COMMERCIAL

New Zealand Tablet, 10 February 1916, Page 31

COMMERCIAL

Wellington, February 7. The High Commissioner cabled as follows from London on February 5 : Meit. — is a better demand for New Zealand mutton and lamb on account of a decrease in the amount of home-killed, but there is no change in prices. Mutton. —Canterbury, 7|d for light-weight; medium, 7|d; other brands than Canterbury, not' quoted ; ewes, 7d. Lamb. —Canterbury, 7|d for all weights; second grade, 7|d; other brands than Canterbury, 7§d for best' quality; ordinary quality, 7|d, , Beef. -Only New Zealand cow beef is available, and is selling at the following rates:—Hinds, 6Ad ; fores, s£d. Butter.— market is quiet, but firm. Danish (quiet), 156 s to 1625; unsalted, 160 s to 168 s; Australian (market firm owing to reduced supplies), 144 s to 148 s; Siberian (better demand for best quality), 124 s to 1325; Argentine (steady), 140 s to 1445. Cheese.—The market is steady, and holders are firm. Canadian (very firm), white and colored, 99s to 100 s; New Zealand, white and colored, 98s; United States (fair demand), 96s to 98s; English Cheddar, 106 s to 108 s; Cheshire, 114 sto 120 s. On February 1 the estimated Canadian 1 and United States cheese stocks in London, Liverpool, and Bristol were 124,000 boxes, as against 81,000 boxes at the same time last year, and the New Zealand and Australian stocks 21,000 crates, as against 22,700 last year. Hemp.—The’market is quiet, but firm. New Zealand good fair, on spot, 47 10s; fair, £45 10s; Manila, new graded fair, £55. February to June shipment: New Zealand, good fair, £47 ; fair, £45 ; Manila, new graded fair, £54. The output from Manila for the week ended the sth instant was 22,000 bales.

Wheat. —The market is quiet, but firm. Feb-ruafy-March. shipment, Australian, per steamer; 68s; per sailer, 665; Argentine, 68s. Oats. The market is steady, but the demand is only moderate.- Argentine, on spot, 31s 6d ; February to March shipment, 32s 6d. ' Hops. —The market is firm, with more inquiry. English, 125 s to 1455; Californian, 90s to 112^ Wool.—The wool sales closed with a strong market booming on account of the small supply. ' Manufacturers are busy on Government contracts. Only a small quantity of the New Zealand new clip was offered. The future prospects are good. Estimated values: Fine crossbreds, all grades, Is 8d to Is lid medium crossbreds, all grades. Is 7d to Is 9|d; coarse crossbreds, all grades, Is 6d to 1 BAd; superior merinos, Is 7d to Is lOd; medium merinos, Is 5d to Is 7d; inferior merinos, Is 2d to Is 4d.

Messrs. Stronach, Morris and Co., Ltd., report for week ended Tuesday February 8, 1916, as follows: Rabbitskins.—Our next sale will be held on Monday, 28th inst. Sheepskins.—We held our fortnightly sale to-day, when we submitted a small catalogue, to the. usual attendance of buyers. Competition was keen, and late prices were well maintained. Quotations: Best halfbred, to 13d; medium, to ll|d; fine crossbred, to 12|d ; crossbred, to 12-Jd; best merino, to 9£d; medium, to 9d; best hoggets, to ll|d; medium, to llgd; pelts, 3d to 8d per lb. Hides. —Our next hide sale will be held on the -10th inst. Oats.—The market is quiet. - Offerings from the country have been few and values show no improvement. The cutting of the new crop is now becoming general, and sales of a few early cut crops are reported. Quotation? Prime milling, 3s 6d to 3s 7d; good to best feed, 3s 4d to 3s ,5d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat. millers are not operating and business is quiet. Fowl wheat is in plentiful supply, and Irfte rates are not maintained. Quotations : Best whole fowl wheat, to 5s 3d per bushel (sacks extra). > Chaff. Consignments have not been coming to hand so freely during the last week, and the market is a little firmer . Quotations; Best oaten

sheaf,' £5 5s to £5 10s; medium to good, £4 15s to '£s; light and discolored, £4 to £4 10s per ton (sacks extra). Potatoes. is a good, demand for all lots of prime table potatoes, principally for shipment. All well-graded , lots meet with a ready sale. • Quotations: Prime freshly-picked lots, £7 5s to £7 10s; medium, £6 to £6 10s per ton (sacks in). Messrs. Donald. Reid and Co. report: We held our weekly sale of grain and produce on Monday, when values ruled as under: —Oats: Old stocks are now in small compass, and are being quitted in small lots for local consumption. , There is good inquiry for new season's oats for early shipment; the prices are on a par with last week's quotations.. Prime milling, 3s 5d to 3s 6d; good to best feed,, 3s 3d to 3s sd; medium and inferior, 3s to 3s 2d per bushel ,(sacks extra). Wheat.— at present are not keen buyers, and no business of any importance can be reported in connection with the new crop. Harvest is coming on rapidly, and new grain will soon be offering more plentifully. At present northern samples are coming freely to hand, but sales are not readily made. Good whole fowl wheat in moderate quantity sells at 5s 2d to 5s 3d per bushel (sacks extra). \ Potatoes.—There is good demand for all lots of prime table potatoes, principally for shipment, and all well-graded lots meet with ready sale. Prime tables, £7 5s to £7 10s. Chaff.—Consignments have not been coming to hand too freely during the last week, and in consequence the market is somewhat firmer. Prime, £5 5s to £5 10s; medium to good, £4 15s to £5; light and discolored, £4 to £4 10s per ton. (bags extra).