COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 187, 27 October 1876, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Me. Henby Drivee, on behalf of the Now Zealand Lean and Mercantile Agency Company, reports as follows for the week endinff October 25, 1876:— 5 Fat Cattle. — Only a moderate supply of 105 head were yarded, about two-thirds of which were of good to very prime quality, especially a lot of the N.Z. and A.L. Co.'s, which averaged a little over ,£l6 each. In consequence of the short supply, prices obtained showed a slight advance on last week's quotations; prime qualitybringing fully 40s per lOOlbs. We sold 35 head on account of Mr. John Anderson, of Wyndhara. station, at full market rates, and have placed 40 head privately. Fat Sheep. — There was also a moderate supply of 1200 crossbreds penned, all of which were taken by the trade at a further advance on last week's rates, some prime heavy-weight cross-breds, realising as high as 20s 3d each. This should not, however, be taken as a criterion of the state of the market, as this rate may be considered exceptional, on account of short supply and the trade being entirely out of stock. We sold, on account of Messrs Davidson, Maben, and others, 650 at full market rates. Fat Lambs. — Only a few were penned, which we sold at lGs each. Store Sheep. — We have no transactions to report. Store Cattle. — There is a good demand for well-grown bullocks and cows. At Mos^iel, yesterday, we sold 150 head on account of Mr Walter Miller, which brought up to £8 10s for bullocks and j66 10s for cows. This sale maybe considered the highest this season. Wool. — The early summer weather has caused shearing to commence early, a few lots having already come into town. 'Fair prices are offering — Sd to 9cl per lb. for greasy half-bred. Sheepskins. — We offered this afternoon, ab our usual weekly auction, a catalogue of 3080 skins, which were well competed for, and brought full rates. Butcher' cross-breds sold at 4s 6d to 5s 2d; merinos, 3s lOd to 4s 3d; dry skins, cross-breds, 3s 9d to 4s lOd • merinos, lOd to 3s 6d. ' Hides were in good demand. We sold butchers' green, 16s fld to 21s ; medium salted, 15s 6d to 16s 6d, or 3^d per lb ; heavy, fine condition, a lot of 50, 25s each, or 4d per lb. Tallow.— Mixed sold at 28s 6d to 295 ; good tallow wanted. Grain. — Wheat market is quite bare of stock. Flour has advanced to .£l4 per ton. Oats in good request for feed at 2s Id to 2s 2d, choice heavy milling, 2s 3d to 2s 4d. Bttvley, without alteration — 4s to 4s 6d malting, 2s 9d milling, 2s feed. Mr. Skene reports ior the week ending October 25, IS7G, as follows :— lt is all life £.nd activity in the labor market now, but the demand is principally for men and women with country training. Skilled tradesmen are more in demand, but tkero is room' for greater stir. Female servant?, of all sorts, are picked up as fast as the} appcir. Clerks, shopmen, and country bred people are ulvvars too plentilul. Ordinary day labor is plentiful. Couples sue getting off at last. Fortunately farmers are saving the economy ot building cottages for couples. Wages— Ploughmen, £52, £55, and .£<}o ; shepherds, £G0 and .£65 40s to 50s and upwards, according to time ; dairy and knockabouts, 15s and 2Js ; boys and girls 6s to 10s ; house girl-«, 10s, 15s, and 20s; hotel girls, los, 20s, 255, aud 30s; couples, £70, £75, and £80 ; carpenters, 10j to 13s ; day labor, 8s and Ds; sheaicrs are oscillating between 17s 6d ana 20s per 100. Air. A. Meucer reports as follows tor the weekending October 25, 1876, retail prices only :— Fresh butter, in -I and lib prints, Is 2J to Is 4d ; fresh butter, in lumps, Is ; powdered and salt butter (new season), Is to Is [ 3d. Fresh butter is now very plentiful, and prices still falling. Cneese, of the best quality, Is 2d*; Bide and rolled bacon, Is ; Colonial hams, Is 2d to lg 3d ; Knglish hams. Is 6il to Is 7d. Eggs are still very plentiful, aud selling well at Is 3d per doz. MESSKS. M. AND J. Meenan, George Street, report the following as the latest quotations : — Flour— Large bags, £14 ; small do, £14 10s per ton. Oatmeal — £11 10s per ton. Pearl barley — £22 per ton. Brim — £5 15s per ton, including bags. Pollard — £6 10s per ton. Chuff— £4 per ton. Hay — £A per ton. Potatoes — £3 10s to £4 per ton. Carroie — £2 10s per ton. Wheat— 4s Gd to 4s 9d per bushel. Barley— 2a to 2s 6d per bushel. Oats— 2s to 2s 3d per buc-hel. Cheese— Sd to 9id per lb. Mr. J. Vezey reports for the week ending October 25, 1876 :—: — | Retail : Koast beef, 6d to 8d per lb. ; boiling do., 4d to 5d per lb ; | stewing do., 4d to Gd per Jb.; steak, 6d to 9d per lb.; mutton, 3d to 6d ] per lb.; veal, 4d to SJ per lb.; pork, Ud to lOd per lb.; lamb, 4s (5d aad 09 per quarter.