Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VIII, Issue 416, 1 April 1881, Page 16

Commercial.

Mr. Donald Strokach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Limited), reports for the week ending 30th March, as follows :—: — Fat Cattle. — The supply at Burnside to-day was only moderate, 187 head having been yarded ; demand, however, was very slack, and last week's advance more than lost. Fat bullocks realised from £5 10s to £10 7s 6d, and cows £3 2s 6d to £6 10s per head. We quote for best beef barley 20s per 1001 b. Fat Calves. — Only 6 were offered, which sold at from 4s 6d to to 28s each. Fat Sheep.— l4lo head were penned, only 20 of which were merinos, the remainder being mostly fair to prime eross-breds. The supply being below the avenge, last market rates were well supported, and in some cases improved upon. Cross-hreds realised from 9s to 13s 6d, and the pen of merinos 9s 9d per head. We sold drafts of cross-breds as under on. account of the following constituents :—: — Messrs R. and J. Paton, Oamaru, 66 head at lls 9d; Messrs T. and M. Henderson, Moeraki, 65 at lls and 13s ; Mr John Duncan, of Cherry Farm, 157 at 9s 9d to 10s, and Messrs A. and L. Little, of Mount Stewart, 214 head at 12s to 13s per head. Quotation for prime mutton, 2d to 2\ per lb. Fat Lambs. — 52 realised from 8s 3d to 9s 9d per head. Fat Pigs. — 83 were offered, which fetched from 5s 6d to 47s each. Store Sheep. — The demand continues very brisk for all descriptions of store sheep, and far exceeds the supply at present offering. Wool. — We have received the following advice from our London office, under date March 25th, regarding the closing of the wool sales :—": — " The sales closed firmly. The sale programme has been curtailed by one day. The total quantity sold at the series just closed consisted of 260,000 bales ; 16,000 bales have been taken for export ; 35,000 have been held over for future disposal. Combing and clothing washed have declined Id per lb since the close of the previous sales; superior washed, Id to l^d; scoured and superior greasy, Id ; medium and inferior washed, fine and coarse cross-bred greasy, and fine washed and scoured cross-bred, £d to Id ; coarse washed cross-bred, Id. The next sales will commence on May 10th, and will include 350,000 bales fresh arrivals and 35,000 bales old stock." Sheepskins. — At our weekly auction on Monday last we offered a very full catalogue, which, with spirited biddings, was cleared at very satisfactory prices, showing, as compared with those of the previous week, an average improvement of 7d per skin. Cross-breds realised from 2s 3d for ordinary to 7s 2d for full-woolled ; merinos, Is 9d to 5s 4d ; lambskins, Is 7d to 3s 4d ; pelts, lid to Is 5d each ; scoured skins in bales, 85 per lb. Hides continue in good demand, but at a slight reduction on late rates. We disposed of a large c*talogue on Monday at up to 24s each, and one lot of exceptionally heavy weights at 27s each for wet salted hides. Tallow. — The market is about same as last week. We report sales of fairly -rendered tallow at 25s per cwt, and of rough fat at 16s 6d per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : Arrivals to this market have been on a limited scale, and transactions very restricted, as growers appear in the meantime indisposed to sell at present reduced quotations as compared with last season. Reports of the harvesting continue to be of a very favourable character, and no doubt considerable consignments will be made from this district to the Home market if sufficient shipping facilities are afforded. We quote as before 3s 6d to 3s 9d per bushel for best milling. Oats : Good bright feed oats may now be quoted up to Is 7d, the demand continuing fairly animated. Milling are not in active request, but prime samples could probably find buyers at Is 7id. Barley : Several parcels are offering, few, however, being of prime quality, which alone is inquired for. We quote 3s 3d for prime malting. PRODUCE MARKET— MARCH 30, 1881. Messes. Meeceb and McDonald, Rattray street, report :— Fresh butter is still very plentiful, best and favourite brands (in lib. and £lb. prints), 8d & lOd per lb. ; Eggs, Is 6d per dozen. Roll bacon, 8d per lb. Good salt butter, in kegs, none selling. Me. F. Meenan , Great King street, reports : — Wholesale prices : Oats, Is 5d to Is 7d per bushel ; milling wheat, 3s 6d to 3s 9d per bushel ; fowls' feed, 2s to ds ; barley, malting, 2s 6d to 3s 6d ; feed, Is 9d to 2s 6d per bushel ; hay, £3 per ton ; chaff, £2 15s per ton ; straw, £2 per ton : bran, £3 per ton ; pollard, £4 per ton ; flour, £9 10s to £10 per ton ; oatmeal, £9 per ton ; butter, fresh, 6d to 8d ; salt, 6d to 8d ; eggs, Is 9d ; bacon in rolls, 8d ; side, Bid ; hams, 10£ d ; fresh pork, 4Ad per lb. ; potatoes £2 15 to £3 per ton. Mb. Joseph B. Sheath, Tuam street, Christchurch, reports on the grain market for the week ending March 23rd, ISSI. Wholesale prices : — Wheat, milling, 3s 5d to 3s 9d ; chick, Is 9d to 2s 6d. Oats, good milling, Is 7d to Is 9d ; feed, Is 4d to Is 6d. Barley, best samples, 3s to 3s *»d ; other sorts, 2s to 2? 6d ; feed. Is 2d to Is 9d. Grass seed — in good demand, at from 2s 6d to 3s Gd ; cocksfoots, 2Ad to 2£d. Butter, 6d to 7d. Cheese, 3d to 3£d. Hay, 40s to 50s. " Oaten sheaves, 35s ; good oat straw, 255,