COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1621, 24 February 1866, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

. -+ — ■ Lyttelton Times Office, Friday Evening. The business transactions of the past week have been characterised by a steady, fair trade demand, showing some indications of improvement as compared With the previous three weeks. There are many articles of trade unusually scarce and dear, and the stocks quite bare. English bacon and hams are not to be had, and they would command Is sd' to Is 6d per lb readily. The advices from England shew the prices ruling there to be too high for shipments to take place. English cheese has been very scarce; and the market has been, temporarily supplied by a small shipment just-to hand. Candles have been purchased' largely. in anticipation of increased values.. The price is higher than last week, and holders ask, wholesale, 14d to 15d per lb. Malt.is very scarce, and a small parcel to hand readily brought 13s 6d to 14s per bushel. Hops find ready at full prices.; Timber of all kinds is heavy in stock and low in! price. Bottled -dtout is not in aver-supply, and finds ready > sale at good prices'. Wheat, oats, find barley are scarce, but little as yet; come to market: There is nb change in the moneymarket, and credit continues tolerably sound. Exchanges and discounts unaltered since ,o\# iMt. . • i GRAIN REPORT., Ttfe st<pply'«f,grain 1 thipughtaV the week moderate 1 , btit jttSontifttaiite <6f^the

present fine weather will very soon amply stock our market with all descriptions of farm produce; the harvest generally is now nearly through, and during the past week a considerable breadth of grain has been stacked in good order; what now remain uncut are the late sown crops, which, from the rains, are heavy, and will probably be good condition. Wheat, from tfoe great difference in samples, arising from sprouted grain, ranges in price from 4s 6d to 6s 6d per bushel. Oats are coming to hand more freely; as yet we have heard of no large purchases, the market rates are now from 3s 3d to 4s, the samples varying so much in quality and condition. Barley may be quoted at from 5s to 6s—very little to hand. Hay maintains our last quotations, viz., from £4 to £4 10s delivered, in town. The price of flour is unchanged; superfine Caanterbury, £22; seconds, £20; bran, £7 to £8; sharps, £8 10s per ton.