Commercial.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1055, 2 April 1867, Page 4

Commercial.

AUCKLAND. New Zealand Heuai.d Oflica, ""** Monday afternoon. The Cu:-torn? receipts for to-day amounted to £571 12s. 3d. To-day, Messrs. Turrell and Tonks sold at auction a quantity of cedar boards, ex Prima Donna, from Sydney, as follows : —Half-inch, Id per foot; 1-inch, -lid to ditto: 2-inch, lOd ditto. Customs Revenue. The total customs receipts for the month of March, 1F67, amounted to £11,952 Is 3 Gd, of which £11,573 9s Sd was for duties ; £13 I3s, gold duty ; £ 130 6s 2d, 1 ill dues ; £12 ISs, feas under the " Merchant Shipping Act;" £25 Bs, fees under the "Arms Act;" £00 is sd, port charges ; »nd £130 17s 3d, pilotage. (From the Auckland Journal of Commerce.) The Panama, New Zealand and Australian Royal Mail Company's s.s. Auckland, with the English mail via Suez, reached this harbour on the 25th instant, being two days behind her time, occasioned by the non-arrival of the P. it O. Company's boat at Sydney before tlie 19th instant. We still note a decided and very considerable decrease in shipments to this port, only one vessel having sailed, and one being on the berth. Tliis will in time, 110 doubt, have a very beneficial effect upon business generally, as the market is, in most articles of import, heavily overstocked, and consequently prices realized are most unsatisfactory to importers.

There has been a very brisk shipping business done during the month, and our harbour has not presented so lively an appearance for some time past; every available berth on our wharf is taken up, while several are in the stream waiting to come alongside. The Maori took her departure 011 the 30th instant with the left wing of the 57th regiment, a large quantity of military stores, and a miscellaneous cargo of colonial produce. The Electric, England, Southern Cross, and Mary Shepherd, and Novelty, are all 011 the berth for England, and are advertised to sail on an early date. The new brig, Flying Cloud, will proceed 011 lier maiden trip with passengers to San Francisco. The Circular Saw Liner, ITaversliam, will also be laid 011 for the above-named port 011 arrival, and is to sail about the end of April.

The shareholders of the Auckland Insurance Company held tlieir half-yearly meeting at the Company's offices, in Queen-street, 011 the 20th instant, Mr. David Nathan, chairman of directors, presided. The secretary submitted the following as the Fourth Report of the Directors for the half year ending lOtli February, 1807 :— "Your Directors have the honour to present to the shareholders tlieir fourth half-yearly report, accompanied by tlie balance-sheet duly certified by the auditors. From the latter it will be seen that the income from fire and marine premiums has not been sufficient to cover the losses and expenses during the past six months. The reserve fund and interest arising from investments have consequently been absorbed.

"A liability of .£320 arose at the close of the half-year, but the claim not having been adjusted before the books were balanced, it is brought forward to the new half-year. This claim has since been paid.

" The past year in Auckland lias been unprecedented for fires, arising from causes other than accidental; and, as it is impossible for a young company to meet claims arising from incendiarisms without the risk of seriously diminishing the paid-up capital, and possibly of making further calls upon the shareholders, the directors are of opinion that it would be wiser and safer to pass a resolution for winding up the company, which, if confirmed at a future meeting, will enable the shareholders to get back the whole or the greater part of the money they have paid up.—(Signed) David Nathan, chairman." The losses of the company have been heavy, the profits have not been large, and they encountered, almost from the outset, a run of ill luck or bad risks, which fall less heavily on old established and opulent companies ; and it was resolved that the affairs of the company should

be wound up and the business disposed of to the New Zealand Insurance Company, or to some other company doing business in Auckland. Business during the month has been in a most unsatisfactory state, and everybody is bitterly complaining at the dullness of the times and the scarcity in the money market. Numerous failures have taken place amongst our small traders : and this, coupled with the levanting of J Kirkwood, with liabilities of some .£30,000, and Mr. E. J. Cox, with about .£20,000, have quite caused a panic in our mercantile community, and it will take .some time until confidence may be expected to be restored. Besides the banks are, if possible, exercising still more caution in discounting, so that business, if not exactly on a stand-still, may be said to be as dull as possibly can be. Prospects for improvement, now that the winter season is approaching, are far distant, and we hear that several long established firms contemplate giving up business, which, under the circumstances, we must consider a wise proceeding. What makes things still worse is that stocks in most articles of import are immense, and. with our daily considerably decreasing population, will take some time to be worked oft. Auction sales have been very frequent of late, and in most instances the prices realized must have been most unsatisfactory to importers. Alk and Pouter. —We have no change to report in Bulk Ales, the demand continues to be only very limited, and what sales are effected are of a merely retail character and to supply immediate requirements. _ Speculation is altogether out of the question. Our present stocks are likely to last some time, and the winter, with a decreased consumption setting in, there is no hope for improvements. Prices have not undergone any alteration, as will be seen by our quotations. There was some little enquiry for first class Bulk. .Stout, and afew small sales have been effected at our quotations ; our present supplies are quite sufficient to satisfy our demands through the winter season. In Bottled Ales and Porter, very little has been doing, and fully 3d. to (id. reduction per dozen lias been taken to effect sales. For small parcels, our quotations may be considered pretty correct.

B.u:s axd Woo i.packs.— The speculative purchases and shipments to the Australian Colonies of three-bushel "bags, have bad the effect of casing this market considerably, and at present stocks are by no means too large ; still the demand for this market is very limited, and what sales have taken place have been of a most insignificant character. The ruling prices during the month has been 14s. to 14s. (id. per dozen, duty paid. In Woolpacks nothing lias been doing, and sales cannot be affected, even at any price. For Gunnies there is some little demand.

Boots aXD Shoes.—Although the winter season is close at hand, there does not seem to be any improvement in these articles, and hut a very small business has been doing during the month. Holders are however not showing any inclination to submit to any reduction, and we have no doubt that the trade will soon come forward to replenish their stocks for the coming season. Butteti.—There has been some little activity in the butter market of late. Stocks are very light, and holders are asking fully Id. advance 011 our last quotations. Woollongoug there is but very little in the market, and Cork is held at Is. 2d. to Is. 2.1(1. per lb. The ships now 011 the berth for England are likely to take the greater part of onr present stocks, and a further rise may be anticipated.

Candli-'.s. —We have had little or 110 speculation to report in this article; very shortly after the departure of last mail, holders in order to effect sales had to submit to a reduction of Id. to lid. per lb., at which some thousand boxes have been bought lip by the trade. Later on sales have been effected at Is. 2id., and we hear of a few hundred boxes having changed hands at Is. 2d. per lb., however the present ruling quotations may be said to be Is. 2\d. per lb. for full weights, and lid. for lightweights. Stocks are moderate unci if fresh supplies do not come in shortly we may expect a slight advance.

Cheese.—Very little has been doing in this article, and the demand which we reported in our last publication has considerably subsided, and consequently prices have fully declined Id. per lb. Cheddars are very difficult to move off, while for Wiltshires there is a better demand. Colonial is coming freely, and seems to lie preferred to the imported article, as both the quality is excellent, and the price considerably less, Sd. or 9d. per lb. being the ruling quotation.

Chicory.— Little or no change has taken place, stocks, which are very light are nearly all in one hand. A few small parcels have been placed at 3jd. to 3di. per lb., which are about the ruling quotations. Cofkek.—Our remarks in our last publication apply also for this month. The stocks at present on hand seem to be centred pretty well between one or two houses, by whom they are pretty firmly held. Quotations remain unaltered, and Manilla is still enquired for, none having come forward as yet. A parcel of some three tons of Java changed hands at our quotations. CoRDACE.—No change whatever lias taken place in these goods. Our colonial manufactures from the New Zealand flax are receiving not a little attention of late, and are, we have no doubt, likely to supersede in time the imported Manilla and Europe ropes, Prices remain firm, and as stocks are rather low at present, a slight rise may take place. Shop twine is plentiful, and sewing is in better supply. Nothing doing in Calcutta lines.

Drugs and Chemicals. —We have little or nothing to report about these goods—nothing beyond the usual average amount of business having been done during the month. Whatever transactions have taken place have been of a purely retail character.

Fish.—There really has of late been so little change in this market, that we scarcely know in what manner to vary the report of tliv. numerous articles coming under this heading, iu order to prevent our remarks being the same from month to month. However, wo can safely state that in most instances they have fully rcceded from five to ten per cent, on our last quotations, and when any attempt has been made to force sales, the trade proved to be exceedingly shy, while speculation is altogether out of the question. lied herrings in tins, and white in barrel, are in slight demand, and when offering allow a fair margin to the importer. Sardines are exceedingly duil of sale—as low as ~>s. 6d. per doz. has been taken at auction for quarters and 9s. for halves. No change in salmon and lobsters. Ling dull of sale. Potted herrings, haddocks, anchovies, &c., unsaleable.

Fruits.—For all descriptions of fruits the demand seems to have nearly entirely subsided, at least such must be the inevitable conclusion judging from the small business doing. In currants and raisins particularly, the trade has fallen off considerably, and where previously hundreds of packages wore disposed of, we may now fairly speak of dozens. Currants have been placed at auction as low as 3kl. per lb., although importers are asking 4id. privately. Of dried apples the market is still entirely bare, and sultana raisins, and Jordan and shell almonds are still in demand.

Metals.—This has been one of the dullest months experienced in the metal market for a long time. In fact, some of our large holders have been compelled, ill order to move off some of their considerable stocks to ship largely away. The Princess Alice is taking some 100 tons of rod and bar iron, and a considerable quantity of general ironmongery, to .Melbourne. This will have the effect of somewhat easing our very considerably over-stocked market. There has been little or nothing doing in pig iron ; the same remark applies to galvanized iron ; but values remain unaltered, Some 20 or 30 tons of fencing wive have been quitted at our quota-

tions. Ewbauk's nails are named at 10 per cent, off list; slieet aud hoop iron are alike neglected. Muutz metnl is still enquired after, especially f,,r heavy numbers. General ironmongery and slielf goods are a drug, and extremely difficult to place. Other than the above we hear of but little doing, and quotations remain unaltered. Oils axd Paints.—For all descriptions of oils and paints the demand has been a very limited one, at least to the best of our knowledge there has been only a very small business doing. Kerosene has only been dealt in to a very small extent, and has undergone fully a decline of Gel. per gallon. Some 300 to 400 cases liave changed hands at 4s. (id. to 4s. 9d. per gallon, the latter being the prevailing quotation. Haw and boiled oils continue to be much depressed, and stocks instead of lessening appear to increase. Castor oil is likewise dull, and in all descriptions of paints there is literally nothing doing beyond a netty retail business. For turpentine there is a slight demand at our quotations.

Oilmen's Stokes. —There is very little doing in this market, the large stocks on hand having materially effected nearly all the goods coming under the above nomenclature. Considerable quantities have been brought under the hammer, with anything but satisfactory results to importers, and all our wholesale grocers and importers of these goods generally are complaining loudly at the dullness of the times, and the low prices ruling. Trade parcels move oft* slowly, and the export trade is languid and as long as stocks are as heavy as they are at present, there is little or no hope for improvement. The following arc the only transactions worthy of record, that have taken place during the month: —cases bottled fruits, 155., Mis. per dozen ; GO cases pickles (Hill <fc Batger's) 95., 10s. ; 30 cases salad oil, half-pints, 7s. Sid., Ss. per dozen ; 40 cases English jams, 1 lb., 9s. 9d., lus. :3d. per dozen : -10 cases Coleman's starch, 4'd., 4|d.; 50 cases Orlando Jones starch, 4d., 4yd. ; 20 cases Coleman's thumb blue, Sd. per lb.; 10 cases Coleman's mustard, 10d., lo]d. per lb.; 10 qr.casks Champion's vinegar, 2s. 9d. per gallon ; 1.") eases malt vinegar, quarts, 10s. per gallon ; "> tons Liverpool crown soap, at £"3G per ton; 30 barrels .split peas, at ISs. Gd.; 10 cases chocolate, at Is. 5d., at Is. Cd. per lb. duty paid ; 20 cases cocoa, Is. 4d., Is. sd. per lb.; 0 eases, each 3 gross, Bonvick's baking powder, at aid.; 40 cases, each 100 tins, 1 sardines, at Gs., Gs. 3d. ; 4 cases Arrowroot, at 9.U1. per lb.; 200 cases Hobart Town jams, at G.jd.. to 7\. per lb., etc. All these goods are in large supply, and prices realized at auction are fully 10 per cent, below these figures. 'Vinegar, which is rather scarce, is the only article there is any enquiry for. Provisions. —The only article in which there has been anything like a fair trade doing, is first class mess beef, which has all readily been taken up at extreme rates, for the troop ships now on the berth for England. In fact stocks haye now so dwindled down, that it becomes no easy matter to get supplies, Clarence River, N. S. AV., being generally preferred, at from £4 l.'is. to £'5 ss. per tierce. (!ood mess pork is also in fair demand, and when offering readily taken up at paying rates. Second qualities arc unsaleable, and a perfect drug on the market. Bacon and Hams are in fair supply, and the trade being fully supplied, hardly anything has been doing during the month. Sinclair's hams are slightly enquired for, at Is. 2d. to Is. per lb. Rice.—The month through which we have just passed has been a very quiet one for this staple, sales arc of very rare occurrence, and when they do take placc prices are as a rule subservient to the quantity required. Stocks which were getting somewhat low, have since been fully replenished by the arrival of the Mistletoe" with some GO tons of .Java, and other vessels with some 20 to 30 tons Patna. For values we refer to our quotations.

Soft Goods. —We liave not any improvement to report oil these goods, large quantities continue to be offered at auction, and a large number of drapers and storekeepers are clearing out stock, with a view of giving up business. However as the winter season is close at hand, we may expect a little more buoyancy, for the trade will 110 doubt come forward during the ensuing mouth, to replenish their stocks. Saddlery.--Importers of these goods are generally dissastisfied withjthe small amount of business that has been got through during the past month. As a rule, goods of all descriptions are still very plentiful, and the trade holding large stocks, there is very little chance for importers to realize, unless at a great sacrifice. We hear of a few small invoices having been disposed of, at as low as "> per cent, to 10 per cent, advance on home invoice, considerable shipments are 011 the way, so that there is but little hope for improvement. Sugar.—The sales of sugar during the past month have been smaller than for some time past, the trade is fully supplied, and will not take in stocks, a large cargo being expected from the Mauritius, which is bound to affect the market considerably, as our present stocks are already far beyond the requirements. Brown sugars are quite a drug, and unsaleable almost at any price. Wince the arrival of the mail which brought advices of the Sydney Sugar Company having raised their prices £2 per ton, a tolerable brisk demand lias sprung up for white Counters and Crystals, of which some 40 to oO tons have changed hands at our quotations. Tea.—This staple has participated to the fullest extent in the depression existing throughout the past month, and in most descriptions of teas in which there have been transactions, a reduction of from 2d. to 3d. per lb., has been acceded to. Fortunately the stocks of tea are oil the decline, no fresh supplies having come in lately, and no shipments being advised, or we should have had to report a larger decline in this article ; as it is the majority of holders have been in a position to abstain from pressing sales, except in a very few instances, when lower prices have been taken. There have been a few small sales by auction during the month, but the prices realized have been so uneven as to prevent correct quotations as regards quality.

Tobacco.—We have to report a most meagre and unsatisfactory business in this article, during the month. The trade generally hare refused to purchase any kind, either at public or private sales. We do not change our ([notations this mouth, as there are no sales to base fresh quotations on, but would mention that they are only nominal.

Timber.—Business in this market during the past month lias been very dull, and to effect sales holders have been compelled to submit to lower rates than our quotations. Trade in the yards is quieter than usual, even at this season, and dealers will only buy to supply their immediate requirements. _ Wines and Spiiuts.—Although we have but little or 110 alteration to note in the prices of the various articles coming under this heading, tiie amount of business transacted dining the month has been but small. Wines of all descriptions continue very dull of sale, with increasing stocks. At auction recently an attempt was made to dispose of an assorted shipment, but it was with extreme difficulty that buyers could be found for even the first lots. With the exception of Martell's dark brandy, which is very scarce and much enquired after, all kinds of spirits arc in large supply, and nothing doing beyond satisfying trade requirements. ADELAIDE. (From the Register, March S.) Flour. — Prices are as before quoted, viz., £10 to £10 10a per ton. Wheat. —Some small sales have been made at -is to *! e Oid per busliel. A very large purcel changed hands this afternoon, but the price an:l terms have not bsen disclosed.

General Merchandize. —For imported good 3 to-day there has been a moderate demand for trade purposes, but anj tiling approaching a large parcel iB almost out of thd question ; the trade only purchase as need requires. We have heard of gales of cornsacks at 14s 6d.