Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 306, 28 February 1879, Page 15

Commercial.

t • Henry Dmvbb (on behalf of the N.Z.L. and M. A. Company, Limited) reports for the week ending 2Gth February, 1879, as toilows : — Fat Cattle.— Thfi very large supply of 300 head wa 3 yarded for to-day s market, 200 being fair to prime quality, the rest stores. The number to hand being considerably beyond the requirements of the trade, a reduction on last week's rates had to be submitted to. and sales even then were difficult to effect, except when the quality was really prime. Best bullocks brought up to £14 15s. per heid : cows do., up to £11 7s 6d. We sold two drafts on account of Wm. Shand, r^ and 4 lcx> To<ad > Es( l- We <l uote Prime beef at barely 30s per 1001 b ; medium do., 255. Fat Calves.— 37 yarded, and were sold at from 10s to 32s 6d each. *at sheep.— An average supply of 1852 penned, all cross-breds, some of which were prime quality. All found buyers at about last week s rates. Best wethers fetched up to 12s 9d per head ; medium do., 9s 6d to 10s Gd— equal to 2d to 2|d per lb., at which we sold a draft on account of J. C. Buckland, Esq. Fat Lambs.— Only 213 penned. Owing to the small supply prices advanced about 2s per head on recent quotations. We sold 17G at 7s Gd and 9s 6d each. Store sheep.— The demand for good sound young merinos is still $°?? d \r. We V°& merino wethers » 2 » *> and G-tooth, 5s Gd to Gs 6d ; «-tooth do., 4s Gd to os ; merino ewes, 2, 4, and 6-tooth, 7s Gd to 8s ; 8-tooth do., 4s Gd to is 9d ; half-breds, 4 and G-tooth, 7s Gd to 8s ; do., Gs Gd to 7s. During the week we havesold 3500 merinos. Store Cattle. — No sales to report, j * I V ",^? 1 rT We have recei ved a cablegram from our London office, dated 19th inst., advising opening sale :— « The wool sales opened yesterday at the level of last sales, and comprise about 250,000 bales ; 20,0C0 have been sent direct to the manufacturing districts. The opening catalogue contained 9000 bales. Continental demand is good, but the home trade are purchasing sparingly. Superior greasy merino is firmer^ and cross-bred easier. The sales will close on the 27th proximo. A later cablegram states that as the sales progress they are showing symptoms of weakness, and that prices are 10 percent, lower than February sales last year. This telegram is contiu.lictory. and therefore needs confirmation, as the sales have opened with considerably more decline than 10' per cent, on February prices 1878 Ihe present aspect has caused bidding to be slacker to-day, and the market here is easier for all sorts. We shall offer a good catalogue of wool on Thursday next, Gth inst. ° Sheepskins are unaltered in value ; demand good at late rates Hides are in small supply ; prices are stationary at 3d per lb. for good sound wet salted, * „ . Grain.— Wheat : The market is firming ; exporters are increasing their offers, most of the large wheat growers preferring to ship their wheat to London ; no transactions in new grain reported in this market, for old there is no inquiry, prices are nominal. Oats : New grain has been sold at 2s 8d to 3s ; dealers are expecting lower rates but as the Melbourne market has advanced considerably, farmers will not press the market at present. Barley: Good inquiry for prime malting samples at 5s Gd to 5s Sd, prompt delivery. Mr. Skene reports for the week ending February 2G -—Still more employers than employes. Harvest is more general to the south It is well through to the north. This week practically ends to-day-three days being given up to racing and holiday making. Masons and all the building trade are scarce. Ordinary labourers arc earning splendid wages. Trained female servants are scarcer than ever Couples and shepherds are now asked for. There is a o- re at rush for trained hotel servants, male and female. Ploughmen are now wanted — there is a great demand for girls for Oamaru. Wages— Couples vBOv 80 , tO S 3; P ?- yla ? o ]?-' BS|9B>los ' Bnd lls; Pkughmen and shep9n *'- *n' £ ,*?« £ '°.j, COOkS) boots ' waifcers , grooms, and such, 20s, 2os, 80s, and 40s ; milkers, 15s, 20s, and 25 S ; ordinary "-iris 10s to 15s ; upper do, 20s to 30s : boys, 5s to 10s. ° ' Messes. A. & H. Mercer report for the week endin" Feb 2C •— Retail prices only — Fresh butter, land lib. prints, bertand favourite brands, Is 3d pcrlb ; ordinal y butter, Is to Is Id per lb ; fresh butter in lumps Is per lb ; powdered and salt butter, Is. Fresh butter is still very plentiful, and for all prices arc advancing ; salt butter in kegs httle or no demand, lOd to Is per lb. Cheese, best quality lOd to lid per lb; side and rolled bacon, lOd to lid per lb : Colonial hams, Is per lb; English hams, Is 3d per lb. Eggs have been very scarce this last two weeks, and retailing at 2s 3d per dozen. ■w , Mh.J.Flemikg reports (wholesale prices) for the week endine Icb. 20, 18/9, as follows :— New oats, 2s Gd to 2s 9d per bushelold oats, 3s 3d to 3s Gd ; oats (feed) 3s Gd to 3s 9d. Wheat— 4s ; chicks, 3s to 3s 4d. Barley, malting, 5s to Gs Gd • feed Sb to 3s Gd. Pollard, £5 10s per ton. Bran, £4. Flour,' l£s bags, £10 : small, £10 10s. Oatmeal, £19 10s. Potatoes, £5 0s to £6 per ton. Hay, new, £4 per ton ; old do. £6 per ton. Chaff, £4 10s to £5 10s per ton. Straw, £2 per ton. Onions, Bs. Cheese G-kl Rolled bacon 9d. 2 " Mr. J. Vezey reports for the week ending Feb. 25, as follows • Retail prices. Roasting beef, Gd to Sd per lb ; boilin°- do 3d to Gd per lb ; stewing do. 4d to 6d per lb ; steak, Gd to 8d per lb ; mutton 2£d to 4d per lb . veal 4d to Bel per lb ; p-»rk, Gd to M per lb • lamb 2s Gd to 3s Gd per quarter.