COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2179, 24 March 1891, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS. TIMA.RU. Mess™ Gracie, Maclean and Co. report for the past fortnight as follows : Horses—There is no change to note in the demand for draughts up to the present time, but we fully expect to see an improvement in this market soon. Our entry to-day comprised a lot of good sorts, but only a few changed hands. We quote medium to good at from £ls to £25, inferior £8 to £l2. Hacks—medium £8 to £l4. Sheep—We have again to report a brisk demand for store sheep of all descriptions, and no abatement of the high prices ruling ol late, Fat sheep and lambs are also in demand both for export and the local trade. At Winchester we sold crossbred ewes at 6a 7d, 7s 3d, 8s 6d, 9s 6d, and 10s. At Wasbdyke, thia week, there was a full yard and a fair amount of business done. We Bold 517 crossbred lambs at 9s 9d, 198 do do at 8s 3d, 530 merino ewes at ss, 345 do do at 2s 6d. Cattle—There is but little doing in store cattle, as none of the class that is wanted, viz., well-grown steers, are offering. At Makikihi, we sold 4 fat heifers at £6, 10s, 5, do do at £4 15s, 5 do do at £4 ss, 4 fat pows at £4 12h 6d, 1 do do at £5 ss, store cows at 20s to 40s.

Sheepskins—At auction and privately we disposed of 5054. skins, viz., 4017 lambskins and 1037 pelts, all at full rates..

Hides and Tallow—AH consignments 1 to hand have been disposed: of at former quotations. TIMARU MARKETS. . The Canterbury Farmers' Association, Limited, report as under:— Wheat—Since our laat report the market is considerably firmer and values have risen l£d per bushel all round owing to the continued bad weather at Home, and the English telegrams advising an advance in wheat. Prices to-day (Friday) are:— 3.B"6£cltO'3s 7|d for tuscan, 3s 6d to 3s 7d fer velvet, and 3s 5d to 3s6d for red chaff, damaged wheat 2s lOd to 3s, seconds 2s 6d to 2s 9d.

Oats atill continue dull of sale, and except for prime samples it is difficult to find buyers; values are about the same as last week, viz., Is 6Jd to Is 8d for Canadians, la 6d to Is 7d for tartars, lssd to Is 6d for duns, Is 3£d to Is 5d for bright heavy danish, Is 2d to 1b 3d for inferior.

Barley—No salea to report; values : nominally 3s to 3s 3d for prime malting. Inferior is u nsaleable. Potatoes-r-Beveral lots are being offered at about 40s f.0.b., sacks in, for delivery about the end of-April, but buyers do not care to operate. AUSTRALIAN MAEKETS. Melbourne, March 20. i At the wool sales to-day business was fairly active. Good lines maintained their position, but faulty were rather irregular. Greasy merino fetched up to 9d, and scoured to Is 4|d. ENGLISH MARKETS. LoifDOir, March 19. New Zealand 4 per cent, inscribed stock 107 ; 3£ do, 97£. New Zealand long-berried wheat, 425, active. For New Zealand wheat on passage sellers are asking 395, but buyers will not give more than 38s 6d. Canterbury mutton 4fd, Wellington do 4|d, Canterbury lamb 6|d. Beef; forequarters, 3 9-16 d; hindquarters; 4id.

Hemp—Wellington, fair ; quality £22 15s, good £24 15b. South a us.tralian wheat 435, market restricted j Victorian do 425, quiet. Sugar—Best German beeti 13s 9dj yrm.

No, 1 best Scotch pig iron, f.o.b, in in Clyde, 445, market flat. For New. Zealand wheat, off coast, sellers are asking 425, but buyers will doc give more than 41b 6d.

The New Zealand Loan and tile Agency Company, Limited, have received the following cable message! from London, dated 19 h inst. :-

Frozen Meat Mutton market easier, Price of mutton has declined id per lb since last report. The beef < market is quiet. Quotations unchanged since last telegram. Lamb market is dull. Prime New Zealand lambs are worth per carcase, 6£d per lb. Wheat —There is at present no quotation for New Zealand wheat, new crop c.i.f. to arrive. Market is depressed but expected to recover shortly. Buyers in the present condition of the market will not make firm offers.

Tallow—Market firm, Fine mutton and good beef is worth respectively 28s and 26s 6d per cwt. Quotations nominal,