COMMERCIAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 236, 6 January 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Particulars of Customs receipts at the port of Poverty Bay for the December quarter, 1874 £ s. d.

Total £2006 10 9 Messrs Robertson A Co., report their sale of horses on Saturday last, at prices from £6 10s to £l7. A good demand for useful hacks, and light harne s horses. trade and market report for DECEMBER, 1874. Standard 4 People's Advocate Office, Gisborne, sth January, 1875. In prices we have but few alterations to make since our last quotations. Trade generally has been confined to the usual requirements attendant on holiday making. As our harvesting i» unusually late, there is not so much of the circulating medium changing hands, as was anticipated. TIMBEB AND BUILDING TRADE. In consequence of the Makauri Saw Mills haring been closed to receive new machinery several sizes of sawn stuff are in demand, otherwise we are well supplied. White pine. Ils ; T. & G. 14s ; Shingles, 14e 61 ; Palings, 14s; Kauri, 20; Posts, £7 ; Rails, £4 10s per 100; Bricks £7 per 1000 ; Carpenters’ wages, 10s per day. The Emigration Barracks and English Church are progressing towards completion. There are several new houses just commenced and the trade seems to be fairly employed, 130,000 feet timber, Kauri have, besides several parcels of doors, sashes and hardwood, been imported during the month. Grass seed is coming in but slowly, price is nominal at as 6d. The apparently malicious report that ergot had shewn itself in the grass seed from this district, can be most confidently denied, as upon enpuiry, we cannot find a single holder that has remarked it, after very” close observation. Though the yield will not be as abundant as expected the samples will be clean and free, as more than ordinary care is being taken this year. Hams, bacon and cheese are in good demand with but a bare supply. Flour best brands, £l7 ; oats, 6s 6d ; potatoes new, lid per ib ; hay, £8 to £9 per ton ; butter, fresh, Is 6d ; cheese, Is 3d There is a very great scarcity of vegetables, and it is the greatest difficulty to obtain the commonest kinds which at this season should * be plentiful. The potatoe and maize crops are looking well, and if nothing unforeseen occurs, we may expect that both will be good items for home consumption, if not of export during the year. Several small parcels of fruit have been shipped, and as t c fine weather seems to have set in, more will shortly follow. STOCK AND WOOL. The wool season may be said to be fairly over with about 1,500 bales to hand. The Queen Bee for London has taken 800 ond the balance has gone via Auckland. As a rule, much greater care has been taken to get up the various brands in a more creditable manner than formerly, which we have no doubt the proceeds of the account soles will prove, as well as be a further incentive to increased attention to classing, Ac., for the

future. During the month a shipment of pure Merino Rams Ims arrived direct from Melbourne, which for size, shape, and staple, it would be difficult to equal in the colony. Their presence must, necessarily be felt, and tend to improve the flue wools of the district. The several cattle mobs of the Bay have been so continually drained of marketable beasts for shipment that great complaints are made of having nothing of age and quality left to draft. We hear of nice lots of young stuff now being branded and turned out in excellent pasture, of which, there is an unlimited supply. Meat stock may be quoted as follows : — Lambs, 8s to 10s each; sheep, 12s to 14s each; Beef. 25s to 30s per lOOlbs. A fine mob of 250 head of quiet cattle has been just received from Napisr and turned out in the Oil Spring district. HOB3SS Are in demand, a few good upstanding weight carriers, would command top prices. During the month a mob arrived from the coast, and were disposed of at £5 10s to £l7 under the hammer. LABOR. The difficulty experienced in obtaining good female servants is world wide, but here, it is simply impossible to secure one of any sort. Most of the emigrants that lately arrived have obtained situations or commenced business, and are satisfied with the change. Good useful general servants can find no difficulty in obtaining employment. A few servant girls of the right sort, may rely upon immediate employ, and good wages. Maid servants, 10s to 12s per week; farm laborers, 20s to 25s per week; hotel cooks, 30s to 40s per week ; station hands, (first class), £7O per annum. BANK RATES Are without alteration, if we except the rather liberal advance of interest allowed on Fixed Deposits which are as under :— 30 days 5 percent. 3 months 5| „ 6 months 6 ~

Spirits 969 4 0 New Zealand Distilled 10 15 5 Cigars 7 19 5 Tobacco 249 J 2 6 Wine 51 12 5 Ale in bottle 39 1 3 Tea 73 14 0 Cocoa ; 8 10 0 Sugar 98 0 3 Goods bv weight 86 12 1 Ad valorem 370 6 11 Other duties 33 8 6 £1998 16 9 Fees under Arms Act 4 8 0 Fees Merchant Shipping Act 0 3 0 Fees Steam Navigation Act... 3 3 0