COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1324, 29 November 1864, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Nov. 28,

There was but a limited business in our grain market on Saturday last: an improvement perhaps was visible, but it was a very slight one in the transactions reported. Wheat averaged 12s per bushel, a trifling advance being tendered for first-rate samples. Flour, provincial growth, fetched £32 10s for the best quality, and £30 for second ditto Some flour of (rood Adelaide brands changed hands at £3it per ton;and we learn that of the Chilian flour recently imported was quitted at £27 per ton. I?he price of barley is unaltered, and is nominally 4s 6d per bushel. Oats are difficult of sale, and may be quoted at about 3s to 3s 2d per bushel. Hay, best quality, is worth £4 per ton, inferior ditto £3 10s; straw, 2!) 8 to 25s per load. The following are the retail prices for miscellaneous articles: —Tea, from 3s 6d to 3s 8d per lb; coffee, Is 6d to 2s do-, sugar (loaf), 7d do; sugar (dark), 6d to 6Jd do; tobacco, 4s 6d to 8s do, according to quality, which varies greatly; table salt, 8s 6d per bag of 112 lbs; pepper 2s per lb; ham (best quality and in ample stock), Is 4d per lb; bacon, Is 2d do; eggs (scarce), 2s 3d per dozen; raisins (table), Is 6d per lb; pudding do, lOd do; currants, 6d do; candles (sperm), light weights, Is do; heavy do, Is 4d do; dips, Canterbury manufacture, 9d do; kerosene, very scarce and consequently high in price just now, 8s 6d per gallon. Butchers meat:—Beef, 6d to 9d per lb, according to the joints; mutton, 7d to 8d do; pork, 9d do; veal, lOdl do; lamb 7s per quarter. The fish market has been well supplied during the week: moki is about 9d per lb; eels, 6d do; soles, 6d do; flat fish, small, 2s per bundle ; crayfish, about 3s each. .There has been a capital supply of vegetables during the past week, but no change has taken place in the retail prices. The vegetables which were brought to the Horticultural Show were very fine, considering the earliness of the season, and those which were left were retailed by some of the exhibitors at moderate prices. This fact proves the truth of the assertion that if Christchureh had a market, or some central place where vegetables and similar commodities could be vended, prices would be lower and the public consequently the gainers. For instance, new potatoes found a ready sale on the ground at 6d per lb., the regular retail price in the shops being 8d or 9d. Potatoes of last year's growth have been very scarce and of inferior quality; the retail price is about £1* per ton, the wholesale being about £11. To continue our retail list—cabbages large and of good quality are selling at 6d each; turnips 6d per bundle; peas 3s 6d per peck; asparagus 6s per 100; parsnips l|d per lb; milk lOd to is per gallon; bread Is 2d per loaf at some establishments and Is 3d at others; butter Is 3d per lb, on an average, but here again the dealers differ in their prices, some asking Is 2d and others Is 4d per lb; colonial cheese Is 2d to Is 4d, English do. Is 6d to Is lOd per lb; pickles and sauces Is 6d to 2s per bottle; English malt 9s 6d per bushel; colonial do, 7s do. Timber tongued and grooved, New Zealand growth, §, 30s per 100 feet; 1-inch do. 355; ordinary boards and scantlings 23s to 24s do; lime 4s per bushel; bricks £5 per 1000. There is considerable variation in the price of coal, some dealers asking £3 17s 6d and others £4; the average price may be quoted at £3 1.5. Fuel is selling at £3 per cord.

Mr. W. D. Barnard reports a large amount of business transacted on Saturday last, considering that this is generally regarded as the dull season of the year. The market was well stocked and upwards of a hundred horses were entered for sale. The arrivals lately have consisted of thirteen medium sized compact draught mares from Invercargill; ten upstanding draught horses from Hobart Town; and eighteen middling hacks and light harness horses from Wellington, nearly all of which have been cleared off. The supply of first-class saddle and light harness horses is very limited, the demand being more active than it has been during the last six months.

For good horses of all descriptions there is decidedly a great demand as they are getting very scarce, and shippers may with every confidence recom m ence exporting a fair description of stock with the assurance of meeting with a ready sale. The sales effected on Saturday last were numerous,, and altogether satisfactory. Prices Current.—First-class heavy draught horses, ,£65 and upwards ; medium do do do, £45 to £60; inferior do do do, £25 to £35 ; first-class light harness horses, none offering, but may be quoted from £40 to £60 ; middling hacks and light harness horses from £20 to £30; common hacks, £10 and upwards.

Otago.—Our advices by the Airedale are to the 25th. The Daily Times of that date reports :—

Business continues mueh more quiet than the season of the 3 car would justify us in expecting. Flour continues as before, with very few sales making; a parcel of 100 tons Chilian offered by auction met with no purchaser, £25 being understood to be the reserve. Best bottled beers still looked for. Quotations for other goods unaltered.