Commercial.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3055, 11 April 1881, Page 2

Commercial.

Messrs H. Monteith and Co. report: — Wo have considerable more enquiry to report during the last fortnight for superior hacks and light harness horses, of which we have placed a number at prices as quoted below. At our weekly sale at the Horse Bazaar on Saturday 30 head were catalogued, of which number but few left, the yard unsold. Our quotations are —Heavy draught, £40 to £50; medium do., £25 to £32; light do, up to G25 ; light harness, £14 to £20 ; superior hacks, up to £25 ; useful station sorts, £8 to £10 ; weeds nominal. Produce. —Oats, 2s 4d ; wheat (good milling), 4s; barley, 3s; maize, 3s 6d ; rye grass seed, 4s 9d to 5s ; cocksfoot, 3-|d per lb ; bran, £4 10s per ton ; sharps, £5 10s ; flour (provincial), £12 per ton; potatoes, £2 10s per ton ; onions, Hd per lb. Messrs P. Cunningham and Co., of Christchurch, report as follows under date April Ist:—Oonsiderablo business has been transacted during the month, wheat being the principal staple. This market being almost entirely governed by the English pi'ices, has been pretty firm, bufc at the moment there is a slightly downward tendency, and buyers are not eager. Freights are in demand, and charters are being fixed afc 52s 6d to the United Kingdom for May loading. We do not think this high rate will continue much longer, as there is pvery indication of surplus tonnage at Adelaide, and a consequent reduction for loading here. Wheat is not quotably lower, although purchasing is very languid, farmnrs do not care to sell afc market rates, and cannot ship home for want of freight, except at distant dates, and buyers do not care to hamper themselves with too heavy stocks in the face of English prices. As soon as our first shipments reach London we feel sure an advance in price will take place, as the condition this year cannot fail to be appreciated. Oats are much firmer, and several large intercolonial orders have been executed during the month. The quality of the bulk of this season's growth is much inferior to last year's, and the quantity very much les3, very few parcels are offering, and the price is likely to advance. Barley is being more enquired after, but tho price is not affected in any way. This cereal is being freely offered by growers. Rye grass is -very scarce, and stocks are qui'e inadequate to supply the continuous enquiries, and the price will advance yet more. Cocksfoot ia also being brought rapidly and stocks are only limited. Potatoes can hardly be said to be yet in tho market, several enquiries have come to hand, but no business has resulted, as stocks have not yet accumulated. We hear on all hands of short crops, and farmers are looking for high prices to recoup them, but we do not think the price will open any higher than last year. There is little demand for cheese in this market. A trial shipment of 100 tons is about to be made to London by the Peninsula farmers, and the result will be eagerly looked for, the promoters seem confident it will show a very good return. The price of butter has risen in consequence of the pasturage suffering from the long continued drought.

(By Cable.) London, April 8. Consols are quoted at 100i-. The four and a half per cent New Zealand loan ha 3 advanced to 98, the five per cent 10-40 loan remains afc 102_ and the five per cent 1889 loan afc 106. Besfc Australian beef tallow has risen to 34s per cwt., and best inuttonis unchanged at 36s 6d. Best Australian leather has advanced id, and to-day is quoted at IOJd. The total quantity of wheat afloat for Great Britain is 2,430,000 quarters.