Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 43, 15 February 1889, Page 15

Commercial.

Mb. Donald Stronach (on behalf of tbe New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports (or the weekending February 13 as follows :— Fat Cattle.— 27s head yarded. Best bullocks brought L76a to L» 5s ; ordinary, L4to L 6 10s. Cows from L 3 10s to L 6 17s. Fat Sheep. — 1836 penned. Best crossbred wetoers, 10s 6d to 12s; ordinary, 7s 6d to 9* 9J ; best do ewes, 8a 6d to 10j 9d ; ordinary, 6s 3d to 8§ 3J. Mixed merino, 5a to 5s 6d. Fat Lambs.— Only 693 were penned, and brought from 5a 3d toßd. Pigs.— 92 were penned, prices being about same as last week, Tie., suckers, 8s to 16s ; porker*, 26b to 30s ; bacomrs, 41s to 60s ; extra heavy to 675. We sold 12 at 41a to 60a. Store Cattle. — Tbe demand is fairly actire. AU sorts are sale* able, more especially aged steers in forward cjndition, but without , any improvement in valueß, which remain low in sympathy with prices realised for fat stock. Stoic Sheep. — Transactions tso fir are still limited to small sales, buyers evidently holding off in the anticipation of b ing able later on to obtain their requuemenls at pucoß more iv accordance with their ideas of values. Meantime, buyers, being satisfied that the number on hands for disposal will bj very much ehort of lcquirexnentD, are not disposed to make a>.y concessions. Wool. — By the last San Fia -Cisco mail ju;?t to hand we are id receipt of priced catalogues of th-j fifth at.d last series of London wool sales for the past year, which fully coDnrm cable reports of the progrees theße sales at the time. We are also in receipt of our Loudon circular, which says that at the close there was a fairly ! •teady tone, and the position *s compared with the closing rates of the previous auctions was as follows :— Superior greasy merino, Ad to Id per 1b advance; medium and inferior greasy do, about 6coured < merino, to Id ; flue crossbred. Id ; medium and coarse crossbred. to Id ; lamb (except faulty description*.), per lb. Bmce the close tbe market has been without change. Having regard to the comparative ease with which ihe quantity available for this year ('B9) •ay 160,000 bales were dealt with, (b) the lightness of btocks believed to be hold by dealers and mauutactujere, and (c) the healthy consumptive demand which txmts »t tne trade centres, th>re Ecema no reason why tbe still larger quantity of colonial produces winch, it is expected will arrive during 1889, together with the iucreased Bbipments looked for from the hi v< r Piate district, ehould not be absorbed without any appreciable loss of tbe advauce recently obtained. Our London office telegraphed on the J)th iust. thai tbe present series is progressing satisfactorily, competition increasing, and tbe market firmer. Of the local market, pending tue opening of the fourth series of sales at the central auction rooms, there is h>tte to report. Sheepskins. — We submitted a full catalogue at our auctioa sale on Monday, when we had nearly ail the buyers in the trade present. Competition was very active for butchers' green skins, especially for well-saved early shorn Bheanings, while tor bare and badly-saved pelts there was less demand and prices lower. Country dry ekiDS bad good attention and realised satisfactory prices ; of these crossbrede, tow to medium, brought Is 3d to 3s lOd ; do. do. merino, la 2d to 3s 8d ; full-woolled crossbreds, la to 6s 3d ; do. do. merino, -a 'Jd to o» 3d ; dry pelt 9, Id to Is Id • green <\o, crossbreds, Is Hi, Is 7d, Is 6d, Is 3d, le Id ; interior and bad, lid to 1b .'td , lambskinp. Is (id to 2b 6d. Kabbit Skind.— Tbe market is necessarily quiet owing to the absence of supplies. Small lots invariably come to hand, for which there aie purchasers at all times, but the business done is unimportant. Hides.— The market is unchanged, a moderate demand continues t» exist at equal to late rate». Very few are shipped, pncc9 paid b> local manufacturers leave no margin for shipment. We quote heavy

weights, clean and free from cuts, over 60 lbs, 3| i to 34 1 ; medium, 2f-J to 31 ; light, mto 2|i : inferior and build, Id to 2J I per Ib. Tallow. — Both public Press and private tel. grams report the Home market depressed, and prices recelmj, which will, no doubt, ere long, have some effect on prices vow ruling locally. la the metnr time, however, supplies are bnre, and la c quo ationshold good, which we give a 8 follows. Prime muttoD, 25s 6j to 26* 61 ; good to prime, 24s to 238 ; medium, 22s 6d to 23s 6d ; inferior, 20-t to 21a 6d. Koutfh fat, inferior, 10s to 1&8 ; medium, 15s 6d to 17n 6d ; prime caol, 18t to 19s per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : There is no improvement whatever in the tone of the market, which continues extremely dull, particularly with regard to the demand for milling. Some of the mills are standing still, while others are working off old stocks, and only buying when certain descriptions for mixing are required. There is an over-sppply of medium and unsaleable, except at fowl wheat prices. We quote nominally— prime milling, 3s 3d to 3s 6d ; medium, 2j 9d to 3s ; in* ferior, 2s to 2a 6d (ex store).— Oats : Owing to suitable freights offering during the past week a few speculative purchases have been made for shipment, otherwise tbe market is quiet, and very little disposition on the part of shippers to operate, except at price 3 which holders are disinclined to accept. We quote from sales made during the weekalthough we are doubtful whether the same prices could be obtained now — prime bright milling, 2s 01 to 2s 6i ; best feed, 2s 3d to 2s 4d ; | inferior to medium, Is 9J to 2s 26, ex htore. - Barley : In the meantime tbe market is at a standstill, and until the new crop is to hand there will be no business of any consequence. Quotations nominal GRAIN AND WOOL REPORT. Messes. Samuel Orb and 00., Stafford street, report for the week endiug February 13. aa follows: — Wheat.— The market continues exceedinly flit, there being no buyers either for milling or export. A slight demand pxittt* for fowl feed for shipment. Quotations : Piime milling, say, 3s 44 to 3s 6d ; medium, 3a 2d to 8< 3d ; fowl feed, 2s 6d to 3s. Oats.— The demand has been rather better this week, but without any corresponding improvement in value, which are, prime milling, 2s 3d to 2<i 5d ; bright feed, 2s 2d to 2i 3 J ; inferior and discoloured, Is lOd to 2s Id. Wool.— Since last sale cable advices from London report that prices there for croiabreds are firmer, while inferior to medium merinos arc easier. This will doubtless affect the competition at the next sales which will be held to-morrow. Barley. — A few parcels of Cape have been sold at 3a, but it it evident from inquiries from Australia that prime malting will rale high when tbe new crop is available. Cbaff.— This is in fair demand, but arrivals during the week were almost nil. We M>ld all forward at £4. Potatoes.— The market is well supplied, and prices have a down* ward tendency. Quotations — £6 10a to £7. Messrs Abthub M'Dosald and Co. report as follows for the week ending Wednesday, 13th February :—: — Sheepskins continue in strong euquiiy at late rates. We are the only firm of auctioneers in Dunedin wno do not charge buyers 2\ per cent, commission on sheepskins. Hides.— l'be consignments coning forward are not equal to tbe demand, mvl we can pi ice any quantity at 3d to 3^4 for prime lots, and up to 3{ 1 f >r txtra. Tallow. — But- hers' rough fat, 18s to 18a 6d. Tallow in bags and tins B>ld at from 17s to 24s per cwt. Rabbitskins.— There is a good demand, but supplies are very small. Pric 8 are unchanged. Potatoes. — At £5 10a to £6 16?. 8-ilt But'er. — There is a good inquiry at 7^d for prime. Horsehair.— Tail is worth Is per lb. Cow tips at Is 9d to Ji It per doi ; cowhair, dirty, 8d to 9^l ; washed, 10 J to lid per lb. Mb. F. Meenan, King street, reports :— Wholesale prices, ba.g« included. O .ts :2s3dto 28 6d, nominal. Wheat : milling, 4s ; fowls' 2s 6d to 3* Id. Chaff, £3 10s to £1. Hay, new oaten, £3 10s ; rye-grass, £3|los. Bran, £3 155. PolUrd, £4 5s to £4 10s. Flour, stone, £10 to £10 15-; roller, £11 to £11 los. Potatoes, kidneya, *7. Oatmeal, £12 10a. Butter, fresh, 8d to 10d ; salt, nominal, §d Eggs, Is.