COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 620, 18 January 1867, Page 4

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Times Officb, Thursday Evening. "We hare to report a considerable improvement in our trade for the last month, full prices being maintained for all kinds of merchandize ; at a sale by public auction of goods damaged by sea water, the prices obtained were scarcely 10 per cent below what they could he purchased for privately. Tliis would tend to shew that onr markets are not overstocked and is indicative of their healthy state. Our money market is much easier. Banks will now discount good paper, a thing they would not condescend to do some twelve months ago. The Bluff Harbor and Invercargill "Railway being now opened for the transit of goods will reduce the rates of freight and insurance considerably. The price of carriage we expect will be 60 low as to enable all claEses of vessels to land their cargo at the Bluff, instead of that tedious route by the New River. Hour has rather a downward tendency, owing to the good prospects of the crops for the present year, purchasers are only supplying themselves for present consumption, for best Adelaide, in small lots, £17 to £18 is obtained. In quantity the market price is about £16 per ton. Stocks light. Victorian and New Zealand flour dull of sale, at about £14 per ton. Oats are not much in demand, at about 53 to 6s per bushel. New hay £4 to £5 per ton. Old |.hay £9 per ton. New potatoes, £8 to £9 per ton. Hams and bacon are not so mucy in demand best brands of English are worth Is 3d to Id 4d per lb. Colonial, Is to Is Id per lb. Wellington Butter, Is 4d to la 6d per lb. Wine and spirits are without alteration in prices. Martel's and other good brands of brandy, 8s 6d to 9s 6d per gal. Whisky, 4s to 5s per gal. Rum, 10 0.p., 4s per gal. Geneva» 14s per case. Wines, Port, and Sherry are in fair demand, according to quality, at from £60 to £135 per pipe or butt. light Rhenish, and Australian wines are more enquired for. Bottled ale and porter is plentiful, at from 11s 6d to 13s per doz. for best brands. Bulk ale, is rather scarce, Basse's No. 3 and 4. Alsop's and other good brands are saleable, £9 to 10s per hhd. Teas meet with fair demand, at from 2s to 2s 6d per lb. for best qualities, duty paid. Sugars are worth, for good brown crystals, 46s 6d to 50s per cwt., No, 1 Company's 58s. Oilmen's stores, 25 per cent, on London Invoice price. Dried fruits are scarce. Raisins lOd per lb. Currants 7d per lb. The following are the Customs Returns for the

past two days: — Wednesday 16th Jxsvxst. Wine, 8L gals ... ... £16 4 0 JBeer, 1920 gals ... ... 128 0 0 Candles, 2500 lbs ... ... 10 8 4 Sugar, 2272 lbs 9 4 4 Sundries, ... 2 11 4 £158 9 0 Thxtesdat 17th Jakuabt. Tobacco, 274 1bs ... ... £34 6 0 Cigars, 32 lbs "... ... 8 2 6 Whiskj, 34 gals ... ... 20 8 0 Sugar, 163S lbs 6 16 6 Tea, 41 lbs 110 Wine, 20 gals ... ... 4 0 0 Ironmongery .... ... 012 10