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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 721, 12 March 1853, Page 2

Commissariat Contracts.'— Wednesday was the last day for receiving the Tenders for the Contracts for the various supplies required for the Naval and Military Servicesdur ring the next year, and as usual there was considerable competition for the supply of the chief articles. We are not in a position to give an authorized list of the prices specified in the successful Tenders, but we have reason to believe that the following which are currently reported lo have been the lowest, will be found nearly, if not absolutely correct. Bread, a fraction under 2d. per lb.— Mr. Irvine. Fresh Meal, per lb. Mr. Thos. Henry. Firewood, 9d. 7-iOlhs per 400 lbs. Mr, H. Coolahan,

Mould Candles, 7 1 d. per lb. }, r tv . Dip' do., 6i per lb. i Mr - Dlnninr The prices of Supplies for General Purposes, (for which Mr. M. Somerville’s Tender is staled to have been the lowest), and for Hospital Supplies (Mr. Dinnin) are said to vary but little from the prices of last year. In the two most important articles of consumption—the prices of which must, though not formally, vet in effect, be to a great extent regulated by the Contract prices—wc may congratulate our local readers on the prospect of a diminution in the prices they have for some time been paying. It of course would be most unreasonable lo expect that butchers and bakers will sell by retail, wait on families* and, in most instances give longer or shorter, credit, at the same figures at which the Contract supplier are charged. But, on-the other-hand, it i& not to be expected that families will bo willing to pay 6d. or 7d. per lb. for Beef and Mutton, when it is ascertained that it can be supplied for less than 4d.; nor is i l at all lo be expected that they will bo willing to continue paying Gd. for 21bs, of Bread, with the fact palpably before them that the Commissariat Department can procure the loaf for less than 4d. Indeed we have heard repealed complaints lately of the price of Bread as out of proportion to the greatly lowered price of Flour. Now, we may hope that, with this additional light before our worthy purveyors—the Bakers, limy will themselves see that the lime has arrived for such a reduction, as—without depriving them of a fair profit which wc should be the last to advocate o r wish for—will yet bring the charge lo their customers into fuller accordance with the cost at which good bread can be actually produced.