COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 49, 4 April 1874, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Messsrs Deiveb, Stewart and Co. report as follows for the week ending April Ist:— Fat Cattle. — The usual weekly market to-day was supplied with only 55 head of very medium quality cattle, all of which were disposed of at prices ranging up to £9 12a 6d for bullocks, and £7 17a 6d for cows. Although we do not anticipate any material rise in value for the next month or six week?, still we observe that really prime lots are not so plentiful as has been the case in previous yeais. Consequently, this description will at all times command full values. We quote best quality at about 22s 6d per 100 lbs ; medium 17s to 1 8s. We sold at the yards 20 head, and have placed 35 head privately. Fat Sheep. — About 1400 of various descriptions were penned, of which 1160 wore disposed of, the balance being turned out. Best quality crossbreJs brought up to 12s 6d each ; merinos, 8s ; ft merino ewes, 6a. Of the above number, we sold 750 cross-breds and merinos at top rates, and have p'acad privately 500 cross-bre is for immediate delivery. We quote prime cross-breds at a shade over 2£d ; do merinos, at about 2£d to 2£. Fat Lambs. — None were penned to-day, but we have sold privately 100 at from 9s 6d to 10s 6d. Store Cattle. — We have no alteration to note on our late quotations, and have during the week placed 100 head in various lots. Store Sheep. — A brisk demand still exists for young merino shrep, at from 6s 6d to 7s 6d for ewes, 6- tooth and under ; and 6s to 7s f->rf ->r lambs. Good full-mouthed ewes (none broken) are always readily saleable at from 4s to ss, according to quality. Cross breds, mixed sexes, 4- tooth and upwards, are saleable at from 9s 6d to 10s ; do, 2tooth, at from 7s 6d to 8s 6d ; do lambs, 7s to Bs. We have sold during the week, of various descriptions, about 6000, and have placed several large lots under offer. Stud Sheep. — We have sold during the week 100 long-wool rams at from 30s to £5 each, and about 150 ewes at from £2 to 6 guineas each. We have a' so placed several small lots of merino lambs at from £2 to £2 10s. Wool. — Since our sale on the 26 ult., we have disposed of about 120 bales privately, at fa*r prices. The demand, however, is but •light; nor is it likely to be improved by the intelligence to hand today per Claud Hamilton, at the Bluff, which runs aa follows : — " London, 21st March. — The wool sales closed last night. 154,034 bales were catalogued, and 75,000 were disposed of during the series. Home buyers bought reluctantly to keep machinery going Prices cloß3d cad jr. 240,0)0 bales remain for next sales." The bulk of the seasons clip is now a float, and the quantity remaining for offer in this market is very trifling, consisting chiefly of small lots from the interior and odd bales of large clips, suitable only for the felmongers. Sheepskins. — Our usual weekly sale was held this day. We catalogued and sold a large quantity of skins, but price* suffered in consequence of the adviceß above referred to. Menn?*, full wool, up to 4s lid; medium, 3s 9i to 3* lid. Butchers' skins brought — Fjr^merinos irom lOd to Is 5d ; crost-breds, from Is lOd 'o 2s 4d. Hides and Tallow. — None offered. Grain of all descriptions continues in good demand. Wheat. — Prime samples command up to 4s 9J for grinding. The demand lbi shipment will no doubt be affected by the telegraphic advices of to-day, which report the home market drooping, owing to large expected arrivals. Oats may be quoted at 4j 2J to 4s 4d for old, and 3s 9J to 3s lid for new crop, with comparatively little business doing.