Commercial.

Evening Star, Issue 3474, 11 April 1874, Page 2

Commercial.

A. Mercer reports for the week ending 10th April (retail prices only) Fresh butter in Jib and 11b prints, Is 4d to Is sdperlb; second quality, Is 3d to Is 4d per lb. ; fresh butter, in lumps, Is 3d pet lb; salt butter, in kegs, Is 2d per lb ; cheese, lOd to Is per lb ; side and rolled bacon, Is per lb ; colonial hams, Is 2d per lb ; English hams are finding a better market,, owing to the scarcity of Colonial hams, and selling at Is fid to Is 8d per lb. Eggs, very scarce 2s 3d to 2s fid per dozen. During the past week business in the general market has been active, and has only been limited through the advance in the rates of cartage, consequent upon the comparatively few trains at present engaged in up-country traffic. Sugars have been freely inquired for. The cargo of Mauritius, by the William Cundell, was offered at auction by Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn and Co. on VV ednesday, but the trade were unwilling to give the reserve prices fixed at the sale, and only few parcels were taken. Since the public sale, however, we understand several transactions have taken place at full rates, and prices may be considered firmer. Candies are becoming scarce, and are held firmly for lid. Kerosene has proportionately advanced, and Is lid is now asked and obtained. For Henesssy’s brand, 9s fid and 31s have been freely given. The trade are not anxious to sell. SHARE AND LABOR MARKETS. Mr Hooper reports .—During the past week the activity of the market has been well sustained, and, agreeably to my last week’s report, Standard Insurance shares have risen in value, and are now very firmly held at 3s fid premium, and > a further rise next week is anticipated. National .Insurance shares were in great demand ; in the beginning of the week sales were effected above last week’s quotations, but with the close of the week there is a slight decline, and they now stand at 31s to 32s fid, Smth British Insurance i b.’s are well held, and are worth 50s. National Ba k are inquired for; offering at 755, including call of 10s. Guardian Printing Co.’s unsaleable. Heart of Oak Gold Mining, unsaleable. Greymouth Coal Mining, same as last week; no inquiries. Shotover Gold Mining, none offering. Mosgiel Woollen Factory Shares are not actively in demand, and are rather below par. During the past week the supply of servants has not been equal to the demand. This is certainly a reaction of a favorable kind. Firstclass servants command good wages: for country hotels, LSO; for town, L 35 to L4O. Good lads command 15s to 20s per week and found; farm laborers2osto 22s per week; bakers 40s, and hoard; nurse girls are fully equal to the demand, consequently wages are not high, say 7« 6d to 10s per week; grooms, 20s per week and board and lodging, or 40a without board; ploughmen are rather scarce, worth LSO to L 55 per year ; light storemen are plentiful, being greatly in excess of the demand, wages being low, say 30s per week without board; good bone and sinew men fit for hard labor are not over-abundant, doubtless, there are sucb men in the Province, but they need not wait long in town, they are soon engaged at 8s to 9s per day. [By Telegraph.] Christchurch, April 10.—The wheat market is slightly easier. Several parcels have changed hands at reduced rates. The farmers are dealing freely at 4a 7d to 4s 9d, at the Christchurch railway station. Colonial orders are moderate. Several shipments have been sent to Sydney. Oats are in request for shipment to Melbourne and Adelaide and for local consumption. The farmer is getting 4s 3d. In Christchurch, the price f. o. b. at Lyttelton, 4s 6d to 4s 9d. The local demand is so great that there is no chance of lower prices till spring. A brisk trade is doing in barley, at 5s 3d. 300 eaoks changed hands for shipment, at a price which was withheld. Flour—A good local trade doing. Bran and Sharps—Short supply and orders difficult to execute. Quotations Flour, Ll2 in sacks, Ll2 10s in 1001b bags ; for 501b bags, Ll3, with los per ton extra f.o.b. in Lyttelton, Bran is quoted atL5. Sharps, L 6. - Grass seeds, prime samples, 4s 3d to 4s 6d in Christchurch. Butter, lOd to Is. Cheese, sd. Bacon, hams, 9£d. Best blue Derwent potatoes, L2los to L2 15s, in Christchurch.