COMMERGIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2205, 1 June 1908, Page 1

COMMERGIAL.

WOOL. Thoro is good reason for congratulation on the 'recovery of wool values on tho Loudon market; for the cables last wook showed there is good coinpetition for crossbreds. Tho increased values are justifying the prophecies of those* who, early in tho season, stated that the recovery would bo as rapid as tho decline, and though top prices have not yet been 'regained, quotations of from Bgd,_ 9 id;' to 12jjd can bo taken as indicative that tho market will soon roach a steady, position with tho product at payable prices. Tho advance in price will be specially welcome to those farmers who have received advances on their wool, and if the market is maintained, and there is every prospect that it will be, reclamations will not be un such a disastrous scale as .was predicted .in some quarters. SHEEP.

With a hotter tone in the wool market there should be some hope that the spirit of the sheep market will revive, and farmers be better prepared to olfor a fair price lor stock' before the shearing season. Tho decline in sheep seems to bo heavior in Poverty Bay than in any other part of the Dominion. When fomard store wethers sell for 9s and 10s, and ewes in lamb down to (is, the market is in .a. had. - way, and it is doubtful irtlie fall; in wool values is any justification for such a depression in the value of stock. At Addington the market lias been buoyant right through the autumn. Store wethers last week sold up to 17s tkl, store ewes to Ids 7d, and store lambs to 11s. GRAIN AND PRODUCE.

Winter prices are ruling in the grain and produce, markets, and there is a general scarceness of all farm'and dairy foodstuffs. Tho price of flour shows no inclination to fall, but on the contrary might rise in sympathy with any upward move of tho Australian market. Chaff is quoted at £5 per ton, and potatoes at £5 per ton.

Butter is reaching late season's prices, and is getting scarce. Eactory is quoted at Is 3d, dairy at Is 2d. Eggs arc almost unobtainable, selling as high as 3s per dozen, guaranteed fresh.

GISBORNE EXPORTS. u Tho following is a return of the quantity and value of the principal exports- of New Zealand produce lor tho port of Poverty Bay during May:—Frozen beef 3991 cwt, £4361; frozen mutton, 20,070 carcases, 9780 cwt, £12,950 ; frozen lamb, 12,075 carcases, 3GoScwt. £6so2;frozen mutton, joints, 140 cwt, £157; hides, 662, £728; skins, 29,728, £2648; tallow, 151 tons, £2752 ; wool, - 960,9641b5, £28,834.

Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., on Saturday received the following cable from London re wool: —Averago current London value of the undernoted descriptions of New Zealand wool: Good ’merino Hid, medium merino 9Jd, inferior. 7id, fine crossbred lid, medium crossbred Sid, coarse crossbred 40’s 63d, coarse crossbred 36’s Gf . Wool sales closed firmly. As compared with last sales closing rates prices are lower 5 per cent, to 7J per cent, for crossbred slip© and fine crossbred; about par to 5 per cent, higher for crossbred lambs.

Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report on stock sale held on Thursday, 28th

inst: —The attendance was hardly up to| the average, and tho vardings were 'fair fon this time of the year. Sheep.—We yarded 4052, and sold 2893 at fair times prices. The sale, however, dragged considerably, and it was only when low prices were accepted that sales eventuated, except in the case of wethers and really good ewes, which 'realised reasonable prices. The day’s quotations were as follows: Cull hoggets 2s Sd, better lilies 5s 6d to 6s, empty ewes in low condition 4s to 5s 4d, in more forward condition 7s to 8s lOd, fullmouth owes in lamb 6s 7d to 7s 6d, six-tooth ewes in lamb 13s 2d, two and four tooth wethers 12s sd. • Cat-

tie; were a small entry. Wo yarded 50 and sold 33 at following prices: Hord coirs £3, dairy cows £2 12s 6d to ,£G, calves 17s 6d to 21s, yearling steers £2, 18-month® steers £2 15s. The cattle market was very slack. Weekly 6ales are now discontinued for the remainder of this year, and wo* take up the usual fortnightly sales, 'the first of which will be held on lltli June.

HORSE, SALES. Messrs. Williams and Kettle Ltd., yarded about 56 hacks at Wyllie’s horse bazaar on Saturday. Competition was slack, and a number of Jots were passed. Prices ranged from £2 • 5s to £ls. Two foals were sold at 10s each, and a draught horse was withdrawn without a bid being offered. MARKETS. Messrs. F. S. Malcolm and Co. auctioneers report the following prices realised at their produce sales on Saturday :—Eggs 2s 3d to 2s 5d ; roosters, 2s Gel; hens, Is 8d; pumpkins 2s 6d to 3s a doz.; carrots Is per bag; potatoes 13s per sack; onions IJd ptfr lb., 11s per cwt.; citrons, 4s per doz.; hams Bjd per lb.