COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2224, 13 March 1871, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Heraid Office, _, . Saturday afternoon. lhe following are the returns furnished by the General Government for 1869-70, which ■will aiford some useful information : OTFTTVAEDS. Number of foreign vessels 18G9 ... 771 Ditto 1870 ..." 766 Tonnage of the above 1860 ... 247,764 Ditto 1870 ..." 265*407 Crews of the above 1569 ... 12,192 Ditto ... 13,'307 Returns of the value of exports and imports for New Zealand :— EXPOHTS. 1869 ... ... ... _ £4 223 923 18 '° .'.'.' £4,'819,'14S IMPORTS. 1869 £4,976,126 18 '0 £4,G39,015 Returns of exports for the quarter ending December, 1870: — Exports, Auckland :— Flax, 254 tons ; pold, 26,0860z5. ; -pirn, 1080 tons; wool, 213,3191b£.

Total value for said quarter of the produce of New Zealand, £131,5G2. The imports from foreign ports for said quarter amounted to £239~361.

MELBOURNE In the import markets this forenoon noihiii" of a special character has transpired, and the excitement noticeable for the last day or two appears to hare toned down ngain to some extent. In breadstuff:; we continue to note sales of flour for trade purposes, £14 to £1-1 5s per ton, or l-is to 1-ls 3d per cental. Wheat maintains a steady quotation of Gs per bushel, or 10s per cental, for best, Adelaide descriptions, but no further transactions have come under our notice to-day. Oats are likewise -without much animation being observed ; quotations are steady at 3s Sd to 3s 9d per bushel, or 9s 2d to 9s 4id per cental. Maize is very quiet indeed ; there is no stock in importers' hands, and we hear of notuing like parcels being offered; holders are firm at -Is 10id to 4s lid per bushel, or Ss SJd to Ss 9Jd per cental. There is no inquiry for candles ; we quote IOJd, but buyers are " very back-ward. Malt is offering more freely at 7s 6d ; purchasers, however, are very indifferent, and the sales eflVvi-'d are consequently of little account. >"•• ' -'her transactions in kerosene oil hav«. ■: recorded, but Ihe market is firm ami = :j.idy. In teas w • are informed that 1,200 packages of medium congous, ex Peter, were disposed of in one line. Four hundred bags of counter sugars were cleared at £39 10s. Brandies continue to bear the advancing tendency imparted by recent operations in the market. The St. Kilda has made her appearance from Mauritius. Via Adelaide, however, by the Inverary, vre have later dai.es from Port Louis, say to 17th January. The price of sugar was unaltered, and "the market very quiet. The Brunette, Alcandre, and Natal Queen, were loading for Melbourne ; the Englebert and Isle of France for Sydney ; and the Dolah and Minnie for New Zealand. The rate of exchange has not altered this monl.li, 1 per cent, premium for bankers' drafts on London at CO days' sight, and f per cent, for 90 days' sight, being the rates ruling for the present mail.— Aryus, Feb. 27.

HOBAET TOWN. Our local markets continue quiet. In breadstuffs there is very little doing, though some parcels of new wheat have been warehoused. The quotations are —new wheat, -is 10(1 per bushel ; old wheat, os per bushel. Flour, £11 10s per ton ; sharps, £7 per ton ; and bran, lid per bushel; outs sell ut 2s 9d per bushel. In English barley there is nothing doing, malsters being disinclined to purchase the barley now offering, which is mostly of inferior quality. Cape barley is not enquired for. Maize is in demand at 5s to 5s 6d per bushel. Butter sells at 9d to 10d per lb. ; eg<;3 at 10d to Is per dozen ; bacon at GUI to 7d per lb. ; ham, 7d to Si per lb. Potatoes at £3 10s to £•!• per ton ; onions at, 6s to 7i per cwt.; pressed hay is quoted from £3 to £3 5s per ton, and loose from £2 10s to £3. Green fruits are now abundant, but sell with difficulty. Present quotations are, damsons, 5s per bushel; winter plums, 2s to 2s 6d per bushel ; apricots, Id per lb. ; grapes, 6d to 9d per lb.; peaches, 2s 6d to 3s per bushel; apples and pear 3 are not in demand except for local requirements. Bark is in fair demand at £2 10s per ton for long, and £2 17s 6d to £3 for chopped. In the timber market there is the usual average demand, wholesale quotations being, for joists and quartering, 6s 6d per 100 feet ; five feet palings, 5s Gd to 7s per 100 ; six feet palings, 7s to°Bs Gd ; shingles, per 1000, 7s 6d to 9s Gd ■ laths, three feet, Gs to 7s; three feot six inches, 6s Gd to 7s (5d ; posts and rails, 20s to 23s per 100.— 3fercnry, March 1.

LATTNCESTON". Business is scarcely yet resumed its wonted aspect after the holidays, and no transactions of any conscuqence have come under our notice. In many districts the harvest is not yet over, and merchants in tovra expect that at least a fortnight must elapse before grain in any quantity finds its way into the market. Prices remain as follow:—Flour, £10 to £10 10s per ton. New wheat, <is 6d to 4s 8d per bushel ; old ditto, Is 9d to 4s 10d per bushel. Oats, 2s 6d to 2s 7d per bushel. English barley, best quality, 3s Gd per bushel. Cape ditto, 2s Gd to 3s per bushel. Grey peas, 3s per bushel. Tares, 3s 6d to 4s per bushel. Bran, £3 10s per ton. Butter nominal. — Examiner, February 2S.