COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2330, 11 June 1868, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Wednesday Evening. The Customs revenue collected at Christehurch to-day amounted to £174 lis Bd. The following were the items Wine, 20 gals, 4/; spirits, 83 gals, 49! 18s 8d ; tweeds (woolens) 1 truss, 15s; boots, 11 cases, 28/ 7s Id ; leather leggings, 1 case, 15s; common watertights, 1 case, 19s 9d; leather, other kinds, 1 case, 16s 8d ; iron nail*, 5 cwt, 1 qr, 58 3d; hardware, 16 cwt, 2 qrs, 3/ 6s; tobacco, 363 lbs, 45/ 7b 6d; woollen carpets, 1 bale, 3/ 6s lOd; stationery. 1 case, 5s 7d; apparel, 1 case, 10s j com sacks, 4 bales, 6/ 7s 6d ; tapioca, 3f cwt, 9s sd; dried fruits, 274 lbs, 1/ 2s lOd; candles, 300 lbs, 1/ 58; preserved fish, 3 cases, 1/ 5s 3d; sweetened biscuits, 1 case, 12s 9d; preserved meat, 4 cases, 1/ 14s 10d ; bottled fruit, 4 cases, 1/ 14s 7d; fancy eoap, 2s Id ; tea, 156 lbs, 3/ 18s ; spices, 33 lbs,Bs3d; blacking, 1 package, 9-1; salad oil, 1 package, 14s 2d; sugar, 3155 lbs, 12/ 2s lid; light dues, Is 4d; arms fees, 3s, The Customs revenue collected at Lyttelton I o-day amounted to £232 4s 6d. The fallowing were the items Spirits, 196 gals, 119/ 6s 4d; tea, 810 lbs, 20/ ss; tobacco, 116 lbs, 14/ 10s; wine, 159 gals, 32/ 5s 2d ; sugar, 6780 lbs, 28/ ss; cigar 6, 18 lbs, 41,13s 9d ; oilmen's stores, 24 packages, 10/ lis 8d ; stationery, 1 package, Is 61; light dues, 2/ 3s 7d; sale of formß, 2s 6d. Messrs Wilson and Alport held an important sale of merchandise, in Lyttelton, at the stores of Messrs Hargreaves and Co., on Tuesday last, at which sales were made as Mows; —36 half-chests tea, packages

damaged, 25b to 35s per half-chest (in bond); 50 chests tea, sound and in good order, Is 8d to Is lOd per lb, do; 25 half-cheats do, Is 8d to Is 9d do j (54 common quality, 35s per half-chest do; 100 boxes tea, good, 24s per package, do; 3 tons Mauritius sugar, £35 per ton do j 2 tons Java do, £39 do, do ; 9 qrcasks port, Bruno Silva, lis to 12s fid par gallon, do ; 4 octavos do, do, 13s do, do ; 4 qr-casks old torn, Swainc, Board, 4s 3d, do | 50 cases claret, Medoc, 18s per case, do ; 5 tons soap, £3O to £3l par ton, do; 13 bales woolpncks, 4s 3d per package (duty

paid); 8 bales gunny bags, 9s to 9s 6s per dozen, do; salad oils, pints, 12s fid per dozen, do ; 300 cases kerosino oil, 2s fid per gallon. They also report a large number of cuttle, sheep, and horses, at the Carlton Yards, on Wednesday. They sold a pen of 2-year old steers, in fair condition, at £5 17s fid and i'li per head, The cattle market may be considered somewhat lower, in consequenco of shortness of feed and other causes, compelling sales; but any really priino fat and choice dairy stock obtained good prices.

lioKiTiKA,—Thoircs! Coast Times of June 8 reports:—Wu cannot report very favourably of business for the week. The very

inclement weather experienced during the early part of the week has materially affected business coastwise, tlic heavy rains and hail storms, together with the strong frosts, have not beeu equalled since three winters past, A. favourable change in the weather, however, is indicated to-night, and we trust there will be no obstacle to a good business for the coming week. There is little alteration to note in value of priucipal staples. Brandies have improved since last advices from Melbourne. An advance of fid per gallon may be quoted as current price. Case continues to improve in value, but does not keep pace with the Melbourne market, prices there being 30s to 325, leaving no profit to shippers, 34s to 36s being the market rate ruling here. Geneva and case spirits continue low in stock, and leave uo advan-

tage to shippers. The flour market is easier, consequent upon supplies and advices. We have beeu advised of transactions in Adelaide brauds at £2B. The current price is £29, market drooping. Oats are without alteration. Holders shew a disposition to obtain better rates tlum ruling during the week Bran lias been sold at 2s 8d; stocks light, quotation firm. Chaff has been placed somewhat lower than our last quotation, and now realises £l6 to £l7 10s per ton. In provisions there is no alteration to note. Firstclass butter, hams, and bacon are readily placed at prices favourable to the importer, Our market is at present well supplied with potatoes. In addition to usual invoices the trade have an opportunity of purchasing this esculent from Circular Head, ex Martha and Lavinia, which will fully test the market, ruling lately at £7 to £8 per ton. Otago—The Daily Times of June 8 reports :—Since the departure of the mail, very little of moment has occurred. The weather still continues unfavourable to business; but a fair demand has been experienced for upcountry requirements, and a Bteady trade seems likely to be done for the present. Current values do not differ from last quotations, and markets continue with a firm aspect for most goods. Teas, spirits, sugars, are looking well, and holders disposed to look for full rates. JDKZ geneva has come forward in better supply, and a considerable quantity has passed from importers' hands at a fair price not transpiring, but known to be equal to previous rates. Brandies to arrive, are also reported as quitted at sustained values, holders quoting 8s 3d to 8s 6d. Very little sugars are available, except the cargo of the Craigellachie, which is advertised for the 9th; buyers, in the meantime, waiting. Stocks of congous are fast diminishing, and sales made and making exhibit some improvement. Malt liquors have beeu rather more dealt in, and some parcels, both of bulk and bottled, placed at, however, in some instances, rather reduced figures. In the grain market, operations have been rather curtailed. Wheats are not now quoted at over 7s 6d for ordinary parcels; barley, 4s 3d; oats, 2s fid, with no demand. At the mills, town-made flour, £l9 10s; Chilian flour, which is now nearly out of first hands, remains at £2l to £2l 10s. Nelson.—The Examiner of June 4, in its monthly summary, reportsSo few chauges now take place in the commercial affairs of the province from month to month, that little can be said on the subject. Trade continues in much the same state as given in several previous reports, and unless rich auriferous ground should be opened in a new locality,

there is little to lead to an expectation of material change. The whole buaitieae of the gold-fieldß, upon which Nelson very largely depeuds, has now become thoroughly settled, aud with steamers running constantly backwards and forwards, markets are kept steadily supplied, and stocks are never permitted to become exhausted. The trade with the diggings is no longer of that speculative character, which is its marked feature in the early stages of gold-fields, and unless shipping are bar-bound, the trade o£ the West Coast is as steady as that of most of the older-settled districts. Any stocks that might have run out in first hands, are now replenished by the arrival of the Algernon with a large cargo, and still larger shipments are on their way in the Ballarat, which may be expected to arrive towards the latter end of next month. No material change has taken place in prices, though flour is less firm, and following in the wake of the Australian markets, has receded £1 a ton. The extreme limit in the priee of breadstuff has evidently been reached in Australia, flour from South America having been introduced to compete with Australian grown. While there is no chance of seeing any considerable fall in the price of flour this year, importations from America will keep in cheek any further advance. The following are our quotations for produce:—Gold, £3 Ss 6d to £3 15s per ounce; wool, in grease, s£d ; clem, Is; wheat, 7s 6d to 8s per bushel; oats, 3s 9d to 48 per bushel of 40lbs; barley, 6s per bushel; flour, first, £23 per 2000 lbs; potatoes, £4 10s per ton ; pollard, 8s per 100 lbs; sharps, 10s per 100 lbs; bran, Is fid to Is 6d per bushel; bricks, £4 per 1000 (delivered); cheese, Nelson, Is 2d ; Go, Canterbury, lOd. Sydney.—The Empire of the Ist inst. reports :—Wool still remains dull of sale, although an improvement is perceptible. The , usual sales of hides and tallow to-day, at the produce stores, Circular Quay, were very . animated. Although prices remain almost • as quoted last week, yet the attendance was : good, biddings were spirited, and most of the 1 goods offered found purchasers. The flour and wheat market has been dull, excepting

small trade lots. It lias a tendency downwards. The quotations are—For best Adelaide (Dunn's), £23; Harts, £24 ; for Lauuceston, £2O ; for Victorian, £2O ; and for New South Wales, £2O. At these prices sales have been effected. Adelaide wheat is

quoted at 9s 6d per buahel; New Zealand, at 8s 3d ; Launceston, at 8s fid; and New Soutli Wales at 78 Gil to Bs. Melbourne.—The Age of May 29 reports: —Breadstuffs are not in request, still, the feeling pervading the market to-day was of a more hopeful character, and the impression was entertained, that the turning point lias been reached. At auction, 200 tons town made Victorian flour were offered, but only 3D tons Were disposed of at £l9 17s 6d, the balance being withdrawn for £2O, three months; the parcel was subsequently closed for on private terms, by, it whs reported, an Adelaide firm. We learn that 200 tons Adelaide best brands of flour changed hands on Saturday at £22. No sales of wheat have been mentioned: the millers are understood to be in light supply, though the state of the demand for flour offers but little inducement t > tliem to enter the market. In feeding grains, maize is lower; we note business to fair extent at 3s 9d. Oats do not attract much at 3s 9(1 to 3s 10(1; one or two parcels of Californian have been quitted at 3s 9d, three months, for very prime samples. The balance of the cargo of Java rice ex Jacobus was offered at auction to-day, but only 800 bags found buyers at £22. A shipment of 2600 bags Java rice ex Cornelia. Gertruida was likewise submitted, but the biddings not coming up to holders' views the whole was withdrawn.