Commercial.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2161, 22 March 1870, Page 2

Commercial.

TiMAitU—The "Herald," of Saturday, reports : — Business continurs moderate, but there id still an uneasy feeling abroad, and rumours affecting the credit of one or two firms are floating about. These rumours, we regret to cay, are rather too freely discussed and magnified, and in some cases considerable injustice is done by the totally unfounded nature of the reports. Last week there were two stoppages, Mr 0- Flockton, machinist, •whose suspension was not unexpected ; and Mr Williamson, surveyor, through liabilities on account of bills endorsed, for a considerable Bum. We also notice that Messrs G. and P. Todd hare suspended business, and made a deed of assignment. The liabilities are stated about £2300, and the assets over £3000. It will be seen from our advertising columns that important Bales of properties will be held by Mr F. LeOen on Tuesday &nd Wednesday next. Wβ should say that no more favorable opportunity could present iteelf to capitalists than investment in property at the present moment in Timarn, as it may be said to be at its lowest possible ebb. Boiling down operations will be commenced at the Washdyke on Monday next. In grain there is a fair amount of business doing. Wheat remains at. 3e per bushel. Oats are a shade lower if anything ; inferior samples have been sold at Iβ 9d, the highest quotation being 2s. Barley is 3s 6d per bushel. Potatoes and carrots are offering at £2 10s to £3 per ton, but nothing doing. Wo understand that a large order for some 100 tons of flour was received at the Timaru flour mills the other day for the Wellington market, but of course the order could not be executed under present circumstances, as the mill is stopped and offered for sale on behalf of -the mortgagees. Such orders as these ere losses the district can ill afford at the present time, and it is hoped the mill will coon be at work again. SxDifEY—The " Herald ° of the 7th reports —The dnlness of trade has increased during the week owing to the inclemency of the •weather. The amount of business done has been comparatively trifling, not a private sale of any importance having been reported. Auction business may be said to have been limited to the cargo of sugars ex Surprise, which was all sold at advanced rates. The breadstuiffl market closes with increased firmness on the part of holders. The recently* arrived cargoes of Californian have all come to one firm, who are not likely to press sales. Adelaide flour moves off in trade lots at £14 10s. Sydney millers , quota* tions are £13 to £13 10s; bat some' are selling at £12 10s. Californian is worth abont £12. Country wheat is becoming mors plentiful, and brioge from

4s to 5s 6d. All the Adelaide wheat in first hands has been purchased up to 6s. Candles are steady at lOd to lOfd, according to brand. Plantation coffee has changed hands in trace ciritalitiee at 9}d ; good Java ia scarce, and wanted. Cornsacka arc dull but firm ; a concession on the prut of holders would lead to sales. Woolpaek*. bagging, and twine are quite nominal. There is steady sale for currants at o\d to 5.1 d. Figs, Jtleme raisins, and gooi muscatels*are almost out of stock, and command extreme rates. Dried apples are worth 7.'d- Fieh of all descriptions, except ealmon, are in seasonable request at full prices. The large etock of every class of metals renders sales difficult to effect. Inferior galvanised iron is offering at rates anything but remunerative to importers. Oilmen's stores and groceries move slowly ; quotations are nominally the earne as they wero a month ago, but to place a. parcel very much lower prices would have to be accepted. Engliah bacon is wanted at full rates. Linseed oil in drums changed hands at 4a term?, and small lines of kerosene at 2* sd. Liquors are only dealt in for present trade requirements. For retailers' lots of bulk ale of new brew, £7 10s to £7 103 has been paid for best brands. Sales of inferior at, £6 upwards. Bottled beer is unaltered. Best brands of bulk brandy met a slow sale at 7s, inferior nominal. Henneesy's case has been done at 265. Bum is held for higher rates ; some parcels of Lowndes's are quoted at 4s 3d, though sales are reported at 4s and 4s Id. Some grades of sugars are dearer, though the company's quotations remain unchanged. Teas (congoue) have changed hands privately. The cargo ex Else, just landed, was offered at auction and a small quantity sold at £6. The tobacco flaarket is tolerably firm, as the last advices from America favour holders Manila cigars have been affected by the arrival of the African Maid, at Melbourne, with a good parcel, part of which is for this market. Transactions in the stock and share market have not increased since our last report. Prices generally have been steady. Sales of New South Wales exhibit a "similar tendency, sales at close at 39. New Zealand firm at 16|. Sales of New Zealand Treasury Bills have been renewed on Government account, and business done at par. Caufoenia. —Californian advices to Jan. 11 havo been received at Sydney. The following is the latest commercial report :—" Our millers are all occupied upon export orders for flour, sales to a considerable extent having been made by them at the close of December, which yet remain unfulfilled, but are being executed with promptness, for the despatch of vessels now on the berth for China and the Australian colonies. Our market for feed grains shows much firmness. Barley continues in good request, with an upward tendency in values. The demand for this marketable grain must, in the near future, be considerably affected by the large corn surplus, particularly in the southern portion of the State, though the corn crop iier]6a,bouts was much greater in 1869 than many people are aware of, far exceeding any like crop previously gathered in California. Thus far, during the fall and winter, comparatively little corn has been marketed, for the reason that prices were low and the demand'meagre. Flour —Markets are unchanged, stock moderate; offerings light. Only 1000 barrels were received from Oregon during the week, and much of that previously received has been sent East via Panama. Our city mills are now running upon export orders, fulfilling December contracts. We have, therefore, no large sales to record at thie time. Otherwise, we note sales of Alviso, Santa Clara, Stockton City, Orange, Vineyard, and Lombard Mills', including invoices of Oregon, from the well known Albany, Salem, Commercial, and Imperial Mills. 2500 barrels superflne sold at 4 dollars 25''cents to 4 dollars 37£ cents; 2500 barrels ditto, 4 dollars 50 cents per 1961b ; also 5000 barrels superfine, various brands, on -private terms. We quote superfine at 4 dollars 25 cents to 4 dollars 50 cents, according to brand ; extra superfine, 4 dollars 50 cents to 4 dollars 75 cents ; bakers and family extra saleable at 5 dollars to 5 dollars 50 cents per 1961b, the latter the jobbing rate for fancy brands—all in half and quarter-sacks; in barrels about 50 cents additional is demanded. Our latest Liverpool quotation is 9a 7d per ctl, freights £2 Bs, thus making the present cost about 47s per quarter. Transactions here and in the interior include the following parcels— 10,000 eacks extra choice, private ; 5000 sacks, 1 dollar 624 cents to 1 dollar 65 cents ; 15,000 sacks prime shipping, 1 dollar 57|. cents to 1 dollar 60 cente ; 5000 sacks milk ing, 1 dollar 37i cents to 1 doliar 40 cents ; 5000 sacks do, 1 dollar 25 cents to 1 dollar 30 cents —the range at the close, 1 dollar 25 cents to 1 dollar 65 cents per cental; closing with an advancing tendency. Barley—with a good demand, holders evince much firmness. The China, for Japan, carried on orders 4434 ctls. Sales of brewing have been offered at 1 dollar 25 cents. The sales of the week aggregate 15,000 bags, within the range of 1 dollar cents to 1 dollar 24 cents per ctl. ; closing with an upward tendency. Oats: The 6upply is limited, and those obtainable are a lot of choice quality— light—while those from coast ports are dark, and therefore lees saleable, particularly for export." A private letter, received by a Sydney firm from their Californian correspondent, writing on 11th January, states :—" The absence of rain has had the effect of imparting firmness to wheat, holders of which refuse selling; good shipping qualities are now held at 1 dollar 70 cente to 1 dollar 75 cente; while superfine flour is quoted at 5 dollars. There being not much shipping at these prices, freights rule low, and vessels would gladly accept 40s for Liverpool."