COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2220, 1 February 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

LyUdton Times Office, Friday Evening. The Customs revenue collected at Christchurch to-day amounted to £ 15416s lid. The following were the items Wine, 43 gallorss, 81 12a; spirits, 180 gallons, 1111 19s lid; do, 2 samples, os; copying press, 3 «wt 2 qrs, 14s; stationery, 1 case, lGs 8d; felt hits, 1 case, 31 lis; boots, 11 trunks, 111 12s Gd ; preserved fish, 24 cases, 11 5s 8d; raspberrv vinegar, 2 cases, 12s Id; olives, 1 case, 3s 4d'; «uces,3 cases. 13s 9d; mustard, 2 cases, 9s 7d; matches. 7 cases, 11 4s 7d; bruslnrara, 6 cases, SI la lid; wiapping paper, 2 bales, 1/ 6s Id; perfumery, 1 case, 8s 4d; perfumed spiris, 3 gallons, 1? 17s Gd.

The Customs revenue collected at Lyttelton to-day amounted to £l3llßa lOd. The following were the items: —

Spirits, 121 gallons, 721 lis 3d; tea, 555 lbs, 13117s 6d; sugar, 2192 lbs, 9Z 2s 8d; tobacco, 632 lbs, 35? 163 i starch, 3 cwt, 10s; light duo, lj sd,

Th# following is an abstract'of the quantity of land sold at the Waste Lands Offite, for the mouth ending January 31stChristchurch district, 35 acres; Upper Christchurch do, 120 do; Timaru do, 243 do ; Mandeville do, 13a2rS0p ; Ellesmeredo, 184 a 2r; Banks Peninsula, do, 90 do ; Oxford do, 254 do j Waitangi do, R0 do. Total 1025 acres, 0 roods, 30 perches; realizing £2050 lie 9d.

Our markets during the past week have been quiet and inactive, and the inquiries for general merchandise have been ou the most limited scale. The end of the month is generally the quietest in our trade operations, as dealers and shopkeepers reserve their purchases until the beginning of the month, so as to secure the month's extra credit ailowed by the custom of tin* place. The reluctance •hewn by capitalists to make advances upon station property and stock, in consequence of the legal difficulties thrown in the way by the new interpretation of bills of sale, is exercising a most prejudicial effect upon the pastoral interests of the province, and, unless that portion with regard to actual possession ii speedily repealed, the consequences to the whole province will be most disastrous. Why the old system of registration, which has sufficed for so many years in advances made upon stock and stations, should at this particular time be found defective, and an old but impossible clause, making the absolute possession of the station, stock, &e,, advanced upon imperative, be introduced, none but our legislators can imigine. A. more mischievous and injurious piece of legislation could scarcely have been introduced at this particular time of general depression, What with the severe losses incurred during the past winter, the extraordinary fell in the value of wool in England, the difficulty of finding markets for their surplus stock, and the continued forced sale of sheep, &<•,, the squatting interest is in a state of depreslion such as has Hot been experienced in this province before. To make matters worse, the new interpretation of bills of sale renders it next to impossible either to borrow upon, or to sell station properties, or stock, on terms. The trading community appear to be gradaally, but slowly, recovering from the late s»vere crisis, and although great caution in giving credit is exercised, still there is a stronger feeling of confidence displayed. There has been an active inquiry for malt and hops, both of which are nearly out of stock; a small parcel of the latter, just to hand, realiised extreme rates. Geneva in red cases, is very low in stock, and as'the price has risen all through the colonies, we expect to see a further rise upon the'lato advance in price. Hum is also scarce, but us this is not the season for the demand, there is but little doing. Crushed loaf sugar is very scarce, and wanted. Jiacon, hams, and cheese, of English make, are out of stock, but there is not much demand. Kice is very scarce, but the inquiry is small. Whisky is advancing in price, both for bulk and case; stocks are low. Cornmicks are improving in demand, and the price is firm, as the harvest is now close at hand. Candles arc now firmer in price, and more inquired for; we look for higher prices as tlie winter season advances, Good twist tobacco lias met with a fair demand; really fine samples are scarce. The inquiry for fencing wire has been moderate. Bottled alts are dull of sale, but a good business is doing in good brands of stout. The market lor sugar is quiet, with but little doing; the stocks on hand are very moderate, Teas are moving off, especially good medium qualities. Woolpacks are very dull of sale; as also kerosin- oil, oilmen's stores, preserved fish, dried, fruits, building materials, timber, corrugated iron, points, oils, &c.; salt, coarse and . fine, is heavily held iu stock, and sales are made at a low price, The second ivool ship of the season, the Glenmark, is nearly full, im,i the Beautiful star is filling up fast. Discounts are tolerably

easy, but in the open money market little in doing, 'l'lic rates of discount and exchange are unaltered.

As reported lust week, otoro cuttlo arc in fair demand. Good beef is worth 37s 6a to 40s per 100 lbs, but the demand is languid. Most of the West Coast dealers seem to be resting on their ours, lairing that market in the menntime to be supplied by the ship cat..e and one preserving lirm from tins sue. We fully anticipate, however, that beef will maintain its price, and in the courso of a month or two advance considerably. At the Carlton yards on Wednesday, four large bullocks, nearly fat, sold by Mr Aikman, fetched £2l each. Several pnil-fed steer calves X;i 10s to •£•! each ; 18 month to 2 year old quiet steers and heifers £8 to B 10s. Dairy eow close on calving, £l3 fis, Messrs H. Jfatson and Co,, sold 120 bead of cattle as follows Calving, from £2 17s 6d to £3 17s Gd; yearling heifers, £5 ss; 2-ycar old heifers, £!) 5s to £9 15s; aud C store cows, at £lO each. In sheep, store wethers and mixed owes, for paddock feeding, arc in sonic demand, and are worth from 8s to 9s. Fat wethers are still slow of salo ; we quote the market price at 14s to 15s for 54 to 58 lbs. There is no alteration of any consequence in prices of farm or dairy produce. There has been a fair supply of eeese, ducks, and other kinds of poultry, and a good attendance of buyers. This year's potatoes, carrots, and other roots are coming to hand, and good samples command fair prices, Potatoes are quoted at 7s to 7s 6d ; carrots, 33 3d to 4s 6d; onions, 3d per lb ; but we can hardly expect thess prices to be long maintained.

Timber is a shade lower, but the quality brought to auction has not been equal to what came forward at last week's sales. Mr C. C. Aikman sold four or five cargoes of bags timber at the wharves, ou Monday, at an average price of 9s 3d to 9s 6d per 100 feet, for boards aud Bcantling. There is a good demand for wide board', a class of timber that is but sparingly supplied to us both by the Auckland and Picton millers. The two last importations of V.D.L. palings and shingles arrived to a bare market, and have now got into second bands, there is consequently an opening for more, and all kinds of V.D.L. stuff.