COMMERCIAL.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1785, 10 April 1874, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Thames Advertiser Office, Thursday Evening. Business since our last; summary has been very much interrupted by holidays, but we hare to note a decidedly improved tone in commercial circles, whilst; our mines producing more gold, tend to give greater confidence in the future. It must be remembered that during the past twelve months a large amount of dead work has been done, and it is now beginning to be reproductive, as will be seen by our mining summary. The rush to Queensland has had the effect of drawing away a portion of our population, whilst the reported high wages given down iSouth has,had attractions, but from many who have gone, we hearof their regret, but no doubt they will eventually return. Great dissatisfaction is expressed by captains at our inadequate wharf accommodation, for notwithstanding our two jetties, vessels drawing over eight feet of water cannot come alongside to discharge, so that the delay and expenses of lightering gives our port a bad name with shipowners. Several shipments of timber have been made from local mills, and numbers of bush hands are busily engaged in preparing logs for the breaking-down mills, in readiness for a still brisker market. The Hauraki, Shortlani', Gibbons's, and Holdship's are all fully employed. The ship-building interest is well represented at Mr Stone's yard, where au auxiliary eotew'steamer is: aliripst ready for launching. She is three-masted, and of light draft; well adapted for entering bar harbours, where her auxiliary screw will be employed. She is an excellent model, and will no doubt do ciedit to her builder (Robert Stone) and owner (Captain James Stone, of Auckland). The barque ' Corrido' has arrived' from Newcastle, N.S. W., with a cargo of coals for alocal agent. She will load timber for Canterbury, on discharge of inward cargo, at the Hauraki saw-mills. The supply from the Bay of Islands mine, in our own province, is not equal to the demand. A trial shipment arrived a few days ago from the Wangarei mine, but on testing they were found somewhat inferior for steam generating purposes, The opening up of our local mine by the English company is anxiously looked forward to, owing to the large demand necessary to keep the extensive plantß on this field in full and constant operation. The dividends paid since the 23rd ultimo have been confined to the City of London and the Thames to Company. The former paid 5s per share on that date, and the latler Is 6d per share on the 31sii. The Old Whau have announced their intention to pay a dividend, and it is expected to be the handsomest paid on the field for many months past, amounting to £3 per scrip share. We append our usual prices current BUILDING MATERIALS. Timberj—Boards and scantling, kauri, 15s per 100 feet, tongued, and grooved, 17s 6d; kahikatea, 9s per 100 ft; planed,.tongaeil, and grooved, lis New Zealand, palings, 5 feet, lis to 12s ; tea-tree rails, £3 5s per 100; shingles, 14s to 21s per 1,000; Hobart Town palings, 5 feet, 18s; .6 feet, 21s; Hobart Town rails, £4 ss. COAJj AND FIREWOOD MARKET. CoAii. —Newcastle, wholesale, none offering; Bay of Islands, 32s fid per ton oa board the vessel; do, delivered, 34a per ton; no slack. Firewood.—Best tea-tree wood, If: per ton at the yard.' BREADSTUfTS, PRODUCE, 4c. 'Adelaide Flour, £17 10a to £18 per ton; Southern do, £1410s to £15; Auckland do, £15 sharps, £9; bran, none; maize, 8s per bushels; oats, very scarce, 5s 6d; barley, none; pearl barley, £4'los; chaff, £7 10s per ton; hay, £6 to' £8; fresh butter, Is 5d per lb; salt do, Is to,ls 4d; bacon, lOd; cheese. 6dto 8d; potatoes, £0 tp £610s per ton. Provisions. — Hams aril bacon, English, 'i nonofi,. Colonial, 10d.; cheese,' English, rorief 10a; rice, j'a^MiK^-^#« coara#i £5 t0£5103 » Is 9d to 2s 3d; 9d; orange pekoe,, 2s 10d to 3s 2d; sugar, 'GR6G£R.IES, J OILIiIENJS' STORES, SPIRITS, &o ( Camjlbs,-De Roubaix's, Price's Belmont's, ' 13s; salmon, <P, 7a 6d; lobsters, raisma, Eleme,6dj

Oilmen's Stokes, &c.—Fruits, Batty's and Morton's, 15a Gd to 16s 6d; pickles, Morton's, lis 6d to 12s; do, Whybrow's, 11a to lis 6d; salad oil, pints, 13s to 14s, half-pints, 7s 6d castor pints, 12s, half-pints, 7s; mustard, lib, 15s to 17s; £lbs, 8s 6d to 9s 6d; starch, white, Sd, do blue, sd; vinegar bulk, 2s 6d to 3s, bottles, quarts, lis; fruit Colonial, 10s to 10s 6d, Hobart Town jam, 8s; sauce, Lea and Perrins', 14s to 148 6d, Olson's 13s 6d, half-pints, 8s 6d. '

Spirits in Bond.—Brandy, kartell's, pale, 9s6d; Hennessy's, dark, 7s 6tl to 8s; pale, 9s 6d. In case: Hennessy's, 325; Geneva, lis 6d to 18s; Schnapps, 255; old torn, 12s to 15s; whisky, Dunville's bulk, 7s to 7a Gd; case, 15s; rum, 30 olp., 4s 9d to 5s Gd,

Wines, Duty Paid.—Port, froml2s upwards; sherry, from 12s upwards; champagne, from 5Ds upwards; claret, from 25s upwards, MONTHLY SHARE REPORT. We have much pleasure in reporting a general improvement in mining affairs, The market for the past month has been exceedingly healthy in tone without excitement, yet sufficiently animated to show that investors who . are intimately acquainted with the resources of the Thames have come to the conclusion that a large proportion of the Bhares dealt in are now at a price which will give them fair returns for their capital. The most important fitid that haa occurred for some time past has been that in the Manukau Company'a mine. This will undoubtedly give a great impetus to speculation should the present prospects continue, of which there is every indication.—The returns from the Old Whau have exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine, over 3,8000za now lodged in the bank, and this. will be considerably augmented by a further lodgment at the end of the week, sufficient at any rate to enable the directors topAya dividend of ,£3 per share to the fortunate shareholders. There are 3,000 shares in. the company, therefore a sum of £9,000 will be distributed, The pride of this stock has risen steadily during the' month. Sales from £4 15s to £7 15s, closing slightly easier; sellers, £7 7s 64.—The Alburnia shares have much improved in value in consequence of the Whau prospects, and important discoveries in their own mine. Sales from 6s to 30s (2nd issue), ditto 25s to 32s Gd (paid-up); closing buyers, 29s (2nd issue); ditto, 32s 6d (paid-up), with an upward tendency.—The prospects of the City of London were never better. A fresh reef of very promising appearance was struck recently. Thifi company haa paid a dividend of 5s per share, equal to £1,250. Prices have ranged from 18s 6d cum div. to 24s ex., closing firm with buyers at 23s 6d.— Bright Smile, sales from £2 17s Gd to £4 ss, and buyers now at the latter figure. The reports from this mine are gratifying. Winzes are now being sunk on the lode, and the next level promises to be quite equal to the present one. The shareholders are sanguine of good regular dividends ere long.—Queen of the May Bhares hive attracted a good deal of attention;' sales from 7s to 12s. closing buyers lis 6d, sellers about 12s.—The Bird-in-Hand, like its neighbours, is in favour; sales from 13s to IG3 6d, buyers at 15s, sellers 16s 6d.—We are unable to report any improvement in the Caledonian mine. The Manukau find caused a slight demand, and salefe effected as high as £9 10s; but they have not sustained the rise, closing with sellers £9, few buyers at £8 10s.— Considerable transactions in Cure shares. This mine is likely to be benefited by the Manukau find. Sales from 2s Gd to 7s; call paid, Is. Numerous buyers now.—Tookey, Imperial Crown, and Albion not mentioned for business during the month.—Large sales of Ruby, from 3s 6d to 3s.—A limited business in Central Italy, from 4s 9d to 6s 6d, closing weak. The yield, although a very fair one, has disappointed the shareholders.— Coliban are firm; buyers, 6s; shares scarce.—Nonpareil, a few sales from 2s 6d to 3s 6d, closing sellers 4s, buyers 3s Gd. —Exchange have : had a sudden fall; sales from 9s to 7s Gd, closing firm, with buyers at 7s 6d; not many shares offering.—Waitemata slightly improved; buyers, 4s 9d.—Black Angel shares have fluctuated; silea from 7a 6d to 18s 6d, closing weak, sellers 14s 6d.— Moanataiari, very few sales recorded; latest, 395. , John Frater, Chairman. D. R. Qellios, Acting Secretary,Thames Stock and Mining Association, April 9,1874. THAMES STOCK AND SHAKE MARKET. Thursday, 7.15 p.mi Sales.—Alburnia (paid-up), 31s, 31s Gd, 325; Bright Smile, £4 ss; City of London, 233 Gd, 245; Queen of the May, lis; Cure, 6s 3d, Gssd, 6s 6d, 7s; Ruby, 3s; Nonpareil, 3s 6d; Moanataiari, 395; Exchange, 7s 6d. I Sellers.—Caledonian, £9; Old Whau, £7 17s 6d; Alburnia (paid-up), 353 J Bird-in-Hand, 16s 6d; Queen of the May, lis 9d; Coliban, Gs3d; Ruby, 3i Gd; Nonpareil, 4s; Watteinata, 5s 3d ; Black Angel, 14s 6d; Red Queen, Is 3d, : Buyers.—Caledonian/ £8 10s; Alburnia (paid-up), 30s; Bright Smile, £4 2s Gd; City of London, 23s 6d; Queen of the May, lis 6d; Cure, 6s 9d; Coliban, 5s 9d ! Nonpareil, 3s 6d; Waitemata, 4s 9d; Exchange, 7s Gd. D. R. Gellion, Acting Secretary. CUSTOMS DUTIES. ' The following are the Customs Duties 'collected at the port of Thames for the 9th of April, 1874:— - Duties ■ ■ £22 3 0