Commercial Record.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 887, 14 October 1854, Page 2

Commercial Record.

New-Zea lander Ofßce, Auckland, October 13th, 1854. Our Commercial transactions have been of the most limited description throughout the week, a id confined within the strictest scope of our immediate necessities. We have no alteration whatever to report. To-day, a brig and a ship have both arrived. The former is the Wanderer from Sydney; and the latter is the Joseph Fletcher, from London. Both, during the west-north-west gale that has been blowing, have anchored off the North Head. Our produce market is without change. There is no alteration in the figures, but sales are dull, and no prospect of an advance. There have been several arrival-, coastwise, during the week ; and, by these, about 4600 bushels of wheat, upwards of 2000 bushels of maize, between 13 and 14 tons of salt pork, a ton of bacon and hams, and about 24 tons of potatoes have been added to our previous stocks. In the Stock Market, in consequence of continued importations, horses seem disposed to give way a little ; although the heavier kinds continue to be iu great request, and at high prices. At a sa’e by Mr. Newman, at Auckland, on the 7th instant, the attendance was large, and the competitors numerous. Fourteen mares and geldings realised together £509 10s., being an average of nearly 37/. A cart mare imported from Sydney per William Denny, (by Mr. B. Newell) fetched £125. Cattle continue to maintain their prices. At his sale at Newmarket on the 10th inst, Mr. Newman brought a large mixed lot to the hammer. The attendance was good, and with the exception of dairy cows, which, at this season, are more plentiful, and consequently lower in value, better than previous prices were obtained. Eighteen cows were disposed of at an average of £9 15s. per cow—Four yearling heifers at an average of 41 18s. 6d. each—Five heifers at an average of 7/ lls.—Thirteen heifer calves at an average of £3 ss.—Three bull calves at an average of 3 1 7s. 6d. —A cow and calf £ll 5. —A pair of working bullocks 311 10s.—A dairy cow 1 Gl. —Three yearling steers at an average of 9/12s fid.—A fat cow 17* ]ss. —Two 2 year old bulls 33/10s. —Three yearling steers at an average of 6/ 16s. Bd.—A yearling bull 10/ 15s —Twenty-two head of heifers and two steers from Mongonui, averaged 9/ iq s< And a splendid bullock from the Waikato, the finest pastoral and agricultural district of New Zealand —a district of unexampled fertility and great extent —realised 30/. This was the 1 highest price ever obtained for any s ngle beast in the Auckland market. It was the property of Captain Johnstone. Twelve bead of cattle were subsequently disposed of privately at an average of 18h The product of the public sales amounted to 736/ 55., and the private sales to 216/. A few mares and geldings, five in all, subsequently changed hands at an average of 33/. Consequently the total proceeds of Tuesday’s sale amounted ,to 1,117/ ss.

AUC LAND MARKET PRICE. Fiudav Evexiso, October 6lli 1854. The Mills.—Mr. Fletcher’s Steam Mill:—Flour first quality, £35, seconds, £32 per ton. Wheat, may be quoted at from Its. to 12s. per bushel; oats (a limited supply), Bs. to 10s. per bushel; barley, very scarce—in fact none; maize, Bs. to 9s. per bushel; bran. 3s. per bushel. Messrs Low and Motion :—Hour, first quality, jfos, seconds, £32 per ton, Imported Flour £3O per ton; wheat, 11s. to 12s. per bushel ; maize, Bs. per bushel; bran, 3s. per bushel; Mr. Partington’s:—Hour, first quality, £35, seconds, £32 per ton; wheat, 11s. to 12s. per bushel; bran, 3s. per bushel. Arhiculiural Pki duce. — Potatoes, „£l2 to Tl* per ton ; wheat, 10s.to 12s.(id.per bushel ; oats(scarce) o*. to 10s, per bushel; maize, new 10s,, old !2s. per

bushel; barley none ; clover seed (while), very scarce red, 112 a. per cwt.; grass seeds—rye, ("scarce), 155.; mixed, Bs. to 10s. per bushel; straw, £8 to £lO per ton; hay (pressed for shipment), £l2 to £l4 per ton. Dairy Produce. —Butter (fresh), 2s. salt 2s. per lb.; cheese (colonial), Is. to Is. 31. per lb.; hams, .■ls. ; bacon, lOd. per lb.; fowls, ss. to 6s, per couple; ducks (scarce), Ts. per couple; geese, 7s. to Bs. each Turkeys (scarce), 10s. to 12s. each; lard, 9cl, to 10d* per lb.; milk, Bd, per quart; eggs, Is. 9d. to 2s. per dozen.

, Provisions. —Beef (fresb), Bd.—retail—9<3. to lOd per lb.; Irish (wholesale), 7d. to Bd. per lb.; -Sydney £6 10s. per tierce; mutton, Bd. to 9d. per lb.; veal (scarce), lOd. to lid. per lb. ; pork, (fresb), 7d. ; 9d, ; New Zealand salt ditto, 6|d. to 7d. per lb. lamb, per quarter, 6s. to 7s;; bread 9d. per 2lb. loaf biscuit cabin, 455. to 495. ; ship, 40s. to 425.; pilot 535. to 38s. per cwt. Stock.— Working Bullocks from 30/. to 45/. per pair. Calves 40s. to 605.; ewes 255. ; wedders 225. ; Horses for the plough 50/. to 601, ; cart 70/. to 90/. ; Hacks 2 51. to 50/. Groceries.— Tea Congou, £8 per chest; hysonskin (little used), £6 10s. to £7 per chest; sugar, raw 3|d. to 4-id. per lb, ; loaf, 6d. to 6|d, per lb.; per refined, Cossipore, perlb.; sugars of the common qualities of brown, are deficient. Ot other qualilies, there is a fair supply. Coffee, lOd. perlb.; soap, 40s to 45s per cwt. candles, (Sydney mould), lid, Belmont sperm, per lb. Is. 6d’ to Is. Bd, per lb.; sperm, 2s. to 2s. 3d. perlb.; salt (Liverpool) £6 to £6 10s, per tony dairy salt, £8 per ton ; pickles, pints, (fair sale), 12s. to 12s. 6d. per dozen ; salad oil. scarce ; tobacco, a fair supply, Is. to Is. Sd. in bond ; duty, Is. per lb.; soda, crystals, 21s, per cwt’; sperm oil, nolle; black oil, none; 3-bushel bags24s. to 275. per dozen. Wines.— Champagne, Claret, and Madeira very dull Port, £7 to £8 per quarter cask; in cases, dull; sherry nominal. Spirits in Bond, Duty 6s.—Brandy, (full supplyl Martell’s dark, 12s. to 15s, per gallon; Geneva, (full stocks) 20s. to 21s. per case; rum. (very bare) 7a. to 10s, per gallon; whiskey, 10s. to 12s. per gallon. Beer.— Ale, Bass’s Burton, (barely supplied) £9 to £lo 10s. perhhd; colonial 4/. per bhd. London bottled 15s. to i"6s, per dozen ; porter, Truman’s, XX, (heavy stocks) £7 10s. to £8 per hbd.; colonial, £4 10s, per bhd.; London, bottled, 14s. to 15s. per dozen. Boots and Shoes.— Bwth men’s and women’s (heavy) are in demand ; Napoleon’s 355. to 40s, per pair; Wellington’s English, 30s. to 32s ; colonial, 555. to 40s. per pair; Blucher’a and Oxford, English, 12s. colonial, 14s. per pair; Women’s cloth boots, Bs. to 10s. per pair; shoes, 4s. 6d. to 6s. per pair.

■Building Materials. —Timber, 255. to 275. per 100 feet; shingles, 15s. to 20s. per 1000 ; palings, lßs. to 20s. per 100; bricks, £lO per 1000.

Sundries.— Firewood (on the decline), 10s. to Us. per ton ; coals, £4 10s. to £5 per ton ; posts, £6 ; rails, £4 per 100 ; flax (very scarce and in demand), £3O to £4O per ton, accordingly to quality ; kauri gum (on the decline), £l7 to £2O per ton. Labour.— Masons (per diem), 12s. to 155.; bricklayers (perdiem), 12s. to 155.; carpenters (per diem), 125.; cabinet makers (perdiem), I2s. to 135.; farm servants (with rations), from £35 to £SO per annum ; female servants, Bs. to 12s. per week ; day labourers, -7s. toßs. per diem. Cart and dray hire (in town), from 3s. 6d. to 4s. fid SYDNEY MARKETS. If we may be permitted to form an opinion from the latest Commercial advices received by the Wanderer, from Sydney; and if we compare these advices with those previously received, we consider it to be abundantly clear that the reluctant reduction which has again taken place in the Australian flour market must speedily he met by a corresponding reduction of prices here. Eor our own part, we never could understand the cause why, in Auckland, the flour market should so much exceed in price that of Sydney ; or why the quotations of wheat should be lower in the importing than in the exporting country. The natural result of such a state of affairs is beginning to develop itself. Chilian flour is noted as arriving, and to arrive; under such circumstances, it is to be hoped that uo injurious reaction may ensue; we heartily hope that the New Zealand markets may not suffer from any undue spirit of ill-considered speculation. We, who have witnessed the rapid and ruinous fluctuations of colonial grain markets,—who arc not unmindful of the period when the cupidity of Tasmania ruinously defeated its own object by causing an immense importation into Sydney of Chilian wheat and flour—cannot but fear that prices on this side have somewhat exceeded the maximum of prudent dealing. We, in New Zealand, are but young traders, and any sudden check upon our agricultural industry might hare a very injurious tendency. We write thus in no desponding spirit, but with an earnest desire of inculcating moderation, especially at a moment when the golden colonies of Australia are experiencing so much exhaustion and depressions

The following particulars which we have gleaned from the “ Sydney Herald,” of the 30th ult., are especially worthy of attention “ Everything continues remarkably dull, and, though the rapid advance of the busy season is not lost sight of, there is yet a ■'great want of confidence, and, in the minds of many, considerable doubt as to the probability of improvement on present rams. We confess we are not amongst those who are thus disposed to despair; but, at the same time, believe with them that much inconvenience may arise from the reckless manner in which shipments have been made. Regarding this, however, we are not of opinion that the adjustment will be so difficult a matter as is generally anticipated. “ A very large sale of groceries and provisions, both damaged, and sound, took place at the stores'of Mi-. Newton on Thursday (SepU2Btb). There was an unusually full attendance of buyers, and some portion of the goods realised fair prices. Mauritius and Cossipore Sugar both sold at rather lower rates. Congou Teas (chests slightly broken) fetched about £4. American hams, sound, sold at Bd. Patent Sperm and Composite, both sold at a decline of one penny per lb. Woolpaeks sold at very low rates, viz.—lo lb., at about Ss.; 9£ lb., 4s. fid.; and 91b., as low as 3s. 9d. For a damaged parcel of Manila Rope there was considerable competition. “Maize.—The supply continues good, and prices although without much alteration, still incline downwards owing principally to the . very depressed flat; of the Market for Hay", which baa again declined fully £2 to £3 per ton. The Mu ls. —Messrs. Barker and Co., Not much wheat has arrived to market this week ; the price may be quoted at 10s. to 10s. fid. per bushel. The recent importations, of Chilian flour, with advices of shipment to arrive, have caused a depression in the market. Pieseiit s quotations at these mills are, for fine 281, and for second quality 28/. per ton. B an 3s. fid. per'bushel. Messrs. Furlong and Kennedy : Little or no wheat isnow coming to market: nominally it is worth 11s. per bushel; Floor is now 2fii, per ton for fine, and 26/. for second quality. Bran 3s fid. per bushel. Messrs. Berkelman and Bate: The supply of wheat is falling off considerably : beet samples may be quoted at. 1 Is. fid. to 12s. fid. per bushel. Importations have had the effect of depressing the flour market: present quotations are,'for fine 27/., and for second quality 23/. per ton. Bran 3s. 3d. per bushel. ** Gallego Flour ia quoted at £4 per barrel. “ Bread, Bd.the 2 lb. loaf, t Biscuit.—At Messrs. Wilkie and Co.’s Steam Biscuit Manufactory the quotations are, cabin biscuit 405., pilot 345., and ship 30s. per cwt,; and meat biscuit 20s. per tin of 30 lbs.— Mr. Hamilton quotes cabin biscuit at 425, and ship at 325. per cwt.; wine biscuit, 15s. per 15 lb. canister. “ Fokage.— - Hay varies from £l2 to £l7, and straw from si. to 61. 10s. per ton; maize, os. fid. to 9s. pe' bushel; green food, is. fid. to Is. lOd. per dozen bundles. “Referring to the general aspect of the markets, we may observe, that though business throughout the city ia dull, and large transactions postponed until the arrival of new advices from England, the state of all our markets, whether of export or import (flat as they may be for the present), were probably never in a more healthy slate. There are undoubtedly very heavy stocks on baud ; hut, with the exception of the finer and more expensive qualities of soft goods, we question if the import markets can be said to be much overstocked. 3he sound condition of our Banks, evinced in their latest returns; the legitimate amount of paper under discount, exhibiting a most striking contrast to that which this department of banking business presented a very few years ago ; and the generally favourable accounts from our pastoral, agricultural, and mining districts, leave but small grounds for anticipating that the temporary lull in that bri-kness which has so long characterised our markets will continue beyond a brief season.”