COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 629, 8 February 1867, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Times Oppice, Tuesday Evening. The following are the Customs returns for past two days : —

The Daily Times of the 4th inßt. says : — Throughout the week very little activity has been apparent in the import market, and the transactions which have transpired scarcely furnish occassion for remark. Second houses have, however, been fairly occupied, principally for upcountry requirements, and there has been a moderate amount of miscellaneous business doing. The commercial intelligence by the Panama mail having been anticipated, no change in values has thereby been occasioned ; - but from Melbourne advices are to hand noticing improvement in several items. In consequence, some demand sprung up ;• but the only important business was the changing hands of about 1000 boxes of candles at an advanced figure. In breadstuff's, there is only a small trade doing for current wants, at prices nominally the same as last given. There is scarcely any South Australian flour in the market, and of Chilian and Californian the stoe)c is much reduced ; a parcel of new oats to hand realised 4s. Sugars are firm ; and, a3 Australian advices are favorable to holders, may advance ; but as traders are at present well supplied, no operations of any importance are going on. The;e lias been a fair inquiry for new teas chiefly for sending away. The town trade has not been "correspondingly active, though some parcels have b. i en placed at fully maintained rates. Malt liquors, both, in bulk and glass, are languid ; none but old brew bulk ales are on hand; and in bottled, the stocks to hand and to arrive are so heavy as to deter buyers at present rates. ~No large sales of provisions or spirits are reported, but values for the former are fully maintained. jSTevt ZEii,AKD Insttbance Co. — From the last half-yearly report of this Company, we find that the receipts from all sources, including the balance of profit from previous half-year, amounted to £45,826 4s, leaving a balance of £7150 73 2d to the debit of the half-year's transactions, to be met out of the reserve fund. The Directors went on to say that "the losses which have been sustained during that period, exceeding as they do in amount those of any previous halfyear, have originated in the majority of cases from exceptional causes, but have all been met and settled with promptitude and liberality. Your directors consider it to be a cause of congratulation that the reserve fund has been kept at such an amount as to enable the company to meet the heavy losses that have been incurred without, touching the paid-up capital. After payment of all losses falling due up to the end of the half-year, there still remains to the credit of the reserve fund 'he ample sum of £12,371 Is 7d, which your directors hope materially to increase by the operations of the current half-year. Your directors believe it would be quite justifiable now to pay the usual dividend of 10 per cent., from the reserve fund, but they have resolved to wait the result of the year's transactions before they recommend the payment of a dividend." Tsew Zeaxa>t> Sectjbities. — The Wellington Independent's London correspondent writes as follows : — So many of the Joint Stock Banks and the Limited Liability Companies have come to grief that the moneyed public have for the time being given up the idea of embarking in any fresh speculation of this kind ; so that it is by no means difficult to foresee a fearful re action against the apparent prosperity which prevailed a twelvemonth back, when there was full •employment, at increased wages, for every man in the country who could handle a spade or trundle a wheelbarrow. Accordingly, for the next year or two, capitalists will seek investments in foreign loans — wherever a favorable opportunity may offer. Colonial securities, which before the panic would not even be looked at, are now eagerly sought after. The public are now " quite sweet " upon Australia and JTew Zealand securities, and if your three million loan were now put upon the market for the first time, your six per cents, would be speedily taken up at par. This is good news for your colony ; and it is my impression that if you are now in a position to undertake the building of railways and bridges, such as you have had in contemplation for the last two or three years, your Government would have no difficulty in getting the Work done upon the most favorable terms ; but should the present opportunity be lost, years may elapse before a similar one presents itself. Your late £100,00() loan for .Auckland ought to and weuld have fetched 94 instead of 92.25, if the agents had stipulated for that price as a minimum. But of course they were not aware at the time that applications for upwards cf a million would; be made for that investment. It may suit your purpose to raise a farther loan of another million in ordsr to get quit of your present liabilities and

to obviate excessive taxation— more especially the stamp tax, frhioh seems 60 unpopular. I have heard experienced colonists declare that in their opinion it would be far better and more equitable for your Government to impose an income tax upon all incomes above, say, £200 or £300 a-year. But, be this as it may — if you want any more accommodation in the English money market, now is the time to apply for it. Your colony has Bhown so much prosperity of late by the increase in her population and in her revenue, and there has been evinced so much public spirit in dealing with the native question, ever since you got rid of that incubus, G-eneral Cameron, that the British public have recovered confidence in your stability and solvency, and will only be too glad to lend you their money upon such terms.

Wednesday, Feb 6. Beer, 3763 galls ... £226 8 9 Tea, 396 lbs ... 9 4 6 Groceries ... ... 52 14 9 Fencing Wire 15 0 0 Cheese 419 0 £308 7 0 Thursday, Feb. 7. "Wine, 10 galls ... £2 0 0 Brandy 28 galls ... 16 16 0 Tobacco, 21 ibs ... 2 12 6 Firearms 0 10 0 £21 18 6