AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIAL AND MARITIME REPORT.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 11, 31 October 1857, Page 14

AGRICULTURAL COMMERCIAL AND MARITIME REPORT.

From the 15th to-the 31st October.

Our latest intelligence from Sydney is to the 6th inst., by the Moa, which sailed at that date. The grain and flour markets continue in the same state as has been reported for the last two or three months. Although there have been some considerable shipments of flour to India, and though more are expected to lake place, the markets, whilst steady at £25 per ton for fine flour, arei nevertheless,dull and inactive, the consumers preferring to supply themselves, from week to week at present prices, and the holders yet relying with confidence upon the rise that has for some time past been predicted. Wheat is quoted at from Bs. to 10s. per bushel according to quality ; and we learn that for a lot of Auckland wheat 10s. 6d. per bushel have been demanded. Maize is a trifle lower, and hay has fallen from 40s. to 60s, per ton. Teas and sugars continue to advance, and with little immediate prospect of a return to a more natural figure. Both in Sydney and Melbourne (here is considerable commercial depression, in consequence of the constant arrivals of large ships crowded wilh goods far beyond the power of colonial consumption. The influx of population, also, seems to be larger than the means of turning it to the immediate advantage of the colony and the emigrants. The government have alleviated a good deal of distress by giving employment on public works to a great many who would have otherwise been starving. The weaiher has been nearly as severe on the Australian coast, as on our own. The irigs Sarah and Gertrude experienced quite a tempest on their last passage from this port. Their return may be shortly looked for. The only arrival, since our last, has been the brig Moa, 236 tons, Captain Kean, which came in from Sydney on the 18th inst., with a general cargo of merchandise and 22 passengers. The following are the departures that have taken place:—Spray, brigantine, 406 tons, Captain Anderson, for Nelson, wilh 13 tons flour, 238." lbs. bacon, 26,000 feet limber, a variety of merchandise, and II passengers; -TT-Bristol, brigantine, 149 tons, Captain McLean, for Sydney, wilh 5 tuns New Zealand caught whale oil, 2 barrels slush, 5000 bushels wheat, 1105 bushels maize, TOO bjuhels bran, Bss tons kauei gum, sundry

merchandise, 2nd 2 passengers ;ihese vessels, which sailed on the 20ih and 21st, experienced such stormy weather on the coast, that both were compelled to bear up, seeking shelter together, in the first instance in the Kawau, from whence they again put to sea, but were again obliged 10 return, the Bristol to the Great Barrier, and the Spray to the Waitemata. The Spray resumed hervovage on the 26th : —Glance, 'cutter, 20 tons Captain Rattray, lor Norfolk Island, with 1 ton biscuit, 2 tons flour, 6 cwt. rice, and a variety of stores and supplies for the islanders, 2 passengers ; Acadian, schooner, 42 tons, Captain Robbins, for Wellington, with 17 tons flour, 600 bushels wheat, 50 cwt. biscuit, II hlids. colonial ale, 7000 feet sawn timber, sundry merchandise, and 4 passengers;— Ellen," schooner. 40 tons, Captain Wedgwood, for Wellington, with 25 tons flour, 10,530 reel sawn timber, and sundries, and Pelsart, schooner, 40 tons, Captain Symonds, for New Plymouth, wilfl 14,000 feet sawn timber. If we have not so large an amount of produce to report from the coast as we had in our last number, we are happy to know that it is not because the supplies are exhausted, but merely because the vessels are on their way to reload. It is to be hopad that the ensuing harvest, notwithstanding the long continued inclemency of the season, will prove much more productive than any that has yet been gathered. Every thing promises well for the husbandman; for although a good deal of injury has, no doubt, been sustained by the early planted potatoes, we incline to think that there is yet lime, with an ordinary share of fair weather, to repair whatever mischief may have taken place. There have arrived coastwise, 25 vessels, of 705 tons, with 60 passengers, 1668 bushels wheat, 470 bushels maize, 20£ tons potatoes, 70 cwt. salt pork, 10 cwt. hams and bacon, 5 cwt. leather, 17 head cattle, 45.V tons kauri gum, 207 tons firewood, 98 piles for the Queen Street Wharf, eOO posts and rails, 11,500 feel sawn limber, 6000 shingles, 221 sheep. The departures, coastwise, have been 23 vessels of 522 tons, with 55 passengers, and the customary amount of trade.

In the Auckland markets, there has been as little flactual ion in prices, and as much dullness as in those of Australia. Were it not for the demand of produce from our neighbours and the business that is doing in the export trade we should be stagnant indeed. Potatoes are now becoming scarce,

and a rise in iheir value has consequently taken place. The following are the Market Prices Current corrected to date. Bread Stuffs. Flour, fine, 20J. per ton. Flour, second quality, . . ill. per ton. Flour of native manufacture from \AI. to 15/. Biscuit at from . . 245. to 50s. per cwt. Bread per loaf of 2lbs. . . 6d. Bran ... Is. 3d. Is. 6d. per bl. Beef and Million from . sd. to 6d. per Jb. Pork (fresh and salt) . . sd. to 6d.ditto Farm Produce. Wheal .... 7s. to Bs. per bushel Maize. . . . ss. 6d. to 6s. per bushel &*ts • • • • 7s. to 7s. 6d. per bushel Potatoes . . 11. 10s. to S*. *os. per ton Onions . . . . 4d. per lb. Hay (pler.iiful) . . sl. per lor.. Kauri Gum . . . 10/. per ton Live Stock. Sheep from . . 17s. to 255. a head. Dairy Cows . . Si. to 1 21. each. Calves from . . 255. to 40s. each. Groceries. Tea .... 9/. to 9MOs. per chest Sugar . . . . 7d. to Bd. per lb. Coflee .... 10d. per lb. Rice .... 2d. to per lb. Soap .... 555. per cwt. Candles . . . . 40d. per lb. Tobacco . . . . 2s. 6d. to 3s. per lb. Dairy Produce, Butter . . . . 9d. to is. lb. Eggs . . , . 9d. to is. perdoz. Poultry . . . . 3s. 6d. per couple