COLONIAL ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 112, 10 December 1873, Page 2

COLONIAL ITEMS.

(from thb anglo-australian press agency.) Auckland. A deputation of merchants to Mr. O’Rorke urged that Auckland was unfairly treated regarding the East Coast service. The steamers running from Wellington not going on to Auckland carried the Poverty Bay trade south. They said the object of the Legislature in granting the subsidy was to connect Auckland with the East Coast ports. Mr. O’Roike said he would communicate with Mr. Vogel on the subject. Mr. A. Buckland reports as follows on the annual wool sale held by him Greasy, 3d per pound lower than last year—lloo bales were sold. Fat cattle, 27s 6d per 100 lbs ; sheep, 31s 2d to 31s 4d, in short supply. Store steers are in demand. Oats, firmer, at 5s to 5s 6d. Produce, in active demand. A Paper Company, with a capital of thirty thousand pounds, in three pound shares, has issued a prospectus in which it is stated that it is intended to utilise the phormium fibre. Tauranga. The Superintendent will shortly visit Tauranga, with the object of enquiring into immigration matters. Stock is selling at high rates, a large Napier trade is being done. There are many land speculators in the district. The Lands Court was opened at Opotiki by Judge Rogan. All is quiet. Wellington. Over a thousand shares in the new sugar refining company were taken up. Mr. John Martin and Mr. Lipman Levy have been appointed the Wellington directors. The Standard Insurance Company shares are being freely taken up. It is rumored that Dr. Knight, AuditorGeneral, is about to retire, and that the vacancy will be filled by Mr. Seed, Secretary of Customs. Flour is unsaleable, the markets being overstocked ; for Canterbury 12s, Oamaru 13s lOd ; Adelaide slow of sale at 18s to 19s; oats, a downward tendency at 4s 9d, at auction ; wheat, good milling, 5s 2d to 5s 4d; potatoes, old, 25s to 40s. All colonial produce more than usually depressed. The New Zealand Steam Shipping Company contemplate forming a new company with a capital of £150,000, to meet the growing trade of the colony. The Hutt railway is expected to be opened on the Ist February. Christchurch. The strike of carpenters is virtually over. All who struck obtained work at the advanced rate of Ils per day ; but some of the principal builders, rather than give it, obtained men from Auckland and have sent to Hobart Town for more. On all buildings the labor is scarce. The bakers’ strike still continues. The grain market is quiet. Wheat, ss, f.o.b. ; butter, 7d ; cheese, 6d to 7d. Dunedin. The Otago Meat Preserving Company is about to be wound up. A meeting has been called for that purpose. The Governor will not reach Dunedin earlier than the 22nd or 23rd. He intends travelling overland from Canterbury. He desires no extensive preparations made, and particularly asks that he may not be expected to move through Dunedin in u procession. He intends to make this city his head-quarters for a month, and will visit Invercargill.