COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6752, 5 February 1892, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

• ENGLISH MARKETS. Messrs Miles Bros, and Co.’s produce report, via San Francisco, under date London, Dec, 24th, 1891, is as follows : WOOD. The fifth and last series of. colonial wool auctions for the present year, which commenced on the 24th November, terminated on the 15 th inst. On the 30th ult., there was no sale owing to fog. The catalogues have comprised the following : Now South Wales 53,170 Queensland ... 37,203 Victoria 39,315 South Australia 20,295 Western Australia 1,930 Tasmania 1,020 New Zealand 23,666 Cape and Natal 22,074 Total '.193,675 As compared with 148,537 bales at the corresponding series in 1890. The new arrivals amounted to 168,250 bales, of which about 18,000 bales were forwarded direct from ship to Yorkshire, the Continent, etc., leaving, with the old stock (42,000 bales) a net available quantity of 192,250 bales, showing that a good quantity of wool was twice offered. The saleroom was well _ attended throughout the series, and the biddings were fairly brisk. At the opening prices ruled on the average 5 per cent, below last sale’s closing rates, and at this decline the market remained steady to the close. Inferior and faulty parcels of merino greasy in every instance showed a fall of Id per lb. All superior greasy combing wool sold fully up to last sale’s rates, owing to American competition. Of the total quantity sold some 130,000 bales were taken for export, including 9000 bales for America, Only about 5000 bales have been carried over. WHEAT, ETC. Trade in our corn market has been dull during the past mouth, and we are not likely to see much activity until the turn of the year. Arrivals have been heavy and there are considerable stocks in granary here, consequently with only a very limited demand prices have weakened to the extent of Is per quarter, but

the severe weather we are now experiencing will no doubt tend to strengthen values. Afloat to the United Kingdom the total quantity of wheat and flour is estimated at 2,408,000 quarters as compared with 2,200,000 quarters at Christmas, 1890. New DeoemberJanuary shipment wheat is now worth about 43s o.i.f, per 4801bs. From New Zealand c.-iy 808 sacks have come into London. Trade in this wheat has not been over brisk, but owing to the inferior condition of the parcels of home-grown wheat which have been coming on the market, good New Zealand has been able to maintain late rates. For the cargo of Tuscan wheat,ex Pleione from Timaru, which has arrived off coast (7,015 quarters) 42s 6d is asked, but buyers’ ideas are 3d less. We quote values of colonial produce as under;—Australian wheat 44s 6d to 46s per 4961b5, New Zealand long-berried do 45a to 46s do, do short-berried 43s to 445, oats (fine) 28s to 31s 6d per quarter imperial, common do 24s 6d to 275, barley 38s to 40s per 4481b5, New Zealand flour (nominal) 27s fid to 28s fid per 2801bs, cocksfoot grass seed (fine nominal) 48s to 55s per 1121bs, do do common 34s to 40s do. TALLOW, HIDES, &0. The sales on the 11th passed off with a good demand, and of 1659 casks in the catalogues 1150 were sold at an average advance of 3d per cwt. .Good to finest New Zealand mutton 25s fid to 26s fidj and fair to finest beef 24s 8d to 25s 9d per cwt. At the auctions on the 18th inst,, there was a good enquiry, and of 1371 casks offered 841 casks were sold at an average of previous sales’ rates. We now quote good to fine New Zealand mutton 25s fid to 26s fid, i and fair to fine beef tallow 24s fid to 25s 9d per owt. The arrivals during the month have been 5150 casks, of which 1899 casks were from New Zealand, and the stock now amounts to about 9100 casks. FROZEN HEAT. ) In the early part of the month our market was well supplied with both home and colonial produce, but the mild weather somewhat affected the trade in frozen mutton, and the heavy supplies of Batch mutton, which were in. many cases freely bought in the place of New Zealand, tended to keep down values, 2s

8d being quite a top price for best North Canterbury sheep. With the near approach of Christmas and with cold seasonable weather, prices have shown a hardening tendency for the best classes of New Zealand mutton, and although (as is usual at this time of the year) the demand is scarcely so active, a few of the best quality have made 2s 9d per stone. Prices to-day are—English and Scotch sheep 4s 4d per stone, North Canterbury do 2s 4dto 2s 8d do, South do do 2s to 2s '6d do, Southland do 2s 2d to 2s 6d do, Dunedin do 2s to 2s 5d do, Wellington do 2s to 2s 3d do. ■ BOTTEB AND CHEESE, Now Zealand butter is in very good demand* > and. is selling readily at fromll2s to 126 a on landing. It seems probable that a strong de-. mnnd will be maintained for thin prodnoa throughout the winter. . Cheese is selling only in small quantities,bnt rices remain firm. ‘ 1