COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 43, 18 November 1871, Page 10

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail Office, Friday evening. But little business has been doing in any department of trade during the past week, and we have consequently little or no change to notice in value. Sugars have advanced in the Melbourne market some 20s to 30s per ton, owing doubtless to the advancing freights in Australia from the scarcity of tonnage, and prices here will necessarily go up in proportion, although as yet there is no change. Currants are easier, and quoted at per lb. Flour remains at last week’s quotations, with a downward tendency, which will hardly be improved by the arrival of the Sword Fish from Adelaide with 100 tons of flour and 250 sacks of wheat for this market. Canterbury flour of best brands is quoted at £l4 per ton for sacks, £l4 5s to £l4 10s for bags, but there are several parcels of country brands offering at lower rates. Oats are dull at 2s lOd to 3s 3d, according to sample, a large portion of the present stock being damaged and inferior sorts. Wool for shipment is coming in freely, the growers being evidently determined to be prompt this season to avail themselves of the high rates at present ruling, and the vessels now on the berth for London will have quick despatch.

Melbourne. —The “Argus” reports:— ln breadstuff's we hear of trade parcels of floar being moved off at up to £l3. Wheat is very firm indeed; there is no Adelaide offering under 6s, and it is reported that a very considerable parcel has changed hands at a full rate. Port Macdonnell wheat is selling at 5s 9d. In feeding grains there is very little to refer to. Oats are quite neglected ; there is no inquiry whatever, and the sales effected are most trifling. Maize is firmer; sales to-day are being made with more freedom at 3s 9d. A line of 5,000 bushels bran has been placed at Is 2d. Sugars, influenced by a very reef demand, are moving off privately to some extent; we understand that the greater part of what was left over of the Alice’s cargo of Mauritius, say 4000 bags, has been, got rid of at prices showing even an improvement on the advance established at the public sale on Monday last, and for the small balance remaining unsold of the cargo we understand that as much as 37s 6d is now asked for yellow brewing crystals. Under the hammer this forenoon, a parcel of Queensland sugar, amounting to 459 bags, was cleared off at 25s to 26s 6d for medium to good rations, and 28s to 29s for low grainy counters. There is more inquiry for new season’s teas, ex Tranquebar. Several lines of fine congous have been taken up, and numerous parcels are under treaty at prices showing a considerable improvement on prices offered at the auction sale yesterday. We hear of a line of 1000 cases Devoe’s kerosene oil having been placed at Is lOd.

Adelaide. —A telegram in the “ Argus,” dated Nov. 3, reports : —The exports of cereals to date are 91,000 tons, leaving a surplus of 23,000 tons; wheat continues firm at 4s 7d. Our own correspondent, wi’iting on October 31, reports : —Dp to the arrival of the Engish mail, the wheat market was slowly but steadily declining, and prices had fallen to 4s 4d, with every probability of a still further decline. The mail news, however, hardened the market considerably, and prices advanced to 4s s|d, 4s 6d, and 4s 7d, at which latter figure there are to-day but few buyers. Ereights to Fngland have risen from 60s 1;o 70s, and this extra charge fully makes up for the extra price obtainable. So far, the harvest prospects are encouraging. We have been getting some fine cool showers lately, and reports from all parts of the country are very hopeful. There, are, of course, rumors of red rust, but they are said to emanate mainly from heavy holders of wheat and consequently have but little influence on the market. An average of nine bushels an acre will give us as good a total yield as last year, when it was the larger area sown making up for the assumed deficiency in the yield per acre.

Several, shipments of breadstuff's have been made to New Zealand, ports of late. The total exports up to date throughout the year have been, in round numbers, 89,000 tons, leaving us 25,000 still available for export j but it is feared that a considerable proportion of this is damaged wheat.