Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 17, 20 August 1886, Page 13

Commercial.

Mb. Dokald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ended AugUßt 18, as follows :— Fat Cattle.— Only 123 were yarded to-day at Burnside. The greater proportion of these were medium quality, the balance fair to good, and nearly all light weights. Considering the Btate of the weather and the few buyers in attendance competition was fairly active, and prices realised compared faTourably with last weet's. Best bollocks brought LT 17s 6d to L 9 ; ordinary, L 4 5s to L7| 10s ; best cows, L 6 10s to L 7 128 6d ; light and medium, L37s 6d to L 6. We sold on account of Mr. William Douglas, Gore, cows to L 6 10a. Pat Sheep. — 1,718 were penned for the week's supply, of which 350 were merinos of fair to good useful quality ; the balance were crossbreds. The most of them were only very medium, with a few pens good to prime. Competition for the latter was brisk and prices obtained were slightly higher, while medium quality was less in demand and prices easier. Best crossbred wethers brought 11s to 12s 9d— one pen 14s; medium, 9s to 10s 6d ; best do ewes, 10s to 12s 6d ; medium, 8s 6d to 9s 6d ; merino wethers, 6s 9d to 93. We sold on account Knriwao Estate, crossbred wethers, from lls to 14s ; merino wethers, at 6s 9d. Pigs.— The number forward to-day was a small one, viz., 54, representing all sorts. Competition was moderately active, and all sold at about late rates, Store Cattle.— The market does not display very much animation, while any good lots offering do not fail to find buyers. Both privately and at auction sales are being effected, but at prices which do not leave much (or the grower. Store Sheep, — The market is quiet, and no inquiry of any consequence being made. Those off eriug being unsuitable, transactions are unimportant. Sheepskins. — Our weekly auction sale on Monday was fairly well attended, when we offered a large catalogue of station dry skins with a good number of butchers' green ditto. For the former competition was fairly active, prices realised being equal to last week's, but, no doubt owing to the somewhat unfavourable state of the weather, the latter were in less demand, and, except for a few lots suitable for special purposes, prices obtained for the most part were lower than even last week's. Dry crossbredg (low to medium), brought 8d to 3s 5d ; full-wool, 4s to 5s ; dry merinos, lOd to 3a 6d ; do. pelts, Id to 7d ; green crossbrede, 3s 6d, 3s lOd, 4s, 4s 2d, 4s 4d, 4s 6d, 4s 8d ; do meriao, 3s 4d, 3s fid, 3s 9d, 4s. Rabbitskins. — A very good demand exists for well-furred winter Bkins. At our weekly sale on Monday we offered a good cata'ogue to a full attendance of the trade. Competition was spirited, and a slight advance on last week's prices was obtained Tor best Bkins. Bidding w-as also brisk for medium, but suckers and inferior are not so much in request, and only saleable at very low prices. Our prices on Monday were for suckers and inferior, 2{d ; black and fawn, 94-d ; fair to good, 13d ; best, 14^d per lb. Hides. — The market continues fairly active. A good demand exists for all coming to hand at about late rates. At all times properly -flayed heavy hides, clean and free from cuts, have the prefereDce and briug top price, while neglected and carelessly- saved lots are only saleable at prices very unsatisfactory to all concerned. We quote inferior and bulls, lfd to 2£d ; light, 3d to 3}d ; medium, 3^d to 3^d ; heavy, 601 b and upwards, 4d per lb. Tallow. — The demand for local consumption continues to show no signs of weakness; and as supplies are not in over-abundance, values remain unaltered. Suitable lots for shipment are inquired for, and could be placed, but prices offered scarcely come up to holders' ideas of value. We quote inferior and mixed, 13s to 15s ; medium, 16s to 17s ; prime mutton, 18s to 20s ; rough fat, inferior, 68 to 7s ; medium to good, 8s to 10s ; prime mutton, 10s to 12s per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : Notwithstanding reports of anticipated shipments from America and Irdia, all coming to band, which is very limited in quantity, find ready sale, but as millers in the meantime are fairly well supplied, and any purchases they make now are for future requirements, they are not inclined to advance on late quotations, more especially as Northern wheat can be laid down at the wharf for slightly less than local agents have been asking. On the whole, the market is very firm, and prices are likely to remain good, which we quote as follows : — Prime milling velvet and Tuscan, 4s 8d to 4s 9d — extra choice lots might bring a shade over ; fair to good, 4s 6d to 4s 7d ; ordinary, 4s 3d to 4s sd ; inferior and fowls' wheat, 3s 9d to 4s 2d (ex store, bags weighed in).— Oats : These are still firmly held, and we have made sales during the week at prices equal to the highest obtained this season for best quality. Medium, however, is ia much easier demand, except at prices below those obtainable previously, and, in the absence of a marked change in the Australian markets, we fail to see what there is to warrant the expectation of higher prices here ; at the same time it would be unwise to rush the marker, which would certainly have the effect of lowering prices. Stocks are not heavy as compared with other seasons, but yet there is more that will be required for local consumption. We quote stout bright milling, 2s od to 2s 6d ; best short bright feed, 2s 3|d to 2s 4d ; medium. 2s 2d to 2s 3d ; inferior and musty, 2s to 2s Id ; long Tartars, fit for seed, 2s 7d to 2s 9d (ex store, bags in). — Barley : the demand is limited, and very little animation in the market. Late rates, however, are obtainable for all sold, but the general tone of the market is towards easier prices. We quote prime malting, 3s to 3s Id ; medium, 2s 9d to 2s lid ; feed and milling, 2s 3d to 2s 8d (ex store). Grass Seed. — Rye-grass would have had much better attention but for the continued inclemency of the weather, and owing to this cause less business is being transacted. A few lots are changing hands, but until proper spring weather sets in the demand will be

slow. We quote farmers' undressed medium at 3s 9d to 4s 3d ; good to prime (off old pasture), 4s 6i to 5s ; extra goood lots, a shade more ; imported and machine-dressed, 5s 3d to 5s 6d (ex store), — Cocksfoot : Only small lots, and few of these, are being disposed of. The demand is not by any means extensive. Quotations are from 4-id to 5d per lb.— Linseed : The market continues barely supplied. A good demand exist i, but fair quality could be placed at 4a 9d to 5s 3d per bushel of €01b.

Mb. F. Meektan, King street, reports — Wholesale prices, including bags : Oats, inferior to prime, 2s to 2s 6d ; good seed samples in request. Wbeat : milling, 4s 3d to 4s Bd, quieter ; fowls' wheat, 3s 6d to 4s. Barley : mailing. 2s 9d to 3s 3d ; prime milling, 2s 9d ; feeding, 2s 3d to 2s 6d. Chafl : straw, £2 15s to £3 ; sheaf, £4 10s to £4 15s. Straw, £2 per ton ; bay, oaten , £5 ; rye grass (scarce), £4 10s ; bran, £5 103 ; pollard, £6. Potatoes : Derwents, £3 10s to £4 ; kidneys, for seed, £3 10s to £4. Butter : fresh, Is 3d to Is 4d ; best brands inferior, Is Id ; salt batter, best, Bd. Flour : £10 10s to £11 ; roller, £12 to £12 159. Oatmeal, £12.