WESTLAND.

Press, Volume X, Issue 1169, 6 August 1866, Page 2

WESTLAND.

.-._o_trn__. - _he*? c of the 3rd instant, reports: - In consequence of the jpaucity of arrivals during the past ten days, the markets have; beeminusually bare of many leading articles, and prices have displayed a decided upward tendency. This has been especially the case with oats, bran, and colonial produce generally, and with wines and Bpirits of good brands. Ab trading transactions have, however, ceased altogether to be of a speculative -character, and as the present dearth of stocks is expected to be only temporary, pending expected arrivals, the effect ha_ not gone beyond rendering rates firm at a slight advance, and no difficulty has been experienced in executing such orders as have come to hand during the week. It would bo of little use to quote ruling prices, as doubtless during the next few days tho markets will be abundantly supplied by arrivals of produce now on their way from the neighboring colonies. It is unnecessary ;: td say that the recent commercial advices from England have had no appreciable effect upon the trade of this district, which is not in a condition to be influenced by them. A alight run upon one of the local banks at Okarita is the only special incident of the week that calls for any notice. It originated in one of the many misconceptions that have heen occasioned by the confusion of names borne by different banking companies. The suspension of payment by the Commercial Bank of New Zealand, at Dunedin, has taken no one by surprise who was acquainted with the nature of the business transacted by that (corporation. With an exclusively English proprietary, the Commercial Bank had but two offices m the colony—the head office at Dunedin, and a small branch at the township W'Waipori. The slight "crisis," however, that occurred has had the {effect of showing the solid basis upon whioh the' real colonial banking establishment- rest, and the ample character of their resources. The following we ihe Customs returns on import duties for

the week : —Friday, £295 6s 9d; Saturday, £458 12s 4d ; Monday, £312 10s 6d ; Tuesday, £138 Is 3d; Wednesday, £646 12s 9d ; Thursday, £320 Is 4d. Total, £2171 5s lid. The import duties received at the Customhouse during the month of July amounted to £10,233 0s lid. The export duty on gold for the month of July amounted to £3770 10s, representing 30,164 ozs. cleared, which include a ohipment of 8020 ozs. on Wednesday of the present week, by the Tararua, for Melbourne. okarita. Tbe "Westhvnd Observer," of the 28th ultimo, gives the following commercial intelligence : — There has not been sufficient business doing in town during the week to alter our last week's quotations of any article. The demand for goods for Gillespie's beach is on the decrease ; and the quantity being sent to the W&iho or any new locality is very inconsiderable. The sale of horse feed, ex Marian Renny, did not realise so much to the consignee as we contemplated in last issue. The oat 9 were sold at 8s to 8s 3d, some of the trade holding back owing to the lots offered being reduced to the retail number of five bags. Wo question whether the higher price could not have been got before the sale, if offered privately, or a considerable advance, had the lots been sufficient only to have caused competition between the dealers in place of between the consumers. Chaff is being sold at 35s per cwt.; and bran at 4s 6d to 5s per bushel. There is little or no good butter in the market at present, and 2s lOd to 3s could now be obtained for a few prime kegs. Candles and kerosene are not coming in quite equal to the demand. Potatoes are offering at £14 to £15 per ton. We observe that one or two Hokitika merchants have paid the town a visit again, with the object, doubtless, of obtaining orders ; but they must see a marked change, not only in the demand generally, but more particularly coming from a port similar to our own, liable to the same freight and charges, and whence all goods to this port must undergo a double freight. In all the leading articles the same prices may be quoted here as in Hokitika. Messrs Chapman and Co. report: —During the week we have sold the entire cargo of the Marion Renny, consisting of—Oats, 8s to 8s 4d per bushel; chaff, £35 per ton ; turnips, £15 per ton ; carrots, £16 to £18 ; parsnips, £19 to £20. Also, the cargo of the Emma Eliza, consisting of thirty tons Grey river coal, at £6 10s. Also, Renault's pale brandy (in bond), at 30s; JDKZ geneva (in bond), 20s to 30s; port wine in qr.-casks (in bond), £9 10s ; half-chests tea (in bond), £4 2s 6d ; ditto (duty paid), £4 to £4 15s ; Chilian flour, £23 10s to £25 ; Adelaide do, £30 to £34; Canterbury butter, 2s 7d to 2s 7_d ; colonial ale, £8 to £810s per hhd.