COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1178, 17 May 1884, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

DUNEDIN MAMETS.

Mr Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ending May 14 as follows : Fat Cattle, —302 head were forward to.day at Burnside for the week’s supply, only a tew being prime, for which prices fully equal to last week’s were obtained, but the greater portion consisted of inferior and light medium, scarcely saleable, and then at very low prices. Best bullocks brought £9 10s to £10; others, £3 to £7 10s ; and cows in proportion. We quote prime beef 20s, ordinary 15s to 17s 6d per 1001 b. Fat Calves.—los to 25s each. Fat Sheep.—Best crossbreds brought 16a to 17a 3d ; others, lls 6d to 15s; merinos, 7s to 10s 6d. We quote mutton 2|rd per lb. Pat Lambs. —About equal to late prices. Fat Pigs.—We sold 17 suckers at 8a 6d, 12 do at 16a, 2 porkers at 20s, 2 do at 395, 2 d© at 425, 5 do at 51s. and 2 at 625; 3 bacon pigs at 73s each. Store Cattle. —There is but small demand for this class of stock, low prices for fat lately obtained offering but poor encouragement. Sheepskins.—Dry crossbreds brought Is 9d to 3s 2d ; do merino, Is 6d to 4s sd; do pelts, 3d to 9d ,* green crossbreds, 2s 9d to 3s 2d ; do merino, 2s to 2s 9d ; lambskins, up to 3s 2d, Hides.—The demand for these continues steady. We placed all forward at late rates. Tallow—We sold en Monday at auction 6 casks inferior at 23s 6d, 5 do medium at 29», 16 do good at 31s 6d, 1 do medium at 275, 16 tins and drums at 28s to 295, and 10 bags rough fat at 19s to 22s 6d per cwt. Grain. Wheat: The market is lamentably void of activity. Large stocks are accumulating in store, and no outlet. Millers continue to buy no more than is actually requisite for the present, and then only the choicest obtainable in the least quantities. We quote nominally ; Prime milling, in small parcels, 3s 3d to 3s 6d ; medium, 2s 9d to 3s (almost unsaleable) ; fowls’ wheat, 2s to 2s Bd, only in moderate request (bags weighed in). Oats : Deliveries have been on a large scale duriug the week, but the demand continues fairly active, and all lots coming to hand in good shipping condition meet with a leady sale at about equal to last week’s quotation*. Buyers experience some difficulty in procuring suitable freights, and in consequence large purchases which should have been cleared out before now, still remain in store. Our quotations this week are : For stout bright milling, 2s 2d ; short bright feed, 2* Id to 2s l£d ; long and medium short feed, Is lOdto 2s ex store—bags weighed in. Barley : A fair demand exists for both malting and milling, without, however, any improvement in values. Prime malting could be placed at 3s 9d to 4s ; medium, 3s 6d to 3« 8d ; and milling at 2s 6d to 3s 3d bags weighed in. Grass Seeds—ln the meantime the demand is very small, and we don’t look for very much activity before spring.

CHRISTCHDRCH MARKETS. At the Addington Yards on Wednesday a large entry of fat sheep was sent to hand for the day’s supply, the quality on the whole showing a marked improvement on late market*. For the best quality a slight advance on late rates was paid, and for fat ewes and such like quality the demand was easier, Crossbred wethers

sold at from 15s 9d to 19s; ditto ewes, from 12s to I6s ; merino wethers from 9s to 11s 3d ; being at the rate of from 2jd to 2Jd per lb. In the store sheep market there was a falling off in numbers when compared with late markets, the enquiry was very listless, and numbers were passed unsold; two and four tooth crossbred wethers sold at from 10» 6d to Us 3d ; crossbred ewes from 8« 6d to lls 6d ; merino ewes from 4s to 5s 6d ; ditto wethers, 3s 6d to 6a. The pig market was very heavily supplied, the demand proving quite equal. Baconers sold from 40s to 71s ; porkers, from 20s to 35s ; and stores, 6s 6d to 15s. Store Cattle—A large entry came to hand; demand showed no alteration. The fat cattle market was well supplied ; the middling ; steers, from £6 5s to £8 ; heifers, £5 5s to £6 10s. An average of 18s per lOOlbs. CHRISTCHURCH OORlt EXCHANGE. The Corn Exchange report for the week ending Friday evening, the 9th inst : The week just ending has not brought much comfort to farmers. According to latest advices, Adelaide wheat is not worth more than 41s 6d per quarter in London, while New Zealand wheat is not bringing more than an average of 37s per quarter. Under such discouraging circumatances our merchant# are not very anxious to buy at previous quotations, and evince a decided inclination to wait further advices before operating extensively. Indeed, it is extremely difficult just now to sell large lines, even of good wheat, and of course it is still less easy with any that is damaged. There is, unfortunately, a considerable quantity of damaged wheat, and tho farmers, who naturally are anxious to dispose of their crops, have to be content with very low prices in order to effect sales, the prices quoted below being obtained with difficulty. Oats are not so firm in Sydney, but, so far, the drop there has_ not influenced us, and prices are maintained. If quotations keep up in this line barley should be favorably affected thereby, particularly with regard to feed lots. There is no enquiry whatever, except for really tip-top samples, which are none too plentiful. Grass seed is very quiet, and is quoted nominally at former rates. Fair samples of peas and beans have come to hand, which show great care in harvesting, and must soon meet with a ready sale for feed purposes. Potatoes have experienced a further drop, and there is no inclination on the part of merchants to buy. As soon as the surplus stock now in store is got rid of, no doubt ibis state of things will improve and better prices be obtained for large lines coming into the market. Butter and cheese are not in any way regarded as a safe investment. The former still commands last week’s rates, and the latter is in slightly better request. The following are the quotations to date : Wheat—Sound and dry Tuscan, 3s 5d ; pearl, 3s 4d; Hunter’s, 3s Sd, f.o,b. Oats—Bright short feed, 2« 2d and 2s 3d ; first-class milling, 2s 4d f.o.b. Barley—Prime malting, 3s 9d to 4s, Christchurch. Peas—Prussian blue, 8s 6d to 3s 9d ; grey, 3s to 3s 3d f.o.b. Beans—3s to 3s 3d, Christchurch. Potatoes—3os at country stations within twelve miles. Butter and cheese —9d to lOd for the former ; the latter 4d to 5d f.o.b. THE STOCK MARKETS IN SYDNEY. As is well known, this colony has been steadily exporting horses to Sydney, and the disastrous drought of the past summer bids fair to afford another opening to New Zealand enterprise. Cattle and sheep have died off by the thousand, and though rains have fallen lately, they have come too late to do much good. The depletion of the stock market following upon the dry weatner has, of course, had considerable influence on prices. At the beginning of the month the quotations for prime stook were high and firm, and the demand was brisk. Fat heavy bullocks stood at £l6 to £l7 5s ; prime do, £l3 to £l4 ; prime crossbred wethers, 20s to 21s ; extra do, 25s 6d ; medium, lls 6d to 12a 6d. A comparison of these prices with the market quotations here will show that there is a considerable margin for enterprising breeders to work upon.—Lyttelton Times, ENGLISH MARKETS. London, May 13. At to-day’s woel auction a firm tone prevailed. The catalogue comprised 11,100 bales. Greasy merino is now ruling at about last sales' closing rate*. Scoured wools are generally lower than at the close of last auction, faulty scoured being dull and heavy. May 14. Adelaide wheat is unchanged at 41s 6d, ox store, and New Zealand ditto at 35s to 40s. Adelaide flour, ex store, is worth 28s. Australian tallow, average quality— Beef, 36s ; mutton, 39t. The catalogue at to-day's wool sale comprised 11,800 bales. The market continues firm. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company are in receipt of the following telegraphic advice, dated 13th inst., from their London office :—Wheat —Market dull : Adelaida is worth 4ia per 4961b5, and New Zealand 39s 6d per 4961bs ; Adelaide, f.o.b. is worth c.i.f. to arrive 40s 6d per 4801bs.