COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 303, 2 June 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

—.—♦— The Customs revenue collected yesterday was

ENGLISH COMMEECIAL. WOOL. Messrs Miles Brothers and Co. report under date April 6th as follows : ■ •".,., . ~ , The first series of sales of colonial wool, which commenced on the 2:)rd February, was brought to a close on the 25th ultimo. The catalogues have com-

•."'.'■■•' Total.. .. 205,853 And in addition, about 12,000 Capes and 2000 Australians were forwarded direct from ship to Yorkshire and the Continent. ■ . The attendance has been good throughout the series • our home buyers have made some considerable purchases, and about llO.ooOlb have been taken on Foreign account, while the total quantity for America nas not exceeded 200 bales. At the opening, buyers operated with great caution, and prices generally receded from December rates.to the extent of Id to lid per lb; but after a few days had elapsed a more settled feeling seemed to pervude the trade, biddings became more animated, and a recovery took place in both washed and greasy sorts, but this was more particularly noticeable in the latter, which remained very tlrm to the close. New South Wales and Queensland wools did not equally participate with the other descriptions in the general improvement since the onenin <T and towards the close very superior short Australian-wool fell Id to Ud per lb, in consequence of the lar<*-e quantity which was then offered. Crossbreds have been firm throughout at previous rates. The next series has been fixed for the 4th prox., but at this early period it is difficult to foretell how prices Will rule. A fair though not very remunerative business is doing in the North, and as the arrivals will be. large (estimated at nearly 300,0001 b) we hardly think that present rates wi'l be fully maintained, notwithstanding that there, js likely to be a considerable falling off in the importations from the Elver Plata and the Cape. ,• < WHEAT AND FLOUR. -The t New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company reports:—The occurrence of some very cold weather a few weeks since, and the continued prevalence of contrary; winds which further delayed the arrival of wheat vessels bound for the United Kingdom caused some improvement in the market both for off-coast cargoes and Engli-h wheat. The latter has advanced is per quarter, and a similar rise has been experienced in Californian, while Black Sea and .Eastern American are 6d to Is better Fine'Oregon has realised up to 475, and average Californian' 46s per 50010 c.i.f. Buyers continue to actr with great caution, however, intending to replenish their stocks on the arrival of the next fleet, while importers calculate on sufficient demand to take off the 400,060 quarters likely to arrive immediately without having to make any concession on present prices. We are still without any supplies of Adelaide wheat in this market and we observe by advices delivered by last mail via Brindisi, that quotations had not declined sufficiently to make shipments to the United Kingdom remunerative,. while farmers in the colony manifested but little disposition to accept lower rates notwithstanding the discouraging accounts which had been received from this side, and the accumulating surplus dependent for disposal on export demand. A few charters had been effected, but pending the anticipated decline, no purchases of wheat for England were reported. It can scarcely be expected that the harvests will be so universally abundant this year as last; any interruption therefore, to the present lavorable prospects of the young wheat plant in this country might materially influence the market lor imported wheat; but beyond a lew complaints of damage by irost, to which not much importance is, attached, there are no 'indications of 'such a contingency, and large stocks of last year's harvest are still held by farmers, which they will be anxious to realise should the next two or three months bring a continuance of pi opitious weather. We observe that shipments of wheat from the Atlantic ports to the United Kingdom during the three months ending 31st March, were only 497,000 quarters against 919,000 quarters for corresponding period of 1874, while from San Francisco, for a like period, they had increased from 530,000 quarters last year to 630,000 quarters in 1875. The aggregate quantity of wheat on passage to the United Kingdom is about 1 500 000 quarters against about 1,200,000 quarters at corresponding period in 1874. Stocks in London on 31st ult were reduced to the unprecedentedly low Quantity of 43,485 quarters of wheat against 241,507 In 1874, and 177,860 in 1873. Those of flour were 293 913 cwts as compared with 367,076 cwts in 1874, and 375,000 in 1873. At the same dates the stocks of maize were 27.317 quarters, 21,976 quarters and 88,984 quarters for 1875,1874, and 1573 respectfully, while of oats the quantity shows a heavy decline to 38,063 quarters against 228,168 quarters in 1874, and 215,672 qusirters the. previous year. Market quotations are as follow: Australian wheat (nominal) 50s per 496 lbs New Zealand wheat .. ... 46s to 48s per 496 lbs Australian flour 30s to 33s per 280 lbs New Zealand flour ... ... 26s to 30s per 280 lbs Messrs Miles and Co report:— • There has be'eri rather a short supply of home crown wheat lately, and the arrivals from abroad having been moderate in consequence of adverse winds; English wheat has advanced fully Is 9d per quarter. Jroreign prpduce is also slightly firmer." The shipments both from California and New York appear to be on the decrease, and as there is not likely to be any great revival of trade from those quarters at piesent prices, and ourown harvest will probably be late, we think that rates will gradually improve. Australian wheat is now worth 50s per 496 .lbs, and New Zealand 46s to 48s; Australian flour 30s to 33s per 280 lbs, and New Zealand 26s to 30s. NEW ZEALAND HEMP. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency reports:— The market continues very dull, with scarcely any enquiry. 217 bales were brought forward at public auction on the 17th March, but only 20 bales were soid under the hammer, at i 316 5s per ton for medium, and £l9 for good. A few sales huve been made of fair half cleaned at £ls 15s per ton, but transactions to any extent, even at this price, would be impossible. Appended will be found statement of stocks, landings, and deliveries to 3lst ultimo, compared with those to same date in 1874: 1874. 1875. Stock on 3lst March ... 2321 tons 1868 tons. Landed January-March ... 880 „ 152 „ Delivered do .. 426 „ 279 „ Landed during March ... 398 „ 21 „ Delivered do ... 186 „ 161 „ Arrivals since San Francisco Circular 94,151 bales. We have no advice of further shipments. TALLOW AND HIDES. • Messrs Miles and Co report:— Th"e~tallow market" has continued in the same State ; the demand for Australian moderate, without alteration in value; the present prices of Few Zealand good to fine mutton being 40s to 41s,.and fair to fine beef tallow 39s to 40s per cwt. Hides are dull of sale, and prices are again rather lower, the quotation to-day of New Zealand good being Bid to 6|d, and ordinary s|d to 6d per lb. PRESERVED MEATS. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company reports; The demand for prime brands rontmues fair at our last quotations to an advance of £d per lb in the case of 21b tins of boiled beef, for which there lias been more enquiry. We are unable to report any improvement la miscellaneous meats and soups,

which are in large supply, much beyond the requirements of the trade ; they are in consequence particularly dull of sale, and'any business doing- is of a very retail nature. we quote current market prices as under : Boiled mutton, elbtins ... d#dto 4jd per lb. 4lbtius .. tfjrlto IJdpcrlb. . 21b tins ... s«d to (id per lb. Boiled beef, 61b tins ... 6jd to O'n per lb. 41b tins ... Ijd to Ti{.l per lb. Arrivals I r the four weeks ending Ist April, 10,101 c.iscs from the Australian colonies, and 4357 from Amerfra. Byflie mail- delivered on 16th, ult via ItrWdisi, Wa had advfces of tlie shipment of 11,985 eases

aa follows:— £ B. d. Spirits Sugar 80 18 11 53 in 5 48 5 0 30 0 0 Cigars Tea .: Wine Sugar... 10 18 3 74 13 4 Treacle ... .• 9 6 8 Sundries 107 0 4 £415 1 11

prised:— Sydney and Queensland . Port Philip Adelaide ... ... Van Dleman's Land New Zealand Swan Eiver Cape of Good Hope Bales. ... 20,075 ... 99,423 ... 40,558 327 ... 5,513 337 ... 39,020