COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1230, 3 May 1864, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

fji/ftcllon Times, Office, Monday 2nd May. Tjih attendance at the markets on Saturday was about the average, but the transactions were limited, the excitement caused by the new diggings causing some degree of uncertainty, Prices in the grain market ruled precisely the same as our last quotations, wheat being 7s per bushel, the supply limited; barley, ss, nominally, for scarcely any sales wore effected j oats, about 3s to <Js 3d, the market'being fully supplied, if not overstocked; Hour was in great demand, large shipments being expected to take place shortly for the Pelorua diggings. The price ruled from £24 to db'2-A 10s per ton, and about 2os lid per 100 lb. No variation has taken place in the price of potatoes —they continue at £5 10a per ton, wholesalo, and at £§ per ton retail. Those offered for sale_ have been entirely taken up for consumption in the province. Peas, bran, sharps, &c., have undergone no change. Building materials remain nt the same quotations, as last weik. The retail market continues unaltered. There have been some large sales of onions from Tasmania: good samples fetched average prices. They may be quoted at 3d per lb. retail. Eggs are in great demand, they are retching 2s 9d to 3s per dozen, regular customers are, however, supplied by the dealers at 2s fld per dozen. Bacon is plentiful, a large supply having been received from Ilobart Town. It was not, however, of a quality to suit the Clmstchurch purchasers, and may be quoted at about 13d to 15d per lbm bulk. The following is the monthly Custom House return (Christchurch branch) for the month ending 30th April— £1725 16s lid.

OTAGO. The amount of business transacted during the week has been rather limited. Orders have not come forward from tha interior so freely as had been anticipated, and there is very little speculative demand for any article. Tho greater caution manifested by the banks in granting accommodation, has been the subject of comment, and has tended to check the disposition to speculate. Carriage is ajjain on the decline. Little has been done in flour since our last report. Wo quote at £25 to £26, although some hold for a higher price. In Melbourne the market has been unsettled, and heavy arrivals from Adelaide have reduced prices. Much will now depend upon tho tenor ot advices from America—North and South. There is no change in butter, brandy (Martell's and Hennessey s), and bottled porter, are looking up. The Customs returns ot tho value ot Imports and Exnorts for the quarter ending 31st March, have been completed. The value of the Imports was £870,418, and of Exports £701,251 Is. 7d. . The quantity of gold exported ironi the Province ot Otago during the current year to Ui'.s d-ile is 176,6000z. 4dwts. The quantity previously exported was 1,165,530 025,, making a grand total toUi. the discovery of the eold fields, of 1,462,6030z5. Itv.lu ts. The excess of emigration over immigration on tho quarter ending 31st March, is 1240. The tonn.ige inwards, during the month of March was 9178 tons, aud outwards, 12,978 tons— Witness, April 22. MELBOURNE. We extract the following from Messrs. Stables, Straker and Co.'s report in the Argus of the 15th inst. ;— "In accordance with our annual custom, we now give our readers a comparative statement of exports for the past four years, so arranged that the various fluctuations in any given article since 1860 may be readily comprehended. The gross value of declared exports for 18631 we find to be £10,211,952; for 1862, £9,970,808; for 1861, £9 329 546; and for 1860, £9,024,265; each year thus showing a progressive increase upon its predecessor. Upon the face of this statement it would appear that the increase upon last year is comparatively trifling, and many would infer that the complaints of the colonists as to excessive shipments were not borne out by the facts—especially when considering that all goods into the composition of which'cotton may enter are more highly valued now than in former years, owing to the enhanced price ot raw material, and that, consequently, in reference to those particular goods increase in value does not necessarily imply increase in quantity; but to those who take a more comprehensive view of the subject, the grovrag increase in the direct shipments hence to New Zealand will assist | in explaining the whole matter, as heretofore the wants ot this latter colony have been supplied mamly from the Melbourne and Sydney markets, which were at tunes considerably relieved thereby; any increase, therefore, m the direct exports from the mother country to New Zealand must relatively lessen her demands upon the sister colonies. The aggregate amount of tonnage cleared for Australia during the past year shows an increase upon P rede_ cessor of about 40,000 tons, being for 1863, 328,633 tons; and for 1862,288,494 tons. New Zealand.—For the past month exports have been on a similar scale with Dec.-J an., being £142,122, against £157,109. Auckland appropriates £38,7G0 of the former amount, and Otago, £68,281. The gross exports for 1863 were £1,830.445, with an aggregate tonnage ot 5,7t5& t0 Messrs. M'Landress, Hepburn, and Co. report private sales, during the last month, of considerable parcels ot wool, principally scoured, at from Is 8d to Is lid. Messrs. Williams, Overbury, and Co., in their summary of the London wool reports for the year of 1863, refer as follows to New Zealand" In referring to New Zealand, it is satisfactory to note that the progress is not confined to the weight of wool shorn, but applies also to tbe quality of the clip, which is gradually improving, both m character and condition. Many of the best flocks now compete with those from Victoria, not only in excellence but m price, and as the clips from this.co ony increase m size, still further improvement may be looked for, since the larger quantity enables growers to classify their wool in a superior manner, and generally induces more care m the packing."

TASMANIA. Bv the Catherine, we have our files to the 15th ultimo. The Sobart Town Mercury reports aa under The news from the neighbouring colonies has not as vet affected our markets, and business continues somewhat dull, transactions being limited to the siipply of local demands. Prices continue as under Flour, £20 toixil per ton. Wheat, Bs. 3d. to Bs. 6d. per bushel. Bran, Is. 4d. to Is. 6d. per bushel. Potatoes, £o to £6 per ton, but with little demand, and few arriving. Onions, to £8 per ton, according to quality. . Launceston.—We take the following from the Comwall Chronicle of the 16th instant There being but little alteration in the price oi breadstuffs at Melbourne according to advices up to Wcdnesday last, prices remain asquoted in our last issue, x lour, £18 to £20 per ton. Wheat, 7s. to 7s. 3d., and oats, 3s. Bd. to 4s. per bushel.