Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 41, 18 February 1898, Page 13

Commercial.

New Zealand Loax akd Mercantile Agency Company report for week ending February loth as follows :—: — Wheat — A good demand exists for prime velvet, indeed for best quality of all sort I*,1 *, but medium is neglected. Quotation for prime milling velvet, 4s tid to 4s 8d ; medium to good do. and best Tuscan, .s 3d to 4s 5d ; best red wheat, Is 2d to Is od ; medium nominally, o9 8d to 4s ; inferior, 2s 9d to 3s 7d (ex store, sacks weighed in, ' erms). Oats — A very steady demand continues to exist, and late rates firmly maintained ; prime milling fetching 2s Id to 2s 2d ; best bright short feed, 2s to 2s Id ; inferior to medium, Is lOd to Is lid (ex .store, sacks extra, net). Barley — Xo sales of any consequence being effected. Quotations nominal, say for best malting, Is 3d to 4s (id ; medium to good, 3s Gd to 4s ; feed and milling, 2s (id to 3s 3d (ex store, sacks extra, net). Grass seeds — Rye grass seed is in moderate demand, but very little so far to hnnd. Quotations for Faniers' best drebsed, heavy shotty seed, 2s Kid to 3s ; extra prime and clean, Id to 2d more ; inferior, and dirty to medium, 2s to 2s 9d (ex htore, sacks extra, net). Cocksfoot in retail lots, best dressed, l 4 ! d to ojd ; medium, 4d to 4^d per lb (ex store, sacks extra, net). Chaff. — Last week's prices are fully maintained, best fetching L 3 12s Gd to L 3 17s Gd ; extra good, L 4 ; medium, L 2 10s to L 3 2s Gd per ton (ex truck, sacks extra, net.) Potatoes. — The market barely supplied. Prices remain firm, say for best kidneys, L.*> l.">s to L(5 ; medium. LL 10s to Lo lUs per ton (ex store, sacks weighed in, net). Sheepskins. — All forward are well competed for, best dry crossbreds fetching 4d to 4jd ; medium, 2d to 3ld ; dry merino^, 21 to 4id per lb : green crossbred pelts, 9d to 1h Gd ; green lamkskin.s, lOd to Is lOd each. Rabbitskins. — All offered are readily placed at late rates. Hides. — Well saved heavy sorts fetch 3d to 3'|d ; medium, 2d to 2\ d ; inferior and light. Id to I{d per lb. Tallow and Fat. — Best rendered, in broken packages. 13s (id to 14s Gd ; medium, 10s (id to 13s ; rough fat, beso mutton caul, 9s Gd to 10s ; medium, 8s i)d to 9s 3d ; inferior, 8s to 8s Gd per cwt (ex st jre, net).

Messrs. Stroxach Bros, and Morris report as follows: — Fat cattle — 232 head yarded. Owing to the large entry bidding was very dull, and prices, except ior prime quality, were much easier. Best bullocks sold at L.S to L 9 : medium, LG to L 7 lO.s; light, L 4 to L~> 10s ; best cows and heifers, Lsto LS 10s ; medium, L 3 5s to L 4 15a ; inferior. LI to 1 3. Fat sheep — 1 i>4 7 penned. Bidding was very dull and prices were fully Is lower tlian those ruling last week. Best crossbred wethers sold at 10s 6d to 11s Gd ; medium, 9s to 10s ; Light, (is (id to 8s 6d ; bast ewes, 9s to 10s ; medium, 7s to 8s (id ; others, 3s 6d to 6s. Lambs — 1074 penned. Prime lambs selling at up to 9s ; medium, 6s to 7s 6d. Pigs — 70 forward, all meeting with very keen competition at last week's quotations. Rabbitskins — There are very few coming forward but prices on Monday were fully Id per lb higher than last week. Sheepskins — Catalogues were very small this week, when bidding was brisk and late quotations well maintained. Wool — The next sale of the season takes place on 24th February, wool for which should be in store not later than 21st. Hides — Market firm. Prime heavy ox, 3]<l to 3^d ; medium, 2]d to 3d ; light and inferior. 1 \d to 2*d per lb. Tallow— Market unchanged. Best rendered, 13s to 14s ; medium, 11s (id to 12s (id ; rough fat, 8s to 10s per cwt. Wheat — Market unchanged. Prime milling velvet, 4s fid to 4s 8d ; medium. 4s 4d to 4s od ; prime Tuscan, etc , 4s 4d to 4s 5d ; medium, 4s 2d to 4s 3]d ; fowl wheat, 3s to 3s 8d per bushel (sacks in).

Oats — There has been a fair amount of business passing during the week at prices equal to those ruling last week. Quotations — Prime milling, 2s 2d to 2s 3d ; good to best feed, 2s to 2s Id ; medium. Is lid to Is 11 id ; discoloured and inferior, Isßd to lslOJd per bushel (sacks extra). Barley — No change to report. Prime malting selling at up to 4s 6d per bushel, and feed and milling to 3s 6d. Chaff — Prime chaff is in good demand, but medium quality is rather dull of sale. Prime oaten sheaf, L 3 l."»s to L\ ; medium to good, L 3 to L 3 12s Gd per ton (bags extra). Potatoes— Prime kidneys, Lo l."is to L 6 ."is ; medium, L 3 to L 5 10s per ton.

Messrs Samuel Orr and Co.. Stafford street, report as follows :— The weather both north and south has been extremely boisterous, and retarding harvesting operations in the former very much. The southern crops are not sufficiently forward for cutting, though it started on the Taieri, while as far down as Riversdale Mr. W ilson Hall, on his fine Camp estate, has his binders going in full swing in a good (if) bushel to the acre crop of wheat. Oats. — The market keeps up fairly well, prime heavy feed being 1 worth recent quotations— viz.. up to 2s Id; Sutherlands, 2i 2d ; long Tartars, 2s 3d ; ordinary feed, Is lOd to 2s. Wheat. — There is a deal of controversy going on north regarding the average yeild of this year's crop, and is to some extent keeping sales of any magnitude from taking place ; several lots of new have, however, taken place here, but at prices under recent quotations. Barley. — The first parcel of the Californian purchase came forward in the Mararoa. transhipped from Moana at 'Frisco, and consisted of IG4B bags, and is to a certain extent checking prices, which would have otherwise ruled high this season. However, farmers will still get a handsome figure for it. Sales of Marlborough grown arc taking place at from 4s 2d to Is Gd (f.0.b.). Chaff. — Prime heavy oaten sheaf advanced to L 4. Potatoes. — Freshly-dug kidneys up to L 6. Ryegrass. — The boisterous weather has stopped all work in connection with it. When, however, it takes up we will have a fair supply. Prices so far, are from 2^ (id to 2s 9d for farmers' dressed ; extra clean, 3s ; machine, 3s Gd to 3s 9d.

DUNEDIN HORSE SALEYARDS. Messrs Wright, Stephensox, axd Co. report as follows : — The entries for Saturday's sale comprised consignments of draughts from Tokarahi estate, spring-carters and light-harness horses from Oarnaru. besides a number of other country, town and dealer's lots. As we predicted last week, the demand for draughts was considerably better, and bidding for the Tokarahi consignment was brisk, every horse changing hands at satisfactory prices. Consignments of active young mares and geldings suitable for working 1 reapers and binders are wanted, and will sell well in this market. Among the light-harness horses offered to-day were very few really good sorts, consequently the amount of business done was small, there being practically no demand for "weedy" and inferior animals. We quote : First-class young draught mares and geldings, L 35 to L4O ; good do, L2B to L 33 ; medium draught mare 9 and geldings, L2U to L 2."> ; aged do. Ll2 to LI 8 ; first-class hack and harness horses, LlB to L 2.1 ; good do, LI 2 to LI 7 ; medium do, L 7 to LlO ; aged and inferior, L 2 to Lo.

Mr. F. Meenax, King street, reports :— Wholesale price onlyOats : Good demand; feed, medium to good, Is lOd to 2s; milling 1 , 2s to 2s 2d ; fowls' wheat, 2s (id to 3s Gd ; milling-, 4s 3d to 4s Gd : chaff, L 3 to LI, bare. Ryegrass. hay, 1,13 to L 3 7s (id. Straw, 24s per ton ; loose, 2Ss. Potatoes : new, Auckland, none in market; Peninsula, L(i. Flour: Holler, Till to Lll 10s; Oatmeal: Lll 10s in 2r>lbs. Butter: Dairy, 5d to Sd ; factory, lOd. Eggs, Is 2d. Bran, L 3. Pollard, L 3 15s. Onior^, Melbourne, Lo 10b per ton.