COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1128, 22 March 1869, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

ment in price can be anticipated. The wheat crop this year is the best yet grown in the Pro- . vince, and some very fine samples have come under my observation— viz., one grown by Mr "Ralph Swole, Winton ; the other by Mr John Wilson, "Waianawa; samples of which can be seen at the Mart. Horses are still very unsaleable, even at a loss to importers, and no alteration in price can be looked for. Cattle are dull of sale, but there is a fair enquiry for well-bred dairy stock. Merchandise.— Very little ha3 passed under the hammer. Two parcels of flour was quitted at fair prices. One lot sold at Messrs Mitchell & Co.'s stores (Duffield's Adelaide) broughv £13 to £1310s. The other (Oumaru) sold by order of Messrs Dalgety, Rattray & Co. brought £12 103 (quality not guaranteed). A large parcel of imported fruit consisting of apples, pears, and oranges, sold for satisfactory prices. I hive also closed an invoice of saddlery at a fair advance. ! Furniture.— Sales have been well attended, and satisfactory prices realised. At the clearing sala of Mr Sutherland's sto-.k and furniture, the bidding was unusually spirited. The books especially elicited keen competition. Freehold property.— There is still a very good demand for freeholds generally, and a slight improvement in prices. I have sold section XX [I block LIII (Mr Robertson's, Three Bells Bakery), for £330 cash, and also section lit block LXItl (unimproved) for £32. Several other good properties are under offer. Fruit.— Large quantities of fruit have this year been imported from Australia, chiefly to order. The Northern Provinces also seem to be looking for a market for their surplus orchard produce, and this day I Bold a very fine shipment of Canterbury apples at a fair price— lss per case aud upwards.

Times Office, Saturday Evening. The following are the Customs returns for— Fri.lay, March 19.

Mr H. E. Osboknb, Auctioneer, reports : — There has been of late an improvement in < business generally. The weather has agreeably < disappointed ererybody except speculators in grain, vrho will hxv.e to ba content with selling at cost, if not a little udder. The oat crop will be far better than, was expected at the end of * January, and with the fict that there is yet a * Jurge (juantiDy gf old oats umjlcJ, no iunprore* i

Sugar, 12101b** \ £5 0 10 Saturday, M rch 20. Sugar, 22401bs £9 6-8