Commercial.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 139, 9 March 1877, Page 4

Commercial.

Mr Andrew Mercer reports for the week ending March 8, 1877, as follows : — Retail prices only.— Fresh I lutter in half and pound prints, Is 3d to Is 4-1 per lb. Fresh butter in lumps, Is Id. Powdered and salt butter, Is 2d. Fresh butter is agaiu very plentiful, and there is moi c coming in than wili supply the demand. Cheese of the best quality, Is per lb ; old cheese, lUd ; English cheese, Is 4d per lb. Side and rolled bacon, lOd to lid • Colonial hams, Is 2d ; English hams, Is 6d. Eggs are still scarce, and retailing at 2s 6d per doz. The following telegram has been received by the .New Zsaland Loan and Mercantile Agency Company from its London office, dated February 28, 1877 :— Wool.- Market without material change. Superior greasy and washed combing somewhat firmer, with easier demand for other sons, while seedy and hurry wools are neglected. There is fair competition on French account, with little busiuess doing for Belgian and Gorman markets. Up to date, GO, 000 bales have been sold. Sales close on March 28. Tallow.— Market flat; 1800 casks Australian sold at the public sales. "Wheat.— Market quiet • Adelaide is worth 56s per 49i>ibs ; .New Zealand do., 545. Auckland, March 2. Mr Binuey reports :— Adelaide flour, £18; Star brand, Jt'lS ; superfine, £17 ; oatmeal, £15 ; oats, 3s; bacon and hams, IOd; cheese, (3d to 7d per lb. Share Market.- Bank of New Zealand, £19 355; National Bank, 05s; Colonial B.mk (■<'>, paid up), 37s ; youth British, 82s ■ .National Insurance, 3Us ; Loan and Mevcantilo (uew issue), 525. Mr Buckland reports :— Fab cattle, 26a per lOOlbs ; fat sheep, 2fd to 3d per lb ; fat lamos, 9 j to lisWellington, March 2. Mr O'Shea reports prices as follows: — [''lour, old, scarce, £1G ; new, none; Adelaide, £18 IDs. Oats, 3s 6d ; new, 3s Old bran, Is to Is 3d ; wheat, 2s (3d to 3s ; pollard, £7 to £7 I- s ; hams, .i.i'd per l:j ; bacon, id to 8-1 ; chece, Sid ; pota--1 toes, £4 co £4 10s ; maize, <is Od per biLho!.

CIIKiSTCHURCH, March 2. The grain market is very unsettled. Millers, through competition, have run the price of second wheat, up to 5s 9d consequently thoy have tlm market to themselves, as merchants and ex porters cannot ioou; at these rates, it is, however, expected that in tlio course of a week or so prices will recede, which they must if exporters withdraw from the market i.ill millers are full. Oats ■are on the whole badly discoloured, mid 2s 2d is tlie farmers' price ; barley, os to 3s 0d ; flour, £17^ in sacks, for olu. All the grain crops are low in stock, and thrashing is in full swing ; and as deliveries increase, prices wid settle down to a legitimate value.

Mr Henry Dhiver (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. ) reports for the week ending March 7, as follows :—

Fat Cattle.- An excessive supply of about 240 head were yarded, about one half of which were prime to good qualr'ty, balance little better than stores. Best bullocks sold at from £9 to £11 5s ; do. cows, £0 to £9— or equal from 25s to 27s 6d per 1001 b for prime pens. At the yards and privately we sold during the week (30 head.

Fat Calves. — 25 were penned, which brought from 20s to osi each, according to size and quality.

Fat Sheep.— 3loo were penned, which, being considerably in excess of requirements, scat cely last week's quotations were maintained— best cross-breds bringing from 9s to Jls each ; merinos from 6s 6d to 7s (id, or equal to scarcely 21 per lb. We sold a draft on account of Messrs Blues and Duthie, of average quality, at quotations. Fat Lambs. —4oo were penned, man*/ of them being of inferior quality, prices ranging at 5s Gd to 8s each. '

Store Cattle. — There is no change in the market, and owing to the lateness of the season the demand has somewhat slackened. Good quiet bullocks, for winter feeding are, however, saleable at about late quot.tions. «tore Sheep.-- The principal inquiry for this class of stock is confined almost entirely to young merinos, of which there are very few offering? Cross-breds, four-tooth and upwards, are saleable at prices which do not meet the views of sellers, consequently very few lots are changing hands, while merino ewes anil wethers are entirely neglected, with very large, numbers offeriug. During the week we have placed 4000 of vinous sorts at last quotations. Sbee;islcins.— Wa catalogued 1000 skins, which sold at considerable advance on last week's rates. Full wool dry skins brought 4s lid to 5- ; shearlings, Is 8,1 to 2s; pells, 9-1 to Is 2d • lambs, 2s Id to 2s 3d.

Hides were in better demand, especially good conditioned, shipping lots bringing a fraction ov< r -Id per lb ; inferior ami medium, V.h to 15s each. Tallow. — A few small lots sold ; inferior, £21 10s; medium, £29; shipping tallow, good mixed, £31 to ."32

Grain.- Wheat: Good sound milling samples, scarce, sell readily at 5s 6d • medium, 5m to as 3d; inferior, 4s to 4s Od. O.tts : Good old feed are wanted and very source, and as prices have advauced in Melbourne, old corn is not likely to be cheaper ut present. New oats are ?*ofc offering m quantity. Barley :We have placed some 1 100 bags old malting at 8s 9.1 to 4s Gd, f.0.b. ; good demand. .New samples are not coming forward yet, barley crop being lato.