COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4577, 20 November 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington yesterday, was as follows:

The Customs duties received at this port for the ■week ending November ISth were as under:—

Trade during the week has been fairly active, with no change in value to report, although at auction lower rates have been submitted to for small lots sold without reserve, which can hardly be taken as a test of value, as buyers generally evince no disposition to operate to any extent, and probably sales are made at current quotations. In produce, butter continues depressed, sales of keg butter being difficult at lOd. to lid. per lb. for prime cure. Cheese is exceedingly scarce,‘.and in demand at lid. Oats dull, with prices giving way. "We cannot give higher quotations for a first-rato sample of Wellington sorts than Ba. Id. to 3s. 3d,; ordinary feed is worth about 2s, 9d, to 3». MAise in fair demand at 4s. lOd. per bushel. Potatoes are in full supply, and the demand evidently satisfied, a Jot of prime quality being withdrawn at 625. 6d. no higher bid being obtainable. Hams and bacon, very scarce, and worth Is. to Is. 4d. per lb. Flour in good supply, and unaltered in value. THE MELBOURNE MARKET. (From Goldsbrough’s Circular, Novembers.) Wool.—The opening sale of the season in Melbourne was held at our warehouses on the 27th ult, and there was a very large attendance of buyers *nd others interested in the trade. The catalogue comprised 4739 bales, of which 1700 bales were sold at auction ; in addition to which we placed about 1300 bales by private contract after the sale. Other auction, sales, both in Melbourne and Geelong, have also been held, the total catalogued to date being 16,600 bales, of which about 8500 bales have been sold. The prices realised date show a reduction on last year's opening rates of about Id. on ordinary, greasy, lid. to 2d. on superior greasy, and about, lid. to 2o- on washed fleece and scoured. The highest rates obtained have been Is. Id. for a superior lightconditioned clip of 258 bales from the Benduck station, and 2s. 4d. for a very choice lot of IS9 bales beautifully got up washed fleece from the estate of Mount Emu. The reduction in the value of superior greasy may be chiefly attributed to the absence of the demand for America, which caused such full rates to role for the best descriptions last year. The arrival of the clip has been delayed by wet weather, which has not only Interrupted shearing, but also rendered the roads impassable for drays. Owing to these causes the season is fully a fortnight later than last year; but it is now in full operation, and the arrivals during the past week have been very considerable, the warehouses being nearly full. There will be heavy catalogues to submit each week from this time forward, and we anticipate that largo quantities will change bands, as the growers generally seem disposed to meet the market and realise in the colony. Buyers, on the other hand, have bid up well, and are purchasing with considerable spirit, taking into account the aspect of the Homo market and prospects generally. With reference to the condition of the clip, we find the bulk of the lots in the grease which have come into the warehouses are in .lighter order than last

year, and frequently rather tender in the staple. This is attributable to the scarcity of feed and wgter on many of the stations during the last autumn ana early in the winter; and also to the cold wet spring, which has caused the fleeces to bo less' yolky than, usual. Of washed fleece, only a limited quantity has been offered tosthis* datei but the same causes have in several instances made the fleeces less sound than usual. On the whole, however,' the clip is in good order, and very careful attention has, in the majority of instances/been given to the classing and general get up. Owing to the later delivery of the clip, it is not likely that the quantity to be shipped for the London February sales will be equal to that of last year, but much depends on the date of commencement. If they do not open earlier than the last series (February 23), probably nearly the same quantity will be delivered in time, as wool is now being shipped very freely. As nearly as we can at present estimate, about 80,000 bales will be cleared from this colony up to November 10; but it is not possible at this date to make a close calculation, and we must wait until the actual returns of shipments are completed. It is estimated that 50,000 bales will be cleared from South Australian ports up to the same date thus showing a probable increase of nearly 10,000 bales on the quantity included in the last February sales from that colony. From New South Wales probably about 15,000 bales will be forward In time, thus making an estimated total from the three colonies of 145;000 bales, as against 1C0,6G6 bales in the corresponding sales of this The Ske rryvore has been laid on for New York, and will, it is expected, take a limited quantity of wool on American account; and we learn that it is probable a vessel will be laid on for Boston in the course of a few days. Purchases are being made for direct shipment; and should there bo any symptoms of a revival of the manufacturing interests ip the •United States, no doubt the orders now to hand will be largely supplemented by telegram as the season advances. A ship has also been laid on for Antwerp, to sail about the end of this mouth ; and this being the first vessel sailing direct for that port with a cargo of wool, considerable interest is manifested in the result.

Freights to London continue at last month’s rates, viz., for greasy, and |d. per pound for washed ; undumped, Jd. extra. . ; The following ships have cleared during the month: — , ' ’ • Bales. Oct. 7th—Strathdon. Melbourne for London 4,357 „ isth—Durham, s.s., Melbourne for London 1,797 „ 20fch—Salamis, Melbourne for London .. 5,423 „ 26th—Udston, Geelong for London .. .. 9,405 2Sth—Duchess of Edinburgh, Melbourne for London 5,351 Nov. 2nd—Oberon, Melbourne for London ~ 4,084 ..... 31.047 Add previous shipments .. .. 2,800 Total, October Ist to date ~ 33,847 The Shannon, Lincolnshire, Miltiades, Achilles, Ben Cruachan, City of Agra, Helmsdale, Juliet, and Grecian, are loading for the February sales, and are expected to take about 48,000 bales, thus making a total of about 80,000 bales estimated to be shipped from Victoria in time for that series. ... PRICES CURRENT—

Sheepskins.—During the month our sales have been ■well attended, and we have sold a larger supply than usual at satisfactory rates. The market remains Arm at a slight decline on late quotations; the principal cause of the decline in value being that the fellmongere, who purchase all that are sent forward, are now able to buy greasy wool suitable for scouring. Our sales are—Butchers skins, from 4s. to 7s. each; pelts, up to 2s. each ; crossbreds, to 7s. 6d. each; and dry skins, 3s. to 6s. each. Station skins are worth from 5d.. to 7Jd. per lb. • Hides continue to be in good demand, the local tanners taking all offering, at about last month’s quotations. We do not look for any alteration in prices, although the steadiness of the market depends principally on the supply offering. Ox-hides realise from 255. to 335. each ; cow-hides, 15s. to 255. each: Victorian-salted, 4ld, to 6d. per lb.; and New Zealand, sd. to s}d. yer lb. Kangaroo skins in good condition realise well, and heavy-weights. are worth- up to 13d. per lb. Small and inferior skins are difficult of sale at sd. to lOd. per lb. Tallow.—At our weekly sales we have disposed of 650 casks of all descriptions, for shipment and local manufacture. The late high rates have been well maintained, a speculative spirit having, been evoked by the favorable telegrams received from London. We have sold superior mutton at £39 10s. per ton; ordinary .to good mutton, £37 to £39; beef, £34 to £37; Mixed and inferior, £2B to £34 per ton, but at our sale yesterday there was a reduction to the 'extent of from £2 to £3 per ton, in consequence of telegraphic advices of a decline in London. We now quote—Superior mutton, £37; and beef, £33 to £35; other sorts in proportion. - The rate of freight to London is 455. per ton. Clearances are as follow: October 13.—Durham, s.s., Melbourne for London.. ■ 80 casks October 28.—Duchess of Edinburgh, Melbourne for London 366 „ November 2.—Oberon, Melbourne for Loudon 7 „ Total 453 casks Preserved Meats.—Operations are continued by some of the companies, but on a very limited scale, the high rates ruling for fat stock, and generally unsatisfactory result of shipments, precluding any chance of working to advantage. The only shipments are:— October 13.—Durham, s.s., Melbourne for London .. .. .. 1300 cases October 26.—Ddston, Geelong for London .> 53 „ Total .. .. 1353 cases BY TELEGRAPH. AUCKLAND, Friday. Mr Alexander Saunders reports:—Sales: Beach, 85s. Buyers: South British, 50s; Moanatairi, 20s. Sellers: National Insurance, 245; New Zealand Insurance, 85s; Caledonian, 75s ; Cure, 10s 6d. Mr Buckland reports:—Fat cattle slightly lower. Shipbome ex St Kilda much lower. Cattle, 33s to 37s 6d per lOOlbs. ‘ Sheep in wool, 4d ; shorn, 3d to 3id. Mrßlnney reports:—Flour: Oamaru, £l2; Dunedin, £ll 10s; Christchurch, £ll 9s; oatmeal, £ls 10s; pearl barley, £24 ; bran, £5; pollard, £6 per ton ; oats, 2s lOd; maize, 4s 3d per bushel; cheese, XOd ; butter, lOd; hams and bacon. Is per lb. NAPIER, Friday. There was a large attendance at Mr McLean’s cattle sale at the Shamrock yards yesterday, Mr Walker’s cattle realising £7 to £lO 10s—average, £8 10s each. A few old cows sold at from £3 to £4lss. One cow, near calving, fetched £9 5s ; one fat heifer, £8 15s; one heifer, in calf, £7 15s. No buyers for weightcurrying hacks,- and those offered were withdrawn. Light hacks brought £6 10s to £lO 10s : second-hand tip-drays, £7 10s to £ll 15s; saddles and harness, fair prices. ,

£ s. d. Spirits 86 5 3 Wine .. 23 8 0 Ale and beer 62 10 0 Cigars.. 32 10 0 Tobacco 91 15 0 Sngar 67 16 2

£ s. d. Tea .. ...88 1 0 Ad val. goods 332 y V Goods by wgt. 33 6 5 Other duties.. 33 6 0 Total ..£875 7 5

Spirits .. £ a. d. 972 16 10 Cigars .. .. 203 8 5 Tobacco.. .. 418 17 2 Wine ., .. 123 19 10 Ale' .. .. 200 1 6 Tea .. .. 159 12 0 Coffee .. .. 64 2 0 Sngar .. .. 225 8 2

£ s. d. Goods by weight 500 1 1 Do. ad valorem 2113 10 11 Do. other duties 213 10 6 Light dues. shipping, &c. 56 12 1 £5252 1 0

s. d. s. d. Ordinary to average . 0 9 „ 0 11 Good to superior . 0 11 „ 1 1 Fleece, washed—Inferior .. . 1 3 „ 1 6 Ordinary to average . 1 6 „ 1 8 Average' to good ... . . 1 .8 „ 1 10 . 2 0 „ 2 4 Scoured—Inferior ... ... . i ii e Ordinary .. .. . 1 6 „ 1 8 Middling to good . 1 S „ 1 10 Superior .. .. . 1 10 „ 2 2