Irish News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 6, 7 November 1890, Page 13

Irish News.

MESgBS. Donald Stbokach and Bon report for the week ending October 29, as follows :—: — Fat Cattl?.— The day's entry comprised the moderate total of 152 head, comparatively few of which were prime beef, the bulk being of a medium class, with a good number of pens of light an 4 inferior sorts. This being the case, a rise in values was generally anticipated, and more especially bo far the best quality, the same being verified as regards the latter by an improvement of about 10s per head on good lines of bollocks, other classps bronght about last week's rates, with by no means a brisk sale. We quote bent bullocks in tbe market (there being none extra prime), £9 10s, £10, to £10 2s 6d ; medium, £6 10s to £8 ; light, £4 10s to £5 15s ; cows and heifera proportionate rates. Fat Sheep. — Last week's prices, as might have been expected, had the effect of bringing forward a much larger entry of mutton at Burnside to-day. The total number of fat sheep yarded being 3602, rather more than three times the number penned at the previous auction. Of that some 400 were merinos, the bulk of the remainder beiog made up of medium class cros shreds ; prime wethers being confined to comparatively few lots only. Local buyers were, of course, bare of supplies, and thus in a position to deal with a fairly large entry. In addition to this, the freezing works have been at a standstill for several days past from want of sheep, and as a considerable number were required to fill engagements there, and were to-day bought in the market. The sale passed off remarkably well considering tbe increased number of sheep on offer. It must not, however, be supposed that last week's important rise in values, due as this was to altogether exceptional circumstances could be maintained, prices generally being from Is 6d to Is per head lower to-day than on that occasion. Prime crossbred wethers may be quoted at 18 * to 19s, a few extra heavy sheep, both in wethers and ewes, selling up to 20a ; average weight crossbred we 1 hers, 17s to 17s 6d ; light, 15s 6d to 16s 6d ; prime ewes, 16s to 17s 6d, some few pens 18s to 19 ->, and as before mentioned, in one insta cc to 20s ; medium weights, 14* to 15s ; merino wethers, 10s 6d to 15s. We sold a small draft of crossbreds on account of Mr. Watson Shennnn (Conical Hills) at 17a, and prime merino we' hers from the tame estate at i ss. Fat Lambs. — 369 yarded, including some three or four pens of very prime quality balfbred Downs, a fair proportion of average classes, the balance indifferent sorts, many of tbe number being rather young for the trade. A portion of the line specially referred to above sold up to 16s 3d, but 12s was about the current rate for what might be termed good lambs; medium, 9s to 10s 6d ; light and inferior, 7s 6d to 8s 6d per head. Pigß. — Eighty-nine only to hand, principally suckers, with a few pens of small-sized stores and one or two lots of bacon pigs. Tbe limited entry failed to have any effect upon prices, which ruled much about the same as last week. Suckers brought 9s to 12s, stores 16s to 17s 6d, porkers 24s to 255, bacon lines 27s to 335. Store Cattle. — During the past week or 10 days, a lot of business has been done in sore cattle, several large lines having changed hands at the Burnside yards and other centres at satisfactory prices. Southwards the country is looking remarkably well, with the promise of an abundance of feed, and this has created an extensive demand for all classes of store stock. Good three-year-old bullocks are worth £5 to £5 ss; two-year-olds, £3 5s to £3 153 ; yearlings of mixed sexes, 25s to 355. We sold a draft on account of Messrs. Wilson and Scott ai quotations. Store Sheep. — Trade in store sheep just now is pretty much confined to inquiries on the part of buyers for lines for delivery off shears, and of such inquiries there are plenty coming forward. Crossbred hoggets are sure to be in extensive demand, and tbe same may be said of merinos from the principal flocks of the province Meantime the amount of business being done is of a nominal character only. Frozen Meat. — The only information from London under this heading, during the past week, reports the market as unchanged, and considering the low quotations last recorded, this still leaves tbe merfeet in an unsatisfactory condition. Wool. — There has be n no Home news during the past week re wool, beyond the fact of some fVw private sales having been made at prices fully maintaining tbe closing rates of the last series. Our local sales will do doubt commence before the opening of the next London auctions, so that considering the firmness which characterised tbe conclusion of the late September-October series, the outlook for the coming season here may be considered a favourable one. We are, perhaps, scarcely justified in holding out the hope of a repetition of last season's prices, in face of the unsatisfactory returns which most of the shippers have received from Home up to date, but as the English market exhibited considerable improvement latterly, it may reasonably be hoped that the next account sales will show much better returns. There is no doubt whatever, but that the attendance of local and other buyers at the New Zealand sales, will be quite equal to what it was last year, and that a good competition with satisfactory prices, will again rule. Sheepbkins. — At the Biles held on Tuesday last good-sized catalogues were eubmitted, nearly two-thirds of which represented dry, the balance butchers' green line". Every member of the trade was present, and th-sale passed iff remarkably well, biddings coming freely throughout, resulting in a satisfactory clearance. One line of green halfbreds, s>me of the heaviest offered this season, sold at as high as 8s; g( od average butchers' grepn crosabreds, 5s 10J, 6s to 6s 3d ; medium, 5s 3d t> 5s 7d ; light, 4s 9d to 5s ; best merinos, 5-t 3d to 5s 6d ; medium, 4s 6d to 4s 9d ; lambskins, 91 to Is 3d. In dry skins a few double fleece were sold at from 7s to 10s 6d ; best single fleece, crossbred, 5s 6d to 6s 4d ; good, 4s 9d to 5s 3d ; inferior to medium, 3s to 4s ; dry merinos to 4s 4d. Owing to the partial suspension of operations at Bumeide works, there have not been many

freezing skins pasting during las" week, but such as have cume to hand have sold readily at full rates.

lUbbitskins. — Small catalogues only were submitted at tbe various sales held on Monday last. Besides there being the usual fall attendance of buyers, a new member of the trade was present, who seemed an&ious to purchase aay lot off^rei, and prices consequent lj showed an advance on last week's rales ; in fact, we may say that in some cases »bay were higher by Id to l£i per lb. Rest winters sold up to Is 7£d, autumns Is 51, spring Is 4J, black and fawn Is l^d. Hides. — Values for these are about the same as they bare been for S'ime time past. Local tanner? are by no means keen to purchase ordinary lots, but are willing to stretch a point f >r prime heavy well flayed ox hides, which miy be quoted at 2|d to 3d per lb, medium, 2d to 2£d, light, l£d to lfrt, inferior and damaged, \si per lb. Tallow. — As for some time past, the quantity of tallow arriving during the last week has been very limited indeed, the few lots offering having been readily taken up by local manufacturers at rates fully equal to late quotations. Prime rendered tallow is aleo in good request for shipment, but for this purpose trcere is little or none available. Best rendered mutton is worth 20a to 21s per cwt ; medium to good, 17s to 19s ; inferior and mixed, 14s to 16i ; best mutton caul, 14s ; butchers' rough fat, lls to 12s ; inferior, 10s to 10s 6d. Wheat. — Althongh the English wheat traffic has shown a certain amount of irregularity of late, latest advices report the market as being steady at 36s 6d for New Zealand long-berried. Locally there is comparatively little doing, and the dull and restricted character of business reported last week still continuea. With the few purchases made this month, accumulations of wheat and Hour in the hands of the millers should, however, soon oe materially reduced, and this in its turn will no doubt mean a healthier and more general inquiry at no distant date. The following quotations meantime may be taken as nominal : — Prime velvet and Tuscan, 3s 8d to 3* 9d ; medium to good, 33 6d to 3s 7d ; best red wheats, 3s 5d (o 3s 7d ; medium, 3s 3i to 3s 4d ; inferior, 3s 2d ; ex store, sacks weighed in. Graio. — Oats i Some little desire has been shown on the part of speculators during the past week to purchase oats for shipment to England, and in this direction a fair amount of business has been done, causing a slight firmness on last week's rat?s for bright milling and blight he ivy seed parcels. The Sjdney market s ill remains closed against us owing to the high freights that are being asked on shipments sent to that port, while the local millers' and produce merchants' requirements are veiy limited indee 1. B >st Sutherland oats are worth Is 41 ; beet bright, heavy seed, Is 3£d ; exceptional lots, Is 41 ; medium, Is 2^l to Is 3d ; ioferior, Is to Is 2d per bushel ; sacks extra, ex store. Barley : The market in this blanch is in the same position as when last reported, sales effected being few and far between. Grass Seed. — There is little or no demand now for grass seeds, but the stocks held over are very light, so that prices are likely to again rule high when tbe autumn sowing comes round. Potatoes. — Holders of thesa at present in Dunedin are glad to get rid of their stocks at any price, as tbe season is so far advanced, and Bales have been made during the l*st few days at as low as 10s to 20s per ton. Any picked lots, however, might be col lat a slight advance on the last mvntion< d prices, but growers do not seem inclined to g > to the expense of having this done. Chaff. — The arrivals of chaff since last writing, have somewhat slackened off, and sales, conseq lently. are not so difficult to effect. Prime oaten sheaf is in gojd demand, and ca j easily be placid at 37s 6d to 40s ; extra good at perhaps 2s 6d per ton mor« money ; medium to good, 25s to 35s per ton. D«.iry Produce. — Factory-male cheese is now almost out of the market, and has only a sligh' enquiry at from 4d to 4£d for large, and 4^ i for loaf. There is an abundance of butter, however, coming to hand, for which there is no sale whatever. Flax. — Well-scutched lines of flax are still commanding a fair attention, and can De placed at £20 per ton ; medium to good has also a good enquiry at from £14 to £17 par ton, but any thin | under this standard is difficult to get rid of. Messrs. Donald Reid and Co., Dunedin, report for the week ending November ~>, as follows — : Sheepskins. — There was brisk competition throughout the sale ; prices were, however, hardly up to last week's qu itations. Green crossbreds sold at 4s to 6s 3d ; do half-breris, 4* 3d to 6s 8d ; dry cros-breds, 2s 3d to 5s 7d ; do half-breds, 2s 8 J to 6s Id. Hides. — Since last reporting there has been no alteration in values. We quote : — Prime heavies (in faultlesß condition), 2jd to 3d ; medium to good, 2£d to 2£d ; light, lfd to 2i ; inferior, Dulls and slippy, l£d to lid per lb. Oats. — A consid arable expoit business has been done in this cereal since last reporting, and all qudities of short oats have met with ready sale at quotations. Ling Tartarian and Dinish are, however, very difficult to quit. Black oats, of which there are considerable stocks on hand, meet with little or no demand. We quote — milling, Is 3£d to Is 4d ; feed, Is to Is 3 ', sacks extra. "Barley. — Mo demand whatever, the market for this grain being quite stagnant. Potato< s. — The market ig well e'eared out of old, unpicked lots, and as none have been arriving for some time pa-.t prices are firming a little Fresh 'y picked consignments now c >ming f irwrtrd could ba disp sed of at from 308 to 40s. For old lots out of condition and nfedor sorts from 10a t> 2Js h-is to be accepted to avoid t>tal loss. Tallow. — The small quantity ariving to this mark' t coutinues to meat a ready sale, local manufacturers being the purchasers There is some v quiry for lines for shipment, but very few suitable lots aie offering. Kough fat is readi'y disposed of at ruling prices. We quote: — Medium rendered, 16s to 19s ; inferior, lls to 148; rougk tat, 9* to 13s. Wheat.— There is little or no change to report. The market is exceedingly quiet. Millers have considerable stocks of flour on hand, and are therefore unwilling to purchase to any extent until stocks of

fl >ur have been somewhat reduced. Stocks of wheat in store are being gradually reduced, and there is but little held in the country. Fowl's wheat has diminished' correspondingly in value, but meets with ready sale We quote — Milung, prime to extra prime, 3s 6d to 3s 91 ; do medium, 3^ 4d to 3; 51 ; fowl's wheat, 2* 101 to 3* 3d. Store Cattle. — There is a fair demand for store cat lie of all sorts, well-bred quiet bullocks being most in requ* st ; but all sorts find buyers at proportionate valnes. Large four-jear-old bullocks in forward condition are much wanted, and this class would at present meet a ready sale, and at full prices. We have a small draft of steers and heifers fspeyed) for sale, handy to Dunedin. Store Sheep. — There is a strong demand for well-grown crossbred wethers and h ggets, but in view of shearing being so close at band owners are not desirous of selling until after shearing. We have buyers for large lines of crossbred wethers and crossbred and half-bred two-tooths. We have for sale 400 half-bred ewes with lambs at foot, have bred in August and S 3D ember, which will be sold in the wool. Grass Seeds— The season, which has been a comparatively busy one, is now nearly past. We quote : Cocksfoot, 4£i to 5d ; medium and inferior, 3£d to 4d. Ob ff —Prices are firm at for— Prime, weU-cnt oaten, £1 17s 6d to £2 2s 6d ; medium ani mixed. £1 10 ato £ls 16s.

Mr. F. MeenAN, King street, reports: — Wholesale prices: — Oats, Is Id to Is 4d (bags extra), dull. Wheat : milling, 3s 6d to 4s ; fowls', 3s 3d — both firm, racks included. Chaff : Very dull — £1 10s to £2 ; hay, oaten, £2 10s ; btst rye-grass, £3. Bmn, £2 10a, Pollard, £3 10s. Potatoes, old, £2 per ton. Flour: roller, £10 to £10 15s ; stone, £9 5s to £9 15s. Fieeh butter, very plentiful, value from 4d to 8d ; salt, nominal, for prime, 7d. Eggs, good demand, 6d.