COMMERCIAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1261, 29 January 1883, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

[Extracted from "The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company’s Gazette.”] WOOL. The Mail via San Francisco places us in possession of priced Catalogues to 30th Nov., which fully confirm cable advices at the time, announcing irregularity in biddings, and a general decline of Jd to Id in prices, excepting for finest qualities of Merinos and half-breds. It will be remembered, however, that subsequent telegrams were of a more reassuring character, and that before the close of the series on Bth Deo. the drop had been partially recovered and the market was again firm at September rates. The somewhat unsettled condition of trade at various centres, both in England and on the Continent, coupled with the fact that large stocks were held by dealers at latest mail advices, dispelled the hope of any very substantial improvement in values at the Feb. series. It Is doubtless owing to these circumstances that buyers in the Colony have been unwilling to operate in long wools, croes-breds, and long Merinos, except at a reduction of about 10 per cent, on the opening rates of the season, and in most cases growers have appreciated the situation and accepted the rates offered. Gisborne.—Shearing operations are completed. and moot of the wool is now shipped. Napier.- Since last month equal to 652 bales have been offered at suction, nearly the whole of which found buyers at prices ruling up to quotations. For Lincoln and

coarse cross-bred wools, a slight decline in value was manifested, but for Merino and the finer grades of cross-bred there was good competition. The next sale is to be held on the 31st Instant, when about 600 bales will be offered. SHEEPBKINB. Gisborne.—A fair supply was brought forwsrd at the monthly sale and prices reached 3s. Napier.—A good number of skins have been offered during the month, and good well-woolled skins found ready buyers at a slight advance on former quotations. The coarser kinds however did not evoke such good competition. HIDES, Gisborne.—A good number have been shipped during the month, st 34d and 3gd. TALLOW AND FAT. Gisborne.—A good demand exists and sales are readily effected at £27 10s to £3O, according to quality. Auckland.—Odd lots bring from 25s to 20s per cwt. Dunedin.—There is a slight demand for well rendered bright tallow in shipping condition, but parcels of this description are not easily procured. Our catalogues are at present made up of inferior and indifferently rendered lots which are taken up chiefly by soap manufacturers at from 20s to 28s; well rendered as above makes 30s to 32s ; rough fat about the same value as last month, 18s to 21s. TIMARU.—The supply is small, and the demand good. Rough at we have lately placed at 2d to 2| per lb. GRASS SEEDS. Gisborne.—Samples of new crop just to hand are clean well-developed seed. No transactions are reported, farmers asking ss. Napier.—There is no change to report in this market. Provincial grown cocksfoot is being sold at 31d per lb delivered on the run. For Akaroa 5d per lb, delivered at wharf, has been paid. No business has yet been done in new season’s ryegrass seed, PROPERTIES. Gisborne. —Unimproved land some three miles from town we have placed during the month, at £l2 10s but the market is inactive and no large sails are reported.