COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1273, 6 May 1880, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

DUNEDIN MARKETS.

Mr. Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New ZoaTnnrt Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports as follows for the week ending May s: • Fat Cattle.—The market was well supplied to-day, 220 head having been yarded at Burnaide. The demand was not very brisk, and last week's prices were scarcely susatained. Bullocks realised from Ls7s6d to Ll2 2b 6d, and cows L 3 12s 6d to L 7 17s 6d per head. We disposed of a draft of mixed cattle on account of W. J. M. Larnacb, Esq. Prime beef may be quoted barely 22s 6d per 1001b.

Fat Calves.—The supply was insignificant. Fat Sheep were in good supply, 2S9S having been bronght forward. The demand from the trade was good, and prices advanced £d to $d per lb. Cross-breds realised "up to 12s 9d; and of merinos a few only ■old, at 9s per head. We disposed of 39S head on account of Mr. Sheddan Brngh and 489 on account of Messrs. Little Brothers, at from 8a to lis 6d. We quote prime mutton 2d to 2£ per lb. Fat Lambs.—lSO were sold at Ss3d to 10s, according to size and condition. Store Sheep. The demand continues active, bat the snpply 13 very small. WooL —We qnote the following telegrams received since last week's report from our London office, dated 27th April:—"The ■ales progress firmly. For medium and inferior greasy, and for medium and inferior combine washed, the market is firmer. Scoured shows an advance of 2d per lb on the dosing rates of previous sales. Clothing washed, market unchanged; cross-bred market easier." Also, under date May 3rd, am follows:—"Competition is decreasing, and quotations are on an average Id to IJd lover than at the opening. The principle decline has been in cross-bred. Medium and inferior greasy cross-bred have declined l§d to 2d per lb. There is a moderate demand en French account, but German demand is dnlLThe Home trade are purchasing sparingly. Up to date 115,000havebeen sold. "From these ««l confirmatory telegrams from other ■ouroea which have been published, it wonld that the advance established at the opening of the series has been lost, and in t£e case of cross-bred an even greater decline has taken place. The description just named is still, however, Id to lAd above December rates. It may be that the movemeat indicates only a temporary reaction, in consequence of the speculative demand having subsided, coupled with the natural influence of large arrivals and heavy catalogues, and possibly also of the suspense incidental to the change of Government. Fnomthe fact that 17 per cent, of the quantities offered have been passed, we may infer that many holders prefer re-offering to submitting to lower prices. It would appear that; although the sales are only one-fourth through, nearly one-third of the available arrivals have already passed the hammer. We trust that further advices will report a recovery on the basis of a healthy trade demand.

Sheepskins.—We disposed of a large catalogue at oar weekly sale on Monday, when, with brisk competition, satisfactory prices were realised. Butchers' skins fetched Is Sd to 2s Id for merino, and Is 9d to 3s lid for crossbred ; fall-woolled skins up to 4s lOd for merino, and 4s 9d fi.r crossbred; lambskins, 2s Id to 2s iOd; and pelts up to Is sd. Sides.—There is no change to record. All jwrcels coming to hand can be readily placed •t 20b each for batchers* green hides, and 3fd per lb for wet-salted. TaHcrtr,—For local consumption we have •old parcels of fair at 24s per cwt. Rough fat may be qaoted at 16s per cwt. Grain.—Wheat: We have made sales of good quality at 3s lid. and hear of no transactions at a higher figure than 4s for the beat, which may be considered the top price, with ooly a languid demand. Fowls' feed we quote at 2b Gel to 3s per bushel. Oats: The demand for shipment has subsided for the present, and we do sot hear of purchases for focal wants. Quotations are nominally the same as last week. Barley cannot be jjpoted higher than 3s 9d for finest malting, .altfcoflgh this is below holders' ideas. Sales have transpired during the week at 3s 6d to Ss 3d per bnshel for good fair to fine.