COMMERCIAL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1481, 3 May 1873, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Christchitrch.— The Lyltelton Times of Saturday last reports : —

In the Grain and Produce Market, wheat continues very quiet, and little or no inquiry exists for even prime samples, while inferior qualities can scarcely be quitted. Superior milling lots find purchasers at 4s 3d to 4s 4d for forward delivery, and for stored parcels, we quote at high as 4s 6d Large lines continue to be exported to England by vessels now in harbor. Large lines of grown wheat have been sold at 3a to 3s 3d, up to 3s 6d, according to samples. Flonr remains in fair request, and quotations are very firm at Lll. Oats cannot be purchased at limits given by exporters, so that the fsw parcels offering find good support at 3s, for good milling lines. Barley is exceedingly scarce, and good malting samples readily fetch 7s 6d. Bran has advanced, and the millers to-day quote L 4. Hams and bacon are scarce, but the new cure will be offering in a few weeks. Butter has advanced to 9d, and at this figure a Bteady demand exists. Cheese finds buyers at 7d ro 74<3, and stocks are not allow ed to accumulate at this figure. With regard to the Stock and Stations Market, we have little change to note during the past week, except that store sheep are gradually receding in price as winter approaches. The trade is fairly supplied with fat sheep of excellent quality, but there b«ing no scarcity, and the supply coming forward regularly, prices do not advance. At the yards, on Wednesday, there was a full supply of all descriptions of sbeep, and for stores the demand was not brisk by any means. Prices show a faU of at least 20 per cent, as compared with the beginning of March ; but it B hould be borne in mind that just at that date some description of stores - menn ewes for instance-had reached an abnormal figure. The fat sheep offered were of really good quality, but prices did not go much beyond our quotation of last week except in. special cases. We give our average quotations foi this week at 2£d per lb •

fancy sheep, such as prime South Downs, going up to 2£d. The yards were well filled with cattle, and prices showed a very slight improvement upon last week. Tho supply of ripe cattle is very plentiful, and prices do nut go beyond 17s 6d per lOOlbs on the average.