COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealander, Volume XX, Issue 2080, 2 April 1864, Page 2

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

There has been a considerable amount of business done during the month and we believe at moderately remunerative prices. Although the quantity of goods pouring into the market is large yet the increasing requirements of the place appear to absorb them, as fast as they arrive. We can hardly point to large stocks in any article, except inferior spirits, and many articles that have been a glut in the market for some time past have recovered, and will now pay parties importing them. Flour has greatly advanced since onr last summary and we now quote for firsts £26, seconds £23, sharps £l4, bran 25., and wheat 9s. per bushel. There are some vessels overdue, which may arrive at any moment; but the quantity of wheat and flour on hand is so small that it has become a considerable source of anxiety to the community ; as in the event of their keeping out much longer, and nothing arriving from California or Valparaiso, another large advance towards a famine price would be inevitable result. Maize and Oats are in daily and increasing demand, owing to the large requirements of the Transport Corps and the quantity of horses which are pouring in from the other colonies and from the Southern Ports. We quote maize 6s. 6d., and oats 6s. per bushel. Brandies, first brands, are about our last quotations 11s. to 11s. 6d.; although a small parcel has been quitted at auction at 10s. 6d. Rum. —The stock has run lower than usual and we now quote 3s. 6d. for 10 per cent, 0.p., aud 3s. 9d. for 20 per cent. o.p. Gin. —Case gin is not quite so glutted as it has been 12s. to 13s. being about the present prices. Whiskey, in bulk, good Scotch is worth 4s. 6d. to 4s. 9d. ; in I dozen cases, 12s. to 15s. Wines.— Hunt’s double diamond port has been sold at auction in bond at 9s. Sherry in 1 dozen cases at 255. to 275. 6d. duty paid. Champagne at 355. to 88s. per dozen, duty paid. The stock of wines on hand is still considerable. Tobacco. —We quote for cavendish 2s. to 3s. according to quality; the knight templar, in boxes, 5-d. lb., lumps has been sold in quantity at auction at 2s. 4d., and the Cocksfoot brand at 2s. 2d. in bond; for Ncgrohead we quote 3s. 6d to 4s 6d. in bond. Cigars are without alteration.

Ales and Beers are still heavy, Younger’s Edinburgh Ales in sound condition, have been quitted at auction at £6 12s. 6p. for No. 3; and No. 4at £6 15s. to £7; and Dawson’s No. 3*at £6 10s. per hhd. Allsopp aud Bass’s, No. 3is still worth our former quotations £7 10s. to £B. Bottled Ale and Porter have declined and are now worth from 9s. Gd. to 10s. per dozen. Taylor’s Porter, none on hand. Groceries. —We note but little alteration in prices, the stocks of sperm candles have been very much increased by late arrivals; tea has also been imported from Melbourne and sold by auction in large quantities, at prices varying from Is. 6d. to 2s per lb., duty paid; fine teas are still worth 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. per lb. duty paid. Sugars are about the same, we have a cargo from the Mauritius, since our last, but it has not altered prices. We quote loaf 6d. to 6|d., crushed s£d. to s|d., and No. 1 pieces sd. to 5Jd. Oatmeal 2)d. to 2|d. per lb. Soap.- —We are beginning to receive the Melbourne manufacture, a parcel was sold at auction, which took the same figure as the Sydney, and appeared to be equally good. We quote 375. to 38s. per cwt. Oilman’s Stores in general are about the our last tations.

Metals. —We note a large demand for corrugated iron, and quote £35 to £4O per ton; pig iron is worth £5 I Os. ; nails, axes, as per prices current. Oils. —Linseed 4s. Od. to 55.; turps 11s. to 12s. Tar, Stockholm, market glutted, and price 255. ,lo 30s. per barrel. Canvas. —Assorted Is. 4d. to Is. 6d. per yard. Drapery goods are in fair demand, at from 30 to 40 per cent, advance, and the same remark applies to clothing. Boots and Shoes have from being a glut in the market arrived at something like paying rates. Saddlery would now' command from 40 to 50 per cent, advance, for fair invoices. ■ , 7 Timber has advanced, Giving to the demand for hutting the troops for the winter, and in our other colonial products we have no- change to note. Landed Properties. —Few have changed hands during the past month. The most important being an extension of the township of Drury, and a block in Freeman’s Bay. both realised extreme prices, and the particulars of the sales will be found in another column. Bank Rates are without alteration.

Messrs. Ridings & Dowden offered for sale, by auction, at the stores of Alfred Woolley & Co., a large quantity of spirits and groceries. There was a good attendance o£ the trade, but the biddings were slack at first, but improved as the sale progressed. The goods sold were —5 cases Imperial pale brandy at 12s. per case; 3 qr.-casks of pale and 1 dark brandy, (three daggers) at 9s. per gallon ; and 5 cases Stewart’s whiskey at 12s. in bond ; 10 chests tea at Is. B£d., 10 at Is. 8d ,10 at Is. 7d., 33 at Is. and 68 at 1 s. 6d. per 115., Conf uciurs ; 5 chests Odins at 2s ; 100 half-chests Miranda at Is. 6Jd. per 115. ; 10 boxes Ettrick at 275. 6d. per box. These teas were all congous, and sold duty paid. Cossipore sugar, in 1 cwt. bags, sat 6d., 35 at s|d. per lb ; I case allspice, 10) d; 10 cases sago at 4(1. per lb. ; Whybrow’s vinegar, 10 cases at 95., 15 at 9s. 3d. per doz.; oysters, in tins, 5 cases at 10s. ; Hira’s i-pint castor oil at 7s. per doz.; white starch (Jones’s), 10 cases at 4)d.; 5 cases blue starch at 4:|-d. ; and 20 boxes rnaizena at s)d per lb ; Wood’s currie powder, lat I Os., 3at 9s. Bd. per doz.; Melbourne soap, J cwt. boxes, 20 at 18s. Id., 20 at 18s. 3d. ; ditto, in cwt. boxes, 20 at 365. 9d. ’per box; saloon matches, 1 case at ss. 3d., 1 at 55., 3at 4s. per gross; and I case boiled beef hams at 9d. per lb. Messrs. Ridings 8c Dowden sold on Thursday at their mart a large quantity of sationery ; the prices were very good double demy, coloured, 1211). at 15s. 6d, ; white demy, 18115. at 10s. 3d.; white double crown, 241b. at 12s. Gd. ; superfine demy, 28115 at 21s. ; superfine double crown, 3611). at 245. ; double demy news, at 355.; cream laid post, 6113. at 6s. 9d.; foolscap," 13lb. at 11s. 3d.; and 141 ft. at 15s. 6d. per ream : foolscap account books, 8 quire Bs. 3d., 6 quire ss. 3d., and 4 quire 4s. each. The same firm sold about 30 trunks of boots and shoes at average rates.

AUCKLAND RETAIL MARKETS. Butchers’ Meat. —Beef, per It)., Bd. and 9d.; mutton from 9d.; pork, do., lOd. Biscuit. —Cabin, nominal ; bread, per 2f15. loaf. 7gd Farm and Dairy Produce. —Butter (fresh), per 115.; 2s. 9d.; cheese (colonial), IS.1 S. 3d ; eggs, per doz. 35.; milk, per quart, 9d.; bacon, per ft)., Is. 3d.; ham Is, 3d to Is. 6d.; lard, do., Is. 6d.; fowls, per pair 6s. to 75.; ducks, do., 6s. to Bs.; geese, each, 10s., turkeys, do., Bs. to 10s. Od.; potatoes, per cwt., 9s. to 1 Os. ; onions, per lb., 4d.; hay, per ton, £7 to £7 10s; straw, £4. Building Materials. —Boards and scantling, per 100 feet, 14s. to 205.; boards, tongued and grooved, do., 255.; lining boards, 125.; shingles, per 1000, 12s. to 13s. od., palings, per 100, 165.; postsand rails, do., £3 to £3 ss. ; bricks, per 1000, £3 ss. to £4 ; lime, per bushel, Is. 4d., to 2s. the mills Wholesale. —Fine flour, (silk dressed) per ton, £26 seconds, do., £23; sharps, do., £l4; bran, per bushel, 2s. Od. Retail.— Fine flour, per 100 lbs., 285.; seconds, do., 265.; sharps, 165.; bran, per bushel, 2s. 3d.