Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 452, 9 December 1881, Page 18

Commercial.

Mk. Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited,) reports for the week ending 7th December as follows :—: — Fat Cattle. — A full supply was forward at Burnside, consisting of 316 in all (of which 111 were stores). Competition was fairly active, but no advance in prices was established. Fat bullocks sold at from £6 12s 6d to £14 17s 6d per head, and cows £4 10 to £9 12s Gd. We sold a draft on account of Messrs Murray, Roberta & Co., from their Gladsbrnok Estate, consisting of 23 bullocks, at from £8 5s to £10 10s, and 12 cows, at from £6 5s to £9 10s ; also, a draft of stores on account of Messrs Brugh Bros. We quote prime beef 22s 6d per 100 lb. up to 25s for a few prime pens. Fat Calves.— Ten were offered and sold at 7s 6d to 16s. Fat Sheep, — The supply being short (1,111 head, of which about 200 were merinos,) competition was good and prices advanced fully •2s per head. Cross-breds realised from 8s 6d to 15s 9d, the latter from an exceptionally prime pen ; and merinos, 9s 9d. We sold cross-breds for the following constituents : — Messrs J. and S. Wilson, Oamaru. 11s to 11s 6d ; W. S. Morrisby, Hill View, at 10b 9d; P. Hunter, Balclutha, at 10s 6d ; and others. Prime cross-bred mutton (shorn) may be quoted at fully 2^d per lb. Fat Lambs.— 7s3 head were disposed of readily at about last week's rates. We sold as follows : — Messrs J. S. Wilson, 45 at 8s 3d ; Morrisby, 26 at 6s 6d : Boss Brothers, 105 at 7s and 7s 3d ; Mein, 44 at 8s 6d and 9s ; and William Shand, 71 at 7s per head. Fat Pigs. — An excessive supply was forward and sold with difficulty at lower prices. The range was from 5s up to 44s each. Store Cattle. — Good well-grown cattle are in fair demand. Store Sheep — We have buyers for a considerable number of both merinos and cross-breds, but they are difficult to obtain. We report sale of 3,000 three-quarter breds. Wool. — Public press telegrams report a continuance of the favourable state of the market at the current London auctions ; but a private telegram, received by Messrs Cargills, Gibbs and Co., this week, states that an average decline on all sorts has occurred to the extent of £d per lb. Sheepskins. — We offered a large catalogue on Monday before a full attendance of the trade. Competition was ve^y uneven, some lots bringing quite up to late rates, but in the majority of cases last week's prices were not supported. Butchers' cross-bred skins brought from 5s Id to 7a 3d ; dry cross-breds, 3s 8d to 5s : butchers' merinos, 4s 6d to 5s 8d ; dry, 2s Id to 4s 4d ; lambskins, Is Id to Is 5d ; and pelts, 6d to lOd each. Babbit-skins. — On Monday we cleared a few parcels at prices fully supporting those of previous sale. Well-saved winter skins brought up to 16|d per lb, and inferior, lid per lb. Hides. — The market is unchanged. We therefore report last quotations, at which there is a fair business passing, viz., 4d for light, 4£d for medium, and 4£d for prime heavy weights. Tallow. — There is a good trade demand at the following prices, at which we report sales : — 29s 6d for well-rendered tallow, 26s to 28s for medium, and 20s to 25s per cwt for inferior and mixed. Rough fat sold at from 18s 6d to 20s per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : The market continues very quiet, and we do not hear of transactions for local consumption to any extent, millers having been for some time past well supplied. A few purchases have been made for export. On the whole we doubt whether last quoted rates could be obtained. We quote 4s 4d for prime milling, 3s 6d to 4a for medium, and 2s 3d to 3s 3d for inferior and fowl feed. — Oats : There have been several inquiries on the part of shippers, which, however, have not resulted in business, owing to the difficulty of procuring tonnage, consequently the market has been somewhat weakened. We quote prime milling, Is lid to 2s ; good bright feed, Is lOd to Is lid : inferior and discoloured, Is 6d to Is 8d per bushel. — Barley : Nothing to report.