COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 140, 25 April 1864, Page 6

COMMERCIAL AND MONETARY INTELLIGENCE.

London. February 26, evening. The Bank of England has reduced the rate of discount from 7 to G per cent., nncl by offering to increase the reserve of notes stopped the drain of bullion. A further reduction in tlie discount rate is not improbable. The stock markets opened at first heavily, nut afterwards became brisk, owing to the pacific nature of the Ministerial statements. Cox9OLs.—For nicvney. 01} ; for account. IH.V. Ba>'k Sfatiks.—There is an improvement jn the Bank of New Zealand shares, but p blight redurtion on those of the English. Scottish, and Australian Chartered Bank. The New Zealand Government have authorised their agent to sell privately unallotted balances. The first instalment o\' the Government loan hnsbeen partly taVen up. The fijst instalment of the Queensland Government is advertised for sale by tender on the 1 st of March. The English and Australian Copper Company have declared a dividend of 2s. 6d. per share. The Scottish Australian Investment Company have declared a. dividend for the halfyear of 5 per cent. The Mutual Trust Company's dividend is at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum. Colonial Government Securities.-: —New Beth Wales o per cent, debentures. IS6(>. January and July. 00 to 100. Victoria 0 per cents.. Anril and October. 110 to 111. "New Zealand 6 per cents.. 10S to 110. South Australian 6 per cents. IS7S, 109 tc 111. The total value of the exports from the United Kingdom in ISO.'} amounted to ;t14G.459.7R5. The exports for !S(i2 amounted to £103.092.264, and for 1801 £125.102, Sl4.

The gross value of exports to Australia in 1803 amounted to £10.'2n.9r,2 ; for 15(52. ;£9.97C}.503 ; for ISGI., 9,429,4.")G, and for ISGO, £4,024,200, The decline "in the declared value of shipments durinir the past month to Australia proper is £229.543. The a^re^nte amount of exports being £608,071, against £937,614. To Melbourne the shipments for the past month as compared with that of January exhibit a decrease of £2o(!.117. To Sydney the decrease is £1 05.720. To Adelaide the decrease is £lSf»2. Exports to Tlobi'.rt Town show an increase of £17.-I-Si!. The exports to ?sew Z(-i'land for the pasi month amount-to £ 14.122 against £14,705 fortho previous month. LONDON "WOOL REPORT. The market at present is quiet, as buyers refuse to pay advanced prices on the November rates, preferring to wait for the March sales. The total arrivals to dato are 35,12"j bales. Owing to the non-arrival of new wool from Port Phillip, as anticipated, the rates obtained at the last sales will dnubtlcsa be maintained until the end of next month. The trade in the Xorth is good but not animated.

PRODUCE MARKETS.

Hides in less demand. Only-lid. obtainable for the best hcavv Australian. Leather in good demand. Australian brought I advance. Skins.—Extra large kangaroo sold at 2b. Id. Bark.—Mimosa, higher prices have been obtained for the best chopped, which sold at £13. "Whalebone, ex "Wallaroo, sold at ~(.'320 per ton. Southern quoted at £'4SO. Horns and J Jones.— Steady .sale at previous prices. Tallow.—Prices have given way. Australian being (id. to Is. cheaper. Markets dull. PYC on the spot, 40e. Oils.— Several parcels of Sydney sold at reduced rates. There has been a good business in sperm at former prices—best double compass £48. Metals.— Copper quoted at £110 to £110 Little speculation, and dull of sale. Spirits.—Large sales efieeted in rum. ISrandy and sherries at advanced prices. Coftee. —Steady sale without change of prices. Bice.—Dull, with slight decline in price. Corn.—Markets in general dull. Sugar.—ln good demand, at Is. to Is. 6d. higher than last month- a greater advance is looked for, as quantities are small.

SHIPPING.

AUHJVAI.S. Orient, Suffolk, Coonalt, William Dutliie, Asshur, and Maid of Jiidah.

Dkpautuhes.

For Melbourne. — Powerful, G-anawalt, Tudor, Governor-General, Empire of Peace, G-oolwa, Ocean Home, Abergeldie, Duke of Newcastle, Adriana, Cameronian, and Suffolk. For Sydney.—Birch Grove, City of Madras, Transatlantic, Queen of the East. Wallaby, Koscotc, Sandringham, Malia liancc. Codan, Thomas Campbell. For Queensland. —Silvia, Bayswater, Corinne, Warren H«*{ii>>,'s.

fv\.SU.vLTli-:s.

The Black Bull liner, Golden Age, from Madras to London, was wrecked near l)ungenees. Value of cargo, £200,000.

Tlie Lamir.cVmuir, from Shanghai to London, wtli a valuable enrsjo, was wrecked in Ga3pcr Straits on the 31st December.