Commercial News.

Southland Times, Issue 1172, 7 June 1869, Page 4

Commercial News.

Times Office,' Saturday Evening. Business throughout nearly the whole of the month has been somewhat dull, although a slight improvement has been observable during the past fevr days. The roads in the direction of the Late, in consequence of the late heavy rains, are in a bad condition, and carting is getting higher. The Rail-way, when opened, will tell materially in this respect, the worst part of the Great North Road being between town and Winton. The cause of advanced rates of carriage to the diggings — bad roads — also has a depressing effect on our country trade, orders being generally limited to absolute requirements. la the price of most staple commodities there iB little 'or no alteration from last month's quotationsAdelaide flour remains at £18 to £18 10a, but Provincial has declined slightly, being now quoted at £14 to £15. Potatoes are plentiful at £3 10a to £4 according to sample. Bottled beer, of nearly all brands, is about Is per dozen do wr. all round. Ale and porter in wood reduced proportionately. Teas are unaltered, but sugars still evince an upward tendency. Mauritius white crystals are quoted at £56, and yellow counters are worth £52. Quotations of other articles do not call for special mention. The railway works are now fairly in progress. Therailß have been laid for about a mile, and ballasting is being proceeded with. But for the non-arrival of the " Montana "—the second Teasel bringing the plant, now fully five months out, and for whose safety fears begin to be entertained — the works would, we believe, be carried forward still more rapidly. Toward* the close of the month business has, on the whole, assumed an improved tone, attributable, no doubt, to the railway expenditure beginning to be felt, and to several recent land sales of some note. By th« arrival of the Tararua at the Bluff, on the sth inst., we are placed in possession of late Australian dates. . The ' Angus' of the 31st ulfc, contains the following items of commercial intelligence :-In the import markets there has been a fair inquiry for goods. The demand for flour is limited to small purchases for trade purposes, at £13 15s. Some large parcels of wheat have changed hands. We learn of the disposal of a very superior sample of 10,000 bushels Wangaratta wheat, and it is stated that equal to 6s 2d net was obtained. We are likewise informed of the sale of the Wave's shipment of 9,000 bushels Tort MacDonnell wheat, on pmate terms. Oats are steady at late rates, dales of maize continue to be made at 4s Id to 4s 2d ; but as large parcels are expected to land by the several steamers now due, it is feared that these quotations will not hold over another day or two. A parcel of 500 cases Downer's kerosene oil waß placed at an extreme figure ; 2s 3d .was rgjdiged I __Portlagd_cement is a trifle firmer. We

quote from 16s 6d to 17s. We learn, however, that for some 200 barrels of White's, a brand which is scarce, over 17s was obtained. Fencing wire is in request. About forty tons have been quitted at up to £18 10s to £19 for Nos 6to 9- In Borthwick's stout there is a large trade doing. A line of quarts and pints has again been disposed of at a very full figure. The ' Daily Times ' of the 2nd June, says : — '• To-day has witnessed a little improvement in business, and there seems a probability of a fair trade demand for the present. We can, however, refer to a very few matters of importance occurring, and note current transactions as rather numerous than individually large. In teu, there is a moderate business doing at improving rates ; good medium congous changing hands at Is 9d up to Is lid for chests and halves ; some lines of finer in boxes at 2s 2d to 2s 4d. Sugars still witness very full rates, a moderate parcel of good yellow crystals quitting at £41 10» ; good brown, at £36 to £37 ; whites are less looked for. All the liquids have been in light enquiry. Beers have not had any attention ; and spirits, though exhibiting well maintained rates, move only in , small parcels. In provisions, small sales of new j hams, Engliih, are reported at Is sd ; and » parcels of Akaroa cheese at 7£d. By auction, a clearing-up sale of sample packages and remainders at Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn, and Co.'s, witnessed fair prices ; the buyers, however, were few, and othes lines of teas offered failed to bring out satisfactory offers."

■ .. The following are the Customs returns for— Friday, May 7. Brandy, 10 gals £5 18 2 Whisky, 36 gals 21 12 0 Wine, 25 gals 5 2 0 Tobacco, 451bs 6 12 6 Sugar, 521bs ... ... 0 4 4 £38 9 0 Saturday, May 8. Brandy, 28 gals £16 16 0 Sundries 0 12 0 £17 8 0 Monday, May 10. Sugar, 240Glbs £9 6 8 Tuesday, May 11. Whisky, 33 gals £21 15 7 Geneva, 14 gals 8 18 2 Brandy, 9 gala 5 18 2 Wine,"26 gals 5 4 0 Tobacco, 661bs 8 5 0 £50 0 11 Thursday, 13th May. Whisky, 32 gals £19 8 10 Brandy, 27 gals 16 11 2 £36 0 0 Friday, May 14. Whisky, 31 gals £23 12 10 Saturday, May 15. Brandy, 28 gals ... ... £16 16 0 Monday, May 17. Sugar, 24,6621bs £101 15 2 Spirits of wine, 47 gals ... 28 4 0 Kerosene, 400 gals ... 10 0 0 Tobacco, 5891bs 73 12 6 Tea, 5951bs 14 17 6 Cocoa, 1121bs 18 0 Fencing wire ... ... 8 0 0 Sundries ... ... ... 4 8 8 £242 5 10 Tuesday, May 18. Wine, 68 gals £13 16 7 Brandy, 28 gals 17 0 10 Sugar, 37951bs 15 16 2 Tea, 3201bs 8 0 0 Sundries 3 7 6 £?8 1 1 Wednesday, May 19. Brandy, 26 gals £15 19 2 Whisky 69 gals 41 15 2 Wine, 26 gals 5 7 2 Tobacco, 1341bs 16 15 0 Tea, 10231bs 25 11 6 Sugar, 44651bs 18 12 1 Sundries... , 3 10 £127 1 0 Thursday, May 20th. Brandy, 48 gals £32 12 10 Geneva, 13 gals ... ... 8 7 8 Kerosene, 240 gals ... 6 0 0 Sundries 8 7 1 £55 7 7 Friday, May 21. Geneva, 29 gals £17 12 6 Hardware 2 18 10 Shot 0 5 0 Sundries ... 3 13 0 £24 9 4 Saturday, May 22. Sugar, 22401bs £9 6 8 Rum, 31 gals 19 0 5 Grindery 6 15 0 Sundries 10 1 0 £45 3 1 Tuesday, May 25. Sugar, 2256 lbs £9 8 0 Geneva, 28 gals 17 5 0 Tobacco, 165 lbs 20 15 0 Sundries 2 6 8 £49 19 8 | Wednesday, May 26. Sundries ... £200 0 0 Thursday, May 27. Brandy, 80 gals £48 19 2 Whisky, 36 gals ... ... 21 3 7 Old Tom, 10 gals ... 6 8 3 Kerosene, 400 gals ... 10 0 0 Tea, 810 lbs 20 5 0 Sundries ... ... ... 3 4 0 £110 0 0 Friday, May 28. Sugar, 59001bs £24 11 8 j Geneva, 16 gals 9 13 6 Candles, 25001bs ... 10 8 4 Sundries 9 18 2 £54 11 8 Saturday, May 29. Whisky, 35 gals ... ... £21 8 5 Drapery 46 19 11 Sundries 0 12 10 £69 1 2 Monday, May 31. Brandy, 63 gals £37 19 0 Whisky, 51 gals 30 10 9 Geneva, 14 gals ... ... 8 6 11 Old Tom, 9 gals 5 6 ll Tea, 3201bs 8 0 0 Sundries „ 4 12 3 £94 15 10 Tuesday, Junel. Whisky, T>2 gals £31 13 5 Brandy, 56 gals 33 19 2 Wine, 42 gals 8 12 1 Beer, 138 gals 8 12 6 Tea, 2201bs 5 10 0 Sugar, 19201ba 8 0 0 Tobacco, 2281bs 28 10 0 Sundries '. 10 19 11 £135 17 1 Wednesday, June 2. Sugar, 12001bs £5 0 0 Geneva, 22 gals 13 7 0 £18 7 0 Thursday, June 3. Bum, 34 gals £20 140 Friday, June 4. I Brandy, 19 gals £1112 6 | Whisky, 35 gals 21 3 7 j £82-16' 1