COMMERCIAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2495, 19 March 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

S. C. Times Office, Saturday Evening. Large quantities of wheat are coming forward, some for shipment direct at farmers’ risk, while a considerable portion is purchased by local merchants and agents. Advices from England shew that but little alteration in prices can be anticipated. It is understood that the American graineries are amply stocked, but as money is plentiful, there is no likelihood of American wheat being forced on the British or European markets. Oats are scarce and meet with ready sale. For barley there is no demand whatever, and owing to the quantity of old grain remaining over from last year the new stock may be said to bo unsaleable, Quotations are as follows :—Wheat, 3s to 38 3d; oats, Is 2d to Is 4d; barley, nominal, Is 9d to 2s; grass seed, 8s to 3s 3d. DUNEDIN MARKETS. Mr Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending March 16 as follows Fat Cattle.—The market to-day was heavily over supplied, 332 head having been yarded. The demand was in consequence very languid, and prices show a fall equal to abdut 2s 6d per 100. Bullocks realised from £4 5s to £lO 17s 6d, and cows £4 5s to £7 12s 6d per head. 'Fat Sheep.—3l34 were penned (of which only a very small proportion were crossbreds). Fair competition was exhibited by the trade, and last week’s quotations were maintained. Prices realised for cross-breds ranged from 8s to 13s per head. For prime mutton we quote at 2d per lb. Fat Lambs.—2l2 were offered, and sold at from 4s to 9s 6d. Fat Pigs.—6s sold at from 23s to 47s each. Oats, Is 5d to Is 7d per bushel; milling wheat, 3s 6d to 3s 9d per bushel ; fowls’ feed, 2s to 3s : barley, malting, 2s 6d to 3s 6d ; feed, Is 9d to 2s 6d per bushel ; hay, £3 per ton : chaff, £2 15s per ton ; straw, £2 per ton ; bran, £3 per ton ; pollard, £4 per ton ; flour, £9 10s to £lO per ton ; oatmeal, £9 par ton ; butter, fresh, 6d to 8d ; salt, 6d to 8d ; eggs, Is 2d ; bacon in rolls, 8d ; side, BJd ; hams, IOJd : fresh pork, 44d per lb.; potatoes £2 15s to £3 per ton. Mr J. B. Bradshaw reports : —Bank of New Zealand shares, £23 ; National Bank, 64s ; Colonial Bank, 45s ; National Insurance, 295; New Zealand Insurance, 73s 6d ; Union Insurance. 21s ; Colonial Insurance, 11s 9d; South British Insurance, 58s ; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, 110 s, Mosgiel Woolen Factory, 74?. Sydney, March 18. New Zealand wheat 4s per bushel; New Zealand oats 2s 3d. London, March 17. At the wool sales to-day 10,900 bales Were offered, making a total of 222,000 catalogued since the opening. The tone of the sale was firm, and there was an active demand. 18,000 bales have been withdrawn since the commencement of the sales.