COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1664, 17 April 1866, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Abstract of land sold yesterday at the Land. Office, Government Buildings:—Ti.mafu'district, 430 acres; Lincoln, 280; Man- j deville, 35; Ellesmere, 299; Malvern, 230; total, 1264 acres, realising £2328. Nelson.—The Colonist of April 11 reports : Trade continues quiet; and by importations ex Dona Anita, as well as by various consignments from Australia, the market has been pretty well stocked,—any articles (except country produce), which we noticed last month as being short, are now plentifully supplied. A fair business is still Mugione with the goldfields, the geographical position of Nelson continuing to give her a certain command of the market. Flour, which last month was £26 per ton of SOOOlbs, has been twico reduced, and now stands at £22; the market being supplied by Chilian Sour, of which there have toeen recently several importations, The Examiner stateslhat—- - The leasing of the coal mine at the Grey to the Ballarat Company, has had the effect of reducing materially the price of this valuable fuel, as it is now sold at Greymouth at 30s a ton, and .considerably less when taken in large quantities. This, however, is still far too high a price, and although itmay be in'large demand for consumption on the s>pf, and] for steamers trading on the coast, it must down considerably before it can comfete with imported coal, in other parts of the colony. The difficulties .of, the, harbour at tho Grey will, we fear, 1 always' operate against tho 'export trade bom tnat : Vivor,: and unless a harf bouri'could'be msde'at Point Elizabeth, four miles to the north of the Grey,: we fear the coal • trade ■ from these' fields will never attain indgrCatdimensions.; At theßuller, however, there are no such difficulties in shipping the coal, aa this latter river offers a good harbour for vessels.up toA certain size, and the only qupstidri :of J workingthiß mine isthe-expense of-bringing the coal fourteen miles tft'the,port. With a larger capital sunk in preliminary works, the coal at the Bufecouldbe workedqujteas well.as,.that' at ™?'wi\ W V ?!t a »somewhat bettef ,fuel, and vessels to convey if away.'.it might easily Be'raised and shipged insufficient quantities to supply the whole 'colony. THe Admiralty report of these two coals show that they aro far superior, to any Australian coals, and equal to the avenge coal of England.