COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1077, 21 December 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

By the arrival of the Otago from Melbourne, "wa are in receipt of papers to the 12th inst. We take the following items of commercial intelligence from the ' Argus' of that date : — "In the import market to-day there was but little activity, and as a rule transactions were not large. In breadstuffs the principal business done •was at auction. 210 tons of Victorian flour were offered. For the first parcel of fifty tons there ■was some difficulty in getting buyers to bid, and the auctioneers were, in consequence, compelled to accept of £12; but for the remainder of the parcel, the bidding became more animated, and £12 10s to £li 17s 6d was realised for brands not in quite so much favour. We understand that the whole of this quantity was bought for shipment to Queensland, and we learn of a parcel of Tasmanian flour having beeu taken up privately, also for export, at about | £12, in bond. A rumour was current that the Clanalpine, -which cleared out from Sydney with her cargo of breadstuffs, was coiniug on to Melbourne, and it in some ddgree affected the market. This rumour, howjver, is now believed to be incorrect. The wheat offered at the same time could not be quitted, and was conseqnently withdrawn. Adelaide wheat ha 3 been sold pii ately at 6s. Oats are moved off at 3s 8d to 3s 9d for New Zealand. A good inquiry is maintained. Maize ia without animation ; wo continue to quote 4s 4d. The public sale of tea this forenoon attracted a good deal of attention. The cargo off red was the Chow-fa's, and some 3,485 packages were disposed of at B^d to lOd for low ordinary to leafy in chests and half-chests, and at 12| 1 to Is 3d in boxes, at 12£ d to 13£ d for common congous in chests and half-chests, and Is 3|d to Is 6d in boxes j medium to very goo i medium realised Is 4d to Is 9£d for chests and halves, and Is 6d to Is 6^d for medium in boxes ; fine to very fine congous brought from 2s Id to 2a 6d ; young hyson was sold at Is Bfd. rfales of l>e Roubaix's candles, in bond, have been made at lid. Trade parcels of malt have beeu placed at 11s 3d. For soda crystals, lower rates are accepted j sales have been made at £9. A line of '68 hops has been purchased at Is Bd. Under the hammer, fancy aromatic tobacco was quitted at Is 2£i to Is 4£J j bars realised lu£d to 1b lid; pounds, lOf d j halt-pouuds, lid to 12£ d; and twist, 13d. Attention is being directed more towards bulk brandy ; we hear oi some thirty bhds. and thirty^ix quarter casks ol MarteJl's pale having been placed at 7s 3d j some fifiy quarter* and ten hhds. of Honues*y's pa.e — a shipment to land — was also cleared out at 7» 3d. A hundred hhds. of Otard's are said to have changed hands. The 'Daily Times/ 16th December, reports : — The weather to-day has been unfavorable to improvement in business, and, notwithstanding a fair inquiry for miscellaneous goods, we note bur. one or two transactions of any moment. In breadetuffa we hear of a heavy operation, the balance of the cargoes of flour lately received per-Kmma, from Valparaiso, and sarita, from San Francisco, being reported as quitted by the importers at rates withheld. For Provincial flours there has been but a languid inquiry, and for wheat, oats, and barley, but a dull deuiand. An active inquiry for sugars ia still maintained, and second holders are obtaining a good margin upon late auction rates. Teas are moving, but in parcels of less extent, at full prices, w'ehear of little in liquids, except trade parcels of spirits. and of a line of sherry wine in bulk, placed at fair rates. Ports ii» case have been moved ; also Scotch ales, of which however only Tennant's can be noted as having realised the market value. Fine salt has been quitted at 70s ; Eleine raisins at 6d ; Morton's salmon, at 15s j and half- pint salad oils, at Bs. The auction business of the day has been of no moment.

The 'Oatnaru Times/ loth December, reports : — Commercially, there is no change to report* Wool continues to arrive in small quantities. We have had an opportunity of inspecting a fine sample of wool scoured by Messrs Wheatly and Co., Kakanui Works, which is remarkable for purity, softness, and elasticity j a better sample could not be desired. We have also seen a sample of wool washed at Otekaike Station (Mr - "ißees'sJj-by Alves's patent battery process. Wo believe thafethe process is open to improvement j but fhe sample shown is certainly well got up. Oats remain, for prime sample, at 2s 6d per bushel- From the Waitaki Plain we hear the wheat crop is not looking so well as could be wished, and that the oat crop promises to be defective. From the Southern districts we have mo-e satisfactory reports. A larger breadth of barley has been sown during the past season than during previous years, and generally this grain is reported to be looking well.

Times Office, Saturday Evening. The following are the Customs returns foi* — Friday, Dec. 18. Brandy, 28 gals £17 2 0 Sugar, 3,7571bs ig 13 x Sundries ... v 1 11 4 A £38 6 5 Saturday, Dec. 19/ Brandy, 38 gals £21 11 4 • Geneva, 30 gals 17 16 3 Tobacco, 107lbs 13 7 6 £52 15 1