Commercial.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 86, 24 February 1862, Page 2

Commercial.

Daily Tinvs Office, Saturday Evening. The week closes very dull in mercantile circles, and there has been an indisposition to operate prior to the arrival of the."Aldingn." . Tlie numbers of diggers leaving for Victoria cause some anxiety, notwithstanding that about an equal number continues to arrive. Some seem to think that the population at the mines will be much reduced during the winter months, consequently the country demand for {roods is limited. We may look In ft few weeks for an active demand in some articles to meet winter wants, but in the meantime sales are VeWe'fak.e the following from the " Melbourne Journal of Commerce," of the 14th instant:— « The non-arrival of the " Salsette," with the English mail of December last, lias been most inconve.lipiiflv felt in our import markets during tho last tew d-ivs The intelligence which this steamer conveys to us cannot foil to be of an important, character and her protracted passage on this occasion is greatly to be''fusincs S has throughout the week been very auiet in all our import markets, and although prices are flrmK- supported, and have in general an upward tindery, transactions have not. been extensive The innuh-V for export hns also been inactive being Mraewhat checked by the advanced prices which aro, now required by holders here." The'• Herald" of the 17th says:— •■ Cons aerable anxiety is now felt with reference to the non-arrival of the mail steamer, and business has received a serious check in consequence. A steady trade has been done for local consumption, purticularlv in certain articles which have become scarce. The inquiry for Otago, however, continues to be comparatively trifling, the order? received by the last arrivals thence being anything but large,"

The Arqu* of the same date says : — . "The week lias been a very inactive one, in conseauence of the non-arrival of the mail. It is a matter of speculation -whether the rates of exchange TriU be maintained until after the departure of the

iout-soiiiCTfiaJl. The nornisml rale on Englaml romains at 2 per cent., but even by Iho last mail bi:;.ii:ps3 was done by some of the links at IS per cent. [Tho banks c«nt-i!!UB to quote as follows ;—On Kn.nlanu ijtt S per coat., pi-er.iinm for sixty days'si'.:lit, ■'• per, ■con^'prominni for thirty da ys' shht, and :W per cent, j ifor small sums at sisht.. The rats charged by the] i Peaiusular arid Oriental Cemp.vjy for the trnasmisjion iof sraHnnd hvjlion from Meibjurae to tbo Baits o: I England is 1-J per cant, including oruinary inauraaco, 'but not the war risk. learn by an Arr/vs tclosnua, Ihn.t at the pro- ■ duco c.ilos at .Sydney o:'i the 14fch iust, tlio dera:uid for 'first-class wools was slightly improved.