Commercial Intelligence.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 776, 7 April 1870, Page 2

Commercial Intelligence.

The Customs Revenue at Port Ahuriri for the month ending 31st March, -1870, amounted to £2,079 sd, as follows : —Customs Duties, £2075 10s sd; Merchant Shipping Fees, £1; Arms Act Tees, £1 10s.; Wine License, £l. ENGLISH COMMERCIAL. We take the following from W. W. Tickle and Co.'s circular, dated 21st January : Wool.—The year 1869 has been a very hard one upon the wool trade, commencing with a reduction of Id to 2d per lb. in the first series of sales of the year ; the large quantities that had arrived for the May sales, combined with a continued dulness in trade, produced quite a panic in the market, and a further reduction, in some extreme cases, of 3d to 4d per lb., took place, prices being extremely irregular, and withdrawals were frequently made, but here the lowest point was touched, and buyers became more confident, prices recovering Id to 2d per lb., and at this recovery the May sales closed. In the August sales prices opened barely supporting May closing rates, but closed with an advance of Id to ljd per lb. The final sales of the year went off satisfactorily, some sorts realising an advance of Id per lb., which, however, was not maintained, except on some low priced sorts. As regards present values, we consider prices fully Id to 2d per lb. cheaper than at the close of 1808. The favorable features are that trade —what there is of it—is tolerably healthy, the anticipated supplies are not an increase, and in the value of money, and the low price of wheat, there are. sound prospective elements for improved, values, but we see no reason for any sanguine anticipations of rapidly increasing values ; the trade should certainly improve, but if 1870 gives us a sound and steady increase iu consumption, and a wholesome working up of anticipated arrivals of wool, we must look farther a-field for a really buoyant market. Such are our views of the present position. The first series of sales of this year will commence on the 10th February, Flax. —On the 12th January 665 bales New Zealand met biddings only at some decline, and were all bought in at £35 to £i%, inferior £26 to £3O. On the 13th January a large supply of New Zealand, amounting to 1,359 bales, was offered, of which only about 400 bales sold ; the bulk consisted of partly cleaned, and sold at £5 per ton decline ; small quantities of good sold at about the previous value—ordinary, £2O; medium, £34 to £37 ss; good, £4O 5 s ; tow, £l2 10s to £l4 ss. Tallow.—With some variations in value, this trade has been a satisfactory one throughout the year. The quantity offered at the sales have been 48,510 casks against 39,924 in 1868, and 7,019 in 1167, but it must be noted that these figures cover parcels withdrawn and agaiu offered, so they can only be takeu as representing a pro rata increase. At t;he sale on January 7, 1,898 casks

were offered, and 1,370 sold at 46s 3d to 40s 9d for fine pale mutton ; dark to fine, 48s 6d to 45s 9p ; mixed melting 455, down to 35s for very low. Beef 44s 9d down to 42s 6d for rather dark. At the sale on the 14th current, 1,243 casks were offered, and 050 sold at prices fully supporting the above rates.