COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 862, 9 December 1867, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Times Office, Saturday Evening. The following are the Customs Returns for —

The Daily Times of the 4th inst., says : — There has been very little variation in the state of the markets since the departure of the mails via Suez. Business, which at that time was steady, has continued so ; but no great amount of briskness has been apparent, and the transactions.carried through have not furnished anything of particular interest. The prevailing unfavorable weather has seriously interfered with the demand for spring goods ; and in those of the class usually selling well at this season, trade has ber n light. Market values have remained firm, and generally the disposition to alteration has been in the direction of improvement. In breadstuffs nothing outside of the current local trade has been going forward. Wheats are quoted at slightly higher rates, and holders, assuming that hitberto stocks have been over-estimated, are looking forward to the establ shment of improved prices. Provincial and South Australian flours are selling at £12 and £15 to £15 5s respectively. Malt liquors have had little attention ; a few small parcels of ales and stouts (guaranteed condition) in glass constituting the business done. Bacon and hams are reported as placed for shipment at Is 2d ; parcels for town trade have, however, been quitted at something less. None of the advised shipments of Baltic timber are to hand, and stocks of some descriptions, particularly Scotch flooring, are bare; other building materials are in ample supply ; galvanized iron has maintained its value, and the expectation of an improved demand exists. >tocks of spirits, though still full, have been working off, and brandies are noticeable a3 coming forward in reduced amount ; prices ar>? without change, but holders are careless as i o selling. Q-enevas and whiskie3 maintain previous rates. The new season's cjngou3, ex Rubicon, were offered by auction on the 22ud ult., a considerable part of the car;*o finding buyers. The finest description realised 2s Ai j good medium, 1b lOd to 2s ; good

ordinary to medium la Sd to li 9d, about the values previously ruling. Sngara have been j-elling privately at pricoß rather better than last auction rates, but the business done has not been in eaoess of currant requirements. Malt can be bought rather lower, but no transactions Have transpired; 11s to Us 6d is about the value of beat samples. Oornsacka have been quitted at 13a 6d to 14s. Candleß and kerosene are very depressed, both items being on hand and adviaed as on the way in quantity unusually heavy for the season. The arrivals since the 20th ult. have been the Jessie Brown from Leith, and Timaru aivi Chile from London. The money market has been easy, rates of discount unchanged, and exchanges without variation. The banks issue their drafts en London at 2 day's sight, at 2 per cent, premium j at 30 days, li per cent; at 60 dayß, 1 per cent. On Melbourne, H per cent ; and ou Sydney, and the Australian Colonies, 1 per cent.

Friday, December 5. Brandy, 115 galls ... £69 9 0 "Whisky, 101 trails ... 60 12 0 Wine, 49 gall 3 9 16 0 Tea, 2401bs 6 0 0 Sugar, 91441bs 38 2 0 Treacle, 11201bs ... 4 13 4 Tobacco, 3221bs ... 40 5 0 Cocoa, 1121bs 18 0 Sundries 9 0 2 £239 5 6 Saturday, December 7. Brandy, 27 galls ... £16 4 0 Beer, 55 galls 2 10 0 Tobacco, 4051b3 ... 50 12 6 Tea, 3661bs 9 3 0 Sugar, 15901bs 6 12 6 . £85 2 0