COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1498, 27 April 1886, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

AUCTIONEERS’ REPORT. TIMARU. Mr D. MacleanJ (for Messrs James A. Grade and Co.) reports for the week ending Saturday as follows Horses—To-day having been proclaimed a holiday, they did not hold a sale of horses this week. Privately during the week they sold a team (4) of good draughts and a pair of hacks at equal to former quotations. On Saturday next we shall offer a l«rg« lot of draughts, broken to work, and 12 bead unbroken colti and fillies. Sheep—At the Washdyke on Thursday fat sheep were represented by two small pens, and these being light weights, were sold at a low figure. The demand, however, for fat sheep was very limited, owing to the local trade being well sup plied from private sources. In stores there wus a considerable entry, composed chiefly of old ewes and lambs, neither of wb'ch find much favor in the eyes of buyers at present. They sold 70 2 tooth cri'Bfihreds at ss, K'O crossbred culls at 4s 4d, 360 old crossbred ewes at Is 7d to 1b lOd, 170 merinos nt lid, 450 lambs a' 2s, and 200 lambs «t is 6d. Privately, we disposed of 2500 crossbred ewes, for breeding, at a satisfactory price. Cattle—At the Washdyke yards there was a small entry both of fat and stores. We sold dry cows from 25a to £3, milkers up to £6, and calves from 5s to 15s. TIMARU PRODUCE MARKETS. From the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company’s (Limited) report dated 22nd April, 1886, we make the following extracts : Grain—The markets of the South Island generally have been favorably affected by the demand from Australia and Tasmania for wheats of various descriptions, but chiefly prime milling Tuscan and chick feed. Slocks of the former have been bought up when avail able, while supplies of the latter have become contracted by the continuous withdrawals for shipment. It should, however, be noted that the unfavorable weather, so long prevalent in tbe most Southern districts, has created a supply of inferior and fowl wheat sufficient for immediate wants. Whether the Australian demand for our prime milling wheats will be of long duration is a matter of speculation and considerable doubt, seeing that vessels are already on passage from Oregon to Sydney with large supplies of wheat from that famed district. The prices at which this wheat can be laid down in Sydney, at the low rates of freight obtainable in San Francisco, enables it to compete on most advantageous terms with either South Australian, Victorian, or New Zealand. From a circular published by a firm of Adelaide millers, we learn that negotiations have been proceeding for the introduction of Californian wheal into that market. Those are important factors in connection with our local markets and tbe future prices likely to obtain, and should not be lost sight of by those wbo contemplate holding their grain for higher rates. The English market is more depressed than ever, and from the fact that cargoes anoff ring in London at current prices for delivery six months hence, we infer that brokers do not anticipate any ini provement for some considerable time. Shipments to London are, therefore, out of the qu slion in the meantime. Grain is now pouring into Timaru, and a large quantity is going in store on owners’ account, —Wheat : Large qnanlies have lately changed hands, millers buying f ree ly— a pleasant necessity arising from the fact that the celebrated locallymade “ roller ” flour is >n such demand that, working day and night, they can barely supply the orders in hand. At present shipping quotations for prim’ milling are—Tuscan, 3s 7d ; Velvet. 3s 6d ; Red Chaff, 3s sd, f.o.b Timaru, Fowl wheat is in demand, but the supply is small, sales have been made at up to 3s 3d f.o.b.— Oats : A fair amount of business has lately been done in oats. Feed sorts (Danish and Tartars) are worth Is 9d to 2s ; short feed, Is lOd to 2s Id j milling, 2s to 2s 3d, all f.o.b.—Barley ; The demand is limited. We have placed a few lines of medium at 2s 6d to 2s Bd. Prime malting is worth 3s to 8s 3d. A large quantity of the latter is in the district. Ryegrass—All lots coming forward meet with ready sale at quotations, viz. : —Farmers’ lots,3s 6d to4s 3d; machinedressed, 5s to 5s 6>f, Wool—Only back country clips and tellmongers’ parcels are now coming to hand. The quantity of wool passed through Timaru during the past season was considerably in excess of previous years, plainly denoting a marked increase in the attention given to wool growing in the district. Sheepskins—Late unfavorable advices from London of the state of the wool m rket have caused a drop in the price of sheepskins. Privately and at auction we have cleared a Urge quairify during tbe past month. Latest prices obtain'd are as follow:—Haf and crossbred (bu'cher*’ a”d freezing skins), up t--j2« 4 1 | iB-riu"! do, I> 5,1 ; iambi* do, 2» j country ikiue, up io 3o 4d.

Tallow ami Pat—The market continues in a very depressed state. Sales are difficult to effect. We have quitted a few lines at 7s 6d per cwt for rough fat. Hides—We have to note a slight advance in price during the past fortnight, Good, clean, well-flayed, heavy bides still command top values. We have quitted a considerable number at up to 4£d for heavy, and to 3|d for light to medium. Frozen Meat—The Lady Jocelyn, at Port Chalmers, has taken on board 8968 carcases, frozen at our local works. The Mataura has just completed her loading at this port, having 6874 carcases on board. A cargo is now being prepared for the ship Lyttelton, to load here next month, after which the works will be busy getting ready a cargo for a steamer in JnneJuly, so that our local company is justifying its existence by . steady and valuable work. DUNEDIN PRODUCE MARKETS. The following is the report for the week ending Wednesday : Oats—These are meeting with a demand for shipment, but as bright feed is wanted at Is lOd to Is 10|d, while sellers are holding for Is lid to 2s and over, a considerable portion of the business that should have been done here is diverted to other ports. Stout bright milling is in request for local use, but without any improvement in values. Quotations are nominally ; Prime milling, 2s; short bright feed, Is lid to Is ll£d ; medium Is lOd to Is 10|d ; discolored and Danish, dull, at Is 9d (ex store) bags weighed in. Barley-Business continues very inactive ; and transaction* in good malting extremely limited ; 3s to 3s3d is the most ottered for prime samples. Grass Seed—Ryegrass is io less demand but nominally may be quoted at 3s to 4s 6d for farmers’ undressed. Cocksfoot 4d, Chaff— £3 5s for beat quality and £3 for ordinary. Potatoes—Business very quiet at £3 10s. Butter—Fresh, 9d to 9£d ; salt, 9d to 101. Cheese s£d to 6 t for best quality. Eggs—Supplies short ; price 2s 4d. Sheepskins—Quotations: Country dry crossbreds Is Id to 3s 2d ; do do merino, 9d to 2s 9d ; do do pelts, Id to 4d ; green crossbreds, Is 9d to 2s 4d; do merino, Is &d to Is 6d ; lambs, Is 9d to 2s Id. Hides—Heavy hides, free from ears, shanks, and cuts, or any offal, are most in request, and these command from 4£d to 4§d ; while lighter in good condition range from 4d to 4Jd ; bull hides, and any out of condition, 2d to 2jd per lb. Tallow—Quotations for inferior are 10s to 13s; medium, 14s to 16s; prime, 17s to 18s ; and rough fat, 6s to 9s per cat. ENGLISH MARKETS. London, April 24, The wheat market is stationary, and business is checked owing to the holidays. April 25. The total quantity of wheat afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,860,000 quarters.