COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 115, 13 October 1874, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

ENGLISH COMMERCIAL. WOOL. Messrs Miles Bros report on August 25th:— The third and last series of public sales of colonial wool for the present year, commenced on the 18th Instant and will probably last until the 3rd October. The arrivals lor these sales were— Bales. New South Wales and Queensland... ... 44,298 Victoria ... ... ... ... ... 60,875 South Australia ... ... ... ... H. 488 Western Australia ... ... ... 1,738 Tasmania... ... ... ... ... 7,640 New Zealand ... ... ... ... 85,856 Cape ol Good Hope ... ... ... 47,066 Total r 259,861 Of which about 17,000 bales, chiefly Capes, have been forwarded direct to Yorkshire and the Continent. On the opening night; there was a large attendance of the trade generally, and biddings were very spirited, especially among our Home buyers, who are the principal competitors at these sales, their purchases at the last series having been limited, and their stocks had consequently run short. Trices may be quoted about to id per lb higher for Australian and New Zealand wool, especially combing sorts, and Capes have improved to the extent of about Id to per lb. We do not anticipate any decline in prices to the termination of the sales, as the market is firm at present, and buyers will have to lay in supplies for nearly five months. WHEAT AND FLOUII.

Messrs Burrows and Perks report“ With very fine weather and an increasing supply of new English wheat, the trade for wheat and flour has been daily cheaper, and on August 21st a decline of 3s to 4s per quarter was accepted for new wheat. There was an increased supply of new wheat from the farmers, and, buyers holding back, the few sales made were at a fall of 6s to 6s per quarter from this day week. Foreign in very limited demand and 2s to 3s per 496 lbs lower Flour neglected, and Is to Is 6d per sack and barrel cheaper ; the top price of town-made lias been lowered 3s per sack. Mailing barley very irregular in price, but generally is 6d to 2s per quarter lower; grinding sorts and maize firm. Beans and peas steady. Oats in large arrival, and 3d to 6d per quarter cheaper for inferior sons, but unaltered in price for good qualities.” The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company reports Owing to the unsettled weather which prevailed during the early part of this month farmers were unable to make the rapid progress with the in-gathering that had been anticipated. The past week, however, has been bright and fine, and in every way suitable for the completion of the harvest. The tendency of the wheat market is therefore universally downward, especially for home-grown produce. Last Saturday’s country market advices report reductions varying from 2s to 8a per quarter in the quotations of English wheats, the present values of which may be given as 50s to 52s per imperial quarter (weighing 504 lbs) for white, and 47s to 49s for red descriptions. The harvest in France has now been secured, and appears to have fully justified the anticipations which had been formed as to its abundance. That country is now re-shipping its surplus stock of Californian wheat, which has been freely ottered here at 20s for 5001bs c. i. f. There exists a considerable margin of French wheat for export, and prices there have declined rapidly, 46s to 49s per 4801bs c. i. f., prompt shipment, being the present quotation. Comparatively little change has, however, taken place in the values here of old white wheats, of which the supply is now limited. Although the quantify of wheat on passage is estlmaled at considerably less than at the corresponding period oflast year, being 608,509 as against 741,701 quarters, buyers are unwilling to operate, and the market for cargoes afloat and arrived off coast is extremely inanimate. American descriptions especially have undergone a further marked decline, No 1 spring wheat —of which the value in April last was 61s— bringing now but 46s to 47s per 480 lbs. This wheat is being offered for prompt shipment at 43s 9d per 4sul!>-., and Californian at 49s (id per SOOlbs, without finding buyers. The imports of wheat and flour into the Unitad Kingdom for the fifty weeks of the present cereal year, ended 10th August, represent 10,829,440 quarters us compared with 11,827,783 quarters up to corresponding date of last year. We quote nominal current prices as follows: — Australian vvheat s~s to 58s j)cr 4961bs New Zealand „ 04s „ 57s „ Australian flour 38s ;, 42s per 280 lbs New Zealand 35s „ 38s „ TALLOW AND HIDES. Messrs Miles and Co report The demand for Australian tallow has slightly improved, and about 4000 casks have been placed at rather better prices, the value to-day of good to fine New Zealand mutton being 40s to 41s, and beef tallow 38s to 395. Hides centime in fair demand, and good New Zealand heavy a id light weights are worth from 6|d to 6Jd per lb. NEW ZEALAND HEMP. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency reports There has been a slightly better demand at the public sales of this fibre, but from the causes set forth in our last issue, the market continues dull and dragging. At the auctions field, on 29th July, 1500 bales were submitted to competition, cf which 450 were sold, ordinary to medium at tT3 15s to £l7 10s; good medium to good dressed at £l9 to £22 per ton. 430 hales tow ottered were bought in at £9 to £ll. Another sale was held on 12th insl, when 339 bales wore offered and sold, medium at £l6 10s to £l7 ; good medium to good at £l9 to £2O XOb, and tow at £lO per ton, Transactions by pri-

vate treaty are reported to the extent of a few hundred bales, at prices ranging from £l6 10s for ordinary to £2O los for fair, and £22 for superior quality. Arrivals for the week ended 20th August:—s7s bales. Subjoined is a statement of stocks, landings, and deliveries to 31st July, for the present and past years respectively.— 1873. 1874. Stock 3lst July 937 Tons. 2398 Tons. Landings January-July ... 1566 „ 1629 „ Deliveries do ... 995 „ 1098 „ Landed during July ... 298 „ 143 „ Delivered do ... 246 ~ 178 „ PIIESF.RVED MEATS. Messrs Miles and Co report:— There is a fair amount of business doing in this article, but we cannot quote any actual improvement in prices, but as stocks decrease, we think rates will harden. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Compan reports : More animation lias been manifested in the demand for preserved meats within the last fortnight, especially for 6lb and 41b tins of boiled beef, which are just how very scarce; on these our quotations show an improvement of |(i to }d per lb. A similar advat ce is established in 21b tins, which, however, are not so much in request. The inquiry tor mutton is not very strong, but quotations have advanced slightly. It will be observed that Texas and South America are becoming regular and more extensive contributors to our market. Prices current are as under:— Boiled Mutton—6lb tins, 4ld to fid per lb „ 4 „ 4|d „5d „ 3 s|d „ „ 2 ~ s*d „ s£d „ Boiled Beef—6lb tins, 6d to 64d per lb „ 4 „ Cd „ 6jd „ „ 3 „ 6d „ 6id „ „ 2 „ 6fd „ 7d „ Arrivals to 20th August, 13,381 cases from Australia and New Zealand, and 8159 cases from Texas, Brazil, and Monte Video. By the Brindisi mails which came to hand on 3rd instant, further advices were received of the shipment of 14,381 cases.