Commercial.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 17, 23 January 1891, Page 13

Commercial.

The Nbw Zraland Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Limited, report for the week ended January 19th as follows :— Fat Cattle.— We quote— best bullocks, £7 5s to £9 15s ; medium to good, £5 12a 6d to £6 12s 6d ; light, £3 153 to £5 5s : cows in proportion. Fat Sheep.— 2*34 were penned. We quote — beet crossbred wethers, 12« 6d to 14s 6i ; medium, 10s 3d to 12s 3d ; best do ewes, 11s 6d to 13* ; medium. 7a 3 I to 11s ; merino wethers, 10s to 10s 91. Fat Lambs— Best, 7s to 8s ; a few extra prime, 9s 6d to Us 9i. Pigs.— BuekerP. 7s 6d to 10s ; slips, 13s to 16s 6d ; porkers, 20s to 23a ; baconers, 24s to 303 ; extra heavy, 345. Store Cattle. — The business done in the«e during the past week has only been to a very limited extent, doubtless due to the scarcity of feed. There are a good many offering of one sort and another, but there is no demand of any consequence, graziers being pretty well ■applied in the meantime. Store Sheep. — The market has been without much change since our last. There is a good deal of inquiry for nearly all sorts, but more especially young sheep, both crossbred and merino, which should lead to more business, and no doubt will, when sellers and buyers ideas of value are more in accord, a considerable number of aged merino wethers and ewes are now offering, the greater proportion only fit for boiling down, but are saleable although the stronger and sound mouthed portion have the preference, several sales of these being effected at from 2s 6d to 43 6d. We sold during the week 4,000 at quotations. Wool.— We have nothing now to report regarding this shape in the home market at the moment, nor is it likely that very much of any consfquence will be known here until the opening of the first colonial wool sales in London about the end of the month. At the local market there is little or nothing doing pending the opening of the third series on the 21st inst., when good catalogues will again be submitted , notwithstanding the unsettled weather prevailing lately, and with quite as full an attendance of buyers as we had at oor last sale, it is only reasonable to expect that prices current then will still be maintained. Sheepskins. — We had the ÜBual attendance of buyers at our weekly sale on Tuesday when a lengthy catalogue of various sorts was submitted, every lot of which was disposed of under good competition, and although prices for dry skins have lately been considerably easier last weeks rates were fully maintained, Green crossbred pelts carefully preserved and free from cuts are in increased demand with values tending upwards green lambskins are nlao in good request and thereby competed for. Country dry crossbreds inferior to medium brought Is 8d to Sa 6d, do do merino, Is Cd to 3s 3d, full woolled crossbreds 4s to 6s 8 J,do do merino 89 9d to 5s lid, dry pelts 4d to Is 51, green crossbred pelts Is 81 Is 7d la 6d Is 5i Is 4d do, lamb-kins Is 8d la 7d Is 6 1 Is 5d Is 4d Is 3d. Rabbitski' s. — This being the off season the business passing is necessarily of little importance. The odd lots coming to hand being principally Farmers collections and comprise all sorts from suckers to fairly good summer skins all of which, however, are readily plactd at prices according to quality, and in sympathy with those current lately in the London market. Quotations in the meantime would only be misleading. Hides. — A steady demand continues to exist for these, but the market ia unchanged as far as prices are concerned, although 651 b. hides and upwards in prime condition would command £d to Id nioiv than rates now current if procurable ; but while there is an oversupply of light and inferior sorts in tne oaarket, prime heavy weights are exceedingly scarce. There are hardly any being chipped, pnceH paid by local manufacturers leaving uo margin for shipment, We quote for the general run of hides in the market, which as a rule are under 601 b. — good to best, 2Jd to 3d ; medium, 2d to 2^d ; light, lid to i#d ; inferior and slippy, Id to l|d per lb. Tallow. — This market continues firm, and quite bare of stock— not sufficient coming forward to supply local requirements. All quantities of both tallow and fat have a very goodilemaod, and realise prices quite in sympathy with those ruling at Home. We quote — prime rendered mutton, 19s to 20s; medium to yool, 163 to 183 ; inferior and mixed, 12s 6d to 15a 6d ; rough fat — best mutton caul, lls to M 9; inferior to medium and gcod, 10s to 12s ftd per cwt. Grain.— Wheat : There is uochinge to note in the position of the market this week which continues freely active, more especially for choice sorts, which are in most request, and are freely taken up at top quotations, while medium milling and fowl wheat is dealt in to a considerable extent at former prices. There is hardly any arriving, and as millers' stocks are being daily reduced it is quite evident that present values will be upheld till the new crop is on the market. We quote as last week, best Tuscan, 3a 91 to 3* lOd ; best white velvet, 3s 8d to 3s lOd ; extra pnm«, a Bhade more ; medium to good, 3a 61 to 33 8d ; best red wheat, 3s 61 to 3s 7d ; medium, 3s 5d to 3s 6d ; inferior, which is very Bcaice, 3s to 3s 4J ex store.— Oats : A very good demand is experienced for these. Both shippers and speculators are operating. All in store and arriving, more especially bright, stout, short sorts, being taken up at piices slightly in advance of thoee quoted last week, other sorts are also firmer, although not co readily placed. There are very few being Bbipped in the meantime, and with a very conei ierable quantity still ia store, also conBidering the near approach of harvest, and the absence of any encouraging reports from either the Home or the Austsaliau markets, we think those holding would do well to quit while present prices, although s ill, low cntioue to be obtained. We quote, prime milling, bright, stout, and thin-skinned, Is 6id to la6ii; best short, stout feed, Is 61 to Is 6^d ; medium. Is 4*d to Is 5j ; inferior, Is 2d to Is 3^l, ex store, sacks extra.— Barley :— There is nothing of any conttquence doing in local growth, owing to the absence of supplies, nor is there any likelihood of any business being done before the new crop comes to hand. But it is evident already that parcels of prime

malting of the new crop will command a considerable advance on prices ruling during the past season. In the absence of cules quotations are nominal, for prime malting, 2s 9d to 3* 3 I ; medium to good, Is 6d to 2s 9d ; feed and milling, Is 9d to 2s 3d ex store. Grass Seed.— The market is almost bare of rye grass-seed, but beyond the supplying of small lots to farmers occasionally there is no demand. There is none of the new crop yet to hand, but doubtltw* in the couise of ihe next fortnight consignments will be turning up, when most likely some inquiry will be made, Meantime, we quotebest machine-dressed, 4% 3d to 4g 9i ; farmers' best dressed, 3s to 3s 6d ; medium, 2s 6d to 2s 9d per bushel. Cocksfoot seed has no attention of any consequence, but for which we quote 4d to 4jd per lb. Potatoes. — The market still continues over-supplied, and sales difficult to effect, unless they are reilly good and newly dug. Small and inferior sorts have no demand, and unsaleable, except at unsatisfactory prices. We quote— prime, £3 JOa to £4 103 : Northern, £2 10s to £3 per ton. Cbaff.— Owing to a short supply, consignments having almost fallen off to nothing during the past week, any offering c »n be placed at an advance on late quotations, but during the last day or two con Bignments have come to hand more freely, and while £2 10s might be got on an emergency, buyers decline to give over 45s to 47s 6d for best per ton. Dairy Produce. — There is a moderately fair demand for factorymade cheese, medium size, at from 3Jd to 4d per lb., but rather than accept these prices sellers prefer to ship, considerable quantities now being sent forward to the London market. There is no improvement in the demand for butter ; quotations unaltered. Flax.— During the week we placed several parcels at late quotations, and flud no difficulty in disposing of all consignments coming forward. Messes. Donald Reid and Co., Dunedin, report for the week ending January 21, as follows :—: — Wool.— Our next sale will be held om Thursday, the 29th January at the Chamber of Commerce Hall, Dunedin. Clients wishing their wool catatoguei for this sale will require to haye it forward by Monday, the 26th, at the latest. Sheepskins. — At our sale on Tuesday we offered a lengthly catalogue, part of which were dry lots from country clients the balance consisting of green skins from town butchers. There was a full gathering of buyers and brisk competition, prices being qnite up to those ruling a fortnight ago. We quote— Dry crogabreds sold at, 2a Id to 6s Id ; dry merinos, Is 81 to 5s 4d ; dry pelts and lambs, 6d to 2s 6d ; green pelts, Is Id to Isßd ; green lambs, Is to Is 6i. Rabbitskins. — At suction on Monday we disposed of a moderate catalogue of late spring and summer take, which met H»th brisk competition. Hides. — Since last reporting we have cleared out all on hand at lately ruling values. Arrivals during the past month have not been so heavy as usu-d, and a very large proportion have been light county parcels. We quote — Prime heavies, 2^d to 3d ; medium, 2\i to 2id ; light, If d to 2d ; inferior and shppy, l^d to IJi per lb. Tallow.— A fair amount of business has been done during the week, but mostly in mixed parcels, which find a ready sale to loctl manufacturers. We quote— Medium rendered, 15s to 17a ; inferior, 11s 61 to 13s 6d ; rough fat, 9s to 13s. Gram. — Wheat— There is now a good demand for all qualities. Fowls feed is in much rrquest, and commands almost equal to milling r«tea. Any parcels comii g forward would meet with ready sale at quotation*. We quote— Milling, prime, 3s 8i to 3a lid; do, medium, 39 6 \ to 3s 7d ; fowl wheat, 3a to 3s 3d. Oats.— We quot. — Prime milling, Is s|d to Is 6? J ; bright, heavy feed, Is 4^l to l<- s£d (sacks extra). Barley.— We quote -Malting, 2s 7d to 2s lOd ; milling, 2s 2d to 2s 6d ; feed, Is 81 to 2s Id. Potatoes. — Supplies during the week have bern somewhat above requirements. We quote— Prime, £3 10s to £3 17s 6J-; inferior, £t to £3 s<>. Cnnff. — A moderate supply forward bu f still inadequate to meet requirements. We quote— Prime heavy £2 5s to £2 10s ; light and mixed, £1 17s 61 to £2. Flax. — Well dressed, soft, bright fibre-edged, and free from tips, is in good demand. We quote— Best soft straw coloured, £20 to £20 108 ; medium quality, £ly to £20 ; inferior, £10 to £13. Ryegrass seed.— The weather of the last fortnight has been lavourable fur securing this crop, and there is every prospect of satisfactory crops of good quality being secured.

Messrs Donald Stsonach and Co., Dunedin, report for week ending Wednesday, January 14, as follows :—: — Fat Cattle. — 269 head were yarded to-day at Bumside, medium weights predominating. Bidding was not so brisk as at last week's sale, there being a slight decline in prices for all qualities. Best bullock* sold at from £7 to £8 12s 6i ; medium, £5 103 to £6 10s ; light, £3 12s 6_i to £5 2s 6J ; cows in proportion. Several pens were passed. Fat Sheep.— 2472 were yarded. Notwithstanding the small supply, a alight decline in prices wa9 apparent. The above number, with exception of one pen merinos, consisted of crossbreds. Best crossbred wethers brought from 12s 6d to 13s 91, a few extra heavy up to 14s ; medium to good, 10i 6d to 123 6J ; best do ewee, 11s 3J to 12s 3i ; medium, 8s 6d to 11s. Fat Limbs. — With a 6upply coinciding with list week's, namely, 791, prices were slightly easier. Btst, 9s 6d to 10* 6J ; medium, 5s «d to 8s 6d. Pifcs. — 167 of these were penned. Suckers sold at 69 6d to 10a ; slips, 12s to 158 6d : stores, 203 to 21b 6d ; porkers, 2lj to 265. Baconers were difficult to dispose of at 27s to 293. We sold a draft of small pigs on account of Mr. Walter Blackie, Mosgiel, at 9i 6J to 13s 6d. Store Bheep.— The demand for these is active.

Wool. — The second of the series of Dunedin wool sales commeaced at the Chamber of Commerce Hall on Thursday, January 8 and continued on Friday, catalogres comprising about 6300 b«les. With an excell, nt attendance of buyers, both New Zealand and foreign, competition for certain classes was spirited, the demand being chiefly for light, fine crossbred and half breds ; merino and heavier wools being neglected. Altogether, price* obtained should be satisfactory lo growers. Next suite open on 29th of the present month. Sheepskin?. — Small catalogues only are being offered— chiefly pelts and dried country skins. For all lots there is a fair demand Quotations are — for woolled crossbreds, 3s 9d to 6s ; do do merino, 3s 4d to 5s 6d ; dry pelts. 4d to Is 3d ; green do, Is 2d to la 8d ; lambskins, Is 2d to Is lOd. Rabbitskins. — Only small lots are ccming to hand, most of them inferior quality, in fact little business is being done, low season skinß being from 4sd to 9Jd ; suckers and half-grown, l^i to 3d per lb. Hides.— 1 here is no change to report, the local trade taking all hides coming forward at— best ox 2^ 1 to 2f 1 ; extra heavy, 3d ; medium, 2d to 2Jd ; light, Hd to lfd ; blippy and inferior, Id to lj-d per lb. Tallow. — There is good demand for all parcels coming to store. Prime rendered mutton, 19g to 209 ; medium to good, 16s to 18s ; inferior to mixed, 12s 6I to 15« 6d. Kough fat is also quickly disposed of ; for beft mutton caul, 13s to 14s ; inferior to medium and good, 10u to 12s 9d per cwt. Grain. — There is no change to report in this from last week, and quotations may b- repeated. Wheat : B^st Tuscan 3s 9d to 3s Iq'l medium to good, 5s 5d to 3s 7d ; bmt red wheat, 3* 5d to 3s 6d ; medium 3s 4d to 5s s<l ; broken, inferior, and rus*y, 2» 6d to 3-> 3d (ex store). Oats : Prime milling (bright and Btout) Is 5Jd to Is 5f d ; best short bright feed, Is 5d to Is s^l ; medium, Is 4d to Is 4sd ; inferior and rusty, Is t> Is 3d ; good Danish, la 4d to Is 4fi ( x •toie, sacks extra). Barley : For prime malting, 2s 6d to 2« 91; medium to good, 2s 3d to 2s 5d ; feed and milhng.ils 9d to 2s 2d ; (ex store). Grass Seed.— lnquiry is made for large parcels of machinedressed rye-grass, but at no advance on prices given last w ek. Quotations : Best machine-dressed ryegrass seed, 4s 3d to 4s 9J ; farmers' best dressed, Is to 3s 6d ; medium. 2s 6d to 2s 9d (ex store) ; cocksfoot seed, with'little demand, 4d to 4}d per lb. Potatoes.— Supplies of unsaleable sorts are plentiful, while good lo's are coming in somewhat more freely tnan a week ago, prices in consequence having receded slightly. Inferior, £3 5d to £4 ; best, £0 10s to £6. Chaff. — Consignments are readily disposed of, at say, for best oaten, well-Ecreened, and cut, 42s 6d to 45s ; extra good, 47s fid ; inferior to medium, 30s to 40s per toD,