Commercial Summary.

Southland Times, Issue 951, 15 May 1868, Page 2

Commercial Summary.

Tmes Office, Thursday Evening. The tone of commercial matters daring then month has beon encouraging. The public worlst in progress have made employment plentiful at good wages, and the impetus to business has made both merchants and retaUers satisfied with tiie month's trade. The engagements of the month have been weU met, and no paper noted. The long continued wet weather has had its effect on our harvest Operations, and consequently on the supply of provincial wheat, which has not come in freely or in good condition. At jpresent, we may be said to be entirely (or nearly so) dependent on the neighboring markets for our suppUes. The bakers, in anticipation of higher prices, have generaUy bought in excess of present necessity, and the result is that having been without recent shipments, Adelaide flour is now out of the market. Victorian, which has been for some time our staple, is now quoted at £26 per ton, showiDg an advance of £2 on previous quotations. Provincial flour is named at £22 per ton ; but m the present scarcity wiU show a rise. A few parcels which have found their way hither from Otago and Canterbury have been approved of ; the latter especiaUy. Stocks in thedealers' hands are accumulating. The arrivals in town of oats have been large ; the demand is, however, fair at 2s 7d to 2s 9d per bushel. The potatoe crop appears likely to turn out better than was anticipated, both as to quantity and quahty. Prices are rather receding — £6 to £7 may be quoted as the top prices for first-class. In general groceries, advices lead holders to ask higher prices ; the stocks being, however, rather in excess, but little variation is Ukely to take place. And the same holds good to the tea market, which is heavUy suppUed. In tobaccos there is no variation, although good brands are in demand : the stocks of inferior and second class 'are "large. In the spirit market bulk brandy remains without variation — case brandy showing a shght dechne on previous quotations : Geneva, JDKZ, is worth 20s, in bond; and as the stocks are unusually Ught, and this is the only brand of genera in repute with us, befora fresh arrivals higher prices wiU rule. In bulk and glass beers the market is j generaUy weU supplied, the only exception being that Tennent's ale is scarcely to be had, the quantity in stock on the aggregate being only equal to a few days'- consumption. Provincial ales, both of the Black Eagle and Sylvan Bank Breweries, are beginning to be taken more regularly, and being good and sound ales, should eventuaUy displace much of the imported. The foUowing auctioneers' report have been received : — RtrsaELl AKD M'CuLiotrOH, Auctioneers, report under date, 14th May, 1868. — Daring the past month transactions have been on a limited scale, the weather having proved detrimental to a large business. The attendance however at both our Rooms and Yards has been good, and had the requirements of the market been satisfied we should no doubt have found buyers at remunerative prices. Cattle. — Since purchasing the business of Mr Todd we have held our sale at Sutherland's Yards, East Road, where there fell to the hammer 53 head, at an average of Cows with calves, £11 10s per head; Dry Cows, £10 15s; young Steers, £3, and we have every reason to think these rate 3 ■will for the present be maintained. We have advertised three sale 3 out of town to take place during the next fortnight, and should the weather be such as to ensure attendance, we anticipate the lot will change hands. Sheep. — We have not submitted any to competition, prices are however weU sustained. We are trying the market on the 19th inst., with fat Ewes — Lambs and breeding Ewes. Hobses. — This market has been bare of anything of a suitable stamp, and we have few sales to report. At Wallacetown on the 21st, a mob of Messrs Connor and Austin's will pass through our hands, and wUI be sure to attract the attention of intending purchasers. Station PBOPEBTr. — There are no Stations in this Province placed in our hands. We have on our books some suitable smaU farms, which we have not yet had the opportunity of offering. Land akd House Pbopertx*. — After the Horse Sale on Saturday we intend holding a sale under this head, which wiU include town and suburban aUotments. Land at CampbeUtown and Winton, &c, enquhies are frequent regarding the latter, in consequence of the definite information regarding* the proposed railway. On Tuesday we sold the interest of the late Mr Cowper, with the lease of those premises between the Union Bank and Prince of Wales Hotel, having 9 years to run. Our sales of merchandise in the Rooms * or privately have been very limited, no large parcels having found their way into the market, transactions being limited to goods in the hands of , our predecessor in sinaU lots. i

♦ The " Ofcago DaUy Times " of the 4th insfc., has the following commercial summary : — The aggregate of business since the date of last report has been moderate. Slackness has been a characteristic of the major part of the month, and no features of interest can be referred to. A tolerably steady trade has gone forward for local wants, while importers' operations have, of necessity, through few goods coming forward, been Ught. Orders for extra Provincial requirements have also been below the average. However, the setting in of a better demand is apparent, and traders are looking forward to an improved coastwise trade during the coming winter months. Markets, though not active, have been steady. Lessening stocks, with advices of scanty shipments from aU parts, have caused some slight improvement in the values of one or two staples, and imparted additional firmness to the values of most eood3. The only arrivals from ports outside the Colonies have been the Celestial Queen, from London ; and Prospector, from Valparaiso— the latter with flour. The last ships loading wool are nearly fuU, and the seasion aU but ended ; the total amount of the chp wiU realise anticipations. Last Home advices, thongh of a more favorable nature, came to hand too late to aUow of any business of moment being done on the spot. During the month a firm, doing local business only, found it necessary to caU a meeting of creditors. The amount of UabUities proved less than was at first supposed, and no diminution of confidence in commercial circles has been thereby occasioned. General credit has not at any time been better maintained than afc present. The money market is easy ; Bauk rates of discount are unaltered, and exchanges close, viz : — lssue on London at three days' sight 1£ per cent premium ; at 33 days, 1 per cent premium; at 60 days, £ per cent premium ; Melbourne, % per cent premium ; ai.d on Sydney and the other Australian Colomes, 1 per cent premium. The " Argus" of the sth insfc. contains the following commercial article : — In the import markets business for the week has opened oufc with Uttle appearance of activity, and few sales of any consequence have transpired in the course of the day. In breadstuffs we hear of some trifling sales of flour at £21 ss* to £21 10s, but nothing beyond, as holders, though nofc disinclined to quit smaU parcels at these quotations, are .unwilling to make heavy sales, sufficient confidence being stiU entertained in prices not remaining long at present quotations; opinions, however, are very conflicting. Wheat ia steady at 9s 3d to 9s 6d. Maize is firm at late rates, trade parcels being quitted at 3s 6d to 3s 7cL Under the hammer the entire cargo of the AdeUne Burke, consisting of 4665 bushels, was disposed of at prices which confirm the recent advance ; but the bidding was rather heavy, and it was not without some little difliculty that the auctioneers succeeded in quitting the cargo. Rations realised 27s to 28, browns were sold at 33s to 33s 3d, yellows at 35s to 37s 6d, and white crystals at 38s 6d to 40s 6d. Teas are firm and a fair enquiry is maintained for good medium to tine descriptions of congous, which is likely to lead to sales, though owing to the stiffness of holders, no actual business in the market has yet been brought under our notice. Hops find buyers, in moderate parcels, for trade purposes, at 2s to 2s Id. For Patua rice, there is a. brisk town and country trade demand at £28. In kerosene oU, we hear of the sale of a thousand cases of Cozzen's, on private terms. The shipments advised from America are now ascertained, by the receipt of advices to hand, via Panama, to be on a larger scale than was expected, the Antelope, HeUesponfc, and Anglo Saxon having cleared oufc on the 10th of March, from New York, for Melbourne, with 35,000 cases. The shipments of tobacco amount to 2,900 packages, besides which there were three vessels loading at Boston for Melbourne, and one at New York ; there was one vessel loading at New York for Sydney, and one for Dunedin ; whUe one vessel was also loading afc Boston for Port Chalmers. The price of oil had advanced 2c. per gallon. In Uquids a good demand for bottled stout is experienced ; about 600 cases Burkes have been placed at 9s 6d to 9s 9d, and several parcels of Machen's have been taken up at 8s 9d. Sales of Blood's have also been effected at 9s 6d. A parcel of Houghton's single diamond port wine has been quitted at £30 in bon 3. The same journal of the 6th says : — The import markets to-day have been quite devoid of anything Uke animation. The demand for merchandise has been Umited, and no speculative feeling whatever has been evinced. ' Breadstuff's are very duU of sale. There has been Uttle inquiry for flour throughout the day. The few parcels quitted were disposed of at within the range qf quotations ruhng of late, viz., £21 to £21 10s, but the. business done, as far as could be learnt, has been but trifling. Maize is decidedly firmer, and prices are hardening ; we hear of no seUers in quantity under 3s 6d fco 3s 7d. Oats are beginning to attract notice, though there is as yet no movement worth special mention. Good to best samples are held for 3s 9d to 4s. By auction, 1,6*00 boxes of candles found buyers I atll&d for sound, whUe damaged were quitted. j afc lOid to lOfd. Close on forty pockets of Bavarian hops were placed at Is 8d to Is lOd. A considerable business is being done in teas, but transactions mostly consist of re-sales of purchases made a short time ago. A line of about 700 chests of medium congous changed hauds at a very fall figure. Sugars are moved off readUy, at prices sustaining the recent advance. Grey crystals have been sold afc £38 ss, and we learn of some sixty tons of yeUow sugars having been taken up, on terms withheld. In tobaccos, the sale of 100 half-tierces of twist, Eagle brand, has been effected on private terms. A parcel of 1,500 cases of Cozzena's kerosene oil, snd aboufc 500 cases of Downer's, were placed at ls 7£d for the former, to ls 9d for the latter brand. A line of about 400 barrels of American rosin was disposed of at a satisfactory figure, fuUy sustaining market quotations. In

iquids, bottled stout continues to meet with a ree inquiry, and amongst other sales "we hear of some 300 caseß of Machen's having been quitted 1 at 8s 9d to Ss 10£ d. Bass's No. 4 bulk ale has S found buyers at £8 15s; and a parcel of the ArtiUery Brewery Company's bulk stout haß been Bold in bond at £5. •* Our Launceston files are to the 4th inst. The " Times " reports as foUows :-— "The news which came to hand on Thursday does not appear to have affected our market, and quotations remain as in our last issue, namely, flour, £18 per ton ; wheat, 73 6d, to 7s 9d per bushel; oats, feed, 2s 8d per bushel; Tasmanian oatmeal, £22 per ton ; English Wl©y, 4«6dp«r - bushel; bran, £4 10s to £4 15s per ton; hay, £3 15s to £4 per ton for goo-isalnples j a great deal of very inferior quahty i 9 biing^brought Into the market ; potatoes, £2 lOs per ton-, -without bags. Dairy Produce. — Fresh butfcer, lOd tois per lb., market overstocked j cheese, 8d to 9d per lb ; bacon, 7d to 8d per 1b.,7 nothing doing j eggs, ls 3d per dozen, scarce." "'" .. The " Hobart Town Mercury " of the 2nd' inst., remarks : — " " The news received from' the colonies to-day has as yet had no perceptible effect upon our markets, although factors generaUy report a tendency towards increased firmness. At the mUI flour is quoted at from £18 to £19 per ton, very firm, and wheat is also reported steady at 7s 9d per bushel; many storers a\e asking 8s per bushel, and refuse to seU under that rate, but we have heard of no transactions. In other produce . there is very Uttle to report. EngUsh barley is in fair demand at from 5s to 6s, according to quality ; Cape moving off slowly, at 3s to 3s 6d ; : oats are duU of sale, but we hear of small quantities having changed hands at 2b 9d to 3s ; bran, ls per bushel ; sharps, £8 per ton j hay, £3 to £3 10s ; straw. £1 10s to £1 15s ; potatoes, £3 10s per ton ; prime butter is quoted at lOd." Our files from Sydney are to the 2nd inst. For the week ending on the previous day, 26,7470z of gold were received afc the Mint for coinage, and 40,000 sovereigns were coined. Of station sales, the " Herald " reports the foUowing : — " Tooloombah Station, in the Port Curtis district, Queensland, .together with the herd of cattle, supposed to be about 5,000 head unmustered, stock horses, stores, &c, for the lump sum of* £8,612. The sale is also reported of the Coochin Coochin Station, iv Moreton District, Queensland, with 4,800 head of mixed cattle, at £2 2s 6d per head, stores and working plant, kc, to be taken by valuation. Total of sale, £10,700 j terms cash ; Messrs Scott, Henderson and Co., buyers. This is one of the first sales made of properties included in the area to which the new Land Act of Queensland has reference."

Whisky, Scotch, bulk, - per ga110n...... ... 053 -7D7 * ;©*% Whisky, Case 0 12 i67^?_3^M*§f% SUGAR (duty paid)— 7 "7-; - 77^ Loi^ per lb 0 0 8 0080 , # CrushedXump, ditto... 00 7 0;. 0 0 -;>. Company's Grystabper ton 57 0 0 68! 0 i, :^ i Pieces, No. 1, ditto 65 0 0 56 0 *^> : _To. 2, ditto. .• 63 0 0 54 ,0 7££r Mauritius'Crystsls, ditto 46 0 0 53 ,0 -Or

The following are the Invercargill Prices Curr nt : — _ , £ 8. a. £ b. d. tze — Bekb (duty paid) Ale, Bass' No.,4perhhd. (new brew) 10 10 11.10 „ AUsopp'sNo. 3, do. (new brew) none 10 0 10 10 , Marshall &Copeland's 7 10 810 „ Tennents' Bottled 13 6 13 9 „ Brass' bottled, qts., per dozen 013 0 OH 0 Allsopp's ditto, do. 012 6' 013 0 „ Jefirey'sEdin.,Btone ; . bottle's, ditto...... 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pobteb— Byass' (green rt ,„ « label) Stout;.. 012 0 013 6 „ Bottled, qts., per doz., Blood's 012 0 013 .0 Byass' 012 0 (X.13 0 Fiottk— Adelaide .... 0 0 0 0 0 0 Provincial 22 0 0 0 0 0 Oats, per bushel. 0 2 9 0 3 0 Bran, ditto 0 19 0 2 0 Maize, ditto.... 0 6 0 0 6 6 Potatoes, per ton, . 610 0 7 0 0 Bricks, per 1000 20 0 30 0 Flax, native, prepared... 25 0 0 35 0 0. MA2TUTACTUBB3 — Boots and Shoes ......... 25 per cent. advance on genuine invoice. Candles, mould, per lb. 0 0 6 0 0 7 Iron,barand<rod,perton 18 0 0 0 0 0 « hoop, ditto 22 0 0 " galvanised . corrugated, ditto 35 0 0 40 0 0 according to gaage and maker. Hardware, ironmongery 40 to 60 per ct. adr. Nails, Ewbank's 116 0 2 0 0 American Cut Nails 1 15 0 2 0 0 Nayali Stokes (delivered on board) — market overstocked • Pitch,English,perbarrel 310 0 4 0 0 Eosin, ditto, per cwt. ... 25 0 210 0 Tar, Stockholm, per brl 3 5 0 315 0 „ coal, ditto, ......... 210 0 3 0 0 Coals, English, per ton None. „ A. A. Company's aitto 210 0 0 0 0 Grey River ....... 310 0 0 0 0 Gunpowder, blasting, perlb. 0 16 0 19 Cordage, Europe, as- - . sorted, per cwt. 3 5 0 310 0 Manilla, sizes, ditto 310 0 315 0 Twine, seaming and roping, perlb 0 16 02 0 Canvas, per yard 0 16 02 0 Ohmes's Stokes aitd Groceries. — little demand, stocks rather heavy — . : Candles, Price's patent sperm, 0 1 1 0 12 Otherbrands,fullweights 0 1 1 0 12 „ Light weights 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fruits, apples, dried, do. 0 0 9 00 9 Currants, do 0 0 5£ 0 0 5 Raisins, do 0 0 8 0 0 9 Bottled Fruits, assorted, 0 16 0 0 18 6 Oatmeal, per lb 0 0 2i 0 0 3 Rice, Java (scarce) ...... 114 0 116 0 " Patna, (scarce) 116 0 118 0 Hams 0 14 0 14 Bacon Oil 012 Beef, per tierce (Melbourne cured) 4 0 0 410 0 Cheese, English per lb. 0 1 2 0 13 Colonial, „ 0 0 9 0 0 10 Herrings, in tins, per doz 114 0 116 0 Sardines, i-tins, per doz. 012 0 012 6 " i-tins, ditto 0 8 0 0 8 6 Lobsters, lb. tins per do. 9 6 010 0 Salmon, ditto 017 0 018 6 Matches, per gross (250) Bell and Black's 1 16 0 1 18 0 Blacking, tins, per dozen 0 3 6 04. t> Pickles, quarts, per doz. 10 0 00 0 " pints, ditto 012 0 013 0 Salad Oil, pints, ditto 015 0 016 0 V i-pints, ditto... 09 0 010 0 Sauces, assorted, i-pints per doz 011 6 012 6 Lea and Perrins Sauces, £ pints per doz. 015 0 015 6 Salt, Liverpool, coarse or dairy, per ton 510 0 610 0 " fine, ditto ,• 610 0 70 0 Soap, Melbourne cwt... 214 0 2 0 0 " Hobson's Bay 2 0 0 2 5 0 " Liverpool 2 5 0 2 4 0 Paints, Ons, &c — White Lead, per ton... 40 0 0 45 0.0 Linseed Oil, per gallon 5 9 06 3 Turps, ditto 012 0 0 o 0 Whiting, per cwt 010 0 011 0 Spirits (in bond) — large stock on hand — Brandy, MartelTs pale, pergallon 0 8 0 0 8 0 „ flennessy's 0 8 0 0 8 6 „ Champagne Vine yard, gaL ........... 0 7 9 0 8 0 [ „ Martell's pale ... 1 9 0 110 0 „ Hennessy'sp.do. 111 0 112 0 „ Incase, M.H.W.V. and Otards...... 1 10 0 Rum, 10 — 120.p., pergallon 0 4 4 0 5 0 Supplied. Geneva, JDKZ, or Key, per case ..„.. 1 0 0 110 Stock heavy

Friday, May P. i Brantfy, 29 gais £17 12 10 Geneva, 26 gals 11 10 11 Ale, 47 gals 2 18 9 Tobacco, 115 lbs ... ... 14 7 6 £46 18 0 Saturday, May 9. Whisky 33 gals £20 5 7 Monday, May 11. Brandy 27 gals £16 13 7 Bum, 28 gals 18 14 5 Tea, 3601bs 9 0 0 £44 8 0 Tuesday, May 12. Brandy, 29 gals £17 12 10 Wine, 27ga13 5 8 0 Sugar, 2240 lbs 9 6 8 Tobacco, 175 lbs 21 17 6 Sundries... ... ... 0 7 0 £54 12 0 Wednesday, May 13. Geneva, 61 gals ... ... £37 6 8 Whisky, 42 gals ... . ... 25 8 7 Brandy, 28 gals 16 19 7 Bum 35 gals. ... ... 21 10 10 t Ale, 145 gals 9 13 Wine, 52 gals 10 8 0 i Tobacco, 407 lbs 50 17 6 , Sugar, 5398 lbs 22 9 10 Tea, 3001 lbs 21 0 0 Hams, 1103 lbs ... ... 412 4 Malt, 368 i bush 9 4 2 Bags and sacks ... ... 9 12 0 Gold duty 73 11 2 Sundries ... ... 4 10 £316 2 11 Thursday, May 15. Whisky, 68 gals... ... £41 4 5 Brandy, 29 gals 17 10 5 Geneva 75 gals ... ... 45 0 0 Sundries 6 7 0. £110 1 10

The following are the Customs Returns for — Saturday, May 2. Wine, 20 gals £4 0 0 Brandy, 20 gals 11 16 3 Sugar, 2240 lbs 9 6 8 £25 2 11 Monday, May 4. Brandy, 26 gals £16 2 10 Rum, 32 gals 19 4 0 Wine, 29 gals 5 16 0 Sundries 0 6 0 £41 8 10 Tuesday, May 5. Geneva, 100 gala ... £60 10 6 Whisky, 105 gals ... 63 18 0 Braudy, 194 gals ... 117 7 6 Tobacco, 211 lbs ... _ 26 7 6 Sundries ... ... 0 17 10 . £269 1 4 Wednesday, May 6. Geneva, 28 gals ... ... £17 1 3 Tea,24olbs 6 0 0 Sugar, 34221bs 14 5 2 Sundries 17 12 1 £54 18 6 Thursday, May 7. Spirits of Wine 53 gals ... £32 4 5 Brandy, 37 gals 22 11 9 Whisky, 36 gala 22 2 10 Tea, 108 lbs 2 14 0 Fencing Wire 35 5 0 Sundries ... ... 7 14 6 £122 12 6