TIMARU.

North Otago Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1198, 14 February 1876, Page 2

TIMARU.

The "Herald" of Friday last reports : — Trade in the early part of the month -was very dull, but it has improved lately. Imports have been pretty heavy, and, as will be seen by a return below, a considerable bulk of local produce has been exported. Wool continues to arrive in large quantities for shipment, but none of this season's grain has yet appeared in this market. Prices are not quoted here for grain, but Christchurch buyers have been offering 3s 3d for wheat, Is 3d to Is 6d for oats, and some transactions at these figures have taken place. During the month the Albion Steam Ship Company put a steamer on the trade between Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Ohristohurch, in opposition to the Union Steamship Company, which for a long time has had a monopoly of the steam coastal trade. The competition resulting from the establishment of this second line has had already the effect of reducing the freight very considerably, the rate now being 25s per ton including landing at Timaru. A new channel for trade has now been opened up by the establishment of through communication by rail to Christchurch, but the trains have not been running sufficiently long to enable an estimate to be formed of the extent to which they will divert the trade from the sea. Properties^ of all descriptions still rule very high, showing that owners have every confidence in the place. The following are the quotations in the general retail business in Timaru : — Flour (wholesale) is fetching from L10 10s to Lll per ton ; oatmeal, L19 ; sharps, L5 10s ; bran, L4 ; potatoes at the rate of L5 . In building material, Messrs Jackson and Gibson quote as follows ; — Timber, New Zealand totarn and black pine, 203 per 100 feet ; white pine 18s per 100 feet ; do Van Dieman's Land, 25s per 100 feet ; do V. D. L. palings (5 feet), 2Ss ; do (6 feet), 30s ; V. D. L. shingles, 30s per 1000, spokes, 42s per 100 ; felloes, Is 4d each ; Gospel Oak galvanised iron, L40 per ton ; bricks, L4 per 1000. All kinds of building material and blue gum timber are in good supply. Coals are in good supply, the price being L3 09 per ton at the yards. Firewood is at L3 per cord. The following are the principal items, exported during the month : — Wool, 2758 bales ; wheat, 11,160 bushels ; oats, 4400 bushels ; barley, 1700 bushels.