COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3572, 28 June 1872, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times Office, • Thursday Evening. The Customs revenue collected to-day amounted to £192 18s 4d. The following were the items: —Wine, 66J gallons, sll 6s sd; spirits, 39U gallons, £167 0s 2d ; tea, 5091b5, £l2 14s 6d; boots, l ease, 9a 2d( galvanized iron, spouting, and ridging, 17cwt. 2 qrs., 17s 6d ; cloth, 1 roll, 4s 7d ; 1 gun, 5s ; hardware, 281bs, Is. The land sales to-day amounted to 660 acres 0 roods 26 perches, as follows i—Christchurch district, 2 acres; Upper Christchurch, 485 ,■ Ashley, 20 j Timaru, 8 ; Mondeville, 26 porches j Ellesmere, 100 acres j Oxford, 5; Malvern, 20 ; Waitaugi, 20 ; —realising £1320 12s Bd.

The loud sales during the month ending Juno 27 amounted to 4152 acres 0 roods 26 porches, as follows; —Christchurch district, 35 acres ; Upper Christchurch, 699 j Ashley, 70; Timaru, 765; Bonks Peninsula, 170; Oxford, 188; Maudoville, 26 perches ; Ellesmere, 200 acres; Malvern, 578; Ashburton, 256: Waitangi, 1251; Rakaia, 40 {—realising £8304 12s Bd.

Otago.— JThe Daily Times of June 24 reports :—Various causes have contributed to render the business of the past week exceptionally dull. At this season the usual halfyearly balance comes on, and second houses acftjbqsily engaged taking stock, an operation which affects seriously for the time the transactions of importers. The severe weather which has prevailed has had its effect also—the state of the roads stopping the teams and means of communication with up-country districts, while delivery from tho wharves has from the same cause been impeded. Stocks have been replenished by the arrival of the Ironsides (898 tons), from London, which, in addition to railway plant, is freighted with a large general cargo. Spirits remain at last quotations. Importers are inclined to hold for advances, hut no disposition to spring is manifested by buyers. Geneva —JDKZ —it may bo said, is decidedly firmer; VH and Co. is nearly out of the market. The demand for medium and lower ports and sherries is remarked as having of late somewhat declined. In sugars we notice that the balance of pale yellow crystals to rations, 3173 pockets, ex Parana, and of white crystals, ex Racer, via Melbourne, 3777 pockets —will be exposed for sale by auction, at the rooms of Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn, and C 0.,, to-morrow (Tuesday, 26th inst.) The trade would do well on this occasion to take note of the substance of advices and reports from Melbourne received by the Alhambra. They indicate considerable activity in the sugar market. The damaged portion of the Racer’s cargo had been submitted to auction, and whites realised £4llos. Stocks are almost entirely in the hands of one firm; and with dates from Mauritius to 3rd May, there are confirmed advices of continuance of high prices, and only one vessel—the Albyn’s Isle—loading for Melbourne, still higher prices being confidently looked for in the Australian markets. Teas are brisker, the movement being confined to boxes. A few sales are known to have been effected, and speculation to a limited extent entered into, the tendency of which will be to harden the market. In chests ard no change has been effected. In Dundee manufactures, transactions in oornsacks are alone noted; sales of these have taken place at 16s 3d for parcels. Iron goods of every description—boiler plates, hoop iron, bar iron, tin plates, &c.—have partaken of the extraordinary rise in iron. In galvanised iron, the last parcel in first hands has been cleared out. The extreme rates now ruling for this, article, and the probability of their being firmly maintained, with the scarcity prevailing, may not improbably induce the use of slates instead, were these plentiful and at moderate rates, neither of which they are at present. Building materials are generally ruling high. Of cement, a few parcels have just' arrived, and been disposed of at high rates, prices not disclosed; an increased demand is looked forward to, and stocks are low. Plaster of Paris is scarce. Scotch flooring, one inch, and inch and eighth, is in. moderate stock; prices fairly sustained. Stocks of fencing wire have been replenished by a shipment ex Ironsides; but rates will remain unaffected, and the demand be only partially met. Oilmen’s stores are as recently reported. A few leading articles have been reduced by current wants. Liverpool salt, coarse and fine, has advanced suddenly ; stocks are low, and in second hands. Kerosene has slightly declined; the market is now fully stocked, and importers are effecting sales slowly. Of tobaccos, Messrs M‘Landress, Hepburn, and Co. held a large sale, ex Alice Ball and Belle, under instructions from the importers, Messrs Neill and Co., at the Universal bond, on Friday last. There was a ’ large attendance of the trade, but the biddings lacked in spirit, and the sales effected were limited. The following prices were realised:— Diamond, 9 in pound, Is lid; Estremodura, light pressed, 2s; aromatic navy, 4’s, Is 2d ; do s’s, Is 2d; aromatic ilbs, Is Id ; fancy aromatic, Is 2d; honeydew, Jibs, 6Jd. The flour market has a firm aspect, rendered the more so by Melbourne advices. Wheat quotations are from 5s to 5s 4d, Barley is still scarce, and firm at 5s fid. Oats have not advanced, and are still quoted at from Is 9d to Is lOd. The slight advance in the Melbourne market gives room for hope that this cereal may yet reach an enhanced value. Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co. report for the week ending June 22;—Fat cattle—During the week, 46 head were yarded at Mosgiel and town yards; of these we sold 26 head. This number fully supplied the trade for the weelf. We sold a few pens of reaUyprime quality, at equal to 22s per lOOlbs. Wo cannot, however, quote the average value of best quality at over 20s per 1031bs. We have also placed one or two small lots at this figure for delivery in town. Fat shesp—Only 330 sheep, of ordinary quality, were penned. Merinos brought 10s 6d, and cross-breds 12s to 12s 6d, Prime mutton is in good demand at 3d per lb, at which price we placed 500 privately. Store Cattle.—There is a fair enquiry for quiet grown cattle, but we do not hear of any important transactions. Store sheep.—We have no transactions to report, but have numerous buyers at 7s to 7s 6d for merino wethers, 7s to 7s 6d for young ewes in lamb; 6s to 6s 6d for merino lambs ; Ils to 12s for cross-breds, 7s to 8s for do lambs. Station Property.— None offering. Our. late valuations could be obtained for desirable properties. Wool.—A few bales were offered at auction on Thursday, and fairly competed for, but the prices realised were considerably under late quotations. By the San Francisco mail just arrived, we have no later telegraphic intelligence from the home market than that received via Suez. Advices to Ist May, however, confirm to a certain extent the reported decline, which, at that date, was estimated at from 2£d to 3d per lb. Greasy descriptions suffered most heavily, as might have been expected, the relative values of greasy and washed having for a considerable time past been utterly disproportionate. The decline is attributed principally to the absence of foreign competition, in consequence of which tho home trade—having in view the large supplies to arrive for the June-July series, say, 200,003 bales—operated with extreme caution, and for immediate requirements only. When, however, it is homo in" mind that by reason of the diversion of large quantities to other markets, the total produce of tho colonics for the year, available for the London market, will bo little, if at all, in excess of the previous year’s, while trade continues active, and consumption increasing, wo think there is little reason to fear any further serious decline at the late sales of the year. Sheepskins continue in good demand. About 4000 have changed hands during the week, at from Is 9d to 3s 2d each. New Zealand hemp.—Well dressed qualities are in request, and for such prices in advance of late quotations are obtainable. Advances from tho home and American markets are very encouraging. Grain—Wheat: Prime samples are freely saleable at 5s 3d; medium at 5s Id to 5s 2d. The quantity offering is not largo. Barley: Prime malting (of which there is none offering) is in request, and would command extreme rates. Oats: Fine feed, Is 9d, milling, Is lOd, per bushel. Melbourne. —The Argus of June 16 reports ;—ln the import markets to-day business

to a fair extent has been transacted. In broadstuffs the market exhibited an upward tendency, although wo do not niter our quotations of £l6 arid £l6 6s for best brands of flour in largo linos, and £l6 10s for trade parcels. Wheat in demand, but operations are checked: by the paucity of supp 1 os; prices range from 7» up 'to 7s 3d for superior samples. Oats i have ■ boon freely sold to the trade, at very full rates. Barley has also been . i more active inqf’ry; a parcel of 200 bags Chevalier brought 6s 3d per bushel, and for Capo barlev there are buyers at 4s to 4s 3d per bushel, according to quality. .. Maize meets with ready, sale at 3s 4d to 3s 6d per bushel. Sugars continue to - attract considerable attention, although the trade operate with extreme caution. At auction this morning, the cargo of the Rebecca Jane, consisting of 4953 bags, and pockets, was offered, of which only ono line was sold under the hammer, several 1" ies being placed, privately, and subsequently the balance of the cargo was taken up by ono firm, in whoso hands stocks are now well centred.. MRogitrding. this staple, advices by the Jane Bell, frpra Mauritius, reaching to fiie 3rd May,, state that, only one vessel, the Albyn’s Isle (previously advised), was loading for Melbourne, the market being entirely cleared of y greys. Currants have been freely sold at 3id per lb in bond, and 5Jd duty paid. Brandon’s full weight candles have found buyers at UWiper lb, duty paid. In liquids there has been. little doing. Hennessy’s case brandy has been placed at 26s 6d in bond, and further sales of dagger stout are reported at 10s 3d per dozen, duty paid. For kerosene the demand is rather, slack. Several small lines of Dqvoe’s have, however, been placed at up to Is 10W per gallon. American nails have been extensively purchased at 28s to 30s. Further sales of American brooms arc, mentioned at full rates.

The Australasian of June 15 contains the following weekly review of the giain.and produce market:—ln the produce market throughout the week a fair amount of business has been transacted. Flour has been largely dealt in, and some considerable parcels have been quitted. On Thursday, offers of £l6 for lines of 100 tons were refused more than once during the day. On Friday, one line of 100 tons changed hands at £l6. Trade parcels to a fair extent likewise were disposed of at £l6 5s to £l6 10s. Yesterday, 600 tons at least changed hands, in parcels, at £l6. The same price was likewise offered for several. hundred tons more without being responded to. At auction a trifling parcel of Wangaratta was quitted at £l6. For trade purposes, £l6 5s to £l6 10s continues to be paid for small lots, while for parcels up to £l6 is obtained. Wheat has been much wanted, but the supply has been very short. Prime samples meetwith a ready sale at 7s to .7s 3d. On Thursday, 900 bags good to fine brought 6s lOd to 7s publicly, while very prime Tasmanian, sold for seed, realised 6s lid to 7s o£d. On Thursday, likewise, the operations of one buyer, which had extended over 10 days, were completed; purchases aggregating 25,000 bushels were made at extreme rates. On Friday and Saturday, the market was firm at 7s to 7s 3d for prime samples, while middling could have been sold at 6s 6d. to 6s 9d. On Monday 3000 bushels fine Adelaide were taken up at the extreme price of 7s 4d. Victorian was wanted at 7s to 7s 3d. Yesterday a line of 600 bushels prime Victorian was quitted at 7s 4jd. A parcel of Port Mac Donnell was sold at 7s lid- Good milling descriptions are saleable at 7s to 7s 3d, while for milling 6s 6d 6s 9d can be obtained. The Aldinga brings 1500 bags of Adelaide, and we understand , that Derwent also brings a fair quantity of Tasmanian. In feeding grains we note an improvement in oats; ordinary milling qualities are offering at 3s 3d to 3s 4d, and feeding sorts can be placed at 3s to 3s 2d. On Thursday 660 bushels were sold at 2s lOd to 3s, for very poor feeding ; 900 bags of ordinary milling were placed at 3s 3d. Yesterday, 1600 bushels were sold publicly at 3s 3d; and a line of good milling was also placed privately at 3s 4Jd. Maize is very firm at 3s 4d to 3s 6d. On Monday, 200 to 300 hag parcels, ex recent arrivals, were quitted at 3s 4d. Cape barley has been quitted at ?s lid to 4s OJd; a parcel of English, suitable for malting, was offered, but there were no bidders. The market has been well cleared of any parcels of bran offering; some 15,000 bushels have been taken up, and Is 2d is now asked. For pollard, quotations range from Is 2d to Is 4d. Colonial oatmeal is in moderate demand at £2O to £2l.

Adelaide.— A telegram in the Argus, dated June 14, reports:—Prime wheat sold at 6s; inferior, 5s lOd; flour, £l3 to £l4 ss. Our own correspondent, writing on June 7, reports: Melbourne and Sydney advices speak of firmer rates there, and I don’t see how prices, can do anything but quietly recover something like their former position ere long. I was much amused to hear, a day or two ago, of a transaction in wheat, in which some of your Canterbury grain figured pretty conspicuously. A sale was made of prime wheat to one of the very sharpest of our merchants,' and the seller, having some 150 hags of Canterbury wheat on hand, passed it off without a word being said, the buyer not knowing but that it was of South Australian growth. We have had some splendid rains, and old residents say it is the best seed time they have ever seen. I hope so good a beginning will have a good ending, for we don’t want another five bushel an acre crop.