COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 911, 6 March 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Times Office, Thursday Evening. The following are the Customs Returns for — Wednesday, March 4.

The "Argus " of the 25th ult. says j— In the import markets to-day, business on the whole maintained a position of great quietness, comparatively little inquiry being experienced for general merchandise. We note a more active inquiry for flour, and in consequence of the market being so barely supplied, a trifling tdvance on Saturday's quotations has had to be submitted to by buyers. £16 10s net has been paid for Victorian brands, and for terms holders ask £17, though we have not heard of any sales at the latter price. Wheat is wanted, and 7s to 7s 3d can be obtained for prime samples, in good condition. The advance reported in maize is now firmly established, sales being readily made at 4e. A considerable inquiry for oilman's stores is mentioned, and Bales have been made of assorted invoices, embracing pickles > jams, salad oil, red herrings, sardines, lobsters, oysters, &c., at satisfactory figures. There is more demand springing up for candles, notwithstanding that the trade show a determination to hold back as long as it is in their power to refrain from purchasing. A parcel of 1,000 boxe3 was taken up, in one line, at 12fd. Teas meet with a good deal of favor ; we hear of equal to 800 chests, in chests and half-chests, of various qualities having been purchased at from 8d to 9d for low dusty, and up to Is 8d for good medium congous. Sugars are being moved off quietly to the trade at well sustained rates. Brown crystals have been disposed of at £32 10s., while sales of white crystals have been made at £36 10s to £fs7. The Formosa's shipment of Mamitius, in sound condition, will be offered for public sale on Wednesday. A parcel of woolpacks lms changed hands at S3 6d. In geneva, the actual sides reported to-day have been trifling, a few hundred cases of outside brands only having been quitted. We learn, however, that some large transactions in this spirit are pending. Borthwick's stout has found buyers at 8s 6d to 8s 9d, according to quantity.

Brandy, 56 gals £33 16 10 Bum, 27 gals 16 4 0 Old Tom, 8 gab 5 13 Whisky, 64 gals 38 17 8 Wine, 83 gals 16 14 5 Ale, 77 gals 4 16 3 Tea,B3slbs 20 17 6 Tobacco, 115 lbs 14 7 6 Sundries 2 4 0 £152 19 5 Thursday, March 5. Brandy, 32 gals , £19 5 0 Gteneva, 35 gals , . 20 3 9 Bum, 29 gals 19 0 5 Wine, 78 gals .„ .. 15 4 0 Beer, 70 gals ... ... 4 7 6 Tobacco, 20 lbs 2 0 0 Tea, 764 lbs 19 2 3 Sugar, 6516 lbs 27 3 0 Fencing Wire ... 5 0 0 Sundries ... ... ... 3 17 9 £135 3 8