COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2513, 14 May 1902, Page 17

COMMERCIAL CABLEGRAMS.

lines, bat offering's tire very scarce indeed, and few if any sales have taken place. Any good lines in centals to pass Government grader •will command full values, while milling oats are also in good demand. Prices are: — Canadians, 2s j3d, 2s 4d; sparrow bills and long oats in centals, 2s 2d. Several good lines of oat-sheaf iphaff hawchanged hands, and price continues firm, £3 5s to £3 7s 6d per ton on trucks, or delivered Ashburton. The exports of grain and produce from Lyttelton for last week include the following lines . 7145 sacks wheat, 1934 sacks and 2734 bags flour, 3662 Backs oats, 200 sacks meal, 30 sacks barley, 98 sacks malt, 346 sacks bran, 98 sacks sharps, 205 sacks pollard, 2482 sacks chaff, 153 sacks pea's, 80 sacks beans, 3061 sackß potatoes, 209 sacks, 124 bags and 1185 -gunnies onions, j 23 isacks seed, and 298 bales hay. Of the foregoing 1216 sacks oats, 15 sacks malt, 247 sacks J bran, 86 sacks peas, 50 sacks beans, 1311- sacks i potatoes, €51 gunnies (onions, and* 15 sacks I seed were for Australia. -The balanoewas for I New Zealand port 3.

LONDON, May 6. The total quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 4,365,000 quarters, and for the Continent 1,660,000. Bank shares: "Union Bank, £39; Bank of New Zealand, £100 10s; others are unchanged. Copper is quoted at £53. Copper is quoted at £53 10s. Lead, £11 13s l£d. May 7. At the tallow auctions 1225 casks -were offered and 800 sold. Mutton: Fine, 37s 9d; medium, 32s 6d. Beef : Fine, 34s 6d ; medium, 31a 6d. Silver is quoted at Is 11 13-16 d The American visible -wheat supply is estimated at 54,610,000 bushels. May 8. Copper, £53 7s 6d. Tin: Spot, £132 2s 6d ; three months, £128 15s. An Australian wheat cargo was sold at 303 9d. May 9. The Bank of England returns show that the reserve is £23,957,000, and the coin and bullion on hand £33,000,000. The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 44.61 per cent. The total notes in circulation is (omitted) ; public deposits, £7,965,000 ; other deposits, £41,081,000; Government securities, £14,,824,000; and other securities, £28,232,000. Three months' bills are discounted at 2$ per cent. Consols are quoted at £95. Quotations for colonial Government stocks are subjoined, compared with those ruling at the close of last week : — Hay 2. May 9. New South "Wales 4's , r , .. 115J 115 New South Wales 3Vs .. .. 104 104 New South Wales 3's „ «. 96 96 Victoria 4's .... i. .. 11l 112 Victoria, 3i's .. „ „ „ 1« 104 Victoria 3's 93 93 South Australia, 3?<'s .. .. 105 105 South Australia 3's <_. .. <. 95 95i Queensland 4's .. „ „ .. 108 108 Queensland 3J'B .. „ ar „ 104 104 ftew Zealand 4's ...... 11l 112 New Zealand 3£'s 107 108 New Zealand 3's „.,«. 95£ 95J Tasmania 3's 104 104£ Westralia. 3l's 101 101 The wheat markets are firm, with English advancing, owing to unfavourable crop report*. America cargoes are strong. A Victorian January shipment sold at 30s 3d, and a South Australian March sliipmeut at 30s. Copper and lead are unchanged. Tin. : Spot, £133 ; three months, £129 15s. Pig iron, 535. May 11. Copper: Spot and three months, £53 12s 6d. Tin: Spot, £135 10s; three months, £132 53. Silver is quoted at Is 11 7-16 d. Cheese: There is a strong demand for New Zealand at 59s to 60s. At the fcauri sales 1760 cases were offered, and 1000 sold at full rates; thres- quarters scraped, £122. For the periodical sales of hides there were only small supplies forward. All were cleared at an advance of jd. Leather is firm; first quality hides, Is lja; second quality, lljd. Basils unchanged. Frozen Meat. — Mutton: Crossbred wethers and maiden ewes— Canterbury, 4 3-16 d; Dunedin and Southland, 4 l-16d ; North Island, 3 15-16 d. Lamb: Prime Canterbury, sd; fair average (including Dunedin, Southland, Wellington, and secondary Canterbury), 4Jd. River Plate crossbred 3 or merino wethers, heavy and light, 32d. New Zealand beef (1801b to 2201b, fair average quality) : Ox fores (nominal, 4£d ; hinds, sid. [These prices are the official quotations furnished by the Frozen Meat Trade Association. The basis of quotations is sales of lines of not less than 100 carcases of mutton or lamb or 25 quarters of beef. All quotations for mutton are for fair average quality. The quotations for New Zealand lamb do not include sales of small lambs or heavies of inferior quality.] Wheat: An Australian cargo sold at 30s; j i another resold at 31s. THE WOOL SALES. LONDON, May 6. The wool sales opened strong, but irregular, at an advance of from 5 to 10 per cent. May 7. Messrs Buxton, Balms, and Jacomb's joint catalogue consisted of 12,561 bales, comprising a good selection of crossbreds and fair merinos. There was a large attendance and keen competition from all quarters. Everything advanced irregularly. Compared with March, closing rates merinos were 5 to 1\ per cent, and crossbreds 5 to 10 per cent, higher. At the third series of London and colonial wool sales competition was brisk, prices ruling at the opening sale of the present series being fully maintained. May 8. | The Brancepeth and Bowlands clips i sold afe Sid.

At the wool sales there was brisk competition. AH sorts were firm. May 9. Wool is very firm; especially for best qualities. The Whama clip sold at sfd, and the Omarama at 9|d. The Bradford market is quiet and unchanged. Topmakers are advancing their quotations. May 11. At the wool sales crossbreds are firm but unchanged, and merinos are hardening. To date for the present sales 7,427 bales have been catalogued, "end 56,548 sold. The New Zealand Loan and "Mercantile Agency Company (Limited)." are in receipt of the following cablegram from their .London office: — "The wool sales opened at an average advance of about 10 per cent, on last sales' closing rates for crossbred, and about 7£ per cent, on last sales' closing rates for merino. Competition by both Home and foreign buyers is active." The National Mortgage and Agency Company on the 7th received a cablegram from their London office advising them that the wool sales have opened at an average advance of 10 per cent. Messrs J. H. Kirk and Co. arc in receipt of a cable dated London, May 6, announcing the opening of the May series of auctions, reading: "Coarse, medium, and fine crossbreds 7£ to 10 per cent, higher. Competition keen." One of the largest, if not the largest, clips of wool ever shipped from Zealand was completed on the 7th by Messrs J. H. Kirk and Co., of this city, consisting of 900 bales of superfine crossbred and merino, which went forward for shipment per s.s. Rimutaka, under the well-known "St. Clair" brand. Messrs Dalgety and Co (Limited) report having received the following cable from their head office, dated London, 6th inst. : "Wool sales opened; fair selection; large attendance of buyers; competition very animated, but prices are somewhat irregular. Prices for the bulk of wools are from 7£ to 10 per cent, higher. There i* a general disposition to buy." Messrs Dalgety and Co (Limited) report having received the following cable from their head office, dated London, May 7: — "Wool sales continue firm, and prices ar© higher." A Word on Irrigation. XO THE EDITOB. Sir, — I trust that you will permit me space in your valuable journal to say a few words on the above subject, and I sincerely hope that the day is not far distant when the Government of our adopted country will commence a vigorous system of scientific irrigation. As you are aware, Sir, there are thousands of acre 3of land in North Otago, Canterbury, and the North Island subject to periodical draughts, and which results in a great loss to the colony as a whole. The soil is there, too, in all its virgin strength, possessing all the ingredients that go to produce good crops of grain and grass, and consequently cheese, butter, and mutton. The water necessary ■to increase the production of those things is there also, but it is in the wrong place, confined in the broad river beds, rolling away uselessly to the ocean. Considering the vast and growing importance of _ the frozen meat and dairying industry, this is a matter of very great importance to the whole colony. I feel very strongly that if a thorough and practical system of irrigation was introduced to such soils the producing power of the colony wbnld be greatly increased, and that it would be inde•pendent of the caprices of the seasons. It has been proved beyond doubt or dispute that in other countries — namely, Australia, India, America, Italy, Egypt, France, Spain, etc.— that where such soils have been so treated they have more than doubled their powers of production. The country must look at the question as a whole. The Government should take the matter up and engage an irrigation expert who has had practical experience and has a thorough knowledge of such works. A treatise on practical irrigation by Mr John M'Keague (Ashburton) should be in the hands of every person interested. The author of that work clearly shows the grand results achieved by other lands, and also points out in a most convincing manner how, by following their example, the same results could be secured for New Zealand. An intelligent system of watering the soil, such as has been practised in other lands, brings in its train an abundance, a certainty, and as a consequence a feeling of security and happiness to the homes of a populous, industrious, and contented people. I trust. Sir, that some abler band than mine will take the matter up, and give the subject the attention which it deserves. — I am, etc., Thos. Walsh. Hampden, May 7. DUNEDIN MARKETS. WHOLESALE PRODUCE REPORTS. Mr J. Fleming, Princes street south, reports under date the 13th inst. :— Wheat per bushel. per ton Best milling ... 4/3 Barley dust ... 91/0 Medium do .. 4/0 Oaten hay 70/0 Fowls' ... 3/ -3/4 Oatmeal, in 2Fs 2JW/0 Milling oats ... 2/8 Oaten chaff 60/9—Bo/0 Feed oats 2/4—2/5 Ryegrass hay ... 70/0 Malt barley 3/0-3/6 Straw 40/0 Feed barley 2/6—2/7 Pearl barley ... 220/0 Cape barley ... 3/0 Onions ... 10/-cwt Maize ... ... 4/0 per lb per ton. Rolled bacon ... 7J<l Flour, in 200's ... 230/0 Side bacon ... 7*d Flour, in 50's ...245/0 Smoked hams ... 8d Pollard 110/0 Cheese 5i Bran „. ...100/0 Good salt butter, 6d to Bd,accordingto quality Chaff and potatoes plentiful this week. Good quality will find a good market. Derwent potatoes, £3 Ha to £4 per ton. FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs Irvine and Stevenson, Georce street, report paying for produce during the week ending the 13th inst. as follows :— Bacon (roll), 6Jd p. lb Fre3h butter, JOd to Ham, 7Jd p. lb Is per lb Fresh eggs, Is 8d doz Salt butter, 9d Fresh butter, good ordinary (in lib and }lb prints), 8d to 9d per lb. Pigs, 1201b to 1601b, 3Jd per lb. Ducks, 3s to 5s pair. Geese, 4s to 6s. Turkeys, 4id per lb. Fowls: 2s to 2s 6d. HIDE MARKET. Stronach Bros, and Morris report as folIcws: — "Wo held our usual fortnightly hide sale on Friday, Oth inst., when there was an average attendance of buyers, and, under good competition, we cleared our catalogue at good prices. We again established a record for this market, and one that, we think, will hold B$SI& iOl ftOXQe U&& tfi CSfllfl. XiliJi TJW fer ft

magnificent ox hide weighing 80lb, and which I v.'aa sold for the very high price of 73d, the ' purchasers being Messrs Remshardt and Co., and the vendor Mr A. Kalsfon, of Allanton Our next best prices were s*d for 24 well-flayed ox hides, weighing 611b'; s|d for two other lotb averaging 761b and G6lb; and 5Jd for a line running 631b. Our best prices for cows' were 4Jd for two hide 3 averaging 60lb, and 4|d for several lines, running the same weight. Our catalogue comprised 265 hided and calfskins, and actual prices obtained were as follows: — Prime ox hides, 4Jd to s|d 'extra special 7gd) ; good do, 4d to 4jd; light and inferior, 3d to 3gd; prime cow hides, 4|d to 4Jd; good do, 3Jd to 4d ; light and inferior, ljd to 3Jd ; calfskins, Is 5d to 4s Id; horse hide 3, 5s each. Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co. report as follows: — We held our fortnightly sale on Friday, when we submitted to public competition between 140 and 150 hides, including a fewextra prime, stout and heavy ox hides, but the greater port of the catalogue wa& made up of country consiganients of light and mediumweight ox and, cow. The supplies for the day's sales were larger than usual, and prices generally wee about equ?l to those current a fortnight sgo; but in one or two instances, owing to ill-feeling on. the part of one section of buyers against another, fictitious values were paid, and our .clients would only be misled if they supposed the prices given on this occasion in the case referred to represent the market value of similar hides. Prices obtained by us ranged as follows: — Ox: 1 extra heavy and stout, 6165 per lb ; 4do at sid per lb, and 2 at sid; ordinary heavy ox, 4Jd"to s|d; medium ox, 4d to 4Jd ; light ox, 3d to 3|d. Cow : Prime heavy, 4Jd to 4d per lb; ordinary, 3gd to 4d ; light, 3d to 3id ; yearlings, 2Jd to 3d per lb. Calfskins, Is 10d to 3s 8d each. GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORTS. Messrs Dalgety and. Co. (Limited), Dunedin, report having held their weekly auction sale on Monday, when there was a full "attendance 6£ buyers, and prices ruled as under: — Oats. — There is a better demand this week than last, but at slightly reduced value. Prime bright (feed and milling have a fair inquiry, but medium oats, unless thoroughly sound and dry, are not in request. We quote: Prime milling, 2s 6d to 2s 7d; good to best feed, 2s 4 'rd to 2s 5Jd; medium, 2s 2d to 2s 4d; inferior, 2s to 2s Id. Wheat. — There is, if anything, a slightly better demand for. very prime samples, but medium quality is not in request unless it is fowl feed, which has a fair sale. We quote: — Prime velvet and Tuscan, 4s to 4s 3d; medium^s 61 to 3s lOd; fowl feed, 3s to 3s 4d; do (broken), 2s 6d to 2s lid. i Potatoes. — Supplies are much heavier, anil prices are considerably lower. We sold prime Derwents to-day at from £1 to £4 ss; medium. £3 10s to £3 15s. Kidneys are worth from £3 to £3 10s (bags in). Chaff. — Very large quantities are coming tc hand," and unless for really prime oaten shoal there is little or no demand, medium qualitj being very plentiful. Prime quality, however, is readily sold at quotations: Prime o?.fen sheaf, £4 to £4 ss; extra prime, £i IO3; medium, £3 5s to £3 12s 6d (bags in). Messrs Donald Reid and Co. (Limited) report" having held their weekly "auction sale of grain and produce at their stores on Monday. There was a large attendance, and, under moderate competition, most of the catalogue was cleared at quotations: — Oats. — Prime milling and good to best feed line 3 are in fair demand at prices a shade below late values. For inferior and doubtful quality, however, there is poor inquiry, and these sorts cannot be placed except at some reduction. We quote : Prime milling, 23 6d to 2s 7d;* good t» best feed, 2a 4Jd to 2b 5Jd inferior and medium, 2s 2d to 2s 4d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat. — The demand is not keen, but a few sales of prime quality are passing, while, medium ia difficult to place, except as fowl wheat. Quotations: Prime milling, 4s to 4s 3d; medium, 3s 6d to 3s lOdj wliole- fowl wheat, 3s Id to 3s 4d; broken and damaged, 23 9d to 3s per bushel (sacks extra). Potatoes. — The market has been heavily supplied, and prices have suffered a decline of about 10s per ton. We quote : Prime Derwents," £4 to £4 ss; medium, £3 10s to £3 15s; other sorts, £3 to £3 103 per ton (sacks in). Chaff. — Supplies to hand are still sufficient to glut the market, and sales are difficult to effect. Prime quality is the only kind in demand, inferior and medium being neglected. We quote: Best oaten sheaf, £4 to £4 sa; medium, £3 to £3 10s per ton (bags extra). OAMAHU MARKET REPORT. Messrs A. MorUzson and C0.,-Tyne street, report for week ending May 14: — . .. , . _ Wheat. — The market for thia continues quiet, and only an odd line is changing hands. We quote nominally: Prime Tuscan, 4s; velvet and redchaff, 3s lOd to 3s lid. Oats. — There is a good inquiry for prime lines, but discoloured and inferior lota are very hard to sell. We quote : Prime milling (scarce), 2s 6d; Suns (prime), 2s 4Sd to 2s 53 ; Danish, 2s 4d to 2s 4JdPotatoes. — Owing to the large supplies coming forward the market for these has eased ccnsiderably. We <juote prime Derwents, 70s to 72s €d, sacks included, at country sidings. The above quotations are all delivered at store, Oamaru, sacks extra, except where otherwise mentioned. THE AGENT-GENERAL'S REPORT. The following cable has been received (from the Agent-general, dated London, 10th : — " Frozen mutton : The market is very firm. The average prices are : Canterbury, 4Jd ; Dunedin, Southland, and W.M.E. Company, 4d ; other North Island, 31d. The shipments now arriving are very small, end there is a shortage from all sources against last year of 630,000 carcases since January 1. Lamb is quiet, and there ia no change in prices. The -weather lately has been very unfavourable for sales. The increase from all sources against last year is 337,000 since January 1. River Plate show an increase of 70,000. Beef is firm. New Zea.- [ land hinds, 5Jd; fores, 4Jd. The transactions in butter are very limited. The market is steady at 103s. Cheese is very firm at 595. Hemp is dull at £37; June and August shipments, £32. There is no alteration in cocksfoot seed since last week." TAIERI ANNUAL WINTEPv SALE OP DRAUGHT HORSES. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. (Limited) rei port as follows: — Wft held our sixth annual winter sale of heavy draught colts and fillies, mares, and geldings at our Taieri saleya-rds, I Allanton, on Tuesday, the 6th May, 1002. when we were favoured with the finest of King's weather, and' with the" largest Attendance of' j buyers — all keenly intent on business— it has ! ever been our good fortune 'to have at thie now ', widely appreciated and popular fixture. The central and commanding position "of the- yard* where our annual horse sales, are held— right in the heart of the largest and best Clydesdalebreeding districts in Otago^— i« recognised and appreciated by both vefldors-'and purchasers. In 1 addition to these advantages the fact -of the buyers being brought into- direct contact- with the breeders, and thus being enabled to secure stock which have not passed through third hands, is highly prized. In past seasons we have been privileged to put forward at these sales ltuge eatriw of grand drauskt stock, bat the

T ■ 'At the Oakleiga Court, Melbourne, a few Ve'eks ago, a man named David Warner was fined £5 with 253 costs, for " fishing " fowls. ft seems that he was in the habit of baiting \ fishhook to secure his neighbours* hens, and ' Was caught pulling the neck of one just jiooked. We go/ from home to hear news. In a Woture At Rochdale (England) on " Extinct Forms of Life," Archdeacon Wilson exhibited a picture of a species of elephant \ Which formerly existed in New Zealand, and Ahd only iurt ln«M fatintfe

A petition io he addressed to the Railway Department in favour of Guard Bartrum's reinstatement is being largely signed in the Kurow district. The North Otago Times states that Oamaru 13 to be made the testing ground as to whether action, will be taken in other places to secure the reading of the Bible in tlio public schools. Should the vote prove in favour of the innovation, action will then be taken to secure the means of giving force to a request to be made to Parliament to pa»a tke. &«£££«)£. ianriiUtiin^

catalogue of magnificent and well-grown draught horses brought forward on. this occasion has put all previous records quite in tho shade. It is not too much to say that the yarding, comprising 72 three and four-year-old draught colts and fillie3, whioh we offered on Tuesday last, lias never been surpassed, and we are credibly informed by experts fully qualified to give an authoritative opinion that in point of excellence, breeding, substance, and quality the stock yarded on this occasion, taking numbers into account, have nevet bsen equalled in Otago. The entries in this clas3 by Messrs W. Blackie, E. Charters, R. Cullen, Tho3. Craig. Findlay, R. G-awn, J. Gow, W. Moynihan, J. Patrick, W. Shand, S. Young, and othert were really grand stock, and did credit to the district and to the breeders who brought them forward In all 135 horses of all ages were offered at the auction, of which 81 were sold under the hammer. Draught mares sold up to .£64; draught three-year-old fillies, to £54; draught geldings, to £'52; draught colts, to £40. DUNEDIN HORSE SALEYARDS. Messr3 Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report as follows: — The entries for this week's sale were of a very varied nature, consisting of about half a dozen medium draughts and a large number of hacks and light harness horses. A consignment of three-year-old colts, suitable for spring-caTt work, from the Teviot station, met with a fair sale, althoxigh the prices realised were hardly up to the owner's ideas of value. This was partly owing to the fact that with the exception of two they were unbroken, this having a considerable effact on the bidding, as the buyers b.ad to take into consideration the risk of handling. We offered on account of Mr James Riddell, of Palmerston, a three-year-old medium draught filly, small, but of nice quality, and under keen competition she was knocked down at £30 10s. We also offered on account of Mr John Mxiir, of Clinton, a pair of black buggy mares, fair movers and a good match, but as the highest bid was considerably under the vendor's 'expectations they were not sold. A good number of harness horse 3 changed hands at from £10 to £15. We have at present inquiries for first-clas3 draught geldings, young and staunch, suitable for town carting, and alse for good sound spring-dray horses, and consignments of these classes, wo have no hesitation in sayin?, will meet with a ready sale. We quote:— Superior young draught geldings, £36 to £12; extra good, prize horses, £45 to £55; medium draught mares and geldings, £25 to £35; aged do, £12 to £18; upstanding carriage horses, £28 to £32 ; well-matched carriage pairs, £55 to £65 ; strong spring-van horses, £25 to £30; milk-cart and butchers' order-cart horses, £15 to £-22; tram horses, £10 to £15; light hacks, £5 to £8 ; extra good hacks, £15 to £22 ; wcedv and aged hacks and harness horses, £2 to £1. " PROPERTY SALE. Messrs Sievwright Bro?. and Co. report hav1115 offered for sale by auction on Saturday the freehold of the T^aipori Hotel, Waipori. There was a large attendance of " the tiade," and after competition the house was passed in at £1100, the price not reaching the owner's reserve. The same firm also report having offered for sale at the sarno time nearly a quarter-acre freehold, and the old buildings known as the old Australasian Hotel. Dunedm. After considerable competition the property was passed in at £575. Both properties are now for sa'.e privately. THE LABOUR MARKET . John Skene and Son report under date May i:» as follows: — The chief demand is still for ccjnpetent ploughmen, both for farms and stations, men who understand their work thoroughly. We can also place daily good useful lads and men who can milk well, trrooms and gardeners are going off fairly Tegular. There is a brisk call for expert poisoners, trappels, pnd farm couples. Other lines we are faiily busy in are cooks and bakers, porters, station milkers ?.nd gr,ooms, blacksmiths and housekeepers. Workers of all descriptions are very scarce ; wages the same as in our last report.