COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2146, 23 March 1908, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

PRODUCE. Mlosrs. F. 8. Malcolm and Co., i'.iclionoors, report the 'following pri■:'s realis'd at their prodneo sales on Saturday liens Is (Jcl-. to_ 2s 3d, .ackerilfs Ik, turkeys -Is ,to Gs, dairy butter Is -Id., fresh eggs* Is Del, preserved Is -id, hams -is (id io ss, apples Is (ill to 3s a half-case, poors 2d lb, onions i.UI -Hi, pickles lid ill), potatoes l;ld Tl), 11s ewt, and sacks 13s to Los, marrows Is fid to 2s. doz, pumpkins 3s (Id doz, cabbages 3s 3d do/,., cucumbers Is -Id doz., lemons (id do/.., and oranges 7d <lo/.., Messrs Miller and Craig, auctioneers, report that tho following prices were realised at their produce sales on Saturday:—Hens Is (id to Is 3d each, thicks Is 9it to Is lOd, eggs Is 8d to Is 9d j>er do/,, pumpkins 3s do/,, preserved eggs lOd do/,, butter Is Id, oranges 7s (id case; bananas 5s caso, pears :jd lb, onions till -to IJd lb, grapes 3itl lb, apples 2jd lb, peaclies 3Jd to If il lb, citron melons Gil each, potatoes lid lb, pickling onions lid lb, rhubarb (id belle, marrows 2s 3d doz, plums 2s 9d box, kunioras.’ljd flb, tomatoes 2d to 2)d4b;~

HORSE SALES. Messrs Williams and Kettle Ltd. held their weekly horse sale at Wyllio’s Horse Bazaar on Saturday afternoon. The yarding consisted of 43 light horses, including a number of unbroken coifs and Lillies. A wellbred nice looking unbroken colt brought £l3 and a stylish pair of buggy horses (unbroken) £22 10s. The bidding for hacks and harness horses was very alow, moderate prices only being realised. A number of entries were passed in, some of which- were disposed of privately. A nice chestnut pair topped the prices at £47 10s, the hacks bringing from £5 to £l3; ponies £3 7s Gil to £4 10s. Tho racehorse Murahi, by Freedom —Eclipse, was offered; but no higher ibid than 25 guineas forthcoming, he was withdrawn.

CUSTOMS REVENUE. The following revenue was received at tho Custom ' House last week : Customs duties £1425 15s 9d, light dues £6 18s sd, shipping fees £1 Os 9d, Harbor Board revenue £2B 11s 6d, other receipts £3 15s; total, £1406 Is sd.

MATAWHEEO STOCK SALE

The following is tho New. Zealand Loan and -Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report on the stock sale held on Thursday, 19th inst.: There was a fair attendance of buyers, and notwithstanding the heavy rain which fell during tho sale, it passed off in a satisfactory manner. SHEEP. There appeared to be a better allround demand, especially for wethers. Our entry comprised 1 2251, of which we sold 1527 at the following quotations:—2-tootli gwes, small, 9s; better lines, 12s lOil; cull ewes, 4s 2d to Gs; for sheep in low condition, 7s to 8s Sd bettcr lines; fat ewes, lightweights, 11s; cull lambs, very small, 3s Til to 3s sd; better grown, 4s lOd. We also-sold cull rams at from 10s to 15s. There is. still a demand for serviceable lines of breeding ewes. CATTLE. Our yarding comprised 1-10, of •which we sold 133 at fair values. Our imtry consisted mostly of steel’s, .of which we -sold: 15 months at £2 10s, 18 months £3, 2 to 2£ years £4 ss, 3 rears £5 7s, yearlings to 15 months £2 7s Gil, calves 13s Gd to . 19s. We sell again at the Matawhero yards on Thursday, 26th- inst., arid we also wish to direct attention to the sale of Mr. Melldowie’s valuable Poitawa property on Saturday, 28th, ami to the unreserved clearing sale ol Mr. Clark’s Te Arai stock and plant, the dates of which it will be noticed have been changed, and the sales wall non bo bold as follows:—Cattle, Matawbero yards, Monday, 30tli inst*; sheep and plant at Te Aral homestead, Wednesday, Ist April.

Tho heavy rains during tlio past few days will cause farmers to look more hopefully to bo ablo to provide stock with winter food. Tlio turnip crops, which have been languishing through the dry weather, should now como on, while it is not too late yet to sow turnips of tlio softer varieties. Tho pastures, which were in places looking very dry, will now be able to supply good grazing for the lest or tlio autumn months. The results should bo an increase in tho demand for store sheep, and an improvement intlio price of fat stock. Iho ram having boon general all over tho Dominion, Gisborne shecphirmers can safely look to a bettor demand tor storo sheep and breeding owes from tho Waikato. Early in the year the dry summer there greatly discouraged buyers from investing in stock, and sheep sent failed to rcaliso good prices. Tho rain should give Waikato farmers a brighter hope for tho -approaching winter, and sheep from tho East Coast should rulo at higher rates. Tho market at Matawhcro on Thursday lust was hardly a lair index of ruling prices—fat sheep found ready sale, but stores were m many instances neglected. Tho yarding was quite up to the average, but buyers wero indifferent, low prices ruling as a consequence. In Canterbury prices are well maintained, fat lambs making from 14s- to 16s, ewes 10s to 13s lOd, and fat ewes from 14s od to 17s Gd. With such prices there can be no indication of a fall in the price of stock, notwithstanding all tho pessimism of tlio drought. Generally speaking, tho trade passing in New Zealand frozen .mutton is is a very satisfactory condition. Canterbury mutton is quoted at from 3id to 4Jd, North Island 3fd to 3Jd, and North Island lamb 4jd. to sid. Tho wheat trade is reported as dull, prices showing a tendency to decline. The London markets, are weaker, causing prices m New Zealand to fall in sympathy, but farmers show a steady determination to hold, confident of better rates later on. Milling wheat is quoted, for market purposes, at from 4s 3d to 4s 6d per bushel. Tlio price of chaff is firm, being quoted in tho trade at from £4 to £4 los a ton, according to quality. There is little business passing in oats, the market prices being from ‘2s to 2s 3d per bushel. The hush fires have had tho effect of stimulating the seed markets. Merchants are demanding high prices, and holders are not anxious to sell. The crop is expected to be short of tho demand, and exceptional prices are likclv to rule. Cocksfoot can he quoted at 7d lb in large quantities.

Tho London butter market has experienced a set-back, and against the high prices of 13Gs to 138 s per cent riding a month ago, prime quality New Zealand is now quoted-.at 114 s to 11.0 s, tho prices varying according to tho demand. Tho depression at Homo has had very littlo effect upon the local market, as much as Is 3d and Is 4d a lb being asked lor the best brands.