Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 15, 3 August 1888, Page 15

Commer cial.

Mb. Donald Stbonach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending August 1, as follows :— Fat Cattle.— -A very full supply wa9 forward for this week's sales again at Burneide viz., 248 head, a large portion of which were ot prime quality and heavy weight, the balance inferior to medium. The former were fairly well competed for, and brought prices fully in advance of last week's, while for the latter there was best dem.md Best bullocks brought £8 10s to £9 12s 6d, one pen £10 10a ; medium, £5 10s to £7 10s ; others, £4 5s to £5 03 ; cows in proportion. Fat Sheep. — 2941 were penned, including about 400 merinos, the rest crossbreds, medium to prime quality. Wethers suitable for export were in good demand and realising about la per head above last week's prices, while medium quality wethers and old ewes had less attention, ia some instances fetching lower prices; but crosibred wethers brought 13s 6d to 15s 9d ; ordinary, 9s to 12s 6d ; beßt crossbred ewes, 11b to 13s ; a few extra heavy Leicester up to 14s 6d • ordinary, 6s to 10s 6d ; merino wethers, 8s to 9a 3d. Pigs. — 158 were penned, comprising all sorts. A very fair demand was experienced, and competition moderately active. Suckers brought 6s to 11s; stores, 19s 6d to 265; porkers, 30s to 365: baconers, 43s to 60s. Store Cattle.— The business resulting from the inquiry experienced is only to a very moderate exteat, and nothing of impor- ; tance in the meantime passing. Store Sheep.— There are no sales of any consequence now effected: The only business coming under our notice at present is confined to pccasional purchases of lines (not suitable for killing) at the Burnside ealeyarda, and which leave but little margin to the buyers. Wool. — We notice that prices at the Antwerp sales, now being held, continue firm, with the exception of inferior combings, which are slightly lower. Locally, there is very little doing beyond the disposal on Mondays of the few oddments arriving from time to time ; these, however, continue to realise very fair prices. Sheepskins.— These, as usual, command good attention, all descriptions being readily disposed of. At our regular weekly auction sale on Monday there was a large attendance of buyers, all the members of the trade being present, when we offered a lengthy catalogue, comprising a variety of classes, the bulk of which were butcbers' green skins. Competition was spirited, particularly so for best green skins, carefully looked after. Several lots shewed uhmistakeable signs of carelessness on the part of slaughtermen, their value in conseqnence being considerably reduced. With the exception of these, all others brought prices showing an advance on last week's. Country dry crossbreds, low to medium, brought Is 3d to 3s 6d ; do do merino, Is 2d to 2s 9d ; medium to full-woolled crossbreds, 3s 8d to 6s 3d ; do do merino, 3s to 4s 7d ; dry pelts, 2d to Is 2d ; butchers' green croesbreds, ss, Is lid, 4s lOd, 4s Bd, 4s sd, 4s Id; inferior, 3s Bd, 3s 2d ; green merinos, 2s lOd to 3s 4d ; lambskins, 2s 3d to 3s 2d. Babbitskins.— The demand continues brisk, all sotts being in good request, but more esp< :ally full-furred, thin-pelted greys, and realise prices equal to those obtaining previous to the advices TtpDrting a fall at the last sales in London. There are several orders in the market paucity ; of supplies is retarding their completion. Meantime, however, buyers are limited to prices, and in the absence of a substantial advance in price at Home, we can hardly look for very much further improvement in values here. We offered a, moderate catalogue on Monday when a k*>en interest was centered in the proceedings. Competition was active and bidding spirited, every lot realising prices eqvn l to late rates, quality considered. Summers brought 6d to 9d ; autumn, 9£d to 12d ; early winter, li]i to 15M; full-furred backs and does, 16d to 16^d per 'b. Hides. — The market is in much the same position as when we last reported, there being no alteration to note in either demand or values. The continued depression in the London market is the principal cause of the prevailing weakness at present experienced here; at the samo time, all coming forward are easily placed at the following quotations, viz., heavy weights in faultless condition, 3,' d to3£d ; medium, 3id to 2^d ; light, 2j?d to 2M ; inferior and bull hides, Hd to 2d per lb. Tallow. — The market continues steady and no material change in any way to repo-t. Stocks are low bjt as the supply coming for. ward is sufficient for requirements and the city operators being the local manufacturers, in the absence of any demand for shipment prices remain as last quoted, viz., prime rendered mutton, 183 to 19s ; medium to good, 15a 6d to 17s ; inferior and mixed, 13a tol4s6d. Rough fat, inferior, 8s to 9s ; medium to good, 9s 6d to lls 6d ; best, clean and fresh, 12s to 13s per cwt. Grain.— Wheat : The demand for good milling continues extremely restricted. Millers are operating with increased caution, and only purchasing in satisfaction of their immediate requirements. Second-class milling ia in no demand whatever for local use ; during the week, however, a few small parcels of this description have been placed for shipment ; inferior and fowls' wheat continue in fair demand, but without any improvement in price. The only descriptions tor milling inquired for in the meantime are prime Tuscan and red straw for mixing, and the quantity used is comparatively insignificant. We quote prime milling wheat and red straw, 2a 10j to 3s Id, Tuscan best a shade more ; medium, 2s 6d to 2s Bd, nominal ; fowls' wheat, whole and full, 2s 3d to 2s 5d ; inferior and broken, Is 9d to 2b (ex storr, sacks weighed in).— Oats : The market, although firm at last week's quolation, has not further improved to an appreciable extent, and beyond the disposal of a few lots suitable for mills ing, and an occasional lot for shipment, the bussiness passing is limited: A good demand exists for sh-pping, but until there is a corresponding rise in the Australian mprkets, shippers are not in a

position to operate at tne prices now demanded here. We quote prime milling, stout and bright, Is lid to 2s, extra choice a shade more ; short bright feed, Is 9Jd to Is 10£ d ; medium, lsßAd to Is 9d ; inferior, of which the market is pretty well cleared out, Is 6d to Is 8d ; black, in email lota, up to 2s ; long Tartars and Danish, it for seed, Is 9d to 2a (ex store, sacks weighed in).— Barley has very little attention from malsters, especially if in the slightest degree off colour. There is some demand for milling, but until growers reduce their limits very little business will be effected. There is no demand for feed, quotations nominal. Ryegrass Seed.— The market is still inactive. Small lots are occasionally disposed of, while parcels of any size are difficult to move. We quote machine-dressed, 2s 6d to 3a ; undressed, Is 6d to 2a 3d ; sacks extra. Cooksfoot is in good supply, but sales are confined to olmoßt retail lots, at from 3jd to 4jd per lb, Potatoes.— The market continues bare, and prices are further advancing. Northern are worth 753 to 80s, and southern, 65s to 755, accordmg to quality.