COMMERCIAL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 157, 15 January 1864, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

WELLINGTON SUMMARY TOR DECEMBER. Trade lias been much better during the past month, chiefly owing to the stations ordering their supplies for the year, but the market is still overstocked with every description of imported goods, the arrivals being far in excess of the demand, Both the Bride and Wild Duck have arrived from London with large general cargoes of merchandise, which will increase stocks in hand, and no doubt importers must submit to lower prices than are now ruling, We are, however, glad to see that shippers at the other end have shown some symptoms of leaving our market alone for a few months, and an improvement may therefore bo anticipated in prices generally. Although business is still in a somewhat depressed state, yet there is every reason to believe what little is doing evinces a much healthier state of affairs than we would have anticipated a few mouths agoThe continued delays which had taken place in the earlier part of the Northern campaign, when followed out by decisive action, certainly, to some extent relieved the depression of trade by restoring confidence. We cannot say that this feeling has continued, because the last few Northern Mails have only brought us news of another lull, which strengthens the suspicion that the Colony will have to suffer from a long and tedious war. Still the profound hope and conviction which the settlers entertain that the Native rebellion will bo finally put down by the present war, does much to relievo o depression of trade which would otherwise become chronic. Several ships are now loading for home. The clipper ship Asterope, Capt. Stuart, hoisted the last bale on board yesterday, and will sail to her advertized date, the 17th January. She will fake 2,000 bales of wool, besides other cargo. The ship John Banyan, Capt. Allen, has commenced loading wool for London, and it is expected will fill rapidly as the wool is coming in fast from the stations.

The barque Albert Willi an ■, ia loading rapidly, having 400 bales of wool already on board, and the most of her cargo being engaged, will meet with quick despatch. The ship Wild 1 DucJc. Capt. Bishop, is the 4th wool ship that will be despatched from Wellington for London this season, after a favorable passage of 110 days. After discharging her inward

cargo, she is advertized to load wool for London. During"the past month R. R. J. Duncan, Esq., Manager of the N.Z.5.N.0., has returned from Sydney, where the Lady Bird is at present refitting, and we learn as the result of his negociations with tho I.C.E.M. Company that a proposal has been made by tho Directors of the latter to the N.Z.S.N.O. We believe that during the course of the negociations, a complete disclosure of the present state of the respective companies’ affairs was mutually made by tho representatives of both undertakings, but as the proposals submitted by Mr. Hudson, are still under consideration of tho Directors here, it would be premature to speculate on the result, Mr. Hudson is already on his way to England, and on his arrival there will receive the reply of the N. Z.S.N. Company’s Directors, two of whom, J. Joseph Esq., and W. M. Banuatyne, Esq., happen fortunately to be on the eve of departure for Europe. Whatever may be the ultimate rasult, no definite arrangement can possibly be arrived at for some months. Meantime, it is gratifving to know that the affairs of the N.Z.S.N. Company are still in a prosperous condition, and that although the possibility of Wellington being made the seat of G overnment, has tended to render some of its promised supporters in Auckland rather lukewarm, yet the gratifying facts remain, that £20,000 worth of Shares have been disposed of in the Province, and the holders include many of the leading men alike in commercial and political circles. From the Otago S.S. Company a proposal for amalgamation is still under the consideration of the Wellington and Dunedin Directors, ane it. is not impossible that a scheme might be arranged for a Hew Zealand Steam Navigation Company, on the basis of that existing here, in which the I.C.R.N. Company and the Otago S.S. Company, should be constituents. r ihe Lady Bird may be expected to arrive here from Sydney in March, when she will at once be put into active employment, and thenews.s. Wellington may also be expected from Scotland somewhat later. — Independent , Jan. 5.