COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

West Coast Times, Issue 332, 16 October 1866, Page 4

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

In reviewing t;he commercial events which have transpired since our last summary, we 'find that more than an ordinary amount of business has been done, tho continued healthy state of trade enabling importers to place the bulk of the somewhat heavy shipments that have come to hand, at satisfactory rates, The increasing population during the month, with the prospective continuance, affords to importers some guarantee that shipments for some thne to come, if not heavier than during the past month, will prove satisfactory. Stocks of brandies have accumulated, and prices given way. Gt-eneva, some time ago scarce, is now in good supply, and lower prices have been accepted. Beer, in bulk, of recent shipments, is scarce ; in glass, several shipments have come forward, and found buyers , at fair prices. Flour has remained very steady, leaving a small margin. Hams and bacon have not been much enquired for, and prices have nearer assimilated to those ruling in / Victoria. Caudles are placed freely, and, although at a decline on last month's quotations, leave a fa.ii' margin to the shipper. The new tariff, which came uito operation on the 29th ultimo, is without perceptible effect on present stocks. The alteration, on the whole ig but small, tho more noticeable items being an impost of Id per lb on hams and bacon, £d per lb on butter and cheeso, all previously free, and a reduction on oilmen's stores from 5s to 2s 6d per foot. Bbandy has been more freely offered, and may be quoted — for Hennessy's, 8s 9d to 93 ; MarteU's 8s 6d ; Otard's, 8s 3d ; other brands, Bs. Case brandy is in better demand — Hennessy's, 33s ; Marten's, 265. Geneva having come in freely the past week, has' been placed at 15s 6d for JDKZ, 3 gals. Whisky and Old Toll remain unaltered : supply good. ■ Wines have received fair attention, better classes having the preference. Beeb in bulk sells slowly : first-class English is scarce, Bass' No. 4 having the preference at Lll. Local beer is now turned out so well, that second-class imported is quite neglected., .^Beer in glass has been in demand at, for Blood's stout, 16s 6d to 17 ; Byass', 15s 6d ; Tennent's ale, 16s 3d to 16s Gd. Provisions are more plentiful. Sinclair's bacon and hairs, Is 5d to Is 6d ; Coey'e, Is 4d to Is 5d per lb ; Colonial, neglected. Butter has fluctuated, having reached over 2s 6d ; is now in good supply at 2s 2d to 2s 3d per lb for prime Wellington. Ciieese, good parcels scarce ; prime English', Is 4d to Is 6d; Port Cooper, Is 3d to Is 4d. % Oilmen's StoeHs are easier, the supply being good, and duty 2s 6d per foot lower. Pickles, best brands, 16s to 17s per dozen. Bottled fruits, 18s. Half-pints salad oil, 12s. Half sardines, 13s 6d ; quarter do, 8s ; the demand . for * oilmen's stores as a rule is limited. Candles have come in freely ; the low price ruling jn Melbourne has 'been' fully noted here ; full weights have been sold at Is 2£d to Is 4d per lb, with good demand. Frtjits (dried) are is short' supply. Currants,^ to 8d ; Eleme and Cape raisins, 9d to lOd per lb. Tea, the market for this article has- been, most satisfactorily supplied of late ,as to* qualities— the bulk, previously sent here, being very inferior, is perfectly unsaleable, j Fair medium Congous, 2s 4d to 2s 6d ; better class, 2s lOd to 3s per lb ; orange Pekoe and gunpowders, in limited demand at 3s to 4s per lb. The Flottr Market has been very steady with scarcely any alteration in prices to -note, stocks keeping well up. Adelaide, L2O 10s to L2l ; Chilian, LlB to Ll9 per ton. Oats have come forward very freely during the month, causing a sudden decline from 9s > 6d to 6s 6d. A better feeling has been shewn

this week. We now quote 6a 9cl to 7s as present value.

BitAN, plentiful at 2s Gd to 2s 9d per bushel. \ Maize, whole, 5s 6d to 7s 9d per bushel. Ohai'f, good, US to Ll9 po'r ton. Potatos, L 7 to L 9 per ton.

G. W. Binney's Monthly Auction Report — Business has Bh'ghtly improved since my last, goods realising much better prices ; tho attendances has been tolerably good, and bidding brisk. Tho following are, tho prices realised : — • Potatos (medium quality), L 6 per ton ; Adelaido flour, L2O 10^ per' ton ; sperm candles, 15d to 17(1 per lb. ; sugar (countei), 5d pop lb. ; scrim, by the bale (singlo width), 4,1 to sdj)er yard ji Welsh flannel, per yard, 15cT to 20d ; calico (doublo width), per yard, 2s ; plush hats, pcl 1 dozen, 90s to 108s ; Crimean shirts (all wool), per dozen, 72s to 80s ; felt hats, per dozen, 58s to 725 ; crockery (toilette sets), 22s 6d; cvp 1 ? and saucers, per dozen, 5s to 7s ; hot Avater g)dssc^, 3s 6d t6*4s ; butter (prime Melbourne), 2s 3d to_23 4d ; butter (Wellington), 2s 2d to 2" 8d ; bacon, (Coinpton's), Is 3d per lb ; bacon (colonial), 9d to lid per lb. ; tobacco (Zouave), in bond, sid to 6d per lb.

Household property is improving in value, owing to tho influx of population. The following are a few of tho properties sold, and prices realised : — Tho Shotover Hotel, Revell _street, L 407 10s ; four-roomed house in Revell street, L 13 0; " Chronicle" office, L 13 0; freehold section (north end of Revell street), 33 x IGS, LlO5 ; store, 16 x 20, LSB ; Charley Napier Hotel, Revell street, L 350 ; and a variety of others, all of which realised satisfactory prices.