COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2181, 4 May 1908, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

CATTLE AND SHEEP. The local stock market is Hi a very dormant state, very little cattle or sheep changing hands. The pens are well filled each week, but buyers are scarce, notwithstanding that turnip crops will soon bo ready and feed should bo getting more plentiful. The beef sent in lately is ot better quality than that offered during the summer months, but prices have not shown any material increase. The sheep pens are chiefly filled by empty owes and ewes in lamb, wethers being in a marked minority. Ewes have fallen considerably in value, and are at present selling as low ns 3s, while the better pens are driven homo again, farmers refusing to take the rates ruling. Wethers are in good demand and fair prices arc obtainable, the better pens selling up to 14s. In other parts the stock market is firm, steers selling up to £l2 12s dd at Addington, and to .611 at Auckland. At Christchurch fat wethers last week sold up to 24s 9d, an unusual price for this time of the year, while the average price was 22s Gd, or nearly double the quotations at Matawliero. GRAIN AND PRODUCE. The grain market still _ remains quiet, very little business being transacted by the millers. It was reported last week that a Hawke’s Bay merchant imported a large quantity of flour from Australia, and made a satisfactory profit oil the deal. If this becomes general a fall in the price of wheat and flour can be expected, for the present price—£12 10s per ton—is out of all proportion to the true marketable value of the produce. The Oamaru Mail states that'the Commonwealth millers are making a dumping-ground of New Zealand. It has learned on most reliable authority that since the season commenced • Auckland alone lias absorbed 1500 tons of Australian flour, representing a- tremendous quantity .of wheat. The price quoted there at present for flour from the other side averages about £8 7s, at which price local millers could not hope to compete. _ It has been stated that the Dominion’s wheat yield will be short this season, but if the supply is to be augmented in the wholesale manner at present threatened, there will be- at tlio close of the year a surplus rather than a shortage. The nominal price of wheat locally is 4s 4d to 4s (3d per bushel, sacks extra. Chaff is worth _£4 per ton. Potatoes are easier, and can bo sold at £4 15s to £5 per ton for best quality. There is a fair amount of business doing in grass seeds. Well dressed samples of cowgrass have sold at 9d, extra quality reaching as high as lOd, with inferior qualities at a lower rate. DAIRY PRODUCE. Tlio English butter market is still well maintained, but the local market is declining, factory selling as low as Is wholesale, with dairy brands slightly below that nrice; cheese is worth from 7d to 74d. WOOL. Tlio N.Z. Loan and Mercantile A. Co., Ltd., is in receipt of the following cablegram from their London office: “Wo think a decline is likely to take place in the following descriptions of wool: .Merino, crossbred, 10 per cent to 15 per cent; better descriptions of merino, lambs,, medium and coarse crossbred and clothing about 15 per cent. PRODUCE SALE. The following prices were realised at Messrs F. S. Malcolm and Co.’s produce sale on Saturday morning:— Roosters 10d to 2s Gd, ducks Is Gel to Is 9d, pullets 9d to Is, eggs 2s 3d doz, butter lOd and lid lb, lemons Gd doz., rhubarb Gd, marrows 2s doz., pumpkins 4s to 7s doz., carrots 3s doz. bundles, kumerasljd lb, melons 5s doz., Swedes 5s cwt., onions lid lb 9s Gd cwt, apples 2s Gd to 4s case, potatoes 14s Gd sack.