Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 28, 4 November 1887, Page 15

Commercial.

Mb. Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending November 2, as follows :—

Store Cattle. — Business in this class of stock is slightly on the incnase. The offerings are more numerous. A moderate demand exists, which will no doubt become stronger should seasonable weather prevail. Hitherto feed has been rather backward, which has caused less activity in operations. Store Sheep. — The maiket continues inactive. Odd lots are occasionally changing hands, but until after shearing transactions will not be of any magnitude. During the week we placed 2,000 merino wethers, mixed ages, at a satisfactory price.

Wool.— As regards the Home market, we hare nothing of any importance to report. From Melbourne we have advices of proceedings there which up to the present do not seem to be satisfactory to the grower. Competition is said to be spirited, caused no doubt by the large number of buyers in attendance. Comparing the quantity Bold with that catalogued, it will be found far short of tbe quantity placed at these sales in previous seasons, and points to a material difference in sellers' and buyers' ideas of value. Good light-conditioned wools, both crossbred and merino, are apparently in better demand, while inferior and heavy earthy sorts receive but scant attention. Very little (if any) of the new clip has reached here yet ; but, should the weather continue favourable, small farmers' consignments will shortly b« coming forward rapidly ; and, as usual, we will (weather permitting) hold our first sale about the second week in December, when we anticipate good competition for all lo.s that may be offered, and that a large amount of busihess will be done if growers are only content to accept fair and reasonable prices.

Sheepskins. — We had a good attendance of buyers at our regular weekly auction on Monday. Competition was active, and the catalogue (which consisted of a large number of butchers' green skins, in addition to a numerous collection of country dry tkins) was all cleared under a good demand for all sorts at prices qni'e equal to last week's, quality considered. Country dry crossbreis, low to medium, brought Is Id to 3s 5d ; do do merino. Is to 3s 3d ; dry pelts, 3d to 8d ; butchers' green crossbreds, 4s, 4s 4d, 4s 6d, 4a 9d, 4s lid, 5s Id, 5s 2d ; do do merino, 3s 9d, 4s. 4s 3d. 4s 6d, 4s 8d ; lambskins, 9d, lOd, 12d, 13d.

Hides. — The supply is still in excess of requirements for local manufacturers, and with no outlet for export tbe market is void of animation. We cannot report any improvement in values, which remain as last week — viz , for inferior and bulls', l£d to 2d ; light, 2^d to 2§d ; medium, 2f d to 3Jd ; heavy, 3£d to 3£d per lb. Rye-grass. — Seed : With the season now almostover there is very little show for the satisfactory disposal of the stocks onband, which are pretty considerable. Even the best is now almost unaleable, while inferior cannot be disposed of at any price. Cocksfootcon tinues in fair demand, .-ales are made on the basis of late quotations: