Commercial Intelligence.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIII, Issue 955, 22 August 1856, Page 2

Commercial Intelligence.

The recent intelligence of the advance in the flour and grain market of the neighbouring colonies, has led to a corresponding advance upon prices here, and has had the effect of temporarily, at least, stimulating into activity our languid commercial system. Vessels have been despatched to all parts of the coast wheie grain is known to be held by the natives, and it is hoped that the present rise in the market will induce the native growers to thrash out their stocks of grain, and to repay the advances which, in too many cases, were made to them upon the growing crop. The quantity of grain which has thus, in pursuance of a suicidal policy, been held over, is stated to be very great — according to some estimates, about 400,000 bushels. Were this quantity, instead of being stacked, and in immediate improvement would be experienced in trade, and commercial matters generally, would soon assume a much healthier aspect. ' At the same time, we feel it our duty to offer a word of caution. The present advance is, in our opinion, the result of a panic, and will be but of temporary duration. As will be seen from a- n|ragraph which we subjoin, stocks remaining in i South*A.merica from last year are very great. This year's crop, too, is admittedly large ; and we think it by no means improbable that the injury by rain has been exaggerated by the Chilian growers. The first account was that one-half the crop was destroyed ; the second came down to one-third ; and the next may, probably, be even more moderate. It is believed, too, that large quantities are yet in the hands of the farmers of Adi laide and Tasmania. It is therefore desirable, we think, that, pending further advices, buyers of wheat should not yield to a speculative spirit, nor give prices which might end, not merely in a loss to themselves, but, by pandering to the morbid avarice of the native grower," result in a public injury. We subjoin the paragraph above referred to :— Grain in Store.— The Chicago 'Journal' of the 22nd ult. says : "By a private letter from a gentleman at Peru, of the 21st inst., the following statement is furnished of the corn in store along the Illinois River : — 'At Peru 124,000 bushels; at La Salle, 70,000, at Ottawa, 200,000 ; and from Peru to and at Peoiia, 700,000; in all, 1,094,000 bushels at these pom s, from Ottawa to Peoria, inclusive. There is probably in store at Lockport, 125,000 bushels; at Morris, 100,000; and at Joliet, 50,000 to 60,000. The probability is, this quantity will be doubled before the canal is opened. There is little of any other grain in store at these points.' In Chicago there is in store about 116,000 bushels of wheat, 51,100 bushels of corn, 14,800 bushels of oats, according to the statements of the warehouse men." This large quantity of grain, now that peace is proclaimed in Europe, will not find a ready market there, and will realize a very low figure. In consequence, the grain of South America, not finding a market in Europe, will serve to keep down the prices of Australia and New Zealand.— Toronto Colonist, 13th March. Mill Prices, Auckland— On Monday last, in consequence of the intelligence received by the 'Algerinp,' flour rose from £20 to £25, and we learn that sales have even been effected at £30. In consequence of this advance, I read was raised on Wednesday to 7d. We think that the following report, by Mr. Fletcher of the Steam Mills, fairly repiesents the present state of our market :— On account of the sudden rise in the price of flour and wheat in the Sydney market, our millers have been obliged to alter their quotations, viz. : flour, £25 per ton for best, and £23 for seconds ; wheat from Bs. to 9s. per bushel, according to quality. But little confidence is placed in the present excited state of the Sydney markets.

The regular weekly cattle sale, held at Newmarket on Tuesday last, by Mr. Alfred Buckland, was well attended, and better supplied with both store and fat stock than on the previous market day, which realized fair prices. A lot of 12 fat steers andbullocks sold at an average iof £13 17s. 6d. each. Several lots of cows, heifers, and steers (about nineteen) averaged £6 ss. Six dairy covrs averaged £9 16s. A lot of nineteen hoggets sold for 19s. 4d. each. Ten fat lambs at 12s. 3d. And a lot of ten superior fat ewes at 46s each. After the auction two large sized working bullocks were disposed of privately for £40. Messrs. Connell and Ridings held a clearing, sale at the stores of J. Stevenson and Co., Queen-street, on Wednesday last, at which the following prices were realized : — Jacquesson's champagne (fair sample) 31s. per dozen ; port wine (good) 245. to 275. per dozen ; Martell's brandy, in wood, 14s. per gallon ; Truman's stout, lls. 6d. per dozen ; Cork butter (bad sample), Bd. to B|d.; tobacco pipes (small bowl), 6d. to 9d. per gross j yellow soap (inferior), 265. per cwt. ; green paint, 24d. to 3d. per Hi. ; Nos. 1 and 2 strapped steel spades, 30s. per dozen ; hog Jskin saddles, 325. ; galvanized spouting, 6d to Bd. per foot ; down pipes, 7d. per foot ; Hill and Jones' confectionery realized fair prices, such as acid drops and barley sugar Is. 2d. per ft. ; preserved pippins, lid.; assorted jams, (lib.) 129. per dozen ; peppermints, Is. 2^d. per ft. Boots and shoes also sold well, such as calf Wellingtons, 135, ; enamelled Napoleons, 245. ; do shooting boots, 15s. 6d.; carpet slippers, 2s. 7d.; ladies' cloth boots, ss. 9d. to 6s. 9d.; kid legs, 6s. 9d.; children's enamelled shoes, 2s. 3d.; men's bluchers, 6s. 6d.; boys', ss. 9d. The drapery qlso fetched improved p-iees.