commercial.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1372, 1 April 1867, Page 2

commercial.

" Press " Office, Monday, April 1. The business done during the past week has been almost nominal, the few purchases made being to assort stocks ; but 88 the coming week is generally the busiest of the month, it is expected that the average amount of goods will be quitted. Tho utmost caution, however, is still exercised by both buyers and sellers in their dealings, and it is confidently affirmed that we have seen the worst, and that the tide of more prosperous times is approaching. Consequent on the heavy stocks of nearly all descriptions of goods, prices are very low and without fluctuation. The rise in the Melbourne market of sugars and sperm candles has caused holders to be less anxious to quit, and higher rates are asked. Teas are plentiful, especially the low-priced kinds. Bulk ales, of second-class brands, are in moderate supply ; Bass' E.I. pale is out of first hands, the last shipment being placed at £11. We have only one failure of any note to report, viz., that of Mr Charles Prince. The Labilities are about £2800, and the estimated assets are placed about the same figures. At a meeting of his creditors, held on Saturday last, the estate was placed under trustees. There has been no change in prices of colonial produce, our last week's rates being present market values ; but the business transacted is small compared with the supply offered. Several small cargoes of grain have left for Northern ports, which, with others to follow, wilt, we hope, ease our present heavy markets, and induce higher rates to be given for our surplus grain. A most manifest increase in the quantities of wool exported from Kaiapoi this season is perceptible. The end of the season having scarcely arrived, we cannot give the exact number of bales shipped, but there will be found to be not far off 3360, which is an increase of more than 420 bales shipped the year previous, or about 1200 in excess of the quantity Bhipped in 1865.

Mr C. J. Hubbard reports the usual attendance of sellers, with a fair sprinkling of occasional buyers, at the Corn Exchange, new Town Hall, on Saturday last. A good show of samples of very fair quality, and the fact that our quotations generally are a trifle under those of the Australian colonies, combined also with freight being leßs from here to the North Island than it would be from Australia, inclines us to hope that the North will yet take our surplus grain. The best samples of wheat aro taken by millers at from 3s to 3s Sd— something more given on terms by speculators j inferior, blighted, or old wheat, 2s 6d to 2s 9d. A Blight reduction upon oats, the first 1 demand being somewhat satisfied, the prices of potatoe oats being 2s 9d to 3s ; good feed, 2s 6d to 2s 9d; light and thin oats are almost unsaleable. Malting barley is slow of sale at from 4s to 4s 9d • no quotable price for grinding sorts. Peas and beans are heavy of sale at present, but as spring advances they will be inquired for. Flour, £9 10s to £11 per ton. Potatoes, £3 to £4 per ton. There are a few buyers of good grass hay, trussed, at from £4 10s to £5.

Messrs Wilson and Alport report a largelyattended sale on Saturday at both the Cashel street cattle sale yards and also at the Marketplace yards. The cattle yarded were sold in every case at above owners' expectations, and the cattle market may be pronounced firm at a slight advance. Seveial moderate quality milch cowb brought from £11 to £14 5s each. Ten inferior hacks sold at from £4 to £15. 11l pigs were yarded, and brought full rates. Poultry is much cheaper than it was a few months ago. Largo heavy turkeys, 5s to 8s each ; ducks, 4s 6d to 6s per couple ; fowls, 3s to 5s per pair j wheat, for fowls, 2s 6d to 2s 9d per bushel; barley, 4s do ; good-quality hams and bacon, 8d to 9d per lb ; onions, Id per lb ; potatoes, £2 lGs per ton. Messrs Ollivier and Co. report having sold at the White Hart yards on Saturday, March 30, five small steers, from £3 10s to £3 10s; six half-fat steers, from £11 10s to £13.