Commercial.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 385, 26 August 1874, Page 2

Commercial.

DUNEDIN SHAEE MARKET Mr. J. R, Mackenzie reports for the week ending 22nd Augustas follows :—: — Again, a very quiet week has to be chronicled, the amount of transactions being small and unimportant. While the existing tightness in our local money market continues, no, buoyancy can be looked , for, albeit fine weather and other favoring circumstances would naturally stimulate a moderate brisk- j ness under an easier state of the circulatingmedium. The tone of the market, nctwithetanding this adverse influence, continues firm, and last week's quotations remain unchanged, wi&th^ exception, qi South Iritisk sj«& Kar

tional Insurance shares, which have advanced another shilling per share, being now respectively £2 13s and £1 11s, and which should inevitably be higher but for a few weak holders being under fche necessity to realiße owing to the pressing circumstances already referred to. It may be noted, en passant, as a proof of the caution with which the affairs of the local Insurance Companies are administered, that tho "lines" upon the groat fire of Saturday, were only for tho moderate amounts respectively — £2500 the National, £1750 the British, and £1500 the Standard. Whilst, however, fully admitting their prudence under existing rules, it is yet questionable, and should be matter for the grave consideration of the Managers, whether such risks are strictly legitimate iv view of the enormouß quantity of highly combustible materials stored in these magazines, and it is still more so whether these timber yards should bo permitted at all by our civic rulers within the precints of tho city. Had a high wind been blowing, such as we have several times recently experienced, in all probability nothing would have saved the entire block upon, both sides of the street from utter destruction, and thus have terminated, without mnch further ado, whether or not Princes street should be widened. This is the third fire within a short period in timber yards, two of them involving great loss of property. In mining shares the week has been well nigh, a blank, in the absence of information from tbe Skorover, and from tha severity of the f loat at the Arrow. Colonial Banks arc firmer, having been done at 2s 6cl discount up to par, and they may be expected, when the weak holders are weeded out, to improve still further, especially if the suggestions thrown out of putting tho unapplied for shares upon the London and Australian markets is carried out. National Banks are firm at £3 11s 6d. Mosgiels, notwithstanding the excellent business done by the Company and the near approach of a good dividend, are flat, caused by calls beiug made ; another proof of the scarcity of money. To those possessed of spare cash they may be recommended as a very remunerative investment, at present low prices. Sales — National Insurance, £1 10s and £1 lls ; South British, £2 12s ; National Bank, £3 lls ; Colonial Bank, 12s 6d to par. Sellers — National Insurance, £1 lls ; South British, £2 18 ; Standards, lls 6d ; Mosgiels, £1 ; Shotovers, 7s 6d ; Arrows, 8s 6cl ; Star of the East, £7 10s ; Fiji Bank, £3 ; " Daily Times," £50 ; Forburrs, £40 ; National Bank £3 lls 6d. Buyers — National Insurance, £1 10s *• South British, £2 lls; Standards, 10s 6d; Star of the East, £7 ss; Forburys, £30; Shotovers, 7s 3d.

DTJNEDIN CATTLE, &c., MAEKET. Messes. Weight, Stepjjsnson, and Co. report for the week ending 22nd August as follows : — Fat Cattle".— A f iill supply of 175 head was j-arded, and all sold — with the except ion of a few pens, which were turned out. We sold on account of Meßsrs* Orbell and others 62 head, at from £7 ss. to £13 10s. for bullocks, and £6 to £12 10s. for cows. Prime quality beef may be quoted at 325. 6d. per lOOlbs. ; medium do, 235. We sold privately 31 head, at 325, 6d. per lOOlbs. Fat Calves, - Only a few head were yarded, which sold readily at from 30s. to 455"! each. Fat Sheep. — 1520 were penned, and all cleared at fair rates, We sold GOO cross-breds at from 15s. 9d. to 19s. We also sold privately 500 merino wethers at 3Jd.. per 1b.., and 400 cross-breds. at 4id. per lb. We quote prime half-breds 4£d. to 4£d. per lb. ; do. merinos, 32d. Store Cattle. — We have several enquiries for cattle for delivery at the end of September, but very few sales are taking place. We quote biillool^a, tliTee to four years old, £'1 to JEM 10s. ; spared cows, £3 10s. to £4 ; mixed lots, £2 10s. " / Store Sheep. — We have buyers for merino wethers. Our sales comprise the following : — 500 full-mouthed merino ewes, in lamb to Leicester, at 7s. 6d. ; and 700 2-tooth crossbreds, at 11s. We quote merino wethers, 7s. to Bs. ; cross-bred ditto, 11s. to. 12s. Horses. — The demand is good, more . especially for- heavy draughts and light harness horses. We sold on account of Mr. John Trestrail a shipment of 30 head heavy draught mares and geldings, ex Omeo from Melbourne. For these there was a keen competition by most of our noted breeders. The mares brought from £47 to £48, and the geldings from £45 to £60. We sold on account of the same owner the far-famed Clydesdale entire horse Wallace (imparted from Scotland), which, after a, bride competition, was knocked dawn for 510 guineas to Mr. James Fowler of East Taieri, in which district we understand the horse is intended to travel. We also sold on account of Mr. John Robertson, West Taieri, his Clydesdale entire horse Surprise, 4 years old, to J. Shield, . Esq., Wanganui, for £210. We quote dranghts, first-class mares, £80 to £100 ; medium do., £50 lo£6o ; first-class geldings, £fio to £70 ; medium do, £37 to £45 ; good hacks and light harness horses, £30 to £35 ; medium do., £18 to £22 ; ( light and inferior, £5 to £8. Wool. — There are no further advices from the Home market since our last report. At our weekly sale wo sold several Binall lots at satisfactory rates. Sheepskins. — Qur sa.le on Wednesday was well attended by buyers, and there was a keea competition for well-woolled skins. We catalogued 2200 altogether, prices obtained for which show an advance on last week's rates. Butchers' green skins, half-brods, realised ss. 4d. to 65. ; merinos, 4s. sd. to 4s. '7d. ; station skins, from Is. 2d. to ss. 4d., according to quality. ' Hides continue in good demand, and wellconditioned lots realise full prices. We sold 90 at from 17s. to 3.85. 6d- for medium, up to 235. 3d. for heavy weights. Calf skins fetched 2s. 10d., aud heifer skins 7s. to Bs. 9d. each. Tallow. — We did not offer any this week. Any good lots, suitable for shipment, would fetch full value. We quote superior mutton, £30 to £32 per toa ; medium do., £26 to £28 ; inferior do., £22 to £24. Grain. — The market remains quiet, with very few parcels changing hands. Wheat. — Prime samples are worth 4s. 9d. to ss. j inferior, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. Oats are in fair request at from 4s. Id. to 4s. 2d. for feed, up to 4s. 4d. for prime milling samples. Barley. — i Good malting is saleable at 4s. 9d.. to 55. ; inferior, "4s. to 4s. 6d. Capstick, Dtttkie, and Co. report for the j week ending Monday, 24th August, 1874 : — Sheep.— Our sales have been privately for the week 100 merino ewes, at 8s 6d ; 1700 crossbred ewes, in lamb to Leicester rams, 16s each. We have no quotations for the. w.eek for hoi'ses and cattle. Grain. — Market quiet. Auckland, August 21st. Fat Cattle^ £1 12s 6d to £2 per 100. lbs ; sheep, 5d to s£d per lb ; steers, £5 to. £7 ; choice dairy cows, £10 to £12. The,.a*a,rket is dull. Oats, 5s 3d to ss- 6d ; maize; 5s 6d ; bran £7 10s ; pollard, £S ; wheat, .6s 3d to 6s 4d ; barley 5s 2d ; flour, £13 to £13 10s ; potatoes, £7 to £8 ; cheese, 8d ; butter, Is, 2d to. Is 3d ; hams aud bacon, lOd. Mr Alexander Saunders reports : — Sales of National Bank £3 10s ; South British Insurance Co; £2 14 ; Alburnia Tributary Caledonian, £9 15s ; City of London, £1 Ss. Buyera of South British, £2 12s ; City of London, £1 Bs, Sellers of Caledonian, £8 |