COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 175, 4 August 1876, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Mb. Hekbt Dbiveb, on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, reports as follows for the week ending August 2, 1876:— Fat Cattle. — 120 head were yarded to-day, the greater portion being good to prime quality. There was a better, spirit in the bidding than has been shown of late, all on hand being sold at a slight advance on last week's quotations. Best bullocks brought from .£l3 to £16 13s ; do cows, £10 to .£l4— or equal to 37s '6d per lOOlbs for prime quality, and from 30s to 32s 6d for medium. . We sold 30 head at the yards, and have placed during the week privately 70 head at above rates.

Fat Calves. — Only a few penned, which sold at from 25a to 70s. Fat Sheep. — 2,100 came forward at yards, chiefly crosa-brede, and 500 found buyers at about late prices. Best cross-breds brought 12s 6d to 15s 6d, or equal to 3d per lb. i Store Cattle and Sheep. — Nothing since date of our last to report. Wool. — The cable being still interrupted, no further advices have reached us respecting the London wool sales, which would now be drawing to the close of the heaviest sale as to quantity ever offered in one series.

Sheepskins.— We catalogued 1,200, principally green slaughters, which sold fully up to last week's rates, cross-breds bringing 3a Id to 4s, two large slaughters "bringing the latter price j merinos, 2s 9d to 2s lid. Hides were well competed, and brought full rates; inferior, 12s 9d; medium, 17s 6d to 193 3d; heavies, 21s 6d— or equal to 3jd; green butchers', 18s to 21s 6d. Tallow. — None offered.

Grain. — Wheat is very scarce. Prime samples would readily bring ss. There is no wheat offering. Millers are bare of stock. Oats are also in short supply. Shipping orders cannot be executed. Feed samples, Is 9d to Is lOd; milling, Is lid to 2s. Barley is moving slowly. Malting samples, prime, 4s to 43 6d; choice, none ; milling, 2s 9d to 3s.

Mb. Skenb reports for the week ending August 2, 1876, as follows : — Quietness is the rule in almost every department. - Farm Servants and females are the only exceptions. The demand, for good trained ploughmen is far beyond the supply, and taking into account th« large acreage getting constantly broken up, we cannot possibly be overstocked with trained ploughmen. The time for shepherds is hardly, on yet. Town wants are very limited, and shopmen and clerks are too plentiful. Couples are in good demand. Wages— Shepherds, £60 to £65 j ploughmen, £52, £55, and £60 ; day labor, 7s, Bs, and 9s ; house girls, 103, 12s, and 15a per week: hotel girls, 12s, 15s, and 20u ; carpenter*, 10s, 12s, and 13s ; boys and girls, 6s to 10s ; clerks and shopmen, 36s to 50s ; dairy and odd hands, 15s to 20s ; bushmen, about 9s. Mr. A. Mebceb reports as follows for the week ending August 3, 1876, retail prices only : — Fresh butter, in £ and 1 lb. prints, 2a 2d to 2a 3d; powdered and salt butter, Is 8d to Is lOd. Fresh biUtor is now plentiful, and the market at present is well supplied. Salt butter is selling well, and very plentiful. Cheese, best quality, Is 2d per lb ; side and rolled bacon, Is to Is Id ; Colonial hajhs, X* 3d t English bams, Is 6d to Is Bd. Eggs more plentiful, and selling at 2s 6d per doz. Messes. M. and J. Meenan, George Street, report the following as the latest quotations :— Flour— Large bags, £11; small do., £11 10s per ton. Oatmeal — £11 per ton. Peail barley — £23 per ton. Bran — £5 ss, including bags. Pollard— £6 per ton. Chaff— £4 per ton. Hay — £3 15s per ton. Potatoes — £4 per ton. Carrot*— £2 10a per ton. Wheat — 4s to 4s 6d per bushel. Barley — 4s per bushel. Oats — Is 8d to Is lOd per bushel. Cheese— 9£d to lid per lb. Ms. J. Yezbt reports for the week ending August 3, 1876, retail : Boast beef, 6d to 8d per lb. ; boiling d0.,4d to 5d per lb. j ((tewing do., 4d to 6d per lb. ; steak, 6d to 9d per lb. ; mutton, 3i to 6d per lb. j veal, 4d to 8d per lb. ; pork, 9d to lOd per lb.