COMMERCIAL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 229, 20 February 1865, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

AUCKLAND. (From the Southern Cross J Weekly Summary. Friday Evening, Feb. 3.—There has been a very fai r amount of business done during the week; and the large decrease in the imports has already had a very favorable effect upon trade, and enabled business men to got bette prices for their goods. This decrease is principally in the imports from the Australian colonies, with which this market has been recently flooded. A legitimate trade is, of course, to be desired, especially with Melbourne, as being the cheaper market, and we fberclWo regret that the ss. Auckland litis been taken off the line. It is to be hoped however, that some arrangement will bo made by which we shall have at least monthly direct steam communication with Melbourne. The Southern Provinces, and those in Cook's Straits, are much better off than Auckland is in this respect, and this inequality in our postal arrangements shouhj not be allowed to exist. There has been one important sale of groceries, provisions, teas, &c., during the week, at the stores of Messrs Gilffllan & Co. There was a good attendance, and the prices show an advance on former quotations.

Friday Evening, Feb. 10. —Business has been very quiet during tho week, and contrasts unfavorably with the brisk trade done during the preceding one. The market for every description of merchandise, except ffour, remains unaltered. ITour is very scarce, and what there is in the market is of very inferior quality. The scarcity however, is likely to be soon supplied, as some flour vessels are expected from Australia, amongst which is the Constance, Which will be shortly due from Adelaide. The Annie IVood has been chartered by Messrs Thornton, Smith, & Birth to proceed to Valparaiso for a cargo of flour, and will probably sail to-day. There have been few shipments of flour to this port lately, and there is ample room now for a renewal of importations of this description. There have been no important trade sales during-the week. Messrs Hidings & Dowdsn sold at auction to-day, 200 boxes apples, from -M to Id Tf-115, and 200 kits onions, |d to Id ■sjp- lb. Messrs Hams & Turner also held a sale of fruit, &c., and sold apples at Id to lid lb; pumpkins, 7s. cwt.; and potatoes, £3 's• ton. Mr G. Sibbiu sold potatoes at £5 per ton. The house known us the Duke of Marlborough Boarding-house was sold by auction to-day, by Messrs Harris cfc & Turner for JEl2i. Slock and Share Market. "February 3—The Sharemarket is still heavy and inactive. The only thing worth noting this week is an increased firmness in Bank of'Auckland shares, with a decided upward tendency. There werc“a.tplications for three times the number of shares issued by the Auckland Insurance Company; the allotment, however, has given general satisfaction and confidence. February 10.—Throughout the week business has been very stagnant, with a total absence of speculation and demand for investments in the share Market. Mortgages and miscellaneous securities are also difficult to eifect, although the amount of capital waiting for investment is probably larger than at any other period since the existence of the Colony.