Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 304, 14 February 1879, Page 16

Commercial.

Mb Henry PniVEß(on behalf of the N.Z.L. and M.A. Company, Limited) reports for the week ending 12th February, 1879, as follows : — ■" ' Fat Cattle.— The small supply of 87 head was yarded for to-day's sale, consisting of medium to good quality. Competition was fairly animated, and prices obtained were rather over last week's rates. Bullock s brought from £9 to £14 per head ; cows, from £7 to figequal for prime beef, to from 30s to 32s Cd per lOOlbs. Fat Calves —7 yarded, and were sold at satisfactory prices. *at Sheep.— lGG3 penned. The trade having bought largclv last week, bidding was languid, and sales difficult to effect, and prices showed no improvement on last quotations. We disposed of a few small lots at from ]£d to 2d per lb,, at which we quote mutton. Country bales.— Land : On Saturday, the Bth inst., sold 30 sections \"i , township of Clinton, at an average of £17 10s, on account of Fitzclarence Roberts, Esq. Wool.— We sold a small catalogue of farmers' lots this afternoon. The attendance of buyers was not full, and bidding kcked spirit. It was with difficulty that former prices were obtained. Merino fleece, both in grease and washed, were in good demand, and brought very full rates. Ihe former sold at from 7± to lOd, the latter from 13d to 1»W per lb., the last named price being from the stud flock of John Johnston, Esq., Kaihiku. Crossbrcds barely maintained former rates, particularly Leicestcrs and three-quarter-breds, which, if in at all heavy and cottcd condition, brought very low prices. » -cv Sb( J e P skins -— At our usual weekly sale on Monday we catalogued 1..00 skins, which were fairly competed for, though without improvement in prices, the stormy weather preventing somefellmongers from buying their usual requirements. Cross-breds in wool sold at 3s »d to 4s ; lambs, lid to Is 4d each ; station skins, 4j}d to oM ; pelts, 5d to 9d each. Tallow.— Small parcels of inferior tallow sold at 22s : rcu»h fat, 21s to 21s Gd. ° Grain.— Wheat market quite stagnant ; no business doing ; prices are nominal. Oats : Market quiet ; old corn moves off in small parcels, at 3s Gd to 3s 7d. The unsettled state of the weather has prevented new grain from coming to maiket ; dealers are without stock, waiting for arrivals of new pram. Barley : Malting samples are inquired for. Brewers getting low in stock, fair prices will be given for early samples. Messbs. A. & H. Mercer report for the week ending Feb. 12 :— Retail prices only — Fresh butter. £and lib. prints, test and favourite brands, Is 2d per lb ; ordinary "butter, Is per lb ; fresh butter in lumps lid per lb : powdered and salt butter, Is. The market is still well supplied with fresh butter, and although several of the shopkeepers are salting down large quantities, prices are looking up. bait butter in keg, K)d to lid per lb, no demand ; cheese, best quality, lOd to Is per lb ; side and rolled bacon lOd to lid per lb : colonial hams, Is per lb ; English hams, Is 3d per !b : eegs still scarce and retailing at Is lOd to 2s per doz. Mb. Skene reports far the week ending February 12 :— Harvest operations are now in full swing, and every man is at work. Ordinary works on roads, Railways, harbour works, &c, arc all crying for men. Wages were never so high as at present in eveiy department, lown and Country— Shopmen and clerks are poorly paid, in comparison to ordinary labourers ; hotel servants are in good demand and trained people are scarce. The Building Trade keeps very active. Couples are more asked for. Men trained to bush work are much wanted. female servants are a shade more plentiful. WagesCouples, £7r> to £90 ; harvesters, 30s to oOs; cooks waiters, boots, &c, 20s to 40s ; ploughmen and shepherds. £00, £Go, and £70 : day labourers, Bs, 9s, ]os, and 11s per day ; girls, 10s, 12s, 15s, 20s. and rfOs : milkers. l.>s. 2()s, and 2.>s ; boy.«, (is to 10s. Mb. J. Fleming reports (wholesale prices) for the week ending l<cb. 12, 1879, as follows :— Oats (feed). 3s (id to 333 3 9d per bushel. Wheat— 4s ; chicks, 3s to 3s 4d. Bailey, malting, 5s to (X Gd ; feed 3m to 3s Gd. Pollard. £C> per ton. Bran, £4 10s. Flour, large bags, £10 ; small, £10 jos. Oatnual, £19 10s. Potatoes, £5 0s to £G per ton. Hay, new, £4 per ton ; old do. £G per ton. Chaff, £4 10s to £•> 10s per ton. Straw, JC2 per ton. Onions, 10s. Cheese, GM. Rolled bacon Sid. MR- J. Vezey reports for the week ending Feb. 12, as follows : Retail prices. Roasting beef, Gd to 8d per lb ; 'boiling do, 3d to Gd per lb ; stewing do. 4d to Gd per lb ; strak. Gd to 8d per lb ; mutton, 2id to 4d per lb . veal 4d to 8d per lb ; p^-V, Gd to 9d per lb ; lamb Zs Od to Js Od per quarter.