Commercial.

Press, Volume XVII, Issue 2315, 24 September 1870, Page 2

Commercial.

"Pbess" Office, Sept 24,1870. In the import market business has been very quiet, and sales can only be effected of ; quite retail parcels. The news of the war has no doubt made dealers restless and unsettled ; but apart from that, the spring is not yet sufficiently advanced to improve trade. The Ramsey cleared for London on the 21st inst* (with a full cargo of tallow, preserved meats, wool, &c, together with a few passengers. The grain market was violently disturbed last week ' with the news by the San Francisco mail, and on Saturday last a further impetus was given when telegrams appeared with the news that a serious flood had visited Victoria, and damaged their crops. These advices had the effect of sending up wheat to 4s 9d and 5s for superior parcels already stored. Holders at once commenced to look for extravagant rates, and all sorts of figures were spoken of. Several good-sized lines were quitted at the latter figure, and while the speculative feeling lasted, this price was readily given for really good samples. As the week wore on things became quieter, and present grates rule from 4s 6d to 4s 9d. In Melbourne quotations are about stationary, and leave no margin to ship from here. Our own stocks on hand are heavy, but the Auckland market is still open and their prices must be guided by ours. The next mail from Europe is anxiously looked for, and if the war has caused further complications, values will again be in the ascendant, in the meantime present quotations will most likely be difficult to maintain as we have no market to ship to at the rates now ruling. Barley remains a drug and it is impossible to dispose of anything but very superior malting samples. Oats are rather difficult to quit, and are offering somewhat freely at 2s 6d to 2s Bd. Holders are chary in accepting prices offered, but the . supply at present is beyond the demand. Flour is quoted at £1 over late rates, but the trade doing is limited. A decided advance of Is 6d per gallon has been established for bulk brandy. Stocks of case are very low and the recent advices have had the effect of advancing rates 3s. A few enquiries are now being made for wool packs, but the season is too early to admit of large sales Cornßacks are in better request now the readjustment of the tariff has taken place, and holders are sanguine that present rates of 14a to 14s 3d on terms will be sustained. Favorite brands of twist tobacco move off freely. Teas are readily saleable, and quotations for really good samples have advanced. Candles are moving off at late values. Kerosene meets with a limited enquiry at 3s 3d. Cape raisins find ready purchasers at sd. Currants are wanted, but the shortness of supplies prevent large sales. A Bteady demand is experienced for sugars, good white crystals and light counters are in most request. Stocks of galvanised iron are getting into fewer hands. Imported malt is rarely enquired for as the market is full of colonial, which can be placed at a lower figure. Hops are commanding some notice, stocks of good Sent and Surrey are somewhat scarce. Fine salt is wanted at.£s to £5 ss. The demand for

teas has improved but slightly, although stocks have lately been reducing ; fine teas are firmly held, while medfum and low qualities are difficult to move excepting at a logs to importers. Mr Buss sold the wreck of the p.s. Sturt as she now lies stranded on the south spit of Kaiapoi bar, at auction, at the Pier hotel, yesterday. She fetched £41, ■ and wa9 knocked down to Mr C. Oram. Mr Beeby reports—Wheat, for first stored samples quite firm at 43 9d; holders won't take less than ss. Oats are somewhat lower, the fine weather enabling the farmers to deliver stocks that have been long in hand. Probably, however, a large quantity will bo delivered in a more or less bad condition either from wet or vermin, having been so long in stack. Barley remains in small demand, but with a slight upward tendency. Potatoes not quite so firm, at 20s to 22s 6d. Cheese rather quiat, at 7d. Butter dull, at Bd. Bird and Bennett report on the live stock market for the week ending the 23rd instant, as follows—Cattle—'This market still continues dull, with little improvement, several lots have changed hands at not very satisfactory prices ; but should the fine weather continue, we may expect a marked improvement. Quotations —Prone beef, 28a to 30s per lOOlbs; cows in calf, £6*. to £9, according to quality ; steers, £5 to £7 ; young stock, £3 to £4 10s. Fat sheep—The demand for fat sheep still continues, and although the market was well supplied—about 1100 being yarded—last Wednesday's prices were very satisfactory. We sold* privately and by auction, this week, another draft of ewes (600) from the run of Messrs Studholme Brothers. These sheep, for the time of year, are really first class, and the competition was very brisk indeed. Prices realised from 10s to 10s 3d per head. Messrs Weir Brothers will arrive, weather permitting, with the last draft on Wednesday week. We quote good mutton at fully 3d per lb, with an upward tendency. In store sheep there is a good demand for store wetherß for paddock purposes, but very few for sale. In store ewes there is little or nothing doing. Horses —Our yards have been barely supplied, although there is a good demand for all descriptions of horses. Stock and prices show a decided 'tendency to improvement. We quote heavy draught from £30 to £40 ; medium do, £15 to £25; useful saddle and harness horses, £9 to £18 ;. inferior, £5 and t upwards.

Messrs E. Mitchell and Co's live stock report for the week ending September 23, 1870—The market was fairly supplied with cattle on Wednesday, and but little alterations in prices took place. Fat stock was slightly lower, and but few changed hands. Good two and three year old store steers are enquired for, and are saleable at our Jast quotations. The number of sheep yarded was rather in excess of the demand. One lot was withdrawn, but all the others sold at prices equal to 3d per lb. We sold a lot of wethers from the St Leonard station at from lis 3d to lis 9d; ewes, inferior, 7s. The horse market is very dull, good draught colts are selling much lower than we like to see them. We sold a few on Saturday at from £16 to to £18 10s ; light stock is quite unsaleable, unless at a very low figure. We quote prime beef at 27s 6d per lOOlbs; 46 to 48 wethers at from 11b to 12s. Store sheep—None in the market. . Messrs H. Matson and Co. report on the Live Stock Market for the week, as follows: — At Carlton Yards, on Wednesday last, only 100 head. of cattle were yarded, and being chiefly of a very inferior description, the biddings were not brisk, although for the quality of the stock offered, full rates were obtained; we sold forty head at for young stock, £2 to £3 15s per head; old cows, from £1 to £4 12s 9d ; good store cows at 5s to £6 ICs ; two-year-old steers, £6 15s to £6 ss; two fat bullocks, £11 5s per head; 2 do, £8 10s j 2 do, £7 15s $ a good demand exists for good freßh stores. Fat Sheep—The yards were crowded with sheep, and although nothing but medium quality was offered, they were all cleared out at extreme rates. At Carlton Yards, on Thursday, we sold on account of Mr Alfred Walker, 108 head of first-class cattle, and without exception the best lot that has been put through the yards this season ; 40 fat bullock £8 12s 6d to £11 15s per head ; good stores from £6 to £7 15s ; young cattle from £3 2s 6d to £5 12s 6d, the whole making an average of £7 8s 7d per head. j Dunedin.—The " Daily Times" of Sept 22, reports :—The import markets have been rather quieter during the last day or two, but the finer weather experienced has exercised a good effect upon general business, and both in the demand for up country and town requirements continued improvement may be anticipated. Moet imported goods are now held very firmly, and holders are generally disposed to quit sparingly for the present, and J for some goods, particularly spirits, there are no sellers until after the receipt of further advices. In consequence of this feeling transactions have been, though numerous, very unimportant in size, and little furnishing a guide to the state of the market has been carried through. Breadstuff's and grain show continued improvement, good milling wheats are very firm at 5s 4d to 5s 6d some holders refusing to accept the latter rate. Oats are equally firm at the advanced rate, 3s 6d. The current rates for flour are still'£l2 10s to £13, but millers decline to take any large orders, and in all probability, in the course of a day or two, purchases will not be practicable at the latter of these rates. In the auction marts there has been nothing stirring, the sales of the past few days witnessing little or no business doing in this direction.