Commercial.

Press, Volume X, Issue 1211, 24 September 1866, Page 2

Commercial.

Pbess Office, Monday, Sept. 24. We have to note last week as being more than ordinarily dull in all branches of business, partly from an unwillingness in wholesale houses to push trade in the face of the numerous failures daily occurring, and partly from the great caution that legitimate retailers now exercise as buyers, they being unwilling to lay in heavy stocks in the face of the general trade depression. A great many persons who about a year ago began business without sufficient capital are daily giving way, and although the liabilities in eaoh case are comparatively small, still it creates a want of confidence amongst the community, which will not be remedied until our bankruptcy laws are placed upon a better basis. We have no change to note in breadstuffs, and prices remain at our late quotations, even, if anything, easier. Best silk-dressed flour, £13 per ton; second quality, £11 10s. Wheat is 4s 6d for best milling samples, with little doing, and oats are not in so much demand at 5s per bushel. Bran and sharps cannot be quoted higher than £6 5s and £7 5s per ton respectively. Barley is 6s per bushel, and peas 6s for mixed samples for pig feed, and 9s for clean seed samples. Beans are also quoted at 9s. Hay is £4 10s, delivered, and straw £1- per load; carrots, £2 10s; and potatoes, £2 5s to £2 15s. A fair quantity of stock were yarded on Saturday. Milch cows were inferior, and brought from £14 to £16 10s. A mob of good two and three-year-old steers and heifers were bought by Mr Grigg, singly, at an average for the former of £8 10s, and the latter of £11 ss. Mr H. E. Alport reports having held sales by auction during the past week for four days consecutively, at which a considerable amount of business has been transacted. On Wednesday, at the Market-place sale room-, 800 dozen oranges, ex Bona, from Cook's Islands, were placed at from Is 9d to 2s per dozen ; four cases apples, not in good order (the balance of a consignment), 3£d per lb. Tlie fruit market is now barely supplied, and unless a supply arrives during the next two or three weeks, prices of fresh fruit will rule high. At the same sale the following goods were disposed of:—Sperm candles, full weights, Is Id .to Is 2d per lb ; Sultana raisins, 7_d per lb ; Eleme do (old fruit) ,7d do ; figs, Bsd do. A parcel of clothing and Crimean shirts brought remunerative prices. On Thursday and Friday, at the White Horse hotel, the sale was held of the lease and license of the house, bar and other trade utensils and fittings, stock of spirits, wines and beer, and the furniture of the hotel. A large number of buyers assembled, and fair prices were realised for all the property offered. On Saturday, at Christchurch market, the suppy of live stock was smaller than usual. Store and fat pigs brought from 2ls lo 60s ; tur_ey hens, 6s 6d each; turkey cocks, 10s aud lls6d do; ducks, 7s 6d per couple; fowls, 5s 6d to 7s do; potatoes, £2 to £2 10s per ton ; onions (spring), Id to per lb; flour (seconds), £12 per ton ; hams, Is per lb; bacon, 7d to lOd do. A parcel of furniture, &c, was sold at fair prices.