COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2158, 6 April 1908, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

WOOL.

Tin* e.iLlt'il reports from Homo .illo,v Umt tlio wool market is assuming a more Confident position, ami ) rices havo advanced on recent quotations. The market has .boon suffering from a general depression, hub competent judges believe that this will slowly hut surely pass away, and the trade soon settle down to i a workable basis. As showing the importance of the wool market to the colonies, it might he mentioned that the pastures of Australia carried close upon 81,000,000 sheep, chiefly merinos. in 1200, as against 5-1,000,000 in 1902. The export of wool for the: year 1907 was: Australia, 553,818,3811 b, against 104,907,6431 b front New Zealand. The wool export of 'the Dominion lias shown very littlo increase during the past Jive years, as for the season 1902-1903, 428,708 hales were exported, while the quantity sent out in 1900-1907 only reached" 410,080 halos, and the season--1907-1908 showing a decrease \ of. 38,124 bales. The Continental buyers are still the best customers for colonial wool, 04 per cent, of tlio season’s clip going to European factories, against 20 per cent, to the English, 3 per cent, to American, and 0 per cent, to Japanese mills. It is stated that wool-buyers lost £1,000,000 on their purchases between July and December last, but tho wool-grower will bo thankful that the loss lias been the buyer’s, and not liis. With this fact in view, and considering the. l argo stocks in most of the factories, buyers are sure to he cautious of heavy speculations. Still wool is always in consumption, and what is not marketable to-day miv ho in heavy domain] to-morrow, if growers can only wait until tomorrow.

FROZEN MEAT

The frozen meat market is well maintained, and reports show 'that the London market is comparatively bare of colonial produce at present. During the month of February 156,946 carcases of mutton, 318,954 of l imb M and 20,637 of beef were shipped, while the March output was about the same. The stocks in store are getting lighter as the off-season is approaching, and, as is usual in mid-seasons, prices, show a tendency to improve. Against tho upward tendency for New Zealand mutton, the Argentine meat is “slack” inprice, and prime quality has been quoted as low as 3d per lb. Mr.’Roakes, the N.Z. Government Veterinarian, lias now been Homo some weeks, ancl with a competent official on the spot who can meet the market inspectors on equal terms, much good should bo done in pushing sales. If Dir. .Reakes’s work at Homo should ho successful in opening up now markets, it should materially brighten tho prospects for next season.

Tho sux>ply of beef at tho IMalawliero market on Thursday last was unusually small, and tho quality poor. This is only in keeping with markets in other centres, and reports from South show a general decline in prices. The price of fat sheep, on the other hand, shows some improvement, farmers being more hopeful now of "winter food, and not so anxious to get their stock to market. Prices in the South are much higher than in Gisborne, for at Wellington last week fat wethers brought from 20s to 2G;s Gd, and fat ewes from 17s 6d to 21s. Lambs aro also meeting with a better demand as the season advances. At Matawhero last week they brought up to 9s 9d, which is a very fair price.

The large yarding of stoi*, sheep and breeding ewes offered during tho week did not weaken, prices to any great degree. Tho large number of buyers on the look-out for store stock bid briskly, and for some lines good competition was shown. Tho sale at the To Alai Estate was most successful, breeding ewes realising most satisfactory prices. The Squall last week carried a largo cargo of East Coast sheep for the Auckland markets, and good prices were obtained.

GRAIN,

The grain market is very quiet, tho business doing being small. Growers show no inclination to accept millers’ prices, while merchants and millers aro not inclined to advanco on ruling rates. Milling wheat is worth 5s a bushel, sacks in, at Gisborne, while in South Canterbury sales have taken place at Is Id. The market is ruled to a considerable degree by prices in the older countries, and as prices on the Continent are declining, merchants aro careful of overstocking. The Australian market is showing somo briskness, and as New Zealand must respond with tlio demands, there is every probability of a movement towards large sales during tho month. Flour can bo quoted at £l2 on hoard ship at Gisborne. ’ Chaff is easier in price, and can bo quoted locally at £4 5s to £4 10s for better quality. Potatoes aro coming in freely from Australia, and nearly all supplies aro imported. Tlio market is quieter. Quantities can be quoted at £8 10s a ton on board at Gisborne, and lid per lb at auction in small quantities. Butter and all kinds of dairy produce are getting dearer. Eggs are selling at 2s 2d in the markets, factory butter at Is 4d, dairy at Is 3d, cheese GRI to 7d, hams 9jd.

TE ARAI SALE

The New Zealand Loan and .Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report on stock sales held during the week ending 4th April: On Monday and Wednesday, in conjunction with Messrs. Williams and Kettle, on account of Mr. John Clark, wo held successful clearing ■sales of cattle, sheep, horses, and plant. There was not a very large attendance at Monday’s sale of cattle, and it was found impossible to place all lines of cows and _ calves. Otherwise the stock sold at fair times prices. Full details of these sales have been 'published in these columns, and it is not therefore necessary to refer more particularly. The sheep, horses, and plant at Wednesday’s sale met with a very brisk competition.. the audience being large and evidently on business bent. On Thursday we held our usual Matawliero sale, at which tho attendance was rather less than usual, probably owing to the fact that fanners had been out two days already the.same week. Sheep: Our entry comprised 6200, of which we only succeeded in plac-

ing 2500. Tlio hulk of the passed entry was on account of vendors residing close to. tlie yards, and who wore not prepared to meet the slack market which was experienced._ The following wero the day’s quotations: —Cull ewes from 5s Od to Os 3d, better lines 8s 3d to 9s, 5 and 6 year old. ewes 11s 3d, 2-tooth ewes (small) 9s fid, empty ewes in fair condition 9,h Od, fat ewes 12s to 12s 3d, 2tooth wethers made from 10s 7d to 12s 3d;, according to size and condition, shorn lambs (small) made ss, lambs in wool 7s 9d. We also sold in conjunction willh Messrs. Williams and Ivottlc about 2100 wether 1 1 mbn on account of Mr. Clark, this dot having been passed in at Wednesday’s sale. The iambs wore parcelled out at 6s Od—remarkably good buying at tile price. Cattle: Of an entry of 238 wo sold 155. There appeared a littlo better demand for calves and small stock. Calves mado 17s Od to 225, 18 months steers £2 19s to £3 3s Od, cows £3 10s. Our next sale will be held at Mo taw hero on Thursday, 9th, for which we havo fair entry at tho present time.

MARKETS,

Messrs Miller and Craig, auctioneers., report the following prices realised at. their; produce sales on Saturday Pullets Is 3d to" 2s 7j, hens Is 3d to Is 7d, cockerels Is 2d to _ls 6d, roosters Is (id to 2s Id, guinea fowls Is Oil,- turkeys 3s Cd to 3s 9d, ducks Is Cd to 4s lOd, citron melons (id to Cd, eggs Is lOd to 2s, Imtter Is to Is 2d, walnuts 3d lb, French beans 1.1 d lb, potatoes Id to lid lb, 12s to 15s sack, marrows Is 9d doz., quinces Id lb, onions Id to ljd lb., apples IJd lb, pen's jd and Id lb, carrots 2d bill, swedes Id Hi, cabbage Is 9d doz, tomatoes Id lb., (Messrs. F. S. Malcolm and Co., auctioneers, report the following prices obtained at their produce sales on Saturday:—Roosters Is 3d to Is 9d, liens Is 4d to 2s, cockerels Is Sd to Is lOd, ducks Is 9d, bantams Is, .turkeys Cs, butter is 3d, eggs 2s 2d to 2s 4d, quinces jd lb, pears 2s 6d case, tomatoes 2s 6d ease, kumeras 1-Jd lb, apples 3s case, lemons 6d doz, marrows 2s to 4s doz, swedes jd lb, onions ljd 'lb, potatoes Id to ljd lb, cabbages 4s to 7s. doz, beans Is Cd bag, figs Is 6d box.

parsnips 3d bill., green tomatoes ljd 4b., cucumbers Is doz.

LAND SALES.

Messrs Williams anil Kettle Ltd. offered at auction on Saturday on behalf of Mr Thos. McGregor 9.',' acres of land at Makauri, upon which is a 9 roomed house and other necessary outbuildings. The reserve ■which was placed upon tho property was not reached and the auctioneers announced they would be willing to treat for a private sale.

HORSE SALES

Messrs Williams and Kettle T,td. yarded about 60 horses at Wyllie’s horse Bazaar on (Saturday. There were 34 unbroken horses including a nice half dozen from I’oukawa, Hawke’s Bay, and ten heavier sorts from Mr. Feild’s run at iMakiri. The rest were hacks and carriage horses. There was a large crowd of buyers present, bidding was brisk and prices in advance of recent sales. The Hawke’s (Bay lot brought from £5 to £l9, those from Makiri from £9 to £l4 and others from £5 to £l4 17s. Hacks brought from £3 to £lB. Two harness horses of a good stamp, from Hastings, realised £lO 15s and £ls, and a pair of nice carriage horses were sold at £32. A light, buggy in good condition was knocked down at £l2 15s.

WOOL,

LONDON, April 3. United Press Association—Copyright At the wool sales 74,000 bales sold for the Homo market, 44,000 for tho Continent, 5000 for America, and 77,000 were held over, whereof 60,000 wero not offered, and 18,000 withdrawn. Compared with tho January sales, good greasy merino was 5 per cent. lower; faulty, fully 10 per cent, lower; good scoured, 1.0 to fully 15 per cent, lower; fino crossbreds, 5 per cent, (lower; fine medium, 15 per cent, lower; and coarse 20 .per cent, lower. Tho sales closed with a bettor feeling. Throughout the industry there is an impression tint the crisis is over. Included in the sales wero Mokooeka lOjd, and Oliaka 15jd.

WELLINGTON, April 4. Tho following cable has been received from the High Commissioner, dated London, April 3: The wool sales closed with a good attendance. Competition was unsatisfactory, tho Continent and America purchasing only a small quantity. The market declined. Suddenly at the close, owing to largo quantities being withdrawn, the demand and prices improved. Estimated values aro as follows: Superior merino lid to Is, medium merino 9d to lid, inferior merino sjd to Bjd, fine crossbreds all grades lOjd to Is Ojd, medium crossbreds all grades Bjd to 10jd, courso crossbreds all grades 5d to Bd.

Tlio New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agoncy Co., Ltd., are this morning in receipt of the following Loudon cable ro wool: “Sales closed. Crossbred market lias been lower sinco wo last telegraphed, but has recovered. As compared with last sales’ closing rates, prices aro about 10 per cent, lower for scoured merino super, and about 15 per cent, for medium crossbred. Averago current value of tho undernoted descriptions of N.Z. wool: Good merino 12d, medium merino lOd, inferior Bd, fino crossbred 12d, medium crossbred Sd, coarso crossbred (40’s) Gjd, coarso crossbred C3G’s) Cd.”

CUSTOMS

The total revenue received at the Custom House last week was £1176 15s Od, made up as follows: —Customs duties £995 5s 9d, light dues £l3 19s Sd, shipping fees 18s, Harbor Board revenue £l6O 12s Id.