Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 40, 29 January 1886, Page 17

Commercial.

Mb. Donald Stbonach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited), report for the week ended January 27, as follows :—

Fat Cattle.— 2ll were forward to-day for the week's requirements, the larger portion of which were inferior and light quality, bidding was languid, and prices scarcely so high as last week. Beat bullocks brought £7 15s to £9 ; others, £5 2s 6d to £7 2s 6d ; cows, £3 2s 6d to £5 ss. We sold a draft on account of Mr. J. O. Gilchrirt, Oamarn, at quotations. Fat Calves.— Ten came forward, and were sold at from 4s to 10s. Fat Sheep.— l,B4l were penned, of which 150 were merinos ; tbe balance cross-bred, mostly good to prime. Competition was fair, and prices for prime quality] were Is to Is 6d ahead above last week's, while ordinary and inferior were much the same. Best cross-bred wethers brought 8s 9d to 10s 6d ; one or two pens extra prime up to 12s. Best ewes brought 3s 6d to 9s 3d ; others, 4s 9d to 7s ; merinos, 5s to Bs. We sold on account of Mr. Allan Maclean, Waikakahi, 240 extra prime crossbred wethers at 10s 6d to 12s ; account James Cruickshanks, Oamarn, 25 do. ewes, at 65.; account P. M'Donald, Otaio, and others, 15 do. do. at 7s 9d.

Fat Lambs.— 69o were forwarded, the greater part of which were » prime. Competition was moderate, prices ranging from 6s to 7s 9d. We sold on account of Mr. James Cruickshanks, Mr. P, M'Donald, and others, 77 lambs at quotations. Fat Pigs. — 147 came to hand, and were disposed of in a bad market at prices ranging from 5s for trackers, up to 36s for bacon pigs.

Store Cattle. — Quiet well-bred cattle, in forward condition, find a market, but owing to the poor prospects for feed meantime prices are in favour of buyers.

Store Sheep. — There is some inquiry now for young sheep, both merino and crossbred, which may lead to business. At present we are without any transactions to report Bheepskins. — We had a large number of skins on oar catalogue on Monday last, which elicited spirited competition from a large attendance of buyers. Values were up to late rates, being almost entirely country and station dry skins. Dry crossbreds brought lOd to 3s 9d ; do. merinos, 9d to 3s 7d ; dry pelts, 2d to 4d ; green do., 5d to 7d ; lambskins, lOd to lid.

Rabbi t-skins. — The most of the consignments coming to hand lately comprise only off-season suckers and mixed lots, for which there is scarcely any demand. Buyers seem to set bat very little value on these ; consequently this market, in the absence of clean, well-fur Ted skins, is flat.

Hides. — These continue iv fair demand. A market exists for all offered at late rates, viz.— for slippy and bulls, 2d to 2£d ; light, 3d ; medium, 3£d to 3^d ; heavy, clean, and properly flayed, 3jd to 4d. Tallow. — The market shows but little indication of improvement, and the inquiry limited, the only demand being for local trade purposes, at about previous quotations. Inferior, 12s to 14s ; medium, lus to 178 ; good to prime, 18s to 19s ; and rough fat, 7s to 11s per cwt., according to quality. Wheat.— Prime milling may be said to be out of the market, the quantity offering being very trifling. Samples of good white velvet, or good sorts, would sell readily and command a shade over late quotations. Inferior and chicken wheat is also scarce, and rising in value. We quote prime milling, 3s od to 3s 7d ; medium, 3s 4d to 3s od : whole fowl wheat, in fair condition, 3s to 3s 3d ; inferior and broken. 2s 6d to 2s lOd (ex store). — Oats : These are in fair demand for local consumption, but, as the late advance in price precludes shippers from operating, the business at present doing is limited. We quote best milling, 2s 6d ; best fowl feed, 2s 3d to 2s 4d ; medium, 2s to 28 2d ; inferior and musty, Is 9d to Is lid. — Barley is without change. Quotations for malting, nominal, 3s 6d to 4s ; feed and milling, 2s to 2s 6d. — Grass-seed : Nothing doing.