COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 242, 3 January 1889, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

BEPOBT OF SYDNEY MARKET. The following report of the Sydney produce market is taken from the N.Z.L. and M.A. Company's circular, dated December 21 :— Butter (duty Id per lb)-Owing to the Christmas demand, prices have been fairly well maintained durieg the past week or ten days, best imported separator commanding up to Is 3d, prime N.Z. dairy-made ruling Id lower. Importations, however, have been on a greatly increased scale, and it is not unlikely that lower quotations will rule with the advent ot the New Year.

Cheese (duty 21 per lb)—Locally made cheese still continues to ba rushed on tbe market in large quantities, and this prevents any improvement in value, as regards well matured descriptions, which we again quote at from 81 to 9d.

Hams (duty 21 per lb)—Values are unaltered, and we again quote prime N.Z. light weight hams at from Is to Is Id. Bacon (duty 21 per lb) remains unchanged, 9Jd being still a full figure for known brands. Wheat (tree)— Owing to tbe improved prospects of the local crops millers are not disposed to pay rales lately current, preferring to hold off until the effect of the new harvest on the market is definitely ascertained. Prime New Zealand milling wheat, therefore, cannot be quoted at over 5s per bushel for actual transactions. •

Oats (free) have also suffered a considerable decline in value, and as the arrivals within the last fortnight have exceeded 20,000 sacks, the weakness has been intensified, Tbe nominal values to-day are up to' 4s 4d for milling descriptions, feed oats ruling from 3s 9d upwards according to sample. But little business is passing at present and transactions are bound to be limited until after the Now Year.

Potatoes (free).—Famine prices are at the moment asked, the supplies to hand being quite inadequate to the demand, aud within the last few days as much as £l3 has been demanded and obtained for good new local potatoes. Large arrivals, however, would at once cause the market to collapse. Hides, (free). —Exira heavy descriptions have met with a rather better enquiry and we placed a line of 78 hides from Queensland at 4d per lb. Other weights shew no alteration. Quotations: Extra heavy, 3Jd to 3j(d (superior lots to 41); heavy, 2Jd to 3d; medium, 2§d to 2£d ; light, 2§d to 3d; dry, 2|d to 3Jd ; yearlings, 4s to 7s ; calf, Is Gd to 4s.

Tallow (free) Our cable from London on the 18th reports a fair speculative demand in the English market and quotes: Prime £33 ss. Locally prices have ruled easier and at late sales the following range of values was secured, viz., Best mixed, £26 10s to £27 ; best beef, £26 to £27 ; superior, from £22 to £25 per ton. New Zealand Meats (free), —A good trade demand still continues. Sheepskins (free).--The salea have progressed steadily and there is no change to be reported in pricas. We quote: Best.fullwoolled, fid to fijd ; medium, 4d to 4}d f pelta, broken) &c., 2d to 3J<l.