COMMERCIAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1888, 16 April 1892, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

D UNEDIN MARKETS-STOCK &o.

Bubnsidb - Wednesday

Fat Cattle.— l9B head yarded, principally fair quality beef, with a few pens only of really prime cattle, and the usual assortment of light weight heifers and aged cows. Although trade was very dull, it was scarcely as bad as in sheep ; still to effect a clearance a reduction on last -week's rates bad to be taken, this being particularly noticeable in the lighter class of cattle. One extra heavy bullock brought L92s 6d ; other prime lots, L 7 to L 8; medium, L 6 to L 6 10s ; light, L 4 10s to L 5 5s ; best cows, L 5 to L 6 15s ; medium, L 3 15s to L 4 lOs ; a?ed cows and light weight heifers, 403 to 60s. — Donald Reid md Co. yarded and sold for Mr John Blakie (East Taieri), 9 bullocks (small) at L 4 15s to L3 los ; for Mr Robert Charters (Qry Park), 7 bullocks at L 5 10s to L 4 17s 6d, 2 heifers at L 4 7s 6d ; for Mr B. P. Bolting (South xhmedin) 3 heifers (small) at L 2 153; for Messrs Atkinson. Lvnn, and others, 7 head cows at L 4 2.; 6d to L 3 7a 6d.

Fat Sheep. — For today's Burnside market an entry of 2077 Bheep came to hand. The most noticeable feature of the sale, as regards the supply, being the large proportion of merinos (of which 850 were pennedj and the scarcity of prime wethers. Of the crossbreds on offer, considerably more than half the number must have been ewes ; in fact there would have been a difficulty in securing more than 200 or 300 sheep in the yards of a class suitable for export. This may possibly have had something to do with the weakness in competition which characterised the day's proceedings, the sale being as dull as any experienced this season. Rather than submit to prices current a good few lots of Bheep were withdrawn by the owners, aud for those which changed hands a drop of fully Is per bead on last week's rates had to be accepted, some of the more inferior merinos declining even more than this. A few of the best wethers of the day brought 143 to 14s 9d ; average lots, 13a to 13s 6d ; light and medium, 12s to 12s 9d ; ewes ('the line above referred to being excepted), 93 6d to 133 3d ; mer.no wethers, 83 6d to lls. — The Farmers' Agency Company sold as follow:— For Messrs James Smith and Sons (Greenfield), 188 crossbred ewes at lls to 123, 44 merino wethers at 9s 61 ; for Mr James Logan (Kelso), 319 merino wethers at 9s 6d to lls ; for a client, 71 merino wethers at 83 to 93 ; for Mr John Ross (Waitahuna), 124 crossbreds at 12s to 13s 6d ; for D M'Donald, 100 crossbred ewes at 15s 3d.

Lambs. — The entry to-day comprised 137, some of which were of very good quality, and sold up to lls 9d, medium to good lines bringing 8s 6d to 9s 6d inferior, 73 6d to Bs.

Pigs. — 102 to hand, about three-fourths of which were bacon pigs, the balance weaners, no good stores beintt on offer. Suckers brought 5s to 10s ; pnikers 22s 6d to 253 ; bacon pigs,-27s to 35s ; a few extra beavy weights, 40s to 42a. Store Cattle. — The market for theae does not show much animation at the moment ; very few change hands.

Store Sheep. — There is little or no ohange to note in the tone of the market icithese, which still continues exceedingly active. The demand shows no signs of weakness, being as brisk now as it was several weeks earlier, notwithstanding that the season is so far advanced, when feed on open pasture is more likely to go back tlnn to further improve.

Wool.— On Tuesday the Jtf.Z.L. £nd M.A. Co. held their eighth sale for this season, when they offered a moderate catalogue. All the local buyers" were present, aud, no deubt under the influence of the favourable reports to hand of the progress of the sales at Home, competed very freely for all the lots, both greasy and washed, very satisfactory prices being obtained compared with those ruling lately. Medium greasy half-bred brought B|d ; do merino, 7Jd ; do cross- bred lambs, 9d ; slipe merino medium, 7d ; greasy pieces, 4d to s^d ; locks, lid to 3d per lb.

Sheepskins. — A very lengthy catalogue waß submitted on Tuesday, and the whole was cleared at an advance on last week' a prices, every lot offered meeting with very keen competition.

, Rabbitskins. —The supply is still bare, but for the few that do come to market the demand is good. Quotations lately given appear low ; but, considering the quality of the skins offering, prioes ruling are more in sellers' favonr. On Monday the N.Z.L and M.A. Co. offered and Bold by auction 21 bales under very active competition,when full prices were obtained compared with those la r ely ruling in the London market, for similiar quality. Suckers and half-grown brought 3|d to 4id ; 8U aimer skins, s|d to 7d per lb.

Hides. —There is no change to note in either the demand or value for these.

Tallow. — A fairly satisfactory demand is experienced for this product ; and, although prices show but little change, sales of all consignments are easily effected.

DTJNEDIIf GRAIN MARKETS, &c.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) report for the week end*d April 13, as follows • —

Wheat. — The tendency of the market is evidently toward lower prices, and at the moment is void of any animation. Last week's prices are not obtainable now. We quote prime milliog Tuscan and velvet, 33 lOd to U ; good to best, 3s 6d to 3s 9d ; medium to good, 3a to 3s 6d ; inferior and fowl's wheat, 23 3d to 2s 9d (ex store, Backs weighed in, terms).

Oats.— The prevailing idea is that until good bright feed can be purchased at lower prices no large purchases can be made. We quote prime milling, Is s£d to Is 6d ; best feed Is 5d ro Is s|d ; medium to good, 3s4dto la4jd (ex store, sacks extra, net; fd per bushel extra f.o.b. Dunedin). Barely. — Prime malting to all appearances is likely to be jn short supply and firmer in price. We quote best malting, 3s 3d to 3s 6d ; medium, 2s 9d to 3s ; feed and milling, 23 3d to 2a 6d (ex store, sacks extra, terms).

Grass Seed. — A few sales of machinepressed ryegrass seed are being made, but the demand is now almost off. Farmer's dressed has little or no inquiry. Potatoes.— These are hardly saleable. Top price at auction this week was 35s for good ! erwents, others 15s to 303 (sacks weighed in, ex store.)

Chaff. — The market has been more than fully supplied this week, prices in consequence again receded. Belt is worth 45j to 50s ; inferior is setting at 20s to 40s per ton. Dairy Produce. — Stocks of both cheese and butter are being gradually reduced, a. id the prosj set of securing better pr'ces In rib.er on is somewhat better ; meantime we quote as before.

Fiax. — The flax markat shows no

of recovery. Buyerß continue indifferent, and only purchase at prices in sympathy with those cabled at Home. Quotations : For inferior, Ll2 los to Ll3 ;

medium, Ll3 10s to L14 10s ; good to best, Lls 109 to Ll6 10s— extra fine a shade more per ton.

GRAIN, SEED AND' WOOL REPORT

Messrs William E. [Reynolds and Co. Stsfford street, Dunedin, report for week ending April 13 as follows —

The weather during tte past week has been rather broken, and threshing con* siderably retarded thereby, with no sign at present of improvement. Wheat. —The market for this cereal is not by any means of a lively disposition^ and it can 'hardly be said that business of any magnitude is passing. Millers evince no desire to operate to any great ex'ent,being simply content to buy sparingly, and then ouly when anything choice presents itself. Home advices are still of a rather unfavourable tone, and this is bding felt accordingly. We repeat last week's quotations: — Prime milling velvet and Tuscan, 4=* to 4s 2d ; ordinary, 3a 3d to 3a lOd ; inferior and fowl's fued, 2s broken to 2a lOd whole and plentiful,

O.»tB. — Arrivals of these are now assuming larger dimensions ; and there being a disposition on the part of growers to sell off truck rather than incur the expense of storing, prices have gone bask a little. Even at the reduced rates shippers are not buying freely, and sales are difficult to make. We quote prime milling, Is s£d to Is 6d ; prime feed, Is 5d to la s|d ; good* ordinary, Is s|d to la 4£d ; inferior hard to place.

Barley. — The demand for this continues wood, especially for prime malting, which is somewhat scarce. We quote : Prime (Lakes grown), 3s 6d ; good ordinary, 3s to 3-? 3d ; ordinary, 2* 10d to 3s ; feed and milling, 2a Id to 2a 7d.

Chaff. — Market well supplied. Prime oatan sheaf ia worth up to 62a 6d, ordinary, 403 to 453.

Potatoes — Market glutted. Hiphes* price for prime Derwents 355, others according to quality.

Grass Seed. — No change in the market. A few odd sales taking place at, for machine dressed, 3s 3d to 33 8d ; good clean farmers' dressed, 2s 9d to 3s ; cocksfoot is in full supply and quotations unchanged. Best dressed, 3£d to 4£d ; ordinary, 2^d to 3|d.