Commercial.

Evening Star, Issue 2838, 23 March 1872, Page 2

Commercial.

There was no business transacted at the Custom House to-day. The market in is quiet but steady Flour is moving freely in trade parcels at Ll2, the price having been easier through S’ 8 from the country mills being upon the market. Country brands in quantities possibly could be bought at Lll 15s. We have heard of no inquiries for parcels by speculutors, and the bakers are not at presnt buying in stocks. For inferior flour a slightly improved inquiry is noticeable. Small parcels are quoted at! 9 10s. Od. In oatmeal there are only trade lots wanted ; the quotation is at Ll3. Parcels for shipment would be supplied at L(2 10s. For pearl barley the demand is very slack ; there, however, is never much sokt at this season of the year. The trade is wet at 1-17 Bran plentiful at L 3. Pollard scarce .it !.4. Potatoes are dull at L 4 10s. Importations of this article are likely to become more limited as the prise Jin Australia is firmer. There is not much eagerness on the part of the millers to buy largely in milling wheat. The general impression is that the present value will not be maintained, and buyers consequently are loath to lay in heavy stocks. Deliveries from the Taieri, and also from the Northern districts, are being made freely. The market rate for first-class samples of the ordinary kinds of wheat is 4s 6d ; in Dunedin, for parcels of Tuscan, 4s 9d might be secured. Medium sorts are unsaleable, although there is but little offering, and what there is, is from last season’s crop. Fowl wheat is selling at 3s to 3s 2d. First-class milling oats are placed at 2s, We believe a parcel has changed hands at 2s 2d, but the quality was superior to any in the market. Fee iug kinds are dull and are changing hands at Is lOd. For malting barley there is a fair demand at 4s 6d ; to supply immediate requirements, a slightly higher rate has been given. Feeding samp es are quiet at 2s. Straw, L2 10s. Hay, L 3 15s. Chaff, L 3 10s. Carrots none in market. A. Mercer reports for the week ending March 23Retail prices—Fresh butter, in |lb. and 11b. prints, best quality, Is per lb. ; second quality, lOd per lb. ; fresh butter in lumps, lOd per lb; powdered and salted butter, lOd per lb; salt butter, in kegs, 9d. Fresh butter is at present very plentiful, but the demand is not equal to the supply ; and storekeepers have had to resort to salting down, a very unusual as well as unprofitable proceeding at this season of the year, seeing the retail price for salt butter is very little in advance of the price they are paying for fresh. In the cheese market the p ices remain the same. Beat quality is from 6d to 8d per lb ; second quality, 6d per lb. Side and rolled bacon, 9d to lOd per lb. Colonial hams, Is per lb. Eggs are very plentiful this week, ami Belling at la 3d per dozen.