Commercial Intelligence.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 336, 28 December 1865, Page 2

Commercial Intelligence.

_ ENGLISH COMMERCIAL.

London, 27th October. Hoset market is unsettled, and great stringency Is exercised. On September 26th the discount rose to four and s half per cent.; October 2nd to five; on fifth, to sis; and 7th to seven per cent., where it still remains. Trade in general is in a sound state. The stringent efforts of the Bank of England to retrieve its position, owing to an immense drain of bullion for the Continent, excites a little alarm. The movement In the share market is depressed, owing to the rapid advance of money, and measures for the relations between England and America. A commute of Confederate bondholders report that the contractors have no money for payment of interest. Consols: Money, 89J to 89}; account, 89} to }. Colonial Government securities: New South Wales Government 5 per cent., 1868, January and July, 96 to 101; New Zealand Sixes, 103 to 105; Victorian ditto, April and October, 105 to 106; Queensland ditto, January and July, 102 to 103; South Australia ditto, 1878 upwards, 106 to 108. The Bank of Queensland has declared a dividend of 6 per cent, per annum. The Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China pays a dividend of 5 per cent, per annum. The Oriental Bank dividend is 5 ner cent. The half-year quinquennial dividend of the Eoyal Insurance Company is £2 per cent, per annum. The Board of Trade returns published show a decrease in value of exports during the last nine months The Atlantic Telegraph Company are sanguine as to their future success. LONDON WOOL REPORT. October 2. Since the close of last sales there has been a fair inquiry for all descriptions, especially Port Philip combings, ranging from 2s 2d to 2s sd. This description is very sc irce owing to the increased rate ofdiscount; buyers prefer to consume present stocks rather than increase them, and only buy for actual requirements; holders are firm, and stocks moderate : prices are expected to be fully maintained. AUCKLAND. LIVE STOCK MAKKET. Messes. Hunter and Co.’s Report for week ending December 22. We have to report that the fat cat tle market has remained steady as to price for the last few weeks. The market has been fairly supplied with provincial-latted cattls; soma prime qualities brought a relatively high rate. Store cattle are in considerable demand, especially young stock; the market was fairly supplied; all to hand were sold. Dairy cows sell freely, at rather improved rates. We had a good show of that description of stock, which were all sold. Veal calves; The market was well supplied, and all were sold at good prices. Sheep Market.—We had a good market of fat sheep, which were mostly all sold. We consider prices a shade lower this week than they were the week previous. Eat lambs were in full supply; all to hand were sold Horse Market. —On Saturday last we had a full market of horses—of heavy draught, light harness, and saddle horses, which were all sold. There was a considerable advance in price for light harness and good hacks. This class of horses sold freely, and are now in good demand. The market is very indifferently supplied with horses of a good sort: inferior horses are comparatively low in price. Otahuhu Sale.—Store cattle sold freely, at the same rates that have ruled at Newmarket. Dairy cows were in fair supply and sold freely. Drury Sale.—Store cattle and dairy cows were in fair demand. They sold at about the same rates that have ruled at Newmarket and Otahuhu. The following are quotations for the ckEat cattle, first quality, 40s per 1001 b; store stock, yearlings, £3 to £4 per head: two-year-old, £6 to £8; dairy cows, £l2 to £ls. Sheep. Eat, first quality, 30s to 35s each; half-fat, 23s to 23s each. Horses: Good hacks, £ls to £24; light harness horses, £l2 to £2O; heavy draught horses, £4O to £SO. Me Buckland’s report for week ending December 23. Mr Alfred Buokland reports the horse sales on Saturday to have shown some improvements during the sale of Mr Grigg’s stock, which were sound useful animals; but the large number of inferior horse stock constantly in the market are almost unsaleable. Prime fat cattle, on Thursday', sold at very extreme rates; bringing from 7d to 9d per lb; but middling and inferior animals were lower in price, and many were withdrawn from the sale. Store cattle are but little inquired for: a large number of the settlers being engaged in making hay, the attendance is less than usual. The market was fairly supplied with well-fatted sheep; prices are without alteration. Lambs offered in fair numbers, but the quality was not equal to that which is usually penned. Store sheep, particularly half-breds and lambs, are steadily inquired for. The Merino wethers brought, on Tuesday last, from 14s 6d each; aged Leicester ewes, 31s each. A fair supply of small fat pigs sold freely, and small-sizep store pigs are in great request; slips Just weaned bringing from 12s to 18s each. OTAGO. December 8. Business maintains an appearance of quiet, and an absence of large transactions characterises the present state of the trade. The market for all imported goods, which has manifested an improving tendency for some time past, has been rendered still more buoyant by the nature of the intelligence just to hand from Britain, wldeh advises a continuance of moderate shipments and of advanced rates in the home markets for several staple articles. In flour we have not heard of anything of note, the last cargo from Chili still remaining in importers’ hands, and a disposition being manifested by buyers to wait over the events of the next few days. Congou teas have been placed at fully maintained prices; and some parcels ot bottled beers have been quitted at goodrates. No auction sales takes place.—Daily Times. Deivee, Maclean & Co.’s Monthly Live Stock, Station and Wool Rei-ort. 18th December. During the early part of the present month, our market, for all descriptions of Stock, was characterised by great inactivity, owing, in some measure, to the fart that runholders we busy with shearing, which, on account of the extraordinary lateness of the season, is now only being proceeded with on many stations, where, in former years, it was completed before this time. Now however, the fine weather prevailing will admit of it being concluded without delay. During the past few days we have had numerous enquiries for Store Stock and Station Properties, evincing the returning confidence of capitalists, and we anticipate a healthy demand with the new year. We have little doubt that our anticipations as to the effect of the present great drought in Australia will prove correct, aud that capitalists of the neighboring Colonies will be forced to turn their attention, more than they have hitherto done, to the more safe investments which New Zealand offers. Eat Stock.—Out market has been well supplied with Fat Cattle, of fair quality, and prices have slightly given way. We are of opinion, however, that the decline is but temporary, and feel certain, that, in the course of a week or two the market will regain its former buoyancy. Tne supply of Eat Wethers has not exceeded the demand, although in anticipation of a full market, and consequent decline in prices, after shearing, our butchers have only been purchasing for immediate use. Eat Lambs can only be disposed of in limited numbers. Calves and Pigs, good quality, are very saleable. Store Stock.—Mixed mobs of cattle are saleable at fair rates, but the long prices asked by holders p.evont transactions of any magnitude, There is a demand for good young Ewes and mixed Lambs, which we have every reason to believe will continue throughout the season. Few Store Wethers are at present being sold. Buyers prefer waiting till later in the season, in anticipation of a reduction on prices now asked, in which, however, we think they will be disappointed. We have sold during the month, at following prices, viz: Fat Cattle, at £l2 to £l9 10s. per head. We quote present rates at 45s to 47s bd per lOUlbs, for prime quality, and 42s 6d, for medium. Fat Sheep, in Wool, at 23s 6d to 24s each, equal to 5d per lb; do., shorn, at 15s to 17s 6d each, equal to 4d to 4}d per lb. Fat Lambs, at 12s 6d to 15s each, according to age and quality. Store Wethers, shorn, at 12s to 13s each. Ewes, 2-tooth, at 19s to 20s each; Ewes, 1,6, and 8- tooth,

shorn, at, 16s each: Ewes, 2,4, and 0 -tooth,.shorn at 19s to 21s each. Lamha. mixed sexes, deliverable in March, 21s to 22s per pair. Store Cattle.—Bullocks over two years old, at £3 to £lO 10s ; mixed ages and sexes, at £6 ids to £S. Store Properties.—We have enquiries for good properties, and have placed several under offer, but cannot report any sales. We are not aware of any such having been completed during the month. Wool.—Only a few parcels of the season’s clip have coma to hand, and no public sales have yet been held. Our first sale of the season we purpose to hold on the 19th inst. Judging from the parcels that have come under our notice, we are of opinion that the ensuing clip will compare favorably with those of former years, being generally light la the grease, and more attention having been paid to classification. We quote from a report issued by us immediately after the arrival of last English Mail, and would request the particular attention of Wool Growers to the extract from our London Broker’s circular. agent’s bepoet. London, 26th September. Our manufacturers are well employed, and the wool trade generally is in a sound and healthy state. How prices will rule at the opening ot next year it Is of course impossible to loresee. The quantity of really good wools brought lorward at tbe sales just terminated was small, and prices were proportionally high, but they afford no guide to the next season’s operations. With our yearly Increasing production it can scarcely be expected, that the average of the current years rates can be maintained for any length of time, and it would be unwise to reckon upon them too confidently for March and May next. BiiOKEE'S EEPOET. New Zealand was in large quantity. With some exceptions, it is not considered so long in staple as the former clip; neither ig it in such light condition. We regret to notice so much uneven packing, long and short staples being often mixed together, and many bales part greasy. To ensure a good market price these great drawbacks should have grower's attention. sheep Skins are not in such good demand, but we cannot report any alteration from former quotations. Hides.—Shipping Parcels Heavies in good condition command attention at former quotations; light and inferior are rather unsaleable. Tallow is very scarce. Fair samples are saleable at £35 per ton. WELLINGTON. Missus J. M. Taylor & Go’s Report for week ending December 22. At this period of the year we do not look for much activity iu trade, and the present season bids fair to follow in the wake of its predecessors. Stocks ol all kinds are very low, but the demand not being excessive, prices remain at about our last quotations. There has been a lair enquiry for Dried Fruits, of which the market was quite bare until the arrival of the James Lister, and good prices have been obtained for raisins, currants, &c. In Sugar our stock is fast diminishing: the finer sorts command extra rates; crushed loaf and white crystals being in good request for preserves. Teas remain at former rates. Stocks moderate. Coffee.—There has been some enquiry for Plantation at a slight advance. Flour has slightly declined in price, and Chilian has been offered at £22 ton for quantities; but we do not anticipate any permanent fall. Grain.—Maize is in fair supply at os Gd to 6s bushel; oats, very scarce, and worth 7s to 7s 6d bushel; barley —none. store Cattle are worth from £3 to £7 each. . 'Bnrov&uaanlaaHe as ‘£T to £lO each. HOKITIKA, Auction sales during the week have been unusually few. - and business inactive. At a jale of general merchandise yesterday, prices realised wore far below actual value. For supply of country orders and of retail dealers fair rates are maintained. We notice iu the Dunedin papers that inquiries in that market are being made for feed oats for tte West Coast, which has had the effect of advancing that ai • tide.—West Coast Times, December 16. MELBOURNE. . ' The London Chartered Bant has obtained another judgment against Government ‘or £iO.(XK). Business generally is dull. Currants. 6d in bond; kero, sine in moderate demand Gouda candles, twolve-and-a----h .If. In teas fair prices < [stained. Good trade demand for Adelaide flour, at £3-i to £25; Californian, £22105; Chilian , wheat sold at 9s; maize sold at extreme rate of ss; oats ' firm at 5s 9d,