7s. Lemons : Italian, 255. Bananas, 2d to 2Jd. Pears (good demand), 2d to 2f d ; choice, up" to 3id ; other sorts, ljd to 2d. Apples : Cookers, Id to lid (choice wanted) ; dessert, IJd to 2Jd. Plums, Id to If d (good demand for choice dessert) ; inferior sorts, Is to 2s 6d per case. Peaches, 2d to 3Jd. Tomatoes, lid to 2d ; hothouse, 4d to sd. Grapes, 8i to 103. .Quinces, lid to 1 Jd. Cucumtier3, 2s 6d to 4s 6d per dozen. Peanuts, walnuts, £gs, dates in stock at market rates. Produce. — Eggs, prices higher. Butter in good demand — fresh, 7d to lOd ; salt (prime), 7id to 9d. Cheese : Factory, 3}d to 4£d ; Akaroa and farmers', S^d to4d. Bacon : Roll, 6d to 6|d. Hams : We have inquiry for supply. Pigs, 3id to 4d. t Poultry. — Prices show improvement on last • week's. Sales every day. Potatoes.— Kidneys, £3 to £3 10s ; Derwents, £4 to £4 10s. Onions.— £6 to £7. MARKET REPORT. Messrs Edward Thomas and Co., Bond street, Dunedin, wool, skin, hair, and hide merchants, report : — Rabbitskins.— Although prices are now higher "than they have been for some years back the ■ anarket is but pooily supplied, some 40 bales only feeing offered at auction. These met with keen competition, however, from the various buyers, and rulings were fully Jd to id higher on many lines. Blacks especially were hotly competed for, and realised fully Id advance. We quote for suckers and runners 2d to 4\<& ; light racks, 4Jd to €id ; racks, from 61d to BJd ; autumns, Bid to ' lid ; incomings, lid to 12id. A few stale winters brought 13d. Hair. — Only a small quantity was avilable, but "was eagerly competed for at an advance of id to id. Wax is still in demand at recent quotations. _ Hides continue firm, and full values are readily given. Sheepskins met with a ready sale, and prices advanced £d on some classes. SKIN AND HIDE MARKET. Messrs Remshardt and Co. (near railway station) report as follows :—: — Rabbitskins. — There was quite a boom in this -week's sale, priceß making a further jump, but were on the whole rather irregular, the excitement being traceable more to pique between some buyers than to any real increase in the demand, which latter is, however, very keen. Perhaps our anxiety to complete and ship our American . orders before the outbreak of actual hostilities between Spain and the States tended also to raise prices. On the whole an advance of id to Id has t6 be chronicled, but, prices being most irregular, ,3t would be misleading to quote values this week. Sheepskins continue firm at late prices. Clean, full-woolled half and quarterbreds in shipping condition are worth 4Jd to 5Jd per lb. - There is a good all-round demand for all kinds. Hides and Calfskins.— Nothing fresh in this market since last week, Tits demand keens well

I up, and we secure most of the free hides — i.e., those sold by local agents who are not bound to j sell to one man only, but who allow other buyers to o jinpete for their clients' goods. Fat.— Rather firmer, and tending upward. Rough, 8s to 103 6d ; rendered, 9s to 12s 6i. RAILWAY RETURNS. The return of railway receipts and expenditure for the four weeks ending sth March shows the former to have been £118,073 11s lOd and the latter £66,104 3s 3d. In the corresponding period of the previous year the figures were £110,583 7s 3d and £60,975 7s Id respectively. Of the revenue, the North Island lines contributed £47,169 3s 4d, as against £40,612 12s Id ; and the Sjuth Island lines £70,904 8s 6d, as against £69,970 15s 2d. The North Island lines absorbed £27,260 0s 2d, as against £21,837 4s 3d ; and the South Island lines £38,844 3s Id, as against £39,138 2s lOd. The proportion of expenses to revenue on the several lines, calculated on an annual average, for the respective periods of 1898-97, was as follows :— North Island— Kawakawa, 13218, 109 03 ; Whangarei, 70 77, 86"93 ; Kaihu, 45 24, 4319; Auck- . land, 63 20, 6102; Wellington-Napier-New Ply. mouth, 63,50, 62 20. South Island— HurunuiBluff, 60-81, 59 - 33: Greyrnouth-Brunner, 5076. 56 63 : Greymouth-Hokitika, 62 61. 5T38 ; Westport, 41 64, 45-83; Nelson, 93 38, 91)99; Picton, 1 114 13, 10711 ;— grand total, 62-80, 60 62. The receipts on the llurunui-Bluff section were £6?,835 8s 9d, as compared with. £62,770 16s 6d for the coi responding period of last year. PROPERTY SALE. Messrs Park, Reynolds, and Co. sold several properties by auction on Thursday. Part section 50, George street. Port Chalmers, containing 11 poles, was purchased by J. Fogo for £125 ; allotment 23, block V, Eskdale street, Musselburgh, with five-roomed house, went to O. Yalder for £200 ; allotment 35, bl6ck I, Russell i street, Forbury, containicg 72 poles and light-of- ! way, with double-storey brick house, was bought i by A. Lamb for £120 ; section 12 and part of 11, I block VII, town district, Kew, Caversham, con- '■ taining lla Or 37p, « ent to J Henderson for £350 ; ! and H. Carter's bid of £100 was accepted for section 14, quarter-acre, Belleknowes. SALK OF SHARES. MeEsrs Park, Reynolds, and Go. yesterday sold 84 shares (£4 10s each) in the Forbury Park Land Company, fully paid up, to William Snow, at 16s. J Hazlett purchased 96 shares in the same company, paid up to 4s 6d, at 6d per share. HOTEL SALES. Messr3 Sievwbight Bros, and Co. report having sold by private contract the Globe Hotel, Princes street souths to Mr J. M'Keweu at a satisfactory price ; also the Hotel Metropole, St. Clstir, from Mr Envight to Mrs Margaret Parker, ltte of Oamaru.