COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 903, 21 February 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Tikes Office, Thursday Evening. The following are tiio Customs returns for — Wednesday, 19th Feb.

—■ ♦ We take the following items of Auckland commercial intelligence from the Southern Cross, Ist lebuary : — We are sorry that we cannot say th&t we are fast recovering from the deep commercial depression that has existed for such a length of time. The failures during the month have been fewer than for some time, there not being so many houses now in business, and those who have passed through the ordeal having restricted their transactions to suit the limited market. The Thames goldfieW may yet, and that at no distant period, be the means of reviving our trade, but yet it cannot ie said to have done so, as the majority of those ir'ao hava tried their fortunes there have failed in making their work remunerative. However, as the field is extended by the finding of new leaders in different parts of the range, and less labor is thrown away in unprofitable working, good results may be expected to the trade of the town. The Siam and Ida Ziegler have been despatched during the month, with, large and valuable cargoes of Auckland and island produce. Auckland ought from its position, to be the emporium for shipment to England of the produce of the many rich islands of the Pacific, and we are glad to find that several of our merchants have lately been directing their attention to the encouragement and development of the trade of these islands. The changes in the prices of imported articles have been few this month, and the transactions having been entirely of a retail character, it ia unneccessa^y to mention them here. The list given elsewhere contains the current rates. Our latest advices from Sydney are to the 30th ■nit. The following is from the commercial article in the Sydney Herald of that Date : — Since the departure of last mail via Panama, trade has been excessively dull, owing co the holidays and festivities consequent upon the visit of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Shipments of colonial produce have come forward for the London market very freely, and an unusual quantity of tonnage is now on the berth. Breadstuffs.—The wheat harvest throughout the colonies having terminated, it has been found that the yield as a whole is much below the average, owing to the partial failure of the Adelaide crops. There will, however, be more than sufficient for our own requirements, and it is expected that shipments to England, especially from Victoria, will be resumed. The markets have at present a falling tendency except for Adelaide old wheat, which is scarce, and commands 8s 6d per bushel ; for other descriptions prices range from 6s 6d to 7s 6d. Flour is difficult to sell unless in lots of a retail character. Adelaide sorts bring LlB to Ll9 ; other brands, from Ll6 to Ll7 10s. Coals. — Tonnage continues bo scarce that shipments to foreign ports are almost nominal. The new tariff of prices agreed upon by the companies came into operation on January Ist. Three companies whose coals are considered of the highest commercial value now charge 10s per ton, the other companies' prices range from 8» to 93 9d per ton. There is a discount of Id per ton allowed on purchase of 500i> ] tons and not exceeding 10,000, and increasing Id per ton on every additional 5000 tons delivered within one year. Teas — Holders are very firm, especially for inferior descriptions, which are mostly in second hands. Sugars — Messrs R. F. Stubbs and Co held a sale at their rooms, to-day, at which was offered the cargo o£ Mauritius sugars ex Woodbine; nearly the whole was quitted at, for white crystals, £37 5s to £39; amber crystals, £35 10s ; best counters, £34 5s to £35 10s ; r»tion and low counters, £29 to £32 10s. Liquors — Brandies and rum are very fine, with an improving tendency. The demand for ales in bulk and glass has fallen off. Best brands of the former are worth £7 15» to £8 10s ; bottled, 9s to 10s. Bottled stout is plentiful, and prices un remunerative. Porter in wood is in short supply, but there is xery little demand for it. The Lyttelton Timex, Bth inst, says : — The continuous stormy and unseasonable •weather we have lately had has greatly checked business operations, and lessened the inquiry for many articles which at this season of the year are most in demand. On the 4th inst. a flood occur ed euch as the province has never before experienced, and which has spread ruin and destruction to property far and wide. This disaster has completely stopped the country trade, and we are afraid its effects will be very eeverly felt by a large portion of our community. The loss of sheep and cittle, and the destruction of grain must have been very great, aud will doubtless exercise a consider-able-influence upon the value of stock, as well as •wheat and oats. The past two years will ever be remembered, by all classes o( the community, as bringing with them a train of evils and mißlbrtunes which have spared none. After suffering from along protractei season nf commercial depression and Berious losses, und i.. fore the crisis is quite over, the province is visited * ith a snowstorm of unprecedented severity, de&t oying sheep, lambs, and cattle by tens of thousands ; and, as if the unfortunate squtter should be tried to the ■utmost, tiie next mail brings most unfavourable advices of the state of the wool market. Greasy wool, which last year Drought ll£d to 13£ d pai lb. results this year in account saiea at 7id to ih. per lb. This ruinous and calamitous state oi

I affairs iB iraodiately followed by an overwhelming flood and gale, which lay a great part of the province in ruin. Whole fields of crops are destroyed, and in many instances farm lands are swept perfectly bare by the torrent — houses, cropß, stock, and everything is carried away. The losses among the shipping and small craft on the coast, and in the harbours, have also been great. The results of theße accumulated disasters will be felt by all olases for a long time time to come, and it is almost useless to talk of improvement in any branch of our affairs, socially or commercially, at the present time. The same paper of the 10th inst, states. Flour may be quoted at from £18 to £19 per ton : Bharpß, £4, 105, and bran, £3. Oats are in slight demand at from 2s to 2s 4d. We have heard of higher prices being obtained, but such cannot be taken as fair quotations. Wheat is firm at from 5s to 5s 6d, but of barley nothing is said, as the market is unsupplied.

Sugar, 181441bs ... £75 12 0 Tea,93olbs 23 5 0 Drapery 125 5 4 Oil, 20 gals .., ... 010 0 Sundries 5 4 8 Gold, 10530ZS 3dwts Bgrs 131 12 11 £361 9 6 Thursday, 20th Feb.* Kerosene, 392 gals ... £9 16 0 Genera, 29 galls 17 5 0 Sundries 110 £28 2 0