COMMERCIAL.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 222, 17 April 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Wesxport Times Office, Thursday Evening. The amount of revenue collected at the Customs yesterday, was .£64 3s lid. Mekbottbne.—The Argus, of the 6th inst., .reports as follows: — Though the markets have closed for the week with a quiet aspect, the tendency to advance evinced by the chief staples is still a noticeable and prominent feature. Bread•stuffs are very firm at the rates lately established ; we hear of about a hundred tons of flour having changed hands at ,£2l 10s. Sales of wheat, in moderate parcels, are likewise reported at 9s. Oats appear to have touched the lowest point for the present, a further decline being arrested by speculative attention having again been directed towards this article. Wo learn of about 15,000 bushels having, in consequence, changed hands, and close on 4s 3d has been realised for best Tasmania. Offers for large parcels to arrive at a similar price have, moreover, been rejected. Maize is quoted at 3s 6d. The low price ruling for deals is beginning to attract notice ; some 6000 pieces have been sold privately at 4£d for 9x3, and offers to purchase several cargoes have also been made, but as holders are very firm, and now ask 4£d, •those have not as yet led to business. Oregon timber has been quitted at £lO, and as a Concession on this figure, the balance unsold ■of the same description could also have been cleared off. In liquids we note sales of Jeffrey's ale to hand at 9s 3d to 9s 6d, according to quality. The wheat returns of South Australia are now finally closed. The number of forma in cultivation is 7478. There were under crop 550,050 acres. The average produce was 4 bushels and 40 lbs per acre.

A fight has *akcn place in Peru, the troops under General Prado having been defeated by the revolutionary forces.