Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 39, 22 January 1886, Page 17

Commercial.

Mb. Donald Stbonach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited; reports for the week ended January 20 as follows :—: — Fat Cattle.— 226 were penned, of which about one-half were good to prime ; balance little better than half -fat. Competition wag fairly active, but prices scarcely so firm as last week's. The best bullocks brought £8 7s 6d to £10 ; medium and ordinary, £4 5s to £8. We sold on account of Mr. John Duncan (Cherry Farm), John Wilson (Waihola), and others, six bullocks and four cows, at quotations. Fat Calves.— Twenty-three were penned, and sold readily at up Fat Sheep.— l,so7 were yarded to-day for the week's requirements, of which 100 were merinoes, the balance cross-breds of all qualities. This was a small supply, but the butchers being well supplied from previous purchases, there was quite sufficient for trade requirements, and prices showed very little improvement on last week's. Best cross-bred wethers brought 8s to 9s 6d ;do ewes, 6s 3d to 8s 6d ; merinoee, 3s 3d to ss. We sold on account of Mr. Allan M'Lean, Waikakahi, 240 prime cross-bred wethers at 9s 6d ; J. C. Buckland and others, 84 merino wethers at ss. Fat Lambs.— Blß were forward. This was a large over-supply, and lambs could scarcely be sold at any price ; prices ranging from 2s to 7s. We sold 66 at quotations. Fat Pigs.— A large supply— viz., 189— was forward. This number was in excess of requirements, and prices fell considerably. Br.ckcrs brought 2s 6d ; slips, 10s to 15s ; porkers, 17s 6d to 25s ; and baconers, 27s 6d to 40s. Store Cattle.—The long prevailing dry weather has had the effect of weakening prices and somewhat decreasing the demand. Bullocks range from £3 10s to £6 ; cows, £2 10s to £3 10s. Store Sheep.— We have no alteration to report in this market; and until we have some good rainfalls we do not look for any marked improvement in the demand. Sheepskins.— Our weekly sale was held last Monday, when we submitted a good catalogue to a fair attendance of the trade, who competed briskly for all offered ; dry cross-breda brought from 9d to 3s 6d ; dry merino 10 to 3s 6d ; dry pelts, Id to 4id : green do, 6d to 7d ; lambskins, 9d to lOd. Rabbitskins.— Our London circular of December 3, via San Francisco, reports ordinary and off-season skins, both Australian and New Zealand, declined 2d per lb, and common and mixed parcels exhibited a fall of 3d to 4d per lb, the prices obtained then being— for common and low soason, IJd to 7d ; Bmall and suckers, 2d to sjd per lb. We offered a few lots on Monday of the above description, and although all the buyers were present there was very little desire to purchase, except at extremely low prices, from £d to 5Jd. Hides.— This market continues fairly brisk ; late quotations are obtainable for all coming to hand . Tallow.— There is not much inquiry for shipping, but for local use the demand is steady. Country rendered id easily placed at late rates, viz., inferior, 12s to 14s ; medium, 15s to 17s ; good to prime, 18s to 19s ; rough fat, 7s to 11s per cwt. Grain.— Wheat : The market is very firm at 3s 5d to 3s Gd for prime milting. Very choice would bring a still higher rate ; medium brings 3s 4d to 3s od ; inferior 2a 6d to 3s 3d.— Oats : The market for this continues firm, witb au upward tendency ; but this is mainly owing to none coming forward and the small slocks held here being in few hands. Sellers in the meantime command the situation ; 2s -id has been refused for prime milling, and 2s 2d to 2t» 3d has been paid for good bright feed and milling ; but as these prices are about equal to present prices in Australia, there is not much business passing.—Barley : Th« maiket i& quiet, and no sales of any importance transpiring beyord a few lots for feediug and milling at from 2s to 2s tid ; malting is held for 3s yi to 4s.