Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 288, 8 November 1878, Page 15

Commercial.

+ Mr. Henry Driver (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company) reports for the week ending October Gth, as follows :—: — The following fat stock came forward at the yards to-day :—ll4: — 114 head cattle. 18 calves, 750 sheep, and 358 lambs. Fat Cattle. — Although only a moderate supply was yarded, wo have to report another fall in value of fully 2s Gd per 1001 b., owing to the trade having made purchases privately. Best pens of bullocks brought from £li to £17 5s ; do. cows, £9 10s to £13 — or equal to 37s Gd per 1001 b for prime beef, and 35s for medium. We sold 45 head at above prices on account of Messrs. Thomson, Wallace, and Shand. Fat Calves. — These were all sold at from 10s to 255, according to size and quality. Fat Sheep.— The very small supply caused a rise of fully 2s to 2s Gd per head for shorn sheep. Best cross-breds realised 15s to 20s shorn, and 17s Gd to 23s in the wool— or equal to 3j£d to 4d per lb for prime mutton. We sold a very prime lot at top prices on account of Mr. Buckland. Fat Lambs. — Although the number forward was a large one, competition was very brisk, and all sold at from 8s to 12s 6d. Store Stock. — In this class of stock nothing of importance whatever is doing. Grain. — Wheat : Market is quite stagnant, buyers and sellers holding aloof from doing business. Stocks are getting lighter at the outports. In Dunedin there is none, except in. one or two millers' hands, but unless a more active export demand arises both for flour and wheat, no improvement can be expected. Nominal quotations for prime milling, 4s to 4s 2d. Oats : There is a steady demand for this grain, both for local consumption and export, at 4s to 4s Id for good feed ; milling, '4s 2d. Barley : Late arrivals have supplied present demand. Prices are nominally unaltered — Gs to Gs 6d for good malting ; seed, 4s to 4s Gd. Wool. — The next London wool sales arc fixed for the 19th inst., which arc not likely to be improved by the large quantity held over from the previous sales, making altogether 180,000 bales for the closing sales of the year. Shearing is commenced pretty generally in the earlier districts amongst paddock sheep, the wool turning off in sounder condition than was expected. Sheepskins. — At our weekly auction on Monday, we catalogued 1000 skins, which were in much brisker demand than the previous week, and realised fully higher rates. Butchers' cross-breds realised from 5s to 5s 7cl ; merinos, 4s Id to 4s sd. Hides. — We cannot quote any improvement in prices or demand. Best heavies bring 3|-d per lb. Tallow. — Supply small. Medium mixed, 23s Gd per cwt. ; in* fcrior, 22s ; rough fat, 21s. Mr. Skene reports for the week ending Nov. 6, as follows J— Plenty of life in the labour market now. Arable farm work is well through, but the sheep stations are getting into working order sooner than usual. There is a large demand for shearers and shepherds. Couples with families are shamefully neglected. Milkers young and old arc in great demand, so are hotel servants if well trained. In many trades there is a great scarcity of people, such as tailors, bricklayers, upholsterers, &c. Day labour is plentiful, and well paid out of town. Girls are very much needed. Shopmen and clerks, do?i't come here. Wages — Day labour, Bs, 9s, 10b, and lls ; couples, £65 to £90 ; shepherds and ploughmen, £55 to £70 ; girls, 10s, los, 20s, and up to 40s ; cooks, waiters, boots, 20s to 40s : station cooks, smiths, and carpenters, 30s to 50s ; boys and girls, 5s to 10s. Messes. A. & H. Mercer report for the week ending Nov. 5 :—: — Betail prices only. Fresh butter in A- and Ilb prints, first rate brands, Is 2d to Is 3d per lb ; second quality, Is to Is 2d. Fresh butter in lumps Is to Is Id. Powdered and salt butter Is to Is 2d. The market is completely glutted with fresh butter land the grocers are salting down large quantities. Salt butter in keg, new, lid to Is per lb. Cheese, best quality, lOd ; side and rolled bacon, 9d to lOd ; colonial hams, Is ; eggs retailing at Is 4d to Is 6d per doz. Mr. J. Fleming reports (wholesale prices) -for the week J ending Nov. 6, 1878, as follows :— Oats (feed), 4s to 4s 3d per bushel. Wheat —4s ; chicks, 3s to 3s 4d. Barley, malting, 5s to Gs 6d ; feed 3s to 3s Gd. Pollard, £6 per ton. Bran, £5 10s. Flour, large ba«-s, £10 ; small, £10 10s. Oatmeal, £20. Potatoes, £4 10s to £5° per ton. Hay, £6 10s per ton. Chaff, £4 10s to £5 per ton. Straw, £2 per ton. Onions, 38s. Cheese, 7£d. Bacon, Bd, Mr. J. Vezey reports for the week ending Nov. 6, as follows :—: — Retail prices. Roasting beef, Gd to 9d per lb ; boiling do, 3d to Gd per lb • stewing do, 4d to Gd per lb ; steak, Gd to 9d per lb ; mutton, 4d to Gh per lb ; veal, 4d to 8d per lb ; pork, 6d to 8d per lb ; lamb, 4s to ss" Gd per quarter.