COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 910, 4 March 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Tijtes Opeice, Wednesday Evening. The following are the Cusioms Ketui-ns for— Monday, March 2.

♦■ The " Marlborough Press" of Feb. 4, reports as follows on the harvest in that province : — The harvest, so fir as it has gone yet, ha 3 turned out much bettor thin was at one time expected it would. The weather, except for . tlio last few days, ha 9 been favorable for gathering in the produce of the fieLls, and a short time longer ■will prove whether any very great damage has been done by the. late heavy rains. Had the present harvest proved unsuccessful, it would have gone hard with our farmers, as in the two previous years they have been very unfortunate. Last year, just as the crops were ready for garnering, a heavy flood came and destroyed lar^e quantities of corn of all descriptions ; but this year we hope the ii x>d is too late to cause much mischief. A large extent of ground is under cultivation. Mr H. .Redwood l»as about 1000 acres of mixed crops, most of which has been successfully stored ; " and many other farmers have from 100 to 300 acres each, the greater part of "which has yielded a fair crop, and may be pronounced safe from the accidants that have eceicised such prejudicial effects on the prosperity of farmers in former years. The "Wellington Independent" of Feb. 8, reports . — Business has slightly improved during the past month. At last we have to report that many articles in daily use are getting scarce, and prices have been considerably advanced. We think we have not had to announce an understocked market for nearly three yea-s previous to this occasion. The Leiehardt is now due from London, and her cargo will no doubt be disposed of at paying prices to importers. Wool is arriving freely. We regret to say buyers are very chary in making purchases, and the very low prices offered have, in most instances, had the eftect of causing farmers to ship the clip to England under advances from the merchants. Stock continues plentiful, more particularly 'wethsrs, which can be ha I at almost any price ; and until we have regular bailing-down establishments, we cannot see a"iy prospect of better prices. With fat wethers, averaging say 551 b, a.t from 10s to 12a, would it not pay a company, either Knglish or local, to commence a meat preserving association ? Butter and bacon still continue without deiuand. Altogether, we are a 'raid this has not been a good season for the country settlers. It may please them, however, to learn that the price of potatoes in all probability will be very high this season. The Melbourne " Argus " of the 2ith ult. says : — The markets to-day have not been characterise I by much animation, nor has anything of special importance transpired in business to supplement what has already been made public curing the week. In breadstuff's, Hour has met with more active inquiry, and sales of Victorian flour have been made at the slight advance noted yesterday, a few parcel* having been quitted at £16 to £16 10g, according to brand. Wheat is also very firm, and readily saleable at 7s. In feeding grains, maize alone meets with much notice ; a brisk trade demand is beginning to spring up at 4s. Cornsafks have been wanted, though the price offered has not led to sales. There arc still buyers of geneva amongst the trade. Wtf hear of a few hundred ca*es of JDKZ having changed hands at 44s 6d — our quotations of this morning. ■ Caustic soda has advanced to 630 to £32 ; at the former figure there aro buyers now willing to operate. There were no clearances of gold effected at the Customs during the week. The number of persons who arrived at the port of Melbourne by sea during tha past week was 655. Of this number there came from the neighboring colonies 510, of whom 169 wore arrivals from New Zealand ; United Kingdom, 144; New York, 1.

Wine, 2G gals £5 4 0 Tea,774ibs 19 6 6 | Tobacco, 180 lbs 22 10 0 Sauces * 3 13 4 Soap 3 15 0 £54 8 10 Tuesday, March 3. I Whisky, 91 gals £57 7 10 Brandy, 104 gals 62 7 10 Rum, 27 gals 17 4 5 Wine, 27 gals 58 0 Tobacco, 110 lbs 13 15 0 | Soup 5 0 0 Firearms 0 10 0 Suudries .>.. ... 11 10 £162 14 11