COMMERCIAL,

Temuka Leader, Issue 2159, 5 February 1891, Page 3

COMMERCIAL,

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. Sydney, February 3. At the wool sales there was vigorous competition with a good market, and prices were decidely firm, Good greasy sorts sold at per lb. Good washed fetched to Is, and good average scoured to 13d. Wheat, chick feed, 3s Id to 3s 3d; milling, 3s 9d. Oats, Is 9d to 2s. Maize, 8s 8d to 8s 9d. Barley, Cape, 2s 3d to 2s 6d. Bran, 7d to 7£d. Pollard, Bd. Potatoes, £3, Onions, £4. Butter, dairy-made, 8d ; separator-made, 9d; factory-made, lOd. Cheese 3£d to sd. Bacon, machine-cured, 4d to 6d; hand-cured, dull at Bid to 9d. Hams, New Zealand, dull at lid, Melbotjene, rFebruary 8. Wheat, 3s s£d. Flour, stone-made, £7 10s to £8; roller-made, £8 10s to £9. Oats, Calcutta and Algerian, Is 7d to Is 10d; stout Victorian, 2a 8d to 2s 9d. Beans, Bd. Peas, 2s 7d to 2s Bd. Adelaide, February 3. Wheat, 3s 8d to Ss B|d. Business in other lines is quiet, and prices are unaltered. ENGLISH MARKETS. London, January 31. Tallow—Medium, mutton 26s 6d. The English wheat market is changing a little for the worse ; Continental is declining, but American shows a general advance. The total quantity of wool catalogued up to date is 656,000 bales, of which 628,000 have been sold. Australian Leather—Best sides, 9d to 9|d; basils, strained, best quality, Is 3£d. February 2. Cargoes of Australian wheat, prompt shipment, have been sold at 86s 7£d to 87s.

Railway Commissioners at Timaru.— On Saturday last Messrs McKerrow and Hannay, Railway Commissioners, visited Timaru, and were waited upon by Mr E. Actos, the Chairman of the Timaru Harbor Board, with reference to the letting of business sites on the reclaimed land. He fully explained the grievance of the Timaru Harbor Board, producing correspondenca and documents to prove that when the railway authorities were allowed to take part of the reclaimed land for the purpose of enlarging the railway station (thereby saving the railway authorities about £50,030, which they wou'd have otherwise had to expend in purchasing private property) certain boundaries were defined, a oi the land was given for station purposes on y, and not for letting for store sites. The commissioners had now Jet a site actually embracing part of a road which it had beeu agreed should form the boundary between the Harbor Board aod railway authorities. If the commissioner did thus compete the board’s reclamation would be of no value, as the railway possessed the moat eligible sites. In reply the commissioners said they did not know the nature of the old correspondence. They had found themselves in posession of the ground, and eat about making the beat use of it. They, however, were prepared to admit that there was a good deal in the argument of the board respecting competition, and they would give the board’s view full consideration and send a reply.—The mayor of Timaru also interviewed the commissioners re the same land. He pointed out that the sites being let were outside the town boundary, and consequently not liable to borough rates. Many ratepayers in the borough had erected expensive grain stores in stone and brick, and on these had to to pay taxes, and they had reasonable ground of complaint against the commissioners’ action. He hoped the commissioners would not object to the borough boundary beiog extended to the sea, especially as the railway premises had the benefit of the main sewer. In reply Mr McKerrow said that similar questions had arisen at Wellington and Dunedin, and they would consider them all together. They admitted that if they let many sites it might be an advantage to have the block, with its streets, road, gas, and water, under municipal management and control.