COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 215, 8 June 1877, Page 12

COMMERCIAL.

Me. Henry Driver (on behalf of Hie New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company) reports for the week ending JuneFat Cuttle— l4o head were yarded to-day, chjeflv of good to prime quality. The bidding was very spirited throughout, and prices ndvauced 2s. 6Uper \oolb. on list week's quotuiions. Best pc-is of bullocks brought from JBU to £14; cows, £8 10a. to £11— jr equal to 30a. per 100l!> for prime qualiiy. „.,,,, .. - Fat Calves —23 were pern-ed, and readily found buyers at from 255. to 55s , aucor-lina t> weight and qu ility. Fat Sheep —1,800 were forward, but. being slv>rt of the requirements of the trade, last week* prices were fully maintained two lots ot really j-rime cross-bred* bringing fully 2td. per lb. W<> qu *c best cross-brcds at lls. 61. to 14s 6d. j medium do. 9s. to 11s.- or equal to 21 '. per In. for be«t mutton. ... - . ., Store Cattle. — We have inquiries for mixed lots of young cattle,

and also cattle for forward delivery for spring grazing, and have placed about 300 head under offer. Store Sheep. — There is still a fair enquiry for young sheep, both merino and cross-bred, with but few offering. There are no important transactions to report. Wool. — Latest cablegrams from London report wool sales closed quiet at opening rates, which evidently has been the result of large withdrawals. We sold a few small lots on Monday at our weekly auction, which brought full rates, a parcel of scoured fleece bringing 16|d. Sheepskins. —We catalogued 1,800 skins at our sales on Monday, which were well competed for, and brought fully up to Lite rates Butcl era' green crossbieds, 2s. 10J. to 3s. 4d. ; dry ditto, 2s. ss. to 3a. j merino*, Is. 7d. to 2s. 4d. Hides. — We catalogued 200, which brought advanced rates. Best heavies, wet-silled. 4£d. to sd. j green butchers', 21s. 6d. to 22s. 5 medium hides, 16s. to 20s. Tallow. — Shipping parcels sell at 345. j country lots, 30s. to 32*. Gd. Demand good. Grain. — Wheat is dearer. Prime samples are saleable at 75., down to ss. for inferior. Oats are very firm at 3s. Large Bales were made in the early part of the week at this figure. There are now no sellers under 3s. 6d. Stocks very light. B.irlej : There is no alteration to note in this grain. Fine malting there is none j medium samples sell at 4s. to 4s. 3d. ; light discoloured, 3s. 6d. to 3s. 9d. ; feeding grain more inquired for, 2s. 9d. Mb. J. Fleming reports (wholesale prices) for the week ending June 6, 1877, as follows :— Oats (feed), per bushel, 2s lOd ; milling, 3s. Wheat (chicks), 3s 9d to 4s. Barley, malting, 4s to 4s 6d; feed, 2s 6d to 3s. Pollard, scarce. Bran, -84 ss, bags included. Flour, large bags, £17; small, £17 10s. Oatmeal, .£l7. Potatoes, £3 15s per ton. Hay, £4 per ton. Chaff, £4 10s per ton. Straw, £2 per ton. Me A. Mbkcee reports as follows for the week ending June 6, 1877, retail prices only : — Fresh butter, in £ and lib prints, Is 4d to Is 6d per lb ; fresh butter, in lumps, Is 3d ; powdered and salt butter, Is 3d. Fresh butter this se.ison has been more plentiful than usual, and this week it is getting scarcer in good brands, and likely to advance. There is no demand for keg butter at Is Id to Is 2d. Cheese, lOd to Is ; English cheese, Is 3d to Is 4d per lb (no demand); side and rolled bacon, 9d to lOd per lb; English ham, Is 4d (little or no demand); beef ham, 91; eggs still Very scarce, but not much asked for at the present price, 3s to 3s 3d. Mr. J. Vezey reports for the week ending June 6, 1877, retail : — Eoast beef, 5d to 8d per lb ; boiling do, 4d to 5d per lb ; stewing do, 4d to 6d per lb ; steak, 6d to 9d per lb ; mutton, 2d to 5d per lb ; veal, 4d to 8d per lb ; pork, 6d to 8d per lb ; lamb, scarce, 2s to 3s 6d per quarter. Me. Skejte reports for the -week ending June 6, 1877 : — It is rather diffic dt at present to supply the demand for skilled f.irm men ; couplns are also readily picked up if accustomed to farm ways. The mu-ker is not I. early so much overstocked with couples as last year. Work is not steady in town : plenty work to be done in and around town, but men cannot get at it satisfactorily in the winter. Between city impro\ements, new buildings, tramways, and harbour works contemplatid! the prospects lor labouring men are encouraging. Shepherds aie still neglected, but there are very few duen!jas»ed. There is a fair demand for hotel people, principally females; mostly all the experienced smart girls are absorbed Dairy people are in constant request. Bushmen and mills are quiet. Garden' rs are now in season. This being the dull season in warehouses, storemen and clerks are hard to place. Wages: Oouple3, .£65, .£7O, and £80 j daylabor, 75., Bs. and 9a ; dairy people, 15s , 20s. 255. ; carpent. rs, 10s to 12s. ; shepheids, £60 to J670; hotel cooks, boots, waiters, grooms, 203., 255. and 405. ; hotel females, 125., 15s , 20*. and 30s ; private hands do , 10s., 125., 153. and 205. ; boys and girls, 6*. to 10*. ; storemen and clerka, 30s. to 605. ; gar lenera, 255. to 425.