COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1397, 26 September 1885, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH CORN EXCHANGE.

CANTERBURY HORSE MARKET,

DUNEDIN STOCK MARKETS

The Corn Exchange reports for the week ending Friday evening, the 25th inst.

A fair amount of business has been transacted in grain and produce during the past week. Several large lots of wheat have been placed on the market, and purchasers have responded at a firm comparison with last week's quotations, prime milling lines always commanding first attention. There has also been a better feeling evinced to operate in second quality parcels, especially Tuscan, which is wanted by shippers. Whole chick wheat is becoming scarce, and prices have a hardening tendency. Oats are steady, bright heavy feed lines being eagerly sought after for shipment; the demand for discolored and long feed is chiefly confined to local dealers, but buyers are plentiful. Barley ; A quiet market exists for malting ; several feed lines, however, have found purchasers at low figures. Peas and beans are inactive, the latter having an occasional order for shipping. Rye-grass is dull, orders coming to hand very slowly ; the market, however, is bare, and no fall is anticipated. Cocksfoot ; Bright heavy seed is quickly taken up for shipment at a slight advance, but discolored, which has to depend chiefly upon local requirements, is plentiful and dull of sale. Potatoes are quiet, and last week’s rates cannot be altered. Dairy produce market has little business of note to report. Quotations are as follow:

Wheat—Prime milling (winter), 3s 2d ; Tuscan, 3s to 3s Id ; second quality, 2s 4d to 2s 8d ; whole chick wheat, 2s Id to 2s 3d, f.o.b. Oats—Milling and bright heavy feed, 2s Id to 2s 2d ; discolored and long feed, Is 7d to Is lOd, f.o.b. Barley—Malting (nominally), 3s to 3s 3d ; feed, 2s to 2s 2d, f.o.b. Peas—Seed, up to 4s 6d ; feed, 2s 9d to 3s.

Beans—2s 6d to 2s Bd, f.o.b. Rye -grass—Machine-dressed, 4s 6d to ss; farmers’ parcels, 3s 3d to 3s 9d, Christchurch,

Cocksfoot—Bright heavy, 3|d to 3sd ; discolored, 2d to f.o.b,, Lyitelton.

Potatoes—Derwents, 60s to G2s 6d, f.o.b.

Dairy Produce. —Cheese : Small loaf, 6d to 6|d ; medium, 5d to 2|d ; large, 4-kl. Butter : Prime in tubs, 9d to lOd; second quality, 4d to Bd, f.o.b. These are prices paid to farmers.

CHRISTCHURCH STOCK MARKETS,

At the Addington yards on Wednesday a largo entry of fat cattle were yarded for the day’s market. Demand hardly so keen as of late, and values consequently easier. Steers sold at from £5 17s fid to £9 5s ; heifers, £5 5s to £9 ; fat cows, £4 2s fid to £fi 12s fid, being at the rate of from 20s to 22s fid per lOOlbs, as per quality. Only a moderate supply of fat sheep yarded, among them being a draft of the first shorn sheep of the season, The demand was fairly goad ; values showed an improvement on last week’s sales. Crossbred wethers sold at from Ifis to 19s 9d for prime quality ; medium sorts, 14s to 15s; merino wethers *~ J i|s 31 to 12s 3d J ' . ‘'om A dull ir*"-* - “ u Bhee P> lls ldj quiry was shown in the store oueep market, hoggets in their wool claiming. most attention. Fat lambs sold well

at from 10s to 14s per head. A small entry of pigs sold at about late low rates. A fairly numerous entry of store, cattle met with a very moderate inquiry.

Messrs H, Matson and Co. report Last Saturday’s sale at Tattersall’a comprised an entry of 82 horses, made up of the usual assortment of heavy and light draughts, unbroken stock, hack and light harness horses, etc. Rather loss than half those engaged in the shipping trade were present, the rest being absent in Sydney. In addition to this class of buyers there were a few local men operating in draughts, as also a good attendance of the public generally. With reference to trade, the large arrivals of horses in Sydney during the Show and immediately preceding, has again caused a glut and serious drop in values there, so that our last Saturday’s sale—and we may say the previous one—were effected thereby to the extent of several pounds per head in all classes of draught stock. After the noticeable firmness in values at the early part of the month, owners are naturally disinclined to again accept reduced rates, slight though these may be ; and where this view is taken we find it is difficult to do business. We find, however, even yet, with the bad state of trade in Australia that where owners are willing to concede a little in prices, buyers are almost invariably inclined to meet them. That this was so on Saturday we may mention that considerably over half of our entry changed hands, weedy and inferior sorts representing most of the unsold lots. Good, young, sound draught mares and geldings brought £22 to £3O ; second-class animals, £l6 to £2O ; superior unbroken draught colts, £l4 to £23; ordinary hacks, £lO to £l3 ; better sorts, £ls to £2O.

At the Burnside Yards on Wednesday the following business was transacted

Eat Cattle—l 36 head yarded, the quality fair to good, including a few prime-conditioned cows, which brought full rates. The supply being short of trade requirements, competition, though at first cautions, gradually became more keen, and the closing sales marked an advance on late rates. Heifers realised from £5 to £lO 12s, varying greatly in quality ; cows ranged from £6 to £7 17s, and bullocks from £7 to £lO 17s 6d, Beef from 25s to 27s Gd per lOOlbs ; Messrs Shand and Co. quote as high as 30s for one pen of very prime beasts from the the A. and N.Z. Land Co.’s Estate. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sold for Mr Andrew Grant ( I’enmka), 18 prime bullocks at an average of £lO per head. Fat Sheep-2320 forward, including C6O merinos, and representing all qualities, The demand on the whole was good, and last week’s values were well sustained. Best crossbred wethers brought 14s to 15s ; medium, up to 13s 6d ; merino wethers (prime), 8s 6d to 11s Od. Mutton is quoted at from 2|d to 2|d per lb. Mr L. Maclean sold for Mr M. Studholme (Waimate Estate), 76 shorn crossbred wethers from 10s 9d to 12s 3d ; for Mr Leonard White (Rakaia), 53 prime merino wethers from 18s to 19s 3d ; for the N.Z. and A. Land Company (Pareora Estate), 108 crossbred ewes from 13s 6d to 13s 9d ; for Mr W. Grant (Tiraaru), 52 crossbred wethers at 13s 9d. Eat Lambs. —Those from the North especially were well-conditioned. Some these brought up to 13s 6d, but the general range was from 8s 6d to 10s 6d. Pigs—Over 400 were yarded, comprising all sorts. With the exception of suckers, which are still eagerly bought, the prices of all other sorts were lower than for years past at Burnside. Bacon pigs sold at 25s to 445, two or three extra heavy weights up to 60s : good stores and porkers, 17s 6d to 24s ; suckers, up to lls 6d each.

Horses —Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report as follows ; —Saturday last being a race day we held our weekly sale on Monday instead. The entries consisted almost exclusively of light horses, most of which changed hands at fair prices. The racehorse Bothwell found a purchaser in Mr Agnew, of Timaru, at a satisfactory price. We quote first-class draughts at from £24 to £3O ; medium, £l4 to £23; first-class hacks and light harness horses, £l6 to £25 ; medium, £8 to £l2 ; light and inferior, £3 to £6. DUNEDIN PRODUCE MARKETS. Wheat—ln prime samples very little business has been done. Millers are holding off in expectation of easier prices, and in the meantime are working off stock. Whether in millers’ or agents’ hands, stocks of good to prime quality are light, and holders continue firm. Prime milling is held for 3s 3d to 3s 4d ; medium to good, 2s 9d to 3s 2d ; inferior and chick feed, scarce and in demand at 2s 3d to 2s 8d per bushel. Oats—Business is belter all round. Freights to the intercolonial markets being easier, stocks of all kinds have been greatly reduced. Holders of really good parcels a r e very firm. The market is actually bare of prime oats, and agents hold for higher rates. Quotations are : For prime milling, up to 2s Id, choice parcels held for more ; bright feed, Is lOd to 2s ; medium, Is 8d to Is 9-|-d ; discolored, Is 6d to Is 7|d. Barley—Malting is not much inquired for, but a better inquiry is expected. Milling and feed sorts sell at 2s to 2s 8J per bushel. Rye-grass Seed —In little demand. Machine-dressed is worth 4s 6d to ss. Cocksfoot—4d to 4£d per lb. Potatoes—Prime Derwents bring 80s to 85 ; medium do., 70s to 78s per ton.

Chaff -Sales have been made at £3 5s for extra good quality ; ordinary sells at £3 ; inferior, £2 ..Os to £2 15s. Butter—Salt, lid in small lots ; fresh, Is to Is Id for prime ; and 9d to lOd for medium. Cheese—sl for best quality. Eggs— per dozen. Sheepskins—Monday's sales were fairly attended, hut there was no noticeable alteration cither in competition or values. Green crossbreds brought 2s 3d to 3s H fl • do. merinos, 2s to 2s 8d ! dr- - ; 0d to 3s 3d ; do ’ , crossbreds, pell* ’’’ . merinos, fid to 2s lid; , itt to fid ; lamb-kins, 8d to 15d. Hides—Prices unchanged. Quotations are for very prime heavy—sound and in unexceptional condition, 4d to medium, to 3£d | light and inferior, 2d to 2|d per lb.

Tallow--lUo'-nt quotations are about maintained, inn prime qualities have been scarce. Inferior lots of rough fat and dirty have been sold at 7s to 12s ; inferior and' mixed rendered, 14s to 16s; medium and good, up to 19s ; very prime, to 21s per cwt. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. Melbourne, Sept. 23. 'lhc Manager of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand (Limited), reports on the local produce market as follows : Wheat, 4s Id to 4s 3d, rather weaker ; barley, 3s 9d to 4s 2d, depressed ; oats, New Zealand feed, 2s lid to 3s Id, quieter and weaker ; do, milling, 3s Id to 3s 2d, depressed ; do, under bond, 2s 2d to 2s 4d.

ENGLISH MARKETS,

London, Sept. 23, New Zealand breadstuff* maintain their previous quotations. Adelaide wheat, ex store, is unchanged, but offcoast cargoes realised 35s 3d, an advance of 9d per 4961b5. Wool —At to-day’s sale 12,006 bales were catalogued. The tone of the market was firm, though there is no quotable alteration in prices.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have received the following cablegram from London, dated 22nd September :—The wool market remains unchanged. The total quantity catalogued is 198,000 hales. Of these 31,000 have been withdrawn. Up to date 62,000 bales have been taken for export.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, London, bearing date August 14tb, 1885, report as follows :

Wool.—Since the date of our last issue no material change has occurred in the position of this market. Advices both from the Home and Continental manufacturing centres continue to be for the most part unsatisfactory, more especially with regard to the consumpaion of the merino staple. Crossbred wools still occupy a relatively better postposition, but as these descriptions will bo in a large supply at the approaching auctions it remains to be seen whether the demand will be sufficient to support late rates. The Antwerp sales, to which allusion was made in our last issue, closed on Bth instant at about the decline already quoted. Of 21,472 bales brought forward, only 213 bales were Australasian, the remainper being of River Plate growth. About half the South American offered was disposed of, whilst the Australasian, with the exception of three bales, was withdrawn. The present stock in Antwerp aggregates nearly 50,000 bales, of which about 10,000 bales are of Australasian origin, and 40,000 bales River Plate.

Com Market.—The market has _ remained steady during the last fortnight at about late rates. Notwithstanding the fact that the weather has been rather unsettled, rapid progress has been made with wheat cutting in the Souihern and Midland Counties. The yield per acre on the lighter soils is reported as discouraging ; but as on the heavy lands more than an average is expected, it is probable that the surplus in some districts will counterbalance the deficiency in others. A few samples of the new crop have been shown at Mark Lane, and for one parcel of good Talavera 39s per quarter has been obtained. This price must, however, be considered exceptional, The American shortage is now estimated at 25,000,000 quarters, as compared with last year’s crop. While this heavy deficit cannot fail to have a potent influence upon the future course of the trade, it is for the time being apparently overshadowed by the fact that full supplies are at present in view or actually available, and that our own harvest prospects are on the whole satisfactory. Supplies on passage and shipping to the United Kingdom are given as 2,132,500 quarters as against 2,109,000 quarters on the 31st ultimo, and 1,770,000 quarters at a corresponding date in 1884. The “ visible supply” in America is now 38,425,000 bushels as compared with 36,975,000 bushels on the 31st ultimo, and 12,750,000 bushels at the same time last year. The “Border Chief,” bringing the first cargo of New Zealand wheat of the new season’s growth, arrived yesterday at port of call. The cargo consists of 6,332 quarters, of which rather more than one-third is long berry, and the wheat is reported to be cool and in good condition. Sellers are asking 35s per 480 lbs. c.i.f. New Zealand wheat is in short supply, and finds ready buyers. To-day’s quotations, ex granary, are as follow:—New Zealand wheat—Long-berried; fine, 34s to 35s 6d; medium, 31s to 32s ; inferior, 28s to 29s ; short-berried: fine, 32s 6d to 345; medium, 3ls to 325; inferior, 28s to 30s—per 4961b5. New Zealand Flour—Patent, 24s 6d to 25s 6d ; fine, 20s to 22s—per 2801bs gross. New Zealand Barley— No. 1,34 sto 35s ; No. 2,25 s6d to 26s 6d—per 4481b5. New Zealand Oats— Heavy, 30s 6d to 325; ordinary, 27s to 28s—per Imperial quarter. Frozen Meats.—The depression which existed in this market at the date of our last writing has been increased rather than diminished'during the past two weeks. Stocks of frozen mutton have been augmented, and though quotations only exhibit a slight reduction on those current on 31st ultimo, lower rates would have to be accepted to clear any considerable quantity. The arrival of the large cargo per Klderslie in a more or less damaged condition has also had an injurious effect upon the trade, which, in the existing state of supply and demand, is specially susceptible to such adverse influences. Supplies of home-fed mutton have been ample but not excessive, whilst Iqrge quantities of American and Continental beef, killed in this country, have bsQfl offering at very, levy rates,