COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2296, 22 December 1891, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

AUCTIONEERS' REPORTS. Messrs J. Mundell and Co. report sales for the fortnight ending Saturday, Dec. 19th, 1891, as follows : Since our last report stock of all kinds has been in good demand; prices in consequence has improved considerably. At Pleasant Point yards on Monday, 17th iust., the yarding for this monthly fixture was considerably below the average. Competition, however, was good on all lots submitted, but owners' reserves being in most instances in excess of buyers' limits, consequently very few lines changed hands at auction., At the Geraldine Live Stock Market on Thursday, 10th inst., the totals yarded were 2778 sheep, 56 cattle, and 41 pigs, 'f he major portion of this entry sold at the following quotations :

Sheep—Three quarterbred wethers and ewes, 2-tooth, 10s 9d; half bred wethers and ewes, 2-tooth, 103 8d ; merino wethers, full mouth, in the wool, Bs, 8s 2d, to 8s 3d; thiee-quarterbred ewes, in the wool, with 100 per cent, of lambs at foot, 8s 6d, all counted ; merino ewes, in the wool, with 80 per cent, of lambs at foot, 9s 6d.

Cattle—Steers and heifers, in forward condition, £3 ss; cows, fat, £6 7s 6d; dry cows, forward, £3 12s 6d to £4; 2-year-old steers and heifers, £2 to £2 15s; yearlings, £1 5s to £1 7s 6d. Pigs—Strong stores, lQs to 10s Gd; medium, 7s, 7s 6d to 8s; weaners, 2s 6d, 3s, 4s, to 4s 6d.

At the Temuka Live Stock Market on Tuesday, 15th inst., a large entry was yarded for this sale, consisting of 4800 sheep, 240 cattle, and 71 pigs. The following prices were realised during the sale :

Sheep—Three-quarterbred wethers and owes, 2-tooth, lis ; halfbred wethers and ewes, 2-tooth, 9s to 9s 3d ; three-quarter-bred wethers and maiden ewes, fat, 12s 3d to 12s 6d ; merino ewes, in the wool, with 75 per cent, of lambs at foot, 9s Id. Cattle—Fat cows, £4, £4 17s 6d to £5; .steers, prime, £6 10s to £7 ; dry cows, forward, £2 14s 6d to £3 10s ; steers and heifers," 2-year-olds, £2 10s to £2 15s; yearlings, £1 3s to £1 ss. Pigs—Strong stores, 10s to 10s Gd; ! medium, Bs, 8s 3d to 8s 6d; small stores, 5s Gd, 6s, to 6s 6d. Wool, Sheepskins, etc—We held our usual fox wightly sale of the above at the stores of the National M. and A. Co., N.Z., Limited, Timaru, on Friday. The catalogue was not a large one, and as some of the leading fellmongers were absent, the sale was dull and dragging ; values in consequence suffered to a considerable extent. AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. Sydney, Dec. 19. Potatoes are quoted at £2 per ton, supplies being greatly in excess of requirements. Melbourne, Dec. 19. Two hundred and forty tons of butter were shipped to London to-day. ENGLISH MARKETS. London, Dec. 17, The first series of wool sales is to be held during January. The quantity will be unlimited. The visible supply of wheat is estimated at 63,000,000 bushels. Dec. 18. New Zealand 4 per cent, inscribed stock, 101|; 3J do., 92. New Zealand long berried wheat, 45s Gd, market restricted. For New Zealand wheat on coast sellers are asking 43s 3d, but buyers refuse to give more than 42s 9d.

Canterbury mutton, 4d; Wellington do, 3fd. The hemp market is quiet, but prices show an advance of 10s.

South Australian wheat, 4Gs, only a small portion bein'gj sold; Victorian, 45s Cd, market flat. Sugar, 14s l|d, quiet; Java, 16s 3d. Factory-made butter from New Zealand ex the steamer Kaikoura is selling at 124 s to 126 s per cwt., and dairy-made from 100 sto 114 s. Buyers complain that the present consignments from the colony are inferior to last year's shipments.

The bankers are staggered at the combined colonies asking for £8,000,000 worth of Treasury bills, which are regarded as virtually new loans. They express themselves as unable to understand why 4i per cent, should not tempt local investors to take up a portion of the amount. It is feared that holders of colonial stock will sell in order to purchase Treasury bills, thereby largely depreciating Australian stock for years. The suggestion has heen made that the bondholders should hold a meeting to denounce excessive borrowing being revived, and to offer the gravest objection to the continued expenditure of money on public works. A leading banking authority asserts that the Treasury bill, ought not to exceed a currency of two years. The bankers say that they are aware that two other colonies p/opose to issue £1,500,000 worth of bills, besides making other demands. Some experts advise that the bills should be made convertible into inscribed stock, but opinions differ on the advisability of such a step.