COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4251, 4 November 1874, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

TRADE MATTERS IN MELBOURNE. (From thoArpus, Oct. 24.) In the import markets general business is exceedingly quiet, and were it not for the one or two specialties which occasionally come into more prominent notice, trade would almost appear to be at a standstill. In breadstuff, flour presents a steadier aspect. Bakers’ lots are moving off at £l3 7s. 6d. to £13105., bags returned, and a very fair demand is experienced. Parcels are offering at £l3, and sales of good brands can be made at the price. Wheat is very firm at Cs. Id. to 6s. 2d., and millers’ parcels are moving off at tho rates named. Oats are firm at late quotations of ss. 3d, to ss. 6d. for good feeding, but supplies are so very insignificant, no sales are allowed to transpire. Maize is quiet. The trade having got their wants temporarily filled up, are not inclined to operate at present at the advance demanded. The receipt of telegrams regarding kerosene oil has led to a movement which has resulted in fully 16,000 cases Devoe’s changing hands on private terms; 0000 of these are to land out of the S. D. Carieton, just arrived. Dried fruits are in good request; we note sales of currants at ssd. Muscatel raisins have also been quitted at Is. Id. There is » good business doing in teas. Of the Somerset’s shipment of now congous about 1000 packages have been sold privately at Is. sd. to 2s. A few hundred packages, ex Korson, have also been quitted at Is. 3d. to Is. 10jd. Under the hammer another portion of the Somerset’s shipment was submitted to competition, but the biddings not proving satisfactory, tho whole was withdrawn ; subsequently, however, 70S packages of this shipment were placed. Low boheas and congous were also disposed of at 9sd. Hops still meet with favor; a parcel of 25 pockets Tasmanian 1874's has been placed at Is. od. Sales of quarters sardines have been made at up to 6s. Calcutta cornsacks are beginning to bo inquired for; we are, however, without sales to report as yet. Tobaccoes are improving in value. We learn that Cameron’s agents have raised their asking rate for flat work to Is. Cd. Their price for twist has also been advanced. A meeting of the creditors of Mr. Moton Moss, the well-known trader, has been held. A statement prepared by Mr. Harold Selwyn Smith was submitted, showing total liabilities amounting to £32,081 13s. 4d., and assets estimated at £15,812 14s. lid., the deficiency thus being £15,208 18s. sd. From this report it appears that Mr. Moss had lost by the recent failures in Tasmania the full amount of the deficiency referred to, besides which bis losses in trading, over a period of several years, have exceeded £72,000. Mr. Moss offered to pay a composition of Bs. in the pound. It was moved by Mr, Bright, of Bright Brothers & Co., and seconded by Mr. Joshua, of Joshua Brothers, and generally acceded to, that the offer bo accepted, sub--ject to a report by an investigation committee, consisting of Messrs. Fraser, Balfour, Holmes, and Marshall. Messrs. Hastings, Cunningham & Co. have held their second wool sale of the season at their warehouses, which attracted a large attendance of buyers and others interested in the trade. The sale may be looked upon as one of the most successful ever held here, every lino in the catalogue, except one, having found purchasers at very satisfactory prices. The competition for light-conditioned greasy was unusually keen, and three clips from Riverina, in magnificent condition, realised the extreme figures of 15Jd., 15id., and per lb. respectively. Fleece wool was also in demand, and as high as 2s. 4d. per lb. was obtained for a clip from the Western district of Victoria, belonging to Mr. Colin Campbell, of Buangor. Quotations of the prices obtained at the sale are— Greasy, from lOd. to 15|d,; fleece, from 22d. to 28d. per lb. * BY TELEGRAPH. AUCKLAND, Tuesday, Mr. Alexander Saunders reports:—Buyers—City of London, 245. Gd.; Tokatea, Ss, Cd. Sellers: Bank of New Zealand, 3675. Cd.; National Bank, 705.; Colonial Bank, 125.; Caledonians, 110 s.; Cure, life. 3d.; Tokatea, 9s. od.; Bright Smile, 605.: South British, 615.;