COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1025, 2 November 1882, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Leader Office, Wednesday evening, Mr K. F. Gray held bis usual monthly sale at his usual monthly sale at his yards

Temuka yesterday. The entries comprised 200 half bred hoggets, 134 head of cattle, and ten horses Cattle sold at exceptionally good prices, realising for fat steers, £7 7s 6d ; springers, £4 12s 6d ; milch cows, from £4 to £8 ; 2 year olds, £3 3s lOd ; and 2| years old, £4 12s 6d. MELBOURNE MARKETS. From the weekly report of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited), dated Melbourne, October 18th, we make the following extracts : wool The opening sale of the season was held today, and attracted, as wa» anticipated, a crowded attendance of English, Continental, and American buyers, in addition to a full muster of the local trade, together with a number of visitors and others interested in pastoral pursuits. In fact, so large a gathering of the trade, especially of the foreign representatives, has never before been seen in this market.. The catalogue submitted comprised about 1100 bales, consisting principally of farmers’ lots of greasy, and could only be considered a test one. Nevertheless, it soon became evident that the buyers intended to bid liberally, and animated.’compeiition ensued over aim st every parcel and, continued till the catalogue was entirely exhausted, the prices being well up to the opening ra'es of last year. The result of the sale cannot but be considered highly promising as to the future operations of the season, as ample evidence was afforded that when a good collection of the staple is brought forward it will meet with ready acceptance at satisfactory rates. GRAIX. The effect of the clearance sales of wheat made last week has been to supply the immediate requirements of the town millers, and hence little has been done, either in flour or wheat since our last report. With the nearer approach of harvest, the trade not unnaturally decline making purchases in excess of their immediate wants; but as the supply in the country is small only, it may be ass ssed as •lightly in excess of actual requirements. There is not any immediate prospect of prices receding, though doubtless every miller will try to work up this year his last bag of old wheat before the new comes on the market, so as to avoid being landed in a‘loss. In Sydney the constant arrivals of supplies from New Zealand of both wheat and flour have checked the demand recently experienced in Melbourne from that quarter, and this has acted on our flour market. In South Australia the improved harvest prospects and the absence of any competition have resulted in prices declining. Farmers’ lots of wheat are quoted at 5s 9d, and shipping lots (of which the market is absolute'y bare) are nominal at 6s. Country flour is quoted at lower rates. The London market has advanced, according to latest telegrams, Is 6d per quarter, and Australian wheat is quoted in Mark Lane at 48s 6d per 4961bs ex ware house. No change in flour. The want of rain in most of the northern wheat grown districts of the colony is now becoming alarming, and fears are entertained that in many districts the yield will be below the average, even if a change should occur during the next ten days, whilst in one or two places wo hear that the crop is already beyond saving. The Terricka have again suffered, but in the valley of the Goulbourn the wheat plant is healthy and strong. Wheat. —The sales reported during the week have been of a limited character, and prices accepted show a decline of a good penny per bushel, 6s 9d ex station being the best rates paid for prime milling. There is not much Victorian offering, but efforts are being made to place both Tasmanian and New Zealand.

Oats.—All feed grains continue high, though as we write prices have somewhat eased from the highest point tom-hod. Telegrams from Adelaide report that, in consequence of the high prices ruling in Australia, shipments are coming forward both from Calcutta and the Black Sea ports, but it is difficult to see a margin of profit when New Zealand fairly enters into competition for the supply of the market. In the opening of the week large sales made up to 4s 8d ; prices have since somewhat eased, and to-day 4s 3d to 4s 5d was accepted for inferior to good feed, whilst stout was quoted at 4s sld to 4s 7d.