Commercial Intelligence.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3515, 4 January 1886, Page 2

Commercial Intelligence.

ENGLISH MARKETS. Messrs Miles Brothers and Co. report on the English markets under date London, 20th November, as follows :— WOOL. The fifth and last series of tho colonial wool sales for this year commenced on tho 17th mat.. and according to present arrangements will close on the 7th prox. Including the 72,000 bales old stock the following were the available quantities : — New South Wales 33,729 | Queensland 18,055 Viotoria 30,974 South Australia 10,305 Western Australia 287 Tasmania 2,977 New Zealand 25,269 Cape of Good Hope 33,409 Less forwarded direct to tho Continent and the North ... 7,000 Total 148.005 Of tho 83,005 bales new arrivals 10.2G9 bales were from New Zealand. There w»3 a good attendance of both Homo and foreign buyers on the opening night, and competition was fairly brisk, (food combing wools sold fully up to September rates, bnt clothing descriptions occasionally showed weakness. Crosshreds were iv demand, and a few lots brought a trifle more money, bnt prices generally showed no improvement. Prices for Cape produce ruled about the same as at the last series. A few lots of the new Australian clips wero offered ; Adelaide being of good quality brought full prices, but tho selection of New South Wales and Queensland wools was poor, and did not command special attention. Trade m our manufacturing distriots and also on tho Continent is rather more active. WHEAT, FLOUR, ETC. Up to last week onr wheat market remained dull with a downward tendency m prices, but tho news of hostilities between Servia and Bulgaria caused a somewhat firmer feeling m the trade, and sellers asked 6d to Is advance on lato rat'-s. Farmors' deliveries of Homo grown wheats continue heavy and prices are low. In America tho visible snpply has now reached47,o6o,ooobushelß,orll,4Cs,ooobushels more than at a corresponding period last year. Notwithstanding this the market thero has so far remained firm, and values are m advance of outb. On passage tho total quantity of wheat and floor from all parts to this country is estimated at 1,682,000 quarters against 1,747,500 quartors m November, 1884. In Australian wheat thero has boon but littlo business doing, and prices aro about 3 "a to 37s 6d per 49b'lbs, ox store. Off coast prices have ranged from 35s 3d to 35s b'd for U.K. New Zealand wheat is m slightly better demand, bnt prices remain tho same, viz , 343 to 36s for long berried, and 32s to 34s fur round berried parcels. Business m flour is still far from active, and wo qnoto Australian superfines 25s 6d to 26s tid, fines 22s to 235, and Now Znalaud 22s to 24s per 2581b5, ex store. Barley is rather firmer, and good malting sorts are worth 32s to 36's per 4481b5. Now Zealand oats are m demand, and fino heavy samples bring 29s to 31s per 3841b5, ex store. New Zealand beans may be quoted at 37s to 395, and best boiling pease abont 49s per 5041b5. TALLOW, HIDKS, &C. Tho tallow market has continued very quiet, with prices still tending downwards. At tho sales to-day, however, there was a good demand, and 790 casks of Australasian were sold ont of 1108 offered, at an advance of fully Gd per owt. on both mutton and beef, excepting- the former of finest quality, whioh only brought provious prions. We quote good to fine mutton 24s 6d to 25b, and fair to fine beef 23s 6d to 25s 9d per owt. The stock m first hands now amounts to abont 17,200 casks. Hides are unaltered. FROZEN MEATB. Owing to largo supplios of frozen mutton on tho market, prices are still low. The cargoes of the Dorio and the Kaikoura wore made up of several small lots, the sellers of whioh not wishing to incur refrigerating expenses have been placinpr them on the market at best prices obtainable. A largo quantity of very good Canterbury sheep havo been sold this week at 2s lOd, and even less. The supply of Home killed at the commencement of this week was lighter, bnt there has been a heavy snpply to-day, and prices aro down. The quality of the sheep m the last two or three cargoes has not been quite so good, and some of the sheep are excessively fat and heavy ; the best size for the London markets is from 60 to 64 lbs. Prices to-day-.— Best Canterbury, 3s; Wellington, 2s lOd ; Melbourne, 2s 8d to 2s 6d ; River Plate, 2s 9d, very slow sale. The bank rate was raised on the 12th November from 2 to 3 per cent.