COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 564, 8 April 1876, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

A fair business has been done in the grain market during the week at last quotations. Wheat continues In fair demand, and some sales have been made of prime quality at 4s, For oats the demand does not improve, and there is rather more difficulty in quitting at last week’s rates. Is 7d to Is sd Good malting barley is in request, and commands a fair figure; ordinary quality is, however, almost quite u nsaleable, and some lots have been disposed of at 2s (id. Millers’ quotations are firmer, and some are asking an advance on late prices; we, however, still quote flour at £lO in sacks, f.o.b. For dairy produce there is less enquiry, owing to high prices now riding; but dm in" the week some cousldei able quantities of butter and cheese have been of.ered, and prices show a slightly easier tendency. For prime butter we quote lid to is, and forchceso7idtoßd. Hams and baconcontinue at lOd. f.0.b., and curers report stocks as almost exhausted. A mederate amount of business has been transacted In the Import markets dutiug the past week. Two English mails going out have interfered with business the last two days, this being the first malls after balance witU a good number of roach ants.

Teas—Several parcels have been disposed of to country storekeepers at Is Ocl to is 8d i.b; A few small lots of lincst qualities have been sold at Is lid to 2s 2d i.b. Sugars—The part cargo per Sophie has not yet come to hand, but is now in transit for'Lyttelton. The assortment per this vessel is a very good one. as it embraces all qualities from dark ration to finest snowdrops. We understand several parcels have been placed ex this ship at full rates. Spirits—With the exception of trade sales we have little to report. Several sales of Wolfe’s Schnapps, pints and quarts, have come under our notice at 22s od, i.b. Bottled stouts have received attention at Its 3d to 11s ud, according to brands. Bottled ales are rather dull, there being such a great quantity of bulk used, which can be purchased at £s to £9 15a, dp. Ashby’s commands the former, and Bass's the latter figure, In dried fruits we rote the placing of a line of Elemes, to arrive, at 6Jd. Corn • sacks mcet;with ready sale, large parcels are quitted at 10s 6d to lls for Dundee and Calcutta make, while for smaller parcels higher rates are obtained. Fencing wire is coming into favor ; sales have been made in Nos 6 and sat JC2O to £2l 10s. Cement still commands ready sale at 20s 3d to 2((s Od, delivered. The English mail via San Francisco arrived last Sunday, and the outward mail via this route left on Thursday. The outward mail via Suez leaves to-day per Arawata.

Messrs J. T. Ford and Co report on the live stock market for the week ending Friday, the 31st ultimo, as follows :—A considerable amount of business lias been done during the past week in store and lat sheep. Breeding owes have been in active demand, and store sheep for winter grazing are commanding much attention, especially good framed healthy cross-bred wethers for turnip purposes. We have never seen the market so bare of good grazing stores as this season, and we account for it in this way, that paddock-bred hoggets are worked off for mutton, leaving the farm rs buyers of extra stock. At Addington on Wednesday last \vc yarded 5217 sheep, 20 head of cattle, and 15 pigs, on account of different owners, viz, tire lions \V. Robinson and E. W. Stafford, Messrs C. Bourne, W. Keilh, jim, Dalgcty and Co, 11. M. Bovey, Duke, Cook, Clarkson, and Keith, senr. We can only quote mutton at 1-Jd to 2d per lb at at the highest, and as the butchers arc supplying themselves to a great extent from customers in the country, a heavy market tf sheep lias often to be quitted at lower rates. The different factories are now at work, and a considerable portion of our rubbish will doubtless bo worked off; the price for old crocks ranging from is to is (id per head. Our country sales during the past fortnight have been on account of Messrs Fitzroy and Acland, C. F. Williams, William White, of Greendale, and Rev W. J G. Bluett. On the 23rd ultimo we conducted an auction for 1 lie sale of Messrs Fitzroy and Acland’s breeding ewes and surplus fat and store sheep, at their farm at Sedgemere, near Southbridge. The sheep were well classed, and brought forward in capital condition, comprising seven-eighths bred, half-bred merino wethers ami merino ewes, It being a sort of a trial sale, the prices were tolerably satisfactory, with seven-eighth bred ewes at lls 3d each, half• I reel at 8s 6d each, merino wethers at Vs o‘d each, and merino owes at 2s Id each. On the same day we held a clearing sale for Mr C. F. Williams, dis posing of the whole of I.is stock and farming plant at extreme rates. Cows brought from £l2 10s to £ll each; calves, £2 to £3l7s (id each ; horses, from £2B to £4l each. Sheep Cross-bred hoggetts, ss 3d each; cross-bred lambs, 6s each; merino ewes, 3s 5d each ; 9 rams, 40s each ; farm implements also bringing outside values. On the 27th ultimo we held a clearing sale on account of Mr William White, of Greendale farm, Schvyn, who is leaving for the North Island. Thu company was the largest we have ever noticed at an auction, every neighbour evidently anxious to say farewell, aud get a hid in. The sale was a great success throughout, every lot ollercd being eagerly competed for, and bringing capital prices. Sheep brought from 6s 9d to 9s each, tlie ordinary cross-bred sheep; 20 horses, from £25 to £44 each; cows, from £7 to £lO 10s ; pigs at fabulous prices, and harness and implements above town rates. On the 30lh ultimo wo conducted a sale at Halcombc, near Leeston, on account of flic Rev W. J. G. Bluett. The day was most unpropitious, it being exceedingly cold with rain and sleet. The cattle were brought to hand in excellent condition, the young stock looking especially well. We need not refer to their breeding, as every animal submitted perfectly tired Mr Newton with its long pedigree, some of them being descendants from some of the choicest animals and herds in New Zealand. Mr Bluett of course only sold a draft, consisting of 33 head of cows and heifers, averaging prices for cows from £ll to £35 cacti; bulls, from £2O to £35 each ; bull calves, irorn £8 to £lO each; heifers, from £l2 to £l9 each. Wo also offered a'out 400 sheep, which sold at fair prices, rams bringing £4 4s each. The horses and pies were also cleared at good prices by Messrs J. and E. 11. Campbell. We understand that Mr Bluett intends holding an an annual sale of puro-bivd cattle, horses, sheep.&c, and we fed assured that parties in want of stud animals cannot do better than attend his auctions, as the animals are not pampered with high feeding or nursing, and they possess as good blood as possibly can be obtained. We sincerely wi-h Mr Bluett all the success tie deserves. In freeholds, we have disposed of the. Greendale farm, 400 acres, to Mr McCrostie,at £8 8s per acre; also, several leasehold properties in the Selwyn district. Privately, wo have sold during the past fortnight 23,000 merino ewes, at prices varying from 2s 6d to 4s each. We hare also sold 14,500 merino wethers, at from 3s 3d to 5s each. Cross-bred breeding ewes—We have sold upwards of 6000. at from Ss 6d to lls (id each ; and a liue of store station cattle at £5 Vs 6d.