COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 517, 12 July 1866, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Tiiies Office, Wednesday Evening. The following are the Customs Returns for — Wednesday, 11th July.

We extract the following commercial notice from the Daily Times, 7th July :— The market for all staples has been very inactive, and scarcely any sales are taking place except of very small parcels for current wants. Under the impression that the values of some goods must alter, there is at present a general disinclination to enter into large transactions, and until further arrivals of overdue ships from Britain, and of intelligence as to the extent of shipments coming forward, the feeling will probably continue to prevail. Values of all gooiis are so nearly unchanged as to require no notice. Intelligence from the Australian markets is hourly expected, and if satisfactory, may to some trifling degree stimulate business here. VVe are in receipt of Tasmanian papers to the 23rd June. We extract the following from the Zauncesion Examiner, 23rd June : — " There has been an absence of anything like ac tivity in business circles to-day. The advices to hand this afternoon per Black Swan have slightly affected the market. We quote flour, £14, with little doing. Wheat has receded since last quotations, 5s 9d to 6s being the market figure this afternoon. Oats have advanced, and we quote them firm at 4s Bd. We heard of a parcel of 2000 bushels having changed hands at that figure. Bran is not so much enquired for, Is 6d (bags included) is the market value to-day. Butter we can still quote at Is lOi. Ritchie's oatmeal, £30 to £32. Hay is coming in freely at £<± 10s. Sound potatoes, £4 15s, bags included. Bacon and hams, dried, Is Id to Is 2d. Messrs Lewis, Cohen and Co. report having Bold one hundred and forty shares in Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company at £10 5s to £10 10s; and seventy shares in Launceston Gas Company at £12 to £12 10s. The Mauritius correspondent of the Argus writing under date the 28th April, gives the iollowing as the state of the sugar market in that colony : — Crystallised sugars, yellow counters, and fine syrups, are now to be had in this place. All the augar of the above description in the island has been bought up by a house here (Messrs. Joshua Brothers), who have about 30,000 bags in store, which is, I believe, intended for shipment to Melbourne. This firm— which, being the only holder, commands our market — refuses to sell, and as no tine sugars will be obtainable until July or August next, /when the new crop will arrive in town, few shipments can go forward to the Australian colonies for some months to come. It is anticipated that when the next season commences, there will remain hardly a ton of sugar of the preceding one in first hands ; a circumstance almost without precedent. Kates for such qualities of our staple as can be procured are as foiluws: — Good yeilow counters, 6dol 50c to 6dol 75c per 1001 b, very scarce; middling do, 6dol 25c to 6dol 50c, do do ; good yellow syrups, 6dolto6dol 25c do do; good red syrup, sdoi 25c to sdol 50c per 1001 b; low to middling do, 4dol 50c do. We are in receipt of our files of the Grey River Argus to the 30th June. We extract the following commercial article from thi3 paper of that date : — During the week, trade has been very quiet, the heavy freshet in the river having entirely impeded the upper navigation, and business has, in consequence, been confined to the town. An active demand may be looked forward to for the incoming week should the flood subside. Prices have remained nominal, but in many articles there is a firmer feeling. The stocks of breadstuifs being in few hands, some advance may naturally be anticipated. Adelaide flour i 3 valued at £25 to £26 per ton ; Caiiibrnian, £20 to £21 ; and Chilian £19 to £20. Horse-feed, which gave ■way somewhat in price lust week, is again rather firm, and sales of oats have been made at 7s per bushel, whilst chaff has been sold at £24 to £25 per ton. In provisions, owing to the anticipated lar<*e arrival of hams and bacon, prices have given ■way, and Sinclair's have been sold at is lOd to ?s, whilst Coey's have broughc Is 10d to Is lid. For good butter, their is aMr demand, and prime quality would readiiy fetch i's 3d to 2s 4d. The supply of this article is again getting limited, and the tendence is upwar.is. Chee.e cannot be quoted higher — Port Cooper, Is 4d to la sd. Candles continue a scarce commodity, and full weights readily bring Is Bd. Good brands of ■wines and spirits maintain their value. Hennessy's brandy, in bond, may be quoted at lus 3d to 10s 6d per gallon; MarteU's 9s 9d to 10s fed; other brands 93 to 9s 6d per gallon. Geneva is advancing, the stocks being light, and in very few hands, and holders are reluctant sellers, unless at full rates. Good brands of port wine are as last quoted. Case ale and porter hangs heavily, and may be quoted 16s to 17s per dozen, duty paid, and 17s to 19s for good brands respectively. Stocks are, however, gradually getting lighter.

Drapery, £9 18 9 Brandy, 27 gals. ... ... 16 4 0 Whisky, 67 gals 40 4 0 Cordials 17 gals 10 6 8 Boots 31 3 6 £107 16 11 ♦-