COMMERCIAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 112, 31 March 1870, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand flax is quoted at £20 to £42. The flax market is exceedingly flat, the quantity arrived being large. With what arrived late in December, and was held over till January, the quantity in hand is over 3000 bales. At the recent sales buyers held off, add prices receded for the portion sold from £8 to £10 per ton. At this decline only a small portion of the quantity offered could be placed. There is still some doubt in the minds of buyers as to its applicabilty to the same purposes as Manilla hemp.

Of kauri gum there have been sold about 3000 cases. 1068 bags of late arrivals per Kate Waters and Mary Shepherd were offered at the public sales in January I3th and met with a good competition.

The commencement of the first series of wool sales was postponed from the 10th to the 17th January The arrivals to date amount to 43,025 bales. There is little business doing. The Liverpool East Indian wool sales opened on the 25th. The prices obtained were as high, and in some cases higher, than in November last.

Sydney fleece and lamb fetched 10^d to 10$ d; scoured, Is. to 2s. 3d. ; unwashed, sd. to 9d. Port Phillip fleece and lamb fetched Is. to 3s. Id. ; scoured, Is. to 25. ; unwashed, 7d. to Is.

Tallow is quiet, on the spot, 465. Australian hides are at 4d. s£d. The state of trade generally is dull, and prices are lower.