COMMERCIAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 246, 10 February 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

TRADE REPORT FOR JANUARY. Standard Office, Gisborne, 9th Feb., 1875. The Customs returns during the month amounted to £469 10s 6d. Trade generally for the month seems to have slightly improved in consequence of the seed anti grain harvests causing some little extra circulation, and all available labor having been well employed. Nearly all the grass seed has been shipped —some 2000 bags during the month—and prices ranged from 5s to 5s 9d. Some highly creditable samples of onts and barley have been stacked, the former being readily disposed of at 5s 6d. Potatoes are worth £7, apples 2|d per lb, and pears 4d per lb. Vegetables cannot be quoted, as both the supply and the prices are equally irregular. Flour is a shade lower from £l6 10s to £l7 per ton. live stock. Horses of a good stamp are still in demand, but inferior cannot find purchasers. An auction was held during the month, and some good lots were offered, but there seemed very little disposition to operate. Cattle are still scarce at 30s, fit for the butcher. A prime lot of 560 wethers arrived to order per Pretty Jane from Napier, at the reported figure of 10s per head. Fair to good, in our own market are worth 145.; lambs, 8s to 10s. The sheep in the district are looking well. Scab on the coast is gradually disappearing, excepting those belonging to natives, but if the Government agent succeeds in their purchase for boiling down, there would be some hope of its speedy extinction, as well as bringing some good country into the market for the use of capital and the exercise of better management. BUILDING. In consequence of the holidays and our local races, work his progressed more slowly. The buildings referred to last month are still uncompleted. There is a great demand for house room, families having to sustain the expensive luxury of Hotel accommodation, being unable to obtain any order of dwelling. Tenders are being called for buildings, both in town and country, and many private residences are in course of erection ; the trade generally is brisk, and previous quotations of wages maintained. Imports during the month—--23,000ft Kauri. 5,000 ft Mouldings. 18 Doors. oilman’s stores, &c. The supply is equal to the demand, excepting bacon, hams, and cheese, all of which are short, and the supply market prices are far above trade limits. Hennessy’s Brandy is lower, and can now be quoted at—case, 625; bulk, 22s 6d. Hennessy’s Brandy, *** brand, in case 84s : little in the market, with increasing demand. Ale and Porter, best brands, 15s. Candles, FW, 13d per lb. There has been a large drapery sale during the month, held by a southern house, and their takings must have materially affected our local houses.