COMMERCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 26

COMMERCIAL.

The largest single line o£ the season so far of fat sheep passed through Milton on Thursday for freezing at Buraside. They consisted of 2000 mixed 4-iooth wethcis f.ncl maiden owes from Messrs Begg Bros.' Hillend station. Another draft of 1000 fiom Messrs Leonard and M'Ken'/.ie's property at Pillana', in the saino neighbourhood, also passed alone; the &amo day, both loU being in the pink of condition, and eminently fcili'iilatecl to uphold . the reputation of "pnmo Canterbury." Both . lots wero BPciircd by Canterbury buyers, and ure being fro/on :it liurnsiile on account of ' ( tho temporary i«l')|'|"i((" "f Christchurch Freezing Work-!.- I'mcp I f orulcl. Tho New Zmlmul Ijoimi and Mercantile Agency Company O-iihiLiml) have roccived the ; following cablo fiom llniir London office, dated 10th in&fc. :— " Frozm Meals. Mutton market ; steady. Canterbury mutton is worth 3gd por 1 lb; Southland aiutton, 3i4 per lb; Welling- *

ton mutton, 2sd per lb. Lamb market firm. Canteibury lamb is worth 4^d per lb. Rabbit* quiet ; worth Sd. New Zealand Hemp : Quotations nominal ; market unchanged."

Our Invercargill correspondent writes: — Tho week just passed has seen no change in tho oat market. The inquiry from the north still continues, though there are few sales reported. Stocks are firmly held, and quotations remain unaltered. The quantity now being delivered from the country is gradually decreasing, and holders have every confidence in a brisk demand at impioved prices ruling shortly. Theie have been a few lines quitted for Aus•Ualia, indicative doubtless of more to follow sa foon as Weslialia-n and Victorian consumers can )ecoaci!o themselves to accept them at prices luling here. Shipments during the weal: havo been as follows: — Wellington, 1124 sticks ; Gisborne, 50 sacks ; Brisbane, 400 sacks; Rockhampton, 100 sacks; Sydney, 396 sacks; Fremantle, 798 sacks; Adelaide, 100 sacks. The grass seed market continues to liilo firm, and late rates have been well maintained.

TheEsmont Farmers' Union (Limited), Hawera, report :— We held our monthly sale at Okaiawa on ■the 4th inst., when the yards were fairly well filled with cat He. We onote- : Empty cows, £2 to £2 Is ; 12 to 15-month "heiferp, £1 to £1 7s Gd ; weanerSj 12s to l£w ; cull ewes, 4* 6d. Ou Friday, the sth inst., we held a clearing eale on account of Mr .-brimpton. The stock were not in the best ' f condition, and therefore did not fetch VM'y hish prices. We quote : D*iry cows, £'2 to £S\ (5a iry heifers, £1 15s to £li os ; horses, £1 to £8 10s ; pigs, £1 10 ato £3 12s. At Manaia, on the ] Of b in&t., the yards were well filled with stock. Bidding was dull throughout, so that little stock changed hands at the hammnr, but we managed to place several lines after the sale. We quote : Dairy cows, £2 12s fid to £'i 10s ; <3o 12 io 55 months, £1 5* to £1 10s ; heifers, £1 10s to £2 5s ; Yfeansvs, 6s 6d to J2s.