COMMERCIAL.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 107, 12 January 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

GOLDSBROUaH'S MONTHLY CIRCULAR. Melboubke, December 23. •^■ oO ], — During the month 50,810 bales have been catalogued, and 37,062 bales sold, thus making a total of 141,793 bales catalogued, and 105,363 bales sold during the season. The sales have been attended by a very large number of buyers, both on English Continental, and American account, and competition has been actively sustained ; , limits have been reduced, owing to the j unsatisfactory opening and progression of the November and December sales m London. The result of these sales has caused disappointment, as a rise m values was confidently expected ; and there has, consuquently, beon and easier feeling m this market. Prices haye gradually declined, and may b« quoted' Id per lb. lower, on the average, than they were a month ago. In the coarser description of cvossbreds, and m inferior to ordinary sorts of merino, the reduction has been more especially npparent ; small lots also have been more difficult to remove, and, m some some ports, there is a reduction of Id to l£d perlb. on the high figures which were current at the opening of the season. The qHnntities coming forward for disposal during the past week will show a falling off, and the greater portion of the clip bae passed through. Some large pales will be held early next month, after which the season will be almost over. No auction will be held next week, owing to the holidays. The temporary rise m the River Darling has freed a considerable quantity of Wool which had been detained, probnhlv 20,000 bales, m all, and a proportion «f it will he> offered at next month's piilps. The bulk of the lots now offering iii-c from the ; Westward, and consist, chieily of average f to wfieUetl fieice.

Prices cuirent. — Greasy — Inferior, ordinary to average 6d to 8d ; good to superior, 8d to lOJd. Fleece, washed— lnferior lid, to Is 3d j ordinary to average, le 4d to Is 6d ; average to good Is 6d to Is 9d superior Is lOd to 2s 2d. Scoured — inferior, Is ols3d ; Ordinary, Is 4d to li 6d ; Middling to good Is 6d to Is 9d } superior U lOd to 2s 2d. i Sheepskins. — During the early part of the month heavy supplies were placed upon the market, but sales were readily effected at last months quotations. Our later .sales, however, have been only moderately supplied, and prices have gradually given way present values showing a decline of about id to Id per lb on previous rates. The local fellmongers are now operating to a limited extent only, the wool sales absorbing their attention, and only choice lots find ready buyers. The approach of the Christmas holiday* has also tended to curtail operations, and we do not anticipate a favorable reaction for some weeks to- come. The supplies not offering consist chiefly of Pelts m various stages of growth, and Full- wooled skins, are very scarce. Green Pelts found ready buyers until recently at prices ranging up to* 2s 4d each, but at present, quotations range from Ib to 2s each ; Pry do., from 9d to li 7d do. ; Dry Skins, m bales and bundles, 3d to 6fd perlb. (a few choice lots have sold up to Hd per lb.) ; Full wooled Skins have bean readily placed at from 3s to 6s each. Hides. — A heavy business has been done during the month, and improved rates ruled until quite recently, when the market drooped m sympathy with the London Leather market. Our supplies have consisted almost entively of local produce ; but a few New Zealand, Australian, and Queensland parcels have been satisfactorily placed, I and the demand for heavy weights m good condition, continues unabaetd, though values have receded slightly. The presence of offal m a few cases has prejudicially affected sales ; but the bulk of the Hides offering during the month have been m good saleable condition, more attention apparently having been given of late to salting &c. Present quotation? are :— Green Oi (average sizes), from 17s 6d to 28s each ; do. Cow do., from 14s 6d to 18s e»oh ; Victorian-salted, superior, from 4d to 4±d per lb ; average 3id to 4d per lb ; inferior, 2£d to 3±d per lb. ; New Zealand, m good condition, 4d to 4fd per ; Kips from 3d to 3£d per lb. ; Calfskins free from cuts, from 3Jd to 5d per lb. Tallow. — Our sales have comprised 1222 packages, the bulk of which was taken by the local manufacturers, although a few heavy parcels have been placed for shipment, as opportunity offered. Freights have been srarce, and rates have advanced, so that shippers have been compelled to cur tail operations, and we report a very dull market- generally, which we do not expect will revive until after the approaching holidays, and easier terms oi freight prevail. Our quotations are :— Best mutton, f.0.b., to £28 per ton ; do. Beef, f.0.b., to £26 103 per ton j average Mutton, from £26 to £27 12s 6d par ton ; do. Beef, from £25 to £26 per ton ; Mixed, from £22 to £25 10s per ton ; Inferior, from £18 to £22 per ton. MONTHLY GRAIN REPORT. Wheat. — Our sales during the past month have beer, well supplied, with a good demand both for export and local consumption. At our later sales, however, an easier feeling lias been manifest, and we have to report a decline of 2d. per bushel on our quotations of last month. The new wheat is now coming forward freely, but the samples to hand are frequently thin and badly dressed. We quote— Prime old milling, 4s Hd ; prime new, 4s Id ; medium to good, 3s 9d to 4s ; and inferior to medium, 3s 2d to 3s 8d per bushel. Flour. — Good country brands are worth £9 5s and town-milled £9 12s 6d sterling per ton. Oaks.— There has been a good demand for nil descriptions and we quote— Prime milling, 2s lOd ; prime feed, 2s 7 A : medium to to good, 2? 6d ; and inferioi to medium. ls» lid to 33 2d per bushel. Barley.— Lnt.e rates were current Hirous«V out tht,' past month, and we have sold a heavy supply at. quotations. Th« tone of the market is steady of late, and all Masses of Barley meet with good enquiry ; best qualities, as usual, however, meet with mostfavour. We quote— Prime malting, 3s lOd ; medium to good, 3s 4d to 33 9d ; inferior to medium, 2s 4£d to 3s 3d ; Cape and Oregon, Is Id to 2s II per bushel. I Maize.— We sold a parcel of prime, at 3s 6d per baeltel. Peas realised 2s fid per bushel. Bran. — We quote Bran tit 9id and Pol» lard 8d to Bid per bushel.