COMMERCIAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 397, 7 October 1874, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

The month opened with a decided improvement in the amount of trade transacted, notwithstanding the very unfavorable weather ; bo that there is reason to believe when it becomes more settled a large business 'will be done. Messrs. M'Landress, Hepburn and Co. held another large sale of surplus stores, which consisted of sugar, tea, dried fruit, and other articles. The attendance was large, the whole was said, and full prices were realised. There has been some excitement regarding hops since the arrival of the mail, as the* accounts from Home tend to raise prices. Several parcels have changed hands at an advance, and the market has still am upward tendency. In sugars, first whites are out of the market ; they are much inquired after. Good yellows move off freely at full rates. Several large transactions have taken place in tea through the feeling gaining ground that this season's leaf 'will not equal the last in quality. Dried fruits are now inquired after, and a better feeling is evident respecting them. Currants readily command 4id. Sultanas are found to be in short supply and are very firm at 7d. Elemes may still be bought at 6Jd. In spirits no material oliange can be recorded. Brandy remains in the same unsatisfactory state as last week. Whiskey is in good demand with an upward tendency. Tennant's ale is in good supply at 12s. Guinness's stout fetches 12s 6d to 13a. Ah advance ofj2os per ton has taken place in dressed rice : the market is bare, and higher prices are considered probable. Tobacco continues firm at last week's quotations : sellers are not very anxions to part with stock. American salmon has come in very freely : it may be said in too large quantities, and the price is very sickly. In fact we cannot give a correct quotation. Candles ar«s somewhat easier, and may be bought at lOhd to 10$ d. Kerosene, for diamond brand, realises Is 7d, and Devoe's, with patent taps, Is9d. Mr A. Mercer reports for the "week ending October 3 :— Retail prices only : Fresh butter, in Jib and lib prints (best quality), Is 9d to Is lOd per lb ; second quality, Is 8d to Is 9d per lb ;in lumps, Is 6d per lb. Salt butter, Is 6d per lb, and good quality scarce. The supply of fresh butter is very plentiful, and in good demand. Cheese is very plentiful, and the best quality at lOd to Is per lb. Side and rolled bacon, lid to Is per lb ; Colonial hams, Is Id to Is '2d per lb ; English hams, Is 4d to Is 6d per lb ; beef hams, 8d to 9d. Eggs are in good demand, and retailing at Is 6d per dozen. We are indebted to the N.Z. Loan and Morcantils Company for the following produce telegram, dated London September 17 : — Wool : Market unchanged. Up to date 174,000 bales lave been sold. Home buyers are purchasing freely, but continental demand is limited. The sales will close en Ist proximo. Tallow : Market quiet ; mutton, 42s per cwt ; beef, 40s. Leather, 13,-000 sides Australasian have been sold since last report. Wheat : Adelaide is worth 54s per 4961bs ; New Zealand is worth 50s do. Copper : "Wallaroo is worth LBB per ton ; Burra, LB7 do. Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co. report having sold, oa account of the Bank of N. S. Wales, the Islay station and stock, situated between Mataura and Molyneux, consisting of 20,000 acres leasehold, 1,300 acres freehold, and 14,500 sheep.. The price is withheld. The stock on which the assessment was paid on Oct. 2 (in Tousd numbers), was great cattle, 7,000 ; small, 1,810,000. The rate of assessment is 7d per head for small, arid 3s 6d for great. This assessment is the rental of runa, and is payable on the Ist of October of each year. £n addition to the L 54,018 collseted here, there was due at Invercargill upwards of L 6.000, making the total sum for the Province nearly L 61.000. The assessment for 1873-4 was L 52.845 bsing paid on 8,693 groat, and 1,759,701 small cattle. The following are the immigration amd emigration returns for the quarter ending 30th September last : — Immigration from the United Kingdom : Adults, 1,748 males and 360 females; children, 697 males and 691 females ; total, 2,145 males and 2,051 females. From Australian Colonies : Adults, 286 males and 114 females ; children, 51 males and 41 females ; total, 337 males and 155 females. From America: 1 male. Total : .adults, 2,035 males and 1,474 females ; children, 748 males and 732 femalesbeing 2,783 males and 2,206 females, or a grand total of 4,989 souls. The statistics of emigration are as follows :— To the United Kingdom : Adults, 30 males and 10 females ; children, 5 males and 2 females ; total, 35 males and 15 females. To 'the Australian Colonies : Adults, 188 males and 51 females ; children, 19 males and 37 females ; total, 207 males and 88 females. To Hong ,Kong: 181 males. To America : Adults, ' 5 males and 4 females ; children, 3 males and 2 females : total, 8 males and 6 females. Grand total : Adults, 404 males and 65 females ; children, 27 males and -44 females— giving as a grand total of emigration, 432 males and 109 females, or 541 in all. The immigration return includes all that have arrived at the port of Dunedin during the quarter, but of this number equal to 127 statute adults have been forwarded, out of this Province to those North : To Canterbury, 46 ; to Wellington, 11£ ; to Marlborough, 63 ; and to Auckland, 4£. There has been equal to 436^ adults forwarded to other ports in the Province, viz. : To Oamaru, 11A ;to Riverton, 376£ ; to Bluff, 12J ; to Invercargill, 37- so that during the quarter the Province has a net increase of immigration over ■emigration of 4,323.