OTAGO.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1670, 19 April 1862, Page 2

OTAGO.

[From the *' Colonist." March 29.] During the past week the stern demands of business hare been made to yield to the allurements of pleasure. Monday, though not universally kept as a holiday, was the 14th anniversary of the Settlement, and notwithstanding n heavy rain the forenoon, pleasure parties were numerous. Then came the Races, which lasted from Wednesday until Friday, and attracted great numbers to the race-course. It will therefore excite but little surprise when we say that trade has been very dull. Public festivities of the kind alludeJ to are not wiihout effect on mining operations, and therefore we do not attach much importance to the decrease in the yield of go'd this week. The Escort on Thursday brought down—oz=. dwts. From Tuapeka 5,446 15 " Waitahuna 1.398 15 Total • 6,845 10 —Being 4/8 ozs. 15 dwts. less than the quantity brought from same place last week. From Waipori, the Escort brought 1,144 ozs., being 540 more than last returns. In general groceries there has been but little doing, and no material alteration in prices. Provisions.—Bacon and hams are still eagerly sought after, and prices are firm. Butter is in good demand, colonial preferred, ruling from Is. 3d. to Is. 6*d. per lb. Flour and Grain.—Good Adelaide brands arc bringing from £n to £\H 10s; inferior brands, £l6. Wheat, ss. 6d. per bshL Oats, Californian, ss. to ss. 9d.; colonial, 6s. to 6s. 9d. Bean* and maize scarce, from Bs. to Bs. 6d. per bushel. Potatoes are still advancing, and the fruit market Is looking up. Potatoes ate selling at £7 to £7 10s. per ton. Onions are superabundant, and selling from Bs. 6d. to Ills, per cwt. The Building Trade continues active, and prices of material are fully up to last quotations. (From the "Daily Times." April 1.) The week has not commenced so briskly as was expected by many, from the number of country buyers in town, who, combining pleasure with business, had come to town for the races. Still there has been a good demand foi some articles especially. We may mention colonial and good Cork butter, hams, bacon and Martell's brandy in case. In general demand business is veiy dull; an extreme caution is manifested by cash buyers, and as extreme a caution by sellers when goods are sold on credit, neither our Banks nor merchants seeming at all inclined to exceed very safe limits in any transactions. Arrivals of goods are limited, and it will lequire a very continued diminution of shipments to prevent goods from depreciating in value; however, of this we have not much fear, for whilst so few shipments are advised from Britain, and values in Melbourne are almost, and in some cases, quite equal to our prices; it is hardly to be expected that either consignees or importers will be so insane as to venture on increasing their stocks. The fine weather which still continues should enable country buyers to get up their winter stocks, but no disposition on their part to buy other than from "hand to mouth 1 ' is displayed. A meeting of the Provisional Committee of the proposed Dunedin Fire Insurance Company is called for Wednesday next, at 3 o'clock, when some of the preliminary business will be entered into. ■♦