Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 463, 24 February 1882, Page 18

Commercial.

+■■ ' Mb. Donald Stbonach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending February 22, as follows :: — • Fat Cattle. — The moderate aupply of 205 head (of which 82 were fttores) was forward at the yards to-day. Prices, however, Bhowed no improvement on those lately ruling. Bullocks realised from L 5 to LlO 2s 6d, and cows L3to L 6 17s 6d. We quota, as last week, 20s per 1001 b. Fat Calves. — Four were sold at 23s per head. Fat Sheep. — The pens contained 1,852 head, 200 being merinos and stores. This being less than an average supply the demand resulted in an improvement of Is 3d to Is 6<l per head. Crossbreds sold at from 8s 9d to 12s 6d, and merinos 5s 3d to 6s. We Bold drafts of crossbreds on account of Messrs John Duncan at 9s to 10s, and Boss Brothers at 12s to 12s 6d per head. Quotation for best mutton, 2d per lb. Fat Lambs.— 249 penned, and realised from 7s 9dup to 12s6deacb. Fat Pigs.— Forty-five sold at from 6s to 16s. Store Sheep. — Crossbreds continue in fair demand, but the inquiry for merinos is less active. Sheepskins— We offer a good catalogue on Monday. The attendance was satisfactory, and biddings spirited, prices showing a rise of id to 6d per skin on last week's values. The following quotations were obtained : — Crossbreds, 4s to 6s 8d ; merinos, 2s ]Id to 5s 3d ; lambskins, lOd to Is lOd; and butchers' pelts, 9d to Is 8d each. Hides— We sold all forward at last reported prices, say 4d per lb for heavy and well-conditioned, and 3d to 3£ for light and inferior. We would again remind our constituents that it is absolutely necessary that hides be trimmed from shanks, ears, and cheeks before being submitted for sale, and recommend that this be done before despatching them. Grain. — Wheat : There is no change to report, 4s 6d being about the price obtainable for prime milling, 4s 6d being about the price obtainable for prime milling 4s to 4s 4d for medium, and 2s to 3s 6d for inferior and fowl feed. Some samples of the new crop are to hand, and have found buyers at about equal to those quotations. Oats : The inquiry continues good, and prices are gradually advancing. We quote 2s tyd for milling and 2s 3£d for bright feed oats. Barley : Market at a standstill. LABOUR MARKET.— FEB. 22, 1882. P. M. Grant, "Universal Labour Exchange, reports :— The stormy weather during the past week had greatly retarded harvest work, and crops are ripening slower than was expected. The extremely unfavourable weather has completely damped the spirits of farmers, and prevented them from employing so many hands as thej would otherwise have done, but still work is plenty and the wages fair in country districts, and it is to be regretted that men are either unable or unwilling to go, or pay their fare to the works. A great number prefer staying in town, where they filter away their wages (in most cases small), and just manage to live, instead of going to the country, where they could make a good cheque, thus enabling them to lay up something for a rainy day. Tradesmen are in good demand, especially blacksmiths ; hotel hands all busy — more wanted for race week. The cry about the scarcity of domestic servants has been so often repeated that no notice is taken of the matter, and the Government allows mistresses to suffer and complain (not without cause), but does not use any means to relieve them by carrying out the system of nominated immigration they promised some time ago. I think a deputation of ladies should wait on the Government to urge on them the necessity of taking immediate action, and caxry out the system of nominated immigration for domestic servants (assisted or otherwise). A deputation of this kind would be of more service to the colony than a great number of the deputations re this and that trivial matter, which occupies so much of the time of the members of the Government. Current rates of wages — very little alteration from last week.

Otago Land Boabd, — At the sitting of the Board held on Wednesday, the application of B. Naylor, senr., and B. Naylor, junr., for a reduction of rent on deferred-payment license, sections 17 and 18, block 111., Lauder district, after a long discussion as to grievance suffered by the applicants, was allowed to go on to the Government without a recommendation. The following petition, with 140 signatures, mostly of miners, attached to it, was presented by Mr. J. C. Brown :—": — " We, the undersigned residents of Waipori, in the Tuapeka County, most respectfully request that you will* set apart for a commonage certain lands comprising the following : All that portion bounded by the Waipori river to the j unction or mouth of Stoney creek ; from thence in a direct line to Trig Station northerly ; from thence in a direct line to Trig Station at Mile Rock?, as far as the Lammerlaw creek, following the same downwards to the boundary line of and including also what was always considered to be the old commonage." The matter was referred to the Government. A petition from residents at Catlins river, asking to have the Ferry Beserve subdivided and opened for bale on village deferred payment, was referred to the Banger to report on the railway survey. On the report of the Warden at Lawrence that sections 25 and 86, block 11., Table Hill, were no longer required for mining, it was resolved to advertise them for agricultural leasing. The Board regretted that, owing to the lateness of the memorial they were unable to recommend the Government to comply with the petition of residents at Kawaru that Run 245 D be withdrawn from pastoral leasing and opened under agricultural lease. J. A. Mooney's application to purchase section 25, Block VII., Crookston, was declined on the Education Board's refusing to consent. The application of G-. T. Thorp to have the transfer of a deferred-payment license in the Macrewhenua district transferred to G. Campbell, was ordered to be advertised. The application of Wm. Fen wick to purchase 570 acres on Run 217 A, Otepopo, and 20 acros on another part of the run, waa declined,