COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2594, 29 April 1869, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, Wednesday Evening. The Customs revenue collected at Christchurch and Lyttelton to-day amounted to £166 2s 7d. The following were the items : Wine, 84| gals, £l6 17s 6d; wine, 1 sample, Is 6d; spirits, 30| gals, £lB 11s 3d; tea, 125 lbs, £3 2s sd; sugar, 2382 lbs, £9 18s 6d; drapery, 8 cases, £35 ss; stationery, 2 cases, 3 pkgs, £1 2s 2d; ink, I case, 5s Id; paper bags, 1 bale, *4s 6d; jewelry, 1 parcel, value £74 16s, ad-valorem, £7 9s 6d; soap, 20cwt, £2 10s; cornsacks, 32 hales, £SO 19s 9d; wrapping paper, 2 bales, 18s 8d; boots, 21 pkgs, £l6 10s 6d; flower-pots, 1 cask, 7s sd; nails, 3 cwt 0 qrs 21 lbs, 3s 3d; rope, 5 cwt 2 qrs, 16s 6d; light dues, 9s. The commercial news from Melbourne, so far as it relates to live stock, is very encouraging. 'lt will he seen from our telegraphic mews that sheep have advanced one shilling ■per head, and that all kinds of live stock are advancing in price. Further, it is stated that meat-preserving has received an impetus from the advices received by last mail from England The connection between the two facts is obvious, and will give confidence to those who are turning their attention to meat-preserving in this colony. The breadstuffs market seems to have been suffering from one of those sudden fluctuations which appear utterly inexplicable! It will be noted, however, that a parcel of New Zealand oats sold at the high rate of 4s. This is the highest quotation yet reached by New

Zealand oats, and it would seem to indicate a rising market. Timaru. —The Herald of April 34, reports :—A large quantity of grain, both wheat and oats, has arrived in Timaru the last week, chiefly, though, to close sales. In fresh transactions there has been but little doing, A few small lota of wheat have been sold from 4s 3d to 4s 6d, but to millers, we believe, in every instance ; buyers as a rule refusing to advance more than 4s for firstclass samples. In oats, trade has been dull, a few parcels only changing hands at 2s 6d. Barley remains at former quotations—3s 6d to 4s. In shipments, we note the schooner Dancing Wave having completed loading with oats to-day. She takes to the Hokitika market 946 bags, containing 3797 bushels. A very large quantity of grain is in store awaiting shipment, but a clearance will be effected next week, when the barque Collingwood is expected in port to load for Auckland. On Thursday, at Waimate, Mr Stubbs held an auction sale of cattle. There was a good attendance, and fair prices realised. Cows, from £7 to £l3 ; steers, 55s ; calves, 455. The same journal of April 28, says : Business for the last few days has been slack, and little doing. In breadstuffs we note no change, and prices nominally keep up at last quotations. o amaru. —The Oamaru Times of April 23 reports:—There are still few transactions to report. Wheat continues firm at last quotar tions. We hear of parties willing to purchase a large parcel, uniform sample, at 3s lid, terms. Oats are quoted at from 2s to 2s 2d, and good malting barley at 4s 9d to 6s. Stocks of flour are large, and breadstuffs generally are dull of sale. Quotations are, for Oamaru and Kakanui, silk dressed, £l6; bran, Is 3d per bushel; oatmeal, £2O. Otago.— The Daily Times of April 24 reports:—We are not able to report any material improvement in business to-day. Traders seem to have concluded that the remainder of the month’s business would be small, and with that view keep from buying. The import market is consequently dull, and the amount of sales making unsatisfactory. Values of produce are stationary, and with respect to all imported goods the same remark may be made. By auction, considerable amount of staple goods were offered; the principal items in wines and spirits brought out but little attention. There were, however, a few goods better looked for, and sales made show values about as follows: Chocolate, duty paid, 11 Jd to Is; Taylor’s mustard, 8d to Is l£d; biscuits, 6Jd to 6d; and some parcels of oilmen’s stores at good rates. The principal lines in the ports and sherries were passed—some light wines going off more freely. Deinhard’s No. 1 Moselle is reported as quitted at 60s, and a cargo of New Zealand pine at I2s. Mr John Brook, Manse street, reports : The downward tendency of the (values of flour and wheat in the Australian markets |as per last advices has resulted in causing an increased disposition on the part, of holders to sell, and a corresponding indisposition on the part of the millers to buy wheat. There is consequently more difficulty in selling, and value slightly reduced. Oats are somewhat more enquired for, and the value fairly sustained. Barley continues in active demand, and price firm. Potatoes are in somewhat better enquiry, but without change in value. Prices current are : —Flour, £l2 to £l2 10s per ton; oatmeal, £ls per ton ; pearl barley, £23 per ton ; wheat, 4s 6d per bushel; oats, 2s 6dper bushel ; barley 4s :9d per bushel ; potatoes, £3 to £3 5s per ton; onions, £2O per ton; carrots, £3 per ton ; turnips. £2 to £2 10s per ton; bran, £5 per ton ; pollard, £5 per ton ; hay (loose), £4 per ton; do. (trussed), £4 10s per ton; chaff, £4 to £4 10s per ton; rye grass seed, 4s to 6s per bushel ; cheese, 7£d per lb; butter, Is per lb.

Hokitika.— The West Coast Times of April 26 reports:—We have to record an exceedingly dull week in every branch of business ; indeed, the week just ended is looked upon by most trading houses as the dullest they have had for a long time. There has not been, however, any marked change in prices. Flour, perhaps, may be an exception, as it certainly has not quite maintained last week’s quotations, though we have not heard of any sales of Hart’s at less than £l7 10s. A feeling seems, however, to prevail that it will go lower. Our own impression is, that our present quotations of £l7 10s for Adelaide will be sustained. Provincial flour is selling at from £l4 to £l7. Oats are scarce, but 4s 6d is the highest quotation at present. There have been none offering at auction this week. Chaff has come to hand rather freely this week, and was sold under the hammer at £ls per t on. This was a lot ex Glencoe, from Melbourne, and evinces a much lower tone in the market. Bran remains at 2s per bushel. Potatoes are firm at from £7 to £8 ; they were sold by auction on the wharf this week, at £' 15s per ton. Stocks of prime qualities are anything but heavy ; and, unless we get any large additions, we may look for higher prices. Butter remains as inactive as it has been for the last few weeks ; sales are exceedingly limited, but sellers will not yield in price, which is Is 2d for prime qualities. There is no change whatever in any article in groceries. Teas are well supplied, and the demand is but moderate. Sugars are still selling at the old prices, ‘though we scarce think that can continue long. Provisions generally are dull of sale. Spirits are largely held, hut prices remam the same. Mr G. W. Binney reports the following sales for the week;—On Tuesday, on the wharf, ex Glencoe—Geese, 13s per pair; bran. Is 10£d per bushel; six-feet palings, 17s per hundred; five-feet palings, 12s per hundred; Wilson’s jams, 7s per dozen; Peacock’s and Johnson’s jams, 9s per dozen; carrots, £5 10s per ton; herbs, 35s per case; peas, 5s 6d per bushel; eggs, Is 8d to Is lOd per dozen; potatoes, £7 15s per ton; onions, 2d per lb; pears, Bs to 7s per case; apples, 5s 6d to 9s 6d per case; chaff, £ls per ton; cart shafts, 6s per pair. On Wednesday, the property, consisting of Cheapside House, was knocked down for £4B to Mr Hines, of the Royal George Hotel. On Thursday, at a sale of furniture, at the residence of Mr H. Cohen, Tancred-street, good prices were realised. Op Friday, on the wharf, ex Lady Don, damaged chaff, £6 per ton. On Saturday, a miscellaneous sale was held at the rooms, of ironmongery, spirits, groceries, tobaccos, and sundries. Some articles being damaged, were sold at low prices. Half-chests of tea realised £3 2s 6d each; split peas, 16sper cwt; white beans, 3Jd per lb; starch, 3d per lb; blue, lOd per lb.