SYDNEY COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 751, 25 June 1853, Page 2

SYDNEY COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

As winter advances, trade declines. Goods are being offered freely, and buyers evince but little anxiety to stock themselves. Our importations continue heavy and at present rate of consumption far in excess of demand. Business operations are greatly retarded by the difficulty of procuring carriage, and the enormous rates charged, causing settlers’ supplies to stand them in double the Sydney cost, at 150 miles from Sydney, increasing as the distance increases. Two years since the first rush was made to the diggings, and the reports then circulated of the frightful state of our roads inuu bo fredi in the memory of each colonist; how much have they improved since then, or what has been done to facilitate communication with the interior I Meetings have bean held, and lengthy speeches aud reports been made; farther than this, nothing has been done, and we ore in a worse position now than we were than. The amount of benefit to the colonists and the mercantile world by the introduction of railroads is incalculable; by establishing speedy communication with the interior, the immense resources of this vast continent will be developed, until then our progress must be very tardy and uncertain. There is a great abundance of labour, at ss. to 7«. per diem, which cannot be considered an extravagant ratio in so wealthy a country as this. We should therefore be making enormous strides in th; improvement of our roads, and making lines of railroads. Mechanical labour is an extreme rate of wages, say from 10s. to 15s. per diem. Provision! are becoming more reasonable. We need therefore apprehend no farther advance in wages. Ale and Porter hang on the hands of importers ; prices ranging from £7 to £lO. Dried Fruits are in brisk demand, though prices are not fully maintained ; our importations of currants especially have been light. Bags and Wool packs continue high, owing possibly to heavy freights deterring shippers. Brandy is firm, at 15s. Butter is quoted at 2s. to 2s. 4d., with light stocks. Candles ore very scarce, but few arrivals fir some weeks past; sales are reported at Is. Bd. per lb. for Belmonts. Canvas in demand. Cigars quiet, and stocks increasing. Coffee in demand, at lOd. Copper, aud Sheathing Metal of all sizes, aae in demand, at lemunerative rates on late London quoted prices. Sales qi Geneva are being effected at 225. to 235. Galvanized Iron Sheets and Lead are quoted at about 335. Oats, a considerable decline is noticed. Oils have been sold nt 7s, Cd. for linyeed. Pearl Barley, Split Peas, Pepper, and Pickles, continue in demand, at full rates, Rico is held in limited quantities of first quality. Rum, but little doin» in this article, whilst the Sydney distilleries cannot execute fully their heavy orders. Salt, course is in brisk demand, at about iS per ion, and stock low. Sugar is a short supply from refiners, owing to a limited supply of water — attributable to a very discreditable want of energy on the part of the community generally—fine Java and Mauritius are in request, obtain enormous advance on cost. Tea is in demand, and stocks being just reduced, skins are quoted at £5 to £5 10s., and congous 955. to to 105s, Timber continues to pay an enormous advance on import cost. Tobacco is without much alteration—sales of Barrett’s are reported at Is. lOd. to Is. lid. \\ ines tire in brisk demand. Importations of Dour Lave been heavy, and advices of large lots to follow are reported, Sales of two cargoes of American are noticed at 28a. and bOs. per barrel of 196 lbs. This sbowa an enormous reduction within a very limited time. R. Harnett, Broker. Sidney, June I|,

SYDNEY MARKETS.— Friday. The Mills.—Messrs. Barker and Co.: The late importations of Chillian and other American flour, together with reports of other shipments to arrive, have caused a further reduction in the market price of flour; the present price of fine flour being £2O, seconds, £lB p*r SOOOibs. Not much wheat has arrived since last report ; good samples fetch 7s. per bushel. Bran, 3 1. Mr. Breillat: There is uoMisposition for purchasing wheat just now ; the nominal price may be quoted at 7s. Gd. to Bs. per bushel for superior samples. The flour market is very unsettled ; a further reduction has taken place, and the mills now quote £2O per ton for fine, and £lB for seconds. Inferior parcels may be purchased much lower. Bran 3s. per bushel, and scarce. Messrs Furlong and Kennedy quote flopr at £2O for fine, and £lB for seconds; wheat, 7s. 6d. to Bs. per bushel. Bran, 3s. per bushel. Bread.— Cd. the 21bs. loaf. Biscuit.-- A reduction has also taken place in this article. Mr. Wilkie quotes cabin biscuit at 305., pilot at 235. ship 21s, per cvvt,; meat biscuit at 20s. per tin of 30lbs. Messrs. Barker and Co. quote ship biscuit at 21s. and cabin at 30s, per cwt. Ca.mpbell-street Market.—-Hay £ls to £19 K straw, £3 19s. to £4 10s, per ton. wheat, 7s. to7s. 6d., barley, Bs., maize, 9s. to 10s. per bushel. One load of oats arrived to market, but a higher price was demanded than purchasers chose to give. Bark, £8 per ton. Stock ron Slaughter.- —The market is well supplied with good fat bullocks, bat sheep are scarce. Messrs. Argent, Richards, and Merritt purchased of Messrs. Cheeke and Broadburst 100 bullocks, at £4 10s. per head ; Messrs Pcisley and Neale purchased of Mr. Walker 40 bullocks, at £4 17s. Gd., and 75 cows, at £3 10s. ; Messrs. Hamilton and Peisley purchased of Mr. Wentworth 120 bullocks, at £3 17s. Gd.; Messrs, York and Sullivan purchased of Mr. Miller 100, at £l; and Mr. Ryan, of Mr. Cooper, 50, at £2 7s. Gd. Mr. Cooper sold to Mr. Merritt 1100 sheep, at 6s. Gd. per head. Lambs fetch from 7s. to 9s. Calves, 255. to 355. each. Pigs, Gd. per lb. MELBOURNE MARKETS. Melbourne, 6th June, 1053. Sir, —The active demand for all kinds of goods wdiich we advised last month has ceased with the closing of the roads to the diggings. Our arrivals have been very extensive, both from England and America, and include 6002 passengers. Breadstuff’s of all kinds are decidedly lower, especially Flour, which it will bo observed has come in in immense quantities from America. The great part of it is still in the bay, and with present freights and charges here, and the chance of a portion turning sour, it can hardly at present rales pay the importers. Considerable quantities of Wheat have also arrived from India, but have not yet been tested; and large parcels of Oats have come from England and America, in fair condition. Flour is worth abont £3O in sack, and 455. in barrel, fer beat brands jOats, 15s; Potatoes, £ls to £l6 10s; Maize, 14s, Gd, to 15s; Bran, 4s. 9d.; and Hay about £3O. Bacon and Hams, Cheese and Iluttar, are all in good supply, at our quotations. Wines and Spirits, particularly Brandy, have come to hand freely, and have given way a little. There are large quantities unavailable in the bay, and, as winter advances and ships increase, much inconvenience is felt, from the difficulty of getting all kinds of goods from thence; and if measures are not soon taken to extend the limits of our port, and provide increased facilities ■ for landing goods witli despatch, there will he no end to the fluctuations of our market, as goods may as well be in England as in the bay at present. Building materials command increased rates, and sales to nuy amount could be made at our quotations. The Escorts have brought down 148.G42 ounces of gold, which lias maintained its price during the month. ' Our Wool quotations are quite nominal, and the little that is shipped is still at ’d per lb. Wo aemain, Sir, yours respectfully, Coffey, Hill, and, Co.