COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 638, 1 March 1867, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Times Office, Thursday Evening. The following are the Customs Returns for the paat two days :— Wednesday. Feb. 27.

By the s.s. Albion we are in receipt of our files of Victorian papers to 23rd Feb. We extract the following from the " Argus" of 23rd : — The business in the import market to-day cannot be said to hare been devoid of interest. The principal operations of the day were the sale (by auction) of the Mont EiantV cargo of Bourbon sugars, and the Sirene's Fatna rice. Sugars from the French settlement in the Indian Ocean are of receut introduction to this market, and for some time they were regarded with some distrust. Experience as shown, however, that Bourbon sugars are excellent, as well as varied in character, and they, may now be said to have attained a favorable character in the market. At auction, some 20,000 bags were offered, and Messrs Ghreig and Murray succeeded in Belling about 12,000 bags, at prices ■which showed an advance of from 30s to 40s per ton over those realised for the last cargo of Bourbon sugars sold in this market. Of the Sierene s cargo of rice, about seventy-five tons were soldD-Tinder the hammer, at £27. The balance, and ateo-aHthe cargoes advised by last mail as to arrive, passed-into second hands, and

the prices now asked are £29 for lots up to five tons, duty paid ; £28 10a for lots between five and ten tons ; and £28 for lots of twenty tons and upwards. Candles continue in request, and are firm. Sales of small lots occurred at Is 5d., and holders ask Is 6d. A shipment of quartersardines changed hands at 5s 9d, duty paid. Salad oil is getting scarce ; a few stray lots have been eagerly picked up at full rates — 7s 3d for half-pints and 11s 6d for pints, Fifty quartercasks of Hennessy's pale brandy were sold at close on 69 Id per gallon. 239 half-chests of ordinary congou passed in a line at Is 2|d, and 130 chests of medium at 1b 6d. Trade sales were made as follows : — Nutmegs, 1# 9d ; bottled vinegar, 9s 9d, to 10s 3d ; cayenne, 7id ; tapioca, 7£ ; macaroni and vermicelli, Is ; arrowroot, 7£d, to lid ; onions, 7s 6d. Trade sales of Dundee cornsacks came under notice at 14s per dozen. Plaid vestas brought 8s 6d, Breadstuff's are unchanged. Millers are not disposed to buy wheat until the tariff finally emerges from the Assembly. I Californian flour has found a purchaser at £12 10s in small parcels. The barque Dennis Brundrit has sailed for Liverpool with her original cargo of Chilian breadstuff's. An auction sale of deals is noted below.

Wine, 50 gals £10 0 0 Beer, 100 gals. ... "... 6 0 0 Geneva, 30 gals 18 0 0 Brandy, 26 gal» 15 12 0 Perfumery, 9 6 8 Drapery, ...... 4 9 7 Boots, ... 18 13 9 Sundries, ... ... ... 48 16 11 £129 18 11 Thttebbat, Feb. 28th. Whisky, 8 galls ... £4 17 .6 Geneva, 59 galls ... ... 35 5 0 Spirits of wine, 31 galls .... 29 8 0 Groceries,... . 11 9 1 £80 14 7