Commercial.

Evening Star, Issue 3196, 19 May 1873, Page 2

Commercial.

The amount of revenue received at the Cus* lon-house on goods cleared for consumption this day, was L 629 3s 6d. The number of arrivals In Port Chalmers from foreign porta during the past week has been fifty-seven persons, and the departures twenty-six. The arrivals from the neighboring porta were fifty-one, and the departures fortyseven.

Saturday, noon. The unsettled weather of the past week, and the despatch of the Home mails, have, to some extent, interfered with business ; which, nevertheless, has been good, and rather inclined to briskness than otherwise. In consequence of late advices, the import markets have witnessed a better inquiry for one or two items, and some strengthening in prices can be noted, _ The intelligence of the partial failure of the vintage in France, and the consequent improvement in valuesjin Melbourne have led to busmesshere, and some large lines of good old brandies, chiefly Henneasy’s, have been taken up—these, particularly, some good old 1869 are understood to be intended for the Melbourne market, where old brandies realise a better comparative rate than is the case here. Shipments of Hennessy’s are now quoted at 7s 6d to 7s 9d, and second brands are considered as worth 6d in advance of recent quotations; of these sorts some moderate sales are reported. Whiskeys are now held by importers for higher rates, but without transaction of any moment. In other liquids there has not been much stir, but a maintained inquiry for ales and stouts in glass has led to the clearance from importers’ hands of nearly every package of these goods at very full rates. Sugars continue brisk, and constant small sales occurring show prices very firm. Good yellow and grey crystals are scarce, and these sorts still bring correspondingly high prices. An average demand for teas is noted, and good medium congous in small packages are noted as descriptions are plentiful, and any alteration is at present unlikely. In metals there is further change in the direction of improvement, and in consequence transactions have, daring the last two or three days, been in abeyance, buyers as yet being unwilling to concede. The market has been quiet both in malt and hops, and no sales of any moment in either item are reported; for the former, quotations are still made at 13s 6d : but a rather better supply of Colonial bailey has for the present checked the inquiry. Transactions in salt are reported as having been made at 100s to 105s, ex ship for large parcels, and 110s ex warehouse. Sales of linseed oils are also noted at 5s 3d to 5s 4d. Kerosene has not altered from last quotations, and is at 2s 4d to 2s sd, which are rates current, but an inconsiderable business has being going forward.

In the grain market we have to report an average business. Millers still seem indisposed to heavy purchases of wfleats, and at 4s 6d to 4s 9d, for good grinding parcels, the market is rather quiet. Good samples of oats have been quitted up to 3s 6d, with a brisk demand. Inferior have been quitted at 3s 4d, and the market has more inclination to imprsvement than otherwise. Good pale samples of barley are worth 7s 6d. Town millers report a good demand for flour, both for local and export requirements, at Lll 10s to Ll2. Bran is sold at 60s, 'ami pollard at 100s. Oatmeal, L2O per ton. In provision, there is business doing at maintained prices. Cheese is worth 8d to B*,d. Bacon and hams, 9d to lOd; and butter, though in full supply, is held for 9id to lOd.

Messrs Wrioht, Stephenson, and Co, report, for the week ending May 17, as follows :

Stock.— Fat Cattle : A fair supply, consisting of about 50 head, came forward, which we sold. The greater portion of them belonged to Mr William Souter, of Flag Swamp, and being of very superior quality, brought from L 5 10s to Ll2 2s 6d each. We quote prime quality 22s 6d per 100 lb; middling do, 18s. We also gold privately 45 head, at 20s per 1001b. Fat Sheep; 769 were penned, which wo sold as follows :—lB5 merino wethers, good quality, at 10s 9d; 284 do, fair quality, 9s to 9s 9d ; 300 do, middling quality, 7s 9d. We quote prime quality half-breds, 2|d per lb; do merinos, 2.jd. We sold privately 500 merino wethers at 2lei per lb, and 700, delivered on station, at 8s Gd each. Store Cattle 3 and 4 years old cattle are in demand, but few are offering. We sold at auction, at Kaikorai yards, 50 cows, in poor VWidfoton, aH&j 18 yearling*, at 20

calves, at from 10b to 235. We quote bullocks, >to 4 years old, at L 3 10s to L 4 ; mixed lots, 'sb to 50s. Store Sheep; We have still nquiries for merino wethers and lambs and iross-brod sheep, but sellers are not numerous ■Ve sold 800 full and broken-mouthed wethers, it 5«, and 800 merino ewes, in lamb, at 10s. W< [uote cross-breds, 2 and 4-tooth, 11s to 12s; lamb <s 6d to 9s ; merino wethers, 4 and 6-tooth, 7> u o 7s 6d. Horses: Heavy draughts are in good lemand, and meet with ready sale. At oui yards, on Saturday, nearly everything in the shape of draught stock was quitted at full rates, but light and inferior saddle horses were difficult to dispose of. We quote first-class draughts, L 55 to L6O ; medium, L 25 to L3O; good hacks and light harness horses, L2O to L 25 ; medium do. Lll to Ll4; light and inferior, L3to L 6, Wool.—By cable telegram under date of sth inst.. received per Albion, greasy wool is advised to have advanced Id per lb, but washed to have receded slightly. Our next sale of sheepskins, hides, and tallow will be held on Thursday, 22nd inst. Grain.— Wheat continues in fair request, and good samples are saleable at from 4s 9d to 5s per bushel. Oats are wanted, and may be quoted at 3s 9d for milling, and 3s 6d for feed. Barley: None offering.