COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 15, 9 August 1873, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Messrs Dbiveb, Stkwabt, & Co. report for the week ending 31st July :— Fat Cattle. — 99 head were yarded' and sold on Wednesday. With few exceptions the quality was very medium. All, however, found purchasers at about late prices. Prime quality may bo quoted at about 27s 6d for immediate delivery, and 30s to 32s 6d for forward delivery ; middling at2i)s to 21s pur 100 lbs. We sold 45 head, and privately 30 head. Fat Sheep. — About 50Q sheep were penned, of wliich wd sold 200 cross-breds (medium quality) at from 14s 3d to 18s 3d, and 200 merinos at lls to 12s ; and also, privately, 500 mixed sheep at current rates- We quote prime mutton at about 3£d per lb. Store Cattle. — There is a fair demand for qniet grown cattle, but mixed herds are not in request, owing to scarcity of grass at thi•eason. We quote 3 to 5 years old bullocks at Li- to L 5 ; spayed cows, L 3 10a to hi ; mixed herds, 30s to 50s, according to quality. In various lots we have placed upwards of 700 head. Store Sheep. — We have no transactions to report, but hare buyers at following rat<-8 : — Cross bred wethers, 12s t-» 13s ; do ewes, in lamb, 15a to 17s 6d ; do lambs, 9s to 10s ; merino wethers, 7s to Ba. Dairy Cows. — Very scarce and good. Qniet milkers, near to calving, are saleable at from L 5 to LlO. Wool. — By the Rangitoto at Hokitika, advices from London, down to 19th inst., have reached us as follows : — " The wool sales opened on 10th inst. with 200,000 bales, of which 6500 were offered (on the opening night we presume). The attendance of buyers was good, and the bidding spirited throughout. At the opening cross bred allowed a decliue of ldperlb, but has since improved. The sales closed (?) with un average advance of Id, and for superior combines 2d to 3d per lb." The above allusion to the close of the sales is calculated to engender misapprehension, and should be read as having reference to the close of those sales of which we have advice, and not of the series, which in the ordinary course would extend to a month at least. The advance quoted is doubtless substantially correct Sheepskins. — Our usual weekly sale was held this day, and fairly attended ; and consequent upon the favourable tenor of the above advices, prices manifested considerable improvement. We sold 1005 green skins as follows: — Cross- breds, from ia 5d to 5s Id; merinos, from 3s 5d to 4s Id ; full-wooled merinos, 6s each. Hides continue in slight demand, and prices have not improved. We catalogued 300, of which 210 were sold at from 14s 9d to 16s for light, and 17s 6J to 20j for medium to heavy weights. Tallow. — None offered. New Zealand Hemp is for the time entirely neglected. The new tariff imposing a duty of £s per cwt on rope, cordage, and twini», will doubtless stimulate the utilization of this fibre in the Colony to a greater exeut tiian hitherto. Tow is in request at Lsto L 5 10a per ton baled ; loose, L 4 10s. Grain. — Wheat has been if anything easier during the waok. We offered about 6000 bushels at auction to-day, when 1600 bushels changed hands ac 4s 10J to 5s Id. The bulk was withdrawn, as owners' limits were not obtainable. Fowl foed realised from 2s 2d to 3s Hd, according quality. Barley is in moderate demand at about 7s per bushel. Oats inav also be quoted a shade easier, there being an entire absence of speculative demand, and trade requirements are not large. G-ood feed, 4i to 4s 2d ; milling, 4s 3d to 4s 4d. Messrs Wkight, Stkpjiekson and Co., report for the week ending 2nd August, as follows: — Fat Cattle. — The large number which came forward had the effect of depressing prices a shade under last week's rates. 90 head were yarded, mostly of middling quality. We sold 60 head. Prime quality brought 23s to 25s per lOOlbs ; medium do, 20s. Fat Sheep. — 550 ware penned. We Bold 150 merinos, fair quality, at 133. Other sales were — 200 cross-breds, at- from 14s 3d to 18s 3d ; 200 merinos, at from 8s 6d to lls. We also sold privately, for forward delivery, 1000 cross-bieds, at from 4d to 4£d per lb, and 500 merino wethers at 3id. We quote prime half-breds 3fd to 4d per lb j do merinos, 3£d. Store Cattle. — Bullocks are in good demand. We quote bullocks, 3 to 5 years, L 4 to L 4 10b ; cows, L 3 5s to L 3 10s j mixed lots, L 2 10s. At above rates we have placed 370 head. Store Sheep. — We have no transactions to report. Horses.- -Our market continues firm for young draughts and strong coach colts. On Saturday we sold at our yards, on account of Mr William Lawson, 16 heavy draughts at from L 23 to L 43, and : 16 concbinjj colts at from L 8 to L2l. We quote first-class draughts," LSO

to L6O; medium do, L 25 to L3O; good hacks and light hartfes." horses, Ll6 to L2l ; medium do, Ll4 to Ll6 ; light and inferior L 3 to L 6. • ' Wool.— By the Itangitoto, London telegrams under date 19th ult are to hand as follows :— " The wool sales opened on the 10th irist. with 200,000 bales, of which 6500 were offered. The attendance of both home and foreign buyers was pood, and the bidding spirited throughout At the opening cross-bred showed a decline of Id, but has since improved. The sales closed with an average advance of Id, and for superior combings, 2d to 3d per lb." Sheepskins.— At our usual weekly sale there was a good attendance of buyers, and prices obtained were fully 6d to 9d iv advance of last week's rates, the favorable news received per Rangitoto having created greater competition. Wo sold green skins, merino, at is 6d to 4s ; half-bred, 4s 6J to 4s lOd j station skins, merino, 2s 4d to 2s lid : halfbred, 3s 6d to 4s 6d. Hides. — The demand is limited, consequent' on orders for Australian account being cancelled, and prices have accordingly declined li to 3s per hide. We sold light at from 12s to 16s ; and medium to heavy at from 18s 3d to 225. Grain. — The market continues quietly firm, without change in values. . Our Auckland correspondent telegraphing on | Wednesday evening, says :— Business done : South British Insurance, 50s ; Caledonians, L 22 to L2O 5s ; Tookeys, L 9 10s ; Cures, 13s ; Union Beach, 33s to 365 ; City of London, 24s 6d ; Tokatea, 29s ; Royal Oak, 14s i Red Queen, 3s ; Bird-in-Hand, 8s 6d to 9s.