Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 237, 16 November 1877, Page 12

Commercial.

Mr. Hkxky Dkiver (on behalf of the N.Z. L. and M. A. Coml>niy). reports for the week ending Nov. 14, 1877 : ■ Fat Cattle.— A lartrc supply- of 180 were yarded, a greater portion of which were from moderate to medium quality, and at the latter end of the sales creat difficulty was experienced in finding buyers, a few pens having to be turned out unsold. We quote really prime quality at 30s per 1001 b; medium to ordinary, 2.">s to 27s 6(1. At the yards we hold 40 head on nccount of Messrs Anderson and Carswell.

Fat Calves.— Only about 10 came forward, and sold at fully up to late quotations.

Fat Sheep. — 1065 were penned, chiefly crossbreds shorn and in the fleece. Best cros.>.-bre<l.s (in the wool) brought from 14s (id to 17.-, <;<! ;do (shorn), 8s fid to lls— or equal to 3d per lb for former and l^dto ljd for latter. At the yards we sold 1100 cross-breds' and merinos, on account of Mo\sr.«. Logan, Anderson, Carswell. Maben and M'Donald. at above quotations. '

Fat Lamb*.— ."it 7 were penned, most of which found buyers although at considerably under last week's prices. We sold 280 at fiom 7s Od to 1 l.s 6d.

Store Cattle. — Continued dry weather is preventing the usual active demand at this season. However, a fair inquiry exists for bullocks at £<j to £7 10s ; do cows, from £4 4s to £.'> .is. Next week we bhall offer two very superior lots — one at Palinerston, on the 20th • and the other at Mosgic-I, on the 23rd. '

Store Sheep. — We have no transactions to report, nor do we anticipate any business being done until after shearing. Wool. — The produce of the early sheds is now arriving in town. So far as we have had an opportunity of examining any lota to hand we find them in superior condition, both as regards length and soundness of staple. We have already good inquiries for the new clip, and we advise our constituents to send their lots to the auction sales without naming a price previously to private buyers, and thereby not lose the benefit of the competition of a number of new buyers which the comparative superiority of this season's clip in Now Zealand to the Australian is already attracting to our coming wool sales. Sheepskins— We had a large catalogue of skins on Monday— over 2000— which sold briskly at advanced rates; we quote best crossbreds and merinos at 5s lOd each ; station skins, 6jd to 74d ncr lb. ; lambs, Is to Is 2d. * r* v

Hides were in good competition at full rates. We sold 300 mostly wet salted, from 3* to 4|d per lb ; heavies, 21s to 23s • mediums, 15s to 20s ; inferior, 10s to 13s each. Tallow is dull. To make sales we have to reduce limits We sold prime at £30 10s ; medium, £26 to £28.

Grain continues without any improved demand, excepting a little more inquiry for choice wheat for mixing, which is not offering. Quotations are nominal, 6s to 6s 6d. Oats — no business doing. Feed —saleable, 2s lOd to 2s lid ; milling, 3s to 3s Id. Barley quite neglected. &

Mr. Skene's labour report for the week ending November 14 • The trouble at present is to get a sufficient number of suitable men and women to satisfy the demand. Work is plentiful, but too many arc quite unsuitable for it. We are quite inundated with new arrivals, totally unfit to grapple with stern work. Shepherds and trained ploughmen are very scarce, and they are at once picked up. Couples are a little slow ; fortunately those with families are not rejected so much as they were. Men for bush, road, and rail are fairly employed. Shearers arc fast converging on the different stations. Female servants in every department are very short. People suitable for hotels are in better demand. The building trade is active ; even the despondent ironworkers are brightening up. Wages Gardeners grooms, waiters, Sec., 20s to 40s , couples, £65 to £85 ; musterers 30a to 60s ; shepherds, £65 to £75 : day labour, 7s, Bs, and 9s ; milkers. 15s to 25s ; boys, 5s to 10s ; hotel and house girls, 10s, 12s, 15s ; upper do., 20s, 255. and 30s ; station cooks, 30s ; ploughmen, £52, £55, £60 and £65 ; storemen and clerks, 30s to 60s.

Mb J. Fleming- reports (wholesale prices) for the week ending Nov. 8, 1877, as follows :— Oats (feed) per bushel, 3s to 3s 3d. Wheat (chicks), 3s Qd to 4s. Barley, malting, 4s to 4s 6d ; feed, 2s 9d to 3s Pollard, £6 10s. Bran, £4 ss, bags included. Flour, large bao-s £16 10s to £17 ; Oatmeal, £17. Potatoes, £2 per ton." Hay, £6 per ton. Chaff, £"> per ton. Straw, £2 per ton.

Mr J. Vezey reports for the week ending Nov. 8, 1877, retail • Roasting beef, 5d to 8d per ft ; boiling do., 3d to 5d per lb ; stewing do, 4d to Od per ft ; .steak, Od to 8d per lb ; mutton, 2M to 5d per lb • veal, 4d to Sd per ft ; pork Gd to 8d per ft ; lamb 3s to 4s per quarter. l

Mb. A. Meecer's market report for the week ending November 16. Retail prices only. Fresh butter in \ and Ilb prints, 7d to 9d • extra brands, lid to Is. Fresh butter, in lumps, 7d to 8d per lb ' powdered and salt butter, Bd. Fresh butter is still very plentiful' although seveial dairies have commenced cheese making. There is no demand for salt butter, and the grocers do not care for taking any more fresh butter than they have consumption for. Cheese, best quality, lOd to Is. Side and rolled bacon. 9d. Colonial hams, lOd to Is. English hams. Is 3d, no demand. Eggs arc in good demand, and have risen to Is (5d per dozen.