Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 2, 3 May 1889, Page 15

Commercial.

MB. Donald Stbohaoh (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for (he week ending May 1, as follows :—: —

Fat Cattle. — 147 bead were yarded to-day. Beit bullocks Bold at £7 5* to £8 15a ; light weightß and medium u> quality, £4 5s to £6 17b 6d ; cows from £3 to £6 7« 61.

Fat Sheep.— Cross breds 14s to 15s 6d ; ordinary 10s 6dto 13s 6<i ; crossbred ewes, lls to 13s 3d ; ordinary, 7s 6d to 10s 6d ; merino wethers, 7s 81

Fat Lambs.— sßß penned. Best brought 7s 6d to 9i 6d ; inferior, fis to 7s.

Pig*.— 394 were penned. Suckers brought 6s 6d to 9s 6d ; light stores, 16s. Gd to 18s ; heavier do., 21s to 264 ; porkers, 27s 6d to 339; baconers, 38s to 54s ; a few extra heavy, to 68s.

Store Cattle.— At the moment the market is quiet and very few changing hands. Bayers are not inclined to do business except at prices on the basis of those ruling for fat stock, which have continued extremely low for some time, having no margin to graziers. Store Sheep. — There is still some enquiry for young crossbred*, wethers in particular for fattening. Svnnd moutbed merino ewes are also asked for, bat buyers are unwilling to do business at the prices ruling earlier. Sheepskins. — We bad a large attendance at our auction sale on Monday, and good competition prevailed for all descriptions. The favourable weather experienced lately brought together a good concourse bf buyers, and the sale passed off with great spirit at an advance of 3d to 4d per skin on last week's rates. Butchers greenskins were most in request, and for some lines extraordinary rates were paid, several lots having been driven up to prices beyond their intrinsic value, under special conditions only known to tbe trade. Butchers crossbred*, prime quality, and fit for mat-making, made «s 4s, 4s 3d, 4s 2d, 4s, 3s 9d ; medium to good, 3s 7d, 3s sd, 3s 3d, 3s, 2s lOd ; small pelts and short wool led, 2s Bd, 2? 6d, 2s sd, 2* 4d, 2* Sd ;' green merinos Is 9d to 2s 3 1. Green lambskins were in good ■apply, best quality made 3s Bd, 3s 7-1, 3s 4d ; do medium 3» 3d, 3s Id, 3s ;do inferior 2s 10 1, 2s Bd, 2s SJ, 2b 3d ; country dry crossbreds, inferior to medium Is 6d to 3s 8d ; do do merino Is 5d to 3d 6d ; fall woolled* crossbred* 3s lid to 6s 3d ; do ("o merino 3a 9d to 5s 7d ; dry pelts id to Is 3d. Kabbitskins. — Tbe number of those coming forward as yet, is comparatively small, entirely destitute of good ski s, all offered are made op of summer and autumn takings ; a brisk demand however, is experienced, all offered meet with good competition, at tbe hands of the local buyers, who are weekly increasing in number. The tone of the market is satisfactory, and from the evident desire on tbe part of buyers to freely operate, so far the prospect for the incoming season are highly encouraging, and though extreme rates are not anticipated it is considered that good average prices will rule throughout the season. On Monday we offered a medium catalogue, the following are marks and prices, NZL 1 bale suckers, 13s 4d ; Longdale, do summer skins, 7d ; do 1 do autumn, U£d ; AS 1 bag summer, 7W ; C 1 do do, 7{d per lb.

Hides. — Tbe market continues firm, and late rates were maintained, supplies are no more than sufficient for local demands. There is some demand for shipment, but at present rates there is very little busings done in shipping lines. All Borts are saleable at prices according to condition and weight, quotations are for inferior and bulls, l^d to 2d ; light, 2£d to 2^d ; medium, 2Jd to 3|d ; in prime condition, and over 60 lbs, 3H p<r lb.

I iliuw — Late telegrams from London, report that the marker is slightly easier, and prices have suffered to a slight extent. Notwithstanding this, there was a good demand at our auction sale on Monday, oar en ry being cleared at last weeks rates We quote prime rendered mutton, 20s to 21s ; medium to g< o t, 17s 6d to 19s ; inferior and mixed, lls to 16b 6d ; rough fat, best mutton caul, I3s 6d to 14s 6d, medium to good, 10s to 12s per cwt.

Grain. — Wheat : The market c >ntinues void of annimation and transactions during the we k have been unimportant, as millers are indisposed to do business at sellers quotations. Shippers are also utiable to operate at prices asked at present, seeing no prospect of auy reasonable return. Growers, however, are not at present inclined to accept any reduction on last week's quotations, pr» i^rriug to store for a time. Whole fowls' wheat has a fair demand both for local requirements and shipment. Coastwise, and for this description full rates could be obtained. Quotations arc, for prime milling red straw, 4s to 4s 3d ; medium to good, 3s 6d to 3s 9d ; inferior to medium, 2s 9d to 3a 3d, (ex store) but very few buyers. — Oats : Deliveries are now assuming large dimontions and so many growers being anxious for immediate sale rather than incur storage, tbe tone of tbe market is much weaker and although a fair demand exists prices are easier, more in favour of buyers, and while sellers continue to push sales at the same rate as baß been done during the past week, prices are apt to farther recede. Buyers anticipate ibis, and are now purchasing only sufficient for present requirements, or as much as they can secure shipping space for. Quotations are— For prime milling, bright and full, 2s 6£d to 2s 7d ; best short feed, 2s ud to 2s 6d ; medium, 2i 4d to, 2s 5d ; Danish, poor demand, 2s Id to 2a 4d (ex store).— Birley has only a very moderate demand. Malteters only operate when extra prime samples are offered ; shippers the same. Medium samples have no attention except for milling, for which the con sumption is limited. Quotations are — For prime malting, 3s 7d to 3a 94 ; medium, 3s 3d to 3s 6d (ex etor^).

Grass Seed.— Ryegraas seed is low in stock, and although at the moment business is sumewhat flat, holders are not anxioub to quit, anticipating higher prices in the soring. Present quotations are for undressed 2s 6d to 3s ; dressed, 3s 6d to 1p. — Cocksfoot dps very little inquiry. Quotations. 2Ai] to 3$J.

Potatoes.— Tbe market continues steady at about late rates, viz. 80s to 82m 6d per ton. Pa'ry Produce. —Owing to the favourable weather prevailing in Anstr%li%, there fclessdhntnd for the imported article. Bob butter and cheese are slightly easier this week, a fair trade is passing but at lower ratec.

Messes. Arthur M' Donald and Co., report as follows for the week ending Wednesday, May 1 : — Wool. — A Btroug inquiry exists for scoured and slipes. Comb merinos, 16d to 18d ; merino pieces, 15£ dto 16 jd ; locks, well-picked and clean, lid to 12d ; alipo clothing, 7"d to 9d"; comb, lOJd to lid.

Sheepskins.— We require any amount of well-dried fresh-pelted skins at about 6d per lb.

Oats.— We have done a large business intheae since our last, and puote : Prime milling, 2a 6d to 2s 6 id (bags extra) ; heavy feed, 2a W to 2s 6d (bag 6 extra).

Wheat.— Orders for this cereal are more plentiful, but offers ai« below growers' ideas of value. We quote : Tuscan, 4s 3d ; velvet, prime, 3* 9d to 4*. Horsehair commands Is per lb. Balt butter is rather quiet. We have orders at up to 10 J for really prime. Tbe above prices are absolutely free of all charges except railage. Babbitukins —The present is to announce to the rabbitskin producers of New Zealand that we are about to commence fur curing and fur dressing in all iti branches. The machinery for that purpose bay already arrived, and is at present being put together in premises especially adapted for the purpose. We are entering into large contract! for the supply of tbe manufactured article, for which many millions of pkins will be required ; and as we will be tbe only manufacturer* of this class of goods in tbe colony, we will, as a natural consequence, be enable to pay much higher prices than the ordinary shippers. We quo'c summers, 6d to BJd ; half-grown, 5d ; tuckers, 3d to 4d Jnutamnß, 9 1 to Is— free of all charges.

Mfssrs. Donald Reid and Co. report fur week ending May las folio wb :—: —

Gram.— Wheat :— Fowl wheat is more plentiful, and prices easier We quote — prime milliner, 49 Id to 4s 3d ; medium, 3s lOd to 4s ; fowl wb*>at and damp, 2s Cd to 3* 91.— Oats : Prini* i«ng Tartarians and Danish, fit for seed, are in good request, an I we have sold several lines at up to 2s BAd off truck. We qnote— milling, 2s 5d to 2a 6 i (sacks 6i) ; fe -d. 2s3£d to 2s 4£ t ; long o^ts fit for feed, 2s 6|d to 2s 7£d, or l£d extra sacks weighed in. — Barl-y : Milling and fe d are not enquired for, and meet very slow sale. We quote — malting, 3s 7d to 39 lid (sacks extra) ; milling, 2s 8i to 3s 5d (sacks in) ; feed, 2s 2d to 28 7d (sacks in). Potatoes — Only a very limited supply to hand and prices ara better. We quote : Prime, £4 2a 6i to £4 7s 6d ; ordinary, £3 15* to £4.

Chaff. — An excessive supply has come forward during tbe week, and prices are now lower. We quoto : Prime oaten, £3 5s to £3 10-. ; ordinary, £2 15s to £3. Straw and interior chaff difficult to sell. Byegrass.— There is little doing, small parcels move off at torfarmers' dressed, 2s 9d to 3s 3d ; machine dressed, 3s Od to 4s 3d.

Cocksfoot. —Cocksfoot is in plentiful supply, best samples sell up to 4d ; inferior, 3|d to 3£d per lb. Batter. — At present business is very dull ; shippers have large orders, but prices asked by sailers not meeting their views, few transactions have resulted. We quote: Prime, 1)1 to lid; ordinary, 8J to i)d (packages extra).

Mb. F. Meenan, King street, reports :— Wholesale prices, bag* included : (Ms : 2s 4d to 2s 7J. Wheat : milling — values, for good samples 4* ; fowlß,' 3s 1o 3s <>i. Chaff: Supply full, £3 10s to £3 15b' Hay, oaten, £3 10s ; rvegrass bay, £3 5s to £3 10s. Bran, £i. Pollard, *5. P tatoes, supple moderate ; £4,deiwentfl ; kidneys, no demand for local use. Flour : Stone, sacks, £10; fifties, £10 15s ; Roller, £11 10s ; liitiea, £12 5?. Oatmeal, £13 10s. Butter, fresb, dull, lid to Is; salt, nominal, 8d to Od. Eggs, scarce, 1b 6d.