COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2164, 13 April 1908, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

SHEEP. The present market price of shoe]) in Gisborne can hardly bo considered satisfactory to sollors when compared to prices ruling in other centres. The yarding of fat and storo withers and owes last Thursday were well up to quality, and although fat stock made an advance compared with tho previous week’s sales, prices tiro still far “short of Auckland and Canterbury rates. The bottor pons of stores sold well, but tliero was littlo domain! for tho poorer lots. The trouble with farmers is the want of winter feed ; the turnip crops are not too promising, being patchy in quality, and tliero is danger in overstocking. Last week the Squall took another consignment to Auckland, whero prices rul--iug aro bottor, tho East Coast sheep topping tho market in most instances. Wethers brought up to £1 Is, ewes to 17s od, and lambs to 16s, whilo a number of storo owes sold frooly up to 16s. These prices aro eloquent testimony of tho good prices obtained by those who tako tho risks of shipping. In Canterbury good prices aro ruling. At Addington last week a slight deelino was experienced at auction; but export buyers camo forward Intor on and cleared tho market, mainly on tho strongth of bottor reports of tho frozen mutton trndo at Homo. Eat wothors sold from 19s to 2os, owes to 19s 4d, and lambs to 16s—a. vast difioronco to tho prices obtained at Matawhoro. Should this marked advantage to shippers bo maintained in the Into season, it is probable that bigger consignments will bo made to tho larger centres from Gisborno. CATTLE.

Tho cattlo markot is falling, fat beef selling below mid-season’s quotations, oven though tho supply is small. Thoro was a scanty yarding at Matawhero last week, and the demand was much in keeping with the supply. Butchers showed no desire to outbid ono another for choico pens, with tho result that farmers wore forced to accept whatovor prico they can get..

Bottor prices aro ruling both in Auckland and Cantorbury. At Addington last week steers were quoted at from £6 5s to £lO 12s 6d, equal to about 20s to 21s 6d per 1001 b, as against 16s per 1001 b in Gisborno. At Newmarket on Tuesday steers sold up to £9 17s 6d, and fat cows to £7, which prices are far romoved from tho ruling rates in Gisborno. The qiosition of tho local market is most unsatisfactory, and against all tho interests of tho producer. Salo after salo there is want of competition, auctioneers being forced to soil after bard struggles to obtain further bids. Thoro is a general opinion among farmers that there is an agreoment among tho butchers not to outbid each other, and tliero is a certain amount of circumstantial evidence to support tho suspicion. Still the fact remains that the wliolosalo market is falling. GRAIN. There is little business doing in the wheat market, despite tho advance in flour throughout New Zealand. Flour is quoted locally at £l2 ios per ton, against the cabled price of £S 10s free on board at Melbourne. At these prices, allowing £1 per ton duty and another £1 5s for freight, it would pay handsomely to send to Australia for supplies. ' Going on theso prices, millers feel confident that tho prico of wheat must recede, even though growers show a determination to hold on. It is ■ stated that, on account of tho decreased prices ruling for sheep and wool, farmers in tho Ashburton County intend going in more extensively for grain-growing, and it is estimated that the area to be sown this year will be tho largest recorded for many years past.

Milling wheat is quoted at 4s 9d a bushel, sacks in, on board at Gisborne. Oats 2s 2d to 2s 6d a bushel, chaff £4 to £4 5s, potatoes £4 to £4 10s, according to quality and variety. The cocksfoot market is firmer, growers asking 9d per lb for cleaned seed. BUTTER. The English butter market is well maintained, the demand has improved, and supplies are only moderate. Choico New Zealand is selling readily at Ills. The local butter markot has declined, and factory brands aro selling at Is 3d, dairy at Is Id, MARKETS. Messrs F. S. Malcolm and Co., auctioneers, report the following prices realised at their sale of produce on Saturday: Roosters 9d to Is 6d, liens Is Id to Is 6d, ducks Is 6d to Is 9d, turkeys 3s 3d to 4s 6d, white Leghorn roosters ss, fresh eggs 2s to 2s 2d, preserved eggs Is 2d to Is 4d, butter Is Id to Is 2d, tomatoes Id, pears 3s case, apples 2d II), quinces Id lb, potatoes Id to lid lb, 10s to 18s a sack, melons 4s to 6s doz., marrows 2s doz, pie melons Gd each, pumpkins 3s to 6s doz., cucumbers 9d doz, Swedes 2s 6d bag, kumeras ljd lb. Messrs. Miller and Craig, auctioneers, report tlie following prices realised at their sales on Saturday:— Hens Is 2d to Is 6d, cockerels Is 8d to Is lid, roosters Is to Is Bd, drakes Is 5d to ls v 9d, ducks Is ud to Is lOd, turkeys 4s and ss, eggs Is ,10d to 2s, butter Is to Is 2d, honey BJd per lb, pickling onions Id to lfd, pumpkins 2s 9d per doz., potatoes Id per lb., 10s per sack, grapes 4d per lb., rhubarb 4d and 6d per bdl., cucumbers 6d to Is per doz.,'cabbages Is 4d to 2« 3d doz, swedes Id per lb, citron melons 4d to 8d each, marrows 3s per sack, onions Id and ljd per lb., parsnips 3d per bdl., green tomatoes Id per lb., pears 3s a box, carrots 2jd bdl, apples 3s per box, 2d lb.. A clearing sale of Mr. W. Peryor’s horses and plant was conducted by Messrs. Common, Shelton and Co. on Saturday. Mr. Wachsmann officiated as auctioneer as Mr. Ingram was suffering from a severo cold.. There was good competition for the better classes .of horses, which all changed owners, at prices ranging from £25 to £42 10s. The harness and other gear were also disposed of, but the dray and waggon were not sold. HORSE SALES.

■Messrs Williams and Kettle Ltd. yarded 53 horses, all hacks, at Wyllio’s horse bazaar on Saturday. The quality was poor, and the attendance small, buyers nob being inclined to reach, high prices. More than half the yarding were passed in, the unreserved selling; at a low figure. Prices ranged from £3 to £9, only a few being disposed of at the top price. CUSTOMS. A total revenue of £607 13s 9d was received at the Custom house last week, and was made up as follows: Customs duties £357 16s 7d; beer duty, £43 14s; Harbor Hoard revenue, £4 18s; light dues Ss 2d; other receipts 17s.