COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 309, 16 December 1862, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

DAILY TIMES OMICE, Monday Evening.

Since the departure of the last English mail on 17th ulfc., business generally has shewn an improving tendency, with a'disposition on the part of buyers to operate with greater confidence, and on a more extended scale. This state of matters is the result of a settled conviction on the inimis of every one that our gold fields, especially these in the direction of the Dunstan, are likely to prove highly remunerative for some consider able time to come, coupled with a reduction in the rate of cartage, induced by the fine weathtr aud consequent improved condition of the up-country roads. The fortnightly escorts from the different gold fields give a very satisfactory return :— Ozs. Fortnight ending-23th Nov. 19,937 „ ,« 12th Dec 18,091 Constant advices come to town of fresh discoveries of extraordinary richness, and when the full particulars have had time to circulate through the neighboring colonies, we may expect a very large influx of miners within the next few months. To meet the extra demand which this rush is likely to make on our stock, it is satisfactory to know that cur market is at present fully supplied with all kinrls of goo Is. The numerous arrivals we have had lately from the old country, with full cargoes of assorted merchandise, independently of the shipments from Melbourne and Sydney, Lave filled our warehouses. The articles most in demand during the past month have been malt liquors, in bulk and bobtle, spirits, provisions of all kinds, tea and horse feed. Flour has ruled quiet, with a slight tendency to lower prices, but stocks of really good brandy are moderate; and present prices are likely to be maintained. Sugar has also shown a downward tendency, caused by the very low price ruling in Melbourne. The cargo of the Witch of the Tees, just arrived from Mauritius, was offered by public auction, on the 9th instant; there was a large attendance of the trade, attracted by the unusual excellence of the cargo, about 70 tons sold at moderate prices. The wool season has fairly commenced. The Witch of the Tees will be the first ship for London. Hie will sail on loth January, and will be succeeded by the Chile and Aboukir. Pricks Current. Alb and Porter.-—Buk ale in good demand, at L 9 10s to Lll ; bottled ale, 13s; stout, 13s 61. These quotations are likely to be maintained with light direct shipments, and advancing prices iv Melbourne. Slops and Drapery.—Market fully supplied. Bacon and Hams. -Moderate stock ; good demand at Is 3d and Is 4d respectively, for sundries. Butter.—Colonial in fair supply, prices declining. Prime Wellington-, Is lOd ; D-ll Cork, in cloth, Is Gto Is 6d. Prime quality scarce and wanted. Candles.—Dull. Full-weight Belmont, Is 3d • Hale's, Is 2d. Coals. ■ • Stock reduced, but several shipments on the way. English, 45s ; colonial, 50s 1o 555. Cheese.—Colonial, scarce, Is 2d j Dunlop, Is Id ; English, Is ; fair demand. Drugs and Chemicals.—Carbonata of soda, 22s 6d; cream of tartar, 2s ; tartaric acid, 3s. Demand improving as summer season advances. J/lour.—Adelaide, Ll7 10s to LlB '10s for best brands. Moderate stock and good demand. Horse Feed.—Oats and maize not quite so lively in consequence of near approach of colonial harvest, but with moderate stocks and large consumption present prices are likely to be maintained; Oilman's Stores.—ln good demand at improving prices, particularly for pickles, sauces, salad oil and jam*. Sugar.—Market dull, but may be expected to improve with the first sign of an upward tendency in Melbourne. Tea.—Good demand, particularly for low qualities in half-chests; stocks moderate. Tobacco.—Large stocks of inferior quality, but good scarce; slow sale. Building Mateuiam.—Timber of all kinds in very full supply and slow sale. Galvanised iron, large stocks but good demand. Spirits akd Winej?.—Spirits hrve been in good demand, stocks full. Mai-tell's aud Henessey's pale brandy in bulk, 13s. Whiskey in bulk, 5s to 03 Gd. Geneva, JDKZ, 17s to 18s. Wines, moderate demand, full supply. ~* . RETURN OF THE QUANTITY AND VALUE OF GOLD EXPORTED AT THE PORT OF DUNEDIN, DURING THE MONTH ENDING NOVEMBER 30, 18(32.

Export entries for 243 ozs 1 dwt of gold were passed at the Custom House to-day : the duty paid being £30 7s Bd..

The Customs Revenue amounted to £1,222 Is 9d ; the principal items beinor—Braudy, 509 gals, £215 lls; gin, 443£ gals, £199 Is 6d; whiskey, 203 gals, £01 7s; wine, 305 gals, £45 15s; tea, 6,939 lbs, £114 6s : sugar, 20,738 lbs. £86 8s 2d; coffee, 2,013 lbs, £25 3s 3i; cigars, 234 lbs, £35 2s; tobacco, 1,330 lbs, £99 15s id; measurement goods,£23l v» lid,

DUNEDIN LIVE STOUK MARKET. Driver, Maclean, and Co report for week ending 13fch December, 1362 : — fe

Fat Cattle The week's supply has been confinedto 40 head bullocks, exMontWuma, from Gipps Land, which we sold at an average of L 22 The-e cattle were heavy weights, but in quality much interior to former shipments from same place. Shippers of fat stofk should bear in mind that much depends upon the selection ana attention to proper fittings, winch in many cases are sidly neglected. Out- butchers are but scantily supplied, aSd any stock of good quality coming to hand during the ensuing week will meet with ready tale at about our late quotations. At present we do not hear of any Provincial mobs intended for this market, as the increased demand for the Dunstan and other dishes requires all that are fit for the butKe? We have no means of estimating our probable receipts from Gipps Land as shipments will be much governed by the rate of freight and pric-s ruling m the Melbourne market. Ai yet we have had but two small cargoes, although we hear of one or two others that are likely to come forward We quote first quality beet at 60s to 62s 6d per 100 lbs second do at 50s per 100 lbs. ; Fat Calves are much inquired after at L 4 to L 6 VJs according to size and quality Store Cattle. The demand for this description of stock continues active ; buyers however object to mobs with alarge proportion of young cattle, except at greatly reduced prices. Transactions durin- the week have been very limited, there being but few lots on the road We quote first-class stores over two io"t Llf 10 t0 (*°° d miXed herds at L 9

Vj, ORKfNG Bullocks are in active demand at from L6O to L6o per pair if fit for immediate use. Om e t unbroken steers, at L4O to L 45 per pair. Dairy Cows—Really good young cows, with calves at foot, or springing are scarce, and saleable at LI a to L2O.

Fat Sheep.—No Provincial bred sheep have been yarded during the week, owing to inosc of our runholders being engaged with shearing, and from the tact ot persons going through the country, obtaining; the offer of sheep at high rates, without completing purchases. Our butchers have been fairly supplied with imported sheep from Melbourne. We = have sold all offered, say 609 very good wethers, at an average of 30s each. We quote really prime wethers in wool, at 9d per lb; ditto sho n, 7Ad to 8d per lb Store Sheep.—Transactions are "likely to continue limited until «fter shearing when we expect an active demand for good stores of all clashes. Wo quote pre sent market rates, say, for New Zealand bred ewes, 2, 4, a*d 6-tooth, at 27s to 30.-; ditto wethers, ditto at 25s to 26^; imported ewes, ditto, 24s to 26s : ditto wethers, ditto, 2-2s to 245.

Station Property. •We do not hear of any transactions during the week. Although buyers and settlers arc both numerous, their estimate of the value oi properties offered for sale, being so different, no runs have changed hands. Horses.—The market during- the week has been very poorly supplied with useful stock. The only shipment to Hand being the " Cosmopolite " horses, from Hobart Town, which we disposed of on Tuesday at an average of L 55 7s per heai ; these were a medium lot, principally light draught and saddle and harness horses. .There is still a great demand for good draught horses and weight carrying hackneys for up-country use, and we do not expect any material change in prices unless shipments are much greater than we at present anticipate. We quote first ciass heavy draught horse* at from L 93 to Ll2O • second class do do, L6O to LBS ; inferior do do, L 35 lo Loo; first-class saddle and harness horses fiom L 55 to LBO ; s^coud class do do do, L 35 to LSQ; interior do do do, L2O to L3O.

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