Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 45, 1 March 1889, Page 15

Commercial.

Mb. Donald Steonaou (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the weekending February 27 aa follows :— Fat Cattle. — An unusually large number came to h»nd to-day at Burnside. 326 head were penned for sale, over and above about 110 head which came to the ou'side gate*, and no further. There was a .good dieplay of prime beef, only a very few of medium quality ; but owing to this supply being bo much beyond actual requirements competition was dull. Best bullocks brought £6 17a 6d to £8 7s 6d ; ordinary, £3 15a to £9 10s : heifers and cows, £3 2s 6d to £8 10s. Fat Sheep. — 1658 were penned, including about 200 merino wethers useful mutton. Best crossbred wethers brought 9a 9d to 11s 6d ; a couple of pens extra prime, 12s 9d ; ordinary 8s 3d to 9a Cd ; bert do ewes, 9« 6d to lit ; ordinary, 6s 9J to 9s ; merino wethers, ifl to6s. Fat Lambs. — 479 were penned. Prices ruled slightly higher than last week. Best mado to-day 7s 6d to 8s 9d ; others, 5s 6d to 7s. Pigs. — 148 were penned, mostly suckers, for which there wa9 less demand, and prices realised considerably lower. Porkers and baconers, owing, no doubt, to the few forward, had better attention. Suckers brought 7s to 13a Gd ; porkers, 38s to 42a ; baconers, 149 to 65s ; extra heavy, to 655. Sto r e Cattle. — The demand is less active, and the season beiDg now bo far advanced, feed will be going back. Very little business is likely to be transacted until after harvest.when no doubt supplies will be required for winter feeding. Btore Sheep. — The maiket now is assuming a simewhat more active tone, as a considerable amount of business id being put through. A good demand exists for all sorts, and with si grit concessions on the part of holders, the number in first hands is being dai'y reduced. It is therefore quite evident that in the course of another fortnight or so the supply, if not exhausted, will be nearly so, and those who have not already secured their requirements are almost sure to go short. Wool. — The first London series of 1889 closed oq the 10th inst., and it is satisfactory to learn tbat the market displayed a decided firm tone up to the laßt, with an advance in valuea of & 1 to Id per lb on all sorts except medium and inferior greasy merino, which, unfortunately, receded per lb. Coarse crossbred being unchanged. The •ales comprised about 233,000 bales, of which only 1,400 have been held over for future disposal. One hundred and twenty-four bales were sent to the Continent, and 6,000 for America. Locally no business of importance is taking place, and only the fag ends of clips now coming into stock. Our usual sale will be held on Thursday, 7th March. Sheepskins. — These are in brisk demand, both dry and green hairing good attention. On Monday, as usual, we offered a full catalogue, comprising various classes. There was a full attendance of the trade, and edinted competition for every lot offered, the whole being cleared at prices which showed an advance on those obtaining last week. Dry crossbreda, low to medium, brought Is 3<i to 3s 8d ; do do merino, Is 2J to 3s od ; full-woolled crossbreds, 3s lOd to os 6d ; do do merino, 3s 6d tw 5s ; dry pelts, 2d to 4s Id ; green do croasbred. 2s sd, 2a 4d, 2s 3d. 2s 2d, 3s Id, 2s. Babbitskins.— Owing to the limited supply the business done in these is unimportant. Tbe odd lots that do come to htmdare saleable and realise prices leaving but little margin to shippers. On Monday we placed a few lot 9 of summer skint> and suckers. The foiuier brought 5d to 6d ; but tbe latter only HI per lb. Hides. — A moderately good demand exists, but there is uo quotable alternation tonote in values. All the consignments coming to hand are chiefly taken up for lo^al requirements at prices which shippers do not consider themselves justified in giving, and therefore are almost entirely out of the market. We quote heavy wights free from scars and offal, over f>o lbs. 3jd to 3}rt ; medium, 2^l to 3d . light, 2£d to 2jd ; inferior slippy and bulls, Id to 1 \i per lb. Tallow. — A good demand ixists. All the local manufacturers purchase freely, but, in sympathy with prices now ruling m the London market, lower prices have to be accepted. We quote prime mutton, 21s to 22b ; med'um tc good, His to 20s ; inferior, 13s G I to 18a; rough fat, best caul, 17s to 18s ; good to prime. Iss 61 to 16s 6d ; inferior to medium, 10s to 15s per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : lhere ib very little, if any, prime milling wheat in first hands, but the demand has in no way improved bince date of our last report. A moderate quantity of medium is still on the maiket, a tew small lots of which are occasionally deposed of, but at very unsatisfactory prices to s Hers. Int Tior and t jwl wheat are also in good supply and lower, and as buye'S aie only purchasing to meet immediate requiiemmts, depending on the advent of the new grain — which, weather permitting, will ere long be on the market — very little business is being dot l. We quote prime ruilliay, 3s 3d to 3s 6d ; medium to good, 2s lOd to 3s 2d ; inferior and fowl wheat, 2s to 2s !*d (ex store). — Oats Stocks now in first hands arc reduced tj a very small compass. A considerable quality has been placed during the past week owing to growers being unwilling: to hold out any longer* There are very few buyers and they operato only when suitable inducements aie held out by sellers. The tone of the market is rather unsatisfactory. Small lots occasionally demand fair prices but large sited parcels cnuld not be placed at the same figures. Millers are purchasing small lineß suitable lor milling, just sufficient to keep them going lor the time being, expecting the new grim to be in the market immediately, and obtainable at lower prices, which is almost sure to be the case. Should growers iimst od inamedia t e sale, meantime, we quote— prime milling, thin skinned, stout and bright, 2s 4d to 2s 5d ; best ehort bright feed, 2s 3d to Z* Id , medium, '2b to 28 2d, inferior and musty, Is 8d to lb 10d, ex store. — Barley . Samples of the new crop are now being offered, but no business of any consequence has aa jfct resulted. Growers want offers, and tbe demaud

not being exceedingly brisk, buyers are not inclined to make prices. Sales of go >d quality (new crop), are aa'd to be made at 2s 6d, f.o.b. Lytielton, and if that is bo prices here will not be very much higher. Grass Seeds. — There is no altera ion to quote in the tone of the market for ryegrassseed, which Btill continues dull — no salts of any importance being effected. Quotations, nominal, parcels of undressed are held for 2b 9d to 3a ; dressed, 3s 6d to 3a 9d. There is little or nothing doing in cocksfoot. Poiatoes. — Tbe market is fully supplied with inferior and meiium while the supply of good Derwcnts is rather bare, aad would sell readily at £4 10s to £4 15? ; others At reduced pi ices. Dairy Produce. — The market is unchanged for both cheese And butter. The continued dry weather is beginning to seriously affect the quantity produced of the laitcr, and co' sidering the quantity shipped to tbe London markc', the prospect fceemu better for tbe stock on hand. GRAINT AND SEED REPORT. BJkbsbb. Samuel Our and Co., Stafford street, report for the week ending February 26, as follows : — Wheat.— Opinion is a little divided as to the prospect of the opening of the market, but in tbe North sales have been mado at from 3s 3d to 3a 6d tor prime milling. We quote piime milling up to 3s Id ; medium, 3s to 3s 3 1 ; fowls' feed 2s 6d to 2a lid. Oats. — The demand has been fairly active, and we quote — prime milling, 2s 3d to 2a 4d ; ordinary, 2s to 2a 2d ; inferior, Is 8d to Is 10 i. Barley. — During the week a good few samples of the new crop have arrived from the North, and have heen sold at satisfactory prices. We quote prime uniting up to 4s 3i, sacks extra. Chaff. — Market fully supplied an-i prices ranging Jrom £3 5s to £4, according to quality. Messrs Ahthuu M Dovald and Co. report as fo.lows for tha week endu.g Wednesday, 20th Feb va r y :—: — Sheepskins. — Full-woolled ski s, 6d to 6d per lb. for best, and 4^l to 5d for medium and inferior. Lambskins fiud ready eah at Is lOd to 2s tid. Hides. — Prime lots of country ox sell at 3d to 3^d ; medium, 2Jd to 2^ i ; inferior, 2d to 2.Ji ; bulls' and slippy, l£d io 2d. Hemp. — A strong inquiry exists, and busine b has been done at £21 to £21 10a for large lines in shipping condition. Tow sells at £4 per ton. Butter.— Prime, 8d to B^d per lb (kegs extra). Medium and inferior uasaleable. Ryegrats. — 3s per bushel (bags evtra) ; medium and inferior is rather neglected. Cocksfoot. — A good export demand exists. Prime wanted at 3f d per lb (bags extra). Grain. — As none of the new crop is yet to hand, very little business is passing. Mb. F. Meenan, King street, reports :— Wholesale prices, bags included : Ots:2s to 2s 3d. nominal. Wheat : milling, 3b 6d ; fowls' 2s 6d to '2* M. Chaff, £3 10s to £4. Hay, new oaten, £3 10s; ne-grass, £3 10s. Bran,£3lss. PolUrrt, £4 5b to £4 10s. Flour.stone, £10 to £10 15-* ; roller, £10 10s to £11 sa. Potatoes, Derv*ent§,£4 10s ; kidneys, £\ 10s. Oatmeal, £12 lUs. Butter, fresh, 8d to lOd ; salt, nominal, 7d. Eggs, Is.