Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 13, 26 December 1890, Page 13

Commercial.

Thb Nbw Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company LIMITED, report for the week ended December 22nd, as follows :— ' The stock sales at Burnside this week were held on Tuesday, owing to the regular weekly sale day (Wednesday), coming too close to the Christmas holidays. The sale next week will be held on Monday, the 29th.

Fat Cattle.— An exceedingly light entry was brought under the hammer at Burnside for the week's requirements, only about 67 bead yarded, quality ranging from medium to prime, principally bullocks average weight, with a few pens cows. The shortness of tne supply, doubtless owing to the vary heavy entry to hand last week, did not produce very keen competition, prices obtaining uot being by any means satisfactory. Best bullocks brought .£8 to £9 7s 6d ; medium, £5 7s 6d to £7 7s 6d ; light, £3 153 to £5 ; cows best, £.", 15s to £7 ; light weights and medium quality, £2 103 to £4 10s. Fat Sheep.— There were only about 800 penned to-day, all crossbreds, and with the exception of one or two pens ware all shorn, comprising both wethers and ewes, the latter predominating medium toguod useful mutton ; the wethers forward were fair average quality with a few pens very prime. At the commencement of th 6 sales competition was faiily active, prices ruling being about equal to those of last we«k, but down towards the close a considerable falling off in the demand was apparent, and to effect sales a drop of Is to la 6d per head had to be submitted to. Best crossbred wethers brought 12s 9a to 17s 6d ; one or two pens extra prime and heavy weights, 14s to 168 ; medium, 10s to 12s 3d ; best do ewes, Us to V2i 3d, picked to 13s 3d ; medium, 8s to 10s 9d. We sold on account of Messrs Ross Bros., (Busby Park), and others mixed crossbreds to 11s. Fat Lnmbs.— 92o were penned, average quality. Thia number immediately following th« heavy entry to hand last week was considerably in excess of requirements, and the result a drop of Is to Is 61 per head ; best brought 8g to Us ; a few picked lota to 12s 6i ; inferior to medium, 5a to 7s 9d. We sold on account of Messrs Ross Bros. (Bushy Park), and others, three pens at 9a to 9a 6d. Pigs.— The entry to-day was rather a small one, only 68 being penned, principally suckers and porkers, all of whicb had a very good demand, especially the former, which brought 5a 6d to 13s : slips. 14a 6d to 18s ; porkers, 22a to 31s.

Store Cattle. — There is no show of any very great activity in the market , at the same time quiet, large framed bullocks, m forward condition command some attention and can be placed whenever any snch are offering at satisfactory prices, while cows Jor heifers of mixed breeds in low condition are difficult to place at prices suitable to sellers.

Store Sheep. — At the moment the number of these changing bands is limited, but there is a good deal of inquiry be ng made by buyers for almost all sorts, and when the shearing is pretty well over sellers and buyers will be in a better posiiion to apppoach each other more closely as regards prices, which will, doubtless, result in a considerable amount of business being put through. Sheep Skins.— The demand experienced for all classes of skins at our weekly auction sale at the Chamber of Commerce Hall, Crawford street, on Tuesday, when we submitted a full citalogue to the large attendance of buyers present, was very satisfactory. Competition was spirited, all sorts realising up to last week's r<ites. There ate very few hutcher's full-woolleci green skins now presented, near y all being shorn pelts, for which, if well saved, there is an increased demand, more eipecially the earlier 6horn lota, c mntry dry crossbreds inferior to meiium, brought Is 6d to 3s 3d ; do do merino, U 4d to 3s 2d ; full-woolled crossbred?, 4s 3d to 6tf 3d ; do do merino 3a 9d to 6s Id ; dry pelts, 3d to Is 3d ; green do, U 4d, la 3i, la 2 i 1- Id, Is. lid, 10J, 9d, 8d ; green lambskins, Is sd, Is 4d, Is 3 J, Is 2d Is Id, la '

Rabbit Skins.— Odd consignments of suckers, summer ski ns, and mixed inlerior lots continue to arrive, which are sold at the regular wetkly sales, but for this description, of course, low prices have to b accepted, though at the same time relatively higher than those paid

for best skins. The few lots of prime quality slid offiring nod a good market, and for which pricaa are obtained in sympathy with those current for best in the London market.

Hides. — The market continues without any material alteatii.n. A moderately fair demand exists, more particularly for well save I and properly flayed heavy Borts. Medium and ligbt weights although saleable, commanded less attention. We quote — F«»r good to best salted, 2£a to 2jd ; extra heavy, 3d; medium, 21 to 2J-3; light, I.J I to lj'd ; inferior and slippy, Id to l^d per lb.

Tallow ani Fat.— The market is quite bare of prime rendered mutton, Tenderers preferring to ship Home direct. We quote— Prime rendered mutton. 19s to 20s ; medium to good, 16s to 18s ; inferior and mixed, 12s 6d to 15s 6d ; Bau,'h fat continues in good demand and always placed without nuch difficulty at equal to late fates, which are for best, 13* to 14s ; inferior to medium and good, 10a to 12a 9d per cwt.

Grain. — Wheat : Advices from Home appear to be more satisfactory. Press and private telegrams report tne English market firm, while the American and Continental markets are advancing, Forwerd business in Australian cargoes is firm at an advance, and for New Zealand wheat, on the passage, sellers are asking 375. Under these circumstances, we may reasonably expect to meet with a little more activity in the demand locally than has been met with lately. This market for several weeks back has been very sluggish, and only that the supply in agents' hands has been limited and sellers not over anxious to force sales, late rates could hardly have been maintained, but considering: that stocks are small, it is fully expected that current rates will continue to be fully maintained. We quote— best Tuscan, 3a 9d to 3s lOd ; beat white velvet, 3s 8d to 3s lOi ; medium to good, 3s 5d to 3s 7d ; best red wheat, 3s 4d to 3a 61 ; medium. 3s 3d to 3a 4 i ; broken and inferior, 2s3d to 3a 2d, ex store.—Oats : The improvement reported in the demand lately still continues, and although buyers aver that prices are in advance of outside markets, having regard to the attendant transit, expenses, etc., it is undeniable that they exhibit no inclination to buy at current rates. Milling sorts have a slightly better demand than previously, though enquiries are somewhat fitful. All bad sorts have a very satisfactory demand, medium a»d inferior being quite as readily saleable. We quote — prime milling, 1b fid to Is Sid ; best bright short feed, Is 4£d to la 5d ; medium, Is 3id to Is 4d "; inferior and musty , Is to Is 2id ; good Danish, Is 3d to Is 4d, ex store, sacks extra.— Barley : Tne market now is pretty low of any description, and any medium to good malting offering could readily be placed at late current rates. There is an idea prevailing that this cereal will be good stocK, and has caused a slight improvement in the demand. Feed and milling has aUo been having a little more attention. We quote— prime malting, 2s 6i to 2a 9d ; medium, 2s 3d to 3s 4d ; feed and milling, Is 6d to 23, ex store. Ryegrass Seed.— The market for thia seed continues quiet, and we don'c expect to see very much improvement in the demand before the autumn is well in, any little lots being in the meantime disposed of command late rates, but it is somewhat doubtful if the new seed can be disposed of at present quotations. We qaote best machine dressed 4s 9d to 5s ; farmers' best dressed, 3s 6J to 4s ; medium. 2s 9d to 3s 3d (ex store). Cocksfoot has only a very limited demand at from 4d to 4^d per lb.

Potatoes. — There is no demand of any consequence for old. New kidney, both imported and locally grown, have nearly all the attention, and with additional supplies prices are easier. Imported sold at auction at from £5 to £7 10s. Local grown are worth £6 10a to £7 per ton.

Chaff.— The demand for screened well cut oaten steif continues fairly active, all such coming to hand being readily placed at 42s 6d to 45s ; medium, 37a 6d to 40s ; inferior, 25s to 35a per ton. Dairy Produce. — There ia no change in the position of the market with regard to prices. A quantity of both cheese and butter is in preparation for the dome market, when it is to be hoped this outlet will help to revive prices locally, which continue low.

Flax. — The supply coming forward is ouly to a limited extent, and with a moderately fair demand for export, and also for local requirements, consignments are placed almost immediately on arrival. We quote for extra bright, properly scutched, £19 5s to £20 53 ; medium to good, well dressed, £16 10s to £18 10s ; coarse and strawy, £10 to £15 per ton.

Messrs. Donald Stbonach and Son report for the week ending December 17, as follows :—: —

Fat Sheep.— 27oo to hand, some four or five p ens being merinos and the major portion of the remainder ewes of different grades, The sale opened with a sluggish tone, and for a considerable tijie a drop of from Is 6d to 2a per head was noticeable on the day's transactions compared with last week, some of the aged classes of ewes suffering even more tban this. We quote. — Prime trade or freezing wethers 13s to 13s 9d, medium weights 12s to 12s 61, mirei §exes 10s 61 to 11s 6 i, beat ewes 10j 91, 11s to 12s, medium 19s to 10s 6d, light 9s to 9s 6J, merino wethers 69 CJ to 63 9d, best crossbred ewes in the wool 159 to 16* 6d, inferior to medium 133 to 14s 6d. We sold on account of Mr. John Nyhon (Sandymount), crossbred ewes at quotations.

Fat Cattle.— 262 bead yarded, representing all clashes of quality there being yarded some very light and inferior sorts, as also a number of as prime and well-grazjd cattle as could be found in any market in New Zealand. Best bullocks brought £9. £9 103 to £10, ani in one instance £10 2* 6d ; medium weights. £7 10s, £8 to £8 10* ; ligbt, £5 5i to £6 10s ; a few pens of exceptional heavy cows and heifers (previously referred to), sold at £7 10s to £8 ; good wellgrazed lots, £5 10s to £6 10s ; li^ht, £4 10a to £5. We sold a draft of bullocks on account of J. Wilson at quotations.

Fat Lambs.— 774 penned, about one-fourtb of wnich might b<* considerei prime, the balance varying from inferior to medium and good. Prime lambs brought Ila to 12-j a few exceptio >al lots 13d to in ODe instance as high as 1 4 h9 \ ; fairly good lines 9s 6d to 10a 6 i ; medium, 83 6d to 9i ; inferior, 7a 6i upwards, but there were very few told under 8s 6d ; the bulk at from 9s to 10d 6,1. We sold a draft of 17 on account of Mr. John Nyhon (Sandymonnt) at 9i.

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P'g*.— l74 yarded, principally porkera, weanen , and a few pens of heavy weight bacon pigs and slips. Porkers brought 23e to 28s, medium weight bacon lines 31s to 35*, heavy to 435, slips 16a to 20a, ■ackers 12s 6d to 14s.

Store Sheep.— An increasing demand is noticeable for merino ■heap of all classes, the inquiry at the present moment being in exec ss of the supply. A large number of the diff >rent stations, however, have not yet sent in the returns of their surplus sheep, and pending the receipt of these business is restricted in consequence. Store Cattle.— There is nothing of importance to note with respect to store cattle.

Sheepskins.— The best lines of croasbreda offered on Tuesday ■old at 6s 3d to 6s 6d ; medium, 6a to 5s 6d ; inferior, 4s 6d to 4s lOd ; green merinos, 3s 8d to i% 9d ; green pelts, lOd to la 6d ; lambskins, li to It 6d ; country skins proportionate ratei. Rabbit skins.— Prime winter grays are worth Is 5d to Is 6d ; •pnog and mixed lines, la to Is 2d ; blacks, lid to 1b ; suckers. 2id to 4d ; broken, 7d to 9d. "

Hides.— Prime heavy ox, from 601 dto 701 b, 2M to 3d per lb ; good larerage dry salted ox, 2sd to 2jd ; medium quality mixed claiMß, 2 J to 2±d ; light and inferior, l£d to ljd, bulls ;and slippy, Id to IJd per lb. Tallow and Bought Fat.— Prime rendered mutton may be quoted at 19a to 20a per cwt ; medium to good, 16a to 18a ; inferior, 13s to 15§ ; clean unrendered caul fat, 13s to 14s ; best rough fat to 12s ; inferior, 10s to 11s.

Grain. — Wheat : Local quotations are as follows — Best Tuscan, 3i 9d to 3s lOd ; medium, to good, 3s 5d to 3a 7d ; best red straw, 3b 4d to 3a sd, inferior to medium classes, Si 2d to 3s 3d (ex store, lacks in) Oats : Prime milling Sutnerlanda may be quoted at Is 4d to U 4£d ; good feed, Is 3d to Is 4 1 ; medium, la 3J ; inferior, Is 2$ i per basnel. Grass Seed : Prime machine-dressed is worth 4s 9i to 5s ; farmers' best dressed, 4a 31 to 4s 6i ; medium, 3i 6d to 4a. Mbbsbb. Donald Reid and Co,, Dunedin, report for the week ending December 22, «s follows :—: —

F»t Cattle.— The supply forward was a small one, only 67 head being yarded, of which aboat half were prime quality and heavy weights, the rest medium to inferior. Best bullocks cold at £8 to £9 7s 6d ; medium, £6 5s to £7 10s ; inferior, £4 5s to £6 7e 6d ; cows and heifers, £3s 5d to £7.

Pat (sheep. — The small supply of 800 came to the sale to-day, all of them being crossbreds, and two-thirds of the whole were ewes, the balance being wethers. Best crossbred wethers sold at 13s 6d to 16s ; medium, lls to 12s 6d ; best crossbred ewes, lls 9d to 13s 3d ; ordinary, 9s to 10s 9d.

Pat Lambs.— Best pens sold at lls to 15s 6d ; medinm, 8s 6d to 10a 3d ; inferior 5s 9d to 6s 9d.

Pifirß. — Suckers sold at 5s 6d to 13s ; slips, 14s 6d to 19a : porkers 22s to 31a. F

Sheepskins.— Dry crossbreds sold at 2s Id to 5s 9d ;do merinos, la lOd to 4s Id ; do pelts and lambß, lOd to 2s : green pelts, lOd to 1b 2d ; do lambe, Is to Is 4d.

Hides.— There has been no alteration in values since we last reported. We quote— Prime heavies, 2jd to 3d ; medium, 24d to 2Ad ; light, IJd to 2d ; bulls, slippy and cut, I£d to l£d per lb. Tallow. — A good demand exists for local consumption, and all that is arriving meets a ready sale. We quote— Medium rendered, 16a 6d to 18s ; inferior, 12s to 14s 6d ; rough fat, 9s to 13s per cwt. Grain.— Wheat : Milling (prime), -3a 6d to 3s 8d ; milling (medium), 3s 3d to 3s 5d ; Fowl wheat, 2s lOd to 3a 2d. Oats : Milling, Is 4£d to Is 5Jd ; short bright feed, Is 3^d to Is 4d ; discoloured, Is Id to Is 3d (sacks extra). Barley : Malting, 2s 2d to 2s 4d ; milling, Is lOd to 2s ; feed, Is 6d to Is 9d.

Potatoes — Prime, £6 to £8 ; inferior aad small, £4 to £6. Chaff.— Prime, £2 2s 6d to £2 5s ; medium, £1 15s to £2. Flax.— Best bright scutched and edged, £19 to £20 10s ; medium £16 to £18 10s ; inferior, £12 to £15.