COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 627, 4 February 1867, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Times Office, Saturday Evening. The following are the Custom Returns for the past two days : — Fbiday, Feb 1.

By the arrival of the Tararua at the Bluff, we are placed in possession of later Melbourne news. iThe Aryus of the 25th ult. has the following terns of commercial interest : — The import markets to-day have been fairly active. In the market for breadstuff's We note an increasing inquiry for flour, both for speculation and for trade purposes. Californian flour has been asked for, and sales to the extent of 200 tons at least of this description could have been made. Adelaide flour has likewise met with a brisker inquiry. Sales of Hart's have been made at £12 10s, and of country brands at £11 10s. Of wheat we hear of no fresh sales, with the exception of about 4000 bushels of Californian, the balance of a shipment, which was placed at 4s 9d net. We understand that the Favorite has been chartered here for Englaud, to take away the remainder of the -wheat purchased on English account. We also learn that the importers of the only other two cargoes of Chilian in a condi- j tion fit for shipment, which remain unsold, amounting to 35,000 bushels, have resolved to reship the whole for England ; stocks here will, therefore, be reduced very low, and it will not be a j matter of surprise to see the market take a sudden j start upwards, more especially as there is so little more to come forward. The Harvest Home, ; which arrived to-day from San Francisco, brings j wheat, barley, and oats, and is to the consignment of Messrs Callender and Co. of this city ; but the General Cobb and Commodore, overdue from the same quarter, bring no breadstuffs, the former being loaded with malting baney indented, while the latter brings barley and oats. For the future, then, the markets are likely to be dependent for supplies of breadstuffs more on the produce of the colonies than they have hitherto been. A small parcel of Californian Obts has been placed at 3s 6d. Maize is disposed of at 4a 4d to 4s 6d., according to quantity. An invoice of preserved herrings, potted and otherwise, has been placed at 7s 9d for 1 lb tins. Findon haddocks realised Bs. Trade sales of Patna rice are effected at £22 10s., in bond ; and Java rice, duty paid, has been placed at £25. Sugars meet with an active demand. To-morrow the Deux Juleß's cargo of Bourbon sugars will be offered by public auction. For teas the demand generally is slow ; we learn, however, that rather an extensive parcel has changed hands, though the particulars have not yet reached us. Sales of good sherries are reported at £37 10s., in bond. A shipment of Younger's ale has been disposed of at close on 8s Id. Burkes stout is in request, and readily quitted at 10s . 3d., and holders contemplate raising the price to 10s 6d. Whitbread's bulk stout continues to meet with buyers at £6 10s. A trade lot of 300 cases of JDKZ, long dutjy (27s 3d), was placed at 11s 3d. Castor oil has attracted more notice, stocks having got into very small compass, and all that could be readily purchased in the market has been picked up by one buyer at up to 4s 9d., the same being now held for much higher rates. We understand that a soft goods firm of some standing have today feit it necessary to issue a circular calling their creditors together. The amount of the liabilities is stated at £23,000, and the assets at £19,000. By the same steamer we have our files from Adelaide to the 22nd ult. They contain no news of importance. Of the markets, the Registrar of the 18th inst. says : "Wheat is now coming forward very freely, and some large transactions have been entered into during the week. There are several orders for shipment of wheat to England, but we believe they must be executed during this month and February ; after that period shipments could not be advantageously made, for they would arrive in England just about their own harvest time. The present price is rather over what most buyers can give, but a very slight reduction would enable most of the orders to be executed. It is well to bear this in mind, for any chance of prices advancing depends mainly upon our shipping largely to England early in the season, and if we do this it is probable we shall be able to obtain better rates for what remains from the neighboring colonies. Wheat. — Considerable sales have been made both to millers and also for export. The price rose on Tuesday to 4s sd, but has since receded. Yesterday a good deal changed hands at 4s 3d to 4s 4d per bushel, but to-day 5s 3d is the best price obtainable for export, and millers are only offering 4s 2d per bushel. Flour is much neglected. There have been but few sales, and prices remain dull at about £10 to £11 per ton. Bran is dull of sale. For home use it is worth about lid per bushel, but a parcel has been sold for export at lOd. Oats and Barley.— There are hardly any oats offering. Cape barley is firmer, and is worth 3s per bushel. English barley is scarce, and would command 4s 6d per bushel. Copper. — Since the mail arrived the price has been reduced to £80 per ton at the port. Farm and Dairy Produce. — Onions and potatoes are now coming forward very freely. All other produce is in good demand. General Merchandise. — There has been a marked improvement in the import market today, and the trade seem more inclined for business. Several parcels of goods have changed hands. Candles are firmer, and we hear that Hid haß been obtained at auction for Price's No. 1 Belmont. Imported provisions continue very dull of sale."

Brandy, 19 galls ... £11 12 6 Beer, 100 galls ... 6 0 0 Cigars, 174£ lbi ... 43 12 6 Drapery, 0 2 6 £60 7 6 Satdbday, Fel> 2. Ironmongery, ... ... £9 8 6 Bum, 26 galls ... ... 15 12 0 Brandy, 27 galls 16 4 0 Sugar, 7748 lbs ... 32 5 8 Saddlery, 112 2 Groceries, ... ... 3 12 2 $75 14 6 I