COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVI, Issue 907, 20 July 1861, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Mr. E. B. Pearce reports at the opening sale at his auction rooms, Colombo street—sale of furniture, &C., well attended and spirited competition, with a fair amount of business done.

The following extracts are from the latest market reports at Auckland and Melbourne :—

AUCKLAND,

At the date of our last monthly summary, flour (first quality) was quoted at £22 per ton ; seconds, £18 to .£2O ; sharps, £9. Tlie present quotations are flour (first), £19 ; seconds, £15 ; sharps, £9 ; being a fall of £3 per tou oa the finest quality of flour, and £3 to £5 per ton on seconds. Last month's quotation for oats was, per bushel of 40 lbs., 7s. 6d. to 95.; now it is ss. 6d., being a reduction of from 2s. to 4s.'~6d. per bushel. The prices in Sydney and Adelaide usually govern quotations in Auckland; but this reduction by our millers was announced two days after the arrival of the English mail, bringing advices from Sydney to the 15th. which gave the following quotations :—fine flour, £19 per ton ; seconds, £17. at-Sydney ; and Adelaide wheat •was quoted at 6s. 6d. to 7s. 9d. per bushel. These figures will show that speculation in shipments of breadstuff's to this city, founded on miscalculations as to the consuming powers of the army and civilian population, will be attended with serious losses if persevered in. There is a point below which a reduction in price must be looked upon as a disaster, and we would therefore warn not only the Australian merchants,' but some in our own community, against acting purely on an assumption as to the. amount of breadstuff's, or other produce, likely to be required to supply an increasing, though restricted demand, when-their business prospects are seriously involved. A calculation, based on known data, would prevent many disasters. We feel it our duty to advert to this matter, from a growing tendency we have lately observed on the part of some to exaggerate the requirements of the army, despite the existence of a of a complete commissariat establishment catering for its wants,, and purchasing freely in the sister colonies to supply daily necessities. Our market is pretty well supplied with articles of general consumption; and while wholesale dealers can only command cash, at extreme rates, for choice samples, the retail hou§es are quietly clearing off old stocks. There are large sums going into tlie bands of the retail dealers from the military and naval forces and their families; but by far the greatest proportion finds its way into the coffers of licensed publicans. The sales of spirits, beer, and porter has consequently been large, and there is a growing demand for the best brands of ale and porter in bulk and bottle.— Southern Cross, July 4.

MELBOURNE. The Mills.—We have no alteration to report since last week. The flour market has continued very quiet, but holders are firm, and evince no disposition to recede from present rates. Our quotations are — For country and town made, £16 to .£l7 per ton ; Tasmanian, £16 to £16 1 Os.; Adelaide sorts, £16 10s. to £17 10s.; Hart's and Magarey's superfine, £18; Haxall and Gallego, 425. to 435. per barrel. Wheat: Victorian and Tasmanian, 6s. 6d. to 7s. and Adelaide, 7s. 3d. to 7s. 6d. per bushel; bran, Is. Id. to Is. l|d. do.; pollard. Is. sd. do.; and oatmeal, £25 to £26 per ton.— Age, June 22. .