COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4193, 28 August 1874, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

MELBOURNE. The Argue ot the 18th inst, reports ; —ln the Import market business Is again quiet, and not much of a special character has been reported. Breadstuff's, though firm, evince no activity. Flour in bakers* lots is in very moderate request at £lB 155,, bags returned. For parcels £l3 ss. la asked, but the demand for such lines has not opened for the week yet. Wheat is moving off in such small parcels as are offering at 6s. 4Jd., sales at this quotation having been effected. Oats are still without anything of Importance to refer to. Thera Is no business doing; quotations for fair feeding sorts rule at -Is. lid. to ss. Maize is quitted at 4s. lOd. for small lots, but parcels are not enquired for, pending the arrival of shipments close at hand, most buyers preferring to wait tIU the market settles

before operating. Hops are still in favor, and we note sales of Tasmanian in trade parcels at up to Is: sd. AVoolpacks are enquired for; we hear of a line of 50 bales having changed hands at 3s. 4d. New teas are selling in fair parcels for trade purposes; business is likewise pending in tobaccoes. Sugars are disposed of for actual requirements; fine yellow counters and brewers’ crystals, nearly white, have realised from £3l to £35 10s,; 070 bags were cleared off publicly at £29 10s. to £32 10s. Several arrivals are reported since Saturday. The E. J. Spence brings three-quarters of a cargo; the St. Kilda just announced, has only half a cargo; and the St. Marc has come in ballast. By the E. J. Spence letters have been received to 4th July, though the circular's which have come forward reach only to 25th June. From a private communication to the fiist-named period, we learn that the weather had set in very wet and unfavorable to planters, the canes yielding very badly, and some estates that had begun to manipulate had been forced to stop crushing. It was not expected that the first cargo would be ready for shipment hence before about the middle of August; prices were not likely to be lower, the market being quite bare of brewers’ yellow crystals and rations. No further shipments of sugar need be expected for six weeks, unless some odds and ends remaining on band might bo despatched. LONDON. Messrs. G. and J. A. Noble, in their New Zealand Hemp Report, dated London, 26th June, state; — This market remains lifeless, about the only business passing being in the damaged-portions of late arrivals, which not being likely to improve in their present condition, holders sell to best bidders. Quotations will be os follows;—Common, £ls per ton; good, £2l; fair, £lB 10s. to £l9; fine, £2O; and tow, £9 to £lO. The following are the particulars of the public sales since our last June 11th: AVilliam Davie—EE, 44 bales, sound, sold £lB 155.: FE, 4 bales, sold £l6. The Douglas—FC in diamond, 50 bales, sold £l7 155.; 52 bales, sold £l7 10s.; DL, 91 bales, bought in £18; K&CE, 6 bales, bought in £lB 10s.; 2 bales, bought in £l9 10s. Celreno—K&G in diamond over A, 44 bales, sound, sold £23 10s.; ditto over B, 29 bales, sound, sold £2O 155.; ditto over A, 2 bales, sound and good, sold £22 55.; ditto over B, 9 bales, sound, sold £2O 55.; R&G in diamond, tow, 13 bales, sound, sold £lO 10s.; \Y&CT, 19 bales, sound, sold £l7 10s. Glenlora —Anchor 2. 13 bales, bought in £2O; anchor R, 4 bales, bought in £2O. Electra—R&AV, 47 bales, bought in, £l9. ' NEAV YORK. Messrs. Arkcll, Tufts, and Co., writing on July Bth, report The mails of May from Australia and New Zealand bring advices of heavy stocks of goods in all parts, and orders consequently are very light; nor do we look for any great activity for some time to come. Hardware.—The demand for all lines of hardware is temporarily affected, in common with other goods used in the Colonies, by an excessive supply, and an apparent dullness in trade. AVooden AY are.—AVe have no change of importance to note. Lumber.—Stocks are lighter than they have been for many years, but in the absence of a demand, the market Is dull, but firm. Kerosene Oil.—The price has further declined, and we quote 20c. nominally for Devoe’s, with little, doing. The Archer, to clear July 9th, has about 10,000 cases. AVe hear of but little inquiry, and hope that shipments during the last half of this yearvyill largely decrease, so as to reduce stocks in the Colonies. Lobsters.—The anticipation, expressed in our circular of the 15th April, appears about to be verified ; the new law in the State of Maine to stop all fishing on August 1, is this year virtually nullified by the short catch, which has caused most of the packeries to close, on the Ist of July. The proprietors of the “Star” brand have Issued a notice of an advance of 15 cents per dozen, gold, and it is thought by some packers that the total catch on the Eastern Coast will not be more than one-half that of last year, while in Nova Scotia the prospects are that the production will not exceed that of last season. AVe quote nominally at same price as lost month, but look for a general advance. Oysters—Are still without change in price. Gold and Exchange.—Gold has declined to 109|, and exchange remains fairly firm and steady, at about last prices. AVe quote for bankers’ CO day bills on London, $4.87} and $4.85i per £X sterling for commercial BY TELEGRsiPH, AUCKLAND. Mr. Alexander Saunders reports ;—Sales Caledonian, 1955. Buyers—South British, 525.; Albion, COs.: Beach, 10s. 6d.; Otago, 11s. Cd. SellersNational Bank, 71s; AVhau, 495.; Bright Smile, 825.; South British, 545. CHRISTCHURCH. Quotations, f.0,b., Lyttelton: AVheat, ss. Sd.; oats, 4s. 9d. to 65.; barley, ss. Cd. to 65.; flour, £l2 to £l3; bran, £6; pollard, £0; sharps, £7; cheese, 7\A. to 7id.; butter, Is. Id to Is. 2d.; potatoes, £G; wheat stocks getting low, and farmers asking ss. in Christchurch; oats and potatoes are scarce; the local demand is good.