Commercial.

Evening Star, Issue 3261, 2 August 1873, Page 2

Commercial.

The amount of revenue received at the Cus-tom-house on goods cleared for] consumption this day, was L 599 15s 3d. The total amount of gold duty collected at the Custom House during the month of July amounted to L 1,370 Os 7d, being at the rate of 2speroz. The country demand for supplies of groceries is still confined to immediate and [pressing wants, and in the main articles, sugar, tea, wines and spirits, quotations are unaltered. As is natural, when roads are in so _ fearful a condition as those of Otago during winter, the rate of carriage remains .high ; as the season advances and the roads become passable, increased demand will set in. In oilmen’s stores the market is unsettled ; merchants refusing to sell where the new tariff has added to the cost, excepting at increased prices. A. Mercer reports for the week ending August 2, retail prices only Fresh butter, in 4 And 1 lb. prints, best quality, Is 9d to la lOd per lb.; second quality, Is 8d to Is 9d per lb. Fresh butter, in lumps, Is fid to Is 8d per lb.; powdered and salt butter, Is 4d per lb. Salt butter, in kegs, Is 2d per lb. for good samples ; second quality, Is to Is Id per lb, but not much in demand, and the market is pretty well stocked. Fresh butter has not been so scarce for years, and unless it gets more plentiful, a further rise may be expected. Stock of cheese is mostly in the retailers’ hand, and for good quality, Is per lb. Side and rolled bacon, 9d to lOd per lb. Colonial hams, Is to Is 2d per lb, ; English hams, la 8d per lb. Eggs are very scarce and selling at Is 8d per dozen. Messrs Gillies and Street have issued a monthly list of “properties for sale,” the first number of which we have received. It is not, however, a bare catalogue of sections of land, houses, and farms in the market, but a review of the money and share market, and an account of actual transactions of the past month. The “ property report” points to the confidence evinced by all holders of property in Dunedin in the future of the Colony. We are told that “freehold properties in the main business streets are not-obtainable.” “In one of the side streets an advance of LI,OOO has been offered for a small site, for which L 1,200 was asked some four months ago” and refused; and in another case L 2,000 profit was refused for a small site and now brick building. Messrs Gillies and Street seem to think money has seen its lowest, and that the rate of interest will advance slightly. They base their calculations on the exceptionally high price of money at Home. For our own parts we do not share their apprehensions, for we see nothing in the state of the world, excepting the export of gold to satisfy the Alabama award, to lead to the conclusion that the rise can be otherwise than very temporary. The publication is well got up, and, if judiciously conducted, is likely to be useful.

[By Telegraph.] AUCKLAND, August 1. —Mr John Reid quotes Otago oats at 4s 9d to 5s ; flour at Ll3 10s to Ll4 10s; and bran at Is 3d. There have been large arrivals of flour. Kauri timber has advanced in price, in consequence of theactive demand for it. |MeIBOURNE, July|2l.—Breadstuffs depressed; country flour, Ll2 7s _ 6d; wheat, 6s; oats, about ss; best feed maize, 4s 7.W. A telegram from San Francisco, dated July 23, states that there is no grain offering for the Colonies ; barley there is Idol. 70c. per cental. Freights, L 3 15s. Congous, yesterday, were sold by auction at 11M to 21d; Hennessy’s pale and Kartell's dark brandy, 7s 6d. Timber : Kauri, 24s to 25s 3d; logs, 18s 6d to 22s 6d ; sawn, per Rachel Cohen, and Heron, per Adelaide, 24s to 265, 15s 3d to 23s 9d ; sawn spars, 25s 3d. A private telegram from London, dated July 22, states that brandies have advanced 18d per gallon. Sugars are a trifle firmer, but there have been no malt sales worth recording.