NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2000, 2 May 1885, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE MARKETS.

Tkk New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company report under date, Christchuich, Apul 23rd .— Wool.— The March -A pi ll series of saliM weio brought to a termination on 18th inst , with results which must proves disappointing to shippers of Merino wool, though growers of cross-breeds havo the satisfaction of learning that these descriptions display an advance of id to Id per lb. The following is tho puiport of the telegram received fioin our head office, from which it will ba observed that the withdrawals have been parttculaily heavy, reaching tho unusual proportion of 17 per cent, of the tot.il offering. The sales closed on 18th April -.—"As cjintuicd with the closing 1 ites of last sales, Merino dcs criptions aie easier. Medium and infetiot gro.isy and scoured show a decline of Ad. to Id per lb., and superior combing vvashr-d fully 2d to 3d per lb. Fine and coime eross-bieds advanced {,d to Id per lb. Merino lambs unchanged, cceept faulty lots, winch are easier. Them is much irregularity in tho buildings. The sales comprised about 195,000 bales. 40,000 bales havo been hpld over for fntuio disposal ; 110,000 bales havo been t iken for tho contingent; and 5,000 b.di>» for America. Tho next sales open on tho 4th June.

Ciiristchurch. — Tlie market has been quite barren of interest during the month, arrivals into store have coased, and p.ueels going forward for shipment consist almost oxclusivoly of scoured lines from stations and fellmongers. At our sale on Ist April, 7K(> biles wero offered, chiefly scoured brands, for which biddings were remarkably dull, due no doubt to tho fact that account sales of purchases made early in the season disclosed a loss, and also to the unfavourable reports regardiug thu class of wools at tho London sales in progress. Oi tho whole catalogue only 123 bales were quitted, for which satisfactoiy prices v. ere realised.

X vpier.— Wb hold onr fourth sale for the Reason on the 25th ult., when we catalogued 145 bales, 270 pockets, 4 fadgei and 1!) bags (principally merino parcels) the whole of which, with the exception of 2 b.Ues and 1 bag, sold under the hammer at satisfactory prices— via, merino, scoured, up to Is 4d ; greasy, up to 83d ; crossbred, scoured, up to lsOfcd ; gieasy, up to G£d ; lambs greasy, up to (>dd.

TvLLOW AND Fat. — The London market displays no improvement, though leccnt advices record a decrease in stocks. A sharp rise, consequent on the Russian embroilment, was fully expected, and the fact that such h*« not resulted, is clear cv idence of the very depressed state of the market at Home.

Gnus. — Dunedin. — During the last month there has been no intermption to harvest operations, the weather having continued most favourable. Veiy little grain remains in the field, and threshing is now in full progress, the samples turning out in excellent condition. Prices nre considerably lower than at this time last year, 1 but the quantity secured in such fine condition will more than cover the difference in value.

CmusrcHURCH. — Three weeks of fine autumn weather, with an occasional drying wind from the north-west, has done much to improve the grain in stack, and have enabled farmers to make good progress with threshing. Large quantities have been bagged and brought to market, but the condition of much is so unsatisfactory, that great discrimination has to be exercised in purchasing, to the serious curtailment of business.

Auckland. — Wheat : Business is dull, and excepting parcels to mdlers' ordeis, no shipments from the South are leported. — Oats : No great quantity has yet reached this market, but prices tend in buyers' favour. Samples and quotations from the South aie numerous, and vendors appear willing to accept lower rates than those quoted from Southern markets. Good milling ian>plci( are worth 2s 4d to 2s (id, and bright feed 2s 3d to 2s sd, but must be really first-class to secure the higher rates. — Barley ; Quotations for prime malting are nominal, and little or no business is being done ; for feed Hurts not more than 2s to 2s 3d can be obtained. — Maize : A heavy decline has taken place during the month, and the best quotation for a prime sample is now 3s 3d. Advices from Sydney have contributed in this result, the quotations for that maiket now being 3s per bushel.

Fkozen MRAT. — The more favourable a<l vices from London referred to in our last circular, have not been maintained, an easier tone with a slight decline in values having been reported about a week ago.

uunedin.— oince our iat.i. tiu s.s. Rnapohn has sailed, carrying !), IG7 careasus mutton, 54 quarters beef, and 2-*> quarters venison from thii port. The s.s. Kaikouia will be the next on the berth. A nhiptnent for her is now being prepared.

Chhistciiuuch. — Frep/ing has proceeded uninterruptedly at Belfast during the month, and the following clearances have been made .— Tainni, 3,37Bcarcases mutton. »nd 304 qu.ntera beef; Wellington, 8,030 carcases mutton.

Oamauu. — Tho Eldcralie (s), loading mutton for London, has 13,200 carca«es on board. She will leave about 2fith April.

Wkixington.— The two freezing Estabh<«hinentA hero have been actively enpatfed during 1 tho month Tho Taimii clcired on 10th nist. with l,fi(j."> carcases tnutsnti jind HC> pieces beof : and tfle Ruipeliu on 13th with 4,128 carcanes mutton.