AGRICULTURAL, COMMERCIAL, AND MARITIME REPORT.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume VI, Issue 22, 31 October 1859, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL, COMMERCIAL, AND MARITIME REPORT.

From the 15th to the 31st October. the has been a stran ge commotion in the Wheat and flour Markets of Australia

during the last few months. At one time, careful calculations were made to show that there'.were insufficient stocks.of both articles to maintain the necessary supply until the ensuing; :harvest shall have been gathered, that.there was little prospect of receiving any from' New Zealand or elsewhere, and consequently an immediate and considerable advance in prices was the result; hardly however had this rise laken place, when the fireadalbane and other vessels made their appearance from Valparaiso with full cargos. of wheat and flour; the markets fell again on the instant, sales were diffieult to eflect, and those only of limited extent, and to meet immediate demands. According to the latest advices; ii. was almost impossible to state a price for wheat or flour, these importations arid the nearer approach of harvest having completely paralyzed the dealers. From these facts, the New: Zealand farmers' may learn an important lesson. If content with a fair and reasonable price for their produce, they will always find a profitable outlet in the Australian Matkets, which are much nearer and quite as willing to receive our grain as that of Chili or, or California. This ensuing season there is an encouraging prospect for the receipt of New Zealand's surplus stores, if the New Zealand farmers will only bring them forward in sufficient time. Much that might readily have been sold at excellent rates, has this year been cast upon the hands of the growers because of prices having been demanded that no merchant or miller could aflord to pay. Let us hope that this error may be avoided in future, and that every opportunity may be laid hold of to promote the agricultural and commercial prosperity of the country. The arrivals during the past fortnight, have been the Thomas and Henry brig, 234 tons, Captain Paton, from Ofago, in ballast;— William Pope schooner, 58 tons, Captain Ferns, from Napier, in ballast; Mermaid, ship, 1255 tons, Captain James While, from Liverpool with a general cargo, and 322 passengers ;—Prince Alfred, steam ship, 705 tons. Captain Bowden, from Sydney, with 12 horses, 2 sheep, merchandise, and 23 passengers ; -Traveller's Bride, ketch, 30 tons, Captain Richards, from Lytlleton in"ballast; Kaglrt, baiqne, 592 ions, Captain Butcher, from Wei ingion mid New Plymouth, with sundries 5 passengers; Moa, brig, 231 tons, Captain Anderson, from Sydney, with goods, 17 passengers.

The departures were Matoaka, ship, 1092 tons, Captain Stevens, for Cailao, in ballast, 1 passenger;— Ann schooner, 57 tons. Captain Wallace, for Napier, with 10,000 feel timber, 24,000 shingles. 900 posts and rails Lord Ashley, steam ship, 296 tons, Captain Kennedy, from, Manukau for, Nelson, with sundries, 30 passengers;— Prince Alfred, steam ship, 703 tons, Captain Bowden, for Sydney, with 51 tons kauri gum, 4 casks tallow, 1 case bacon, 33 passengers Tornado, ship, 1075 tons, Captain Aikin, for Cailao, in ballast, 5 passengers. There arrived coastwise, 69 vessels of of 1612 tons, with 170 passengers, 3907 bushels wheat, 1272 bushels maize, 55 bushels barley 94 tons potatoes, 121 cwt salt pork, 67 cwt bacon and bams, 556 lbs lard, 1 cask tallow, 1 case eggs, 9 casks oil, 20 cwt, wnalebone, 5 horses, 26 head cattle, 160 sheep, 84 pigs, 50 fowls, 9 hides. 470 lbs wool, 10 cwt flax, 2 tons tanners bark, 72 tons kauri gum, 595 lons firewood, 1500 posts and rails, 5000 laths, 107,000 shingles, 96,200 feet sawn limber. The departures for the coast consisted of 67 vessels of 1570 tons, with 221 passengers, and the customary amount of coasting supplies. The following are the Market Prices current corrected to nate. Bread Stuffs. Flour, fiue, ..... 24£. per ton Flour, second quality, . . 201, per ton. Flour, of native manufacture, froml-4£ to 16i. Biscuit at from . . 225. to 265. per cwt. Bread per loaf of 21bs 6d. Bran ...... Is 3d. per bl. Groceries. Tea .... 9/. lOs.to 10£. Pr chest Sugar . . . . 4d. to 6d. per lb. Coffee . . 4 . lod. per lb. Rice . . . . 2d lo 21 per lb. .... 55s per cwt. Candles .... lod. per lb. Beef and Mutton from . 6d. to 7d. per lb. Pork (fresh and salt) . . sd, to 6d. ditto Live Stock. Dairy Cows . . SI. to 12/. each. Calves from . . 2'os. to 40s. each.