COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2554, 8 July 1871, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

_ JPbkss Office, July 8. The fourth;of the miaMfcb passed oversatis- , factorily, tradei engageffieal* met. Business has been some-rJ&t brisker, and several- fair-sized parcels I of general goods are reported to have teen placed at full rates. The Crusader is nearly full, but "-' she*will not get away untilthe latter end of the month. • The 1 Helenslee is shortly expected fremrJOunedin, to load for London. In the grain market a rather quiet week has dosed. No actual alteration in values can be noted,' but buyera -forthe moment are not quite so anxious to operate, as directly the last advance vras fairly established, several parcels came forward from districts which .**rere supposed to have •'quitted their ' surplus T sane time " ago. "The difficulty in obtaining reliable- information is the main cause of these constant checks •-•-■' A_injar£ous alike to the producer, and tiie dealer, and until we have a corn market, and ill connection with it ft.correct register of eqKiris, we may continue to expect a recurrence of the changes which are always dis« j iurbing values. Holders refuse to make i -concessions, and a few sales of superior milling paroeto-ltaye-been made held by the millers; are certainly not heavy, and we still require fully seven months' supAply to carry us harvest, so that we may reasonably esg>eefc prices on the whole .will be quite sustained, -while it is • just possible ranch higher rates will be piid ..'-Jerethe year .closes. Advices from Adelaide > • rfiows that their supplies is rapidly decreasing, and it is exp«ct«i,tliafc Victoria and r .New South Wajes will be -able to absorb the •Whole of the remainder. ' . Anckland 7 i 3 reported to be almost bare of Superior •and they-most shcstly h» an the miarket again as purchasers. The meagre accounts received from EnglancLrelatiie to the supply and demand, are somewhat unsatisfactory"; but it is certain that France must bellajfge stocks in England are far from heavy. On the whole, present VBluea in Europe are expected to be quite toi bused,

while some writers anticipate still higher ratje&S Our local millers are very firm at £15 forest brands of the moment shew a" tdL A feWiines ot superior malting barley* have been,pl&cedat; 3s up-'to 3s „6d. Oatsarsin steady request, as outside advices are slightly more" favorable. Prime samples of bright Canadians are quitted "freely at 2ssd,and even 2s 6d is reported to ha*e Hjeea paid far -onexceptiosaTparcels. 'Tartars are iotlJetter" request for feed @2s 3d. Butter is finding a steady outlet to the North and the West j Coast @ 6Jd to 6fd. Potatoes are dull of I sale @ £2, although holders, as a rule, demand higher figures. Trade in sugars has hwn r.nrfctiled owing to the shortness of stocks held by first houses"! Melbourne I.C have been enquired for® £50to £51.. Bright yellow crystals are scarce at 38s lOd. Building ~materials__are meeting,.....with.an improved demand. Galvanized iron is readilyTplacee at £2& £30 10s for— G.O- Currants are _6omewhat firmer. Fine new fruit is quoted at s£d. Cape and Eleme raisins are wanted at 6£d. A steady demand exists for bottled 'stout at lis 9d to I2s ; direct shipments being almost -out of the market. Brandy is going into the hands of the trade at full prices, Hehhessy and MartelTs pale and dark brandy, in bulk, being firm at 8s 4d to 8s 6d; C.V.P. is quoted at 7s 6d to 7s 9d; Hennessy's case is in good request at 325. Geneva is dull of sale, the market being overstocked. Candles j move off freely at llfd. Kerosene continues ! very dulL; and 'quotations vary from 3s lid | to 3s 3d. Sales of prime Kent hops, 1870,1 ! are reported-at Is 3Jd medium, and inferior I being neglected at Is to Is Id.

Messrs E. Mitchell and Co. report on the live stock market for the week ending July 7 as follows :—The low prices, and the difficulty of effecting sales of stock at the yards, has at last reached its climax; On Wednesday last the market had a most ludicrous appearance; therewas not a pen of sheep in the yards, and not more than 20 head of mixed cattle altogether. To attempt therefore giving quotations from such, a market Would be absurd. But judging from our private sales, and the numerous inquiries we have made this week, there is every probability of " the. statement made in our last report being borne out, snd we may look for a rise in the price of fat stock even sooner than we expected. We have also had several inquiries for store sheep; and in our next report hope to note the sale of one or two large lots: Horses—ln this class of stock there is no change for the better. We sold on Saturday, at the White Hart yards, a lot of very good draught geldings from £14 £35, averaging £26 per head. Also, one yearling entire, £44; several useful light harness horses from £9 10a to £18.

-MrTELJL Alport reports a dull week in the live stock market. At the Carlton yards on Wednesday.no sheep were yarded, and not exceeding 25 head of cattle, principally stores anddaiiy cattle. • Stores showed a slight improvement upon recent low rates*;but milch., cows were not saleable. A few prime fat two/to three-year-old steers and heifers sold privately before reaching the yards at over 20s per 100 lb. No decided alteration in values can be reported for any description of stock.

Bird and Bennett report for the week ending the 7th instant, business has been so extremely dull at the Carlton yards that we have no transactions to record in either cattle or sheep, and consequently cannot quote prices, A draft of good sheep coming to hand every sale day would realise satisfactory prices for the next few months to come. Horses—The deman'Y for all descriptions is somewhat limited, owing to the usua7 dulness prevailing; at this season of the year; quotations—first-class draught. £82 to £38 ; medium, £22 to £26; good light harness horses and. hacks, £16 to £25 ; useful do," £10 id £15 ; inferior, £3 and upwards. ...........

Messrs. H. Matson and Co. report on the live stock market as follows":—Transactions have been of the most limited nature ; the yards were almost bare of stock on Wednesday, only about twenty-five head of cattle being yardedi7 and no sheep, j This is the first time we have noticed such a scarcity of of stock on market.day, and strange,to say there were many anxious buyers of both fat sheep and Cattle present,'which has not been the cape for the past month.... The demand 'for eitra" prime mutton is brisk, at fully'last week's - quotations';'"' There, is no alteration in the value of beef, but the demand is xnuchA"better. - Quotations—Best quality, 1,88 per JOOlbs; small lots up to 20s*: inferior, nominal. * t i