COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 6802, 6 January 1886, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Top amount of revenue collected at the Custombouse on goods oleared to-day for consumption was L 2.224 12a lid. The Customs revenue for the nine months ended Di cumber 31 sh>wsa deficiency of Lf1,602 below the Treasurer's estimate. The beer duty Is L 929 b. low the estimate. It is expected that tho South Australian wheat crop will not avcraue more than three bushels to the ac e, which will be tho lowest yield yot experienced. Notwithstanding the cry for rain to be heard on every hand and tho partial failure of ctop3, it is a matter of wonderment to hear of winter wheit having already attained a height of 6ft 6in. Yet such is tho case on a farm not a hundred miles from the Pyramid?.—' Mataura Ensign.' . During Decern' er 204 miles and 170 females arrived at Port Chalmers from the United Kingdom, and four from Long Island, making a total of 444. Of these 409 arrived by the steamer Tainui, 22 by the ship Wsatland, and 9 by tho Taranak'. STOCK AND STATION REPORT. Mr Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy Company, Limited), repute for tho week ended January 6, as follows : Store Cattle.—These are in less demand and prices more in favor of buyors. Thera aro no sale 9of importance being effected. .-tore Sheep—We aro still unable to report any sales. Thero has aotually been no demand up to the present. No doubt various causes could be mentioned, which to a very groat extent contribute to this state of matters. High rents for pastoral land-", and low ptices for both wool and mutton, being the chief Wool.—We held our f econd sale for this season at the Otago Wool Stores, Rattray street, on Thursday, Slbt December. There was a large attendance of buyers, both local and English, who compctod spiritedly all through A aood demand existed for all well-grown wools, light in grease, dean, and well skirted. Prices obtained were considerably higher than at the oponing sales. Discolored, earthy, and heavy-conditioned wools were in fair demand, and, although not so spiritedly competed for, prices ruled higher forthesa ilso. We catalogued 400 l.a'es, of rfhich we sold 370, at- for line crose-bred greasy, from 8d to 9|[l; heavy in grease, coarso and (arthy, Cd to 7Jd ; line balf-bred, Sg-J; greasy merino, medium, 5Jd to Bd, which, we think, may be considered favorable, when compared with last account salts from London. Sheepskins.—We offered a moderate catalogue on Monday, to the usual reprfscntatives of the trade, consisting chiiily of country dry skins of medium quality, and butchers' gleen pelts. Competition was spirited, and every lot clrared at current rates. Dry cross-breds (low to medium) brought 9J to Si 2d ; do merino do, 1h to 2s lOd (no full woollen skins cataIf!gued>; dry pt'H*, Jd to 2d ; green do, 4Jd to Od; lamb skins, 9J to 1 Id. Ra bit-skins.—Wo (ffered a few lots of inferior to medium skins on Monday, when there was a fair attendance of buyers, but competition lacked spirit, and, comparing prices with thore obtained a few weeks since, they are in favor of buyers ; suckers and inferior, Jd to 2J ; medium and mixed, 3d to 9J. Hides.—Tho demand continues good, but without any improvement in prices. All coming forward find a ready sale at the following rates :—For slippery and bullß', 2d to 244; light, 3d; medium, 3}d to 'did ; heavy, clean, and free from cuts, 3:|d to 4d per lb. Tallow—A fair demand continues to exist for all offered for iqc.d requirements, but without, any advance in prices, which we quote as last—inferior, 12* to 14s ; medium, 15 i to 17s; good to prime, ISs to 19s; rough fat, 7s to lis per cwt. Grain.--Wheat: Stocks of really prime samples in agents' hinds are running low, consequently pries continue firm, and likely to advance. Wo quote prime milling velvet and Tuscan, 'i-i 3d to 3s 6d ; medium, 38 Id to 3b 2d ; inferior and fowls' wheat, 2s Od to 3s, ex store, baiss weighed in.—Oats : Market quite baro and prices hardening, several lines having been disposed of during tbo week at an advanco on late quotations. Stout bright milling is worth Is 10Jd to Is lid ; short bright feed, Is lOd to Is lid ; medium, Is 9d to Is lOd ;' inferior and discolored, is 3d to la 84.—Barley ; Thero are no transactions ol any consequence to report.

" MINING NOTES. Tho total amount of gold produced on the Sandhurst goldfiels for tho past year is 216,'7T20z, out of which dividends were declared to the amount of L 286,066; the 1 cal's amounted to L 131.530, leaving a • profit of L184,'530 against L 163.251 for 18J4. The to a' value of tho gold glnco the starting of 1 the Rendigb goldflelds in 1851 is equal in valuo to 1i57,000,000 Mr Watson haa received tho following telegram frorii tho manager of the Kcdpit-Dark Company at Reef ton :-" \yinze down about 48ft to 52ft. Keaumo crushing at the'end cl the week."