COMMERCIAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 33, 19 August 1865, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

During the past week there has been a lull in tlio wholesale lino not easily to be be accounted f< r ex•cjpt in 'the extreme ba.teness of stocks. The few arrivals during the week have in no way altered the market, as these supplies passed immediately into consumption. The rush to the south, although promising well, is yet so far unconfirmed that many of the storekeepers and packers are hourly awaiting advices from that district to make a start with parcels of general provisions. In tlio opposite direction there have been no steamers except the Uno leaving to carry supplies to the Grey. The Kanieri and other adjacent goldfields being at present baro of population, do riot take into consumption the same amount of goods as formerly. These are, wo believe, the causes, in conjunction with the state of the stocks, which this week have made business flag bo much. That we are, nevertheless, on tho eve of having a large accession to our population and consequent briskness in trade, no one acquainted with these goldfields can doubt. The following quotation^ which show a decline in our last report must, therefore, be considered in conjunction with the previous circumstances to which we have referred. Spibits, D. P. —Brandy of first-casss brands in Wk and case is in some request at 2Cs to 28s for the former, and 03s to 65s for the latter. Whiskey is still saleable at 42s to 43s in caso for favorite brands, as Kirkliston or Snncel. Rum is very slow, and docs not command more than 18s to 21s per gal. Geneva is much sought for, and freely purchased at 62s 6i to 00s. Old Tom and gin — nono in the market. Beer.— Considerable inquiry has been made daring the lust few days for case porter, and ucknow* lodged brands like Blood's or Byass's sell at 20a per dozen without difficulty. Ale is not in demand, and only very limited parcels can be quitted, and these at a piice purely nominal. Beer in bulk is very unsaleable here at present. Wines are not in request, Superior port in bulk is scarce, and fetches L 22 to L 25 per quarter cask! Sherry is decidedly slow and unless a very superior article, is almost unsaleable. Touacco is extremely dull of sale, flirst-class brands bringing prices which do no moro than covcj importers' cost. Quotations wo cannot give. as no parcels have been offered during tho week at the wholesale houses. Sdoar.— ln this lino tho market is baro to oxtreme scarcity of every kind, During tho week such prices as L7O toL7fi has been paid for Company's Ist whito, while in the lower quality tho prices are, in consequence of the absence of Btocks, nominal. Tea is becoming much inquired aftor. A good medium, and of which very littlo is in the market, ij worth L 5; of superior none are in tho market, For cheats, for which a demand is springing up. noneaio in stock. Coppee. — Go' d quality, in tins, Is Od to In 8d ; in detrfand. Brbadstuffs and Grain continue to advanco. Fjour, Adelaide, best brands, is worth L 35;3 5; good Chilian is very saleable at L3Ho, L 32. Stocks of this s'.aplo aro unimproved, and an early advanco m»" be )ooked for. Oats, both Colonial and Call-

fornian, are getting scarce, and prices good. Otago oats arc worth fully 6s 6(J to Cs. 9d per bushel ; inferior kinds range from 4s 6d to 5s 6d, at which they are very saleable, i Oatmeal and barley are both worth 40s per cwt, although of limited sale. Bran is sought for at 3s fld to 4s 6d por bushel. Maize, cracked and whole, is almost unsaleable. Chaff and hay are both inquired for, aud saleable at good prices. General Provisions.— Bacon has suffered a slight decline. Sinclair's may be quoted at Is 6d to Is 7d. Coey, Is 4d to Is sd, at which prices parcels have been quoted. Hams are in fair demand, although prices are not equal. Sinclair's is worth Is 7d to Is 8d per lb. Coey's and Smith's rolled beef has become a great favorite here and sells at Is to Is 2d ; Compton's, there are nono in the market. Butter — New Wellington has also declined; good samples bring 2s 4d to 2a Cd, at which figure the demand is extremely limited ; tho Rtock of Cork has at last fairly vanished, and we look forward to shipments of prime new quality with satisfaction. Cheese, as we mentioned last week is coming into demand, and a change seems to have taken place in the taste 3of consumers of this article of diet, as English cheese is gradually gaining preccdenco of Colonial ; good Dunlop's is saleable at Is 2d and double Cheddar eagerly sought for at Is 3d to a shade higher.

Oilmen's Storks. — Pickles, salad oil, and sauces aro totally neglected at importers' prices. A very fair demand exists for salmon at 19s ; lobsters at 14s ; sandines, halves, at 13s 6d ; quarters, ditto ; unsaleable. Ling is asked for, but none in the market. Jams are of good sale at, English, 15s ; colonial, 13s and 14s.

Sundries.— Candles after a slight deoline, seem fixed at fair prices ; Nova Stearine — a general favorite — sells at Is 5d to (Is 6d per lb ; Belmont's Is 4d to Is 5d ; light weights are rather unsaleable at Is to Is 2d Matches aro scarce, and several small parcels quitted at 42s por gross by tho case. Kerosene has fallen to its original price of7s Od to 8s 6d for best brands. Galvanized Iron is rather slow at prices which shew a dedino ; good light English iron sells at L 45 to L 47;4 7; Scotch, as low as L4O. Spouting is worth 7d to 9d per foot. Salt is very scarce, and worlh as high a price as 16s per cwt. Soap is also very saleable at fair prices, 'i'he demand for axes and picks is still on tho increase at 85s ; 110s may bo quoted as their respective rates. Handles are also very saleable at 22s to 24s por doz. Sluicing forks command 120s per doz. The superior qualiity of tho Grey River coal causes a good domund at L 0 to L 7 per ton.

Tho steam tug Yarra is now doing good service to the port in towing in weather-bound vessels. The condition of the bar is not improving as wished and expected, and which affects in a most material degree the welfare of the entire district, and effectually rules the condition of our markets.