COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 109, 29 May 1875, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Mb. Henry Dkiveb, on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, reports as f ollowslf or the week ending May 26 :— Fat Cattle. — Only a moderate supply of 100 head were yarded for the weekly sale to-day. With few exceptions, the quality was very ordinary. A portion, being scarcely fit to kill, had to be turned out. Ido not expect to see an over supply of prime beef for some time to come. Any such offering is eagerly taken by the trade at fully late quotations, say 27s to 28s per 1001 b; while medium quality is dull of sale at about 22s 6d per 1001 b. At the yards I sold, on account of Messrs. Lindsay, Maunsell, M'Donald, and others, 35 head, and turned out 25 head unsold. I have also placed 40 head privately at full rates. Fat Calves. — Only a few were penned, and brought extreme rates. I sold as high as ,£3 5s each. Fat Sheep. — "Upwards of 1200 were penned, only about onehalf being required by the trade, the balance being turned out. The greater proportion were of but ordinary quality, in fact most of the fat stock now coming forward sliow signs of falling off in condition. Prime cross-breds are saleable at lates equal to 3sd to 3£d per lb., and merinoes at 2f dto 3d per IT). At the yards and privately we have sold 550 at market rates. Fat Lambs. — None were penned, the demand being very limited, owing to the lateness of the season. Store Cattle. — There is a good demand for quiet, weE-con-ditioned cattle for winter feeding, at £5 10s. to £7 for bullocks, and J>4 10s. to <£5 10s. for cows, or for mixed herds, if sold wilh right of grass until spring. I have sold 200 head during the week. . Store Sheep. — Although buyers are plentiful for almost every description of sheep, transactions are unimportant, owing to the limited number offering. Buyers are disposed to give the following rates : — Cross-breds, four-tooth and over, 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d.; ditto, two-tooth, 20s. to lls.j ditto lambs, Bs.; merino ewes, two, four, and six-tooth, Bs .to 9s. 6d.j ditto, ditto, full-mouthed, ss. to 65.; ditto wethers, two, four, and six-tooth, 7s. 6d. to Bs. 6d.; ditto ditto, full-mouthed, 6s. to 6s. 6d. At above prices we have sold 1,400 of various sorts. Wool. — Cablegrams per Otstgo advise the. London wool sales as progressing with good competition, and prices hardening. In this market there is nothing doing, excepting in odd lots of faulty mixed' wool suitable for fellmongers, of' which we sold a few bales at satisfactory rates to-day. Sheepskins. — At the usual weekly sale, held at" the Qtago Wool Stores to-day, competition was animated. A large number of both butcher's green and station- dry skins were disposed of. Green skins, from Is. lid. to 3s. 9d. each ; dry skins, pelts, Is. 3d. to Is. 6d- each ; full wool, ss. 7d. ; mixed station, 7d. to B£d. per lb. Himes continue in good request. Good heavies sold to-day at at 225. 3d. to 235. 9d. ; mediums, 16s. 3d. to 20s. Tailow. — We sold a few lots of mixed, fair quality, at 28s. 6d. j inferior, 255. j rough fat, 15s. 9d. to 16s. 6d. Grain. — This market continues inactive. With the exception of a few shipments of oats to Australia, sales are confined to small parcels for local requirements, and are without any change in value. Oats : Feed, 2s. Bd. to 2s. lOd. j milling, 3s. Wheat : Finest northern, 4s. sd. to 4s. 6d. ; ordinary, 3s. 9d. to 3s. lOd. Barley , Superior malting, scarce at 6s. j ordinary very unsaleable. Mb. Skene reports the prospects of the working man are brigh enough at present. Skilled trades are active. Road, rail, and farm take every strong arm they can get. Interruption to work on account of the winter weather may be looked for, but there is much less lost time here than in Great Britain from that cause. A good many say they cannot get work at their particular calling. Engineers, blacksmiths, &c, such should take the first work offering. It is more creditable for men to do that than to grumble and growl. In fact, suit themselves to the country and not expect the country to stand still and study them. People coming hero must expect to meet hardships. Af terwardß, they are more thought of. Any who say they are too good for such. and. such work, should seek for -pastures new. Females servants are very scarce ; really experienced girls are very rare. Wages — Couples for farm or station, from £70 to £90. Shepherds, £60 and £70. Ploughmen, £52 to £65, and £70. Useful servant girls, from £26 to £52. Boys and girls, 6s. to 15s per week. Masons, carpenters, and bricklayers, 12s. to 14s. per day. Cabinetmakers, 10s. per day. Labourers, Bs. and 9s. per day. Shopmen and clerks dull. Cooks, stewards, barmen, and grooms, range from 20st.t9 60s. per week, but slack,