Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 46, 9 March 1888, Page 15

Co mmercial.

Mb. Donald Stbonaoh (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Limited) reports for the week ending March 7, as follows :—: — Fat Cattle.— lß3 head were yarded at Barnside for this day's sales, the greater portion of which were medium and light-weights, only a few pens approaching prime. There was no improvement in the demand or values. Best bullock? brought £6 to £7 12s 6i ; ordinary, £3 16a to £5 15s ; cows, from £2 16s to £6. We sold drafts on account of Mr. John Duncan, Cherry Farm ;■ Mr. John Sutherland, Mosgiel, and others, at quotations. Fat Sheep. — 3182 were penned, of which 829 were merino medium to good, the balance crossbreds, chiefly ewes ordinary to prime quality Bat owing to no demand for export, this number was largely in excess of requirements, and prices in consequence suffered a decline of quite la per head as compared with last week, and only for one or two buyers for boiling down, operating to a certain extent a heavier drop would, have to be submitted to. Best crossbred wethers brought 8s to 9s ; ordinary 6s 3d to 7s 6d ; best crossbred ewes, 8s to 9s 6d : ordinary 6s to 7s 3d ; merino whethers 4s 6d to 7s. We sold on account of Mr. Adam Maclean, Waikakahi, a very prime lot of crossbred ewes, very heavy weights, the feature of the day, at 9s to 9s 5d Messrs. Ross Bros. Bushy Park, a nice lot of crossbred ewes, prime quality, but small, at 6s 6d to 6s 9d ; Messrs. Craig aud McKenzie, Pnkerau, merino wethers at 4s 6d to 4s 9d. Fat Lambs. — The number forward to-day was much smaller, only 292 being penned, for which there was better competition, and although the quality was under the average, prices showed a decided improvement, the range being 3s 9d to Bs. Pigs. — 162 were penned of various sorts. Competition was fairly active for all descriptions except heavy bacon pigs, suckers brought 7s to 12s ; light stores, 17s to 23s 6s ; porkers, 30s to 395 ; baconers 42s to 50s. Property Sales. — Since the date of our last circular we have sold 200 acres, one of the few remaining sections of the Marino Downs estate at a satisfactory price. Store Cattle. — There is no improvemant to state in the tone of the market. Young cattle eighteen months to two years old, also largeframed, well-bred four to five years old would find buyers, but the demand is not by any means active, and prices offered when compared with tbose obtaining for fat stock are proportionately low. Store Sheep. — Pending the public auction, advertised to by held shortly, when forty to fifty thousand sheep will be offered, there is no change to record. A few odd lots (aged merinos chiefly) are changing hands, while for grazing purposes there are not many suitable lots offering. During the week we sold 3850 young and aged merinos. Wool. — We held our fifth sale for this season on Thursday, the Ist inst., lit our wool stores, lower Rattray street. All the local buyers were in attendance, who competed fairly active; but, no doubt owing to tne decline in values at the close of the sales lately held in London, they were not disposed to give prices previously offered. We catalogued 108 bales, 1 fadge, and 8 bagg, of which we sold 78 bales, 1 fadge, and 8 bags, at prices from £d to Jd per 1b below late rates. Sheepskins. — An excellent demand exists for both dry and green akins. The latter showing an improvement in quality, prices are advancing. We submitted a lengthy catalogue on Monday, comprising a variety of classes. There was a full attendance of buyers, and Bpirited competition, all descriptions realising higher prices. Country crossbreds, low to medium, Is 5d to 2s 6d ; do do, merino, la Id to 2elod ; medium, to full-woolled crossbreds, 3s 6d to 5s 2d ; do do merino, 3s to 4s 2d ; dry pelts, 5d to Is ; butchers' green crossbreds, Is 6d, Is 9d, 2s, 2s 3d, 2s 5d ; lambskins, la 9d, 2s, 2s Id, 2s 2d, 2s 3d 2b 6d. Eabbitskins. — There is very little business passing in these in the meantime, owing to the limited supply, even in summer skins consignments are insignificant, at the Bame time any offering find a market at late quotations. Tallow. — Our London circular of date 27th January to hand per San Francisco mail, reports the demand as being very brisk at the last auction sale, purchases being chiefly of a speculative nature on Continental account. Available supply of all descriptions are moderate, and the market closes firm with a further upward tendency. The estimated stock in warehouse is 6850 casks, not a large quantity conaideiing requests. In the local market a good demand exists, but the quantity available is small, and a tendency towards higher prices. We quote prime mutton, 18s to 20s ; medium to good, 16s 6d to 17s ; inferior and mixed, 12s to 15s ; rough fat best, 10s 6d to 12s ; medium to good, 8s 6d to 10s ; inferior, 7s to 8s per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : The tone of the market continues weak, and Btill considerable indisposition on the part of buyers to make purchases beyond present requirements. A considerable quantity of the new crop is offeiing, and some small lots disposed of, but until deliveries into store assume some dimensions, buyers will not be disposed to operate with much freedom, more especially when the position of the London market is considered also the absence of suitable freights. During the past week small parcels required for immediate nse realised 3s Id to 33 6d ; but these prices would not be obtainable for quantities and future delivery. At present, however, it is scarcely possible to say what tbe ruling figure will be.— Oats : These are in moderate demand, new especially, chiefly for milling, but deliveries are as yet extremely limited, in consequence any oddments of last seasons left on hand have been in more request, and are by this time all cleared out, prices, however, have not in any way improved, and in the continued absence of orders for shipment, indications are not bo satisfactory as could be wished. — We quote bright stout milling, Is BJd to Is 9d ; best bright short feed, Is 8d to le B}d ; medium to

good, Is 7d to Is 7£d ex store.— Barley is in good demand but supplies are Dot coming forward with any freedom, we quote prime malting, 3s 8d to 3s 9d ; medium, 3s 3d to 3s 6d : feed and milling 2a 3d to 3s ex store. Grass Seeds are still dull of sale, quotationa nominal: