COMMERCIAL.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 294, 28 May 1898, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Waikato Argus Office, Friday. MARKET PRICES CURRENT. HAMILTON. The following prices for the current week were quoted by the Hamilton tradespeople on Friday : Bacon, per lb—Auckland : Wholesale, 7d to 7jd ; retail, 7 J 2 d to Bd. Farmers : Wholesale, 6d to 6|d ; retail, 6\A to 7d. Hams, per lb—Auckland : Retail, Bjd to 9d. Farmers: Wholesale, 7d to 7}d ; retail, 8d to 81/1. Eggs, per dozen: Wholesale, Is 4d to Is 6d ; retail, Is 6d to Is 9d. Dairy butter, per lb: Wholesale, lOd to Is ; retail, Is to Is 2d. Factory butter, per lb—New Zealand Dairy : Wholesale, Is 3jd ; retail, Is 6d. Cheese (farm-made), per lb : Wholesale, 3id to 4d ; retail, sd. Factory cheese, per lb : Wholesale, to sjd ; retail, 6d. Onions, per lb : Wholesale, to l|d ; retail, 2d. Table potatoes (local), per ton : Wholesale, £5 10s to £6 ; retail, £6 10s. Chaff, per ton—New : Wholesale, £3 10s to £4 ; retail, £4 5s to £4 10j. Sharps, per 1001 b: Wholesale, 6s 6d ; retail, 7s to 7s 6d. Bran, per 1001 b: Wholesale, Ds 4£d to 5s 6d ; retail, os 6d to 6s. Oats (Southern), perj bushel—Seed : Wholesale, 3s 6d to 3s 7d ; rotail, 3s 9d to 3s lOd. Feed : Wholesale, 2s lOd to 3s. Oats (local), per bushel: Wholesale, 2s 6d to 2s 8d ; retail, 2s 9d to 3s. Seed Wheat, per bushel : Wholesale, 5s ; retail, 5s 3d. Fowl wheat, per bushel : Wholesale, 4s 3d to 4s 6d ; retail, 4s 8d to ss. Maize, per bushel: Wholesale, 3s 6d to 3s Si ; retail, 3s 8d to 3s lOd. MESSRS McNICOL AND CO.'S SALE OF TURNIP CATTLE. At Messrs McNicol's sale on Wednesday there was a large muster of cattle. About 600 head were offered, all of a Rood quality and in fresh condition. There was scarcely a coarse beast in the yard. A real good line of about 100 head from Te Akau Station, all wellbred and in forward condition, induced good competition, prices ruling up to £6 18s. There were also some good lines from the Rotorangi and Monavale Stations. A draft of half-bred Polled Angus from the former were sold at £5 ss, nice plump three-year-olds, that will not require much to finish them off. Mr C. J. Storey, as usual, had a. good line. Mr Rea, of Paterangi, had a choice lot of steers, which fetched the highest price, £7 Is (with the exception of one fat ox, which fetched £8 12s 6d). Several dairy cows were offered, but the quality was not up to much, so there was little or no demand. Very few calves and young stock were offered, almost all grown cattle, and any even lot showing quality and breeding firmed. Some dehorned cattle were sold, and I am told the hides of Buch cattle sell at a higher price than ordinary, as they are less damaged and bruised, at any rate the meat is less likely to be injured in trucking, and therefore of more value to the butcher. There was certainly a decided advance in price for grown steers in fresh condition, and there was keen competition between the butchers and graaiers for some of the lots. Fat cattle were well represented and sold fairly well. The following are the prices realised :—The T« Akau bullocks, four to six years old, from £4 fls to £6 18s ; three-year-old, from £3 3s to £4 19s, according to condition and quality. A nice pen of halfbred Polled Angus three-year-old steers fetched £5 5s ; empty young cows, in fresh condition, £3 lis; empty cows (dehorned), £2 15s ; two and a-half year old steers, low condition, £2 5s ; empty cows in lpw condition, 28s; calves, mixed Bexes, 10s; one fat bullock, £8 12s fid ; small fat heifers. £3 9s ; fat cows, from £3 17s 6d to £4 14s, with a good demand ; fat steers, not too heavy, from £5 19s to £7 Is. There was a good attendance of the public, and with the exception of one or two pens everything was sold. AUCKLAND MARKETS. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) report :—Auckland Wool Stores, May 25.—The catalogue at our sale to-day was a full one. Hides: We sold prime stout os, 54d to 6d ; heavy stout, 44 to 5d ; medium, 4d to 4£d ; light, 3sd to 4d ; scored and damaged, 3d less ; cow, picked, to 4d ; ordinary, in good condition, 3§i to 3jjd ; calf, best, 3d to 4d. Sheepskins : Large, salted, realised 3s 3d to 4s H ; medium and small, 2a 3d to 3s. Tallow: Best rendered, 15s 3d to 16s cwt. Bones, in good condition, sell at £3 10s to £3 15s ton. Horsehair, Is to Is 2d lb. Cowhair, 9d to lb. Oats : The market is still very firm, at 2s 7d to 2s 7id, with an upward tendency. Maize : A fair quantity came to hand this week, the bulk of which sold at 3s 2d 011 the wharf, but buyers arc holding off, and only taking very small quantities. Chaff is selling at last week's quotation, £4 at rail, sacks extra, with an upward tendency. Messrs Alfred Bcckland and Sons' Weekly Repoet.—At the Haymarkct pressed hay has brought £4 53 ton ; chaff, £3 5s to £4 ss; carrots, £1 10s ; dun oats, 33 3d bushel; feed oats, 2s 9d and 2s lOd ; maize 3s 4d, ex wharf 3s 2d. On Friday horse stock, yarded numerously, were at late values. Draught horses of medium strength were from £l6 10s to £24 ; light harness, £8 to £i.l ; spring cart, £11; harness, £4; horse covers, 16s to 18s each. On Wednesday hides were in better demand and slightly better values. Ox hides were from 3Jd to lb ; cow hides, 3Jd to 3£d; kip, 3d ; calfskins, 3d to 'S\<\ ; horse hair, lid to la Id ; tallow, 12j and 12s 3d cwt; butchers' pelts, 2s 8d to 4s each ; station pelts, Is 4d to 2s 8d; lambs, Is 9d to 3s 3d ; crossbred wool, 6d lb; limbs' wool, 5d to ssd. At Remuera, on Thursday, dairy cows, in moderate supply, were at late values. Calves, in average supply, were better worth. Small calves, 2s to 6s each; medium size, 8s to 19s ; heavy calves, up to £1 12s, Fat cattle, in moderate numbers, were better worth. Prices for steers were from 18s to £1 Is per 1001 b. Sheep, short of requirements, advanced in price Is each. Wethers were from 8s 0d to 14s 6d each ; ewes, 8s 6d to 13s ; lambs, 6s 6d to ih !)d. Pigs in usual number. Coarse«bred youug pigs from Is 6d to 4s each ; well-bred weaners, 8s to 10s ; porkers, 16s to £1 13s. Messrs Hcnter and Nolan's Report.—Horsefeed, seed, grain, etc. : The demand continues good. Maize is selling at 3s Id, ex wharf, to 3s 4d in store ; feed oats, 2s 9d to 3s 2d ; seed oats, 3s Id to 3s 3d ; chaff, at railway, £3 17s 6d 1 1 £4 ss; ex store, £4 5s to £4 10s ; bran, £5 ton. Horses : The Durham Yards were well filled on Friday, but competition was dull. Heavy draughts brought from £ll 7s 6d to £22 15s; medium draughts, £8 17s 6d to £l4 2s 6d ; light harness horses, £3 7a 6d to £lO 2s 6d ; hacks, £2 7s 6d to £lO ss. Wool, hides, skins and tallow : Owing to Tuesday being a public holiday, the usual weekly ■ale was held on Wednesday. Hides and •kins were pitched in ltss numbers than ,

usual. Ox hides sold from 3sd to od lb; cow, 3d to 3§<l ; calfskins, 3d to Id; bones, £3 12s 6(1 tor,; tallow, 10s 6d to 12s 9d cw; : sheepskins, Is 7d to 4s 3d | pelts, 7d to la 2d ; wool, to sid ; pieces, 2\d to 3d lb. Cattle : The usual weekly sale at the Newmarket Yards was held on Wednesday this week. There was a large muster of fat stock, and bidding was good throughout the sale. Ox beef sold at from ISs to £1 per 1001 b; cow, 13s to 16s>; steers brought from £5 to £9 7s 6d ; cows, £3 10s to £S 10s. Dairy cows, yarded in less numbers than usual, sold at from £3 to £5 ss. Sheep: The Newmaiket Yards were well tilled on Wednesday, and both sheep and lamb 3 showed a decided upward tendency. We quote : Wethers at from 10s 3d to 14s 3d ; ewes, 8s to 12s 3d; store wethers, 7s to Ss 31 ; store ewes, 3s 6d to 6s 9d ; lambs, 4s (3d to lis 6d. Pigs : Plentiful, sold at from £1 to *£l 12s 6d : weancrs, 2< 6d to 15s. At Waiuku on Saturday there was a good muster for the midwinter sale. Thrce-ycar-old steers made from £3 to £3 los ; IS months' to two-year-old sreeis.. from £1 17s Bit to £2 12s 6 1 ; calves, from 7s to 15s; yearlings, 15s to £1 2s; dry cows, £1 7s 6d to £1 15s ; dair> cows, £3 103 to £5 ss.