OTAGO.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3962, 4 May 1870, Page 4

OTAGO.

The Otago Daily Times of April 27 reports as follows : — "During the early part of the month just ended trade wore a very quiet aspect, transactions in the import mar- ] ket keeping remarkably light, with very j little of interest observable in the operations going on in any department of business. The j latter part of the month haa however witnessed a better demand, and though markets cannot be reported as closing with much activity, the extreme depression haa given way to a more encouraging state of trade, and generally a better feeling prevails in commercial circles. The demand for the upcountry districts is still noted as slaok for the time of the year, storekeepers calculating upon the roads remaining good to an unusually lata period, while the coastal trade has waited on the produce market, which is only now showing signs of greater briskness. The business doing in the grain market has during the month continued to improve. The shipments of grain made from this have as yet been very trifling, and the probability of any considerable increase is at present small. A good supply of wheats have come forward for offer, and the average of samples is better than it was anticipated it would be. The millers have -taken up some fair-sized parcels, {and further business has gone forward, but prices are reported as not so firm. Oats are coming to hand freely, and will probably accumulate in store during the next two or three montha ; the value remains at about our last quotations. Barley haa not sustained its value, the manufacturers who purchased heavily last month being now but light buyers. The demand made upon the millers during the last month for flour has been moderate, anol only for local want3. The quotations for town brands remain at 10/. 10s to 11/. ; bran is worth 3/. 15s ; oatmeal, 16Z. 10s ; and pearl barley, 26?. The price given by dealers for farmers' parcels of oats has been 2s 3d to 2s 4d, at which the value seems stationary. Wheats are quoted at 3s lOd to 4s 2d ; and good malting barley at3s lid to 4s 3d; second rate samples are difficult to place ; new Patna rice is in good demand ; holders' rates 27/. to 28/. ; old rice is worth 221. to 28?." The plant of the Otago Pioneer QuartzMining Company was sold on April 25 for the sum of 160/. This price may be quoted as illustrating the present commercial depression, as the plant originally cost upwards of 1,600/.