OTAGO.

Southland Times, Issue 1178, 8 December 1869, Page 2

OTAGO.

The Daily Times of the 6th inst., reports : — The business done during the last week has been moderate in extent, and generally -without interest, the expectation of the arrival of the home mails and Australian advices serving to keep the import market quiet and repress any extra enqniry. It is, however, likely that trade will improve somewhat with the coming week, and a fair miscellaneous demand will no doubt be frit in the interval previous to the holidays. In sugars, the sales have been limited to light parcels nt maintained rates. By "auction the damaged portion of the cargo ex Prospector sold satisfactorily. Some parcel of the present season's teas have been placed for shipment at prices showing no alteration, but the sales otherwise have been li^ht. Transactions in liquids keep to moderate proportions. The new brew ales have not yet reached the market, but will probably move with more freedom than hitherto. Beers in glass move in trade parcels, the values of the chief brands remaining firm. In spirits there are trade sales of Hennessey's bulk at Bs, though probably something less would be accepted for a shipment case of the same brand, 28s. Light sales of geneva, at 13s 9d to 14s, and little enquiry for whiskies or rums. Hemp goods have met with sale at from 13s 3d : to 13s 6d, the latter rate for lesser parcels ; and oilmen's stores have been quitted to some extent at equal to last quotations. NewcurrantsandgoodCape raisins remain respectively at 4£d, and held with firmness. Kerosene and randies keep dull, and rates' unimproved. Colonial provisions, plentiful ; butter, difficult to place, and quoted at lOd to 10£ d; colonial bacon and hams, B^d to lOd ; and cheese at lOd, with dull enquiry. The grain market has been very languid, and only a light demand for flour. Millers are indisposed to take up wheats, and in consequence of no sales of magnitude, prices have a drooping tendency. First-class samples of wheat are now considered ■worth 5a 6d. But few parcels of oats are coming forward, aud the present enquiry ia not in excess ! of the supply, consequently no improvement hus been experienced ; small sales reported at 3s 6d. Barley firm at 5s 3d for good malting samples. Other quotations —Oatmeal, £22 ; pearl barley, £28 ; bran, £7. No shipments of produce going forward. Mi John Brook, Manse-street, reports : —The produce market remains without animation, and with no change from last week calling for special notice. Flour, £14 per ton ; oatmeal, £23 do ; pearl barley, £28 do; wheat, 5s 6d per bushel; oats, 3s 9d do ; barlej, 5s 6cl do ; maize, 5s 6d do; bran, £7 per ton ; pollard, £7 10s do ; hay, £§ do ; chaff, £4 10s do ; straw, £2 10s do ; potatoes, £3 do ; carrots, £3 do ; turnips, £3 10* do j butter, lOd per lb ; cheese, 91 do; bacon and hams, 9d do; bags, 14s per dozen. Me39VB Wright, Stephtnaon, and Co. report for the week ending the 4th instant as foLlows : Fat cattle. —None yarded ; prime beef we quote at from 27s 6d to 30s ; middling, 25s per luOlbs. Fat sheep. —We sold by auction 400 head shorn, at prices equal to l^d per lb ; and for ( delivery, 250 half-bieds at 2i<l per lb. Fat lambs. —ss head htill'.breda brought at auction 8s <5d each.

Storo cattle. — We have no s>iles to^recori. Quotations: — Steers, 2 to 4 y^ars old, £5 10s to t'6 ; mixed mobs. £ i 10s to £5. Store sheep. — We placed 2500 wathors at 6s, and quote 4, 6, and S tooth merino wethers 63 to 6s 6d ; mixed hoggetts, 6a 6d each. Horses. — There is a moderate,.demand for both light and heavy descriptions. • Orf Saturday, we sold the first draft of Mr M'Leish's shipment ex Australind, a very useful lot of coachers and hacks j prices ranged from £11 to £2-1. Current rntes are : heavy draught, £49 to £50 ; medium do, £25 to £33; first-class hacks and light harness horses, £35 to £30 ; useful do, £12 to £18 ; inferior nominal.