Commercial,

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 23, 30 September 1887, Page 15

Commercial,

Mb. Donald Stbonach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending September 28, as follows :— Fat Cattle. — A full supply came forward for this day's market— 219 head being yarded, of good to prime quality ; but on account of the large number to hand last week competition was sluggish, and prices, if anything, easier. Best bullocks brought £7 10s to £9 5s ; light and ordinary quality, £4 7s 6d to £7 ; cowr .from £3 15s to £6 7s 6d: Fat Sheep.— This week's market was supplied with 579 merino wethers of useful quality and 2770 crossbreds, about one-third of which were prime wethers, the rest only medium. For the former there was a fair demand for export, prices realised showing a slight advance ; while for the latter competition was only moderately active, at prices showing a Blight decline on last week's rates. Best crosesbred wethers brought 13a 6d to 15b 9d ; ordinary, 9s 6d to 12s 6d ; crossbred ewes, best, 11s to 11s 9d ; others, 9s to 10s 9d ; merino wethers, 6s 9d to 9i 3d. We sold on account of Mr. J. Macara (Bait Gore), crossbred wetbere, at 13s 6d ; do. mixed, 10s 9d to 11s 9d ; Mr. J. Burnett (Pukerau), mixed croasbreds, at 12s 9d to 13s ; Messrs, T. and J. Taylor (Wairana), crossbred wethers, at 10s 3d to 10s 6d. Fat Lambs.— 2o7 were penned, mostly small and of medium quality. Competition was fairly active for the best, but small and inferior bad but little attention, the range being 4s 3d to 12s 9d. We sold on account of Mr. William Shand (Keith Hall), a draft at 6b 9d. Pigs. — 180 were penned. Competition for suckers and stores waa brisk, but for porkers and baconers there was less animation. Suckers, 9a 6d to 11b 6d ; stores, 13s 6d to 2ls 6d ; porkers, 23s to 29s ; baconers, 34s to 489. Store Cattle. — We note an improved demand for good stores in forward condition ; in fact all sorts are in more request but there are very few offering. The spring promises to be an unusually early one; but while prices for fat stock continue so unremunerative to graziers, it will be difficult to effect an improvement in the price for ■tores. Store Sheep.— We have no transactions to report, nor, indeed, is there any demand to speak of ; but as the season advances we anticipate a good demand at higher rates for all descriptions. Wool.— Telegraphic reports regarding the progress of the present series of sales in London are rather of a conflicting character ,and,as will be perceived,afEord but a very slight indication of the actual state of the Home market. They are as follow, under date 23rd inst.:— " The sales ' progress fairly well. Crossbreds market easier. Fine gr2asy crossbred has declined £d per lb, and fine scoured crossbred £d to Id, since the close of last sales." Under date 24th inst.:— "The wool sales aie flat. Good crossbreds are firm, but lower sorts are Id below the July closing rates. Good greasy merino has improved jfd above those rates. The number of bales catalogued for the series up to date is 192,300, of which 23,200 bales were withdrawn . The present series will close on the 16th October." Sheepskins.— Our sale this week, owing to the elections, was held on Tuesday instead of Monday, the regular sale day, when we offered a large catalogue, comprising the usual assortments offered at these sales. There was a good attendance of buyers, and notwithstanding the changeable nature of the weather, combined with the unsatisfactory tone of the wool market, the demand was good and bidding brisk. Country dry crossbreds, low to medium, brought lOd to 3s 3d ; good to best, 3s 6d to 5s ; dry merinos, low to medium, 9d to 2s 3d ; good to best, 2s 6d to 4s ; dry pelts, 4d to 8d ; butchers' green crossbreds, 3s sd, 3s Bd, 3s lid, 4s 2d, 4s sd, 4s 7d, 4s 9d, 5s 2d ; do do msrino, 3s 4d, 3s 6d, 3s 9d, 3s 10d. Rabbitskins. — Owing to the fall in the price of these at the last London sales, Home manufacturers have reduced their limits to their agents here, which is already materially affecting values in this market of all descriptions. Although the demand continues remarkably good, prices offered are fully 6d per lb lower than they were the week before last. Consigners forwarding their parcels for sale by auction should be careful not to mix inferior or early spring skinß with the best class of winter-saved, being more satisfactory to both buyer and seller. We offered on Tuesday (part of Monday being a holiday) a medium catalogue, when all the buyers were in attendance. Competition was brisk, but prices obtained showed no improvement on last week's. The following are marks, with prices :— SP. 1 bag 7d ; do, 2 do, 8d ; spectacles, 1 do, 14£ d ; do, 2 do, 14d ; GF, 2 do, BJd ; do, 1 do, 5d ; M and M, 1 do, 7d ; RM, 4 do, 15d ; NZL over D 2 do, 5d ; F, 1 do, 13$ d ; JCC, 1 do. 8d ; RM, 1 do, 13+ d ; D, 1 do ll^d per lb. Hides.— With the continuance of increased supplies there is no improvement in the tone of the market. Owing to the lack of animation in both the Home and Australian markets, shippers have no inducement to operate ; in consequence, the most of the business done is confined to the demand for local requirements, which is barely sufficient to clear off consignments to the satisfaction of sellers, and the tendency is towards lower prices. We quote : For inferior and bulls" Ud to 2d ; light, 2£d to 2|d ; medium, 2|d to 3U ; heavy, 3}d to 3£d per lb. Tallow. — We have no material alteration to note in values. The market is net heavily stocked, but, as the supply coming forward is quite sufficient for the requirements of our local consumers, prices show but little alteration, and in the absence of any inducement to ship there is very little show for much improvement. At the same time, there is no difficulty experienced in disposing of all coming to hand at the following quotations— viz., for inferior and mixed, 10s to 12s; medium to good, 13a to 15s ; best mutton, 16s to 17; rough fat— inferior, 5b to 7s ; medium to good, 8s to 9s ; caul fat, 10s to 11s per cwt.

Grain. —Wheat: There is no change to report for the better in the position of the market, which continues very quiet, and, with the exception of special sorts for mixing, purchases of which are only made in a hand-to-month fashion, there is really no demand. No doubt sales could be made of really good milling, but at prices which holders would be very loath to accept. We quote prime milling velvet, 3s 0d to 33 lOd ; best red straw and Tuscan, being lower in stock, commands in small parcels 4s to 4s 2d ; medium to good, 3s 6d to 3s 9d ; inferior, 3s to 3s 6d (ex store, bags weighed in). —Oats : These have continued in good demand during the past week. Stocks are rapidly decreasing, but prices do not seem to advance, especially for brightest sorts ; medium are not now quite so difficult to dispose of, and should the came demand continue slightly better prices may be obtained for these, Buyers for shipment are limited to price, and, while medium quality might suit their purpose, immediately an advance is asked business seems to be off. In the meantime last week's quotations for short oats are firm, but long are neglected, Danish in particular. We quote bright milling. Is Bd. to Is B*d ; best bright short feed, 1b 7sd to Isßd ; medium, Is 6d to 1b 7d (ex store, bags weighed in).—Barley : Choice samples for malting could be placed. There is also a moderate demand for feed and milling, but in the absence of supplies quotations are nominal. Ryegrasa Seed. —The demand is still weak and unsatisfactory. This state of the market is mainly owir.f to the quantity held by growers and agents in the country districts. Poverty Bay seed being now reduced in price, buyers prefer it to the provincial-grown. Cocksfoot is moving off slowly at from 4d to 4£d for medium, and *fd to 6d for best. Potatoes are difficult to move, and without any improvement whatever in price.