COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 747, 8 November 1867, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Times Office, Wednesday Evening. Mr Wh Todd, auctioneer, reports : — At my monthly stock sale at Wallacetown on Tuesday last there was a large attendance of buyers amongst whom a vigorous competition was maintained throughout the sale. Milk cows were iD especial demand, and a much larger number could have been sold at good prices. There ■were seventy head yarded, and the whole were sold. 46 milk cows averaged Ll4, viz., cows in calf, LlO to Ll4 ; with calf at foot or near calvin", Ll4 to Ll7 10s ; store steers and heifers, comprising the balance of the lot, eighteen months and two years, brought readily L 7 10s to t L 9 10s. A few unbroken colts were also offered, but were withdrawn.

By the arrival of the overland mail we are placed in possession of later Otago files. The Oamaru Times, of the lßt inst., says . — The aspect of commercial affairs exhibits no noteworthy change. Transactions are limited to sorting parcels. The price of produce is firm at last quotations. We have been favored by Messrs Dalgeby, Eattray and Co., of this town, with particulars of the result of an experimental shipment of wheat, grown by Messrs Lees of Teneraki, sent home by them in January per Star of Tasmania. The parcel sent comprised twenty bags, which ■were stowed in different psr:s of the vessel to test the best mode of shipment. The account sale? to hand show that the wheat realised in London 7s 9d per pushel of 60lbs , which, after deducting freight and charge?, will leave a net Bum to the shippers of nearly 6s 7d per bushel. This may be regarded"as a very satisfactory testimony of the practicability of disposing of our surplus wheat in the English markets at paying prices. The Otago Daily Times of the Ist inst., contains the following commercial article : — Import markets continue only moderately active, a steady business in small parcels going forward ; but without any noticeable transaction in either of the impor<ant staples. Limited sales of galvanised iron, teas, and sugars are reported, and a few packages of brandies have been quitted at rates evidencing maintained values. The intelligence to hand by Panama mail has not affected quotations in any sensible degree, nor have advised shipments caused alteration in pio»pects for any particular goods. Stocks are added to by the arrival of the William Davie from Glasgow with an assorted cargo, and the barque Ethel from Mauritius with 350 tons sugars (advised as nrst of the new crop, and chiefly small bags.) By auction nothing of importance has taken pla"e. The Commercial Gazette, of Port Louis, Mauritius, on September 16th gives the following rerort'of the sugar crops and markets : — The colony is Blowly recovering from the effects of a calamity that has fallen heavily tipon it, at a time when its production is declining and its burthens augmenting. A great deal "will depend on the prospects of the next crop, especially as the present will not realise more in price than last, and will be something less in quantity. We hava just made a crop of 101,000 tons : the crop now commenced will not exceed 100,000 tons, __ but as yet the plantations for the crop 1868-69 have been favoured with rains which have given them a promising appearance. We have, however, to ■wat till another sis months before any thing poeitive can be advanced as to the result. Estates generally are in full cultivation, and labor at reasonable conditions is not wanting. A favorable season would do much to raise the colony from itß present difficult position. Without it we do m% conceal the fact that there axe. proprietors of

estates ■who will be embarrassed to continue and be obliged to give up their property to their creditors. Others there are more favored as regardi situation, who even this year will realise a profit if present prices are well maintained, a»d tfi« markets of Australia and India continue to take an equal quantity of our produce. As far aa we v»u j^ge at present there is little eagerness to purchase for these two countries, and as there is a large quantity of superior Bugar made, if the European markets must be resorted to for the sale of a portion, it is probable last year's price will not be obtained. The latest from Bombay were not favorable. Most of the sugar mills are now in movement, but the yield is not considered good. The want of a demand will lead to an accumulation in the stores, and the next mail, hourly expected, is anxiously waited for. The following are the shipments since Ist August, as compared with the same time last year : — 1866-67 1867-68 United Kingdom, tons — tons 2,591 Prance » — — Australia „ 8,430 „ 2,682 India „ 2,600 „ 1,147 Cape „ 451 „ 35 Other places „ 38 „ 33 11,519 6,488 The Westport 'Evening Star of tho 21st October, in its commercial column, states : — " We have to report a decided improvement in business during the past few days. Tho weather towards the end of last week became more settled, and the quantities of gold purchased by the banks on Saturday and to-day, with the lively appearance of the main streets during those two days, have given a fresh impetus to the hopes of the commercial community, and greater confidence is expressed by the wholesale houses of a fair month's trade having begun, with the likelihood of that necessary commodity — cash, becoming more plentifnl, to which tho past four weeks' weather has been a considerable drawback. A few large parcels of goods have changed hands privately during the week, and the auction sales have been better attended. Adelaide flour maintains its price, and may be quoted at Ll7 to Ll9, according to brand. Should the same activity prevail during the week, the large quantities of imports lately to hand will not supply the market for such a length of time as was supposed some days ago. Produce has been in fairer demand, and hams and bacon more inquired for. Butter of good quality is somewhat scarce j but inferior, of which there is an abundance, is unmovable at any price. Draught ale ia being scantily supplied; and though several hogsheads arrived from Nelson this week, the cry is for more. We hear a scarcity prevails in this article in Hokitika also at present, and here it has become a positive favor to receive a supply lately. This, however, will soon be rectified, we should imagine, as we hear Mr Pizzey has taken premises in Freeman-street, and Mr Klappe's brewery, we are informed, will be in working order in about ten days.

The following are the Customs Keturns for — Wednesday, NoTember 6. Genera, 14 galls £8 14 5 Brandy, 83 galls ... 49 16 0 Tea, 3461Fs ... ... 8 13 0 Sugar, 15981ba 6 13 2 Coffee, 7291bs 15 3 9 Sundries 21 15 6 £115 11 10 Thursday, November 7. Sundries £16 3 7