Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIV, Issue 44, 25 February 1887, Page 18

Commercial.

Mb. Donald Stbonauh (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited), reports for the week ended February 22, as follows :— Fat Cattle. — 122 head were yarded for to-day's market, but of these the larger proportion were light and of medium quality, only a few being really prime. At the start competition was fairly active and prices about equal to last week's, but as the sales progressed there was less demand and prices lower. Best bullocks brought £6 15s to £8 15s ; light and medium. £4 5s to £6 10s ; cows, £3 15s to £7 7s 6d . Fat Sheep. — 2,352 were penned, all cross-breds, the bulk of which were fair quality. Butchers were well supplied, having bought freely last week, so that tne demand was not quite so active except for a pen or tw.> of prime wethers, which brought up to last week's top price. Inferior, however, were some what slow of sale, and several pens were turned out unsold. Best cross-bred wethers brought 6s 3d to 7s 6d ; one pen, 9s ; medium, 5s 6d to 6s ; best do ewes, 5s 9d to 69 3d ; medium, 4s 6d to 5s 6d. Fat Lamb 9. — 836 were penned. This supply was a long way in excess of requirements, resulting in dull competition and low prices. Towards the close of the sale it was difficult to effect sal as at any price ; best quality brought 5s 6d to 6s 6d ; others 3s 3d to 5s 3d. Pigs. — 104 were penned. The most of these were suckers and stores, only a few porkers and bacon pigs. The demand was fairly active, and prices realised slightly in advance of last week's. Suckers brought 4s to 7s 9d ; stores, 13s to 18s 6d ; porkers to 33s ; baconers, 38s to 42s ; one very heavy pig, 765. Store Cattle. — There is no apparent improvement in the demand for these, and no sales of any consequence transpiring. There are several lots on offer, but very little inquiry. Store Sheep. — Young cross-breds (2, 4, 8, and 6-tooth) are in Bomewhat better demand, but as only a very few of this class aie offering sales are limited. The only inquiry for merinoes is for aged sheep by tallow Tenderers, at prices from 9d to Is 6d, according to quality, distance, and date of delivery. Sheepskins.— There was a very full attendance of buyers at our usual weekly sale on Monday, when we offered a good catalogue, nearly all butchers' grsen skins, for which there was keen competition, all the best lots on the catalogue realising 2d to 3d over last week's prices. There were only a few dry skius, but biddings were not quite so spirited for these. Dry cross-breds, low to medium, brought lOd to 2s lOd ; do. merinos, 8d to 2s 8d ; good to best crossbred, 3s to 4s 9d ; do. do. merinos, 2s 9d to 4s 3d ; dry pelts, id to 4d ; butchers' green crossbreds, Is 6d, Is 7d, Is Bd, Is lOd, ls'lld : do. do. meriuos, lid to Is Id ; lambskins, Is lid, 2s, to 2s 4d. Rabbitskins. — We offered a few lots on Monday, when competition was fairly active, but, as the consignments consisted chiefly of inferior and mixed summer skins, prices were comparatively low, viz., 4d to 5d per lb. Hides. — A. good demand exists and late rates are easily procurable for all lots coming forward. Heavy hides in good condition, clean and free from cuts, have the preference, and realise 3fd to 4d ; medium, 2£d to 3£d ; light, 2£d to 2|d ; bulls, slippy and inferior. l^d 2d to per lb. Tallow. — Tne market has been quiet during the past few weeks especially with regard to the demand for local consumption, and pnceß lower for mixed and medium parcels, while fine quality mutton tallow could easily be placed at late rate* for shipment ; but parcels of this quality fit for the purpose are unobtainable ia the meantime. We quote— lnferior and mixed, 10s to 12s ; medium, 13s to 15s ; good to prime mutton, 16s to 18s ; rough fat, inferior, 5s to 7s, medium, 8s to 9s ; best caul, 10s to 11s per cwt. Grain. — Good progiess is being made with the harvest, and although some heavy showers fell on Saturday and Sunday there are indications of favourable weather prevailing. Farmers south are still busy with the reapers, having had no time to thresh ; but a few trnck-loads of wheat have been received from the north, which shows good condition. The demand for wheat is very weak, millers only purchasing enough for present requirements ; prices are al6o lower this week. We quote prime milling, 3s 9d to 4s ; medium to good, 3s 6d to 3s 9d ; inferior and fowl, 2s 9d to 3s 3d (ex store, bags weigned in) — Oats : Samples of the new crop are now in the market, but prices offered are l^d to 2£d lower than those paid for full bright old oats. There is a good demand for milling sorts. At public sale on Monday, bright milling realised Is lOd ; good short feed, Is 7£d to Is B£d ; medium, Is 6d to Is 7d ; musty acd inferior, Is l£d to Is 5d (bags weighed in).— Barley : The market is still without any new, and until the season is further advanced we do not look for much improvement in the demand. Grass Seed. — Parcels of the new crop of ryegrass seed are now coming to hand daily, some of these being of only medium colour and rather dirty. There is no demand. A few consignments have been forwarded to Australia, but the result is yet unknown. Old pasture machine-dressed is offering at 3s 6d per bushel. There is no inquiry for cocksfoot in the meantime, although further on we look for some demand. Mr. F. Meenan, King street, reports— Wholesale prices, bags included: Oats, medium to prime, Is 6d to Is 10d. Wheat : milling, 3s 8d to 4s ; fowls', 3s 3d to 3s 6d. Barley : malting, 2s 9d to 3s ; milling, 2s 6d ; feed, 2s 3d. Chaff, best, £3; straw chaff, dull of sale, nominal. Straw, £2 ; hay, op ten (old), £5 ; ryegrass (new), £3 to £3 10s. Bran, £3 10s. Pollard, £4. Potatoes : kidneys £2 10s to £3 ; Derwents, £2 15s. Butter : fresh, 6d to 9d ; salt, nominal, 6d. Cheese, 4d to sd. Eggs, Is. Flour : sacks, £10 10s ; 501b5., £11 . Oatmeal, £9 10s. Roll bacon, 6d ; sides, 6£d ; hams, 9d.