COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 181, 15 September 1876, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

++ Me. Henby Dbiteb, on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, reports as follows for the week ending September 13, 1876:— Pat Cattle. — The market was quite glutted by the large supply of 270^ head being forward, moßt of which were of fair to prime quality. This largo supply, together with the fact that the trade had obtained most of their requirements privately during the week, rendered it impossible to clear all offered, and only about half were sold, the balance being held over. The excessive supply may be accounted for from the fact that in the farming districts the supply of turnips is becoming exhausted, and holders are obliged to realise. Best bullocks brought up to £14 ; do cows, £11. The prices obtained for those sold may be quoted at 2s 6d to 3s per lOOlbs under last week's rates. We sold 25 head at the yards, and have placed 30 privately. Fat Sheep. — 1,600 of good quality cross-breds were penned, and although this was not an excessive supply, the trade, for some reason or other, was disinclined to givo lato prices, and half of these were also turned out. Best cross-breds realised up to 14s each, or equal to about 2£d to 3|d per lb. We sold at ynrds 400. Wool. — A few parcels of fellmongers' wool have been offering" at to-day's sales, but have not found buyers, who appear to be waiting delivery of letters per San Francisco mail, due here on Saturday. Sheepskins sold at our auction to-day briskly, at an advance on last week's rates. We catalogued 1,150 skins, principally green. Green butchers' sold at 3s 9d to 4s 4d ; dry skins — cross-breds, 2s 9d to 3s 7d ; merinos, 2s 5d to 2s 9d. Tallow. — A small parcel of butchers' prime sold at .£3O per ton. Grain. — Wheat arrivals are very light — scarcely any offering, though prime milling is worth 5s 6d per bushel. The remarks we made in our report of last week respecting grain shipments from California to these Colonies have soon been verified by an unexpected shipment per mail stoamers of 1,500 bags oats to Auckland, where oats are quoted at 2s 8d per bushel. If that price will attract oats, wheat will be much more attractive. Oats in this market have, through temporary scarcity, advanced to 2s Id to 2s 2d for feed samples, and 2s 3d for seed. Barley is very difficult of sale, unless milling samples, at 2s 6d to 2s 9d per bushel. Me. SiiiNK rej>orts for the week ending September 13, as follows : — At last there is a decided improvement to report ; there is a demand for countiy people of every sort. Town shows signs of animation, but it is rather stilt' work still with builders, manufacturers, and merchants. Day laborers are wanted. Female servants of experience are much needed. Dairy hands are now in season. Shepherds are in good demand, and will increase. Clerks and storeman always too plentiful. Wages— Couples, £65 to £80; ploughmen, £52 to £60; shepherds, £60 to £65 ; day labor, 7s, Bs, and 9s; grooms, gardener*?, waiters, &c , 25s to 45s ; curpenters, 10s to 13s ; dairy people, 15s to 25s ; ordinary clei ks and storemen, 30s to 50s per week ; house girls, 10s to 15s ; hotel girls, 15s lo 30s. Mr. A. Mebcee reports as follows for (he week ending September 13, 1876, retail prices ouly : — Fresh butter, in 4 to lib. prints, Is 8d to 2s; fresh butter, in lumps, Is 6d ; powdered and salt butter, Is 6d. The market is now well supplied with fresh butter, and the giocers have some difficulty in disposing of their surplus stock without loss. Suit butter is very plentiful. Cheese of the best quality, Is 2d; side and rolled bacon, Is ; Colonial hams, Is 3d ; English hams, Is 6d to Is 7d ; eggs are very plentiful, and the demand is very good at Is 3d per dozen. Messes. M. and J. Meenan, George Street, report the following as the latest quotations :— Flour — Large bags, £12 10a; small do, £13 per ton. Oatmeal — £11 per ton. Peail barley — £22 per ton. Bran — £5 15s per ton, including bags. Pollard — £6 10s per ton. Chaff— £4 per ton. Hay— £3 15s to £4> per ton. Potatoes — £3 15s to £4 per ton. Carrot f— £2 10s per ton. Wheat — 4s 6d to 4s 9d per bushel. Barley—2s 9d to 3s 6d bushel. Outs— 2s to 2s 2d per bushel. Cheese — lOd to lid per lb. Me. J. "Vezey reports for the week ending September 13, 1876 :—: — Itetail: Koaet beef, 6d to 8d per lb. ; boiling do., 4d to 5d per lb. ; stewing do., 4d to 6d per lb.; steak, 6d to 9d per lb.; mutton, 3d to 6d per lb.j veal, 4d to 8d per lv.; pork, 9d to lOd per lb.