Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 6, 30 May 1884, Page 18

Commercial.

Mr. Donald Stronaoh (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan an d Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending May, 28 as follows: — Fat Cattle.— 2Bo were yarded for to-day's sale, only a small proportion being prime, which sold at about equal to last week'd prices ; the balance were no better than stores, and to effect sale very low prices had to be accepted. Best bullocks brought from £8 to £9 5s ; others, £6 to £7 10s ; and cows in proportion. We sold : Ou acco-int of Mr. W. H. Keith (Ashburton),l2 bullocks at £7 12s 6d to to £9 5s ; J. Hanly (Oamaru), 6 do at £5 5s to £7 17s 6d ; D. Dunn (Oamaru), 14 do at £6 5s to £8. We quote prime beef at 20s ; inferior and medium, 15s to 17s 6d per 1001 b. Fat Calves.— Twen ty-six were forward, and under fair competition brought 10s to 325. Fat Sheep. —There was a large supply forward to-day again— viz., 2918, of wnich about 300 were merinos of fair quality, the balance cross-breds, representing all qualities. Bidding was rather languid at first, but improved towards the close, prices being about equal to last week's. Best cross-breds brought 16s to 17s 9d, others 11s 6d to 15s 6d, and merinos 8s 3d to 8s 9d. We sold on account of Mr J. C. Buckland 120 cross-breds ewes at 13s 6d ; Messrs H. and J. Little (Ngapara), 50 do do at 16s 9d to 17s 3d ; C. M. Jessep, 60 do wethers at 16s 6d ; and quote mutton at 2£d to 2£d per lb. Fat Pigs.— 246 were penned. Every lot was keenly competed for, the demand far exceeding the supply. Prices ranged from. 11s to 91s each. • Vt Store Cattle.— There are buyers for lots suitable for fattening on y turnips, but present low prices for fat discourage wwild-be bnyers. C and the few that are offered meet with but poor sale. Store Sheep. — There is a slight demand for cross-bred wethers of suitable ages for fattening, but there are but few offering. Wool. — Reports from London represent the market as continuing firm for fine descriptions of wool, but coarse appear to be rather weaker. We sold a few lots of greasy on Tuesday as follows :— W over A, \1 bale merino, at 7£d; CE, 4 do. crossbred, at 7£d ; 1 do. merino, at 7|d ; 4 bags fleece, at 4£d ; 3 do. pieces, at 2f d. Sheepskins. — Monday being a holiday, our weekly sale was held on Tuesday last instead. There was a full attendance of the trade, but the bidding was not so active, last week's prices being scarcely maintained. Country dry skins brought from Is 5d to 3s 6d ; butchers' green cross-breds, 2s 3d to 3s 3d ; do. merinos, 5s 6d to 2s Bd. Rabbitskins. — For the few which come to band there is a fair demand ani a steady market, at prices ranging from Is 2d to Is 4£d for best skins, and 6d to Is Id for mix.cd and medium. Hides.— There is a steady market for these, without any alteration in either demand or values. We disposed of all to hand this week at late rates.

Tallow. — Local demand continues good. There are also buyers for export, but at lower prices. We sold on Tuesday 4 cas>ks good at 28s 6d, and rough fat at from 20s to 23s per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : Stocks are fast accumulating, and lo indications of any improvement in the market. Aiilieis continue to buy as sparingly as possible, and in any attempt to forca sales much lower prices would need to be quoted. Shippers, on the other hand, still fearing reports of a further decliue in the London markets, shrink from operating, therefore, quotations are merely nominal. l J rime velvet and Tuscan, 3s 4d to 3s 6d ; red straw and other similar kinds, in good hard condition, 3s Id to 3s 3d, and no attention paid to damp or inferior lots ; fowls' wheat sells in small quantities at from Is 9d to 2a 7d. Oats : Large supplies are coming to hand, and although a fair demand still exists for stout bright milling and feed at slightly reduced rates, any off colour, even if dry and sweet, are neglected. Heavy shipments from all our ports have gone forward for the Australian markets, and shippers are now anxiously waiting the results, which causes a slight dullness in the meantime. -We quote stout milling, 2s Id; short bright feed, 2s ; discoloured, Is 10q to Is lid (ex store) — Id per bushel extra if delivered at Port Chalmers. Barley : Plump bright samples are scarce, and would command immediate sale at from 3s 9d to 4s. Medium and discoloured is not much in demand, except occasionally for milling, at from 2s 6d to 3s 3d. All the above quotations are subject to the bags being weighed in.