COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1409, 6 June 1865, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Otago.—We have advices to the 31st ult. The Otago Daily Times reports:— Business keeps without much animation. The auction sales of the day have occupied the principal attention of traders, and, in consequence, little else has been done. Messrs. M'Landress, Hepburn, and Co. sold Hart's flour at £23, offering also a considerable parcel of sugars, which realised rather variable prices, some sorts maintaining recent values, others exhibiting a decline. A few goods are in course of shipment for Hokitika, but not many goods are being dispatched elsewhere. The sixteenth annual report of the directors of the Australian Mutual Provident Society is published. The invested funds of the society now exceed £270,000, and have been increased during the year by upwards of £43,600. There were 1356 policies issued during the year, the premiums on which amount to £25,874. The sum of £22,393 lis 9(1, including bonus additions, has been paid, under 44 policies, to the representatives of 37 deceased members.

Auckland.—The Southern Cross of the 27th ult., says :—The improvement in monetary matters, which we noticed in our last weekly report as having begun, has been continued during the past week. Bills have been easily met, and there is an entire absence of anything approaching to want of confidence. Indeed, the quiet, unspeculative way in which business has been conducted by the merchants of Auckland renders impossible any such collapse as has been witnessed in neighbouring colonies and provinces. Stocks of breadstuffs are still heavy, the Ann and Jane having arrived from Adelaide on Sunday last with wheat. The trade in breadstuffs for our market has lately been opened up, so that we may feel pretty sure that prices will be kept as low as possible. Adelaide flour is now being sold by all the importers at £24, and Chilian at £20. There seems little probability of much change in the markets soon. Stocks of flour in Chili are still large, but at the latest advices shipments had been suspended in consequence of the fall in price in Australia. I» other commodities we have little change to notice this week. There is a slight improvement in a few articles, but the market is still heavily stocked with most kinds of goods.