Commercial.

Evening Star, Issue 3218, 13 June 1873, Page 2

Commercial.

The amount of revenue received at the Cus-tom-house on goods cleared for consumption this day, was L 985 10s Bd. RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. The following are the Southland Railway returns for the month ending May 31: — Corresponding Passengers. Cash received. Month in 1872. Cash received. Invercargill ... £152 17 6 ... £lOl 16 0 Bluff ... 51 13 6 ... 29 17 0 Win ton ... 46 8 0 ... 30 0 0 Goods. Invercargill ... 460 22 ... 336 4 7 Bluff ... 52 12 3 ... 21 8 2 Jetty Dues ... 05 0 ... 519 0 Wiuton ... 91 3 3 ... 64 0 6 £855 1 8 £689 5 3

MELBOURNE. — In the import markets a moderate amount of business has been transacted ; there is, however, little of a special character to refer to, any improvement perceptible being confined to one or two specialities. Flour is very firm indeed; holders require Ll4 10s for parcels, and are as yet not to be tempted into accepting less money, even though offered within 5s and 2s 6d of the quotation named. Wheat is much wanted, and 6s 6d can be got, but the almost total absence of supplies stops business. An extensive trade has been done in oats ; under the hammer about 3,500 bushels fair to food realised 5s 2d to 5s 7£d; privately 2,100 ags are stated to have changed hands at from 5s 2d to 5s 4d; a line of 200 bags of prime milling was placed at the extreme figure of 6s 9d. Maize is selling readily at 4s sd. Bran has been sold as high as Is 6d. There is little doing in comsacks, inquiries being very trifling; under the hammer, however, 6o bales, offered in faulty condition, were cleared out at 11s 3d to 11s lOd. At the same time a small parcel of woolpacks was sold at 4s For sugars we note an improving demand; sales have been made at L 37 10s for yellows, and L4l for misfiling whites. By fee Elizabeth, via Adelaide, dates have reached us from Mauritius to 18th April, but all her news has already been Anticipated by telegram via Galle. Kerosene oil is very slow; we note sales of Imperial by Auction at Is Bd. Tobacooes are very finn; about 100 packages damaged were cleared off this day. We notice that some 250 packages Cameron’s goods will be sold to-morrow. Owing to the extraordinary advices received by the mail regarding timber, speculative attention has been directed towards deals, which has led to the quittance of 1,800 standard (equal to about six cargoes), and as the stock held by the trade is fully 60,000 pieces less than at the same period last year, and the Government contracts are bound to absorb large quantities, it is fully anticipated that prices will rule very high. At Auction 11 x 3 spruce deals soli at 6Jd to 6d • I6ths per foot, 9 x 3, and 9 x 3 white at sgd to fid 7-16ths. Cedar brought 33s 6d to 40s, and E.R. pine 33s 6d; white boards and flitches were quitted at 17s. Rum has been more noticed, several shipments having been taken up at 3s 3d for Lemon Hart’s 10 per cent, 0.p., and 3s for Lowndes’s; holders of the first-named brand now ask 3s 6d, Further sales of Hennessy’s case brandy have eome under our notice at 27s. — Argus, 4th June. English Grain Market.— The report of Messrs Burrows and Perks, on the London com trade, quotes 61s to 63s per 4961b. for Adelaide wheat, and 42s to 45s per 2801b. for Adelaide flour. A private letter gives the valuation O? New Zealand wheat, by an eminent cornbroking firm, at 645., provided the grain was equal in all respects to the best shipments of the previous season. The Mark Lane Express does not view the prospects of the next English harvest as favorable, and remarks on the point in the following terms “ The weather during the past week, though not so dry as the heavy land farmers could have wished, yet, on the whole, has been seasonable. There has. however, been but a very sorry seed time for the wheat, which now cannot be planted wife much hope of success, and we, therefore, begin with a large acreage unsown with this grain, and the prospect of home grown abundance must be given up so far as the next gathering is concerned. Although on the lighter soils that early planted looks well, there is much in the clays, especially in the north, which has a thm and unpromising aspect. Farmers will thus have to look sharp to get in their barley and other spring com, all of which are still much behind?* As to the course of prices the same journal remarks s—“ However limited the farmers* stores may be of wheat, the improved weather has begun to tell upon prices, as there is a general belief that foreign imports will suffice for the season, but in another month we fea)l have launched into the usual weather markets. We have hitherto experienced great irregularities, and we may have such again before the gatherings, and as our own cannot be heavy there is quite as much room for a rise as there is for a fall; but with a steady time we look for slight fluctuations, and but little differtnce. M , Preserved Meats.—Australian provision merchants at Home report a dull trade m imported meats. Beef and mutton in 6 lb. tins Are over source, and have advanced per lb. Small tins of both find a very flat market. There have been several arrivals of beef from South America lately. Mr D. Tallerman, in his circular for the mail, expresses regret that aoveral meat-preserving companies should have wholly or jArtly ceased operations in consequence of the advanced rates demanded by the ptwkQWß#*, as tbf protablt ce«»twa vl

menti will do much to cause retailers to relinquish a trade the permanency of which was uncertain. The Australian Meat Agency Corporation (Limited) have established a meatpreaerving plant at the exhibition, with the view of showing the whole process to the public. It is intended to maintain the apparatus in working order all the time the exhibition is open. Mr S. D. Tallerman, of Matthews and Tallerman, Melbourne, and Mr C. Bridget, of Southampton, have joined the board of this company. .