COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1388, 5 September 1885, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH CORN EXCHANGE. The Corn Exchange reports for the week ending Friday evening, the 4th inst. : As may have been expected, the quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is steadily decreasing, but prices do not seem to have increased in value, and the good accounts of the English harvest wiil probably steady the prices for the next few weeks, but a short yield is anticipated in America, which may possibly influence our colonial markets. The weather has been exceedingly favorable to farmers for completing their spring sowings of wheat; but it cannot be expected that so great an area will be under crop as that of previous years. Wheat, prime, hard milling, commands ready sale at 3s, while for quick delivery for a choice parcel an extra penny may be obtained ; Tuscan has enquiry, for shipment, at 2s 10d to 2s lid ; second quality is in full supply at 2s 4d to 2s 6d, and whole chickwheat, fit to ship, is moving off at 2s Id to 2s 2d. Oats are in steady demand, but large supplies are held in the southern markets prevent any rise taking place; bright heavy short lines are worth Is lid ; good feed (short), Is 8d to Is 9d ; long and inferior, Is Cd to Is 7d. Barley is very quiet: malting is quoted up to 3s 3d, while feed sorts are hard to quit at Is 9d to 2s. Peas have a demand for seed at from 8s to 4s 6d, according to name and quality. Beans are wanted for shipment at 2s 6d. The potato market is more quiet than it was last week. Buyers are very cautious, and will not speculate except for special orders. The Sydney market is pretty full at the moment, but, if not overdone, we think prices will be maintained. The present quotations are 65s to 67s 6d (sacks in), but we anticipate that a slight advance will be obtainable when the Sydney boats are at the wharf. Dairy produce is quiet, and few lines of butter are offering. Cheese, of first quality and small sizes, is readily saleable at full rates. Tub butter is valued at lOd to Is, and second quality up to Bd. Small loaf cheese, 6d to 6|d ; medium, fid to s£d; larger sizes, 4d to 4|d. The above are the prices paid to farmers and delivered f.o.b. Lyttelton.

CHRISTCHURCH STOCK MARKETS,

At the Addington yards on Wednesday a large entry of all descriptions of stock were yarded for the day’s market, and the attendance of buyers showed an improvement. Sales opened with fat cattle ; the demand was fairly brisk, late improved rates being upheld. Steers sold at from £6 to £8 15s; heifers, £4 5s to £8 7s 6d ; fat cows, £5 to £6 7s 6d, being at the rats of from 21s to 23s perlOOlbs, according to quality. A large number of fat sheep were yarded, more than sufficient for the day’s requirements, which were wholly local. Market opened flat, and continued so throughout, but vendors declining to sell at reduced values, the withdrawals were nearly sufficient to uphold late rates or nearly so. Crossbred wethers sold at from 15s to 17s 6d ; ditto ewes, 14s 6d to 16s ; merino wethers from 10s 6d to 15s, being at the rate of 2£d per lb on an average. A large entry of store sheep yarded, demand middling. Hoggets sold at 10s 4d to 13s 4d ; lines of four-tooth wethers 12s 9d and 14s ; lines of two-tooth crossbreds 11s 9d, etc. In the store cattle market a large entry whs yarded. The demand showed a slight improvement on late sales, and a fair clearance was made. Lines of three and four-year-old steers sold at £4 10s to £6; two-year-old heifers, £3 and £3 ss. Pigs were only in medium supply, a very dull sale at reduced values.

ASHBURTON LIVE STOCK MARKET,

Mr E. G. Staveley (for the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports on Ashburton live stock market under date Ist September Sheep—A fairly large entry and good demand, especially for young crossbreds. Not many fat sheep yarded, of which the Winchmore crossbreds, sent to hand by Mr Stitt in excellent order, and sold by ourselves, easily topped the market at 17s 3d for wethers, and 16s for ewes. Other fat crossbred wethers made 14s 7d and 14s 10d ; merino do, 9s 9d ; forward merino wethers. 7s 4d to 7s lid ; medium crossbred hoggets, 7s 3d, XOs Id and 11s 2d ; good well-grown hoggets, 12s 6d and 13s Id ; aged merino ewes, in lamb, 7a 5d and 7s 9d. We sold a line of wood merino ewes, in lamb, at 8-« 6;i ; four-lOOth crossbred ewes, with large percentago of lambs at foot, 18s Gd j and do do, mixed ages, made 15s. Cattle— There was a larger entry than usual, and 1 fair enquiry for all brought forward. Fat I heifers realised up to £6 15s apiece.