Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 454, 23 December 1881, Page 18

Commercial.

Mb. Donald Stbonach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited,) report* for the week ending 21st December as follows :—: — Fat Cattle.— The supply was an average one, consisting of 229 head (of which about 70 were stores or half -fat), and with fair competition last week's decline was recovered. Bullocks fetched up to £10 2s 6d, and cows £7 7s 6d. We sold drafts on account of Mr. Andrew M'Laren (fat bullocks) at from £7 17s 6d to £9 2s 6d, and on account of Messrs. Brugh Brothers 74 head of stores and half-fat cattle as reported below. We quote prime beef 22s 6d per lOOlbs. Fat, Calves. — 18 were offered and sold at up to 27n each. Fat Sheep.— The supply was very small, consisting of only 908 head, 400 being merinos, the remainder cross-breds. Trade demand, though not very spirited, resulted in an improvement on last week's low pi ices to the extent of Is 6d to 2s per head. Cross-breds ranged from 10s 6d to 13s, and merinos from 5s 6d to 8s 3d. We sold drafts as follows : On account of Mes»rs. J. and S. Wilson, 126 cross-breda at 10s 3d ; and on account of Mr. James Mein, 20 at 10a 9d ; on account of Messrs. Millington Bros., 193 merinos at 7s 6d per head. We quote cross-bred mutton folly 2d per lb. Fat Lambs were in good supply, 662 being penned, which told at from 5s to 9s 9d. We B'jld drafts on account of the following con. Btituents : — Messrs. Boss Bros., 100 at 7s to 7s 6d ; Mr. William Shand, 84 at 8s to 8s 6d ; Messrs. J. and S. Wilson, 90 at 8s 94 to 9s 9d ; Mr. Johnston, Eaihiku, 40 at 4s 3d to 5s ; Mr. James Mein, 20 at 8s per head.' Fat Pigs. — 190 were sold at from 5s to 41s per head. Store Cattle continue in good demand. We sold on account of Messrs. Bright Bros, seventy-four head of store and half-fat cattle at from £4 15s to £8 12s 6d for bullocks, £2 7s to £3 17s 6d for cowa, and 30s for yearlings. Store Sheep. — Young sheep are still very scarce, while the demand continues very strong. Wool.— We held our first regular wool sale for the present season at the Otago Wool Stores on Tuesday, the 19th inst. Competition for the better descriptions of cross-breds was fairly sustained, but for merinoes was not so brisk. Prices showed a slight decline oa. opening rates of last year, following the course of the London mar* kets. We sold 342 bales and fourteen bags. Cross-bred realised as follows :— -Greasy, B£d to 10£ d; scoured, Is 2d ; and merino (greasy), 9d to ll^d ; washed, 12id ; and scoured, Is 2d to Is 10$ d. Sheepskins.— We offered a good catalogue on Monday before a representative attendance of buyers. Competition was, however, lacking in spirit, and we must report a decline of about 6d each on heavy skins. Butchers' cross-breds realised from 4s 9d to 5s lid, and merinoes 4s to 5s 8d ; lambskins, Is to Is 7d ; and pelts, 6d to Is Id. Rabbit-skins. — We did not offer any this week. Hides. — We have placed all coming to hand at last quotations — say 4d to 4^d per lb for wet-salted, according to condition and weight. Tallow. — Our sale on Monday showed a decided improvement in the market, biddings being active at an advance of Is per cwt. We cleared all lot* offered as follows :— Well-rendered tallow, 30s to 30« 6d ; fair, 28s 6d ; low, 23s to 23s 6d per cwt. Butchers' rough fat : Fair to good, 19s to 2ls 6d ; inferior, 10s per cwt. Grain.— There is no alteration to report in the grain market. Wheat is still in limited demand ; prime samples would find buyers without difficulty, but are scarce. We repeat quotations : Prime milling, 4s 4d ; medium, 3s 6d to 4s ; inferior, 2s 3d to 3s 3d per bushel. Oats are dull at last prices, which are nominal — say, prime milling, Is lid to 2s ; good bright feed, Is lOd to Is 10£ d ; inferior and discoloured, Is 6d to Isßd. Barley : Nothing to report.