THE WOOL KALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2671, 24 May 1905, Page 25

THE WOOL KALES.

.LONDON, May 15. The wool sales axe very firm. Low crossbreds are a little dearer. May 16. At the wool sales there was brisk competition for all sorts, and the highest rates of the series were obtained. The sales included the following clips : — Ngakonua, 12|dl ; Pindari, 12-|d ; Edgfiill, Is Id. May 17. The wool sales closed to spirited bidding, the prices being the highest of the series. The sales included Mako, 10£ d; Marorangi, 12|d ; Moeraki, 12-fd. May 18. At the -wool sales 161,000 bales were catalogued, whereof 80,000 bales were sold for the Home market, 51,000 for the Continent, 24,000 for America, and 16,000 held over. Compared with the March sales, best naerinos advanced 10 per cent. ; choice crossbreds, suitable for America, 25 to 30 per cent. ; and shabbier, 10 to 15 per cent. The tone is distinctly stronger, and there is indication of a further upward tendency. SYDNEY, May 18. At the monthly wool sales there was a small catalogue. There was active competition. Late rates were fully maintained, the tendency .being to improve. Wool is active and very firm. Competition for scoured slackened somewhat owing to less demand for Japan, which bought largely at recent sales. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., are in receipt of tho following cable advice from their Lon--don office regarding the closing of the Mayseries of sales: "The market closed strong for all sorts of wool. Since the close of last sales the following descriptions are higher: Fine g^asy crossbred by l£d to 2d per lb; medium do do by 2d to 3d, coarse do do by Id to l£d, and merino lambs by id to Id." Messrs Dalgety and Company. Ltd., report having received the following cable from their head office, dated London, May 17: — "Wool sales closed firm. Prices are as high as at^ any period of this series. As compared with closing rates of last series prices for " merino wools are 10 per cent, higher, fine and medium crossbred wools 15 to 20 per cent, higher, and up to 30 per cent, for greasy medium crossbred wools suitable for America; coarse crossbred wools 10 per cent, higher, la-mbs' wool 5 to 10 per cent, higher. Out of the net quantity available for sale some 76,000 bales have been sold for- Home consumption, 51,000 bales for the Continent, 24,000 bales for America, leaving 16,000 bales to | be carried forward to next series, of which | quantity 12,600 bales were not offered." DUNEDIN MARKETS. WHOLESALE PRODUCE REPORTS Mr J. Fleming, Princes street south, reparts under date the 23rd inst. :— Wheat per per ton Best milling 3/— 3/1 Barley dust ...100/0 Medium do 2/11 Oatmeal, in 25's 200/0 Fowls' ... 2/9—2/11 Oaten chaff 50/— 65/0 Milling oats 1/9 Ryegrass hay 55/o— 6o/0 Feed oats 1/6—l/7 Straw 30/0 Malt barley .3/6—4/0 Pearl barley ...260/0 Feeel barley ... 2/6 Onions 9/8 cwt. Cave barley 3/3— 376 per lb. Maize ... 3/9-4/0 Rolled bacon ... 7i-i per ton. Side bacon ... 7*d Flour, ia 200's ...180/0 Smoked hams ... 9J Flour, in 50's ...195/0 Cheese ... 4£d— 4Jd Pollard 110/0 Good salt butter, 7d to Bran 75/0 Bd. according to quality Sound potatees are selline at £i 10s to £5 per ton, according to quality. White potatoes in good <Jemand,\£4 15s to £5 ss. Chaff, plentiful. FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE. Messrs Irvine and Stevenson, George street, report paying for produce during the week ending the 23rd mst. as follows :— Bacon (roll), 8d p. lb I Fresh butter, 8d to Ham, 9d p. lb 1 lOJd per lb Fresh eggs, 1/8 doz | Salt butter : not buying Fresh butter, good ordinary fin lib and ilb prints), 6dt» Sd perlb. Pigs (1301b to 1601b), 4d per lb THE AGENT-GENEEAL'S CABLEGRAM. WELLINGTON, Mgy 22. The Department of Industries and Commerce has received the following cablegram from the Agent-general, dated London, 20th inst. : — " The mutton market is weak, there being a dull sale for heavy carcases. There is a scarcity of prime mutton. The average price to-day for Canterbury nxuttoa is 4fd per lb for light-weights, and 4d for heavyweights. The average price for North Island mutton is B|d per lb. The lamb market is firm, there being a good demand for all lamb. Tho average price to-da.y for New Zealand Jambs, Canterbury braind, is s|d per lb, -and for New Zealand brands, other th&a Canterbury, 51d per lb. The beef tnarket is dull, and supplies of American chilled beef are large. The average price fo-d*y for hindquarters of New Zealand beer is 313 per lb; fores, 2Jd per lb; Rive* Plate chilled hinds, 4d per lb; fores, 2gd per lb. There is a better demand for butter, of which there is a snuaJl supply. The average price of choicest New Zealand butter to-day is 94s per cwt. Th« cheese market has declined, as a result of heavy arrivals from Canada. The average price of finest New Zealand cheese is 58a jjer

cwt. The hemp market is dull, aoid the prico of New Zealand hemp, " good fair " Wellington grade, on spot, to-day per ton is £27 10s. The price of Manila hemp, fair current grade, on spot, to-day per ton is £83 10s. The cocksfoot seed market is quiet, and the average price for bright, clean New Zealand cocksfoot seed, weighing 17lb per bushel, on spot, is 53s per cwt. The wool sales are concluded. There was keen competition throughout, and the market closed very strong for all descriptions, estimated values being as follow: — Fin© crossbreds, all grades, Is to Is 2£d per lb; niedram crossbreds, all grades, 10£ dto Is per lb; coarse crossbreds, all grades, 9d to lid per lb; superfine merinos, Is OJd to Is 2£d per ]b; medium, 10£ dto Is; inferior, 7Jd to 10d per ib. THE MEAT MARKET. A Napier wire says : — The C.C. and D. Company has received a cable from London advising that frozen meat prices remain unchanged. THE CHRISTOHURCH GRAIN MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, May 19. The grain market is very quiet. Oats are scarce, only being offered in small lots, which are being taken af quotations. The wheat market is steady. Fifteen thousand sacks werj shipped from Timaru by the Indralema, and another 15,000 from Lyttelton were shipped by the same boat. -The standard samples of grain fixed by the Produce Committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce are considered above the average quality of grain, available this season. OAMARU GRAIN~AND PRODUCE REPORT. fFnoii Otra Own Corbbsfoitdent.j OAMARU, May 22. The local market is still weak, but last week's vaJues have been fairly well maintained. Holders of large lines decline to sell, and they are making arrangements for tho storage of their grain, but growers of smaller parcels seem more disposed to sell if they can obtain a price in any degree satisfactory, and sales of their lots took place last week at 2s 6Jd and 2s 9d on trucks at country stations (less commission). For Tuscan agents report that it might still be possible, in a few cases, to obtain 2s lOd, but the inquiries are few and offers on the part of growers are gen-er-ally met with counter offers. Red chaff has changed hands at 2s 7d and 2s 7Jd (less commission), while for second quality velvet 2s Gd to 2s 6£d has been paid. Oats have been offering more freely, and little difficulty is experienced in effecting sales if the samples are good, the market being, if anything, firmer than a week ago. Gartons have been sold at 3 s 6d and Is 6£d (net, to growers at their stations), and Danish at Is 4£d to Is 5Jd. The shipments north are still considerable. Duns are very scarce at Is 7d to Is Bd. Barley of malting quality is also scarce, the only line on offer being mellow, but slightly discokmred, for which 3s 6d has been asked, without any business resulting. There is evidently going to be no 'shortage of potatoes sp far as North Otago is concerned, orops being much heavier and of much better quality than anticipated, and a considerable quantity is now on offer. The Dunedin market is taking the larger proportion of these, but a good amß.nya mB.ny are also being shipped north, the prices for these latter being a shade better than that offering in Dunedin. For prime Derwents up to £4, 15s at handy sidings has been paid (less commission). Eggs, Is 6d. The stock market is quieter than for a long time, the only inquiries being for fat wethers and lambs, which are scarce iv North Otago, so many having been railed to Canterbury two or three months ago. There is a slightly improved demand for good milking cows (foxward calvers), and up to £9 has lately been paid in the yards for them. GRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. Messrs Donald Reid and. Co. report: We held our weekly auction sale of grain and produce at our stores on Monday, when we submitted a full catalogue to a good attendance of buyers Most of the lots on offer met with good competition, and found buyers at quotations. Prices ruled, as undter : — Oats. — Since. our last report there has been steady demand for shipment of all good lines of feed coming forward. Prime milling are not quite so readily quitted at quotations. Seed lines, clean and bright, are now inquired for. Quotations: Soed lines of dun oats, 2s to 2s 8d; long Tartars, Is lOd to 2s; oth«r sorts, Is 9d to Is lid; prim 1 © milling, Is 8d to Is 9d ; good to bestf feed, Is 7d to 13 8d ; inferior to medium, Is 5d to la 6£d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat. — There is practically no change to report. One or two millers holding light stocks are inquiring for prime sorts, and have little difficulty in supplying their requirements, although most growers a«re not disposed to sell at present values. Medium quality is neglected. Fowl wheat, which is being offered on easy terms at northern ports, is also more plentiful locally, and only saleable at a slight reduction in values. Quotations : Prime milling, 3s to 3s Id; medium, 2s lOd to 2a lid; whole fowl wheat, 2s Bfl to 2a 9dl; broken fowl wheat, 2s 6d to 2s 7d per bushel (sacks extra) Potatoes. — Steady supplies continue to arrive, the quality of which is in most cases much more satisfactory than earlier consignments. With fair demand these continue to move off at about late values. Quotations : Besit Up-to-Dat«s and other white sorts, £5 to £5 10b (a few choice lots to £6) ; best Derwents, £4 10s to £4 15s; others, £4 to £4 5s per ton (sacks in). Chaff. — Despite the broken weather, the number of consignments is well maintained. Prime oaten sheaf is the only class in favour with buyers, and lower qualities are difficult to deal with. Quotations: Prime oaten sheaf, £3 to £3 2s 6d ; medium to good, £2 10s to £2 l&s per top (bags extra). Straw. — Moderate supplies are coming forward, which find ready sale at — for good oaten straw, 32s 6d to 85s; wheaten, 27s 6d to 30s per ton (pressed). Turnips. — Monday's market was fully supplied, and consignments were quitted with diffiouHy at 13a per ton (loose, ex truck). Hay. — Good to prime clover and ryegrass, £2 10s to £3 per ton.

Me3&rs Dalgety and Co. (Limited) report as follows: — We held our weekly sale of grain and produce at our stores on Monday, when we submitted a- full catalogue to a good attendance of buyers. Owing to want of competition, however, only a small portion of our catalogue was quitted at auction. Ruling values are as under: —

Oats. — There has been a good inquiry for bright heavy Grartons, and any offering meet •with ready sale at satisfactory prices. B grade Gartons and sparrowbills are in fair demand, and for these late rates are well maintained. The lower grades, although not offering in any quantity, f&« saleable. Quotations: Primia milling, Is Si* to Is 9d; good

to best feed, Is 7d to Is 8d; inferior and medium, Is 5d to Is 6£d per bushel (sacks extra). "Wheat — There is little appreciable change in this market, and millers are content to limit their purchases to any choice lines that may suit their requirements. Prime velvet has most inquiry. Many holders are not inclined to accept present values, and the market is now steady at late rates. Fowl wheat has little inquiry foT export, and present values are only being* given for local consumption. Quotations: Prime milling, 3s to 3s Id; medium do, 2s lOd to 2s lid; whole fowl wheat, 2s 8d to 2s 9£d ; broken and damaged do, 2s 3d to 2s 7d per bushel (sacks extra). Chaff. — Consignments during the pasit week have been fairly heavy, and prices have again eased. Bright, heavy, and well-cut chaff has a fair sale on arrival. Medium and discoloured chaff is, however, extremely difficult to quit at anything like a payable price to vendors, and a good deal of this quality of chaff is acctimuTatmg in local stores. Quotations : Prime oaten sheaf. £3 to £3 2s 6d ; medium do, £2 10s to £2 17s 6d ; light and inferior, £2 to £•2 7s 6d per ton (bags extra). Potatoes. — White varieties, suitable for seed, have some inquiry. Consignments of Derwents continue to arrive freely, but, if in good ordor, are saleable at late rates. Quotations : White varieties, £o to £ 5 10s ; prime Derwents, £4 103 to £i 15s ; medium do, £§ 15s to £1 5s per ton (bags in). Turnips. — A fair quantity coming forward. Best swedes are selling at from 12s 6d to 13s per ton Uoose, on truck). CANTERBURY GRAIN AND PRODUCE ■MARKET. There is not much, grain offering at the present time. The wheat market is steady, with not very much demand, and no business of any consequence is reported. The Indralema takes the first shipment of this season's wheat to London, comprising 1 15,000 sacks from Timaru, and the same quantity from Lyttelton. Only small quantities of oats are coming forward, and these are being taken at current quotations. A "line of 800 bushels of Gaxtons was placed at 2s 6Jd at a country station. The market has a firmer tone, partly on account of the short offerings, and the fact that growers in the south are not se'.ling very freely at present prices is no doubt having an influence in that direction. There is practically no demand for barley, and prices for malting are easier. Merchants consider that the standard samples for grain fixed by the Produce Committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce are above the average quality of the grain that will be available this season. The following are the current prices paid to farmers, free of commission, except where otherwise specified: — Wheat— Mixed lines 2s 6d to 2s 7d at country stations. Oats — Heavy Canadians Is Bd. Gartons Is 6d, short feed Is 6d, Duns Is 5d to Is 7d — heavy to Is Bd, Danish Is 4d to Is sd, at country stations. Barley — Nominal Peas — Partridge 3s to 3<3 2d, blue Prussians (nominal) 2s 6d. Beans — 2s 6d to 2e 7d. Ryegrass — Extra heavy old pasture 2s 9d to 3s. good 2s to 2s 6d. Italian 2s 9d to 3s. Cocksfoot— lllb to 121b seed, 3d; 131b, 3£d; 141b, 3|d. Flour (millers' quotations) — Roller, £8 10s per ton. Pollard — £o 10s. Bran — £3 15 s. Oatmeal— £lo. Oatsheaf Chaff— £2 12s 6d to £2 15s, at country stations. Potatoes — Kidney, Early Rose, and Derwents, £4. Onions — £6. Dairy Produce — Cheese, factory, 4Jd; dairy, 4d; loaf cheese, 3"d; butter, factory, local, lOJd ; farmers' separator, B£d ; dairy, 6d to 8d for prime ; bacon, 7d ; hams, 8d f.0.b. ; eggs, Is 8d per dozen (scarce). TIMARU SKIN AND WOOL SALES. The fortnightly skin and wool sales took place on the 17th inst., and a considerable total entry was put in. The following prices are quoted: — Crossbred skins, each, 2s, 3s 2d, 3s sd, 4s, 4s 4d, 4s 6d, 4s Bd. 5s Id." 5s sd, 5s 7d, to 7s; per lb, 6Jd, 62d, 7£d. Half bred skins, each, 2s 7d, 3s sd, 4s Id, 4s sd, 4s 6d, to 5s 7d ; per lb, 7*<3. Merino skins, each, 3s sd; per lb, 6Jd. Lambs' skins, each, Is, Is lOd, 2s, 2s 4d, 2s Bd, 3s, 3s Id, 3s 6d, 3s lOd, 3s lid; per lb, 6|d. Mixed skins, each, Is Bd, 2s 7d, 2s Bd, 2s lOd, 3s 7d, to 4s; per lb, 4Jd. Pelts, each, sd, Is, Is 3d, Is lid, 2s, 2s 4d, 2s 6d, 2s Bd, 3s, to 3s 3d. Wool: Trimmings, sd, s^d per lb; crutchings, sd, s£d, 6d; pieces, 3d, 4Jd; halfbred and merino mixed, 9d; three-qitarterbred, Bd, BJd ; black and dead mixed, 7d; dead, 4d, 4Jd, 6d, 7d; fleece, 6Jd, 7d; locks, 2Jd, 4d per lb. Fat, 13s to 16s per cwt. ASHBURTON WOOL AND SKIN SALE. There was a good representative gathering of wool and skin buyers at the ordinary fortnightly sales held at the yards of the various Ashburton auctioneers on the 15th inst. Th» entry was not large, nor was the qtiality up to the usual standard. Bidding, however, was brisk, and the varied entry sold freely at prices that should prove satisfactory to vendors and auctioneers. Good crossbred and halfbred skins, well preserved, were eagerly inquired for, and those put up on offer made> prices slightly in advance of late rates ; despite the slight falling off in prices of butchers' sheep. The following are prioes : — Cow hidps, 10s, 10s 6d, 11s 6d, 12s, 13s, to 16s; horse hides, 4s 6d; horsehair, Is per lb; rough fat, l|d, lgd, ljd, lgd per lb; rendered fat, ljd, ljd. Wool— Crutchings, 5Jd to s|d per lb; dead wool and crutchings (mixed), 6d per lb; rought crossbred fleece wool, 7Jd per lb. Skins — Butchers' crossbreds and halfbreds, 3s lid, 4s 4d, 4s sd, 4s Bd, to 4s 9d per skin; hoggets, lid, Is 2d, Is 3d, 2s Id, 2s 6d, 2s Bd, 3s Id, to 3s 4d; lamb skins, 2s Id, 2s 3d, 3s id, to 3s 7d; crossbreds, Is 7d, 2s, 2s 4d, 2a 6d, 2s Bc\ 2s lOd, 3s, 3s Id, 3s 3d, 3s sd, 3a lOd, to 4s per skin, and s£d, 6d, and 6Jd per lb; black skins, Is 6d, 2s, 2s 3d, per skin ; merinos-, Is Bd, 25., 2s 4d, 2s 6d, 2b 7d, 2s Bd, 3s, 8s 2d, Ss Bd, 4s, 4s 6d, 4s 7d, to 5s Id per skin, and fid per lb; halfbreds, 2s 2d, 2s 6d, 2s Bd, 2s 9d, 2s lid, 3s, 3s 2d, 3s 4d, 3s 6d, 3s 9d, 4s, 4s Id, 4s 3d, per skin, and 6d per lb ; pelts, 2d, 4d, 9d, lOd, Is, Is 3d, Is Bd, to 2s 4d.