COMMERCIAL.

Grey River Argus, Issue 124, 27 October 1866, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Tiie Grey River Argus Office, Friday evening. The amount of revenue received at the Customs on goods cleared for home consuinp: tion on Thursday and Friday was n.i fol-lows:-Thursday, October 25, £1U 9s 5d ; Friday-, 2G, £202 0s JOd. Okakita. — The WfiMiand Observer, of the 20th hist. , reports as follows ;— Although there is no appearance of any improvement in demand or consumption generally, there has been a notable scarcity of i evb; al articles in town during the pa: t few days. A very limited supply of such articles, however, would be found sufficient now for all inquiries, though a few cases or hundred-weights would be likely to realise fair prices to the first importer. Among the most notable may be mentioned ale and porter, not a ca3e of winch, genuine, is reported to be had. All good brands have been used up, and a considerable quantity of inferior and colonial has found sale during the past week. Good butter is also in small supply ; and colonial cheese, of late such a drug in this market that some were shipped t» Hokitika, is likewise particularly scarce. Potatoes are by no means plentiful, though the price has not yet reached over 14s to los. Flour is still in a good many hands, and does not show signs of improvement — Chilian (best) is selling at L22to L 22 10s. Oats and bran, in few hands, and likely to advance. Chafi' moves slowly. Champagne and claret in demand, ami stocks low. If (as would seem to be highly probable) no vessels arc laid on direct from some of the larger ports, and our supplies are to be limited to the weekly or fortnightly visits of one steamer at the freight of L 5 per ton, we must naturally expect occasional scarcities, and better prices obtainable in a few month.*, when stocks will consequently be considerably ■ reduced" CiißisTCiiUßCii. — The Lyllelton Times, of the 22nd hist. , reports : — A feeling of renewed confidence has been apparent during the past week, which has been increased by the tone of the Superintendent's speech, and the hopeful prospects held out by the Government. The news received by telegram from England tends very decidedly to an increase of this confidence. The rate of discount which has been maintained by the Bank of England at 10 per cent, for the last three mouths has fallen to five. • The harvest prospects in the United Kingdom arc reportedto be brilliant. Prices of raw material had improved, and the wool sales were passing off most satisfactorily. These good accounts are certain to react favorably upon the colonies, and we may fairly anticipate that the end of our financial and commercial troubles is not far distant. As the wool season is advancing, enquiries for woolpacks and other station requisites, such as sulphur, sheepwash to-* bacco, &c, &c, have been more frequent during the week. The alteration in our Tariff has affected so many articles of importance in our list that considerable confusion exists in quoted prices. The sale of the sugars, ex Isabella, from Mauritius, took place this day, by Messrs J. Ollivier and Son, when nearly the whole 147S bags offered were disposed of, but at rates which, we fancy, can leave but little, if any profit to the importers. Fine white crystals brought L3B to JA4, in bond, in Lyttelton ; grainy white crystals, L 36 10s to L3S ; bright yellow counters. L 34 to L 34 15s ; yellow counters, L2B 15s to L 29 ; brewers' dark crystals, L3l 10s to L 3 2; dark rations, L 24 5s to L 24 15s. The advices of a consider- . able quantity still to arrive from Mauritius, appeared to influence buyers. There is no alteration in the rates of discount or exchange. The money market is well supplied for investing purposes, but great caution is still exercised in discounts. Superfine Canterbury flour is quoted at Ll3 per ton. The demand for wheat and oats continues very limited, but former prices are maintained. Wheat frr m 4s to 4s Gd per bushel, and oats from 5s to 5s 6d. Hay sold at L 4 ss, to L 5 10s per ton. Bran found a slow sale at L 6 5s and sharps at L 7 lCs per ton. Melbodkke. — Tkc/bv/wS; of the 19th inst, reports i — In the import market business continues in a most unsatisfactory state, the amount of trade done to-day not having gone beyond the limited scale which has characterised the trade of the past few days. In the market for breadstuff^ there arc no sales to report, and in their absence we can in dee no actual change on quotations of Ll4 to ,Ll4 10s for best Adelaide town brands, and Ll3 fcr country brands. The maiktt, however, is decidedly weaker, the latter descriptions more especially being diiticnlt to quit in parcels of even 2Cs -below the rate named. A parcel of Pert MacPfeniiell flour h&s been tJk ' '

q litted at Ll2, a decline on the price recently' roquired. For wheat,- the market is so unsettled as to prevent us from giving any quotations whatever. Horsefeed is dull, and maize is offering at 4s 6d without leading to business. At auction, the cargo of the Eva^ Joshua, consisting of 5441 bags of Mauritius sugars, was offered, and the auctioneer succeeded in disposing of -2200 bags at about equal to rates realised at previous sales. Privately, brewing crystals have been quitted at L 33 l()s aud L 34, in parcels ; and rations have been disposed of at L2G. Currants are somewhat easier ; a parcel of about 20 tons was placed at 4.^1. A steady trade demand is maintained for kerosene oil, at up to 3s 4.U1 for Downer's. In stout we note sales of Dunphy's, in champagne bottles, at Ss 3d, in bond. Machcn's meets with purchasers at 9s 9d, duty paid. For tobacco an improved enquiry is springing up, which, however, has not yet led to sales beyond a small parcel of half-pounds at Is, but we learn that some larger transactions are pending. .;?; Sales of Barrett's anchor twist are reported at agent's prices. A small parcel of Virginia half, pounds aromatic was placed on private terms ; some faulty lots were disposed of at auction. Sales of Allsopp's bulk ale at L 5 5s in bond, have co;nc und^r our notice, and of Marrian's sales at L 6 os have also been made. Sherries have been placed in small^ parcels, at prices rancing, according to quality from L2sto L 54 and LGS. About thirty hogsheads of Martell's dark brandy have boon quitted at a price showing an advance on f< -Finer transastions.