COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 191, 24 November 1876, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Mb. Henby Dbiveb, on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, reports as follows for the week ending November 22, 1876 :—

Fat Cattle. — A large supply of about 185 head were yarded to-day, a large proportion of which were of good to prime quality. In consequence of tho number yarded, prices slightly receded, best quality realising— say, for bullocks, from £12 to.£l7j cows, £8 10s to £12— or equal to 32s to 33s per lOOlbs for prime quality. At the yards we sold 40 head, and have duricg the week sold 50 head privately. Fat Calves. — A few offering. Good vealers are worth 40s to 60a, according to weight and quality. Fat Sheep. — About 1800 were penned, consisting of cross-breds, all of which were shorn with tbe exception of one lot of 500. We quote shorn sheep at from 12s to 13s 6d — or equal to 2d to 2^d per lb ; in the wool, at 17 s — or 3d to 3±d. At the yards we sold 300 at above rates.

Fat Lambs.— A large supply of 300 pennod, which sold at from 8s to 12s 6d, according to size and quality. At the yards we sold 120, and during the week have placed 1000 privately for forward delivery. Store Cattle continue in good demand at late quotations — .say, from £6 10s to £9 for bullocks, and £4 10s to~£6 10s for cows. We shall offer 300 head at Mosgiel on the sth prox.

Wool. — Cablegrams dated London, November 8, advise continued great competition at the sales in progress, prices have advanced to February rates, thereby recovering the total fall in prices from that date. This has taken all interested in this staple by surprise, gratifying to growers, however perplexiug for buyers to guide their operations. Some small clips were offered at the sales this afternoon, for which there was keen competition, greasy cross-breds realising B|d to 9Jd ; menno, 8J to 9£ — shewing a near approach to last season's rates. Sheepskins. — We catalogued 1500 skins, which participatedj in advanced rates for wool ; green crosa-breJs, none ; merinoes, 5s Id j dry croBS-breds, up to 5s 3d; merinoes, 4s 9d. Hides are exceedingly dull. It was with great difficulty we effected a clearance of the lots we offered. Wet salted at 3d to 3£d per lb for good conditioned; inferior lots very low prices. The fall in leather has so reduced the value of hides in all markets that shippers cannot operate. Tallow continues in brisk demand, very medium quality bringing 25s 6d to 30s 6d.

Grain. — Wheat is chiefly out of farmers' hands and not obtainable, though with a fuither advance in flour to £16 per ton, high rates could be obtained. It is satisfactory to be able to report that the next harvest promises to be large, and will be foar weeks earlier than usual, if propitious ripening weather succeeds the favorable growing, almost ioicing season. New wheat is expected in the mills in the Oam&ru district in January. Oats are in better Bupply and reported to be a little easier • we made sales of fine feed to-day at 2s 3d. Barley is more enquired for, feeding samples being requited to take place of fowls' wheat, of which there is little iv the market. Malting samples are still neglected.

Me. Skenjs reports for the week ending November 22, 1876, us follows : — The demand for station and farm people is almost satisfied for the present ; for ordinary day laborers there is a steady enquiry, but employers complain of the quality of the men. Couples, with country training, are at last moving off. Skilled trades are mere active, und men, with colouial experionce, can easily get work. Hotel servants are more asktd for with the.near approach of the holidays. .Female servants, trained, are very rare. Sloieraen and clerks must show good references to get placed. Wages — Couples, £65, £70, and £8J ; shepherds, £(i 5 and i7O j ploughmen, £52, £55, and £60 ; duy labor, road, rail, and bush, 8s aud 9s ; cooks, waiters, barmen, grooms, &c, 25* to 50<j ; house gills, 10s, 12s, und 15s ; hotel girls, 12s, 15s, 20*, and up to 30a ; diiry people, 15s to 20s ; boys and girls, 6s to 10s ; shopmeu and deiks, 30s, 50s and 60s j shearers, 17s 6d and 2Js. Mr. A. Meucer reports as tollows for the week ending November 22, 1876, retail prices ouly : — Fresh butter, in £ and lib prints, Is to Is 2d ; fresh butter, in lumps, lid; powdered aud salt butter Is to Is 2J ; fresh butter is still very plentiful, and the grocers are salting down lar ge quantities every week, and no demand for salt butter. Uneese, be&i quality, Is 2d ; new season cheese (five), Is 2d j side and rolled bacon, lid to Is ; Colonial hams, la 2d ; English hums, Is 6d ; eggs are now very scarce and retailing, Is 6 to Is 8i per dozen. Messes. M. and J. Meenan, George Street, report the following as the latest quotations : — Flour— Large bags, £16 ; small do, £16 10s per ton. Oatmeal— £l3 10s per ton. Pearl barley — £22 per ton. Urau — £5 15s per ton, including bags. Pollard— £U 10s per ton. Chuff-~£l per ton. Hay — .£4 per ton. potatoes — £4 to £i lUs per ton. Carrot* £2 10d per ton. Wheat— 4s tid to 6s per bushel, lor good milling samples. .Barley— 2a 3d to 2s 9d per bushel. Oats —2s Id to 2s 3 J per buthel. Cheese— Bd to 9£d per lb.

Me. J. Vezey reports for the week ending November 22, 1876 : — Itetail : Roast bee!, 6d to 8d per lb. ; boiling do., 4d to od per 1b ; stewiug do., 4d to (id per lb.; aleak, (id to 9d per lb.; mutton, 3d to Hd perlb.T veal, 4d to Si per lb.} pork, 9d to lod per lb.; lamb, 3s (id u:id 4a 6d per quarter.