COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 891, 31 January 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Times Office, Thursday Evening. The following are the Customs returns for — Wednesday, Jan 29. Beer, 250 gals £12 10 0 Brandy, 27 gals 16 4 0 Wine, 54 gals 10 16 0 £39 10 0 Thursday, Jan 30. Geneva, 29 gals £17 5 0 Whisky, 70 gals 42 0 0 Brandy, 27 gals 16 4 0 £75 9 0 »

By the Phoebe, we have later Northern advices The Daily Times of the 27th inst. says : — The business of the past week has been rather slack, improvement in the weather not haying been accompanied by any greater briskness in trade. At present the demand for coastwise requirements is light, and, owbg to a scarcity of carriage, comparatively few goods are going forward to the interior. Markets, however, preserve a firm tone, and, in general, rather more satisfactory prices are realising for all imports. Town brands of flour are quoted at £17, and. country brands at £16 10s ; but there is nothing doing except for current wants, and paicels of any size can scarcely be moved at these figures. Oats are firm at 3a ; some fair-sized parcels changing hands at that figure. Transactions have been going forward in sugars, which maintain their value ; of fine descriptions, the stock is not large, and is in few hands. Teas have had but little attention, and buyers will no doubt curtail their transactions as much as possible until the two cargoes of new congous, close at hand, hava been received. Very little has been done in spirits, beyond small parcels for immediate wants. Brandies, rums, genevas, and whiskies, are all firm at last given rates. Molt liquors have been extremely dull; there have been literally no transactions in bulk ales, nor will be till the new brew comes forward. Bottled stouts and ales maintain full prices. By the Catherina, from New York, the stock of kerosene has been augmented; holders are firm at 3s 3d, but •ales of any magnitude have not been reported. Malt and hop 3 without change. We extract the following from the "Canterbury Times" of Saturday : — For certain descriptions of merchandise there has been a more active inquiry during the past week : but, taking our markets as a whole, business has been quiet The race holidays of the previous week have tended to check commercial operations. At this period of the year, being between seasons, we do not look for much animation in trade, and therefore consider the amount of business being done as up to a fair average. With a few weeks of fine weather, to allow the ■hearing to proceed and get finished, we should no doubt feel a beneficial effect arise in our markets. The suspension of one or two large squatting firms, and the usual rumors of more to come, have created a very uneasy feeling amongßt all classes. The dark cloud which has been passing over this province during the past two years, causing the ruin of many merchants and traders, and severely trying to all connected with traue, as w^ll as nearly partdising the farming interests, seems determined that no class or interest shall escape its baneful influence, and the trials and difficulties which have beset the paths of the merchants and farmers appear now to have attacked the squatter. The unprecedentedly heavy losses of sheep in the late severe snow storm, combined with the sudden fall in the value of wool in England, and the exceedingly high rate of interest which is being paid in very many instances upon the unpaid portion of their runs, must seriously affect the positions of those who are not financially strong. The failure of the larger run-holders will not affect the commercial interests of the Province so much as might be expected, as nearly the whole of their operations were foreign to the Province, even to the importation of station requisites. Amongst traders, credit appears to be reviving ; there are few failures taking place, and the operation of the new Bankruptcy Act seems to have a beneficial effect in checking the readiness of dishonest men from seeking its provisions." The West Coast Times of the 20th inßt., reports : — Business during the week has been very inactive, and will not compare favorably with our last report; in the import market transactions have been very limited, and confined principally to colonial produce and cereals, no heavy shipments of general staples having come forward, markets remaining, with slight exceptions, without alteration ; the unfavorable weather has somewhat checked coasting and up-country trade A decline in the value of flour ha been submitted to. Hart's Adelaide has been placed at L 2 2; Butterworth's, £12; Wood's Canterbury, Ll6 and LlB per ton ; transactions in thiß staple tiave. been o.n a limited scale. Oats aTe without definite" alteration, 4a 4d to 4s 6d per bushel for good sampjea of Taicri maj be taken as present value, tendency in favor of buyere. Bran and chaff ase. as last quoted. Potatoes

have cr.me freely to hand. Victoria, ci Otago, &c, real sing early in the week, L 9 Issto Ll2 sa; ex Donald M'Lean, from Minukau, later on, LBto L 9. Onions have been placed at Ll4 to Ll6 per ton. A parcel of Canterbury cheese sold at 10* dto lid. First-class provisions are light in stock, excepting butter, which is m good supply ; our last quotation of Is has been difficult to realise this week, notwithstanding the enhanced rates advised from other markets. Wines and spirits have met with little attention. Brandies have assumed a better tone Bince recent advices. In wines the inquiry is for a better class sherry. Market values remain unaltered. In bottled ale and porter there has not been much doing; best brands of ale been most inquired for.