Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 43, 14 February 1890, Page 18

Commercial.

Mb. E. P. Btjbbeby (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and f Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending » February 12, as follows :—: — Store Cattle.— The market for these is extremely weak ; no transactions of any consequence are passing. There is no inducement at the moment for graziers to operate owing to the lateness of the season, and with the weather continuing so dry, pasture is already beginning to suffer. No doubt further on an improved demand will be experienced for grown well-bred cattle for turnip feeding. Store Sheep.-The business done in these is of less magnitude than might reasonably be expected, considering the inquiry that has been experienced during the past few weeks. Af ew sales are being effected in small lots, chiefly of young sheep. Considerable numbers of crossbred and merino sheep of both sexes and of all ages are now offering, but a quieter tone has prevriled throughout the week, which may to some extent be attributed to the continued dry weather, the effect oE which is in some localities telling severely on the turnip crop ; there is also some divergence in the views of buyers and sellers, all tending apparently to restrict business. Wool— By the San Pransiaco mail just to hand we are in receipt of priced catalogues of the fifth and last series of colonial wool sales in London for the past year, fully comprising cable reports of the progress of these sales at the time. We are also in receipt of our London circular of date 21st December, which says that prices opened at an improvement ranging from 7£d per cwt to lOd per cwt on September currency, which was more than confirmed during the first week, and in some descriptions of fine scoured, aamuch as lid per cwt advance was paid. During the latter half of the sales, however, a reaction was experienced which at the conclusion was not recovered, and the level of prices was consequently barely five per cent, higher than at the close of the previous series. This falling off may be accounted for— (a) by the fact that buyers, after the supply of their immediate wants, somewhat paused before committing themselves to more extended purchases at the extreme rates reached, cherishing the hope that orders sent direct to Australia might be executed at lower equivalent pricea, and (&) by the fear in the minds of manufacturers as to their ability successfully to command for their goods prices commenßurate with those being paid for the raw material. The change in values on 12th inst., as compared with the closing rates of the fourth series, was about £d per lb. advance all round, which would mean for superior greasy merino, 13d to 14d ; average quality do, lid to 12d ; inferior do, 9d to 10£ d ; fine greasy crossbred, 13d to 15d ; coarse do, 9d to 10£ d per lb. With reapect to the eales now in progress, we are in receipt of the following telegram from our London office, dated 7th mat. : — " Since the opening of the sales there has been an aveiage decline of about five per cent, on last Bales' closing rates in merino. Crossbred market unchanged. Superior merino lambs' and crossbred lambs' market very firm." Taking the above into consideration, there is little room left for dissatisfaction with pricea obtained locally. — On the 6th inst. we offered a moderate catalogue to a fuller attendance of buyera than we have had during the season. Competition was very spirited for all descriptions, with the exception of inferior merino. Fine greasy halfbred and crossbred ranged 10£ dto 12£ d ; heivy in grease, earthy, and strong, 7£d to lOd. The merino offered was only a medium selection and brought 8d to lOf d. A few lots passed in at this sale have since been disposed of at a slight advance. Sheepskins, — At our auction on Tuesday last we had a very large catalogue which attracted a fair attendance of buyers, and was all disposed of under the hammer at about previous sales' rates with the exception of large early shorn crossbred pelts, which are weekly advancing in value. Country dry crossbreds, low to medinm, brought la 4d to 4s ; do do merino, Is 3d to 3a 9d ; medium to full-woolled croosbreds, 4s 2d to 7s 3d ; do do merinos, 4s to 6s 31 ; dry pelts, 2d to la 2d ; green crossbred pelts, suitable for mat making, 2s 6d, 23 sd, 2s 4d, 2s 2d ; other, 2s Id, 2, Is lOii, Is 9J, Is 7d, Is 5d ; green lambskins, 2s lOd, 2s Bd, 2s sd, 2s 3d, 2s, Is 9J, Is 6d, Is 4d.

Rabbitskina. — Owing to the absence of supplies the market ia necessarily quiet. Any lots offering, however, are readily placed, and at prices comparing favourably with London rates. Quotations nominal.

Hides. — The market ia unchanged, but there are buyers for all coming forward. Quotations for prime heavy weights, 2|d to 3d ; medium to heavy, 2^d to 2£d ; light, 2i to 2£d ; inferior, ljd to If d per lb. Tallow. — The downward tendency of the Home market is having a depressing influence oa the local, combined with the fact that there are fewer local maufacturera ; the demand is less active, and to effect eales lower prices had to be submitted to. We quote, medium to good, 15a to 16s ; inferior and mixed, 12a to 14g. Rough fat, best mutton, 11s to 12 ; inferior to medium, 9s to 10s per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : This market ia almost at a standstill, especially in regard to the business being done in milling aorts, contineed hand-to-mouth demand being the sellers' experience down to the present, and to ail appearances the prospect at the moment ia not very encouraging. Small lota of fowls' wheat are being disposed of, but at reduced prices. We quote— prime milling ITuscan, 2s lOd to 2a lid ; best red straw and velvet, 2s 8d to 2s lOd ; medium to good, nominal, 2s 4d to 2s 6d ; inferior to medium, in small lota only, 2a to 2a 3d, ex store. — Oats : The market still continues flat, and no demand of any consequence existing. Stocks in store are now pretty well reduced, but with the fresh deliveries almost daily coming to hand, it is difficult to effect a clearance. A little business might be done if holders were to accept Is 2£d to Is 3d for stoat, bright feed sorts, but beyond this buyers are not inclined to operate. Small lines of milling might be placed at la 4d to Is 5d ; musty and off-coloured sorts can only be placed at about 8d to la 3d, sacks extra.— Barley : Nothing doing in this line. Quotations nominal.

Grass Seed. — Rye-grass seed has an improved demand. A considerable amount of business is quietly passing in this, but so far prices offered are still lower than some holders feel inclined to accept. We quote — dressed, 3s 3d to 3s 9J ; undressed, Is 6d to 2a 9d. Cocksfoot has no inquiry ; quotations in the meantime nominal. Potatoes. — Deliveries are far in excess of requirements, consumers buying only the latest arrivals, which precludes holders from Clearing off consignments earlier to hand, except at a sacrifice. Prices range at auction from 25s to £4 7s 6d per ton. Chaff — The market is more than amply supplied, and last week's prices not obtainable. We quote — best screened, old oaten sbeaf, £2 10s to £2 17s 6 d ; inferior to medium, 20s to 45s per ton. Dairy Produce. — There is no change in the market for the better. We quote— butter, prime, 5d to 61 ; Factory chease, large, 4£d to 4id ; email, 4|d to 5d ; dairy made, 3d to 4d per lb.

Messbs, Donald Stbonach and Son report for the week ending Wednesday, February 5, as follows : — Fat Cattle.— For to-day's market at BurnsMe 198 head were yarded, principally light-weight cattle, only a few pens being heavy weights. As stocks on hand had been reduced there was better competition, and prices for best quality were about 10a a head better than last week, but medium showed no improvement. Best bullocks sold from £7 to £7 10s : medium, £6 to £6 10s ; light-weights, £3 to £5 10s. Fat Sheep.— 247s were penned to-day, 345 being merinos, balance crossbreds. Although the supply was light compared with the last few weeks, prices showed no improvement, which is to be accounted for by most of the trade having supplies on hand. Medium quality sold at about last week's quotations, but there being no demand for export, prime wether mutton suffered a further decline. Best wethers sold from Us 6d to 12s (one pen extra prime realising 12s 6d) ; ordinary, 8s 6d to 10s 6d ; ewes, 9a to 10a ; inferior, 6s to 7s 6.1 ; merinos, 5s to 8s. — We sold sheep on account of Mes3rs. Boas Bros. (Bushy Park), and Wm. Kirkland (Bast Taieri), at quotations. Fat lambs were in full supply, 1051 baing penned, most of which were good quality. The demand was pood, prime selling at from 8s to 93 3d, medium, 5a to 7s 6d. We sold 60 lambs on account oE Mr. William Eirkland, at 7s 9d. Fat Pigs. — Total of all sorts was only 48, for which there was good competition. Baconera sold from 35* to 455; stores, 15s to 25s ; suckers, 8s to 10s. We sold a draft of pigs on account of Mr. William Charters (Taieri) at quotations. Sheepskins. — On Tuesday, February 11, at auction we submitted to the competition of the trade a large catalogue. Full prices were obtained for all skins offered, butchers' pelts bringing up to 2s 4d ; lambs,' 2s Id ; country skins, up to 6s 3d, 6s 7d, 6a 8d ; special lots, 8s 6d and 10a per skin. Babbitskins. — It is very satisfactory to note that the first sales for this year opened well in London on the 31st ult. Private telegrams to hand report a rise of Id per lb on best descriptions. Fair ordinary to good also advanced l^d per lb. Locally business is restricted to small and inferior lines only, and we have no sales now of any consequence to note, but there are always buyers fjr any lots coming forward. Hides. — Local requirements absorb all coming forward, so that there is but little room for shippers to do much business. The market is unaltered, prices remaining about the same as those current during the past few months — viz., for best extra heavy weights, 2|d to 3d ; medi«m to heavy, 2]d to 2£d ; light, 2d to 2^d ; inferior, l£d to l^i per lb. Tallow. — There is no alteration to report. Prices remain the game as last week's quotations. A f iir demand exists, and consignments coming forward are taken up by local buyers and readily placed, unless reserves are prohibitive. We quote — inferior and mixed, 13s to 15s ; medium to good, 16s to 18s ; best rendered mutton, 19s to 203 ; rough fat. best mutton. 11s to 12s 6i ; inferior to medium, 9s to 10a per cwt. Grain. — Wheat : The past week has bean quite as quiet as the preceding one. Inquiries are small, and then only for extra prime small parce's at reduced rates. Medium milling qualities are offering more plentifully with but little demand ; fowl wheat (whole) is also very plentiful, and a good deal easier in prices. We quote — piime milling, Tuscio, 2s lOd to 3s ; best red straw and velvet, 2s 8d to 2s lOd ; medium to good, nominal, 2s 5 1 to 2s Gd ; inferior to medium, 2s to 2s 5d (ex store). — Oats : The market for tbese is exceedingly flat, going from bad to worse, and prices daily becoming weaker, and considering the quantity still in store, with the daily arrivals, it would appear as if the bottom were not yet reached. There seems to be no demand for shipment. The purchases now being made are mostly for local consumption. A few odd lots are occasionally taken up to hold. At puplic auction thif» week several lots were disposed of, small retail parcels reaching up to Is Gd ; while ordinary parcels of good feed to prime milling ranged from Is 3£d to Is 5d (sacks extra, ex store). Barley : There was no demand whatever at auction this week for several parcels offered, and the lot bad to be passed in unsold ; quota ion j nominal, Grass Seed. — The market doi j a n)t show much animation. There are buyers of ryegrass seed whether machine-iressed or undressed — but there is no improvement in price. We quota dressed, 3a to 'Si 6d ; undressed, Is 3d to 2s (sacks extra) Cocksfoot has no demand up to the present worth noticing ; quotations nominal.

Messrs Donald Reid and Co., Dunedin, report for week ending February 12 as follows -.— We held an auction sale of grain ani produce as U9ual at our etores on Monday last. There was the ufual full attendance of produce dealers, shippers, and others, but there was practically no competition, and a considerable part of the catalogue was passed in, at our valuations or owners' reserves. Wheat. — Locally there is practically nothing doing. Exporters Are however enquiring pretty freely, and lines of f»ir milling in con-

for shipping meet with reaiy sale at quotations, milling, 2a 5d to 2s lOd ; feed, 2s to 2s 4d.

Oats.— For this cereal there is very little demand. Shippers are practically out of the market and the local consumption is only very limited. We quote— milling, Is 4d t> Is 5d ; feed, Is 2d to Is 8d (sacks extra). Barley. — No business to report. Potatoes. — The market is glutted and prices are extremely low. We quote— prime, £2 5s to £2 15s ; medium, £1 10 ato £2. Chaff — This has been in oversupply during the past week, and some little difficulty has been experienced in quitting consignments, at quotations, whie'i must be far from remunerative to growers. We quote prime, £2 to £2 7a 6d ; medium, £1 10 ato £2.

Mb. F. Meenan, King street, reports :— Wholesale prices :—: — Oats, Is 3d to Is sd, bags extra, dull. Wheat : milling, 2s 6d to 3s Id, saoks included ; fowls', 2s to 2s 4d, sacks included. Chaff : New, £2 10s ; prime old, £3— offq ualities unsaleable. Hay : Oaten, o'd, £3 10s ; new, £3 ; rye-grass, new, £2 10«. Bran, £2 10s. Polard, £3 10s. Potatoes : kidneys, £2 to £2 15d, sacks included. Flour : roller, £8 10s; sacks, £9 ss, fities. Oatmeal, £9 in 251 b. Butter, fresh, 5d oßd ; good salt, in kegs, 6d (good demand). Eggs, Is 2d