COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 528, 26 February 1876, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The CmtoßM revenue collected yesterday was is follow* :

Except in the case of barley, we have little or no alteration to report in values in the grain market, business during the week having been rather quiet, as farmers continue to take advantage of each succeeding fine day to get through with their stacking. A few lots of wheat have been offered, and although last weeks'prices, 3s 8d to 3s 9d, are still maintained, there is no great desire shown on the part of either exporters or millers to give this figu.-e in the lace of the continued downward tendency of the English market, caused partly by the fine ■weather for the growing crops there. Oats do not improve in demand, inquiries from outside markets being very limited ; for milling oats we quote Is id, for immediate delivery, but possibly a shade over this figure miijht be obtained for an extra prime sample ready threshed. Parley is little enquired for. and very dirllof sale at reduced prices. For prime malting we to-day .quote from 3s 3d to 3* fid, but buyers are very careless, whilst pome brewers and merchants, expecting a further decline, will not purchase at present. Several lots have, during the week, been offered at 3s 6d, but declined. Grass seed is ip good demand at 4* 3d to 4s 6d, but there is little conning ia yet, farmers being too busy to come to town. Millers' quotations conxinue unaltered at £lO in sacks, but probably a lower figure might be accepted by some tor less favored brands. Dairy produce continues scarce. For prime butter we quote 9£d. and for cheese 8d to Bid. Hams and bacon are in fair demand at lOd, f.0.b., and a good export business has been done during tlic week. Business has been rather dull in the import markets during the past week. The ship Invcrerne Arrived from London on the 22nd instant. Vessels on the berth for London are rapidly tilling up with wool, whe#fc tallow, &c. The Langstone and Orari will get away in first week of March, and will be followed by the Himalaya early in March. In sugars we have to report fair trade demand for local consumption. The Queen of the South arrived on the 21st, via Dunedjn, with about 200 tons Mauritius sugars. A large portion of the above has been shipped back to Dunedjn, and we understand more Is to follow. We report quotations for trade parcels at the following:—White crystals, .£32 to £34 • yellow counters, £2710s to £29 lQs, i.b. Teas have met with a fair demand, and have been moved off freely at full rates. Bottled ales and stouts (second-rate brands) have been sold at very low rates. The demand for best brands being rather ■mall. Bulk Ales-Bass'EastlndiaPalehasbeen sold St £9 10s to £9lss in trade parcels. Ashby's has been worked off at £s 10s to £8 15s. Ilennessy's case brandy has been sold freely at 30s 6d i b ; bulk realises 8s to 8s 3d ; lew trade sales of case old torn and Dunvllle's whiskey have come under our notice at 14s 3d. ITb 6d, to 18s i.b. Crushed loaf sugar has been in good demand at 52s to 53s d.p. Tobacco is rather dull of sale, we have only a few small sales to l eport at prices equal to last rates. Vinegar has been moved off freely, Champion's No 24 has met -"with good sale at 2s 5d to 2s 6d. other good brands find pur< haeera at 2s 3d to 2s 4d. Cornsaoka have been sold freely to large farmers at lie, while for good sized parcels to traders, 10s 6d to 10s 9d has se«n obtained. We hew Ql * line of 150 bales Cal-1

cutta sacks changing hands at price withheld. Cement—Sales have been effected at 20s 3d to 20s 6d ior lines at Christchurch railway station; small parcels are quitted at 22s delivered. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, have received the following telegram via the Bluff, per Albion, dated London, mh February:—" Wool—The sales opened with spirit at the level of last sales. The opening catalogue contained 6000 bales. Competition by both home and foreign buyers active. Up to date 103,000 bales have arrived; 7000 bales have been sent to the manufacturing districts direct. Scoured— Market firmer. Tallow—Holders demand higher rates." THE CALIFORNIAN CORN MARKET. The following circular, dated San Francisco, 6th January, 1876, has been placed at our disposal for publication:— . • " San Francisco, 6th Jan, 1876. " To Messrs Royse, Stead, and Co, " Christchurch, N.Z. " Dear Sirs,—Since the commencement of the wet season we have had a plentiful supply of rain, and at this writing the prospects for the coming season in grain is of the most promising nature. On the December rains depends the abundance of the coming crop, and at this period we may safely say that there is every reason to expect in the coming harvest by far the greatest product of any year in California. " Wheat—Liverpool quotations are somewhat easier, and a decline has been in order with us. Good shipping parcels are offered at Idol 85c to Idol 95c per cental, say from 7d to 4a IOJd per bushel of (JOlbs, f.0.b., and including bags. The late plentiful rains have caused a weak market; the offerings on 'Change are free, with but little disposition to buy. On the San Joaquin Valley—one of our largest wheat-growing districts—land is being leased in blocks of 5000 to 30,000 acres for the year, to take one crop off. In this valley, in such a season as the coming one is expected to be, the yield is very large, and the cost of ploughing, sowing, and harvesting is done at greatly reduced prices on this plain. They have now in use on these large farms an implement that ploughs, sows, and harrows at the same time, and one man with six horses goes over a fair area in one day. There is nothing to be done until harvesting, and then the headers are at work, the ears being taken directly from the header to the thresher, so that it is reaped and threshed the same day. The wheat is piled in the field, and there it remains tor six months if required, and has no covering whatever. With these appliances and advantages it is easily seen that a good season in California, with moderate prices, brings in large returns to the growers. On the San Joaquin Valley there are always contractors who will risk a large parcel for one season.as a good year will stand four or five bad ones. We therefore, from the present outlook, expect to have probably from 500,000 to 750,000 tons of wheat for export in the coming season. "Yours faithfully, "Harrison & Co."

£ s. d. Spirits >•• ••! „. W 0 6 'jfe& • • • • 6 13 Wine 60 11 8 Tobacco 45 2 6 Sugar 23 4 8 Beota 45 4 0 Bottled Beer 174 19 0 Timber 90 14 4 Sundries ... 42 19 1 £674 17 0