Commercial Intelligence.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 814, 18 August 1870, Page 2

Commercial Intelligence.

AUCKLAND. The Daily Southern Cross, August 13, reports as follows : —ln the grain market there Iras been considerable activity during the week, and a general rise in flour and grain of every description. The Auckland millers now quote £ls for best qualities. Oamaru is worth £l2 to £l2 10s; ; Adelaide, £ls. Wheat sells at 4s 9d rp 5s oats, 3s 9d. Bran has fallen, and is selling at Is 2d to Is lid. Provisions are also firmer. Butter has advanced, and good kinds are worth lid. Cheese, 81 to 9d. Bicon is in fair demand, and McConnell's Cliristciiurcli is saleable at Is ; locally cured not worth more than 8d to 1)J. Our baconcurers should look at that sent from Christchurch, and they will easily understand why it should realise 3d per pound more, than theirs, aud be mare saleable at the advanced rates as well. The same remark? apply to hams, which are saleable —for McConnell's Is Id, and local not more than 8d to 9d. In teas the market for ordinary kinds continues dull, but is bare of the better descriptions. Sugars show no advance, although light qualities are scarce and in demand. Tobaccos are improving, and the stocks getting gradually reduced. There is no change since last quotations. The export market is active, and kauri sum has advanced about 20s per ton all round. Riverhead is quoted at £32 to £34, and fine bold clean gums at £33 to £35. There has not been any rise in home markets. We cannot, however, rely on its continuance here. The Santon is taking: in considerable quantities for New York, and buyers have been well supplied during the week. Flax is also firm at last week's quotations, and coming in freely.

The Chamber of Commerce took up, at its meeting, the question of drawbacks, and we trust the representations made will meet with the consideration tliey deserve. There can be no doubt that what might be a valuable trade to Auckland has been stilled hitherto by a system of duties which prevents our supplying the Islands on terms as advantageous as Sydney. In articles of primary utility, such as galvanised iron, this is yery evident ; aud equally so with cotton prints, and what are called measurement goods generally. Would it not be easy to estimate the duty usually paid per piece on prints for example, and allow an equivalent bonus, by way of drawback, ou all exported ? Shipments to the Islands must, for some time, consist of small quantities of mixed articles. It is while in that condition the trade requires care and aid. If these be judiciously given it will soon become possible to ship entire packages, and the system of drawbacks could he made more simple. We fully recognise the importance of guarding the revenue against loss, but are still more impressed with the necessity of reducing to a minimum the impediments to trade which the existence of a Custom-house must always entail. Where the two clash, and the prospect of loss, to the revenue is so slight as in the present case, there can he no doubt that the interests of trade should be the permanent consideration.

AUCKLAND LIVE STOCK MARKET. (Reports to August 12.) [MR ALFRED BUCKLAND.I At the Haymarket on Saturday last fodder offered in less quantity than usual. Prices were higher—from 6d to Is the. cwt. Horse stock were in limited numbers and at the auction dull of sale; those withdrawn were afterwards sold at the seller's reserve, ana" very few remained unsold. Young draught stock realised £3O to £4O; aged draught from £lB 10s to £25 ; riding horses from £4. At Remuera, on Thursday, a large number of quiet covys were brought forward ; they met with a steady enquiry, but at lower rates than have iately ruled. Rest animals at calving brought'from £l2 to £l3 10s; medium quality from £B. A e'ew very choice yearling heifers occasioned good competition;' thoy brought from £6 to'£6 12s 6d tiach ; calves from £3 to £l< each; eighteen-month-Id steers, £5 7s 6d to £0 2s 6il; three-year olds

in frjesh condition, from £7 10s to £9 ss; dry cows, £5 10s to £7. Fat cattle were in larger number than of late; they met, with a free inquiry. Those ex Island City ayeraged £ll each,,or about 30s the 1001 b. Auckland fatted, of medium qualify, 32s to 355; best quality 37s Cd the lQQlbs, 103 head sold. Fat sheep were jn very short' supply, and all that were in a condition for slaugh-i ter brought near ,5d the l.b. figs were also in short supply. Coarse animals were very low in price, but dairy fed pigs were in request at full jrates. ! [caret, qili.es, and hunter.] I Horses—We have little alteration in the market to report. The numbers disposed of by us being exactly the same as the previous week, while prices for inferior stock remain unaltered; good draught stock advanced a little in value. We S9M young heavy draughts, from £3O 10s to £4O; aged, from £ls ss; riding horses, from £6 to £9 10s. A mowing machine realised £2O. Fodder—ln short supply, and advanced slightly in price, but little first-class ottered ; and as stocks are short, when we get fine weather, there will doubtless be animation in the market. Cattle—Dairy cows have offered-in moderate | numbers, but are difficult to place sellers are [unwilling to submit to a reduced rate, the decline being most manifest in inferior descriptions. We sold no really first class cows, but useful animals, at their profit, sold at from £9 17s fid to £l2. Store stock are not offering in numbers sufficient for requirement, and prices are fully sustained. I The bad weather has prevented many from coming forward coastwise, and most of the farmers in the yicinity of town are purchasers. We sold yearlings from £4 5s to £4 10s ; calves, from £2 : os to £3 ss; one and a half and two-year-old steers, from £5 5s to £7; three and four-year-old isteers, from £7 5s to £9 17s per head. Fat stock: the arrival of the Island City has supplied the : market this week, which would otherwise have ! been very bare as stocks were short, consequently the prices obtained for this cargo, which was cornprised of very fat cattle, and lauded in splendid condition, must be highly satisfactory to the shipper. We quote beef 35s to 37s the 1001 b. Sheep—Short of requirements, and prices have advanced from 3s to 4s per head. No really prime offered, half-breds sold from 16s 9d to 20s j wellfattened merinos from 14s to l(ss 3d. Store halfbred lambs 7s each. Pigs—Very few were pen ned; prices unaltered