COMMERCIAL. Waikato Times Office, Wednesday. SYDNEY MARKETS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1454, 27 October 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL. Waikato Times Office, Wednesday. SYDNEY MARKETS.

Mlssrs Mort & Co. report for the year past ended, under date Sydney, October 10,1881 :— Following- our annual custom we review some of the more prominent features of pastoral affahs during- the past twelvemonths. Ihe meat export promises to assume most important dimensions, the practicability of placing cargoes on the London market with a fair prospect of commercial success having been fully demonstrated. This and other exports we refer to more particularly under their several heads further on . The wool market opened here last year under somewhat exceptional circumstances. The excitement at the London sales of February-March, and especially in the early part of April, rBBo, and the consequent extreme prices realized for Australian woofs, made growers generally very much indisposfd to meet the market at the following season here, and, as a consequence, a larger proportion of the clip than usual went forward on station account without testing Sydney prices, which, as regards many large clips, were, we have no hesitation in saying, tully equal to London values at the time of shipment, as'account siles have no doubt in many ca-.es since proved to owners. i lie London sales of last clip have been generally <i'n> tppointing to shippers, .and although cablegrams leccivcd from time to time during the c ouise of the August scues have been somewhat reassuring, account sales of the earlier portion of these sales already to hand occasionally show but \oiy indifferent results. Wool export. As anticipated, the extension of the New bouth Wales Railways is diverting a large <]u mtity of wool to tins port, as will be seen by the exports from Sydney tor the twelve months, from ist Octaber, 1880, to Ist October, 1881, which amount to 224,552 bales, or an increase of <ncr 12 pu cent, a 1 - compared with preceding twelvemonths. Victoria shews an increase of nc irly 9 per cent., Queensland 15 per cent., and South Australia ot nearly 14 pei cent., or a total increase fiom the four colonies of 72,727 bales. Detailed list of export, is annexed hereto. Sm 1 [".kiss — Quotations have ranged as follows — Station skins, best, 6^d to jd; medium, -;](1 to $(1 ; pelts and short-growth, rid to j^d per lb ; fresh skins at from 4s jod to 5s 2d each. I'"ki sii Mi"W Expori — The best means of developing the fresh meat export trade has for some months past engaged public attentioH to a gteatei extent than at any former period ; and if pr.ai lical results have not been all that could have been vviihcd, the attention directed to this question has not been without fruit. Shipments from Victoria and fiom New South Wales have been landed and dealt with, and arrangements are being perfected for further operations. The prices realised in the English market have ranged from s|d. to sid. for beef, and =,\d. to 6|d for mutton, which, although not up to the expectations ot some sanguine shippers, aie at feast sufficiently high to secure for graziers a minimum below which meat need not go. In addition to the steps taken in the colonies to promote this important tiadc, a wcil sustained effort n London has resulted in the formation of " Die Austiah.in Company Limited," for the importation of meat from Australia, and .a commencement of operations by an oder for the preparation of 2SO tons for .1 vessel to arrive, 'lhis is the first order that has been rccci\ed, all previous \ertures having been on Australian account, and it evidences a disposition to do business which should be fairly met. The owners of siieep and cattle arc asked to aid an undertaking which promises to lead to their benefit will not he ill on one side, by t iking interest, p tying for sn nes il they so elect, if suitable fat stock for a. future shipment. ihediStnct of operation will to some extent be decided by the response re- ' cened, as a co-opcrati\c spirit is considered to I be essential to success Pieserved Meat. — Ihe puichiscsofthcSjdiicyMe.it Preserving Comp<ui) have been prescived during the half-} car ended on 30th June lallovv.— A I.atge quantity has been bt ought foiuaid and disposed ol at the weekly sales. Hides have been in good supply and have sold icadily, although not without some fluctuation in values. Latest quotations are — heavies \d to 4 |d; medium weights 3Jd to 3Jd ; and light and dry 4d to 5d per lb Grain.— L.irly in the season prices ranged fiom 3s rod to 4s per bushel, but they gradually hardened, and for some time ruled at 4s 6d to 5s ihe highest point was reached at our sale on Ist Septembei , when 5s lid per bushel was paid for one line. In addition to the large quantity reteived per railway about 8000 bags have arrived from New Zealand and South Australia during the last few weeks. Oats — The heavy at rivals from New Zealand has caused the market to be overstocked, and there is difficulty in doing business at quotations, \\^. :: — 2s. 4a. to 2s Bd. per bushel. Flour. — 1 his market has fluctuated considerably dunng~the year, but on the whole a considerable advance has been established since the commencement of the season, and values to-day are fully 50s per ton better than in the early part of the year. Quotations to-day arc. for New South Wales brands £12 to £13 per ton, some millers asking £11 10s ; South Australian £ 12 5 s to £*3 »° s > an d Victorian £11 15s to £12 10s.