COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 137, 17 December 1875, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Mu. Hknuy Driver, on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, reports as follows for the week ending December 15 :—: — Knfc Cattle — A very full supply of 175 head very prime quality (•iittlo came forward at the weekly sale to-day, and coupled with the Curt Miat "pvenil nfour largest buyers had supplied themselves from private sources, prices receded about 2s Gd per lOOlbs on late quotations. B.^t bullocks brought from £13 to £15 ]0s; cows, £8 to I'll 10s, or equal to 32a per lOOlbs for prime quality. At the yards we «oM 80 head on nceount of John Grigg, Esq., Timavu, and Messrs. Little Brothers, of Palmersfon, a draft of 60 head from the former gentleman being considered the best lot of cattle that have been yarded for years past, and in an overstocked and dull market averaged j £13 12s Gd per bond. We have also placed 40 head private I.}'.1 .}'. Fat Calves — I here was also a full supply of these, 70 liead having i been penned. Host vealers averaged from 35s to 7<ss ; medium, 20s to 3()s. Our sales consisted of 30 head, on account of various owners. Fat Sheep- -We are obliged to report the continuance of a very dull market. 1,900 were penned, aud only about one-half found buyers at last week's quotations, say lGs to 17s 6cl for best cross-breds in the wool, and 10s Gd to 12s 6J shorn. At the yards and privately wcsold6Uo. Ifat Lambs. — 300 were penned, and Ihe greater portion sold, prices ran«ing from Si 6d to lls. We sold, ou account of various owners, GO at quotations. Store Cattle.— Owing to the reduction in prices obtained for the lasf^two or three weeks for fat cattle, we have to note a corresponding decline in the value of this description of stock. Good stores, however, are in fail demand at, say, £(> 10s to £7 10s for best bullocks, aud £4 to £5 for cows. At our sale at Mosgicl yesterday, and privately, we have placed during; the week 200 head. Store Sheep. — We are still unable to report any important business being done in this description of stock, and, therefore, any definite quotations would be quite speculative. We have numerous'inquii-iea ior eross-breds, four and six tooth, and for young merinoes from good nock.*, but at r resent prices there seems to be a wide difference beI tween values of buyers and sellers. Until rates are definitely [fixed, but little business can be expected. Wool. — We have no later intelligence from Europe. American advices per 'Frisco mail report wool market tinner but not higher. I Quotations are 4d to 5d per lb. reduction from corresponding time of ! last year. We offered at our weekly sale, this afternoon, some small - parcels of the new clip, most of whieli found buyers at full value, being ! an average reduction of about 2d per lb. onlaatyear's rates, evidencing a desire on the part of our buyers to purchase quite up to the latest price lists from the London sales. Anuexed is the price catalogue of j wool sales. We shall fix our opening wool sale after the arrival of the j Suez mail :— RP conjoined, merino greasy, 5 bales, 7sd; JB, 2 bales cross-bred greasy, Ojj-d ; R over Willowmead, OJri ; ditto, three bags pieces, 3d ; MM, 2 bales, ;cross-bred and merino, lOid ; 1 bag piece's, 3bd ; GT, 1 bale lacks, o.Ul ; WAM, 11 bales cross-bred hoggets, washed, 16d : WT, 3 bales pieces, 4^'d ; A, li bales cross-bred, lO'id ; A over NL, I bale scoured, damaged, 6[d. Sheepskins— Supply short, good competition. Green cross-breds, 5s 7d to (Js Id j chy skins, cross-breds,4s 7d to 5s 7d ; lambs, Is 2d to Is (id ; station skins, (5 l ,d to 7d per lb ; green pelts, Ad to 2d each; dry pelts, 7d. Grain — There has been less inquiry for -wheat the past week, millers being well stocked. Melbourne advices by telegram from our branch there quoteu wheat °d per bushel decline. Oats are hi greater inquiry, but none offering. Shipping parcels are wanted at 2s Id to -3 2d for good feed. Barley nominal. Mr. Skknk reports for the week ending December 15 :— People | are beginning- to look more cheerful again. It is time, for affairs have been very disheartening for some time back, principally caused by the cold backward spring. Wo are safe in saying- we have seen the last of it for a while. Men -who mean to work can now get a start in the country district. It is very foolish of somany remaining in town, except town-bred people, and they are decidedly the worst on' class. But too many such spend their time and strength bewailing their hard fate, instead of taking to the back country. Tlic main roads are always occupied, luit this remedy will not suit nil, for many arc unlit for the ordeal ; in fact, have been grossly misled in coming toOtago. Far too many come here from Melbourne, &c. Of course, they work out every chance there before honoring us with a visit. Couples are difficult to move just now. Female servants aru hardly to be got. They arc keeping back for tbo holidays. And why not ? Wages— Ploughmen, £52 to .£00 ; shop- | herds, <£70; couples, ,£73 to .£9O; dairy and odd hands, 15s to ri.">s: | per week; masons, 15s per day; carpenters, 12s and 13s per day; 1 house and hotel girls, 10s to 30s per week ; waiters, cooks, grooms, I gardeners, &c., 25s to 30s per week ; shop lads, 30s per week ; wool classers, 20s und 25s per day ; sheep shearers, 20s per 100. Mb. A . Mebcer reports for the week ending Decemher 33 — 1 Retail prices only : — Fresh butter, in I and 1 lb. prints, Is to Is 2d; , fresh butter, in lump, Is ; powdered and salt butter, Is to Is 2d; | the supply of fresh butter is still very plentiful, but some of the I dairies have commenced salting down, and making cheese ; salt i butter in keg, lid, bnt no demand ; cheese, of the best quality. Is |'-M; side and rolled bacon, Is 2d to Is 3d; colonial hams, la :\d ; I I'lnglish liauih, Ih(;<1 tolbSd; vggb are very sjuiu-o, and in g<jod 1 demand at I'^cr duseu.