COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 41, 4 November 1871, Page 10

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail Office, Friday evening. The slight improvement in trade which we mentioned in our last monthly report, appears to have permanently set in, and during the past week a considerable amount of business has been done, both in mported goods and New Zealand produce. We report no alteration in price from last quotations, with the exception of fine salt, which has become very low in stock, and is now worth £5 to £6 per ton. Kerosene has slightly varied, owing to a large quantity being forced into this market at 2s B£d to 2s 9d per gallon. Sugars are in failsupply at £49 to £49 10s for Melbourne 10, £45 for C, and £4l to £4l 10s per ton Yellow. Flour is dull and difficult of sale at £l4, per ton for Canterbury best brands. Oats, light stock, and mostly of inferior samples good quality feed oats are worth 3s Id per bushel. The proposed increase in the tariff has been the subject of much discussion in mercantile circles, leaving the impression that the majority are in favor of the imposition of protective duties for the purpose of fostering native industry, and furthermore, that the payment of a small duty on articles of unrestrained production does not effect the price to the consumers. THAMES SHAREMARKET. The “ Thames Guardian” of Monday last haß the following report of the local sharemarkets :—The market has been quieter during the past week than for some time previously, buyers scarce, and few stocks changing hands. Caledonians have risen steadily from £ll2 10s to £130; Thames, £22 10s to £25 ; Tookey, £27 10s to £2B, few changed hands : Nonpareil, £5 15s, £5 12s 6d ; Long Drive, £ll 2s 6d ; All Nations, steady demand all the week at £5 10s, but few in market; Waitemata, very little demand during the week, bub on Saturday there were buyers at 12s 6d, and sales were effected ; Alburnias have steadily gone up from £6 to £B, and are well held ; Golden Calf, buyers on Saturday at £2 17s 6d, few sellers ; Bright Smiles, £3 5s to £3 2s 6d, and well held at £2 15s, few buyers; Smiling Beauty, 6s 6d, 7s, 7s 6d ; Bird-in-Hand, 6s ; Hand and Band, 6s ; Standard, 6s, 6s 6d, 7s, small parcels quitted; Golden Spur, 4s 6d; Ruby, 5s ; Claremont, 9s; Otagos have sold during the week from £2 17s 6d to £4 ss, firmly held for an advance.