COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 183, 29 September 1876, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Me. Henbt Driveb, on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, reports as follows for the week ending September 27, 1576 : — Fat Cattle. — The market was fully supplied with 150 head of ordinary to fair quality beef. As there was an entire absence of really prime pens, and the number of the medium cattle was in excess of the requirements of the trade, these could be only deposed of at consiberable reduction on last weeks' rates ; in fact, a portion could rot find buyer 3at any price, and had to be turned out. Best bullocks j brought up to £13 10s; ditto cows, £10 103. We qnote average 1 price of best quality in yards to-day at not over 32s 6d per 100 lbs ; ordfnary, 22s 6d to 30s. We sold on account of J. F. Kitching, Esq., of Moa Flat, and others, 50 head at quotations, and have placed 35 head privately. Fat Sheep. — Nearly 2000 were penned, consisting of fair quality crcss-breds. The number being more than the market would bear, about one-third were turned out. Those sold realised — for best crossbreds, 14s to 15s 6d ; second quality, lls to 12s —or equal to abo\it ' 2f d per lb. We sold 400 at yards. ! Store Stock. — As there is every prospect of a forwaed spring, a fair inquiry has sprung up for quiet, well-grown bullocks and cows. We have sold 200 head privately, and will offer 200 at Mosgiel on 10th prox. We anticipate the supply of well-bred grown cattle for gra3ing ! purposes will not be sufficient to meet the demand, as there are now but few herds to draw from. Wool. — By the price catalogues rec eivedper Suez mail the im- ' proved toue of the sales is very apparent, all descriptions sharing in au \ advance of Id to l^d per lb., some of the lighter greasy wools fully 2d., I those descriptions having experienced the greatest fall. The date of ' the opening of the October sales was not announced when the mail j left, nor has advice reached per cable. The latest states — " Wool — | moderate demand ; prices unchanged." I SheepsUus. — We catalogued 1300 for this afternoon's auction sale. '; Competition was brisk, the late returns of wool sold having imparted more confidence amongst felluiongers. Butchers' green cross-breds sold at 4s Cd to 53 ; merinos, 3s 6J to 3s Sd ; dry skias— cross-bred?, 3s 5d to 3s lOd ; inenuos, 2s 6d to 3s 6d. Hides. — We sold 150 green slaughters, 16*3 to ISs ; wet-salted, 3 J ! to 3?d per lb. I Tallow. — We sold several tons of country rendered mixed fair I quality, £27 to £30 ; inferior, 2-is 6d to 265 ; rough fair, 21s 6J per | cwt. Grain. — Wheat is unchanged — none offering ; 63 is reported to have been paid for prime Northern. We quote fair milling 5s 6d. I Oats are in active demand at 2s for fair feed ; choice heavy, 2s 2J ; I milliug or seed. 2s 3d. Barley : wo have sold some choice malting at • 4s 5d ; ordinary is heavy at 43 ; milling, 2s 6d to 23 2d ; feeding, 2s to 2s 3d. 1 Me. Skexe reports for the week ending September 27, as follows :—: — 1 The demand for useful people of all sorts is gradually improving w i h opening season. The new arrivals seem a good class, and as good as they look. A n.onth should see them all busy. Shepherds ,p!oughmeu, labourers, bushmeu, &c, are now freely asked for. Station couples are still stiff. Female servants, trained to plain work, are veiy difficult to secure. Shopmen and clerks are too plentiful. Town and j building trade is slowly improving. Wages :— Couples, £65, £70, and I £80 ; shepherds, £60 and £65 ; ploughmen, £52, £55, ana £60 ; dairy 1 hands, 155., ?.os., and 255. ; carpaiteis, 103. to 135. ; house girls, 10s., 155., and 20s. ; hotel girls, 125., 155., and 205. ; cooks, grooms, and such, 20s. to 50s. j labourers, at road, bush, and rail, 7s , Bs., and 9s. ; boys, 63. to 10s. I Air. A. Mercer") cports as follows for the week ending September . 27, 1876, retail prices only : — Fresh butter, in -1 and lib printp, Is 8d to i Is lOd ; fresh butter, in lumps, Is 4d ; powdered and salt butter (new) , i ' Is 6d. Fresh butter is still getting very plentiful, and most of the : grocers are getting more than they can dispose of, at a loss at the j present prices, and prices is still falling. Cheese, of the best quality, 'Is 2d ; side and-rolled bacon, lid to Is ; Colonial hams, 13 2d to Is '3d ; English hums, Is Gil to Is 7d, There is still a good demand for ■ eggs, and ficsh eggs are retailing at Is 3d per doz. ' Messhs. M. andJ. Meenan, George Street, report the following 5 ' as the latest quotations :— Flour— Large bngs, £12 10s; small do, £13 ! rer ton. Oatmeal— £ll loa per ton. Peail barley— A22 per ton. Bran — £5 15s per ton, including bugs. PoUurd-£6 10s per ton. Chaff— £4 r ! ,- ci . ( On , Hay— £3 los to -£± per ton. Potatoes— £3 15s to £4 per ton. 1 Carrote— £2 10s per ton. S\ heat— 4s Gd to 4s 9d per bushel. Bar- - ley- 23 9d to 3s 6d per bushel. Oats -2s to 2s 2d per bushel. Cheese — 9d to lOd pcrlb.