Markets.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 538, 30 December 1857, Page 4

Markets.

An auction sale of wool was held by Messrs. R. Waitt & Go., at their stores in Lyttelton, on Monday last. Thirty-five bales of wool were submitted, and knocked down at 14^d. "We understand that It is the intention of the above firm to follow this sale by a series of auction sales of wool.

Retail Markets.—Tuesday, Dec. 29.

Cheisxchurch.—Elour, 23s per lOOftSs.; bran Is 3d, sharps, Is9dperbshl.of 20f155.; bread, Is2d per 416 loaf; eggs, Is 6d per doz.^ butter, (fresh) Is 2d; do., (salt) Is 2d; cheese, (new) Hd; lard Is; beef, 4d to 7d; mutton, 4d to 6d; real, 8d; candles, lod per 16.

Ltttelton.—Flour, 28s per 100115s.; bread, Is 3d per 4ffi loaf; eggs, 2s 6d per doz.; butter, (fresh) 1 s 4d; do., (salt) Is 4d; cheese,(old) Is2d; do., (new) Is.; lard, Is 2d; beef,7d andßd; mutton, 5d and 6d; veal, 9d; pork, 9d; candles, Is per ffi.

Kaiapoi.—Flour, 26s per lOOffis-, butter, (fresh) Is 9d; do., (salt) Is 6d; beef, 6a and 7d; mutton, 4d to 6d; pork, 6d and 7dj lard, ls^ candles, Is per Id; timber, 20s and 21s per 100 ft., delivered on the river.

NELSON.

We are happy in having to congratulate our commercial community on what appears to us to have been a more quiet and steady state of trade during the last month, than that which at first followed the discovery of gold in our settlement, when from the adjacent colonies, both of New Zealand, and Australia, were poured into Nelson, goods of every description, whether suitable to the wants of the place or not. Gold had been discovered, the people would increase suddenly; a rush must take place; anything will sell; never mind however bad, was the cry of the man of the other places with surcharged useless stocks; and consequently forward he sent his goods to find what he hoped to be a ready sale. Disappointments of course followed; but these things always Tegulate themselves, and now, since the excess importations have fallen off, trade is resuming its steady and proper aspect; and we therefore upon the whole think we have cause, as we said before, to congratulate our commermercial friends.

The gold sent to Nelson is steadily on the increase, and the dry summer weather, when it does set in, will be of much service to the diggers. .-.■■.■ ;

The want of a chamber of commerce, whose objects will be to watch over and protect the general interests; of commerce, to collect information on all matters of interest to the mercantile community, to use every merans within its power for the removal and redress of grievances and for the promotion of the trade of the colony; has become so manifest to our merchants, that they have set themselves about forming one. It will take effect from the first of the ensuing year, and amongst other things it will form a code of practice, whereby the transaction of business will be simpjified_and facilitated.— Nelson E%aTniner y T)§a. 2. •"

The weather now appears to have taken up^ and we very confidently expect an improvement in business.

The market is much in the same state as reported in our last, very much overdone. Considerable quantities of goods are being reshipped to Australia.

The town trade will be dull for some time in consequence of so many pressing to go to the diggings, the accounts from which are more favourable than for some time past: with a cessation of shipments from Australia we hope ere long to report better of our market. •

The Mills.—Mr. Campbell reports: fine flour. £25; seconds, £22 per ton of 2000 lbs.; wheat, 98. to 10s. per bushel; bran, Is. 6d. 5 pollard, 6s. per 11)0 Ibs.j prices at the rail), not delivered, Mr. White reports: fine flour, JE24; seconds, j£2lj wheat, 9s. to lOs. per bashel; bran, Is.; pollard, 6a. per 100 2ss.j prices at the mill, not delivered. ;

J?ir3t flour, 265. per 100 ilia.? Bread, I 43. the 4 Jb. loaf.

Butchers' Meat.—Beef, 6cL to 9cL; mutton, 6d. to BeL per \h.\ lamb, 7s. per quarter j veal, Bd. to ioa,j pork, 7cL to 93. per ft;.— Cohnitit, Dec. 19. •

WEixiNQTOx... : (From the'lndependent,'Dec. 19.) '. .■"•- There have been four auction sale 9 this week; ■and the average amount of business has been transacted. The prices given here for wool this season are considered high, and appear to leave little margin for profit; .after the payment of freight arid charges. The .quality of the wool.

however, has lately been considerably improved, by the importation of some very superior Merino rams, and we feel convinced that if proper attention is paid to sorting, that An article can be produced for export equal, if not superior, to any grown in the Australian colonies. On Tuesday last, Messrs. Bethune & Hunter sold by public auction, 12 bales of wool, and the. surplus ship's stores of the John M'Vicar. Eleven bales wool, good, clean, and well washed, but not very fine, fetched Is. Bd£. per 16.; 1 "bale, in grease, Is. 3d.; 1 bale pieces and locks, Is:;; and 1 bale black wool, Bd. .. . - ! The Mills.—ln consequence of the large im-i portations of flour from Hobart Town and the; Australian colonies, the price of that article has t fallen £3 per ton in this market, and first quality' flour is now selling at the mills at £22 per ton.; No alteration, however, has taken place in the' price of wheat. The following are the prices; quoted at the mills:—Flour, £22 per ton; wheat, Bs. to 9s. per bushel; bran, Is. 6d. per bushel; pollard, 15s. per 100 lbs. :

IMPORTS.