COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2296, 15 September 1908, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

As is usual just before shearing time there is a general improvement in the price of sheep all over the Dominion, and market quotations in Auckland and the South show an advance on winter’s rates. At Auckland, last week, wethers were selling up to 25s 6d, ewes to 23s 3d, and hoggets to 17s. At Matawhero on Thursday, tlic-re was a keen demand for wellwoolled sheep of all kinds, hoggets selling as high as 13s 2d, and ewes with lambs to 17s 9d. Farmers are hoping for an improvement in the price of wool on last season’s quotations, and until shearing commences sellers cannot reckon that- the value of wool will be taken into account when sheep are sold at auction. PRODUCE. The produce market- remains quiet and there is no change in prices since last week. The oat market is bare of first quality grain as an unusual amount of sowing has been done. Second quality is also in fair demand for seed purposes, and store qualities are being freely drawn upon. There is a slight- advance in the price of potatoes, seed varieties being scarce. The quotations at Auckland last week for Imported socd,Up-to-d!ates, Early Rose ail'd other good sowings were from £7 to £7 10s per ton. Tho supply of onions is scarce consequent upon tho Japanese and Victorian shipments being consumed. The local market is very bare and the vegetables sold again on Saturday at 2d per lb. wholesale, with prospects of a further increase, should supplies from larger centres become exhausted.

Blitter is cheaper and will continue to come down as the spring advances. The Kai Ora Co-operative Dairying Company, last- week, paid Is Id per lb. for butter-fat, which was a record, price for the district. Eggs are also getting plentiful, and honey has dropped id per lb. The following .are the wholesale merchant’s prices for produce- at Gisborne :

Flour, sacks £ll 10s, bags £ll 17s--6d per ton. Chaff, best southern £G to £6 5s per ton. Oats, second quality 2s 7d per Uusliell.

Potatoes £7 to £7 10s per ton; seed £8 per ton. _ Onions 2d per lb., lGs per cvT; honey 4d; butter Is 2d to Is 6d; cheeso 8d; bacon 9d; ham 10d"; eggs lOd to Is. THE LONDON MARKETS. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 14. Following is the Higli Commissioner’s cable, dated London, September The mutton market is somewhat steadier on account of the small supply of b«ef, but there is only a moderate demand. Canterbury brands 4-Jd, North Island 3jjd. The lamb market is quiet, and the deniiamd falling off. Canterbury Is at old, other than Canterbury od. There is a better demand for beef, which is in small supply, New Zealand being held for a, rise in price. Hindquarters are at 4jd, forequarters 32d. The butter market is quiet, hut firm. There is a good demand for butter. Supplies by the s.s. Wakanui arrived in good condition, and are quoted at 116 s. Danish :is at 119 s, Siberian 108 s, and Canadian 115 s. The cheese market is firm, with am. improved demand. Canadian makes are n't Gls per cwt. The hemp market is slightly easier,, with less demand. Following are current quotations : Good fair grade on spot £27, fair guide on spot £23, fair current Manila on .spot £23 IPs. October to December shipments are quoted as follows: Good fair grade £2O, fair grade £23, fair current Manila £23 10s. Last week’s output from Manila amounted to 24,000 bales. The cocksfoot seed market is very uncertain, and very little New Zealand is on band. Buyers are not keen to do business, and prices are toe high. Bright clean 171 b iseod is at 90s per cwt, nominal: American 80s.