Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 19, 31 August 1888, Page 15

Commercial.

Mb. Donald Stronaoh (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending August 29, as follows :— Fat Cattlle. — 187 head were yarded to-day, the greater portion of which were good to prime quality, the balance ranging from very ordinary to medium. Best bullocks brought £8 to £9 10s, one pen £10 ; medium, £5 10s to £7 10a : others, £4 2j 6d to £5 5s : cows from £3 7s 6d to £9. Fat Sheep. — To-day's Bupply comprised 300 merino wethers (fair to good) and 2343 crossbreds Cone or two pens extra heavy). Best crossbred wethers brought 14s 3d to 17a 9d ; two pens extra heavy, 18s to 21s 3d ; ordinary, 12a 9d to 13s 9d ; best do ewes, 13s 9d to 16s. Pigs.— l 76 were penned. Suckers brought 6s 6d to lla ; stores, 16s to 24s ; porkers, 25s 6d to 33s j baconers, 37s to 56s ; a few extra heavy, 60s to 675. Store Cattle. — The business done ia these in the meantime is limited, and the demand not particularly active, although suitable lots such as 3 and 4 year old quiet, well bred steers in forward condition could be placed, and no doubt as the season advances a more decided improvement in the demand will be experienced. Store Sheep. — The maiket for this class of stock is quiet, and with the exception of odd lots of crossbredp^limited in number, changing hands at intervals, there is nothing of any consequence passing. Wool, — Latest cablegrams to hand report that apparently the Home market is in a healthy condition, and unless disturbed by unforeseen influences there is every prospect of present rates, at anyrate, being maintained during the piogress of the foiirth seiiesof sales to be held next week, and which is considered will open under very favourable lauspicee, the present satisfactory state of the British trade supporting this view. Locally there is nothing doing of any consequence. Sheepskins.— The demand for these is always good and the supply never too heavy. At our regular weekly auction on Monday we submitted a full catalogue representing various descriptions. The attendance of buyers was good, all in the trade being present. Keen competition ensued, all sorts receiving good attention, but when each of the buyers is eager to secure a full share, there is a good deal of caution exercised and notwithstanding the increased growth of wool prices obtained now for butchers crossbred Bkins show little or no advance on those obtaining a month since. Country dry crossbreds, low to medium, brought Is 2d to 3s 8d ; do do merino, Is Id to 2s 9d ; medium to full-woolled crossbreds, 3a lOd to 5s 3d ; do do merino 2s lOd to 4s 7d : dry pelts, 2d to lOd. Butchers' green crossbreds, best. 4s 7d, 4s 6d, 4s sd, 4s 3d, others, 4s, 3s 9d, 3a 6d, 3s 3d; green merinos, 2s lOd to 3s lOd. Rabbit-skine. — A good demand continues to exist, and prices for best furred are still firm ; medium and inferior also command good attention, and realise satisfactory prices. At our auction on Monday we had a full attendance of the trade, when we offered a good catalogue. Competition was again spirited, prices realised being qnite on a par with those obtained last week. The following are marks with prices : WL, 7 bags winter greys, mixed bucks and does, 16? i ; F. 5 bales do do, 16£ d ; CD, 3 bags do do, 16d ; Z, sdo do, lGd ; C, 4 do do, 16-Jd ; R, 2do do, 15jd ; B, 4do do, 15|d ; 18. Ido early winter, 14d ; do, 1 do autumn, lid; CT over hi, Ido black, ll£d~; do, 1 do do, B£d ; do, 1 do, summer, 6d ; do, 1 do, suckers, 2£d ; Z, 1 do, summer. 6.Jd ;E,l do do, B£d ; B, 1 do, late summer, lu J ,d ; do. 2 do do, lOd ; C, 2 do do, 9£d ; do, 1 do do, 8d ; do, 1 do, early summer, 4jd per lb. Hides. — A moderate demand exists and buyers at hand for all coming to market, but in sympathy with the lower prices rulmg at outside markets, late rates are not now obtainable locally. Local manufactures are a* present the principal operators, the absence of any speculative demand for shipment being no doubt due to the generally depressed state of the cattle market at home. We quote heavy weights, M& to 3£d ; medium, 2£d to 3d ; light, 2d to 2£d ; inferior, l£d to ljd per lb. Tallow.— We quote prime rendered mutton, 18s to 19s ; medium to good, 15s 6d to 17 0 6d ; inferior and mixed, 13s 6d to 15s ; rough f«t inferior, 8a to 9d j medium to good, 9j 6d to 11s Sd ; best, 12a to 13s per cwt. Grain. —Wheat : We have no material alteration to note in the tone of the market. A few lines have been placed by us since our last report, on the ba6ia of last week's quotations, for future delivery. Second rate wheat has had some demaud for shipment, but prices ■how no improvement on those ruling earlier in the season. Fowls' wheat is in good demand and firmer. We quote— Prime milling, 3s Id to 48 4d ; medium, 2s 9d to 3a ; good whole fowls' wheat. 2s 4d to 2s 8d ; broken, 2s to 2s 3d ; ex store (sacks weighed in). Oats: A slight demand exists, and a lew sales are being effected, but the market is comparatively quiet. There are not many coming forward, and for the few agents still have oa hand they aie demanding equivalent to late rates. Buyers, however, demur, and in consequence transactions aie limited ; and in the event of priccain the Australian markets continuing at their present level, shippers will be unable to operate at prices lately quoted, wbich are still as follows :— Bright,

short milling. Is lid to Is 11^1— extra prim?, a shade more ; best bright feed, la 10£ ito Is lid; medium, la 9d to la lOd ; Danish «nd long Tartars, fit for seed, Is lOd io 2s— in small lots, 2b 3d to 2g 6d (ex store, sacks weighed in).— Barley : Cape, from the North Island, seems to hare largely taken the place of chevalier, doubtless owing to the difference in price ; and maltsters now having full supplies are not inclined to further add to their present stocks. Milling continues in fair demand, but no inquiry for feed ; quotatioas nominal. RyegrasH Seed. — The inclemency of the season is interfering wi'h operations to a considerable extent, but with settled weather a brisker demand may ba looked for. We quote machine dressed, 2a fd to 3s 3d ; undressed, 2a to 2s 3i ; cocksfoot, 3Mto iidper lb, sacks extra. 4 4