COMMERCIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1276, 8 July 1870, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

OTAGO. The ~DaUy Times oi the '4th inst. reports : — In the sales coming under .notice, the markets ■how but little variation, and none of the staples can be reported as in special enquiry. The sugar market continues active for all good descriptions, snd full rates are realised. In teas there has been but little done, and what enquiry there has been has been only for better descriptions. * The heavy stock of ordinary and low kinds hang on band and are difficult to quit. Candles have been moved at last quotations. " Kerosene has also been moved at 3s Id to 3s 2d. JSfo enquiry has been experienced for cornsacks ; stocks are very heavy for the season, and shipments coming forward are accumulating in first hands. All the liquids have been quiet. Case brandies and Genevas hare been placed in small parcels ; but bulk spirits of all kinds have been neglected. The market for flour and grain during the week has been inactive, and prices show little or no variation. Wheats remain dull of sale, the few town buyers only taking up small lots of the best description ; quotations are made at 3s 4d to 3s 9d. Oats are at 2s 6d, with an improving enquiry, though transactions for other than local trade have not transpired. Barley is at 3s to 3s 8d (nominal), there being no demand. The present value of flour is £10 10s to £11, with no immediate prospect of change. The proposed alterations in the tariff have somewhat- unsettled the markets, but among the number of items affected, few will be so to any important extent. Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co. report for the week ending 2nd July, 1870, as follows :— Fat Cattle. — There has been a fair supply with a slight advance in value. We yarded 70 head, middling to good quality, which sold at quotations. We quote prime quality 20s to 22s per 1001 b; middling do, 16s to 17s 6d. Fat Sheep. — The number* to hand are not

sufficient for the wants of the trade, and prices have an upward tendency. We Bold a draft of half-bred wethers for delivery at 2fcd per lb. We quote prime half-bred wethers 2id to 2sd per lb ; do merinos, 2Jd to 2|d. Store Cattle. — There are a few enquiries. We hare sold 145 head mixed cattle at £3 5s each, calves given in. We quote 2 to 4 year old bullocks £3 10s to £4 ; mixed cattle, £3 to £3 ss. Store Sheep. — We have several enquiries for half-bred and merino wethers, and for .half-bred lambs, but there are not many offering. We quote half-bred wethers, 2 and 4-tooth, 7s each ; Merino do, 5s ; h»lf-bred lambs, 4s 6d to 5s each. Horses. —Very few good horses ara coming to hand, and the market has been completely glutted with inferior stock. We quote first-class draught, £35 to £45 ; second do, £25 to £30 ; good hacks and light harness horses, £15 to £20 ; light and inferior do, £5 to £10. Grain.— We have made sales of wheat at 3s 9d to 4s 3d, and oats at 2s 6d to 2s 7d, according to sample. Barley continues dull of sale, but holders expect an advance on present rates shortly. Freehold Property.— Mr Menlove, of the iflrm of Calcult and Menlove, has purchased his partner's moiety of the freehold estate known as the Bound Hill Farm, near Oamaru, comprising 4000 acres, with valuable improvements, together with 3000 sheep, : lloo head of cattle, horses, implements, wheat in Btack, && The entirety of the real and personal estate realised 18,000. The Oamaru Times of the Ist inst. .reports :— •■ General business is still quiet, bat. the new duty on grain and. flour has hardened the market for breadstuffs. Some large transactions have taken place in grain, it prices withheld. Thereis a good outside demand for good wheat. Oats and barley, for the present remain at last quotations. ...