Commercial.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 138, 2 March 1877, Page 4

Commercial.

Mr Andrew Merger reports for the week ending February 28, 1877, as follows : — Retail prices only, and for first-class produce only.-Fresh butter in Jib and lib prints, Is 2d to Is 4d per lb. Fresh butter in lumps, Is per lb for salting down ; powdered and salt butter, Is to Is 2d per lb. Fresh butter is getting more plentiful than it was lately, and those that are salting consider it good stock, There has been a good demand for salt butter in keg, at lOd to lid per lb. Cheese is very plentiful, and good provincial, Is per lb. English cheese, Is 4d per lb. Side and rolled bacon, lOd to lid per lb. Colonial hamß, Is 2d ; English do, Is 6d per lb. Eggs are.very scarce, and cannot be procured at any price for orders at 2s 6d per dozen.

Mr Henry Driver (on behalf of the New Zea. land Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.) reports for the week ending February 28, as follows :— Fat Cattle. — A moderate supply of 150 head were yarded at the market to-day, chiefly of good to prime quality. The whole met ready sale at fully up to last week's rates. Best pens of bullocks brought £9 10s to £12 17s 6d ; ditto cows, £6 15s to £10— or equal to 27s 6d per lOOlbs for prime quality. Fat Calves.— Only a few penned, which sold at from 25s to 65s each. Fat Sheep.— 2ooo were penned, and all changed hands at last quotations, say, for' best crossbreds, 9s to 11s. One lot of medium quality merinos brought 6s. We quote prime mutton at 2d to 2£d per lb. Fat Lambs. — The market was much over-sup-plied with 500, and in consequence, prices' receded about Is each. We quote best lambs at 6s 6d to 7s 6d each ; medium, 4s to 5s 6d. Store Cattle.— Very few transactions have taken place, although there ia a demand for quiet, well-conditioned cows and bullocks. Store Sheep.—There is a good demand for young merino ewes and wethers, and likewise for cross-breds, but buyers are unwilling to give the prices required for the latter description. During the week we have sold 6000 at the following rates :— Merino wethers, 2, 4, and 6-tooth, 5s to os 6d; ditto, full-mouthed, 3s to 4s; merino ewes, 3, 4, and 6-tooth, 6s- to 7s ; ditto, fullmouthed, 2s 6d to 3s 6d ; cross-breds, 4-tooth and over, 7s to 8s ; ditto, 2-tooth, 6s to 7s. Wool.— Since our last week's report the cable has brought advice of the London February sales at a decline of Id per lb on greasy, and 2d on washed, bringing values on a par with April sales of last year. Since the opening day the market assumed a firmer tone, and possibly the opening decline may be recovered before the sales close. The news of receding values will be only slightly felt in this market, a very smal} quantity of wool being now left over unsold. At r. sale of 'remnant parcels on Monday last prices were fairly held, considering the unsaleable descriptions which mostly comprise that oatalogue; any good lots brought up to a fraction of late rates. We hold our next sale on Tuesday, for which we are in receipt and advise of some superior lots to offer. Sheepskins.— The sales on Monday were dull, and late rates barely maintained. The supply consisted chiefly of bare pelts and shearlings or woolled pelts. The former brought 3d to Is each, the latter Is 5d to Is 9d, Hides.— Only a small inferior lot came to hand, one lot only being fair conditional medium quality, which sold at 15s, or barely 3M : inferior, heavy weights, 12s 6d to 13s 6d each. In the absence of sailing freights, market is dull. Tallow. — Market is not so brisk j for inferior parcels, prices are slightly easier. Fair medium quality sold at £27 to £28 10s ; inferior, £23 6s. Grain.— Wheat : Good sound milling qualities are in active demand, 5s M to 5s 6d, but scarce ; some fine samples of southern growth are on offer. The southern crops of this Province being later in harvesting, have not suffered to the same extent as the early districts have, where it is found but little really sound grain has been gathered. Secondary samples are saleable for present delivery at 4s to ss, according to quality. Oats.— Old feed sre much wauted, farmers too busy to deliver, prices are advancing ; we sold by auction to-day about 4000 bushels inferior feed, 2s 5d to 2s 6d ; good feed at 2s 7d per bushel ; milling are held for 2* 9d to 3s. Barley. -Malting samples are inquired for ; we sold 500 ba<*s Kiverton grown at equal to is 6d per bushel here, and have further offers pending.

Messrs Maclean Brothers report for week ending Ist March, as follows : — Fat Cattle.— A full supply came forward for Wednesday's market, viz., 170 head good quality two-thirds of which being light weights, and wioli i the exception of one or two pens, all changed hands at about last week's rates. We sold on account of the Henley Co., Messrs Wallace, and others, 60 head. Best bullocks, heavy weights brought up to £12 ; medium, £8 to £9 10s • ditto cows, up to £10 10s; light weights, £6 to £7, equal to 25s to 27s 6d for prime, and 22s 6d per lOOlbs for medium. Fat Calves.— Only a few forward, which sold at 25s >to 40s each. Fat Sheep.— About 2500 of all sorts were penned. One third of these were prime quality, and the balance rather mixed and inferior We sold on account of the N. Z. and A. Land Company 645 prime cross-breds at 10s 9d to 11s ; on account of the Henley Co. 634 cross-brerls at 8s ; and on account of E. W. Humphrey, Esq., 350 mermos at 3s each. Fat Lambs.— Between 500 and 600 medium quality were penned. This number being much in excess of requirements, caused prices to recede fully Is per head from last week's prices. Best quality brought 7s 6d to 8s 6d ; inferior, 4s to 5s Gd. Store Cattle.— We have no transactions to report, but have inquiries for well-grown bullocks m forward condition, and have sales pending of several large lots, Store Sheep are without alteration in value or demand. Young sheep, both cross-breds and mermos, are in good request, while aged sheep of both descriptions are difficult of sale. We have placed 5500 cross-breds during the week

ttt i -v AOOKAND. _ We learn by a private telegram that grass seed is very dear in Auckland, cocksfoot fetching 10s per bushel. Oats are also in demand.