WOOL, GRASS SEED, AND DAIRY PRODUCE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 627, 18 July 1882, Page 2

WOOL, GRASS SEED, AND DAIRY PRODUCE.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited), report on tbe,; Produce Markets lor the week ending July 13, as follows :— Wool.—Since our last report, advir-es have been received of the closing of the May-June aeries in London, at rales which will doubtless prove satisfactory to the growers of fine combing merino clips. To the producers of crossbred fleeces,*however. and the yet heavier types of Lincoln and Leicester wools, the announcement tbat these descriptions are neglected at a reduced value of -Jd to l£d per lb, has caused considerable disappointment. The prospects for the next sales, commencing on August 24, are considered good, and a firm market is confidently anticipated. But these bright hopes may so easily be blighted by political complications, that it is impossible to forecast with any degree of certainty the course the market may take in the interval. Christchurch—The month baa been quite devoid of i* terest, no sales having been held, and until the new clip comes in, no change can be looked for. Some parcels of slipe and scoured will shortly be placed in our bands for sale, which we shall probably dispose of privately. Now thai the season has terminated, we present our clients with ft fevr interesting figures, showing the rapijj de velopment of the local trade in point of quantity, and the prices obtanied at the sales conducted by this company. Twentythree auction sales bave been held by the several firms of wool brokers in Christchurch, at which 12,749. bales were catalogued, and 10,510 bales (or 82£ par cent.) were sold, leaving a balance of 2239 bales withdrawn—a result which cannot be considered otherwise than satisfactory, seeing that the proportion of sales to offering? in Victoria is 78 per cent. Towardo these figures, this company's contributions were seven sales, 4193 bales catalogued, 3275 bales (or 78 per cent.) sold. The average prices of the wools realised by us were :— Greasy merino, lOd ; greasy h ilfbred, 9d; greasy crossbred, B|d ; greasy pieces (all descriptions), 6j*-d ; greasy locks (all descriptions), 4fd ; lambs, B|d ; scoured merino, ls6d; scoured crossbred, Is 2d ; scoured pieces (all descriptions), ls 4d; scoured locks (all descriptions), Is lfd. The shipments to London during the season to date cover 44,839 bales, against 39,252 bales shipped during the same period of 1880-81. Auckland— Sales since our last have been confined to a few odd lots disposed of priOately, and do not afford a basis for quotations, Napier—Very little business has been done in this product during the last month, only small lots offering, but former rates may be said to have been maintained. Gisborne—Some 15 bales of fleece, lambs'and pieces, have been eotd during the month at from 4d to 7£d. Sheepskins.—Christchu«-ch -At the tithe of writing last month, there was a lull in this market, which had affected values.. This, however, was of short duration,-for,' with the return of dry weather, there came increased competition, and the weekly auctions passed off with spirit, at firmer rallies. At the last sales, on the 6th inst., however, there was a reaction, and prices fell from 6d to 9«l per skin, dry country lots and butchers' crossbreds suffering the most. As fellmongers have discovered that recent prices compare unfavorably with the rates ruling for crossbred wools in the Home market, it is not improbable t'lat'the present lower range of values will become permanent. Current quotations are :—Butchers"" 1 crossbreds, 3s 6d to 6s 6d ; merinos, 3s 6d to 5s lOd. , Country skins— Croßsbreds, 2s 3 I to 6a 9'd ;■ merinos, 2s 6d to 5s 3d ; pelts, 4d to ls Gd. Station skins, 5f Ito 6£d per lb; and salted pelts, 4s 6d to '5s 3d per dozen. The total sales during the four weeks have been 37,500 skins, to which our clients contributed 5283 skins.

Grass Seeds.—Cbnsrchnrch—An early demand for spring sowing has led to the assumption that requirements will be heavy and rates accordingly high, but we believe that there will be no great variation in values. We have heard of several transactions during the past week at 4s 6d to 5a 3d for ryegrass, according to qna'ity and dressing ; and at 5d to for cocksfoot. Some large parcels of tho latter bave been taken up at these prices.

MisoEt.il AUEOtis. —Christchurch.— Butter -—A good demand for Australian account has supported prices at the high level of Is 2d recorded last month. The enquiry has, however, sens'bly slackened during the past week, and quotations are slightly easier. Cheese—Demand being somewhat in excead of supplj has produced an enhancement in value. Prime dairies cannot be obtained ior loss money than 7}<l, f.0.b., whilst sound ripe small cheeses command Bj"fd. Auckland. —Hums and bacon—Prime smoked in equal quantities brings 81 per lb. Butter—Prime salt in kegs is worth lOd to lid.