Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 2, 9 May 1890, Page 19

Commercial.

Memses. Donald Stbonach and Son report for the week ending April 30, as follows :—: —

Fat Cattle. — A moderate supply of 203 bead, principally medium quality, came forward for this week's market, but prices showed no improvement, caused n j doubt by many of the trade having suppliei on hand. Best bullocks brought from £7 109 to £8 15a ; medium, £5 10s to £7 5s ; light and inferior quality, £3 to £5.

We sold a draft of 16 heifers from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company's Edendale estate at £4 10s to £5 ; and offered on account of other vendors further 10 head, of which only 4 found buyers, the remainder being withdrawn by the owners.

Fat Sheep. — A large supply came forward, 4187 being penned: 160 were merino wethers, and balance crossbreds of all qualities. The demand was fairly good at the start, but fell off considerably towards the end, and had it nob been that a large numbor were bought for export a heavy decline would have taken place. Best crossbred wethers brought, 12s 6d to 14s 3d ; medium, 93 to 12 ; best ewes, lls to 12s Sd ; medium, 7s to 10s ; merino wethers up to 6s 3d. We &old 122 fat crossbred ewes, on account of John Henderson (Bulyondale Stirling), at lls 3d to 12s 3d.

Fat Lambs, — 618 were penned, amongst which there were some pens of first-class quality, for which the competition was good, from 9s 6d to 12s 6d ; medium quality was dull of sale, at from 4s to Bs.

Pigs. — The heavy supply of 426 came forward, mostly prime porkers and bacon pigs, and as the trade has had large supplies during the past fortnight competition was dull, and a further decline ia prices had to be submitted to. Suckers sold at from 5s to 8s ; stores, 17s to 21b ; porkers, 27s to 31s ; baconers, 34s to 445, and a few extra heavy up to 495. We sold one small lot of suckers at 5s from Mr. T. Y. Cook,

Store Cattle. — The business doing in these at the moment is only on a limited scale. There are no transactions of any consequence as yet come under our notice. Small lots, when age and condition are suitable, find purchasers ; but buyers are not operating freely, mainly owing to the fact that the supply of fat stock for a considerable period has exceeded the demand, very often resulting ia sales being made at prices hardly covering those paid when purchased as stores. A good many graziers are turning their attention to sheep, and this, doubtless, is tending in the meantime to lessen the demand for store cattle. A little further on, however, it is anticipated that a slight improvement may be expected.

Store Sheep. — The demand for aged sheep has considerably toned down lately, but there is still a good bit of inquiry for young merino wethers and ewes, also for good crossbred wethers and laubs ; but there are so very few of either offering that transactions are within a very small compass. Privately there are rery few aged sheep being sold, while at public auctions we notice considerable numbers being disposed of, but at prices more in favour of buyers, and generally in small lots.

Wool. — Latest cables since opening of the sales are not so encouraging, a decline of £d per lb. having taken place on combing, washed, scoured, and greasy merino, while other descriptions remain unchanged. Market Blightly weaker. Total quantity catalogued to date, 131,000 bales. Total quantity withdrawn, 15,000 bales.

Sheepskins. — There was a large attendance at the usual auction sale on Tuesday. Competition was very active for the large number of lots offered, and puces realised were quite on a level with those previously obtaining ; but doubtless owing to the slightly adverse reports of the progress of the London wool sales, we are unable to record any material advance in values. It may be noted, however, that prices were more even than for some time past. Town and country butchers' green crossbreds had the usual attention, a good number came to band, but hardly up to last week's quality. Country dry crossbreds, inferior to medium, brought Is 6d to 4s 2d ; do. do. merino, Is 3d to 3s 9d ; full-woolled crossbreds, 4s 3d to 6s 9d ; do. do. merino, 4<i to 6s 2d ; dry pelts, 3d to Is2d ; butchers' green crossbred—best, 4s, 3s lid, 3s lOd, 3s 9d, 3s 7d, 3s 6d ; good to medium and inferior, 4s sd, 3s 4d. 3< 3d, 3d 2d, 3s Id, 3s, 2s 1 Id, 2s 9d ; green merinos, 3s, 2s lOd, 2s 81, 2s 6d ; lambskins, 3s lid, 3s 9d, 3s 6d, 3a 4 1,3s 2d, 3s Id. 2i lid, 2s 9J, 2s Bd.

Habbitskins. — The market still continues quiet owing to the paucity of supplies, and even those coming forward are not up to much, only summer skins, which do not realise very much at any time, and a few autumn skins, which are now beginning to be of a little more value. All offered, however, meet with good competition at the hands of the local buyers. The tone of the market is satisfactory, and from the evident desire on the pnrt of buyers to operate freely so far the prospects for the incoming season are highly encouraging. It is anticipated that full prices will be obtained right through. Late rates continue firm, and advancing as the quality improves.

Hides. — There is no change in the market. La^e rates are well maintained, especially for heavy weights, which seem to be in Bhort supply, while the market is more than fully supplied with inferior and light hides. There is no demand for shipment, but the prices at present paid by tbe local tanners precludes very much business being done in this direction. Nearly all coming forward are taken up by the latter at rites according to condition and weight, which we give as follows : —For beat heavy weights, free from scars and offal. 2jd to 31 ; light, 2d to 2|d ; inferior, l£d to ljd per lb. Tallow. — Late telegrams to hand report the Home market slightly firmer and pricei a shade higher, but we hardly expect that these advances will materially alter prices lat3ly current in tbe local market. The demand continues fairly active and no difficulty experienced in disposing of cons'gnments immediately on arrival at the following quotations — viz : For medium to good, 15s to 17s ; inferior and mixed, 12s to 14s 6d ; rough fat— best, lls 6d to 12a 6d ; inferior to medium, 8s 6d 10 10s 6d per cwt.

Grain. — Wheat is in steady demand, and continues firm. The quality of really prime offering is limited, and in consequence slightly higher prices are being asked and obtained. Medium is more difficult to place, except at prices which holders hardly feel justified in accepting. Fowls' wheat is scarce, and, with a good demand existing, prices show an upward tendency. Quotations are — for prime Tuscan, 3s 2d to 3s 3£d ; prime bard velvet, 3g to 3s 2d ; besc red wheat, 2s lOd to 3a ; medium to god, 2s 8i to 2s lOd ; broken and inferior to medium, 2s * j 2s 7d (ex store, sacks weighed in, terms). — Oats : The arrivals during the week have been large, and mostly going into store. A slightly better dem»nd has been experienced during the past week, but the quantity disposed of was insignificant considering the heavy consignments coming forward. There is nothing like the demand for export experienced this season that existed at the same time the past few seasons, and with so many growers anxious to quit, the market quickly gave way. sellers finding it impossible to effect sales except at reduced prices; but we think the bottom ha 3 been reached, and scarcely think that any further reductiens need be submitted to. We quote— Prime milling, at Is 4d to Is 5d ; best short bright feed, Is 3£d to Is 4d ; medium, Is 2d to Is 3d (ex store, sacks extra).— Barley : The market for this cereal continues very quiet. A few sales are still being effected, but only of the very best offering, at from 3s to 3s 3i, any other having little or no attention.

Grass Seed. — The demand for ryegrass seed has fallen off considerably, and Bales difficult to effect at current rates. Stocks, are however, light, and it is considered that no more than sufficient for the spring reqnirements remain on haDd. In that ease, provided importations are not heavy, full prices should be obtained. Meantime we quote best dressed 4s 3d to 49 itd ; undressed, 2s 6d to 3s 6d (ex store). Cocksfoot, moderate demand, at 3i to 4|d per lb. Potatoes— A moderately fair demand continues to be experienced, but prices do nol- seem to alter very materially. Really prime Northern Derwents are eaeily placed at from 70s to 72s 6d ; Southern, from 50s to 62s 6d per ton.

Chaff-— The market this week has not been bo fully supplied, and any lot& offering were easily placed . but, owing to oats being so low, buyers of chaff are not disposed to give over late rates, which may be quoted as follows : — For best heavy screened chaff, 47 s 6d to 52a 6d . medium to good, 30a to 42s per ton.

Dairy Produce. — The demand for piime salt butter continues moderately fair at from 7d to 8d per lb, but there are no buyers for medinm or inferior; while for cheese there is very little passing locaily, and holders are seeking an outlet by Bhipmeat to Australia and Home.

Messbs. Donald Reid and Co. report for the week ending May 7 as follows :—: —

Wool. — Cablegrams to hand durinsr the past few days have been very unsatisfactory, and as a natural co lsequence prices here have suffered a decline. At auction to-day we offered a small catalogue of oddments ; bidding was exceedingly slack, and only a lew lots were sold.

Rabbitskins. — For our sale on Tuesday we submitted a catalogue of 4 bales and 14 bags, made up of summer and autumn full-grown Bkins and suckers. The local buyers were in attendance and bid briskly for every lot offered.

Sheepskins. — We offered a full catalogue at our usual weekly sale on Tuesday. These consisted of country dry skins and pieen skins from local butchers, but principally the "former. Bidding was again slack, and prices, if anything lower tban last week, Green crossbreds sold at 2s 6d to 3s lid ; do merinos, Is 8d to 2s 5d ; do lambs, 2s Id to 3s 3d ; dry crossbrede, 2s Id to 5s 7d ; do merinos, Is lid to4s7d.

Hides. — There is a ready-sale for all coming forward, local manufacturers being tbe purchasers. During the week we cleared all forward at for : — Prime heavies, 2-jd to 3d ; medium to good, 2[d to 2£d ; light and inferior, I^'d to 2d ; bulls and slippy, ] jrt to lfd per lb. Tallow. — Market unchanged.

Grain.— Wheat : Only a moderate supply forward. Prime milling Is scarce and meets with ready sale at quotation. Medium sorts are in abundant supply, and as millers are at present confining their purchases to only tbe choicest samples, this class realises only a little above fowl's wheat prices. We quote :— Prime milling (Tuscan and Velvet) 3s to 3s 3£d ; other descriptions, 2s 10 J to 3i Id ; fowl's wheat, 2b to 2s Gd.

Oats.— A large and steady Bupply continues to arrive, and there being little outside demand, stocks in stores are assuming large proportions. Millers, as a rule, are well supplied with previous purchases, and the on let in that quarter is almost nil. Shippers clear off occasional liner, and some small sales are effected for local consumption. As soon as cheap sailing freights are available, we expect to have a large demand for export Our quotations are : — Milling, 1b 3£d to Is 4\d ; Feed. 1b 2d to Is 3d (sacks extra). Barley. — A few lines of milling and feed have been disposed of during the week, but there has been no demand for maltin? sorts, and at present this class is almost unsaleable. We quote — Malting (nominal), 2s lOd to 3s ; milling, 2s 3d to 2s 9d, sicks extra. Potatoe". — The market is completely glutted with supplies from all quarters, and the local consumption being very limited, and no outlet for export, prices have fallen very much. We quote — Prime, £2 12s 6rl to £2 17s 6d ; medium, £2 to £2 10s.

Chaff.— Only a moderate supply to hand, and prices continue firm. Prime heavy oat-sheaf (well cut), £2 5s to £2 10s; light or badly cut, £1 15s to £2.

Messrs. Lane and Co. notify that their address is Lane and Co., Clarke street, Dunedin, and Severn street, Oamaru.

Mr. Marion Crawford, the eminent Catholic novelist, is enjoying the unusual compliment of having two of his Htories running in the principal Paris dailies—" Greifeastein " in the Dehats, and in the Temps '' Saracinesca."