MONTHLY COMMERCIAL SUMMARY. Daily Southern Cross Office, November 28.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2610, 29 November 1865, Page 5

MONTHLY COMMERCIAL SUMMARY. Daily Southern Cross Office, November 28.

Although we have 'again to report the business for th.c past month ds having been dull, thtere'has been a steadier tone aud feeling than" for some months past. Thia may be accounted for in great part by the fact that those firms whose transactions did riot rest upon a solid, basis have had to .give way duriug the recent period^of dulness. , „ ~ , • About the middleof the month a great rise, took place in the price pf bread stuffs —dhiTia'n flour, which had stood for a long time at £19, having been raised to £24, wholesale. The ftdvan,ce,was caused by' the news which had; been received from Australia, -where,' ovyjng to a drought that h»d prevailed, and a sudden upeculatjqn in the article, the price had been greatly advanced,, Another ieasou/was that advices from Chili, from whioh country both Australia and New ' Zealand, have lately imported a large quantity of breadst,ufFi),,shpwed that there was some danger of a rupture with Spain, in which case,, the'Ohilian ports ,would be blockaded. There is,' however, reason to expect that the rains whicl^have fallen lately in Australia, together with the coming into' the market ef .the Californian crop, will soon cause a reduction in prices. ' For some months there has, been a considerable 'export of timber and merchandise from Auckland to Hokitika, a, trade which has, 'however, fallen off during the past mouth, ' 'owing to leis dtemand for timber, nnd the* fact that the market has been glutted with! merchandise from > the Melbourne nnd Otago markets. ' 'The rush from Auckland to Hokitika has quite stopped, and indeed in many instances persons have returned, and many others would be glad to got away if they had the means. 'As regards' imports, we may say that the demand for all kinds of spirits, whiskey excepted, has somewhat improved during the month. There has been a cousidetable mcreaso in the sale of, the lighter kinds of wine. Forts and sbeiries are in fair 'supply, but not overstocked. There has been a good demand for bottled ale, stocks of which are not large, Stocks of bulk ale are still pretty' heavy. In teas there ii a full stock of common sorts; superior kinds are saleable at prices remunerative to the importer. A vesiel lias arrived direct from the Mauritius with an excellent , assortment of sugars, of which article the market wu becomiug bare. In oilmen's stores the market has somewhat recovered from the depression caused by the diilnesa of trade, the heavy stocks on hand, and the great increase in the duty. The better prices received of late may be attributed to almost entirely to the decrease of stocks. The advance U particularly noticeable in such articles as currants, bottled fiuits, and mustard. Sardines have considerably advanced, and stocks are reduced. The amount of Customs duties paid in Auckland since tho 30th of October till to-day, inclusive, amounts to £11,151 ss. sd. There is no doubt that a great quantity of smuggling and illicit distillation has been carried ' on, to the serious injury of the revenue; indeed, it is , questionable whether the increased duties injudiciously imposed by ,the late Weld Miuistry have from this cause resulted in auy increase to the revenue. The following shows the state of the market with referonce to the principal imported article's : — Winfs and Spirits — A slightly improved demand, especially for the lighter kinds. Good ports and sherries fairly supplied, but not overstocked. Inferior sotts o£ winei still abundant. Ale and Stout. — There is a good demand, and prices are somewhat firmer. Bass's bottled ale is worth from 12;?. to,'l2s. 3d.; IntJ, Ooope, and Co.'s, 121. Other brands o( bottled ale' and stout vary from 10s. Cd. per dozen, duty paid, l'ls. being an ordinary piice for fair brands. Tobacco. — There are large stocks of the common kind* on haud. Negrohead is worth 2s. to Bs.; Cavendish, tens may bo quoted at Is. Bd. to It,. 3d. ; Cavendish, half-pounds, aromatic, at Is. 9d. Theie is a 'good supply of cigars. Havannahs sell at £2 18s. ' Oilmkn's SroEES. — Stocks of oilmen's stores are lighter, and better prices are obtainable thaufor some time past. Tjsas. — Stocks of fine teas are light; thoseof good strong black leaf, btrong and good Kaisows, are heavy. • Fair to good Congous are quoted at 2a. 6d. Coffee. — Ceylon plantation is worth from lO^d. to ls.'2d,; native, 8 to 9d.; Java, 9tl. to 10d., in bond. > Stjciah.— Tho market has been lately supplied by an arrival diieot from Mauritius. The car^o has not yet been aold by auction. Lo»f, duty paid, sells at 7d ; Knglish ornshed, 6Jd. ■■ < Bacon and Ham. — Best brands, Vailey'* aud Sinclair's ham, Is. 3d. (scarce) ; best brands bacon, Is. Id. (very scarce) ; other good braud», lid. to Is. Sardines.- Quaiters may be quoted at 6s, to Bs. 6d.; half, 10s to l(h. Gd. Bottled Vinegar.— 14s. to 16s/ Candles. — Neva Steariue fetch (duty paid) lid.; foreigu full- weights, ll{d. per lb.; light-weights, 9sd. per packet.