COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1015, 4 September 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

i ' ~ Ti.tfsa Offico, Thursday Evening. The following arc tho Customs Returns for —

-*. ■ By the arrival of the 'Tararua,' we are in receipt of our files of Australia papers to the 28th ult., from which we extract the following itera3 of commercial intelligence, — . The import markets still continue to m aintain an unsatisfactory and quiet look, though occasional transactions come under Our notice which evince a desire on the part of dealers to purchase on a larger scale did the aspect of trade generally justify more extensive operations. The improvement noted in breadstuff's is confirmed by further inquiries for flour ; trade sales have been effected at £18 freely, while we hear of a line of 125 tons having changed hands at £17, and for a parcel of one hundred tons in another instance a somewhat better price was "realised. Wheat is wanted at Bs. A considerable parcel of maltiug barley was placed at close on 6s. In maize a better feeling is springing ixp ; there is no change in price, but the demand is assuming a brisker appearance ; numerous sales hare been made at 3s Bd. The auction sala of i new season's teas attracted a large attendance of the trade, but in consequence of their disiuclination to bring their views of values up to something like an equivalent to the increased cost of teas this year, very little impression could be made at first by the auctioneers. One small lot of low rations only was quitted from the box at la 2Jd ; but privately afterwards some 2,851 packages found buyers, on terms and prices strictly withheld. A good inquiry was experienced for Do Roubaix candles, at lOf d ; several parcels were placed. In tobacccoes we note a movementin twist, leading to sales to a fair extent ; a line of sixty half-tierces of St Andrew and Son was placed at a satisfactory figure. By auction, some 177 packages were quitted at Is 3£d for half-pounds, Is 7id for six -inch bars, and Is Id for bars. An invoice of boiler plates was sold at £12. ' Some thirty-four tons of fencing wire (Ryland's, Nos. 4, 5, and 6) were got rid of by auction at £12, £12 15s, and £14 ss. Holders of salt having agreed to reduce the price to £8 10s, to check importations from the other colonies, numerous sales of coarse and fine have been made at this quotation ; no further reduction however, will be made. There is more doing in liquids ; 500 cases of JDKZ geneva were purchased, duty paid, at 445, and holders now ask 443 6d. A shipment of fifty quarters of Martell's dark brandy was placed at 7s 9d ; a consignment of 1 Julf-s Robin and Co.'s was likewise disposed of, while 150 quarter-casks of Central Vineyard brandy were taken up at 5s 7id. Burkes stout is wanted at 9s 6d. A line of 650 cases of Byass's wag placed at a figure sustaining our quotation of 8s 2d for trade parcels. The ' Sydney Morning Herald' of Aug. 12, reports : — The breadstuff's market is in a very unsettled state, owing to the uncertainty which exists respecting foreign supplies coming here Bhould the harvest in England prove satisfactory, and teud to lower prices there. Our present stocks are variously estimated as equal to from two to three months' consumption, irrespective of what may be coning forward from the other colonies and the North Star's ca>-go (600 tons of Californian) now due. Holders are pretty firm, and prices have not undergone much alteration during the past ten days. Small sales of country wheat have been made at 6s 6d to 7s 3d ; Now Zealand, 6s 4d to 6s 6d ; Tasmanian, 7s to 7s 3d ; Adelaide is held at 8s foi goo^ samples. In flour, the only noticeable transaction has been the reported sale of the Belvedere's cargo of Californian, but the terms have not transpired. Bakers' lots of ihe best Adelaide sell at £19 to £19 10s, second brands are quoted at £18 to £18 10s ; New South Wales, £16 to £18 ; Tasmania^ £16 to £16 10s ; Oregon, £16 ; California, £17. Maize continues steady, and large shipments are going forward to England. Oata are rather easy ; birley in good demand, choice samples of English command 5s 6d. The South Australian ' Register ' of the 21st ha 3 the following report on the state of the Adelaide markets : — At length there is an improvement to note in the produce market. During the last dav or two there has been a considerable inquiry for wheat, both for export and home use, and owing to the very small quantity offering, the value has increased. Some sales of flour have been made, and altogether a better feeling prevails both here and in the neighboring colonies. Flour — A few hundred tons have been sold afc current rates. The value is about £17 10s to £18 10s per ton. Wheat has been in demand. Somo inquiries have been made for export, but nothing has yet been done, for no parcels can be got under 7s 6d to 8s per bushel. For small lots there have been local buyers at about 7s per bushel, but there is now none offering. Bran is slightly firmer, and there has been more inquiry. The prices are still le 5d to Is 6d per bushel. Oats and Barley — Cape barley continues in demand, but there is nothing doing in oats or English barley. Copper — £77 par ton at the Port. Farm and Dairy Produce — Butter, eggs, and bacon are very plentiful and difficult to quit. Cheese is saleable. General Merchandise — Business in the import market during the past week has not shown much improvement, but the last day or two there are signs of returning trade. Several parcels have been placed to arrive, and there are a few up country buyers in the market. The ( Paily Times,' (Otngo) 29th August, reports : — The import market is still characterised by quietness, and at the moment but little inquiry exists for any description of goods. We can note but a limited business done through the day, and no transactions of any magnitude in any ol the staples. Quotations, however, generally remain unchanged, and notwithstanding the prevailing slackness, a fair degree of .firmness accompanies market values. No further alteration has taken place in broa jstuffs. Holders now evince a disposition to give way no further, and the current rate for flour, viz., £18 to £18 10s, has been given to day for small lots with greater freedom. The grain marktt .exhibits) fully maintained prices. Inquiry is dull; but supplies coming forward only keep pace with the demand. Parcels of miscellaneous goods transpiring, viz. : — Machin's stout, 9s ; congous (fair mediums), Is lOd and 2s 0b I ; posts and rails, 90s ; Campbelltown whisky, 5s 6d ; iencing wire, £19; sherries, in case, 40s to 4f>3, duty paid ; and half-pinta salad oils, at 83 3d. At Messrs M'Lindress, Hepburn, and Co.'s Rooms, a conaid eruble amount of general goods were offered, and a fair business done. Sinclair's hams and bacon were placed at Is ; Dowler's vestas, at 24s ; good yellow crystals (duty paid,) 44s ; ling fish, 2d ; Bernard's case brandy, 10s 6d ; and sundry other goods. There were also placed (all faults) Honuessy's case brandy, 29s ; bottled fruits, 13a 3d ; salad oils, pints, 12s ; do, small, 6s 6d ; Belrnont candles, Hid ; and English cheese, 6i>i to 7d. The "Timaru Herald" of the 26fch instant, reports : — Business for the last few days has been unusually dull, owing principally to the bad weather. A little has been doing lately in stock and station property. Messrs Brown and Maude's run at

BurUo 1 ?. Fuss, 53,000 '.Ksroa, with 18,000 slitep, 'luvinu been sold for- £16,00^, tho «virchii?cr3 btnns; 5Tr Hawdon and another. The Mount >'irarod country, about 40,000 acres, belonging to the Otaio station, lately bought by Me.ssr? Teschemaker nnd LeCron, has been sold to Mr Elworthy. No stock, we believe, went with the country The price has not transpired. The ' Lyttelton Times,' 22nd August, reports : — We have but little change to report in the market. There is no disposition on the part of traders to buy bejond immediate requirements, and we cannot note any change in prices. Money is by no means plentiful, but engagements have been mot very regularly. Tea has been largely speculated in in Australia, and to a considerable extent in Dunedin, and an advance of 3d per lb on low to medium qualities ha* been nominally established. The limited stocks held here preclude any transactions of note, but holders demand full rates. The news from China by mail just to hand advises considerable tonnage engaged for Australia, and an undue anxiety to purchase for the colonies, which has led to high prices being paid. The wool reports received vi\ Panama are not so satisfactory as was expected. The quantity of New Zealand wool sold during the March sales would scarcely be a sufficient criterion to judge of its relative value as compared with other wools, but we fear the quantity to be offered in May will be too large, and nothing more than March rates can be hoped for. Hot water and spout washing are strongly recommended by the most competent judges and those most interested in the wool produce. Samples of wheat shipped from this to London are spoken very- highly of, and valued at 67s and 68s, while finest Australian is quoted only at 70s. A sample of our barley sent to London is also very well spoken of. When sent from tins, the value hore was 453, while English malt was quoted and being sold at 12s 6d, which brought forth the remark that " if this (the barley) is obtainable at 4s 6d, we cannot understand imported malt being at a high figui'e."

Wednesday, September 1. Drapery . ... ... £16 5 7 Sundries 6 0 8 £22 6 3 Thursday, September 2. Wine, 76 gals £15 4 10 Brandy, 56 gals 83 14 5 Kerosene, 560 gals ... 14 0 0 Tea, 42 lbs 110 Su-jar, 2026 lbs 8 8 10 Tobacco, 46^1bs 57 10 0 Ironmongery ... ... 11 7 1 Drapery ' 7 14 6 Sundries 10 6 8 £159 7 4