COMMERCIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2876, 18 December 1890, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The IFaikato 'Times Offiet, Wednesday. MARKET REPORTS. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) report under date:— Dunkdin, December 4.—W001: Public press and private cablegrams to band respecting tho progress of oho present series ot sales now being held in London aro not by any means satisfactory. Wo are in receipt of the following cablegram from our London office:—"The wool sales progress fairly well, but there is much irregularity in the bidding. The following decline in prices sinco the close of last sales:—Greasy merino, ldporlb; scoured do., Id to l.'.d par lb; tine groasy cross-bred id per lb; tine scoured do, Id per lb; coarse greasy do., Ad per lb ; coarse scoured, Ad to Id per lb. Wools of a faulty character are negIticted. The total quantity catalogued to date is -18,000 bales, out of which 7,-100 bales have been withdrawn. "In the local market there is nothing doing pending the ooening of th 6 season with the first sales on Thursday, the 11th inst. Tho weather is somewhat fitful, and deliveries of the new clip are only to moderate extent; but weather permitting consigornenta will now come to hand on a more extensive scale. The second sales for the season, held at Ohristchurch Inst Friday, 28th ult., were iaii'ly well attended, but prices ruling aro slid to be 30 per cont. lower all round than the corresponding sals of last ■' year, the best demand beiug for tine bright half bred wool, while inferior merino showed tho most marked decline. Grain—YVheat: While prime samples of velvet and Tuscan in limited parcels can be pluced occasionally at up to late quotations, the market on the whole may be considered destitute of animation. This is in a measure owing to there being no demand for shipment, also to the fact that millers have fair stocks of both wheat and flour on hand, whicli they prefer reducing before making any further pnrchsses. Oats: There is little change in the market during the week. Considerable parcels are being placed daily for shipment, both to Australia and the Home markets from here and also from the Bluff. Stocks in town are now being reduced to a smaller compass; still buyers do not seem inclined to advance upod recently ruling quotations, and in view of the considerable quantity still in tho hands of farmers, also the favourable reports to hand regarding the crops iu Australia, the hope once held that prices would be higher by this time must now, we fear, bo abandoned. —Dairy Produce : There is no export demand for either cheese or butter in the meantime; the only business passing being for local consumption, and, with an excessive supply, prices continue low. Factory cheese; Medium size, dull at 4d to 4Jd; loaf, per lb. Prime salted butter in Pond's boxes, 7d to Sd ; medium, b'd to 7d per lb. OmusTCHUlich, December ii.— Wool : .During the week the cables from Londuu hare been of an unsatisfactory tenor, though the most recent ones report an improved tona and a slight advance iu prices for superior merino, both greasy and Bcoured. The first sale of the season at Ashburton was held on December 4, when catalogues comprising 1600 bales were offered to a small attendance of buyf.r?. Prices, however, were very satisfactory, and a good clearance u;is ell'ectcd:—Crossbred, b'.id to 9.{d ; three-quaitjr-bied. 7d to 7/.d : merino, 7d t:> "id ; pieces and locks, •Jd to tijd.—Whoat: There is no alteration to report in this market, A quiet business still ruling.-—Oats: A slightly improved tone i< apparent in bright heavy lines, but othor qualities aro neglected.—Dairy pro- c duce : Butter, (id to (iid ; cheese, 3d to Id * per lb. j SvuNKY, December I.—Wool (free): At our weekly sale of wool to-day, we brought I forward a catalogue of I,SOO bales, this assortment offered being met by a generally autive competition from Continental buyers. All desirable classes of the staple were frooly taken by this .section of the traclu at a range of prices equivalemt to those ruling a week ago, but lower values had to be accepted for seedy, burrv, and skirty parcels in order to effect business, tho discouraging cablegrams from the London November-]>eceinbor series of wool sales, announcing a fall of Id per lb on S those descriptions, and of Id to l.'.d per lb mi scoured sorts, having weakened the market for all faulty kinds of wool. Uood greasy realised up to !>>l pnr lb, nnd good bulky skirting* sold at 74 to Sd : sumo largo lines (if the latter changing hands. MV> good secured wools wnro offered. H Wheat (froB).—U33L qu-ilitv milling wl'ixat may still hu quoted at 3s 10; i per bii-ihel, but chickfeed is easier, owing to receipts being hfavior of late, and for bnst & whole we quote 3s I>;1 to li.-i 7d. O.its (freo). —Stocks have b<;pn further increased by shipments during the week, but we still quote best descriptions nf feed nt from Is ltd to 2s par bushel, flutter (duty Id per lb).—We still qirite best factory-made at _ up to Si), nnd dairy at up to lid, supplies being plentiful. Chee«e (duty 2d per li>.)— Tie.it locally mado may still b'n quoted iit up \\ to 4W. The-.-e is no Xow Zealand cheese offering. Hams (duty L'd per lb).—Best brands New Zealand liaht weight hams are - worth Hid, other br.inds ruling proportionately. Bußpn (duty 2d per lb). —We ugaiii " quote best New Zealand bacon, well cut, i\ at up to o.'»d.