COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1360, 16 February 1865, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Auckland.—The WceUg Mm ot «he«h Feb. famishes the following commercial - There h« been . ta the imporl's'ta already tod »™ r y favo ; ,r "' lle £ timate trade is, of course, to be desired, especially S MeSurne, as being the cheaper ( marked and we therefore regret that the s.s. Auckland has been Sen offlhe line. It is to be hoped, however, that will be made by winch we shall taveMleastmonthly direct Bteam communication S MeTboS >e Southern Province., and those in Cook's Straits, are much better off than Auckland is in this respect, and tins inequality in our postal arrangements should not be allowed to "there has been one important arte of gree^es, provisions, teas, &c., during the week, at the stores of Messrs. Gilfillan and Co. There was a good attendance, and the prices show an improvement on former There is very little doing in bank and insurance shares, on account of the tightness of the money market. There is some inquiry for Bank of Auckland shares; and Auckland Fire and Marine Insurance shares have been offered for sale at a premium of 10s, but it is thought too soon to give any such price A great many persons were disappointed in not obtaining shares, but we believe they were allotted as fairly as they could have been. Otago.—The Daily Times of the 10th reports. The weather has rather interfered with business, and we hear of scarcely any operations worth recording, either privately or by auction, during the day. Flour continues steady; the transactions, however, are small, in consequence of holders making their terms cash, or very short dates. First-class brandies and bottled beers have become dull of sale, and holders would be willing to accept lower rates than recent quotations. Other spirits and tabacco are exceedingly difficult to move; and the spirit of speculation seems completely quieted for the present, though in some goods ample room exists, With returning confidence, a reaction in this particular will come. Melbourne.—By the Albion, we have advices to the Ist inst. The Argus of that date reports :— The import market, has manifested little change to-day. In breadstuffs, a limited amount of business has been done. Adelaide flour, country brands, has changed hands at £20 10s to £21 10s; and some parcels of best town 'have been placed at £22 5s to £22 10s. For wheat, 9s is asked, but we have not heard of any sales, Grains continue dull. Colonial oats have been disposed of at 3s 9d to 4s. Teas, medium and fine, have been fairly dealt in, both for the country and Sydney markets. Woolpacks are inquired for, and. oifers of 4s 9d have been made and refused. At auction, a parcel of foreign candles, full weight, sound, were placed at 9|d to 9£d ; and the same, all faults, at BJd to 9|d. In machinery and other outside articles, for which no market rates can well be quoted, a tolerably brisk business has been done. Mr. Henry Ritchie, merchant, of Collins street west, has called a meeting of his creditors. His liabilities are variously estimated at from £4000 to £7000. , , _ . The Mont Riant, which arrived at the Heads yesterday, loaded with French flour, ran aground this morning at the entrance of the western channel, and sustained some injury in consequence. Hobarton.—We have our Hobarton files to the 23rd ult. The Mercury reports:— '

Since our last summary there has been a slight advance in the price of breadstuffs. Colonial flour, which we then reported as worth £20 per ton, cannot now be purchased under £22 at the mills. Several large sales of Californian and Chilian have taken place, the price obtained being £21. Of wheat the market is now nearly bare, but several shipments are expected hourly from South Australia, a large portion of which has been sold to arrive at I,os 6d per bushel, and part at 10s 3d. Respecting our own crops, the accounts received are not unfavourable, and a considerable quantity of wheat has been already reaped. Threshing operations will commence immediately, and the crops will no doubt begin to arrive in a few days. The money market is easier at present than it has been for some time past, owing chiefly to the large sums which have been thrown into circulation on the sale of the wool. The news from England has also had a salutary upon our market, the benefits of which will be felt immediately. On the other hand, a severe drain has been made upon our coffers for the heavy importations of flour and wheat which have recently been received, and it will be some time before the sums thus drawn will be made up, but we" look forward with confidence to the, marketing of our own harvest, which will at least prevent; further drafts. The Hobart Town Advertiser, of 27th Jan., says: — The wheat and flour market remains as last reported. In other colonial produce there is no alteration to report. Further news from Melbourne is now anxiously looked for, to ascertain the definite result of the proposed new tariff. The general impression amongst the commercial men is that the Victorian Ministry will not be able to carry it; and the opinions as to its beneficial effect or otherwise on the trade of this port is of such a partisan character, that it is impossible to say how the passing of the Act will operate. There is no doubt that it will be injurious to our producers and growers, but on the other hand, it will benefit our importers. The Tararua brings Cape journals to the 29th ult. The following is from the Cape Argus summary of December 23:—

During the month there has been a large number of arrivals in port, and trade has been correspondingly brisk, considering the late period of the year. There has, however, been but little speculation, and purchases for the most part have been made to supply immediate requirements. Comparative returns of the revenue and expenditure for the quarters and years ending respectively September 30, 1863 and 186+, have been published since our last summary. The total receipts—exclusive of loans temporary and under Acts of Parliament for the quarter ending with the 30th September last, waa £1*24,602, being about £23,000 in excess of the corresponding three months of 1863. For the year terminating with the day first named, the revenue was £501,281, against £469,335 for the year ending with September, 1863. During the first twelve months named, the loans reached £185,000; and during the latter named but preceding year, the receipts from source were £135,000. Leaving the loans altogether out of the calculation, the revenue for the year ending witli the 30th of September last was £31,946 in excess of that for the preceding twelve months. Taking the different items which show an increase, and thus gs to make up this excess, we find that the Customs have been augmented by £18,443, the land sales by £1613, stamps by £10,672, postage by £870, interest and premium by £12,375, and road rates by £44, thus making a gross increase of £44,017. Against this, however, there remains to be set off a deficiency upon the following Land revenue, £41 ; rents, £155 ; transfer dues, £2156 ; auction dues, £18<0 ; fines, &c., £951 ; fees of office, £90; sale of Government property, £1798 ; reimbursements to Government, £1460 ; miscellaneous receipts, £2001 ; nnd special receipts, £539; making a total of £12,071, which deducted from the gross increase, shows the net surplus of £31,946. Turning to the other side of the account, we find that the expenditure for the year ending with the 30th of September last was £591.577, while that for the previous twelve months was £648.256. These figures are irrespective of the payments out of loans ; but by allowing for the latter, the net decrease in the expenditure of the twelve months last past was £73,740. The following are the headings under which a decrease has been effected:—Civil, judicial, educational, convicts, ecclesiastical, border department, (£20,080); revenue, police and gaols, transport, conveyance of mails, roads and bridges (£35,000); miscellaneous and colonial military allowance (£25,000). The principal items showing an increased expenditure are, interest £20,000, and railway surveys £14,400. During the year just closed, loans to the amount of £25,000 were repaid out of the general revenue. Taking these returns altogether, it may safely be said of the col«ny that things are looking up. On the one hand, the revenHe ft on the increase, while on the other, although the debentures issued by the Government and the guarantee on the Cape Town and Wellington Railway have together absorbed over £70,000, and £14,000 have been spent for railway surveys, there i< a decrease in the expenditure for the past twelve months' of £73,470.

While there can be no doubt that the increased taxes imposed during the last session of Parliament will raise the annual revenue by £60,000 to £70,000, yet in the figures above given the increase in, the duties on those of the corresponding quarter of 1868 arises chiefly from the increase on the amonntof

goods entered for home consumption, which amounted to £160,000 in excess of the quarter ending September 80, 1863. The raising of the duty by 25 per cent, on the then existing tariff has on some articles had the effect of a prohibitive duty, and rendered these articles wholly unsaleable in this market. Tobacco and spirits are among these. By the Ada Letitia, which left Algoa Bay last week, for New York, 228,522 lbs. tobacco were reshipped for that port. This quantity of tobacco was in bond during that memorable interregnum, when the merchants were compelled to sign an indefinite bond, pledging themselves to pay any duty the Parliament might see fit to enforce. The duty under the then existing tariff, to the amount of £11,426, was tendered to the Custom-house authorities and refused. Under the altered tariff regulations it will not pay the importers to enter it for home consumption ; so, by their own act the Government is mulcted in the sum of over £11,000. PORT OP LYTTELTON. IMPORTS. (For the week ending Feb. 11,1865.) For b, road bushels; c, cwt.; g, gallons; p, packages f, feet; t, tons; bs, bottles. £ £ Agricultural imple- Fencing, 41 100 ments— Ironmongery, 23 p 232 Ploughs, 1 20 Jewelry, 2 17 Apothecaries' wares, Leather, 4 c ... ... 35 lp 10 Oilmen's stores, 9 p... 30 Arras, 3 ... 68 Paints, lp ••••'• Caps, 6000 2 Printers' materials, Cartridges, 600 ... 2 2 p 10 g a£rß Provisions — | Cornsacks, 1 p ... 7 Flour, 101 240 Books, 4 p 80 Bacon, 3 p 43 Boots, 7 p... - 155 Shipchandlery Builders' materials— Cordage, 37 c ... 128 Cement, 60 p ... 60 Sails, lp 30 Pliister of Paris, Spirits— 20 p 15 Sweetnd. gin, 20 g 30 Carts and Carriages, Stationery, 2 p ... 36 1.. ... ... ... 80 Sugar, 49,280 Hss ...925 Coals, 801 215 Tea, 940 lbs 60 Drapery, 9 p 95 Tinware, 2 p . 10 Apparel, 8 p... ■ ... 138 Tobacco, 3883 lbs ... 690, Cottons, 6 p 165 Cigars, 1865 lbs ... 587 Haberdasheiy, 2 p 10Q Wine — Woollens, 25 p ...995 Bulk, 280 g ... 165 Earthenware — Bottled, 211| ... 340 China, lp 20 Wood— Glassware, 4 p ... 101 Timber, 405,600 f 2520 Furniture— talings, 37,000 ... 185 Billiard table, 1 ... 150 Packages, 5 26 Carpeting, 4 p ... 80 Hops, malt, 200 b ... 110 Total value ... £9,155 Iron — Bod, &c., 2 110 c 60 IMPOSTS COABTWIBE. £ Spirits—Brandy, 20 g ... ■ ••• 15 j Sugar, 60,339 lbs ... ... ••• 800 Tobacco, 311 lbs ... ... ... 20 £835 BXPOBTS. ! £ Apothecaries wares, 4 p ... ... ••• 40 Drapery—Apparel, 1 p ••• ••• ••• 20 Stationery, 1 p ... ••• ••• — * £61 DUTIES COLLECTED. £ S D Spirits 772 18 4 Wine ... ... ••• ••• ® ® Ale and beer ... ... ... - 50 2 0 Tobacco and cigars ... ••• 292 2 5 Other duties ... ... ••• ••• 649 19 9 Total £1906 8 0 STOCKS IN BOITD.

Delivered •i - I § J JA p a 'O S I £ & 8- ? - Goods. _ •§ i p, o, ffl 3 s .2 fl "Si 5 ! II 1 i -if | lb I ctf aJ w © * a pq w W HW W Brandy ' ... galls 20,512 20 753 19,779 Geneva ... „ 3,415 3,415 Sw. Gin ... „ 6,718 176 6,542 Bum ... „ 5,926 197 5,729 Whisky ... „ 9,362 82 9,280 Other kinds spta. „ 717 .6 711 Wine, bd ... „ 2,909 40 2,869 „ -blk ... „ 27,359 198 336 27,221 Ale and Beer, bd „ 20,644 ' 418 20,226 blk „ 16,081 500 15,581 Tobacco ... lbs 103300 3,845 1,441 101656 Sheepwash „ 4,048 Cigars ... „ 833 1,865 293 2,405 Sugar ... „ 179280 83,939 73,479 189710 Tea ... „ 16,429 1,415 15,014 Coffee ... „ 11,271 11,271 Oilmen's stores, pkgs 868 12 856 Drapery ... „ 15 15