COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 585, 4 May 1876, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

ENGLISH COMMERCIAL. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company reports as follows on the produce markets on March 9th WOOL. The opening series of colonial wool sales for the current year commenced on 15th February, and was brought to a conclusion on 4th March. The following statement shows the available arrivals compared with the quantities offered during 1 the ourjfepc/ of itjie auctions from the various colonies j

Of the arrivals, about 7000 bales Capo and 500 bales Australasian were forwarded direct to the manufacturing dislricts and the Continent before the commencement of the public sales. It follows, therefore, that about 11,000 bales have consisted either of parcels held over from last year, or of lots twice offered during the scries just concluded. The sales opened with a full attendance ef bm ers, both home and Continental, and biddings were tairly spirited. Of the whole quantity disposed of it is estimated that about one-third has been taken for export. The course of the market during the late sales has justified pretty fully the anticipations set forth in our recent circulars. With a dull, dragging, and unprofitable business in almost every branch of the woollen Industry, it was obvious that consumers would only in a grudging spirit be disposed to meet the market, on anything like previously existing rates. Stocks of raw material, however, had been reduced to so low a point—particularly in the French districts—that some immediate competition in face of the very limited arrivals, might certainly be reckoned on, and, accordingly, daring the early portion of the series, the demand for the purposes of replenishment was brisk and even animated at November quotations, for such descriptions as would compare with that period, while the new wools, excepting New South Wales, which wore comparatively neglected, ruled nearly on a par with the February quotations of 1375. The more urgent requirements satisfied, however, an 1 with the circumstance of heavy arrivals for the following series—fixed to commence at a comparatively early date competition slackened, and towards the close of the auctions prices ruled fully Id per lb under the opening rates for Victorian and South Australian clips, while the quotations for New South Wales and Cape wool receded still further, closing id to Id under the lowest values of November. Superfine wools have ruled as at the same period of 1875, relatively cheaper than the middle class flocks, and in the case of New South Wales show a decline of 3d to 4d in many instances, as compared with the rates paid for similar brands at the same period of the previous year. To some extent, however, the intrinsic variation in the flocks accounts for this difference. • Cross-bred parcels—of the commoner and coarser description—Shows a decline of 2d to 3d on the spring rates of 1875 ; while those in which the merino element largely prevailed have ruled very firm. , , Lambs’ wool has been in keen demand at extreme rates for well-conditioned parcels free from fault. The greasy flocks from Victoria and South Australia appear as a whole lighter than they were last season, but, as a rule, not so sound in staple, and somewhat more burry. Their superior yield in clean wool will, perhaps, in seme degree explain the high quotations which they have realised. In regard to prospects, it is probable that our total quantity for the next auctions will amount to some 230,000 bales, and, in the prevailing depression which appears to have extended to almost every department of trade, a maintenance of the values recently current should not then be looked for. Wo append a note of arrivals from the various colonies for the sales to commence 28 ;h MarchBales. New South Wales and Queensland 32,074 Victoria 101,539 South Australia 46,372 Tasmania 204 New Zealand 6,432 Cape of Good Hope 10,207 Total 196,828 T ALLOW. This market has been quiet throughout the past month, and only a very small business has been done, the trade generally purchasing most sparingly. Home melted tallow is plentiful, and stocks of foreign sorts have increased considerably, being now computed at a little over 17,000 casks Shipments afloat are rather heavier than lias been the case for some time past, amounting to fully 7009 casks from the Australasian ports. In the absence of speculative transactions, and in view of the restricted demand from the trade, we cannot, see anv probability of even present prices being maintained, notwithstanding that they exhibit a decline of 2s per cwt on those of four weeks since At the four public sales held since the despatch of .last mail, 3237 casks have been offered, of which 1660 casks have been disposed of, the range of prices being 38s 3d to 49s Od per cwt for mutton, and 38s to 44s for beef. For auction to-morrow 527 casks are advertised. The following quotations, so far as regards Australian qualities, must be, to a certain extent, considered nominal, as. from the tone of the market this week, it is doubtful whether they could be realised at public sale. P.y.C, New 47s 6d per cwt Australian mutton, fine... 44s to 45a per cwt Do medium ... 42s to 438 per cwt Australian beef, fine ... 42s to 43s per cwt Do medium... 40sto41s6d per cwt Arrivals of Australasian tallow for the month ending 2nd Marcli were 5316 casks. Shipments advised by the mails delivered from the colonics, via Brindisi and via San Francisco, were 4168 casks. LEATHER. There have been two public sales of Australian leattier since our circular No 106. On the 11th of February 9904 sides were catalogued, 4204 being disposed of at about the prices of the preceding sale. On the 25th idem 2650 sides were brought forward, principally remnants ol parcels previously offered, but only 581 sides we.-e quitted, including sales under the hammer, and subsequent transactions in bought-in lots. Since that date very little business has transpired, The demand is fair, but at p -ici s scarcely equal to those of a month since, owing to the continued abundance of theaupply of tanned sides from North America. In the absence of any diminution of shipments from this source, an improvement in the rates prevailing for the Australian production can scarcely be looked for. Current quotations on the basis of last public sales, may be given ns follow: Best sides averaging to 181 b .. 10Jd tolled per lb Light „ 10 to 121 b .. lo|d tolled per lb Extra heavy „ 19 to 241 b., lOd to Hid per lb Seconds „ 13t016J1b.. Dd to Qfdperlb For auction to-morrow 2731 sides are advertised. Arrivals for the four weeks ending 2nd March were 1315 bales. By the mails delivered since 10th February we have received advices of the shipment of 630 bales. PRESERVED MEATS, We have no alteration to report in the quotations for the best brands, which we accordingly repeat from our last circular. Business is. however, somewhat rcstric ed, and inferior qualities are very difficult of sales (xcept at considerably reduced prices. Quotations for approved brands areas follow: Boiled mutton, 6lb tins ... 5-Jd to per lb. 41b tins ... do do do 2!b tins ... 7d to7Jdpcrlb Boiled beef, 6lb tins ... 6jd to 6£d per lb. 4lb tins ... 7jd to per lb. For the four weeks ending 2nd March, arrivals were 22.326 cases, and farther advices represent additional shipments to the extent of 12,659 cases, CORN MARKET. Since the departure of the last San Francisco mail the weather, with the exception of a few days of rapid variations in the earlier portion of that period, accompanied by a heavy fall of snow, lias been unseasonably mild and wet, and there are general complaints as to the backwardness of sowing flic spring wheat and other kinds of grain. Now that the number of cargoes of wheat on the coast is reduced to seventeen, and the quantity on passage to 964,636 quarters, against 1.533,587 quarters at corresponding date last year, the trade lias assumed a firmer tone, although no actual advance can be quoted upon the prices paid when we lasi wrote. By telegrams of 4th instant, the visible supply of wheat from the United States of America was 17,000,000 bushels against 12,100,000 last year. The published statistics of imports show that the total arrivals from abroad during the first six months of the current cereal year, namely, from Ist September 1875, to 29th February, 1876, were 6,800,480 quarters of wheat, and equal to 967,597 quarters of flour, against 4,361,899 quarters wheat and 795,628 quarters flour for the same period of the previous year. Farmers’ deliveries since Ist September 1875, were, according to the usual method of computation, 4,826,634 quarters wheat against 6,409,880 quarters for the like period of 1874-5, the imperial weekly average being last week 435, against 41s Id for corresponding week in 1875, Californian wheat has been pressed for sale in the Liverpool market, where arrivals have been considerable, and prices as low as 47s 3d per SOOlbie.i.f. were accepted, 48s c i f. being obtained for shipments on passage to direct pons. There have been several arrivals of Australian wheat and flour into this market. Sales ex ship have been effected at 50s 6d and sis per 4961bs ioi average quality of wheat, while parcels in grauari sell slowly at 52s to 52s 6d. Two vessels, the Mountain Laurel and Carpathian, irom Australia, ban iwriyed ftt Wyerpggl, and the Lutterworth, with

flour from Lyttelton, has come to this market. Some good sweet New Zealand wheat, landed here upwards ot six months ago, is now selling at 51s. We repeat our quotations of last mail Per 4961b5. Australian wheat 52s to 52s 6d New Zealand do (finest) ... 60s to 51s Australian flour 33s to 37s New Zealand do 33s to 37s NEW ZEALAND HEMP. With a cessation of imports and only small lots oflerinf the market is steady, although for all other kinds of hemp the prices are easier, and sales dillicult to effect. At auction on the 16th February 64 bales were offered and sold at. from £l3 15s to £l7 15s per ton, but on the Ist instant, when 117 bales hemp and tow were catalogued, only 10 bales ot ihe latter were sold, at £ll ss. There have, however, been a few transactions by private contract. We quote present prices £lB to £23 per ton, according to quality. The following comparative statement of stocks, landings, and deliveries, shows the position of this import at 29th ultimo, and at a similar date last year:—

The Customs * reveuue collected yesterday was as follows £ s. d. Spirits 468 19 4 Leather 45 4 4 Tea 25 2 6 Sugar 62 6 9 Groceries . 18 5 1 Clears 27 12 6 - Tobacco 40 10 0 £688 0 6

First series, .1876. Available Quantities Arrivals. catalogued Bales. Bales. N. S. 'Wales and Queensland 15,649 .. 10,457 Victoria ... ' ... 34,315 ... 36,085 South Australia ... 13,815 ... 13,796 "Western Australia ... ... — ... 28 Tasmania 259 363 New Zealand 2092 3624 Cape of Good Hope ... ... 37,363 ... 30,753 Total ’ ... 103.498 ... 107,106

1875. 1876. Si«cl! on 29th February ... 2008 tons . .. 1137 tons. Landed January-February 131 „ 8 „ Delivered do 118 „ ... 183 „ Landed during February 48 „ 8 „ Delivered do 78 „ ... 108 „