Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 20, 13 February 1891, Page 13

Commercial.

The New Zbaland Loan and Mkhcantile Agency Co., Limi ted, report for the week ending February 11, as follows :—

Fat Cattle. — 189 head were yarded. Best bullocks brousht £6 17s 6d to £7 10s ; one or iwa pens extra heavy weights, to £8 7s 6d ; medium to good, £5 to £6 10* ; light, £3 7s 6d to £4 17s 6 1.

Fat Sheep.— Only 1,327 were penned. Best crossbred wethers, 12s 6d to 13s 3d ; medium, 9s 3d to lls 61 ; best do ewes, 10s to 12s. Fat Lam bß. — 569 were penned. Best brought Ss 61 to 10s; others, 5s to 8s 3d.

Pigs.— Only 77 were penned. Suckers brought 7s to 12s 6d ; porkers, 28s to 30s ; baconers, 34s to 36a.

Store Bheep. — A consideradle number of these are now changing hands ; but while a few sales of aged sheep are being effected, the demand is chiefly for young e'ock, suitable lots of which are difficult to pick up ; and from sales already made an 1 icquir.es coming to haod, we juige that prices are more likely tj rule in sellers' favour than otherwise.

Wool.— During the past week priced catalogues up to the closa of (he fifth and ]a<-t series of London wool sales for the past year came to hand by the San Francisco mail ; also our London circular, which aays that the changes in value, as compared with the closing rates of the fourth series, may be summarised as follows :— Merino combing and clothing, greasy, £d to Id per lb decline ; do do do medium and superior scoured, id to l}d decline ; do do inferior do, l£d decline ; fine crossbred greasy, £cl per lb decline ; medium and coarse crcssbred do, par to £i per lb decline ; fine crossbred washed and scoured, Id per lb decline ; medium and coarsa do do, £d to Id per lb do. It is satisfactory, however, to find that the sales" now in progress continue firm, good wool, especially fine half and crossbred, showing an improved tendency.

Sheepskins.— We brought forward a very heavy catalogue for Tuesday's auction, but the demand was quite equal to the occasion, and every lot was disposed of at satisfactory rates. The attendance cf bujers was good, and competition active all through the proceeding?. Good green skins had aa excellent demand, and wel'-saved country skins were well competed for up to prices equivalent to ojd and 6d per lb. Butchers' prime crossbred pelts made 2s 31t02s 6d ; good quality, Is lid to Is 8d ; inferior, Is 3d to Is . j 1 ; merinos, Is 7d (o 19 21. Lambskins were al-o in giod demand, best making 2s 4J to 2s ; medium. Is lOd to Is 8 1 ; small and inferior, Is 7d to Is 1 i. Country dry 6kins, of which we had a heavy supply, met with very good competition ; inferior to medium crossbreds brought Is 9 i to 3s lOd ; do do merino, 18 1 to 3s C i ; full-woolled crossbreds 4 j 4 1 to 6s 7d ; do do merino, 3s lOd tosi lid ; dry pelts 4d to Is 61 each. Babbitfkirs —Our London circular of date December 27, tv tund by the San Kranclsco mail, fully confirms telegraphic advices rep )rtiog a f 11 in prices at the sales held in London on the oth D -comber, on which date 1877 bales were catalogued, ot wh eh 1809 w<.re soli. A good demand prevailei, but late pnets were not generally mantained. New Zealand skins declined in some instances as much as Id per lb., alttough a few lots of extra get-up and quality com-uanded fully previous rates. Australian skins were dull of salo, an 1 p.ic c realised were Id to lid per lb. lever. This, followed by buothirfdll of Id per lb at the sales held there on the 23rd ult , mus be rather uufortuna'o for those who 3hipped ou their own account. Locally there is very little doing. In tne absence of any quantities comiDg to town there is no particular change to report in the maiket ; quotations nomiual.

Hides. — The market is without any very material a'teration. A fairly «ood demand continues totxis', all dtbcnpuona bung taleable at pne 8 varying according to condition and weight, wia!e hea\y hides-, which are tcarce, are alvsa) s piefcrable, and lea.ise much be ter pnees whtn compnred wnh tt-o-e paid for light and inferior sorts cut in the flajing. We quo h— g od to best, heavj . 2^l to 31 ; medium, 2 1 to 2JI ; light, Hi to l^d : mleiiDr and slippy, U to 1; 1 ptr lb. Tallow.— A veiy fjood di mand ig expeneuced lor botu icndertd and rough fat, chi. fly for 10 -al manulactunng purpose, prices, in const quence, continue fiim. We quute, prime rtn lerud mutton. l'Js to 20, ; mt.dium to good, lGs to 1S S ; inferior and mixed, 12 3 to i:,s Gl. Rough fat, best caul, 12j to 14^ ; inferior to meiinm and "aoJ 10i

to 12s 9d per cwt

Grain.— Wheat meets with ready sale at late quotati n, which continue firm, although there is no definite improvement in values. The qus>m ity coming forward 19 hmite i, aid in the meantime the prevai ing i>iea is that present values au likely to continue tirra. Fowls' woert is unt rocurab.e, at d would sell n adily at high pi c s compared with those current for good milling. We repeat last week's quo'a ion?, which were, for prim-j milling, velvet and Tuscan, 3-> lid to 4» ; medium to good, 3s 9! to 3s 10 1 ; best lei wheat, 3d3 d Si to 3s lOd ; medium, 3s 61 to 3s 7d ; mfeilor to medium, hardly any olfeiing, 3* 2d to 3s 5 1, ix store — Oats : Tne market continues s ead> aud doubtless to so few coming to hand, buyers have to pay about tqudl to late ra es when purchasing. A slightly better fee iug was exhibited at the auction sales on Monday. Competing was more spuited, more especially for best feed ac,d milling torts, and while medium fted so d fairly wtll, they hardly had the saraa attention We quote as before, best blight fet d aud milling, Is :>}i tj Is 6d ; extra prime might fetch }d more ; medium to good, Is 4+ i to 1, ."H 1 ■ inferior to medium, Is 3^l to Is -t^, ex sore, seeks exu-a.— -B.uhy .' Tuere is some mquirj tor good malting, but the few Holders of this class are not disposed to sell at current prices. Wo ha\e had oifets up to our quotations, but growers preicr holding m autime. The dtmand is lmprowng, all soita being eatily disp .s.d nf, ana at moie satisfactory prices. We quote, prime malting, 3s to 3s 3d ; medium to good, 2s 8 1 to 2s lOd ; teed and milli g, Is 9 1 to 2s 6d, ex store. Grass (Seed.— Deli vents of rjegrass aeed are atill light, but there is some business being done from samples representing parcels to come forward, A quiet demand is springing up, and any off- ring

would not f iil to be placed at prices compiling favourably with late quotations, which we repeat — viz. : For best machine-dressed, ■4s 6 i to 4s 9 1 ; guaranteed off old pasture, 5s ; farmers' best dressed, 3* 6d to 49 — a shade more for clean samples ; medium, 2s 6lto 3s 3d (ex store, sacks extra). There is very little inquiry for cocksfoot in the meantime, aad quotations are merely nominal, say 4d to 4sd per Ib.

Potatoes.— Good boiling potatoes are not over plentiful, but the market is glutted with inferior sorts and almost unsaleable, except at ridiculously low prices. Quotations for best, £3 5* to £3 10s ; inferior to medium. £2 2s 6 1 to £2 10s per ton, sacks weighed in. Chaff — A steady demand continues to exist for suitably cut and screened heavy oaten sheaf at from 42s 6 1 to 45s ; on occasions 47s 6i is secured. Inferior aid meiium is more difficult to place, even at low prices, say from 30s to 40a per ten. Dairy Produce. — Tne local market is very dull, and no change in values. Batter, 51 to 61 ; factory made cheese, medium size, 4d to 4ji ; dairy made do, 3Jd to 4 1 per lb Flax. — Our London circular to hand per San Francisco mail, reports that the last public sales of the year were held there on the 17th December, nnd although good descriptions met a brisk demand at unchanged prices, competition for medium and inferior qualities was very poor, and for those parcels which were sold a decline of from £1 to £1 108 per ton was aubmi'ted to. Lically thu demand continues fairly active, but the best got-up parcels, bright long fibres and not harsh, hive the preference. We quote for the latter, £19 to to £20 10s ; mxhum to gjod, £15 to £18 ; course and roughly dressed, £10 to £14 10s per ton.

Messrs. Donald Stronach and Sons report for the week ending Wednesday, February 4. as follows —

Fat Cattle.— ll9 head only yarded at Burnside to-day, the quality of which on the whole was rather better than for the last fortnight although there were al-o a connderab'e number of pens of light and inferior sorts. The reduced entry, however, failed to bring about any impr ivement in c»aipeition, which was very languid throughout, prices if anything being a shade lower than last week. Prime buUocks brought, £7 to £7 10s ; one or two head of particularly heavy cattle, £7 15s to £8 2s Gi ; medium weight bullocks, £6 to £6 10s ; light, £5 to £5 12s 6d ; best cows, £5 to £6 ; extra heavy to £6 10s ; medium, £4 10s to £4 13s ; light, £2 2s 6d to £4.

Fat Sbe^p. — The entry to-day comprised 2575 sheep, of which about 130 were merino wethers : the balance principally light weight crossbreds, with a few lines only of good wethers. Beso crossbre l weth' rs brought 13-*, 13s Gl, to 14a ; medium weighs, lls 61 to 12a ; light wethers and mixed cro?sbreds (ewes bang maidens), 10s 6d to lid, m >st of the two last mentioned classes being taken by farmers. Merino wethers sold at 4s to lls 9 I, according +o qu ihty ; best ewes, lls up to 12s 9d for very iieavy she* p ; medium weight^, 9s 6 1 to 10* . light, 8s 61 to 9-. We sjld 70 crossbred we hers, onacount Mr. H. Trazjr (I'ara v) it f r ) n lls 91 t > 12. 31 ; on account Mr. H, Bar (Kngh-on) a drift of merino ewes, at os.

Fat Lambs. — Although the maiket was fairly well supplie i (497 heing penned) and tba with lambs of a better class than usual, we wire pleas -d to note a much stionger cjmpetitioa to-Jay than last week, prices showing an al'-'ound improvement of fully Is per head. Limbs ti for shipment t(,-day "old <it from 9s to 10->, one pen of very prime tent 10 hand by Mr. Finch (Milburn), bringing 11s; good trade lot", Sis t> S3 <) 1 : interior to medium, bs to 7-. We sold on account Mi. D M. Achill d'oitobello), at 8s 91. and also oq account of Mr. 11. B air (Brighton), 1 mhs, at 9s 31.

l'ig-'.— 'lh^re is nothing fresh to leport wi'h regard to the market U"d j r this heading, to day's entry of 111 pigs rspresenting all description*. Suckers brought 6s ti Itj 10s ; «t >r. s 10s to 20s ; porkfrs, 22s to 27s ; light weigh 1 bicoa pigs, 30s to Mi ; a few heavy to .">os

Cattle. — Dv mg the pa-t week we have heard of severa' sVirs of c magnitude, eicb lino moving southwards wherel f j3 1 is ni.ne plmtitui. Prices as paid by purchases are by no imans high, still this can Fcarcely L>e ixpected in view of the low r .tes now cut rent for beet.

Store Sheep.— Excna ges in store sieep are now taking place freely, the past week having prooably been the busiest of ihe season. For uos.-breds and mennos a ike there is an txtensive inquiry, and where prohibitory pr ces are not a^ked there is no difficulty in doing busim 8«.

Wool. — English cable news (f tl,c 31st January state? that at the pa'es n<>w cm runt at Hoin- . cro-isbreds <vi re £ 1 per lb. higher, and go u4 comb ng merinos are quoted at the same price as last sales, but Bsme lo s s >hl at sl'ghtly lower ra'es. Thi dates ot the next local f-a'es Inve bee 1 fi^'i for Mjiilayanl fue^diy thi 25rd and 24th ot February.

Nheep^kms. — The nust no iceable feature in connection with the skin sali-s at present is th ■ keen competiu m which exis's on th ) part ot bujeratur picn an I oth r classes of well saved pelts. A few lines ot early shorn bn chers' pelts selling at as high as 2s 3d to 2s 4 i eac i , veiy sitisfactory prices f>v the seas mof the >ear. Fullwoolled ero^sbreds brought 4s 6d to 5s 6d — a tew se'ected skins somewhat higher ritfs ; full woolLd merinos, 3-> 9i to 5s 61 ; be9t greea pelt«, Is 10 1 to 2) 3 1, as ab >ye in -nti me 1 ; medium, Is 7 1 to Is 9 I ; •lght, Is ~> 1 to Is Od ; green l.imb-kinp, Is Sd ij 2, 4d ; dry country lutF, proportionate ra'es.

Kilbitskin-'. — Geod spiing skins are woith 9d tola; summers, '! Ito9 1 , suck rs an i inferior, 3d to .">d p r lb.

Tallow — Rendered tallow is firm nt ricent quotations. Best rev 'ere<i mut'on tallow is worth 19s to 2u- ; medium to goo i, 17a to 18s ; lufeiior, 13-, to I."h ; clt an, remit red, rauttun caul fa', 13s to 14 * ; butchers' rough rat, KM to 12s per cwt. The maiket is very bare of supplier.

Hi le«. — Piioce ox are in strong nqucwt at up to 31 per lb ; average ex, if well flayed, 2^ 1 to 2^l ; mix el classes to 2 1 ; light and lnfeiior, 14 i to 1 1 1 per io

Grain. — Win. at ■ Any change that may be recorded in the local market for this class of grain has an upward tendency. At the

present time best southern Tuscan is worth 3slod to 3a lid ; choicest

Oamaru Tuscan, equal to 4s here; prime velvet, 3* 9d to 3s 101 ; best red wheat, 3s 81 to 3s 91. Oats : During the past week a considerable quanti'y of oats has been offeriag, and although moat of the lots have found buyers, the tone of the market has becoma easier. Still, consignments are every day finding their way both to our port ■nd that of the Bluff. Holderd are still firm at la 61 to Is 6£d for gooa milling and bright feed (there being just now very little

difference in the relative value of the two classes), but beyond the

inquiry referred to for Home Shipments, buyers ars unwilling to give qnite as much money. Outhide prices just now are la 61 to Is 6£ i, sacks extra, ex truck or store, for best feed and good milling respectively ; second-class feed, Is 51 — few, if any, selling balow this latter rate.— Barley : A fair inquiry continues to exist for barley, both malting and good milling, bat we are unable to confirm the qmtalions which were reported last week. It is true that there are very few prime samples offering, but we have heard of nothing higher than 2s 9d per bushel as bavin? been paid during the past 10 days, and for the beat local-grown lines in the market. Beat milling is worth 2s 3d, good feed to 2s, fair average ma l ting simples 2s 91 — the second mentioned being the most ready of sale. Grass Seeds. — Already there are a few samples of new ajed on the market, sales of which have been made without much difficulty at from 4s 3d to 4s 61 for clean, well-dressed parcels. By forcing

anything like a large quantity upon the market at one time, there is

a chance of a temporary decline in prices ; but although crops are reported as being heavy in the South, they are andoub'edly very light in the North, and by judiciously working the market we are inclined to think that good prices will rule throughout the season. Present j quotations are — 4s 3d to 4s 6d for beat machine-dressed parcels ; farmers' dressed, 33 3d to 3s Ui ; medium to good, 2* 61 to 3s per bushel. Akaroa grown cocksfoot ia being quoted at 4ito 4 g 1 for the best, f.o.b. Lyttelton ; second quality, 3£d to 3sd ; inferior, 3d to 3£d per lb, — net cash, sacks extra. Potatoes. — The market is still oversupplied, aad prices are every pay falling. There are very few lots of really prime potatoes coming to hand, but of inferior and medium quality there seems to ba an abundance. To-day the b"Bt are worth £3 5s to £3 153 6I ; meiium, £2 15s to £3 ; inferior, £2 5d to £2 10s, sacks weighed in. Chaff. — The supplies Btill continne in excess of requirements, in fact more has come into the market during the la9l week than for Borne little time back Prime oaten sheaf may be quoted at 42* 6d to 459 ; inferior to medium, 30a to 35s per ton. Dairy Produce. — The market is in the same unsatisfactory state as when last reported, there being very little business doing either in buttei or cheese. The first mentioned has only a very slight inquiry at from 5b to 6d per lb for prime salt ; while factorj-made cheese is Belling in small parcels occasionally at from 4d to 4^ i for medium size j dairy-made ditto, 3^d to 4d per lb. Flax. — There is no change to report since last week, the marke continuing Bteady. Lines of well-scutched flax are commaniiog the most atten'ion, and may be quote i at from £19 to £20 per ton. Medium aud lufenor sorts, on the other band, are not so readily Baleable, and will only fetch £10 to £lo ; while good samples b-ive a fair demand at from £1G to £18. Mkssbs. Donald Reid and Co., Dunedin, report for the week ending February 11, as follows : — Wool. — The fourth wool sales of the season have b en fixed to be held on Monday and Tuesday, the 23rd and 24th Februtry, although there is every probability of all tbe sales bein^ held on Tuesdiy. Clients who wish their wool catalogued for this sale ought to have particulars forward not la'er than Friday, the 20th, and every cffjrt should be made to have clips forward in time for this sale. Fleece Bold at Gd to 9d ; pieces, 3^ i to s^d ; lociis, Id to 3 1 per lb. Sheepskins.— At ours tie on Tuesday atth 0 rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, Dunedio, there was better c )mpetnion than at last week's sale, and prices were a 6hade higher. Green pelts sol Int la Id to 2s la ; lambs. Is 4d to 2s od; dry crossbreds, 2s Id to 6a 2d ; merinos, Is 8d to 5s 7d ; pelts and lambs, 6d to 5j Id Rabbitskins. — At auction at our stores on Monday we disposed of a small catalogue of spnng and summer take at satisfactory prices. Hides. — The demand continues good for heavy hides. Light and inferior, owing to the large number forward, do not meet the same demand, and are not so readily placed. We quote— prime heavies, 2^d to 3d : medium, 2±\ to 2£d ; light— inferior. I|l to 21 ; bulls' slippy ana cut, l,}d tj l£d. Tallow. — There is a brisk demand and ready Bale for all descriptions at late rates. We have disposed of several country parcels during the week at — for medium rendered, 13s 61 to 16s 6d ; rough fat, 11s to 12s. Wbeit. — The demand is hard.y so briak as when last reporting, but a considerable business ib still being done at quotations. Prime milling, 3s 9J to 3i lid ; medium, 3s 7d to 'Si 8d ; fowls' wheat, 3) 2d to 3s 6 i. Oats. — There is a steady demand, and all arriviog meets with ready sale at — for prime milling, la 61 to Is 6^d ; do feed, Is 5d to 1b s^d ; inferior do, Is 3d to Is 4£i. Barley.— Stocks are now low, but there is very little inquiry pending the arrival of the new season's crop. A few lines are changing hands at— for malting, 2h 6d to 2d 8d ; milling, 2s 2d to 2s 31 ; feed, Is 7d to 2s Id— sacks extra. Chaff.— Only a me derate supply forward, and prices are well maintained. Prime heavy oat sheaf, £2 5s to £2 7s Gd ; mixed and light, £1 15? to £2s 2s G i. , Potatoes.— The market is over supplied with kidneys, and prices are considerably weaker. Derwents meet wi h sale at quotations. Kidneys, £2 to £3 535 3 ; derwents, £3 to £3 10s. DUNEDIN HORS^ B\LEYARDS. Messrs. Weight, Stkphenson and Co. report as follows : — A Moderately large numbrr of horse 9 were entered for to-day's sale, PDd as tbe attendance and competition at tbe beginning of the sale

were f lirly good, a considerable proportion of the horses changed hands. The demand was confined to no particular description, purchasers being in the yards for all sorts. We offered, on account of Mr. Malcolm Isbiscer (Ophir) a draf i of 12 useful medium draught and light harness horses, which were all disposed of for up to £11 ; o i account of Mr. John Shaw (North Taieri), two very good draugnt colts m d fillips, 3yrs., by Pride of Scotland and Laird of Kilbnde, at £iti eacb ; and on account of var.ous other vendors horses at quo'ations. Keallv first-class heavy draught geldings, £22 to £27 ; mediu-n draught horses, £14 to £20 ; light and aged draught horses, £7 to £12 ; good spring carters, £10 to £15 ; w^U-mitchel ca-riage pairs, £40 to £50 ; well-matched baggy pairs, £30 to £40 ; firs'-clasi hunteis, £20 to £30. Mr. F. MEBNAN,King street, reports : — Wnolesale prices— Oits : Is 4d to Is 6£t (bags extra), good demani. Wheat : milling, 3* 61 to 4s ; fowls', 3s 6d — latter firm, sacks included. Chaff : Market baie— £2 to £2 53 ; hay, oaten, £3 ; best rye-grass, £3 Bran, £2 10s. Pollard, £3 10s. Potatoes, new, £2 5s to £3 10s. Flour : roller, £10 to £10 15* ; stone, £9 53 to £9 log. Fresh butter, very plentiful, value from 4d to 7d ; salt, nominal, for prime, Is. Eggs, 91. Oatmeal, in 25 b bigs, £9.