Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 4, 20 May 1887, Page 18

Commercial.

Mr. Donald Stbonach Con behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited), reports for the week ended May 18, as follows :—: — Fat Cattle. — 207 head were yarded at Burnside for this day's sales ; mostly ordiuaiy to medium, only a very few being good quality. For the latter competition was somewhat brisker, and prices a shade better ; while for ordinary there was no improvement on last week's prices. Best bullocks brought L 7 to L 8 12s 6d ; two extra heavy weights, Lll to Ll3 ; orJinary, L 4 to L 6 10s; cows, from L 3 10s to L 6 10s. Fat Sheep.— 24ol were penned, of which 400 were merino, the balance crossbred, representing all qualities. Competition was not by any means lively, and prices realised, especially for prime mutton, weights considered, were lower than last week's, while ordinary to good showed a slight advance. Best crossbred wethers brought 7s 6d to 9s 6d ; ordinary to good, 5s to 7s ; best do, ewes, 6s to 8s 9d ; others, 3s 6d to 5s 9d. We sold o.i account of Messrs. Ross Bros., Meadowbank, Palmerston, crossbred wethers from 9s to 9s 6d ; Messrs. Wait and Burbury, Oamaru, do, ewes, from 6s 9d to 7s 3d ; Mr. H. Sinclair, Berwick, do do, at 6s ; Mr. John Dnncan, Cherry Farm, do do, at 5s 6d to 7s 3d ; Messrs. Wilson and Scott, Waihola do do, at quotations. Fat Lambs.— 299 were penned. The demand was only moderate. This small number was quite sufficient for requirements, prices realised being from 3s to 7s 3d. We sold on account of Mr. A. Sinclair (Berwick), one pen at 5s to 5s 3d. Pios, — 106 were penned, comprising all sorts. The demand was fairly active for porkers and baconcrs ; also for store pigs. Suckers brought from 4s 6d to 12s ; light stores, 9s 6d to 15s 6d ; other stores, 17s to 2ls ; porkers, 23a to 29s ; baconers. 30s to 46s ; a few heavy weights to 50s. store Cattle. — There is n j inquiry of any consequence, and with a few exceptions transatiods are confined to odd lots, disposed of at "Rurnside occasionally, which invariably realise satisfactory prices, considering the state of the fat stock market. Store Sheep. — There is but little demand now, and the business passing unimportant. Buyers for boiling down are still in the market, but decline to operate except stock is within easy reach. There is no alteration in market values. Property Sales. — In conjunction with Mr. W. Quin we held a sale of part of the Merino Downs Estate at Tapanui on Thursday

12th inst., when we disposed of 1,300 acres in sections varying fro,m 100 to 150 acres. There was a good attendance, and prices fairly sctisfactory; Sheepskins.— On Monday our usual weekly sale was held, when a good catalogue was submitted to a full attendance of buyers. Competition was fairly active, and, notwithstanding the inciemency of tbe weather lately all descriptions were in good demand and prices slightly higher. Country dry skins, low to medium, brought 8d to 2s 7d ; do do merino, 7d to 2s 3d good ; to best crossbreds, 2s 8d to 4b 3d ; do do merino, 2s 5d to 4s Id ; dry pelts 2d to 5d ; butcbeis green crossbred g, 2s 4d, 2s 6d, 2a Bd, 2s lOd, 3s ;do do merino, Is 6d, Is 9d, 2s ; lambskins, 2s 2d, 29 4, 2s 7d, 2s 9d, 3s, 3s Id. Rabbi tßkins. — The supply coming forward is atill small, and not by any means anything near sufficient for requirements. An excellent demand exists, and dealers compete keenly for every lot offered at the auctions, when fall values are always realised. April and May skins bring lOd to Is ; late summer acd autumn, 6d to 8d ; inferior and mixed, 3d to 6d ; suckers, OAd to 2d per Ib. Hides. — The market is without material alteration, a good demand continues to exist ; all descriptions are saleable at prices according to weight and condition. Sonnd hides are always preferred, and realise much better prices when compared with those paid for cut and slovenly flayed. Quotations are as follows : — For bulls and inferior, l£d to 2d ; light, 2±d 1o 2|d ; medium, 2jd to 3*d ; heavy (601 b and over and in faultless condition), 3|d to 4fd per 10, Tallow.— For local requirements tbe demand continues fairly active at about last week's quotations. There are also buyers for shipment, but at present Tenderers prefer shipping on their own account rather than submit to prices offered. The tone of tbe Home market continues very unsatisfactory, and has a depressing effect on business here. This week's quotations are — For inferior and mixed, 10s to 13s ; medium to good,; 14s '.to 15s ; best mutton 16s to 18s ; rough fat, inferior, 7s to 8s ; medium, to good, 9s to 10s ; best mutton, 11s to 12s per cwt. Grain. — Wheat meets with ready sale at late quotations, and is apparently firmer, althorgh there is no definite improvement In value. The quantity coming forward is limited, and in the meantime tbe prevaling idea is that present values are likely to continue firm. Quotations are : — For best velvet and Tuscan, 3s lOd to 3s lid ; for choice lots, 4s is asked ; good to best, 3s 8d to 3s 9d ; medium, 3s 4d to 3s 7d ; whole fowls' wheat, 2s lOd to 3s 2d ; broken 2s 3d to 2s 9d (ex store, bags weighed in).— Oats : These are in fair request, several small parcels having changed hands during the week, but without any improvement in the price for fair average feed sorts, which are, if any. thing, easier, There are several inquirers in tbe market for large quantities of this class, but the limits are rather below prices current, which are as follows, viz. : For bright stout milling, Is 7£d to Is 8d ; short bright feed, Is 6£d to Is 7d ; medium, Is s£d to Is 6d ; discoloured and inferior, Is 4d to Is od (ex store, bags weighed in).— Barley : The market continues bare of good malting, and any good lots offering are freely taken up at late quotations. Most malsters, however, are fairly well supplied for the time being, and, although open to purchase, show no inclination to advance on last week's prices. Milling is also in short supply and in good demand, but feed is very little inquired for. Quotations for best malting are 4s to 4s 3d ; medium, 3s 6d to 3s 9d (bags extra) ; feed and milling, 2s 6d to 3s 3d (bags weighed in). Rye-grass Seed . — The market for this seed is extremely flat. A few small sales have been made during the last week or two to speculators at very low prices ; but since then there is scarcely any demand. Cocksfoot Seed meets with little or no inquiry, and quotations are nominal . Potatoes. — The market is over-supplied, and, with a small demand, sales are difficult to effect at from 35s to 40s per too, bags weighed in.