Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 12, 13 July 1888, Page 15

Commercial.

Mb, Donald Stbonach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending July 11, as follows :—: — Store Cattle. — We have no improvement to report in the demand for these. The market continues quiet, and with the exception of some slight inquiry for young cattle, and of these few change hands, ■ales are limited. Store Sheep. — The market at present is very quiet. The only business passing is cor fined to occasional sales of small lots for fattening, otherwise there is nothing doing of any cousequencn. Wool. — Owing to the break ia the cables we are without any further advice as to how the London wool sales are progressing. In the local market small parcels of fellmoDgers' oddments are now and again offered in the skin sales, and realise satisfactory prices. Sheepskins. — A good demand exists, but possibly owing to the uncertainty of the progress of the wool sales now held in London, buyers, although competing very spiritedly up to or very near last week's values, Bhowed no desire to go beyond, except for fine merino ■kins, well woolled, these elicited some keen bidding, prices realised showing an improvment. On Monday, our regular weekly sale day, there was a full attendance of the trade, when our catalogue, which composed the usual varied assortments, was readily disposed of at the following prices : country day crossbreds low to medium, brought Is 2d to 3s 6d ; do do merino, li 3d to 2s 8d ; medium to full woolled crossbreds, 3s 8d to 5s 2d ; do do merino, 23 9d to 4s 3d ; dry pelts, 3d to la Id ; butchers' green crosabivds, is Bd, 4s 6d, 4s 4d, 4s 2d, 4s ; medium, 3s 9d, 3s 7d, 3s sd, 3s 2d, 3s, 2s 9d ; green merinos, 3s 9d, 3i 6d, 3s 3d, 3s, 2s Bd, 2s sd, 2s 2d,25, Is lOdj; lambskins, Is 9d to 3s 3d. Rabbit skins. — An active demand is experienced, but consignments still continue light. A much larger business could be done in this market if supplies came to hand with more freedom. Purchasers are in the market for an unlimited number, and at prices leaving but little margin to the exporter, compared with present rates now ruling in the London market. All sorts are saleable, while full-furred skins hare the most attention. Quotations are : For suckers, l£d to 3d ; inferior and mixed, 4d to 5d ; summers 5d to 8d ; autumn, 9d to Is ; black and fawn, 7d to lid; early winter greys, Is to Is 2d ; best winter greys, Is 3d to Is 4£d per lb. Oq Monday we disposed of several lots at auction at the above quotations. Hides. — During the week a fair supply came forward which meets with ready sale. Current values showing little change compared with last week's quotations. Local manufacturers are the principle operators. Heavy, free from cuts and offal, 3d to 3£d ; medium, 3^d to 3f ; light, 2fd to 2sd ; inferior and bulls, 2d to 1£ per lb. Tallow . — A very fair demand continues to exist, and stocks limited, all available supplies are readily placed, chiefly for local consumption. There is no apparent change in either demand or values. Consignments being placed at up to late quotations, which are for prime rendered mutton, 18s 6d to 20s ; medium to good, 15s 6d to 17 6d ; inferior, 13s to 14a 6d ; rough fat realises for inferior 8s to 9s ; medium to good, 9s 6d to 11s 6d ; good clean mutton caul, 12s to 13s per cwt. Grain — Wheat : There is no apparent improvement in the tone of the market, which still continues dull and unsatisfactory. The operations of the past week are confined to a few sales of prime milling, being the only quality millers will touch ; some sales of fowl wneat have also been made for export principally to Sydney, but the market there being rushed with too mauy consignments lately, shippers are not so keen to operate at late quotations and can only be induced to purchase at a reduction . Large quotations of medium not considered in the meantime fit for milling and yet too good for fowl wheat are still in store, and no outlet except at the price of the latter. Quotations are for prime miliing, velvet, Tuscan, and red Straw 2s lOd to 3s Id ; extra choice might bring a shade more, medium, nominal, 2s 5d to 2s 9d ; fowls' wheat, whole, in shipping condition, 2s 3d to 2s 4d ; broken, Is 9d to 2s 2d (ex store, sacks weighed in). — Oats : A moderately steady demand continues to exist both for local and export requirements. All sorts are firmer with the exception of black Tartars, which do not go off at the prices realised earlier in the season, especially lines. Deliveries of all sorts have almost now ceased, and the holders of the few lines still unsold are asking and getting slightly higher rates. Reports from Melbourne are somewhat more encouraging, while the Sydney market is showing a downward tendency. Stocks in agents' hands here are considerably lower than at the same time last season, and the indications are that prices are likely to further impro\e. We quote, from actual sales, stout bright Canadians, Is lOd ; stout bright Sutherlands, Is lOd ; bright sparrow bills, Is 9d to Is 9|d ; medium, Is B^d to Is 9d ; Danish, Is 7£d to Is B£d ; long Tartars fit tor seed, Is lOd to 2s ; black, Is 9d to 2s — the latter price only for small parcels— (ex store, sacks weighed in. — Barley : Shows no improvement is the demand, and sales still difficult to effect, with the exception of prime bright malting. Milling is occasionally asked for, but the quantity required for this purpose is limited. Quotations are : For prime maltirg, 4s to 4s 3d ; medium, in demand, nominal, 3s 6d to 3s 9d ; feed and milling, 2s to 3s 3d, (ex store). Ryegrass Seed. — Transactions are still limited to small trade sales. Quotations nominal.— Cocksfoot Seed : The same remark applies to this. P'tatoes.— This market .is barely supplied, and a firmer tone prevailing. Growers preferring to ship has had an effect on deliveries

to the local market. Latest advices from Sydney report heavy shipments to arrive, and do not anticipate that present prices will be maintained. Quotations for best Northern, 52s 6d to 57s 6d ; Southern, 45s to 50s per ton. Batter.— Owing to a slight depression in the Sydney market prices here are easier. Stocks are bare, and an idea prevails that farther on an improvement in value is inevitable. Quotations for prime quality, B£d to 9sd per lb. ; medium, 5d to 7d. Cheese. — Stocks are low and an improvement in price anticipated. Factory made sells readily now at 4Jd to 4f d per lb.