COMMERCIAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 192, 1 August 1874, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

TRADE REPORT FOR JULY. Standard Office, July 31, 1874. TIMBER AND BUILDINGS. There is little to report on for the past month, as most of the buildings in hand are being completed, and importations have not been large. Quotations remain the same as last month, viz.: Bricks, £7 per 100 ; limo (stone) 2s 6d per bushel; kauri timber, (first-class) 18s per 100 ft, second-class, 14s per 100 ft; kauri, P.T. and G., 22s per 100 ft; white pine, Ils per 100 ft ; shingles (W.P.) 14s 6d per 1000; shingles (kauri) 20s per 1000. The imports have been, 16,000 ft kauri and hardwood ; 48 pairs sashes ; 46 doors ; 4000 ft mouldings ; and 2000 ft architraves. Bricks are in demand, but the market is short of supply. wages

Are also unaltered. Bricklayers, 12s per day ; Painters, 10s per day ; Carpenters, 10s to 12s per day ; Blacksmiths, 10s to. 12s per day ; Plumbers, 10s per day ; Laborers, 6s to 8s per day. A few domestic servants and others, drafts from the immigrant ships lately arrived in Auckland, have come on hither, and found ready employment; but more are wanted. Good servants command good wages. The Presbyterian Church is near completion ; and Whitson’s Brewery is,* likewise, near the finish. Operations will, probably, commence in this new local industry in about a month hence, the spirited proprietors finding great difficulty in getting their plant on to the ground, owing to a want of facility arising from imperfect communication with Auckland, and other causes. Several private houses are in course of erection in the town and district. Of the projected buildings, the English Church is to be tendered for in a few days, and, if the plan originally prepared is adopted, will bo an ornament to the town. In the country districts we have to report : —The stoppage of the supply of timber from King t ’s Mill, at the Makauri Bush, through the bad state of the.roads, causes much inconvenience to the district, as well as entailing a pecuniary loss to the proprietor. No further illustration can be given of the desirability of having good roads, than the cessation of a large labor-employing industry like that possessed by Mr. King; and it is to be hoped that this is the last winter we shall experience the evils in this direction, which should have been removed long ago. The natives are shewing signs of activity generally throughout the district in their preparations for the coming season. Some considerable amount of fencing, and the erection of several weatherboarded houses are amongst other favorable indications. A little stir has been made by them lately, on account of Henaro Mat.ua’s secret diplomacy, and the reported consequence of Te Kooti in Waikato. It had the effect of drawing them from steady work for a time; not difficult at any portion of the year, but at the planting season very inconvenient. STOCK. With regard to this item there is not much of interest to narrate. The continued wet and cold weather, causes sheep to suffer very much, while the meat market is badly supplied ; there are few, if any, wethers to be bought. The Pretty Jane took 200 sheep and 25 head of cattle to the Auckland Market yesterday, making a total of 400 sheep and 51 homed stock-shlppert during Hie monrn. Lambing has already commenced. The retail market is as well supplied as can be expected at this time of year ; sheepowners being disinclined to part with their wool-bear-ing stock. The following prices rule : — Beef 3d to 5d per lb. M utton 2|d to 5d „ Pork 3d to 5d „ Veal 6d „ Turkeys 5s Od each

Ono of the principal features of the month, in connection with the future of Poverty Bay, and-which will give a stimulus to the building t rade, is the opening of the Gisborne Permanent Land, Building, and Mutual Investment Society. Upwards of 100 shares have been applied for, but most persons arc waiting until they can peruse the rules, which are now out of the printer’s hands, before they enrol their names as shareholders. It gives promise of great success. COLONIAL produce

Lately scarce is now equal to the demand owing to the arrival last week of the schooner Opotiki direct from Christchurch with a full cargo, Oats and Maize arc scarce, and in active demand at a rising figure. Retail prices are : — £ s d

French brandies maintain late extreme rates, hulk, Ils, ease, 335; Tennants bottled ale, 10s 9d ; stout, pig and other brands, 10s 9d ; pints, 7s fid. Oilman’s stores are in full supply. A Rreat rise in price has been experienced in coffee, which cannot be sold retail under Is 9d Bank Rates. Discount. Bills under 95 days 7 per cent „ over 95 „ 8 „ Overdrafts 9 „ Interest on Deposits. 3 months 3 per cent 9 „ 4 12 „ 5 „ EXCHANGE ON LONDON. 90 days 1| dis 1| prem. 60 days I dis | prem. 30 days 1 dis 1| prem. At sight par 2 prem. Auckland, July 25. Hunter and Nolan report dairy cows in good demand at from £7 10s to £l2 ; fat cattle, 35s to 40s per 100 lbs. Unless shipments of cattle arrive, the supply will be most limited. Sheep are in limited numbers, and arc keenly contested for at 3s 4d per eight pounds. Wellington, July 24. Flour—Canterbury, £l2 15s to £l3; Oamaru, £l3 to £l3 10s. Oats, 4s 9d to ss,London, July 10.

A forged marginal credit on the National Bank of Scotland is being circulated from San Francisco, and may reach tho Australian colonies.

Wool is selling privately at a slight advance.

The wheat market is drooping. Adelaide is fetching 62s to 64s per 496 lbs ; flour, 41s to 45s per 280 lb. The Californian wheat crop is nearly double that of last year.

Cheese 0 1 0 Butter (suit) ... 0 1 6 „ (fresh) 0 2 3 Bacon 0 0 10 to la Hains 0 1 2 New Zealand Flour 0 17 0 Crown Brand Flour 1 1 0 Adelaide Flour 1 2 0 Oatmeal ... 0 ■0 5 Potatoes 0 8 0 to 10s Oats 0 7 0 Hay 9 0 0 Maize 0 7 0 Bran... 0 2 6 Wholesale :