COMMERCIAL.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 171, 17 February 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Westpoht Times Office, Feb. 15, 1868. The amount of revenue csllected at the Customs' to-day, was £l7 Iss 4d ; gold duty, JB2BI 16s 9d. Much as we would wish to record an activo state of things in the trade of Westport, truth compels us to state that little or no activity prevails in any branch, that no doubt is owing to the wet weather, the exodus of a good many miners to the neighboring colony. In timber thore has been more activity than for some time past, but prices are not appreciated. The cattle trade has been overdone by the &T ival of several shipments during the week, nnd the cargo of £8 head, brought by the Murray, consigned to Mr Kirwan, were sent on to the Grey, there being no> demand for them in our port. The prices for sheep has continued steady. The prospects at Caledonia are flourishing, and the dry weather is making an improvement Addison's.

Tire Argua of the 2£nd ult. has the following ie paciing the state of the Melbourne marktt:—" Business in the import markets to-day has worn throughout an aspect of extreme dulness, and the sales effected privately have not baen of much account. Breadstuns obtain lit'l notice. Victorian flour, however, is moved ml in parcels at i'ls to £ls 10s.; a less figure lias been accepted in one instance, but, bein; exceptional transaction, cannot

be taken as it fair criterion of what is doing On the other hand, we hear of Adelaide flour having been placed for shipment at much higher rates. Fine oats have been sold under the hammer at 3s 7Jd. The maize market has for the present completely broken down, and as the quantity coming forward is in excess of the demand, no sales can be effected. We still retain our quotation of 4s ; but this must be considered nominal, ns no buyers can be met with at near that figure, i'he sale of sugar by auction attracted a large attendance of the trade, Mid the entire cargo offered, consisting of 5,300 bags, found buyers at about last week's rates. Rations realised 36s 0d to 27s 3d ; low counters brought 28s to 29s 6d j middling to fine counters, 31s 6d to 34s ; middling yellow crystals, 31st 35s 3d; and middling white crystals sold at 35s 6d to 36s 9d. Teas are moved off very freely ; we leirn of sales of equal to a thousand chests, in various packnges, having been made, ex Frances Henty, in parcels, at prices ranging, according to quality at from Is 4d to Is 9d. A parcel of twenty bales of woolpa.cks (Calcutta) changed hands at 3s 6d. There is still a considerable inquiry for kerosene oil, chiefly for another colony, but as a difficulty is experienced in getting holders to accept of the prices offered, little additional business has transpired. A line of 600 quarter-barrels of Curtis and Harvey's blasting powder has been placed at 4£d. Sales of aromatic half-pounds tobacco, medium quality, are mentioned at. Is. 7d. In liquids, brandies still occupy a prominent position; a good deal of inquiry exists, though the rates required now act as check on business. A shipment of fifty quarter-qunsks of B. Frere's brandy has been cleared off on private terms. In case spirits we learm of a parcel of 250 cases of Renault's brandy having been placed at a trifle under 445. Large transactions are said to be pending in genva.