Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 27, 26 October 1888, Page 15

Commercia l.

Mb. Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending October 24, as follows :—: —

Store Cattle. — We have just completed some large sales at satisfactory prices, and have still in oar hands for private sale some very choice stores. WUh the favourable spring weather we are having, there is sure to be more enquiries, and prices will no doub* prove to be more in accordance with sellers' views. There is considerable enquiry both locally and from the North for the Glenham Ayrshire cattle to be offered for sale next week.

Store Sheep. — At the weekly sales there is nothing doing . We have several enquires for good half-breds, 4 to 6 tooth,

Wool. — The London September-October sales having closed firmly at increased prices, the market has a firmer tendency. There are only odd lots now being offered, principally small parcels of fellmongers' wool, for which there is always a ready sale at full rates. Beveral growers have intimated their intention to sell in the local market this year instead of shipping. Certainly the results of the past year fully justify the wisdom of this course. Bheepskins. —There was a good attendance at our sale on Monday when we submitted a large catalogue including some very choice skins. For all lots offered there was good competition, quality considered, prices realised were quite equal to last week's. Country dry crossbieds, low to medium, brought Is 6d to 3a 8d ; do do merino, Is 6d to 3s 7d ; medium to full woolled crosebreds, 3s lOd to 7s ; do do merino 3s to 4s lOd ; butchers green crossbreds, best, 6s 3d, 5s 9d. 5s 6d, 5s 4d, 5s ; medium, 4s4d, 4s 6d, 4s Bd, 4s 10a ; do do merino, 4s 6d, 4s 7d, 4s lOd ; lambskins, 5d to 9d. During the week we sold 2,000 freezing skins at 5s to 5s 3d,

Rabbitskins. — Ihe market is without quotable change since our last report. We submitted a small catalogue at our weekly sale on Monday, when prices realised were on a par with previous week.

Hides. — There is no alteration in the market. We find no difficulty in disposing of all lots coming to hand at following prices : inferior and bulls, l^d to l*d ; light 2d to 2£i ; medium, 2£d to 2|d ; heavy, 3d to 3£d ; over 60 lbs and in fault, e3s condition, SJd to 3^d per lb. Prices are now lower than for some time past. It is therefore all the more important for butchers and others to pay proper attention in slaughtering to insure that the hide is saved free from cntsand scarp.

Tallow. — In smypathy with the London market prices for this product show an improvement. We quote prime rendered mutton, 19s 6d to 21s 6d ; medium to good, 17a to 18a 6d ; inferior and mixed, 14s 6d to 16s 6d ; rough fat— inferior, 9s to 9a 6d ; medium to good, 10s to 13s ; best, 13s 6d to 14s per cwt. All lots coming forward are spiritedly competed for by the local buyers. Grain. — Wheat : At present the local market is not very active, millers evidently being well supplied for their present requirements, and prices being rather high to induce buyers to operate lor export. Considering the continued favourable toi.c of the London market, sellers are not anxious to sell at less than quotations : — Prime milling, velvet and Tuscan, 3a 7d to 3s 10J : medium to good, 3s 3d to 3s 6d ; inferior to medium, 2j 3d to 3d (ex store, sacks weighed in). Oats. — It ia now questioned whether the stock cl oats ou hand ia town and country will meet the requirements of the trade till the new crop is harvested. Stocks are now in very small compass, and in view of the severe drought extending over many parts of Australia, it is believed that the demand will be in excess of the ordinary consumption at this season of the year. Should this anticipation be realised, a further rise s:ems inevitable. All lota coming forward are readily sold. We heir of very few large lots offering, confirming us in the belief that supplies in iarmers hands are not considerable. A full breadth ot crops has been sown this year, the weather for the most part, having been very favourable. We quote, short, bright milling, 2s 2Jd to 2s 3d, with little business pasßing best feed in strong demand, 2s l^d to 2s 3d ; medium to good 2a to 2s Id ; inferior to medium le lid to 2s (ex store, sacks weighed in) ; for f.o.b. quotations add ;*d per bushel — Barley : The business passing ia of unimportance. We nave made further sales during past.week of choice northern barley, but maltsters having bought largely are disinclined to purchase, even though admitting that prices may be higher before the new crop is available. For inferior sorts, of which there is a moderate quantity still unsold, there is absolutely no enquiry. We quote :— Prime malting, 3s lOd to 4s Id (sacks extra) ; mo iium (aominal), 3s 3d to 3s 6d ; feed and milling, 28 to 3s (ex store). Grass Seed.— Ryegrass : We have sold several farmer's parcels during the past week at our quotation?. While prices are so low stocks have now been reduced to a small compass, and it may be hoped that the new crop will realise better prices. The season is now almost ended We quote local grown undressed, Is 9d to 2s 3d; dressed, 2s 6d to 3s 3d ; Poverty Bay undressed, 3s 3a to Hs 9d ; di eased, 4s 9d to 5s 6d (sacks extia). — Cocksfoot: A moderate amount of business has passed duririg the week. We quote best, 34* d3 4 *d to 4^d ; medium. 3d to 3£d per lb. Nearly all spring sowing is now completed.

Potatoes : The market is much easier than it was a short time back. Good Northern are saleable at from 70s to 72s 6d ; Southern, 45s to 60s per ten.

Dairy Produce. — Butter : With the exception of an occasional line from Taranaki, there are no wholesale parcelscf ary consequence on the market. Prime salted is obtainable in small lines at 9d to lOd per lb. It is gratifyinjj to find (as the result of all the intormation that has been distributed lately by ourselves and others) that farmers in some districts are realismg the importance of marketing their butter on the most approved principles, having regard to evenness of quality, packages, etc. A factory is about to commence operations in the Peninsula district. We trust it may be so successful that maDy other districts may follow the example. — Cheese : Owing to the presence ci stvcral English buyers in the market, there

has been considerable enquiry during the past week for prime factory cheese. Nearly all the well-known factories have now sold their new season's production at highly favourable rates. Prices, bo far aa have been disclosed, range from 4£ ito s^l, free ou board. We sold during the week 50 tons, the pro met ot a Southern factory. Tho market is completely bare of old factory cheese.

GRAIN AND SEED REPORT. If esses. Samuel Orb and Co., Stafford street, report for the week ending October 24, as follows :—: —

Wheat : A few sales have taken placa on the basis of late pricf b during the week, but only for prime quality, lower grades being sot so much in demand. The demand at Home is as brisk as ever, and recent advices state that the in-gathering of the crop could not be pushed on with the usual vigour on account of the wet weather experienced. It is also believed that the shortage will be much greater tban was at first anticipated, so that our stocks here are still good value, and likely to be so. In the North the demand is also brisk, a large line having been sold for shipment at 4s, a sure indication of present prices being maintained at Home for some considerable time. We quote— extra crime, 3s 9d to 3s lid ; medium, 3s 3d to 3a 7d ; inferior and fowls' feed, 2s 6d to 3s.

Oats. — The arrivals are still small, and any lots coming forward are readily disposed of at the prices ruling lately. Our Australian markets are in much about the same position as before, though in the North their supplies are getting low down, so that speculators still find a market for a few odd lots there. Locally the demand is but slight indeed, grass becoming more plentiful. Stocks in first bands are but small, so that with a tangible advance on the other side, a response could be got here. We quote prime milling, 2s 3d ; medium to good stout feed, 2s to 2s 2d ; inferior and off colour, Is 8d to Is lid.

Barley. — There is no alteration in the market for this cereal, and prices remain unaltered, viz : —4s for prime malting ; medium, 3s 6d to 3a lOd ; feed and milling, 2s and 3s respectively.

Chaff. — The arrivals during the week have just about met the demand, and we placed several trucks tip-top oaten sheaf at £3 10s ; medium, £2 17s 6d lo £3 5?.

i Seeds. — Demand for all classes dow quiet, the only demand being for turnip seeds, of which we have a large quantity of this season's importation.

Messrs. Abthtjb McDonald and Co., auctioneers, report for the week ending October 24 as follows :—: —

Wool. — On Monday we soli the following odd lots gent in for immediate sale under excellent compethion : — LB, 1 bale halfbred, B^d ; I do mixed, 6|d ; 1 do merino, lOi ; JD, 1 bag inferior 5Jd ; 1 do, 5d ; 8, ido dead wool, 8d ; JMC, ljdo, 8d ; 1 do 7d ; 0, 1 bale pieces, 6d.

Sbcepskin a . — We sold a full catalogue at our sale on Monday, when every buyer in the trade was present. Fall woolled dry skins sold at prices equal to 5d to 6d per lb, some extra prime and light lota making up to 7\d. Medium lengths sold at 4£d to SM. Butchers' crossbicds : Best, 5s 6d to 6s 3d ; medium, 4s 6d to ss ; butchers' merinos, 4s '.id to 5s ; lambskins, la to Is 4d ; pelts, 8d to lOd. Hides. — We quote extra prime ox at 3^d to 3§d per lb ; good ox, at 2£d to 3jd ; medium, 2d to 2W ; inferior in proportion. Tallow and Rougra Fat. — VV"e sold butchers' rough fat in good condition, at 14s to Its 6d ; inferior and mixed do, at 12s to 13s ; email lots of tallow in bags and tins, 14s to 18a, according to quality. Prime lines in shipping condition are easily placed at £20 to £21 10a per ton.

Wheat. — Prices remain firm at late quotations. Some prime lots of Tuscan have been sold dm ing the week at 4s to 4s Id, but only in small lines.

Oats. — A few small lots of prime milling have been placed at 2s 4d, but 2s 3d is about the best price for lines. Best feed is worth 2j Id to 28 2d ; medium, 2s to 2s Id. Chaff. — Prices have advanced to £3 7s 6d to £3 10s (sacks extra) for really good lots.

Mb. F. Meenan, King street, reports :— Wholesale prices, bags included : Oats, medium to prime, Is lOd to 2s 2d. Wheat : milling, 3s 6d to 48 ; fowls', 3s to 3s 2d. Barley : malting, 4s to 4s 6d ; milling, 3s 6d ; feed, 2a 6d to 3s. Chaff : medium, £3 to. £3 sb. Hay : oaten,£3 ; r.g., best, £3. Bran, £3 10s. Pollard, £3 10s. Potatoes : Northern, £3 10s ; Taieri, £3 5s ; Southern, £3. Butter : fresh, 8d to lOd; salt, Bd. Cheese,market bare of factory.and up to sdobtainable for best brands; medium, 4d. Eggs, plentiful, 7J. Flour, stone, £9 10a to £10 ; roller, £10 10s to £11 ss. Oatmeal, firm, £11.