Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 33, 10 December 1886, Page 18

Commercial.

Mr. Donald Stbonach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ended December 8, as follows :—: — Fat Cattle.— 249 head were yarded at Burnside for the trade's requirements, nearly all good to prime quality, but this large supply was largely in excess, and, although competition at the commencement of the sales was fairly active, as they progressed the demand became slack and receded considerably from last week's Best bullocks brought £8 to £14 ; light and medium, £4 15s to £T 10s • and cows in proportion. ' Fat Sheep.— 2,342 were penned. Of these about 420 were merino wethers (in the wool), the balance crossbreds (shorn) only a few pens being prime, the greater proportion ordinary to medium Competition all through was sluggish. Prices receded from last week's fully Is per head, and more in the case of inferior and ordinary quality. Best crossbred wethers (shorn) brought 7s 9d to 9s 3d— one extra-beavy pen to 11s 9d ; medium, 5s 3d to 7s ; crossbred ewes 4s 9d to 8s ; merino wethers, in the wool, 5a 3a to 9s. We sold on acount of Mr. John Borton (Maerewhenua), crossbred wethers at 8s to 9s ; Messrs J. and T. Kemp (Moeraki), ciossbred ewes at 5b 3d • Messrs. T. and A. Paterson (Ngapara), J. C, Buckland (Tumai), crossbred ev*es from 5s 6d to 7s. Fat Lambs.— l,ol2 were penned, and, as usual with such a large number forward, competition was dull and prices lower, the range to-day being 4s to 8s 3d ; one peu extraordinary weights reached lls 6d, We sold on account of Air. J. C. Buckland (Tumai) 35 at 6s 9d ; Messrs. T. and A. Paterson (Ngapara), 40 at 7s 3d. Pigs.— 234 were penned. These also met a duller market and lower prices. Porkers and baconers were lower by 4s to 5s each • suckers, 2s to 2s Gd. We sold consignments from 2Ss to 32s Flock and Stud Rams.— During the week we pi icei 53 stud and flock rams, on account oi Mr. G. L. Sibe, Ackland Farm, Hampden at satisfactory prices. ' Store Cattle.— A very fair demand has been experienced lately Several sales have been held, and prices realised satisfactory to sellers good three and four-year-old bullocks bringing £4 to £6 15s • two-year-old do, £2 10 to £3 15s. Store Sheep. — There is no improvement to note in the demand for these. There is little or no inquiry so far. The market is exceedingly quiet. Sheepskins. — At our weekly sale on Monday the attendance was up to the average, and competition fairly active, but no doubt owing to the unsatisfactory reports received of the position of the wool market at Home, although biddings were spirited np to certain limits, prices obtained were considerably lower. Country dry cross-breds (low to medium) brought lid to 3s 6d ; full-wool, 3a 9d to 5s 3d -dry merinos (low to medium), lOd to 3s 3d : full-wool, 3s 6d to 4s 9d ■ dry pelts, IVI to 5d ; green pelts, 8d to lOd ; lambskins, Is 3d to Is 4d. Rabbit-skins. — The market is decidedly firmer for all commc to hand. Really good medium are also in better demand, but there is no improvement iv suckers and carelessly saved parcels. We oflered a moderate catalogue on Tuesday, when all the buyers in the trade were present, and under good competition we disposed of the following lots :— WB, 1 bag spring skins, 7 VI ; TAlfilßl LAKE 1 bale mixed (black, fawn, and spring greys), 6?d ; do, 2 bales medium greys 1H 1 ; J.G. and Co., Ido low season, 3{d : do, 1 do medium 9£d : <io, 1 do good winter greys, 15^d per lb. Hides. — We have no alteration to note in the position of the market. Shippers ?re still unable to operate, local manufacturers being able to take up all offering at prices equal to late quotations— viz., for inferior and bulls, l{d to 2d ; light. 2^d to 2£ ; medium, 2' to 3d ; hea y, but free from offal and in gocd order, 3-J to 3',d per lb. Tallow. — Reports from the Home markets cuminue favourable. Our London circular, per s.s. Aorangi, dated October 22, says that at sales held there on the 15th iust. both Home and export buyerß

operated freely at rates in excess of those current in the pr. ceding actions. The most noteworthy factors in bringing about this improvement have been—first, an increase in the Continental demand ; second, an advance in quotations in Paris and the American markets ; third, the receipt of advice of limited shipments from Australia ; and fourth, a f«lling-off in the quantity of Home melt offering. The estimated stock in warehouse then was 14,300 casks. In this market there is a very good local demand and a market for all offered at recent quotations ; but holders of any suitable parcelß fit for shipment are not disposed to quit at late rates. We quote inferior and mired, 12a to 15s ; medium, 16s to 18s ; prime mutton, 19s to 20 ; rough fat inferior, 6s to 7s, medium, 8s 9d • caul fat, 10b to 11s per cwt. Grain.— Wheat ius been in less demand this week. Millen do not feel disposed co push business, while the few holders continue to ask prices la: oly cunent (which are out of proportion to the price obtained for flour), but are cautiously work out their present stock, only purchasing in small lots when really necessary. The market has been fully fenpplicd with inferior and fowls' wheat and as a large number of consumers have gone in for barley, the demand for this kind of whe.it has considerably eased off. We quote prime milling 4s 1 Id to 3s ; extra choice, Id more ; good to prime, 4s 9d to 4s lOd • medium to good (nominal), 4s 6d to 4s 8d ; inferior and fowls' wheat, 3s to 4s (ex store hags in),— Oats : The market generally is still inactive, and and the little business that has been done during the week has been chiefly confined to the choicest quality ; medium qualities, if quite sound, free from mustiness, have been disposed of at reduced rates; while inferior descriptions, if at all musty are practically unsaleable. We quote prime heavy milling, bright, Is 8d to Is 9d ; short bright feed, Is 7d to Is 8d ; discoloured and long oats, Is 6d to Is 7d ; inferior, Is 3d to Is 5d (ex store, bags weighed in).— Barley : The demand for all descriptions shows a considerable tailing off as compared with the previous few weeks, whilst values, although generally without material change, occasionally rule in buyers' favour. We quote malting, 2s 9d to 3s ; feed and milling, 2s 3d to 2s 8d (ex store). 6 Bye-grass and Cocksfoot fceed .—There is very little demand now but prices are unaltered. r-~-* -t ■ ' ~ ;r: Mr. F. Meenan, King street, reports— Wholesale prices, including hags : Ots, inferior to prime, Is 6d to Is 9d. Wheat : milling 4s 6d* to 5s ; fowls' waeat, 3s 6d to 4s. Barley : malting, 2s 9d to 3s 3d ; prime milling, 2s 9d ; feeding, 2s 3d to 2s 9d. Chaff : straw, £2 15s to £3 ; sheaf, £3 10s to £4 ss. Straw, £2 per ton ; hay oaten, £5 1 10s ; ryegrass (scarce), £4 10s. Bran, £4. Pollard, £4 10s. Potatoes: Derwents, £1 10s. Buttei : fresh, id to 9d : salt, best, 6d. Flour : £10 10s to £11 ; roller, £11 10s to £12 ss. Oatmeal, £10 10s. Eggs, Bd. New potatoes (Auckland), Id per lb ; local, l£d-dull of sale.