COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 193, 8 December 1876, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

Mb. Hbnet Dbiveb (od behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.) reports for the week ending December 6, at follows :—: — fat Cattle. — 1 75 head Were yarded at the Bales to day. Best bullocks brought from £12 10s to .£l6 ; do cows, from £8 to £11 10s, or equal to about 32s 6d per lOOlbs for prime quality. Fat Calves.— Ten were yarded, which sold at from 20a to 55s each. Pat Sheep. — About 1500, principally shorn crogs-breds, ' were penned, which sold at from 12s to 14s each, and a few medium quality m the wool at 143, o* eqnal to 2£d per 1b former, and 3±rl for latter. Ft.t Lambs. — 200 were penned, and sold at from 7s 6d to 11s 6d. Store Cattle. — A very active demand 1 still confcimuea ibr well, grown cattle of both sexen, at £7 l(h to £B, los for bullocks, arid £5 to L 6 10s for cows, according to size and quality. We shall oner for sale at Mosgiel to-morrow, 300 head, principally quiet, well-grown bullocks, and hope to meet a good market. Wool.— By telegram received this day, dated London, December 2, wool sales closed firm at the highest quotations during the series. The decline previously reported was in inferior wools This afternoon we submitted a few small farmers' lots unskirted, which sold — greasy half-breds, 8J to 9£d j merino, 7*d to 8d ; wash«d half-bred, 14|d. Sheep B kins.— Small supply this week. Butchers' green cross, breds sold at 5a Id to 5s 4d j lambs, lOd to lid. Hides are iv improved demand, one lot of prime heavy told at 4d per lb ; green butchers*, 20b. Tallow is in good demand at 25s 6d to 31s. Grain. — Wheat and flour are very firm — no stocks. Oats continue to be inquired for shipping orders at 2t 2d to 2s 3d for feed, and 2s 4d for milling. Barlej — Malting is more enquired for. Prices. 3s 9d to 4a 6d ; milling and feeding, 2s 6d to 3s. Me. Skbne reports for the week ending December 6, 1876, as follows :— Business in the labor market moves steadily, although the principal employers of labor — arable farmers and squatters — are about filled up, still, odd hands are always -wanted. Day labor is plentiful at road and rail, and bush work is improving. Harvest operations will begin after the New Year holidays, when most people will get a chance. Couples are only wanted now and again. Town work and skilled trades are not very aotive. Good female servants are far short of the demand. Hotel servants are in great request. A few storemen i and clerks are moving. Wages— Ploughmen, £65 to £80; shepherds, £65 and £70 ; shearers, 17s 61 and 20s per 100; dairy hands, 15a to 20s ; house girls, 10s, 12s, and 15s ; hotel girb, 12s, 15s, and up to 303; bojs and g-irls, 6s to 10s ; day labor, 8s and 9s ; carpenters, 10s to 13s; cooks, waiters, grooms, gardeners, &c, 25s to 60s; storemen and clerks, 30a to 60s. Mr. A. Meboeb reports as follows for the week ending December 6, 1876, retail prices only : — Fresh butter, in £ and lib prints, I 3 to Is2d; fresh butter, in lumps, 10 J; powdered and salt butter Is; fresh bufcfcer is still very plentiful," and the grocers are salting down, large quantities, every week, and no demand for salt butter. Ciieese, best quality,' ls 2d ; new season cheese (fine), Is 2d; side and rolled bacon, lid to Is ; Colonial hams, Is 2d ; English hams, Is 6d ; eggs are now very scarce and retailing, Is 8d to Is 9J per dozen. Messbs. M. AKD J. Mebnan, George Street, report the following as the latest quotations : — Flour— Large bags, £16 ; small do, £16 lOd per ton. Oatmeal — £13 103 per ton. Pearl barley — £22 per ton. Brnn — £5 15s per ton, including bags. Pollard— £6 10s per ton. Chaff— £L per ton. flay— £4> per ton. Potatoes — £6 per ton. Carrot* — £2 10s per ton. Wheat— 4s 6d to 6s per bushel, for good milling samples. Barley— 2s 3d to 2a 9d per buslieL Oats —2s Id to 2s 3d per bushel. Cheese — 8d to 9£d per lb. Me. J. VezeY reports for the week ending December 6, 1876 :—: — Retail : Boast beef, 6d to 8d per lb. ; boiling do., 4d to s<i per lb ; stewing do., 4d to 6d per lb.; steak, 6d to 9d per lb.; mutton, 3d to 6d per lb.; veal, 4d to 8d porlb.j pork, 9d to lOd per lb.j lamb, 3s 6i and 4s 6 d per quarter.