Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 37, 3 January 1890, Page 19

Commercial.

Mb. Donald Strokach (on behalf of the New Zealand loan and Mercantile Agency Co t oany, Limited) reports for the week ending December 31, as follows :—

Owing to the holidays there was no fat stock sales held at BurnBide to-day. St jre Cattle.— No change of any importance haß occurred since date of our last report. A few lots are offering, but sellers still seem indisposed to quit at prices stiiiabla to buyers. Store Sheep — There is some inquiry for these, especially good crossbreds, all offering being readily placed. A few merinos are also being disposed of. Up to the present, however, the offerings are limited.

Wool. — Since the date of our last report there have been no fur* ther advices from London either by cable or mail respecting tbe position of the market. Locally, there is nothing of any consequence passing. The continuance of moderately good weather has been favourable to shearing operations, which are now prosecuted with vigour. We shall have a large catalogue to submit at our next sale, to be held on Thursday, the 9th prox, Sheepskins. — The demand for these continues very satisfactory, and all sorts are briskly competed for. At our weekly auction sale on Monday we submitted a lengthy catalogue, when all tbe buyers were in attendance. Bidding was spirited, and last week's prices fully maintained. Country dry crossbred b, inferior to medium, brought Is 3d to 3s lOd ; do do merino, Is 2d to 3s 8d ; medium to f ull-woolled crossbreds, 4s to 63 2d ; do do merino, 3a 9d to 5s 9d ; dry pelts, 6d to 13d ; green do, Is sd, Is 4d, Is 3d. Is Id, le, 9<i, 7d, 61 ; green lambskins, 2s 6d, 2s 3d, 2s Id, 2s, Is 9d, Is 7d, Is 4d, Is 3d, Is Id.

Babbitskios. — The business done in these now has dwindled down to very small proportions. There are very few coming to market now which for tbe most part are summer and inferior lots ; but there is s* ill a market and buyers on the spot willing to purchase whenever there are any to offer. This week we offered a small catalogue, when every lot was competed for with animation. Prices ranged from 4d to 9Jd per lb. Hides. — This market continues fairly well supplied, bot the demand being sufficiently active there is no difficulty in effecting sales, at prices about equal to those current for the past few weeks. We quote, best extra heavy weights, 2sd to 3d ; medium to heavy, 2*d to 2£i; light, 2d to 2£d ; inferior, l£d to ljd per lb. Talluvv. — The demand continues active, all coming forward being easily placed immediately on arrival, chiefly for local consumption. A few Btnt.l lots are being shipped, but the quantity thus disposed of is very limited, we quote, prime rendered mutton, 19s to 20s; medium to good, 16=i to 18s ; inferior and mixed, 13s to 15s. Bough fat, best mutton, 13s to 14s ; inferior to medium and good, 4s to 12s 6d per cwt.

Grass Seed. — The market at the miment is almost at a standstill; beyond the disposal on rare occasions of small retail lots, there is nothing passing. Potatoes — The market is over supplied with these. Continual heavy shipments from the north in addition to the local production has considerably weakened prices, and made it impossible to maintain late rates, quotations are for best local grown, £5 to £6 ; imported £2 to £4 10s per ton ; old derwents unsaleable at any price. Chaff.— The supply during the week has been amplo for requirements. We quote, best, £3 5s to £3 10s ; medium, £2 10s to £3 ; inferior, 25s to 45s per ton. Grain. — Wheat : Owing to the holidays the business done during tbe past week has been unimportant, Miilers at the moment are not inclined to increase stocks, and only purchase when certain descriptions run short, and then sparingly preferring to work off stocks on hand. Public Press this week again reports the English wheat market has an upwaid tendency ; Continental, steady ; American, unchanged. This it a little more satisfactory, and will no doubt Lave some effect on the tone of the local market. Meantime we quote— Prime tuscan, 3s to 3s 2d ; best red straw and velvet, 2s 9d to 3s ; medium to good, 2s 8d to 2s 9d ; inferior to medium, 2s to 2s 7d ; (ex store). — Oats : There is no change to report in the demand for these, especially feed sorts. Short bright milling have been inquired for, and some business in these has been done, but at very low figures. Common feed sorts are almost unsaleable and at the present there are no indications cf any improvement — We quote, best milling stout and bright, Is 6sd to Is 7d ; best short feed, Is 6d to Is6£d ; medium to good Is 5d to Is 6d ; inferior, Is to Is 3d (ex store, sacks extra . Barley : There are no caleb of any consequence passing in this,quotations nominal, say for prime malting, 3s to 3s 3d ; medium to good. 2d 9d to 'da ; feed and milling, Is 9d to 2s 6d (ex store, sacks extra).

Mb. F. Meenan, King street, reports :— Wholesple prices, bags included: Oavs, Is 6d to 1b Bd, dull. Wheat: milling (dull), 3s 3d to 3s 6d ; fowls', 2s 6d to 2s 9d. Chaff : Full supply, bulk inferior, £2 10* to £3 10i, according to quality. Hay : Oaten, £3 10s ; ryegrass, £3 5s (both dull;. Bran, £2 15s. Pollard, £3 10s. Potatoes : old, unsaleable ; new, plentiful, £2 10s to £4 Flour : Sacks, £8 ; fifties, £8 15s; roller, sacks, £8 10s ; 50lb. t £9 ss. Oatmeal, £10 (dull). Butter from 5d to Bd . Eggs, Bd. Salt butter, nominal, fid to 6d.