COMMERCIAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1525, 16 January 1872, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Tr&TES Office, Monday Evening. Although the public feeling tencte urmistakeably in the direction of an increased confidence in the future of the district, it has to be noted that the last few weeks hare been characterised by unusual depression. Such a state of things at a period like this is not only undesirable, but it is also unexpected. Stocks generally are light, there having been no disposition to increase them, despite the fact that considerable rises have taken place in many descriptions of goods. In produce there is very little doing ; the near approach of harvest making traders chary of purchasing. In the north harvesting operations have commenced, and the new season's crops are expected to reach this market within the next three or four weeks. The general opinion is that the yield aa a rule will he light. The supply at "present in the market exceeds the demand, and of late a slight tendency has been manifested to drop in value. Flour maintains its price, but buyers are supplying themselves with nothing beyond current wants. We quote all Tennent's ales at 12s 6d ; other brands, 12s ; Guiness's stout, 13s ; other brands, from 11s to 12a. Bags, 15s ; woolpacks, 5s ; candles, ll^d ; confectionery, Is ; currants, s£l ; raisins, 6£d ; English jam, 10s ; Colonial ditto, 7s ; pick!»3, 11s 6d to 12s 6d ; vinegar, 2s 9d ; case ditto, 12s ; kerosene, 3s ; linseed, 5s 4d ; cheese (colonial), 6d; ling fish, 6id ; salmon, 14s 6d; oysters, lls; lobsters, 11s; rice (dressed) 28s ; Patna do, 275 ; soap, 24s to 40s ; brandy, 7s 6d ; case do, 29s ; whiskey, 5s 6d ; case do, 14s; Geneva, 13s; teas, Is 4d to 2s; sugar (company's) 53s to 55s ; Mauritius, white do, 50s ; do, yellow do, 45s to 47s ; do, brown do, 42s to 43s ; tobacco, Is 2d to 2s ; wines, port, from £14 to £20 per quarter ; sherry, from £14 to £20 do ; wheat, 4s 6d ; oats, Is 9d to Is lOd ; barley, 2s 9d ; flour, £14 ; oatmeal, £15 10s ; Adelaide flour, £16 to £17. The feeling of confidence alluded to above, is nothing more than that inspired by recent legislation, more especially that referring to the development of the system of public works inaugurated by the present Government. Its effects are already making themselves felt in our midst. In real property transactions a much better feeling has manifested itself, and from a thorough stagnation of the property-market, lands and tenements to a moderate extent are beginning to change hands at improved prices. Town sections in good central positions for business sites have lately been sold at as high as £20 per foot frontage, and within the past few months some first-rate buildings have made their appearance. The quantity of wool that has reached Invercargill this season for shipment is understood to exceed the quantity forwarded during any corresponding period of previous seasons. In addition to the shipments direct to the home market, large quantities are sent coast- wise for shipment from other ports, and which do not find their way into the export returns for the district. The first wool ship of the season — the Union — is pretty well filled up, and will put to sea in the course of a very few days. She will be succeeded by the Christian M'Ausland. The advance in the home market has wrought a most welcome change in the^prospects of the wool-grower, and it is not at all improbable that increased attention will be paid to the production of the staple, as well as an improvement in the mode of its preparation. The manufacture of preserved meats is another calling which has been similarly stimulated by recent advices. A second establishment for the preparation of these meats has been erected in the neighborhood, so that the export trade of the district is making satisfactory progress. As an interprovincial trade sawn timber has assumed very respectable dimensions.