COMMERCIAL RETROSPECT. (From the London Mercantile Journal, May 7.)

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 357, 20 September 1849, Page 4

COMMERCIAL RETROSPECT. (From the London Mercantile Journal, May 7.)

The favourable change in the weather, together with more pacific intelligence fiom the Continent, have imparted more fiimiiess to our markets for colonial produce. 'I heic is also every prospect of an early adjustment of the Danish and Geiman dispute, so that a further improvement in business may be expected to take place. Impoiters of produce have evinced firmness, and the maikets have beei\ modeiately supplied with most ai tides since we last wiote. By private treat) operations have been upon an extended scale, and the various public sales have proceeded with more animation. An advance in the value of sugar and coflee is visible, whereas other articles generally realized full terms. Fibioiis substances have met with a larger share of attention for home trade purposes, and there is every prospect that the export demanded will be better ere long. An advance is apparent fn the value of cotton, and wool is held for full rates. Dje stuffs, however, continue to be dealt in with teluctance .for all purposes, still no furtliei £.i!l'in the value is visible, but supplies aie still good. Provisions areoffeied at a further i eduction, and American supplies aie excessive. The market for grain has a dull aspect, and fiom most parts of the countiy prices come lower for wheat and flour. Of colonial produce wpoits are greater Uian in the fanner week,

still stocks are not much largei than in the former year, as home trade deliveries do not fall oil. Prices for most articles lat her exceed those of the past year. Fioin the mannftictuiing parts of the country advices state that operations in goods had been upon a more enlaiged scale during the last few days, and that prices had eased to decline. The public sales of produce declared to take place are not of much moment rat present. Sugar has been hugely dealt in for home tiade purposes, and higher ldtes arc obtained j but theic is a plentiful supply of all sorts of ftee labour. The sales made in foreign sugar are upon an extended scale by exporters, and pi ices have an upwaid tendency. Refined goods met with a lively home trade demand, and iei/ized more money. Ciushed sugar is also more in request by exporters, and cannot be obtained at former lates. Molasses aie wanted, and as supplies aie small, prices have an upward tendency : the slock is still much Jess than in the Conner) ear, and delivetica are getting upon a larger scale. Rum is still little wanted by home dealers or shippeis.and sellers are willing to accept rather lowei rates; there is still no falling oil' in supplies. For brandy the demand continues active and stilFer rates aie paid. In coffee the sales made are of importance by home dealers, and the export demand is also more active; better rates have also been obtained without diiliculy. Rice has been dealt in with less freedom, but there is no desire to accept less, moiic), and supplies have become small. Opinion is unfavourable towards saltpetie, and sellers are willing to accept lather lower rates, as supplies aie greater. A further fall in the Vilue of nitrate of soda has taken place, and few buyers are to be met with. Tea has not risen in value, but for all purposes the demand continues to get upon an extended scale; deliveiies for home use still exceed those of the year 1848, and the stocK at all the ports is about 5,000,000 of pounds smaller ; still all sorts are lower in value. For Cocoa lull rates are obtained, as the supply is small; but home dealers do business with caution. The market for spices has a (inn aspect, but at pieser.t the home and export de 3 inand is small ; slill supplies do not extend. The stale of tiade for metals is dull, and reduced rates arejaken for British iron of all sorts. Tal- ' low is not cheaper, but the market is quiet, and the supply is excessive. Fish oils are not much wanted by home dealers or shippers, and a further fall in the value is visible. Seed oils are not so much in demand, and former latps are not to be obtained, slill tbeieisa good home consumption.

Bananas in the South Ska. Island?. — In aft? r years, it will be interesting to know who n'rat c rtiveyed to the several islands many of the finest tropical production?. Even now, shoit as the period U, it would be difficult to ascertain who first intioduced many of them. Of all the foreign (.hints which have been introduced into S-iinoA none have been mine extensively propagated and valued than a sppcies of banana previously unknown in the South Seas, although in Samoa alone upwards of fifty different species of the Musa aie found From the excellence of its fruit and its great weight, together with the adaptation to resibt violent gales, it promises to make the precedtnee of eveiy other article mually cultivated, home notice of its history, therefore, is worthy of lecord. When our late lamented Missionary Mr. Williams returned (row England in the Camden, in 1838, his Grace the Duke of Devonshire kindly supplied him with «orac case 3 of plants, in one of which was one designated " Chinese Banana*' — (most probab y, tlie Miua Cavendis/iii, >Jie origin of which is said to be the Isle of France). Mi. Williams not having a settled place of iesidence for some time after he landed, the cas^s were I eft under my care. Little vitality seemed to icmain ; but anxious to preserve, if possible, some of them, 1 hud them carefully transplanted into my garden. This Chinese banana was the only one which survived. In about twelve months, it produced a bunch weighing nearly one hundred p unds. From this tingle plant have sprung the thou minis to be seen everywhere in Samoa; and they ate fast spreading in other group, east and west. It is suipnsing to sst»,e t », i>) the thoit space of ten years, a plant so extensively propagated. But, when we calculate by geometiical progression, what a plant winch will average but six suclceis a year, will evidently produce, the result is amnz.ng. The value of the banana in these seas can scarcely be [ estimated. What Baron Humboldt says of it in Mexico may be quoted heie, and applied to Samoa. He ! doubts " whether there is any other plant on the globe which, in so small a space of ground can produce so gieat a mass or nutiiment." Eight or nine months after the sucker has been inser ed in the grou d, the Lanina begins to form its cluster!, and the fiuit may be gathertd in less than a year A spot of 107t> square fept can contain at least fiom thirty to for.y plants, whioh in the Bpace of a year, at a very moderate calculation, will yield more than 4410 lbs. avourdupois of nutritive (.übstance. The produce of the banana is to that of wheat as 133 til, and to tlut of potatoes as 44 to 1. Wm. M/lls. — Samoan Reporter.