Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 45, 2 March 1888, Page 20

Commercial.

Mb. Dokald Stbonaoh (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending February 29, as follows :— Fat Cattle.-— 193 head were yarded at Burnside to-day for the week's requirements, two-thirds of which were only 'medium, the balance good to prime quality. Competition for the latter was moderately active, while for the former' prices realized were no better than for stores, and even the latter showed no improvement on last week's rates. Best bullocks brought £6 10s to £8 10s ; ordinary, £4 to £5 15s ; cows in proportion. Fat Sheep.— 39o4 were penned, of which about 150 were merino, the balance crossbred, medium to good and prime quality, a considerable portion being wethers, and for the best of these there was a fair demand for export at prices about equal to last week's, while for ordinary quality and ewes there was less demand, and prices lower than those of last week's. Best crossbred wethers brought 8s 9d to 9s 9d (two pens extra prime, 10a 3d) ; ordinary, 6s 9d to 8s 6d ; best crossbred ewes, 7s 9d to 8s 6d ; ordinary, 68 to 7s 3d ; merino wethers, to 6s 9d (a few pens quarter backs to 7s 6d); We sold on account of Mr. P. A. Cameron, Fassiferm, crossbred wethers, from 6s 6d to 8s 9d ; do ewes, from 6s 6d to 8s 3d. Messrs Boss Bros., Bushy Park, crossbred eweß at 8s 3d. Fat Lambs. — 584 were penned. This number proved to be in excess of requirements, hence a dead sale and prices lower, the range to-day being 4s 6d to 7s 3d. We sold one pen on account of Messrs. Boss Bros., Bushy Park, at 6s 6d. Pigs, — 181 were penned, comprising all descriptions. Competition was fairly active for suckers, stores, and porkers, but for baconers there was less demand. Suckers brought 6a 6d to 10s. One pen extra prime, 3s 4d ; Yorkshire, bred by Mr. Bobert Wiakfield, Corstorphine, brought up to 22a. Stores, 12s to 22s 9d ; porkers, 22s to 36s ; baconers, 41s to 455. Flock Bams. — During the week we placed the whole of the flock rams from the well-known stud of Mr. G. L. Sise at a satisfactory price. Btore Cattle. — The market continues quiet. We have no improvement whatever to report in either demand or value. Store Sheep. — There have been a good many inquiries in the market during the past week. Some sales have also been effected, but buyers are still hesitating. There are not very many suitable lots offering, a fact which intending purchasers should take into consideration. We have no sales to report, but have some pemding. Wool. — In this market no business of any importance has been done during the past week. The few odd lots coming to hand since our last sale, with some still to come forward, will probably be disposed of. We are in receipt of the following cablegram from our London office, dated 25th iost. " The sales closed to-day at the level of last sales, except for superior greasy, superior combing washed, Superior scoured merino, and coarse cross-breds, which have all advanced nearly £d per lb. Medium and inferior greasy, inferior washed merino, and inferior washed merino, and inferior scoured merino have declined $d per lb Superior greasy merino lambs have advanced £d, and infeiior greasy merino lambs have declined $d to Id per lb. The sales comprised about 255,000 bales. 153,000 bales were sent to the Continent, 5000 bales taken to America, and 27,000 bales have been beld over for future disposal. Sheepßkins.— A very good demand exists and a much larger supply could be placed than at present comes forward. Our usual weekly eale was held on Monday last and was fully attended. Competition was active, especially lor green skins, for whicn higher prices were obtained. Considering the unsatisfactory reports received from time ( to time of the progress of the London wool sales just closed, prices for all descriptions were well maintained. Country dry crossbreds, low to medium, biougbt Is 2d to 3b 4d ; do do merino, Is to 2s 9d ; medium to full-wooled crossbreds, 3s 9d to 5a ; do do merino, 3a to 4s ; dry pelts, Id to lid ; butchers' green crossbreds, Is 4d, Is 6d, Is Bd, Is lOd, '48 2d ; lambskins, Is 7d, Is 9d, 2s, 2s 3d, 2s 6d. j^^Babbitskins. — There is no alteration to report on the position of the market, which still continues quiet, owing to the absence of «upplies. For the few small lots which come to hand there is a good demand, and prices obtained compare favourably with those realised in the London market for similar quality. On Monday we disposed of a small catalogue at the following prices : — For suckers, $d ; medium to good summer skins, 4£d to 7jd per lb. Hidee. — There is no quotable alteration to note in values. A moderately good demand exists, and the supplies coming forward being chiefly taken up for local requirements at prices leaving no margin to shippers, who are almost entirely out of the market. We quote heavy weights, free from scars and offal, 3|d to 4d ; medium, 3d to 3id ; light, 2Jd to 2jd ; inferior and bulls', ljd to 2d per lb. Tallow. — The market at present is quite bare and prices have an upward tendency. Owing to shipments going forward to the London market the quantity left is barely sufficient for local requirements, and is causing a keen demand to exist for local manufacture, We quote prime mutton, 18s to 30a ; medium to good, 15s 6d to 17s ; inferior and mixed, 12s to 15s ; rough fat, best, 10s 6d to 12s ; medium to good, 8s fid to 10a ; inferior. 7s to 8s per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : The market so far shows very little signs of activity; still Borne slight inquiry is made for new wheat, but the business passing iB limited. Buyers are not desirous to purchase at any extent at late quotations for forward delivery. Some samples are on the market from the North and a few small sales being made, bat South harvesting operations are still backward, and until threshing is more general, and delivery made to a certain extent, prices will not be established, nor will business assume much importance. Fowls'^ wheat is a somewhat better demand lately, and would Bell readily at relatively higher prices than prime mi 'ling could be disposed of. We quote the latter 3a 3d to

3s 4d ; medium to good, 3s to 3s 2d ; inferior, 2s 9d to 8b (ex store). — Oats : There are no deliveries of any consequence, bat still sufficient for present requirements. There is no demand for shipment to any extent. The business done is for the most part with local dealers and millers, and as old stocks are almost cleared out and but few coming in, late quotations are yet maintained, which we give as follows : — For bright stout milling, Is B^d to Is 9d ; be3t bright short feed, Is 8d to Is Bsd ; mcdi am to good, Is 7d to Is 7£d ; inferior, Is 3d to Is 6d (ex store).— Barley : The want of supplies still keep 9 the market quiet. A few samples of the new crop are offering, bat ihe quantity is as yet limited. There are buyers in the market for all offering ; in the meantime, however, prices offered are considerably lower than at the close of last season. Present quotations are for prime malting in suitable quantities, 3s 8d to 3s 9d ; medium, 3s 3a to 3a7d ; feed and milling, 2s 3d to 3s (ex store). Cocksfoot Seed moves off slowly in small locs at from 43 to 4s }d per lb.