COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1074, 16 December 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

By the arrival of the Tararua we are in receipt of Northern news to the 14th inst., from which we take the following items of commercial intelligence. The ' Daily Times,' 14th inst., reports :— The past week commenced with a fair degree of ac- ' tivity, and there has been on the whole a good business done. Most goods have been in demand in moderate parcels, but traders still seem to prefer buying frequently to taking up large parcels ; hence few hpavy transactions can be reported as going forward (it is possible that this may con. tinue to be the case while stocks are abundant), : If o material change has occurred in the markets j . notwithstanding that several staple items have been favorably affected by the last Au&trn. ' ] lian intelligence. Breadstuffs remain the same — , flouTj both imported and Provincial, standing at a quotation of about £15, with no heavier de- ' mand than for trade parcels. Oats are Urm at 2s 6d, and good samples of barley are looked for. The arrival of the Angerette, from San Francisco, ' has checked the slight improvement anticipated j in Provincial wheats, for which our quotation is 6s 3d. Although foreign flour or grain cannot bo ] brought here for present market rates ; the state J of stocks and advanced season are against amendment. In liquids there have been sales making ( of all the items, with more disposition to tale up ' brandies, whiskies, and genevas at current rates. , but scarcely any better feeling in malt liquors or wines, some parcels of the former being moved j both privately and by auction, but at very low , rates. Hennessy's pale brandy, in bulk, has been ' cleared from one or two small holders at 7s 6<i ; t whiskies hare realised 5s to 5a 3d for the princi- j pal Scotch brands • and JDKZ moved at 13s 6d. A rather -better demand has been experienced for < provisions. Sales making of Sinclair's bacon and j nams at 12£ d ; and of English cheese at an improvement on late rates, in consequence of ( colonial cheese being scarce. j The ' Lyttelton Fimes,' of the 11th inst., re- x ports: — On Tuesday last, the Canterbury portion of the Bio's cargo of 3150 bags sugar from the Mauritius was offered for sale by auction at the

stores of Mr C. W. Turner, LicHfield street. There was a good attendance of buyers, and', the bidding being brisk, every bag was disposed of at the followinp satisfactory rates : — Fine white crystals £42159 ; second do, £39 to £40; yellow crystals, £34 to £36 10s ; and yellow counters, £31 10s to £33. The ' West Coast Times,' of the 7th instant, reports : — The business in the import market during the week has shown a tendency to improvement, and prices have remained unchanged in all articles except flour and produce ; the former is easier, and last week's prices are barely maintained ; the latter has fallen in price. Potatoes we now quote at L6 to L 7 for old, and Lls is an extreme price for new. Onions are also easier, and we now quote them at 6d per lb. Feeding grains still remain firm ; oats are worth 4 s 3d ; and chaff is being quitted at LIB, but the impression is that lhat figure will not be maintained. Bran is steady at 2s 3d, and in some instances as much »s 2s 6d has been paid, but the former quotation is the closing One. Butter still declines in price, prime quality being worth Jsperlb; a quantity of very fair was sold at auction for lOd, and a lot of inferior imported ' from Sydney at B£d and 9d. Spirits have j suffered no change from last quotations. Q-roceries and oilmen's stores are quite stationary, and all ■ holders are well up in stock. Teas are dull of i eale. I

Trass Opfice, Tuesday Evening. The following are the Customs returns for — Monday, Dec. 14. Brandy, 27 gals £16 8 10 Bum, 34 gals 22 4 0 Whisky, 148 gals 88 4 0 "Wine, 54 gals 10 17 2 Spirits of wine, 44 gala ... 26 11 7 Coffee 337 lba ... ... 6 3 0 £169 8 7 Tuesday, Dec. 15. Brandy, 28 gals £17 2 0 Bam, 57 gals ... ... 32 12 5 Genera, 36 gals 21 18 9 Tea, 200 lbs ... ... 5 0 0 £81 13 2