COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 211, 20 April 1877, Page 13

COMMERCIAL.

Mb. Henry Driver (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company) reports for the -week ending April 18, as follows : — Fat Cattle. — There was a very full supply of 230 head yarded, ■v44ju^proportion of which were of good to prime quality. Owing, howWfer, to the large number offered, prices somewhat receded, and prime quality did not realise ovei 27a 6d per 100 lb ; ordinary, about 238 to 255. At the yards we sold 40 head, and have placed a like number privately. Fat Sheep. — A moderate supply of 1000 were penned, which caused a further slight advance on last week's quotations Best cross-breds brought from 9s to 12s 6d — or equal to 2d to 2sd per lb. At the yards we sold 400, and have delivered 500 privately during the week. Fat Lambs. — Only about 60 came forward, of medium quality, and sold at from 7s to 8s 6d each. Store Cattle. — Few are offering, with a limited demand for ■winter feeding. No transactions of importance to report. Store Sheep. — The market is still bare of young sheep, both merinos and cross-bred, particularly the former, for which there is a good demand. Old culls and wethers, however, are plentiful, without finding buyers at the extreme low rates at which they are offered. During the week we have sold 6000 at following quotations : Merino wethers, two, four, six, and eight-tooth, 5s to 5s 6d ; do, full-mouthed, 3s to 3s 6d ; merino ewes, two, four, and six-tooth, 6s to 6s 6d ; do, full-mouthed. 2s to 3s 6d ; cross-breds, two-tooth, 5s 9d to 6s 3d ; do, four-tooth and over, 6a 6d to 7s 6d. Sheepskins. — A fair supply came to our weekly auction on Monday, which sold at very full rates. Pelts, Is 2d to Is 4d; merino shearlings, Is lid to 2s 3d ; cross-breds, 2s 6d to 3s 2d each ; station skins, 6£d to 6sd. Hides. —^mall supply. Late rates were maintained. Heifers' and steers', 5s to 9s each ; medium, 15s 3d to 163 6d ; heavy weights, 19s 9d to 20s 3d — or 3i to 4d for wet salted. Tallow. — None offered. Grain. — Wheat — There is more inquiry for good sound milling samples, which we quote at 5s to 5s 3d. Secondary samples are now saleable at 4s to 4s 6d. Inferior and fowls' feed is in greater supply, and more difficult of sale, at 3s 6d to 3s 9d. Oats are not offering in large quantities, which, with considerable demand for shipping, the market is very firm, or even a shade higher this week, 2s 4d being freely offered for good feed, and milling, 2s 6d to 2s 7d. Barley — Some good parcels of malting samples have changed hands, the choicest bringing 4s 9d; medium, 4s to 4s 3d; inferior, 3s 6d to 3s 9d. Feed samples inquired for at 2s 6d. Mr. A. Mercer repor s as follows for the week ending April IS. 1877, retail prices only :•- Fresh butter, in i and lib p-ints, Is 4d to Is 6d ; fresh butter, in lumps, Is 2d to Is 3d; powdered and salt butter. Is 3d Fresh butter for this season of the year is very plentiful" and the most of the shops in town have to salt do »n 'heir supplies. Cheese, b. b* quality, lOd to Is ; English, unsaleable, Is 4d per lb ; s de nnd rolled bacon, lOd to lid ; C lonial hams, Is Id to 1- 2.1 per lb ; English hams. Is 4d to Is 6d ; eggs very scarce, retailing at 3s per dozen. Mr. M. C. Fleming reports (wholesale prices) for the week ending April 18, 1877, as follows : — Oats (feed), per bushel, 2s to 2s 3d ; milling, 2s 6J. Wheat (chicks), 3- to 3s 6d. Harley malting, 48 to 4s 6d ; feed, 2s 6d to 3s. Pollard, sc-arce. Br.in, .£3 15s, bags icluded. Flour, large bags, £13; small, £13 10s. Oatmeal, £12 10s. Potatoes, new, 4s percwt. Hay, new, £3 15s; old hay, £4 per ton. Chaff, £4 per t>»n. Straw, £2 per ton. Mr. J. Vbzet reports for the week ending April 18, 1877, retail : — Roast beef, 6d to 8d per lb ; boiling do., 4d to s<i p>r lb ; stewing do.. 4d to 6d per lb ; steak, 6d to 9 I per lb ; mutton, 3d to 6d per lb ; veal, 4d to 8d per lb ; pork, 6d to 8d per lb ; lamb, 2s to 3s 6d per quarter. Mr. Skenb reports for the week ending April 19, 1877 : — The demand is quieter than usual for April. Thoroughly experienced farm men and couples are easily placed, but signs are more apparent every day that the genuine article in ploughmen is getting scarce. It is now getting hard lines with those who have no trade or country training to fall back upon. Carpenters are well employed in town, no lack of buildings going on Several very large works planned for the winter, will employ many. Hotel servants, especially females, are in large demand. Ordinary general female servants for town or country were never so scarce, men with colonial experience and training get the preference for stores, shops, etc shepherds are nowhere at present Bush, and^Jjush mills are quiet. Wages — Couples, .£65, JJ7O, JE7S and £&v; ploughmen. £52, £55 and JB60; Shepherds, nil ; labour — road, rail, and bush, 7e, 8s and 9s ; carpenters, 10s and 12s ; blacksmith! and shoere, country, 50s and found. Cooks, boots', waiters, bar men, 20s, 25s up to 60s ; hotel girls, 12s, 15s and 20s ; for privat< families, 10s to 15s ; dairy people, 15s and 20s; boys and girls, 6s to 10s ; storemen and clerks, 30s, 50s and 60s.