Commercial.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1558, 4 November 1867, Page 2

Commercial.

Pbess Office, Monday, November 4. There has been a fair amount of business transacted during the past week, and although Stocks are still considerably in excess of busineßS..requirenientß n p disposition is shown to force trade. Shipments to arrive are light, and it is confidently expected that the greater portion of stocks in hand will be worked off at fair prices during summer. The protracted dulness during the past eighteen months has been productive of some amount of good, as evidenced by the attention now given.to start and forward local industries, ■which, if carried out to their full extent with prudence, will be'tho turning point in the ( trade of the province. , The flour market still rules heavy, and ■ large parcels are difficult to quit; prices re- , main at £12 to £13 per ton for best silkdressed. Bran and sharps are being exported i in considerable quantities; quotations the j Bame as last week's. Wheat is coming to hand freely both for home use and for shipment to the Northern provinces ; all transactions have been made at 3s and 3s 3d per bushel. Oats have also been largely dealt in, principally fer Wellington, at a shade over 2s. Barley is quiet, little being now in growers* hands ; we quote 3a 9d to 4s per bushel for good malting quality. There have been no inquiries for beans »nd peas during the week. Hay still continues depressed, but the "forthcoming crop is not looking so v ' promising as a week or two ago, which may enable holders of old to hold on for full prices. Potatoes are now pretty well cleared, off, and £4 5s per ton is the current rate, of late sales. The grain returns from Kaiapoi show that a considerable quantity of grain, particularly wheat, of a fair average quality, has been held Since last harvest j and though a large parcel has moved off during the month, there are still, iwe believe, several holders for an adTanco on current prices. Of the major part shipped during the past month a large parcel • has been sent to Auckland. The probability of wheat being again sent to England from . this district is settled, though the first instalment intended for shipment per Blue Jacket hat, we are sorry to learn, come to. grief on the bar. The wool season is just opening with every prospect of ending successfully in nearly every respect. A few bales are already to hand, and another fortnight will see the busy season fairly set in. During last week the usual ceremonies over the first bale shipped on the Blue Jacket were carried out. We have to notice the opening out of one or two large stores at Kaiapoi, which is a healthy sign. The business of Mr A. Weston, a general dealer, has been taken by Mr W. D. Buddie, while the other partner of the late ' firm of Newnham and Buddie has commenced under th« firm of Newnham and Co. in the same Una of business. Other improvements in business premises lead us to suppose that the connection of the town is rapidly taking a turn towards future prosperity. Wilson and Alport held a sale of sheep at the Carlton yards on Friday last, and placed at fair market rates 486 merino ewes, with half-bred lambs, forty-eight half-bred Romney Marsh and merino ewe and wether hoggets. 3?hey also report a well supplied and largely attended market on Saturday, prices in most cases showing an improvement upon recent rate*. Tweaty head of cattle brought—for old cows, £6 to £7 each; one superior Durham poley o»w, £21 ; yearling heifers, £3 12s 6d to £4 10* tfach; yearling steers, £5 15s do; two-year-old <Lo, £10 and £ 0 10s - do ; fat pigs, 30 to 35a do; so«g, 42s 6d do ; store pigs, 14s to 20s do ; fowls, 4s 6d per couple ; carcass pigs, 3d to 3£d per lb.; hams, 7d do ; wheat, for fowls, 2s per bushel; inferior flour, £5 to £6 per ton ; Derwent potatoes, £4 do. Mr Charles Clark reports a capital attendance at the auction sale held at Leeston on November 1; that Biddings wore spirited, and nearly every lot was cleared off at fair prices. Yearling steers, from £4 03 to £6 each ; two-year-old do, from £6 to £9 10s do ; heifers, from £8 to £10 5s do; cows, from £0 to £12 do. This trial sale being considered successful, a large quantify of ail kinds of stock has {promised at the next monthly sale to be held «3» .Friday, December 6. :. Mr T. Preece reports the following prices realized on Saturday at th*- auction dep6t -. — Pigs—Porkers, 25s each ; small stores, 7s to j 12s each j -tuckers, 3 s to 7$ each ; carcass i pigs, 3£d per tfe. Poultry—Fowls, common, 4« 9d to 5a per osuple ; do, Spanish, 8s to 12s per couple. £t}*mi-oea —Derwents, 4s 3d >to 6« per cwt.: white, 3s »#d do. Wheat, for chickens, 2s 3d snd 2s 4d pe* bushel; oats, 2s 4ddo ; brad, 3d do; sharps, Is da ; bacon, 3d to 6d per lb.; hams, 5d to 7d do ; c&lonial (Christchurch) aoap, 4*d <". * j cheese, inferior, -ftVd to 7d do ; mould caudles, 6Jd do.