COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1915, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Tho Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce lias received the following cablegram from the High Commissioner for New Zealand, dated London, December 18th. (Note: Quotations, unless otherwi.se specified, are average market prices on spot):— Mutton—Canterbury and North Island mutton is not quoted because there are only a few carcases on the market. There is a good demand for ewes, but a limited supply, They are selling at 6}d per lb. Lamb —There is a better demand for lamb owing to short supply of frozen mutton, together with less chilled and higher prices for home-killed. Canterbury, two's, 7Jib per lb; heavy weight four's, 7Jd; second-class quality light Weight, 7d; other than Canterbury, 7|d for best quality light weight; ordinary quality, 6|d. Beef —Prime New Zealand beef is not quoted, as there is only a small quantity on the market. It is selling at: Hinds Gid per lb, fores 5Jd; second-class quality cow hinds old, fores 4|d; chilled hinds Bd, fores OJd.

Butter—The market is weaker and tendency is downward. Danish, weak market, 170s per cwt. and lip to 1745; New Zealand, the market is dull and price irregular. During the week prices declined rapidly and continue to do so—--134s to 150s and up to 158s, unsalted 150s to 1625; Australian, market dull and prices irregular, 50s and up to 1545; Argentine, slow, 150s to 1545; Irish creamery, slow, 152s to 1565; Siberian, a fair demand, 126s to 1345.

Cheese—The market is very Arm, Canadian, white, per cwt., 003 to 945, I coloured 02s to 04s, occasionally 955; English chedar, 98s to 102s; New Zealand, market is firm and prices continue to advance; there is a good demand; white, per cwt., 90s to 01s; coloured, 91s to 925. Siberian, 80s to 82s. Hemp—The market is very firm and demand is greater than the supply of New Zealand. New Zealand good-fair grade, per ton, £37 10s, fair £35 10s; fair current Manila £45, coarse £37; January to March, N.Z. good-fair £37, fair £35; fair current Manilla £44 10s, coarse £36 10s. The output from Manila for the week was 16,000 bales. Wheat —The market is steady with a very good demand. Canadian, on spot, per quarter fils, December and January 575; Australian, January to February steamer 645, sailer 60s. Oats—The market is firm. Argentine, on spot, per quarter, 325; January to February, 30s. Hops—The market is quiet, small business doing. English, per cwt, 100s to 130s; Californian, 80s to 100s. Wool—The market is strong, all stocks are advancing. DUNEDIN WOOL SALES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Yesterday. ■ At the opening of the sales this morning the first firm submitted 2091 bales. Nearly all were sold under brisk competition, 'buyers including French, American and British representatives, Bright, sound, long-staple crossbred brought 16d to lS'/id, halfbred up to 18d; pieces, ordinary ild to lOd, a special lot up to 15 ] /4d, Corriedale up to lS'/ 2 d. For shabby competition was not so keen. The second firm's sale contained 4261 -iiales. The top price was realised for eleven bales of halfbred at 21% d. The same clip last year brought 14Jd. It is estimated that on a basis of the morning sales the price is up 5d by comparison with la9t December, and 2d by comparison with last March. It is considered the best sale ever held <d Dunedin. NEW PLYMOUTH WOOL, HIDE, SKIN AND TALLOW SALES. L. A. Nolan and Co. report:—On Tuesday, December 14j we held our sale of the above. Prices ruled on a par with last month, and we cleared the whole of our catalogue at prices that must be considered exceedingly satisfactory. Top price for the day was 15d per lb. This fine price was received for two bales of very bright, clean Down wool on account of Mr. B. Honevfield, of Omata. The same price was obtained for three bale.l of purebred Romney wool sold on account' of Mr. John Hale, of Avenue road. Sheepskins sold at about last month's rates. Cow-hides were firm at late rates, with a hardening tendency. Ox sold at high prices for anything showing substance. Lighter weights were firm at late rates. Calfskins were cleared at last month's rates. We.quote: Wool—Bales: Down 13y 2 d, 11% d. 15d| crossbred, 13y,d, 13 3 /, d, 14<1; log-stained, lid, 12V 2 d, 13d. 13'/ 2 d; seedy, Is, 12V!>d Sacks: Logstained 12y 2 d, brighter 13d, 13'/ 2 d, matted Is. locks and pieces sd. Od, Sd, dead 7d, 10y,d, black 9<l, locks 5d,. super bellies 10y s d, seedy pieces 2 3 /,fl, 4d. fleece seedv lOd.

Sheepskins—Butchers' full-wool 10'/ 2 d, 10% d, lid (according to condition); lambs 7d, S'/ 2 d, black fid. settlers' S l /,d. 9d, 9y,d, 9VL>d. 9%d. damaged Id. I'/.d, 5 3 / id, fid, 7 1 /.d. dead 7'/;d. (lamp 9s. 10$ 3d; salted pelts, 2s 2s 2d. 3s. lambs 3s, 3s Od, woolly 9 S Sd; settlers' pelts, 4d, Od. woolly 2s 'od, 4s Od, 4s 9d.

Hides—Ox, light 9%d, medium 10% d. 10y,d. 10% d, heavy 10% d, lid. slicrhflv cut. 9'/ s d; cow, heavy R'/sd. R'/,d. B%d. medium BV.d B<M B%d. light B%d. S'/,d. ,«i/,d. B%<l. cut 7y>d; settlers, 7d, T'/.d. 7-y,d, slippy 5 3 /, d. cut o%d. Hulls: Light fiy.d medium fiy.d, nit sd. Horses, 4s, 5s (id. 7s. Calf, light 8V!;d, Od, medium o%d. special 10y,d. heavy H'/»d. slippy 5%d, cut 7%d, yearlings 7d. 7'/.<L Tallow—Tins, 19s per cwt. Sundries—Horsehair, tail Is 3d, mane 6d, mohair sd.