COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 217, 22 June 1877, Page 13

COMMERCIAL.

'" Mb. Henry Driver (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company) reports for the week ending June 20, as follows :—: — Fat Cattle — 113 head were yarded at the market to day, which were of fair to good quality. All changed hands at about lust week's quotations, notwithstanding that the small supply forwarded might have been expected to result in improved prices. Best pens of bullocks brought from £11 to £14 ; do cows, £7 to £9 10e — or equal to 30s per 1001 b fof prime quality. At the yards we sold 45 head at above rates. Fut Calves. — Nine came forward, which sold at from 1 8s to 655. Fat Sheep. — The large number of 3650 were penned, consisting of good to prime quality, and all found buyers at slightly under last week's prices. Best cross-breds brought from 10s 6d to 13s 9d ; medium do, 8a 6d to 10a— or equal to a shade under 2£d per lb for prime quality. Store Cattle and Sheep.— The market for this class of stock remains as beforo reported. During the week we have sold 800 cross* breds and merinos, the former at from 7s 6d to Bs, and the latter at 3s 6d to 5s for full-mouthed wetheri. "Wool. — Press London cablegram, dated 16th June, quotes wool in keener demand ; prices higher. Sales close ou the 26th. This news has improved the demand here. At oar weekly eale on Monday

some lots of itragglera' wool brought higher rates 5 greasy merino 104 per lb. Sheepskins.— -At our auction on Monday we oatalogued 2000 skins, principally green slaughters. We had a very larso attendance} of bujers; every lot soM. Cros«-breds not so much sought after Ht merinos ; the former sold at 2i 9d to 3a 41 ; the latter 29 to 2s 8d • full merinos, 4< 8^ ; do crosß-breds, 5« 4d. Hides. — Shippers not being in the market this we«k, prices are a shade easier; good local demand, equal to 44 per lb. for good-emdi-tioned lots. Tallow. — Supply small. Inferior brought. .£26 ; medium, £23 to £31 ; good shipping lots of mutton are worth £34. Grain. —Wheat : Demand good. Holders very firm. P^imeat . milling sales at 7« 6d. A lino of 30,000 bushels of Northern is reported sold at 7a 4d— equal to the latest London quotation for New Zealand wheat. Oats : Shipping demand has slackened since Monday, Price? are from 3s 6d to 3s 7d for feed ; milling, 3s 8d to 3* 9d. Barley : More business has been doing in malting samples : some large lines have been sold at 4s 3d to 4s 6d for fair medium samples. Mb. Skene reports for the week ending June 20, 1877 :— Business has been greatly hindered during the week by the broken, wintry weather, but, of course, this is to be expected in tho dead of winter. Farm and Btation couples more off freely, if not too much encumbered with youngsters; fortunately, most farmers can now effer cottages to married people. Single ploughmen are in good demand, and really experienced men get as good wages as ever. The building trade is very much hindered by the weather, but, of course, men with forethought are prepared for such contingencies. Shepherds are nowhere at present. Shopmen and clerks are very difficult to pi nee, business being quiet, in shops and warehouses necessarily affects them. Bushmen and mills are very quiec. Miners are well employed. Female servants are more plentiful, but. experienced ones are not easily got. Wages: Couples, £65, £70, and J68O; diy labor, 7s , Bs., and 9a. ; ploughmen, .£52 to £60 ; hotel females- 125., 155., 205., and 255.; private house do., 10s.. 125., 155., and 20j.; men cooks, waiters, grooms, gardeners, 205., 255., and up to sOs. per week | carpenters, 10s., lls., and 125.; boys and girls, 65., to lO^.j shopmen and clerks, 30s. to 60s. per week. Mr. J. Fleming reports (wholesale prices) for the week ending June 20th, 1877, as follows : — Oats (feed), per bushel, 3s 3d to 3a 6d ; milling, 3s 3d. Wheat (chicks), 4s to 4s 6d. Barley, malting, 4s to 4s 6d; feed, 3s. Pollard, scarce. Bran, £i 15s, bags included. Flour, large bags, £18 ; small, £18 10s. Oatmeal, .£2O. Potatoes, JJ3 15s per ton. Hay, £4 5s per ton. Chaff, £4 10s per ton. Straw, £2 per ton. Mr. J. Vezey reports for the week ending June 20th, 1877, retail : — Roast 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, 24 to 5d per lb ; veal, 4d to 8d per lb j pork, 6d to 8d per lb j lamb, scarce, 2s to 3s 6d per quarter. Mr. A. Mercer reports as follows for the week ending June 20, 1877, retail prices only : — Fresh butter, in & and lib prints, Is 6d and Is 7d per lb ; fresh butter, in lumps, Is 4d ; powdered and salt butter, Is 4d. Fresh butter is not so plentiful as it -was, but the market is still well supplied. Salt butter in keg is very plentiful, and is at present a drug on the market. No demand at any price. Cheese very plentiful, and good quality, lOd to Is; Bide and rolled bacon, lOd to lid; Colonial hams, Is to Is 2d; beef ham, 9d; English hams, Is 3d to Is 4d (no demand) ; English cheese, Is 3d, no demand ; Eggs are very plentiful now, and retailing at 2s per dozen, and likely to be lower in price.