COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 977, 22 March 1862, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

CHRISTCHURCH,

Messrs. Luck and Clark report the sale of the following properties.:—On the Windmill road a half-acre section of land for £ 100. Also, a threequarter acre section of land, with sod house, for 100 guineas. At Fendall Town, a five acre section ot unimproved land for £112 10s. Also, draught mares for £75 each ; working bullocks at 50 guineas a pair ; large quantities of wheat at 4s 6d and 4s 9d per bushel, according to sample, and new hay at £4 per ton. Messrs. Aikman and Wilson report a good demand for horses by private and auction sales. A pair of two year old draught fillies, £100; unbroken draught horses and mares, £40, £50 to £56 ; broken to plough and dray work,-£44, £48, £70 and £75 ; harness, £40 to £50. Several sections of land at Christchurch East, private sale, £57 10s. each ; 20 acres on the Waimakariri, by auction, £50; 50 acres improved, with dwelling-house on the Heathcote, £1500.

Mr.H. Alport reports a considerable amount of business at auction, as follows:— ; At Christchurch Market, on Saturday last, 2 large working bullocks, the pair, £35 ; 2 2-year old bullocks, £19 10s: 1 cow, £7 7s; 1 heifer, £7 ; ducks, 6s to 7s per pair • young turkeys, 6s to 7 s each; fowls, 5s to 5s 6d per couple ; V.D.L. apples, 4£d to 5d per lb ; Canterbury cheese, lOd to 10£ d per lb; hams, 6d to 8d peril); fkmr, 14s to 15s per 100 lbs; peas, 5s to 5s 6d per bushel; potatoes, £5 10s per ton; onions, 2^d to 3d per lb. On Wednesday, at his sale rooms, heavy parcels of the following were -disposed of, at good prices, the attendance being large:—soo vols. valuable books (this sale will be resumed on Monday next); framed engravings : room papers ; printers' paper; choice Nelson apples, 4d to s£d per lb; also leasehold house and land at Kaip'oi. On Thursday, sale of valuable carpenters' tools, wearing apparel, and other effects. A numerous company and considerable sompetition for the goods. Messrs. L. E. Nathan & Co. report the sale of Scotch, American, Baltic, and V. D. L. timber :— Doors, 19s to 24s ; window sashes, 20s to 255; mouldings, 14s to 18s ; American tongue and grooved one inch boards, 30s to 335; I|, 32s to 37s per 100 feet; Scotch ditto, 20s to 235, running measurement; lining hoards, 18s ditto ; V.D.L., 24s ; zinc, 55s per cwt; corrugated iron, £40 per ton. In Messrs. Eickman's report of the corn market at Eaiapoi given in our last issue, the price of wheat should have been 4s. 6d. to ss. per bushel. WELLINGTON. Eeport of the Select Committee of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on the Tariff proposed by the Lyttelton Chamber of Commerce. Committee —Messrs. G. Hunter, C. J. Pharazyn, W. B. Rhodes, W. W. Taylor, and J. Dransfield. 'Mr. J. Woodward, Chan-man. The; Committee appointed to consider the communication from the Lyttelton Chamber of Commerce, on the subject; of the Customs Tariff, beg to report as follows: — " The committee need scarcely remind the Chamber that there is no subject that has been more frequently before it than that of the " Customs tariff," and none on which its action has been more uniform and consistent.

. " Originating as this Chamber in some measure did, out of a meeting ot merchants, convened in the latter end of the year 1855, for the consideration of the then existing tariff, it cannot^be surprismg that in the first annual report of the "committee of the Chamber it should be stated, that the "first question of importance which engaged the attention of the committee had reference to the almost'prohibitive character of that ingredient in the Customs Duties Act, 1856, which substituted a system of measurement on certain articles of import, in lieu of the fixed rates and ad valorem duties with which they were previously chargeable." In the same paragraph of that report attention is called to the " unequal bearing of this system on. low priced and costly importations," and in the following year the committee, having been invited (in common with all similar bodies in New Zealand) to consider the subject, prepared with some care a report on the tariff,-in which they said, "that the tariff of Victoria seems to approach the nearest to what a tariff ought to be, and it is therefore proposed as a model for adoption." A "memorial to the Government was based upon this report, and copies of the report itself was forwarded to all the other provinces, but failed to obtain general support. Itis therefore, gratifying now to find that the Lyttelton Chamber of Commerce recommends the assimilation of the tariff of New Zealand as nearly as possible to that of Victoria; thus by a singular coincidence recommending this' Chamber on the sth February, 1862, to join in doing that which it had done also on the sth February, but in the year 1858.

"This subject was continually kept before both the Government and Legislature by memorials and other communications during the subsequent years ; and in the appendix to the last report a rather extended correspondence with the Government was published, including a memorandum on the tariff, and certain tables confirming 4nd enforcing the views which this Chamber had always entertained.

"Having thus shown to the Chamber that the theory now propounded lay the Lyttelton Chamber has been long since anticipated here, the committee feel that there is another and less pleasant task which devolves upon them, viz., to shew that the tariff Tecommended by that Chamber is not consistent with the theory alluded to, and therefore is not one that this Chamber could be recommended to adopt, without considerable modifications. "The tariff of Victoria and that now under consideration are placed side by side in the following table, for the sake of comparison:—

(a) In Lyttelton, cocoa and chocolate are-proposed to be added to the above as one class.

(b) In Victoria the word " perfumed " is added. (c) In Lyttelton, snuff is proposed to be joined with cigars as one class. . .> (d) In Victoria, sugars, both raw and refined, form but one class. ■

(c) In Victoria tobacco is joined with snuff as one class,

" In commenting upon the variations in the above tariffs the committee is not unmindful of the fact that this' Chamber proposed certain alterations in the scnle of duty now in force in Victoria; but at the same time carefully adhering* to its principle, the alteration proposed being that coffee, Sen., should be charged 3d per ib (as now proposed in Lyttelton), in order to assimilate the duty thereon to that proposed to be levied on tea, and that wine should be charged 3s per gallon, in order to keep pace with the additional duty that would have been imposed on spirits. "The tariff, proposed at Lyttelton adds to the number of articles by introducing 'firearms' and 'gunpowder,' by dividing 'sugar' into raw and refined, and (which is most objectionable of all, and constitutes an essential departure from the principles of the tariff of Victoria) by proposing a measurement duty on a large class (or

rathor congorios of classes) of goods, to all of which alterations tho committoo entertain strong objections.

" Wilhrolbronco to firearms and gunpowdor, it is possiblo that those have boon introduced from, tho unfortunate and exceptional circumstances which have prevailed in •the colouy during the last two yours; the committee, however, submit that a customs tariff ought simply to bo regarded as a mode of raising a revenue, find that any at tompt to effect othor purposea by it is vicious in principle, and will prove futilo in oporation. If the public safety demands that warlike stoves shall be be placed under special restrictions, those should bo (as they actually arc) imposed by specific enactments, and not introduced into a purely fiscal question. " Tho distinction again proposed to bo made between raw and refined sugars is one that, although specious in theory, is productive of most vexatious difliculties in .practice, as the finer classes of raw sugars, and at least tho coarser kinds of refined are scarcely distinguishable, excepting by tho moat practised eye, and in point of value are nearly or quito identical. It is believed, therefore, that no advantage to tho revenue would be gained by tho proposed differential rates which'would at all compensate either the customs department or the public for the increased troublo that the making this distinction would give to both. " It is almost superfluous to repeat objections that have been so often urged against measurement duty in any form, but the committee cannot refrain from pointing out the inconsistency of proposing the adoption of such a duty, even of lessoned amount, when in the letter accompanying the suggested tariff it is said 'that system boars heavily on coarso fabrics and bulky goods of little value.' Now by the pi'oposrd tariff n»t only calico and common prints, but even sail-cloth, drugget," and bagging (manufactures of linen or woollen) would be chargeable with the same duty as the most costly silks, and the heavy 'watertights' of the labourer would pay the same rate, but therefore much more per pair, than the patent leather boots or satin slippers. In addition to .this as certain articles are chargeable with duty and others not, which are or may be included in similar packages, all the annoyance of opening and examining goods (of which the Lyttelton Chamber very properly complains) would inevitably be perpetuated. "The committee earnestly recommend the Chamber to assure the Chamber of Commerce at Lyttelton that these remarks are not made in any unfriendly or censorious spirit, but simply from a strong conviction of the correctness of the views that this Chamber has all along expressed, and from a feeling that nothing is more desirable than that an earnest, intelligent, and united effort should be made to accomplish an object in which all alike are interested. The committee further recommend that this Chamber should continue to protest against any tariff which does not exactly specify every article upon which duty shall be leviable, leaving all unenumerated goods free. The present tariff is objectionable for this reason among others by the want of precision in definition, and by the use of inclusive terms, leading to difference of opinion on the part of collectors of customs, and consequently to differences in the mode of collecting the revenue in the various ports of the Colony. " In conclusion, the committee cannot but express the hope that as the Lyttelton Chamber has thus moved in this matter, its committee and members may be induced to reconsider the subject, and that its powerful aid may be secured by this Chamber in its efforts to obtain a revision of the K"ew Zealand tariff, and its assimilation, as nearly as possible, to the tariff of Victoria." Moved by J. Johnston, Esq., seconded by F. A. Kvull, Esq., "That the report now read be adopted."—Carried. Moved by George Hunter,. Esq., seconded by William Spinks, Esq., " That the report brought up by the Tariff Committee be printed, together with the letter received from the Lyttelton Chamber of Commerce, to which it may be regarded in the light of a reply. That copies be sent to all the chambers of commerce in N"ew Zealand, and that they be urged to usetheir influence in order that the customs tariff of this colony may be amended in such a way as to assimilate it as neariy as possible to the Victorian tariff of 1860."—Carried unanimously. MELBOURNE. Business in the import market continues to be cramped. The same disposition for speculation exists, but holders are firm, and buyers hesitate to operate. The flour market remains steady, but business is confined to trade orders for use. Mauritius sugars being forced on the market largely beyond the demand, has caused a considerable decline in prices, as will be seen by the result of the day's auction sales.— Argus, sth March. SYDNEY. Business has been quiet during the week, and, with the exception of some large sales of sugar at auction, the transactions generally have been' unimportant. The late news from England is of a very important character, and should war with America be declared, must affect our markets materially. Flour.—The marker is without any alteration. The millers' quotations are—Fine flour, £14 ; seconds, £12 ; wheat, ss. to ss. 6d.; Adelaide, ss. 9d.—Sydney Morning Herald, Ist March.

Messrs. Mort & Co., held, on Thursday, their weekly produce sale. The quantity of wool catalogued, was 25V bales, all of which, with the exception of two small lots of eleven bales, was sold. There was a greater disposition to purchase to-day, and prices were firmer, but not really higher than those accepted last week.

Sheepskins were also firmer, and were readily taken by the fellmongers at full rates. About 6,300 were sold at from 3|d. to 1\ per B).

Tallow.—The market was steady, and prices ranged about the same as last week. Of fifty-two casks offered, twenty-seven were sold, at from £33 to £38 ss. per ton.

Tariff Aricles Chaegeable with Duty. [Victoria. proposed at Lyttelton. Ale, Beer, Cider, .or Perry, in wood or bottle, per gallon Cigars, per lb Coffee and Chicory, per lb. (a) Cutlery, Hardware, Plated and Holloware, Ironmongery of all sorts, Candles and Soap of all kinds... .. Fire Arms of every description, each Gunpowder, per lb Manufactures of Silk, Cotton, Linen, . and Woollen, and all articles - manufactured therefrom, Drapery, .Haberdashery, Hosiery, Furs, and Boots and Shoes, per cubic foot............;. Hats, Confectionery, bottled and dried Fruits,- Mustard, Olive Oil, Pickles, Preserves, Sauces, Spices, -and Oilmen's Stores of all kinds.. Spirits and Strong Waters of every kind, sweetened or otherwise (b), of any strength not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes' Hydrometer, and. in proportion for any less or greater strength than the strength of proof, per gallon................. Snuff, per lb. (c) Sugar of all kinds, raw (cC) per cwt. Do.. do. refined, per cwt. Tea, per lb. Tobacco (e) perlb Wine, in wood or bottle, per gallon Cordage, Twine, Cotton, Yarn, Bags' and Sacks, Woolpacks, Spirits of Tar and Turpentine, lobacco, for sheepwash, Powder for blasting purposes) and all unenumerated goods, wares, and merchandise 6d. 3s. Id. 6d. 3s. .3d. Free. 5s. 3d. 2s. Cfl. Free. 10s. 2s. Cs. 10s. 3s. 5s. 9s. 6d. 2s. 2s. 6d. * 2s. 2s. 1 Free.