COMMERCIAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 228, 5 December 1874, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

TRADE REPORT for NOVEMBER, 1874.

Standard & People’s Advocate Office, Gisborne, 4th December, 1874. Amount of Duties collected at Gisborne for the mouth ending 30th November, 1874 : —

BUILDING AND TIMBER. A great amount of activity has been apparent in this branch of the trade during the past month, especially in the export of timber, several shiploads having been taken from our local mill to supply the growing wants of the Napier market, with every probability of its continuing. Besides the English Church, there are other buildings projected and in course of erection, all of which give unmistakeable signs of steady progress. Nd appreciable alteration iu the price list has been effected by current operations. Brickfields and kilns are in active work, and, as the local article promises to give great satisfaction, and the price reduced, we may look forward to the time in which iiiipo tatioiis of bricks will cease. AGRICULTURAL AND PAETOBAL. Hay harvesting has vigorously commenced ; the area under crops showing a con>ideruble increase on that of previous years. The want of fodder was much felt here last winter, and provision is being made Io meet- the needs of the coming (Mie. The season has been against a heavy swart h, but now favors the saving, so that a moderate supply of good quality may be calculated on. The lessees of Patutahi purpose letting a portion of their purchase for cutting for hay ; if so, it will be a most serviceable addition to quantity and quality. Eve grass seed has not yet come to maturity. The quantity will be affected by the uugenial season of some time back- New potatoes have

only come info the market as yet as a Inxur’ at. from 3d to 4d per lb. The area .unde crop is not calculated for full supp'y for th year, but it is evident that ther ■ is a prosper, of the market not running so short as it has lately done. WOOL, SHEEP, &C. Shearing stands almost alone as the worl done on runs and farms during the past month, it is, however, not yet- completed, but th weather being now very favorable it may be expected to be all done early this month The Queen Bee will take about 1000 bales or say half the season’s clip. 400 bales have been shipped to Auckland coastwise, a circumstance, perhaps, to be regretted with so fine a ship lying in the roadstead. The clips are turning off the backs well, and a good average yield will result. Exports and imports of stock during the month have been limited. The Pretty Jane has taken 250 sheep to the Auckland market, and Mr. Scott, has added two valuable rams to his stud at the Willows station. There have been no public sales that call for any particular comment. Grass seed preparations are commencing in the smaller parcels as the seed ripens. So far the the weather has favored outdoor work very much. LABOR, Has not been satisfied by the shipment of some half dozen immigrants from Auckland; day and weekly wages maintain a firm footing. Piece and contract work also meets with liberal advances. The tide of Immigration is still in the flood in all other parts of the Colony but Poverty Bay. Captain Tunks is reported to be coming hither, all the way from Auckland, and at the public expense, sous to ascertain the most suitable spot on which to build a hut or two for th? next half dozen immigrants that may possibly arrive between this and Christmas ’75. Most kinds of out door country labor is in demand, without an adequate supply of experienced hands. The PRODUCE Market is getting well • stocked ; but all kinds of dairy, farm, and kitchen stuff rule high—too biuh in fact under the circumstances. In Colonial lines the following may be confidently quoted, retail : — Flour—Oamaru, 18s per 100 lb ; Crown Brand, 20s; Adelaide, 20s; Maize, 6s per bushel; Oats, 6s 6d ; Potatoes (new) 3d to 4d_per lb ; Onions, Prime Californian, 9d per lb ; Canterbury Bacon, Is per lb ; Hams, 14d ; Cheese Is ; Hay (old) at stack, £9 ; Ale and Stout (Whitson’s) bulk £5 10s per hhd. ; bottled do., qrts. 10s ; pints, 6s, with increasing demand. In Home goods the market may be said to be fully prepared ; large arrivals recently per Queen Bee direct from London, and coastwise, having proved sufficient for current demands. f lhe following are wholesale quotations : — Bottled Stout, quarts, 15s; do. Ales, 15s ; do. pints, 9s 6d. BANK BATES Remain unchanged.

Spirits £ 221 8. 0 6. 10 Tobacco 65 5 0 Wine 21 0 0 Ale in bottle 4 3 9 Tea 26 12 6 Cocoa 4 6 0 Sugar 18 2 2 Goods bv weight ... 41 8 5 Ad Valorem 273 2 11 Other Duties 14 7 9 £692 9 4 Arms Act, 1860 ... 10 0 £692 19 4