COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1057, 16 November 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Times Office, Saturday Evening. The following are the Customs returns for — Friday, Nov. 13.

The 'Daily Times,' (Otago) of 13th inst, Bayß : — _ In the import markets considerable transactions are still infrequent ; there is, however, a fair amount of miscellaneous business going forward, and trade is not destitute of some appearance of activity. ...We hear of no alteration in breadstuffs, values not varying, and sales as of late scarcely extending beyond current wants. In general goods there have been placed parcels of fine and course salt at 83s 6d ; Cape raisins, sfd ; cornsacks, at 13s 6d ; first brands of hams and bacon, 12_d ; Q-uiimess's stout, lid, d.p. ; clarets, at 16s, bond; Tennant's ale, 9s, bond; sardines, halves, at 9s, d.p., and quarters, 5s 3d, d.p. Some slender sales of sugars made exhibit full rates ; stocks of all the good sorts running very low. There has been nothing done in teas daring the last few days worth noticing, the trade looking forward to the Sampan's congous, to be offered to-morrow. At Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn and Co.'s Booms, the ship Hydra was submitted by auction, realizing the sum of L 2900. Private advices from Auckland.Jdated the 2nd inst., state that the supplies are fully equal to the demand. The arrivals from England, from Australia, and from Southern ports, have been ample. I am not aware of any scarcity in any commodity.- Mr Jones has held some important sales of spirits, teas, preserved ginger, &c. The attendance of buyers was very good, and the biddings were spirited. The price of spirits was deemed to be satisfactory. The result of the sale of teas, kc, ex Waverly, could not be otherwise than satisfactory to the importers. The Canterbury ' Press ' of the 10th inst., re•nneta: — Jraymeut- „.. ..»__ JJLt *,-,■. , , , . .~ "**"*■ J**"*«— nr.lw rrmrta <in>l at present we do not hear of any great difficulty in meeting engagements, so that the small amount of business transacted must be of a legitimate character. Trade has improved slightly since the beginning of the month, but the positive decline in wool, which is so strongly confirmed by last advices via Suez, has had a very prejudicial effect, quite counteracting the animation which this season of the year usually gives to business. The market is now fully etocked with nearly every line, by the heavy additions ex Hyda->pea and Blue Jacket, and although prices at the present are sustained, we may safely calculate on values becoming depressed before the new year. The grain market does not improve ;' wheat being very languid at 5s 6d to 5s 9d. In flour a fair trade is done by the millers for local wants at about £15; but at present the market for breadstuffs is very unsteady. Oats are very heavy and difficult to dispose of at 2s 3d. Very little barley is offering, but a good price is obtainable for prime samples. An average trade is being done in most descriptions of spirits at .slightly reduced rates. Wines do not improve much, with the exception of claret which is moving off a little more freely. A sale of damaged bottled ales and stouts was held at Messrs E. S. Dalgetv and Co.'s stores on the 6th instant, when a medium price was obtained, considering tlie inferior brands. Bass's pale ale in bulk is a little brisker, and is slowly moving off. White and yellow sugars are in moderate request, and steady at last week's quotations ; • ration sugar is more lively, and fetches rather increased rates. Nearly all descriptions of teas meet a steady demand, bat buyers is holding back for the sale of tho Sampan teas, which is expected to tako place shortly. Woolpacks are just beginning to move off -freely at the settled price of 4s 3dj

Brandy, 56 gals £33 12 0 Whisky, 93 gals 55 19 7 . . . Geneva, 15 gals ... ' ... 818 2 Rum, 33 gals 19 16 0 Wine, 25 gals 5 010 ! Tea, 320 lbs 8 0 0 Sugar, 2240 lbs 9 6 8 drapery 47 5 5 Sundries 510 0 | £193 8 8 Saturday, Nov. 14. Brandy, 27 gals £16 11 2 Whisky, 48 gals 29 7 1 Sugar, 2240 lbs 9 6 8 Sundries ... ... 611 8 £61 16 7