COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2374, 15 December 1908, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

WOOL. United Press Association. Copyright LONDON, Dec. 13. Tho wood safes closed very firm. Competition' was more brisk than on .Friday. On the average merinos were 5 per cent, above the prices of the October sales; sorts suitable for America were 10 per cent, higher; on good scoured: there was a 5 to 7| per cent, advance;; if awl ties, 10 per cent.; fine, good, and medium crossbreds 15 to 20 per cent. ; coarse, burry, 10 per cent. For slipes there was a keen demand at 10 per cent, advance. During the sales 67,500 ba[es were sold for the Home market, 85,000 for the Continent, 15,000 for America, .and 10,000 were held over. The sales included Alataura Odd, Oliaka 17id. The .Bradford wool market is very quiet, and business is-not sufficient to test quotations. Common 60’s 23d, super 2-ld. At the sales .the Gear clip realised 81d, Castlehill 6Jd. BUTTER AND WHEAT.

There is a better tone in butter. Danish 115 s to 117 s, choicest Australian 106 to 108 s, New Zealand 110 s to 112 s. Wheat: Markets quiet, with slightly easier tendency and little inquiry. Cargoes 38s; 39s is asked for sailers afloat; 36s 9d for December- January ; 36s Cd for January-Fcbruary; land 37s for December-January steamer.

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. The High Commissioner’s cablo dated London, December 12, states : There has been no alteration dn the mutton market since last week. The lamb market is weak, there be-

ing .a dull sale of all brands. Aus- „ tralian stocks are accumulating, and are quoted at 44d. is no change in the prices for New Zealand lamb. Supplies of American chilled beef •small. Prices have declined. New Zealand hindquarters are quoted-mt 3id, and forequarters 3£d. The butter market is firm, with improved demand. The following are current quotations: Choicest New Zealand Ills, Australian 107 s, Danish 116 s, Argentine (which supplies 'are increasing) 106 s. The cheese market is quiet, but •steady. The Turakina’s shipment arrived dn good condition, the result of raising the temperature of cold storage from 4-5.50 to 55.60 being: satisfactory. The cheese is well matured and ready for sale. New Zealand makes are quoted at 5Ss, and Canadian 61s. The liemp market is very quiet. Quotations are as follows: Good, failgrade, on spot, £25; fair grade, on spot, £23; fair current Manila, on spot, £24 10s; January-March shipments, good fair grade, £24 10s; fair grade, £22 10s Last week’s output From Manila amounted to 25,000 bales.

SYDNEY WOOL SALES. United Press Association. Copyright (Received December 15, 12.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 14. To-day’s wool sales covered 11,700 bales, value over £140,000.

WOOL AT WAIROA

[Press Association.]

WAIROA, Dec. 14

Over 1200 bales of dumped wool areawaiting shipment here. Owing to the bar being blocked, all the sheds and stores are filled to overflowing. TOLOGA BAY STOCK SALE.

The monthly sale in connection with the Tologa Bay Saleyards Company was conducted on Saturday. Most of the Gisborne firms were represented, .and Mr. G. A. Runciman acted as auctioneer. There was not a large attendance of buyers owing to the busy time of the season, and the yarding was small. About 90 head of cattle were yarded. Three-year-old steers brought £5 ss, and two bulls £5 5s .and £8 each. A number of yearlings were offered, but did not sell. A few sheep were put up, OAves and lambs realising 10s 6d. WOOL. Although there Avill not be another avool sale in Gisborne until Januaiy, a good deal of wool is changing hands .and the brokers are busy valuing clips. One clip of 16,000 bales Avas sold a few days ago at a fraction over 7d per lb, and when buyers are willing to give this price early in. the season it goes te slioav that they have confidence in the improved prices .ruling in tho Home market. (Scarcely any avool is being shipped from Poverty Bay to other Dominion avool sales. A small quantity Avent. to Na-' pier Mast month, but most of the clips have been consigned direct to London. Merchants report a general tendency .among groAvers to demand top rates or to consign iat their OAvn risk. One effect of the tightness of the money market during the year just closing is shoAvn in the small area of bush country that has been opened up, and the consequent falling off in the demand for grass seeds. Thoiigh labor has been plentiful, pastoralists have not seen fit to clear large tracts of land, which, to grass .and stock, Avould mean an outlay of from £3 to £4 per acre, and Avith money at 6 and 7 per cent, and avool below average rates, feAv landholders oared to risk the outlay. This, to some extent, has been responsible for the drop dn sheep vallues, but with the rise in the Avool-market, together with the recent rains, farmers are gaining confidence and an improvement in prices is anticipated at the MataAvhero stock sales next Thursday. A good many paddocks are being sown in turnips this month, and .all sowing .should be done before the end of the year. Grass seed is, however, a drug on the market, and' stock lines are hard to sell

The general merchants all report a busy Christmas trade, despite the general cry of depression. - The orders from the country are coming in well and Hie turnover for December in most commercial houses bids well to ■neatly double that of December, 1907. There is a keen demand.for poultry, all lots brought to market last week soiling freely. Eggs have advanced in price again, .and merchants yvill buy all they can get at Is 6d .and are offering Is 8d for big eggs, guaranteed

fresh. There is a good supply of fruit on offer, all lines finding ready buyers.

The following are the wholesale merchants’ prices for produce at Gisborne : v 9 Flour: Sacks £l2 10s; bags £l3. “Potatoes': Old season’s are scarce, and almost unobtainable. A They arc quoted at £7 per ton. New season’s are coming to market slowly, and are worth from 1-Jd to 2d lb. Oats : 2s 9d per bushel. Wheat: 5s 6d per bushel. Chaff is scarce and merchants are buying sparsely until the harvesting commences. Quotations are £6 10s for fair quality, £7 5s for best southern. Maize: 4s 6d to 4s 9d per bushel. Butter: Factory Is to Is 2d; dairy lOd lb. Eggs: Is 6d to Is Sd; bacon 9d; hams lOd to Is lb; choose 6d to 8d lb; honey 4-}d lb.