Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 262, 10 May 1878, Page 13

Commercial.

Mr. Henry Driver (on behalf of the N. Z. L. and M. A. Co.) reports for the week ending May Stli :—: — The following fat stock came forward at the Yards to-day, viz. : — 224 head cattle, 1333 sheep. Fat Cattle.— Only 70 to 80 of the number yarded were in fat condition, the balance being little "better than stores. About 150 found buyers, and the remainder were held over or sold as stores. Best pens of bullocks brought from £9 to £13 10s ; do cows, £6 10s to £!)— or 27s 6d per 100 lbs for prime beef. Fat Sheep. — Owing to the small number forward, and the fact that butchers were nearly out of mutton, sheep advanced at least Is (id per head on last quotations. Best pens of cross-breds brought from 10s 6d to 13s 6cl ; merinos, 6s (id to 9s — or 2£d per lb for former, aud 2£d for latter. We sold 300 at the Yards. " Store Cattle. — There has been a fair inquiry for quiet bullocks and cows for winter feeding at recent quotations. Store Sheep. — The season bsing now over, nothing is doing in this description of stock, and prices remain without change. Wool. — We are without any advices during the week from any European wool market. The opening of the May and June series of the London wool sales on the 14th is looked forward to with great interest, as a large quantity of Otago wools will then be offered. We sold a few odd parcels oi' wool at otir auction on Monday. Green butchers' brought advanced rates, up to Ss 3d for bast cross-breds, but dry country skins were not so eagerly competed for, and brought ii regular prices. Hides. — We sold 170, mostly wet salted. Average good condition sold at 4d per lb, or from 14s to 18s ; heavy weights, 20s to 30s each; the latter a very superior lot of extra heavies in fine condition from the slaughteryards of Messrs Keenan and Morgan, Drybrcad. Tallow was in brisk demand at rather higher rates. Dark mixed brought 26s : good, 28s to 30s. Grain. — Wheat is in a little better demand. There is some enquiry for parcels for shipping. Millers are buying at 4s Id to 4s Gd, for prime, dry, choice descriptions : secondary, 4s to 4s 3d. Oats \ continue in good demand, for export', at 3s 3d to 3s 4d, for fine feed, to 3s 5d to 3s 6d for milling. Barley : Malting samples", prime quality, are ready sale at J3s to 5s 3d ; veiy cuoice stout grain, 5s Gd ; milling samples, 3s Gd to 4s ; feeding, 3s. Mr. Skene reports for the week ending May 8 as follows :— There is not the shadow of an excuse for any man or woman going Kile, there being plently of plain work in town and country. Skilled tradesmen of all sorts are well employed, especially builders. The ironworkers make few complaints at present. Shepherds and couples are in fair demand for the season. Too many are now flocking iuto town from the harvest and thrashing, thankful to get any light work. A good many would prefer no work if they could scramble through. Day labourers at bush, fencing, road, and rail, are fully employed. Hotel people of experience are in large demand- Wages— Couples, £Go to £90 ; ploughman, £52, £55, and £60 : cooks, boots, waiters, 20s to 30s per week ; clay labour, 8s and 9s ; carpenters, 10s, 12s, and Lite ; house girls, 10s to 15s ; hotel girls, 12s, los, 20s, and 30s ; shepherds, £(35 and £70 ; dairy girls, men, and boys, 10s to 15s, 20s, and 25s ; g^rdners, 2os, 30s, 4Ss. Mr. A. Mercer reports for the week ending May 8 :— -lletail prices only :— Fresh butter in & and lib prints, Is 3d to Is 4d per lb ; fresh butter in lumps, Is 2d ; powdered and salt butter, Is 2d. Fresh butter is getting scarce, particularly in the brands that takes the market best. Bait butter in keg in good demand, at 10c! per lb. Cheese, best quality, old and new, 8d to lOd ; side and rolled bacon, Is to lOd ; Colonial hams, lid to Is ; English hams, Is 2d to Is 4d, the same to be said of English cheese. Eggs are very scarce, scarcely any in the market, and retailing at present at 3s Gd per doz. Mr J. Vezey reports for the week ending May 9, 1878, retail : Boasting beef, 5d to 8d per ft ; boiling do., 3d to 5d per lb ; stewing do, 4d to 6d per ft ; steak, 6d to 8d per lb ; mutton, 2id to Bdper lb ; real, 4d to Sd per ft ; pork 6d to 8d per ft ; lamb 2s 6d to 4s per quarter. F Mr J. Fleming reports (wholesale prices) for the week ending May 8, 1878, as follows: — Oats (feed), 3s 3d per bushel Wheat— milling, 4s 6d ; chicks, 3s to 3s 4d. Barley, malting, 4s to 4s 6d ; feed, 3s to3s6d. PoUai-J, £5 10s per ton. Bran, £40s, bags included. Flour, large bags, £11 ; small, £11 10s. Oatmeal, £17. New Potatoes, 3s 6d per cwt. Old Hay, £7 10s per ton. New Hay, hi 10s per ton. Chaff, £4 10s per ton. Straw, &2 per ton.