COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1356, 7 February 1865, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Feb. 6. There at as again lust week but a very limited amount of business transacted in the grain market, the farmers being so much occupied with harvest operations. Some samples of newwheat changed hands at 7s per bushel. Flour continues at £26 per ton •wholesale, for the best samples. Gats fetched from 2s 9d to 3s per bushel, and barley (nominally) 4s 6d per bushel. Hay was about £3 15s per ton, and straw £1 per load. Potatoes, abundant and good quality, 6s to 7s per cwt, wholesale, and 10s 6d per cwt retail. The other articles of miscellaneous consumption, remain unaltered in price, and the same observation ajplies to building materials, malt, and fuel. The following are the retail prices in the Christchurch market up to the present date. It will be seen that no alteration has taken place in the price of meat, although a reduction has occurred in the price of stock, and a fall in the retail price was consequently looked for. Beef, 7d to lOd per lb, according to the joints; mutton, 6d to 9d do; lamb, 7s to 8s per quarter; pork, '.0d per lb; veal, lOddo; hams, English, Is 6d per lb; colonial, Is 4d do ; bacon, English, Is 4d; colonial, Is 3d do; fowls, 6s 6d per couple; ducks, 6s do; geese, 12s each; turkeys, 15s do; bread, Is per 4-lb loaf; butter, Is 2d peril); cheese, English, Is 4d do; colonial, Is 2d do; milk, Is 4d per gallon; eegs, new-laid, 2s to 2s 6d per doz; tea, from 3s 6d per lb; tobacco, 8s do; sugar, 6d do; coffeej Is lOd do; pepper, 2s do; salt, 2d per lb; pickles, Is 6d per bottle; fish, moki, 8d per lb; flounders, 2s per bundle; herrings, 2s do; potatoes, 10 lbs for Is; onions, 6cl per lb; carrots, 4d per bunch ; beans, French, 6d per lb; pumpkins, 2s each; plums, Is 6d per lb; pears, do, do; apples, 8ddo; apricots, 4d to 6d each; cucumbers, Is 3d to 2s 6d each, according to

Mr. W. D. Barnard reports a numerously-attended sale on Saturday last. Upwards of 80 horses of all descriptions were entered. The following prices were realised for the horses sold or account of the trustees to the estate of G. D. Lockhart, Esq. : Koh-i-noor, £39; Huntsman. £28; grey entire, by the Peer, £29; bay filly; by The Peer, £11; do, do, out of Carte Blanche, by The Peer, £16; bay filly, by St. Giles, £15 10s; Carte Blanche, £21; Miss Lenner, £9 ; a CJit-horse, £31 10s ; Kii-s-me-Quick, £23 10s ; 1 white mare, £10. Many other horses were disposed of. at prices showing a slight downward tendency. The following quotations represent the prices current ; First-class draught stock, hone offering; medium do, from £45 to £62 10s; inferior do, from £30 to £.42 10s; first-class hacks and light harness horses, none in the market, but in good demand; medium do, from £28 to £35; inferior hacks, from £10 to £18 Few transactions in cattle to report. Mr E Mitchell reports:—The market on Wednesday last consisted of 146 head of cattle, 12 fat

calves, and 13 horses. The following are the prices obtained—Milch cows, £11 12 f ejjht workini? calves, 31s to 45s per head; a team of' eig 8 Eks, £42 perpair; steers, about half fat £10 10s to £12 10s per head; store cows, £6 10s t 7 £4 10s per head; two-year-olds, £6 ss.

Otago—By the Wellington we have advices to the 4th instant. The Otago Daily Times reports A nniPt state of things still continues. In private transactions nothing has taken place The flour market remains inactive, buyers hiding off pending the intelligence as to thcpriceatwhich the cargo last arrived will change hands. In miscellaneous goods quotations remain without further change The auction sales of the day have not been important, with the exception of Messrs. M'Landress, Hepburn and Co.'s wool sale, which, considering the tone of the recent advices, went off most satisfactorily, prices appearing tolnve perceptibly improved, and the sale being the most extensive yet held. Continuing their series of public auctions of wool an other produce, Messrs. M'Landress Hepburn and Co report having had a most successful sale at their stores-the quantity catalogued being large, and the quantity sold bearing the largest proportion to the, quantity offered of any recent sale in Dunedin ; prices, which at the last public wool sale held in the city, showed a decline equivalent to the difference in value in the home markets, on this occasion showed a decided improvement The bidding for all lots put up was spirited, and the close ot the sale left the auctioneers with but one or two lots to negotiate for privately. Extract from catalogue, with prices annexed, for the lots placed at the sale :— 2 Bales Greasy, GS over T, Bfd ft 8 do do, DB, 9d do 9 do do, Bros., in tn-) ( j Q angle J 2 10 do do, WB, 9fddo 10 do do WB, B|ddo 2 do do, WB, lOfddo 1 do 1 do, WB, 9*ddo 2 do Locks and pieces WB, 4|d do 1 do Pieces, WB, 4£d do 69 do Greasy, R, in diamond, 10d do 2 do Part washed DR, 14d do 5 do Washedfleece, JA, 15Jd do 2 do do, H, 14£ d do 1 do do, H, 13*ddo 12 do do, 16< * 205 do do, HM, • 18d do 1 do do, JH, 13Jd do 2 do do, DR, 14d do

The whole quantity put up being about 500 bales, 440 only having been to hand in time for cataloguing. . Invercargill.—Our news is to the 31st ultimo. The Southland Newsoi that date states The Leonidas has arrived, bringing a welcome addition to our present stock of flour. The quantity, however, (about 30 tons), is too small to exercise much influence on prices. Business for the present is without much change; perhaps a little more activity being evinced, and the prospect of a steady trade being carried on with the Mataura, or " poor man's diggings," makes every one rather more hopeful. Auckland. —The Southern Cross, of the 30th ult., reports:— Business has for the most part been dull during the week. One English ship has arrived, the Viscount Canning. There is very little doing in the share market, except that the shares in the Auckland Fire and Marine Insurance Company are ljeing rapidly taken u|>. There seems to be much confidence in the success of this company. Very faveurable news is being received from the Coromandel goldfields, and during the week 700 or 800 ounces of gold have been sent from the Kapanga Gold Mining Company's claim. The increase in the price of flour in Australia has caused a corresponding increase here, and the price is now <£2-7 for best brands. Sydney.—By the Prince Alfred we have Sydney dates to the.2oth ult. The S. M. Herald gives the following monthly review of commercial intelligence :— There has been no alteration in the. money market since our last summary, dated the 20th ultimo. The rates of discount continue at 8, 9, and 10 per cent., and as all the banks are unanimous in charging these rates, there is not much prospect of their being reduced at present. In this colony the rates of discourlt do not fluctuate as in England, according to the value of money ; and as proof of this, we would point out that during the last five years the rates of discount have been stationary at 7,8, and 9 per cent., and it was only on the news reaching here, last month, of the unprecedented high value of money in England, that the banks advanced these rates one per cent.

The rates of exchange for bills on London at sixty days' sight rule as follows .—Buying rate, 1 per cent, discount; selling rate, at par. The insolvencies during the month have been below the average, and are unimportant. A statement of the consolidated revenue for the colony of New South Wales for the years ended 31st Dec., 1864 and 1863, has been published in the Gazette:—

From this statement we find that the total revenue proper, for the year 1864, amounted t0£1,884,224 5s 6d. For the year 1863 the amount was £1,533,597 7s Id. The decrease in the revenue of the year is, therefore, £149,373 Is 7d, or nearly ten per cent. The heads of revenue, which show a large decrease, are the Customs—about £77,600 ; duty on spirits distilled in the colony* £25,565 ; gold, £8547 ; land, £73,507. There is also a small decrease of £1313 in duty on refined sugar and molasses ; £1000 in fees of office ; £258 in fines and forfeitures. Electric Telegraph receipts, £1151 ; rates under Chinese Act, £10; and miscellaneous receipts, £11,153. The heads of revenue which show an increase are—Mint receipts, £3293; postage, £9979 ; commission on money orders, £634 ; licenses, £172; rents, exclusive of land, £3803. From railways there is a large increase of £16,344 ; pilotage rates show an increase of £2358 ; tonnage dues, £1252 ; interest on citydebentures, £10,000. It will be seen from this statement that the decrease in the Customs and Land revenue amounts to £151,100, or rather more than the deficit for the year. The proceeds of Treasury Bills sold and advanced upon, applied in payment of services of 1863 and previous years, under Act 27, No. 8, amounted to £270,543 4s sd. Under the head of loans accourtt, the proceeds of debentures for the year 1864 amounted to £287,609 15s, against £613,637 7s 6d for the year 1863 ; decrease, £325,627 12s 6d. Miscellaneous receipts for 1864 amounted to £2992 7s 7d, against £4630 9s 4d for 1863; decrease, £1638 Is 9d.

The special receipts for the year 1864, which include Civil Service Superannuation Fund, collection under Scab in Sheep Act of 1863, Church and School Estates Fund, rolice Fund, &c., amount to £157,626 15s 9d, against £133,639 5s 8d for 1863 ; increase, £23,987 10s Id.

A statement of the quarter's revenue has also • been published in the Gazette. The revenue for the quarter, ended 31st of December, 1864, amounted to £378,228 lis 6d, against £361,077 3s 8d in 1863. Increase on the quarter, £17,151 7s lOd, or nearly 5 per cent. There is an increase on the quarter of nearly £26,000 in the Customs, but there is a decrease of £15,200 in the land revenue. The duty on refined sugar and molasses shows a decrease of £6845, but in the duty on spirits distilled in the colony there is an increase of £3531. Gold shows a decrease of £1500, and the Mint receipts a de'crease of £673. Postage: a decrease of £3496, and commission on money orders, £82 16s. Licenses : A decrease of £470, and fees of office £760. From fines and forfeitures there is an increase of £266, and rents, exclusive of land, an increase of £1200. Railways show an increase of £3557 ; and electric telegraph receipts, £818. Pilotage rates, £377. Tonnage dues, £448; and interest on city debentures, £5000. From rates under Chinese Act, there is a decrease of £10 ; and from miscellaneous receipts, £6,300. Under the head of Loans' Account, the proceeds of debentures and miscellaneous receipts for the quarter ended the 31st December, 1864, amounted to £19,734 19s lOd, against £113,264 10s lOd for 1863. Decrease, £93,529 lis. Special receipts for the quarter show an increase of £9522 138 4d as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1863. The following is from the Herald of the 20th :— The usual holidays at Christmas-time have to, some exteiit, interfered with business since our last summary. dated December 2lst, but during the last two weeks more activity has been displayed, and some large parcels of teas, sugars, tobacco, &c., have been disposed of at auction and privately. The news of increased shipments to the Australian colonies will prevent any rise in most articles of daily consumption, and will, if sales are forced, cause these articles, of which shipments are heavy, to rule lower. There is still a good demand f >r the neighboring colonies of Queensland and New Z aland, and this makes up in some degree for the fall ng off in our trade with the

goldflelds. We subjoin the latest reports of our ""floub.—The market is firmer, and as we have had no arrivals except from South Australia, P"ces have again an upward tendency, and are at least 20s. to 30s. per ton "higher than last month. Adelaide is quoted at £23s 10s. to £24 per ton, and at these rates sales have been made. Chilian is also.higher, and quoted at £19 to £20 per ton. Wheat is firmer and prices show an improvement on the montn of 6d. to Ale in bulk continues in request, and the advance noticed last month has been fu ly established : last week, however, the price of Marion s was a little easier, and sales were reported at £7 10s; but since the arrival of the news by the English mail holders are asking £7 15s to £8, and sales have been made at these rates. Bass's is also quoted at £7 15s to £8. Porter in bulk is not much inquired for and price unaltered. Bottled ale and porter have been more sought after, at a slight improvement on former rates ; first brands are quoted 8s 6d to 10s Brandy is dull of sale, and prices have declined 6d to Is. A large parcel of Martell's was offered this week at Bs, and small sales are reported at 8s 3d to 8s 6d ; Hennessy's, Bs. Rum is steady ; 30 o.p. is worth from 3s 4d to 3s 6d. In geneva transactions have been limited, and prices range from 10s 6d to lis for first brands. In wines there have been no sales of any amount, but a cargo of sherry is to be offered at auction next week, and which will test prices. Teas are not so firm, and common to medium congous are fully 10s to 20s per chest lower than last month. Several cargoes have been offered at auction, and large parcels placed at £6 to £9 per chest. Fine teas have not declined so much as low and inferior teas. . 7 Sugars are firmer, and sales at auction of rations in particular show an advance of 20s_ to 30s per ton. Prices are quoted as follows:—Ration, £29 to £30 10s per ton; counters, £32 to £36; fine counters, £36 to £38; crystals, £40 to £42. Coffee is not so firm, and Manila has declined about Id per lb. Sales are reported at B|d per lb. in bond. - Candles are a shade firmer, but as stocks are still heavy there is no material improvement to notice in prices. Belmonts and nevas are quoted at 9£d to 10d; light weights, 7fd to 8d per lb.

PROPOSED VICTORIAN TARIFF. The Sydney Morning Herald publishes the following, received by electric telegraph, from Melbourne, on the 19th Jan.:. — Mr. Verdon made his financial statement this evening. After reviewing the past year, he stated that the Government intended to propose in committee of ways and means, that in lieu of duties now chargeable, the following duties be charged: — Opium, 10sper lb; tea, 3d per lb; sugar and molasses, 3s per cwt; dried fruits, Id per lb; export duty on gold, Is per oz.troy; reductions being, one half on the three first items, from 10s per cwt to Id on the fourth item, and 6d per oz in the last item. The following duties charged on articles undermentioned are additional duties:—Cocoa and chocolate, 2d per lb; preserved fruits and vegetables, nuts all kinds (not including cocoanuts), butter, cheese, candles, bacon, lard, hams, starch, soap, confectionery, biscuits, comfits, sweetmeats, succades, jams, tapioca, macaroni, vermicelli, sago, arrowroot, maizena, spices, pepper, ginger, preserved meats, fish, Id per lb. or package of reputed weight; salt, 20s per ton; oils of all kinds, and vinegar 6d per gallon, varnish 2s per gallon; salted provisions, including fish not otherwise enumerated, 5s per cwt; doors Is each, window sashes, Is per pair; jewelry, plated artcles, gold,gold watches, parts of watches, 8s per oz, troy; jewelry, plated articles, silver, silver watches, Is per oz troy. Manufactures, silk, or silk mixed with other materials, 20s per cubic foot, measuring outside the package, or for any package less than one cubic foot; millinery and all articles made up from fabrics of silk, or of silk mixed with other materials, 5s ditto; apparel and slops, all articles made up wholly orpart from fabrics of wool, cotton, linen, or mixed materials, boots and shoes, hosiery and gloves, hats, caps, and bonnets, manufactures of wool, or wool mixed with other materials, saddlery and harness, leather and leather ware, 4s ditto ; musical instruments, carriages, glass, and glassware, chinaware and porcelain, furniture, toys, turnery, woodenware, brushware, and wickerware, 2s do ; carts, drays, earthenware, oilmen's stores, not otherwise enumerated, Is ditto, Estimated new duties, £236,900. Estimated revenue from Customs, in,255,900; excise, £50,500; territorial revenue, £937,000; public works income, £578,000; ports and harbours, £19,000 ; postage, £130,000; fees, £00,000; fines, £10,000; miscellaneous, £45,000; total, £3,095,400. The financial account, gives a probable balance from 1864 of £62,028. The estimated revenue above given, total, £3,157,428. Estimated expense, £2,013,171. Other appropriations, £1,141,237. Balance, £3020. The contemplated lease of railways will enable Government to spend £72,000 towards the new Lunatic Asylum ; will complete post-office, and largely on new roads. It will be necessary to borrow £450,000 to complete the railways. Government is prepared to discuss the tariff untrammelled, and desires that it should receive the fullest consideration.

The adjournment of the debate was moved, and carried. The Commissioner of Customs is authorised to take steps to protect the revenue, in the event of the tariff passing or not.