COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 196, 29 December 1876, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Me. BTeney DBIVER(on behalf of the New Zealand Lorn and Mercantile Agency Co.) reports for the week ending December 27, as follows :—: — Fat Cattle — Although only a moderate supply of about 120 head were yarded to-day, the market was very dull, bidding being entirely without spirit. The prices realised, however, were equal to about 30a ncr lOOlbs. At the yards aud privately we have sold, during the week, 60 head. Fut Calves— A few only W ere penned, and brought fully late quotations. Fat Sheep. — 1500 were penned, which was in excess of the requirements of the trade, owing to the heavy supplies offering. Good quality very heavy weight cross-breds brought only 10s to lls, and one or two lots of exceedingly fine sheep had to be turned out unsold. A. few fair quality merinos brought 7s. We Bold 300 at these rates. Fat Lambs — 200 were penned, and a portion sold at late quotations. Store Cattle— The market is without alteration. First-class bullocks are saleable at from £7 10s to .£8 10s ; do. cows, from £5 to £6 10a. At Mosgiel on Friday last we sold, on account of J. F. Kitching, Esq., of Moa Flat, very superior cows and bullocke, which realised the highest prices during the season. Store Sheep — The market continuei very quiet. Buyers for young sheep are plentiful, with' few offering, while aged merinoee, bath ewea and wethers, are" offering freely, with but few buyers. Wool. — Latest telegram from London — December 19 th — reports wool market quiet, prices firm, In this market buyers aie wailing for the opening sales at the commencement of the year. , Sheepskins. — The holidays have interfered with usual supplies for the sales to-day ; the few offering have been readily taken up at full rates. Hides. — The same remark applies : no alteration in demand or price — 3£d to 4d per lb for wet salted. Tallow is wanted both for shipment and local consumption. Prices — inferior, 25s to 28s ; fair to gooo, 30s to 325. Grain. — Wheat and flour quiet, but firm. Oats are in good demand ; supplies small ; feed, 2a 2d to 2s 3d ; milling, 2$ 4d. Barley —Feed and milling, good demand, 2s 6d to 3s ; malting quiet, 43 to 43 6d. Mk. Skene reports for the week ending December 27, 1876, as follows : — Affairs in the labor market are sound ; mostly all can get work who are willing, although, perhaps, not in all cases to their liking. Neither masters nor men are inclined to enter into fixed engage neuts until after the holidays, when, with the certainty of a heavy harvest, employment will be easily found. Tbe demand for hotel servants, and for females for all departments is very brisk. Couples are more asked for. Day labor at pick and shovel is plentiful ; but working men spoil their prospects by sticking too closely to town. A few shopmen and clerks are moving. The building and irou trades are quiet. Wages— Couples, £S5, £70, and £80 ; ploughmen, .£52, £55, and £60 ; shepherds, £60 to £70 ; d«y labor, 8s aud 9s ; shearers, 17s 6d to 20s per 100; dairy hands, 15s to 20s ; house girls, 10s to 15s ; hotel girla, 12s, 15s, 20s, and 25a ; cooks, waiters, gardeners, &c , 25s to 50s. Air. A.. Mercer reports as follows for the week ending December 27, 1876, retail prices only:— Fresh butter, in I and lib prints, Is to Is2d; fresh butter, iv lumps, lOi ; powdered and salt butter Is; fresh butter is still very plentiful, and the grocers are salting down. large quantities every week, and no demand for salt butter. (Jueese, best quality, Is 2d ; hew season cheese (fine), Is2d; side and rolled bacon, lid to Is ; Colonial hams, Is 2d ; English hums. Is 6d ; eggs are now very plentiful, Is 6d to Is 8J per dozen. Mb. J. Vezey reports for tho week ending December 27, 1876 : — Uetail : Hoast beef, 6d to Bd. per lb. ; boiling do., 4d to s'l p.-r lb ; stewing do., 4d to Cd per lb.; steak, Gd to 9.1 per lb.; mutton, 3d to 6d per lb.; veal, 4J to SJ per It).; pork, 9d to lOd per lb.; lamb, 3s and 4s per quarter. Ma. M. C. Fleming- reports for tin} week ending December 27, 1876, as follows : — (Jits (feed), per bushel, 2s Id to 2s 2J ; milling, 2s •Id. Wheat, milling, 6s to 6s 3d ; fowls, 3s 6d to. 4s. Barlejr, malting, 4sto4*6d; feed, 2s 31 to 2s Gd. Pollard, £6 10s, bags included. Bran, £5 15s, bags included. large bags, £16 ; sin dl, £16 10. Oatmeal, £12. Potatoes, old, 6* to 8s p -r curt j pjtaoes, new, 10s o lls per cwt. Hay, <£!• per ton. Oliatf, £I p r ton. S raw, Jt2 p r tou