COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4398, 17 December 1875, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Nbw Zealand Hkrald Office, - x, , Thursday evening. The duties collected at the Customs amounted to £431 78 lid. The principal arrivals since our last summary issue have been:—November 23—Star of Germany, ship, and Ocean Mail, ship, from London, both since discharged. December 6—Macgregor, R M. s-s from San Francisco, with mails; 7th—Cyphrenea a s. from Kandavu; 13th—Colima, s.s-, from San Francisco The Thames, barque, took her departure for London on December 2, with 358 tons gum, value £14,000- The Carnatic, ship, from London, is now out 81 days, and the Brodick Castle, ship, 77 days, and they may be louked for early next month. Tho Columbus, barque is nearly full, and is appointed to sail for London nn the 2Sth lost. Her cargo will probably consist of 1300 cases gum, 2500 bales wool, 70 tons Ullow, 200 tales cotton, 100 tons copra, 150 tons mixed mineral and sundries, such as pearl-shells, cocoanut oil, &c. The City of Auckland, ship, will follow. The Star of Germany is on tho berth for Newcastle (Australia). The Florence, barque, daily expected, will load 3000 cases (350 tons) gum (kauri) for New York, and will be followed by tho Lizzie Fox, with 1000 cases (110 tons) gum and wool for the same port. We havo so fully reported the market, it Is unnecessary to state more than that the tone is healthy and business Improving. The new shares (10,000) allotted by the directors of the Bank of New Zealand, after the last yearly meeting, at £15 each, to the presont shareholders, are being steadily taken up, and are in demand at 32s 6d. This in itself is an indication, notwithstanding the long-talked-of depression, that we have a large amount of money seeking investment, since £150,000 his been forthcoming with only two months to complete this arrangement. Old shares were last told at £17 2s Gd, and new shares at £10 2s Od. The Harbour Boaid have found it nocessary to dopart from tho original plans for the construction of a graving dock. It is now proposed to make a dock of miaor preUarioni at coiuidcnbly Imi CMt, and yet

capable of admitting tl'.e largest cargo ship that has ever entered this port. Second thoughts ar ® B P® times best, and whilst in some respects we the reflections cast on the flnancfal misma n* ge of tha Board, we are inclined to the belief that good will arise out of evil. Nothing definite has yet been g "X o "4 n be S guot P ad C atß h d aV to "od IstolsMpet ib; merino ia uade hasbten unusually brlik. and the returns in this respect for the quarter cuding December will shew well. An error occurred yesterday in our report of Messrs 3 Cochrane and Son'a land sale, held on the previous day: Lot 11, at Ren-uera, realised £50 per acre, and not £50 per annum, as printed. Rates of Exchange on London.—Buying: 90 days, 1 p«r cent, discount; GO days, £ per cent, discount; 30 days, par; on demand, par. Selling: 90 days, } per cent, premium; 60 days, ijpcr cent, premium; [ 30 d»ys, Ij per cent, premium: demand, 2£ per cent. I premium. Discount—3 months, 7 per cent.; 4 months, S per cent. ; exceeding, 9 per cent. Freights.—The following are the rates of freight ! quoted at this port for London:—Wool, greasy, 2d per lb.; ditto, washed, »d per lb.; leather, 70s per ton; oil. SOs per tun; tallow, 05s per ton; copra, 80s per ton; flax, 130s per ton; whalebone, SOs per ton ; kauri gum, 70iJ per ton; shells, 70s per ton; deadweight, 30s per ton; cotton,;pressed, |d per lb.; do., unpressed, £d, per lb; sheepskins, measurement, sus per ton. We deem it necessary to inform our readers that all | the following quotations of prices are for wholesale imported parcels, and are only intended for tho information of foreign markets. Ales asd Porter.—The imports for the month have exceeded the deliveries, and yet there has been an unusual demand at our quotations, chiefly for Tenuent's ale, Guiness and Blood's stouts. There remain now in bond 4700 cases to meet a monthly demand of rather under 400. The stocks consist chiefly of second brands, but it is evident that they must some day be placed either for consumption or exported, and then will commence the slaughter of the market. Ale, in bulk (d.p.) per barrel, R. Youngcr's, £7; Bass's, £7 7s. Ale in glass (in bond): Tennent's, quarts, Ss 9d; Younger's, 7s; Blood's, no sale; Bass's, quarts, Si 2d; pints, Cs3d to 7s; Ind, Cope, quarts, Ss; pints, Gs 3d; Porter, in glass (d.p.): Guinness's, quarts, Ss Gd; Blood's, Ss 3d; pig brand, none; Byass's, 7s 9d; Coouibe and Co., 8s Gd; Dunedin and Otago, quarts, 9s Gd. Bags and Bagging, i>.r.—The flour bags allude*? to in last issue have arrived, uamely 24 bales, * case. There has been nothing done in w©olp=cks for reasons then explaiued. There is no change in prices. full 10 lb., 27 54, each, 3s 3d ; cornsacks, 3 bush., 2$ lb., per dozen, lis Gd; sewing twine, d.p., per lb., if Id. Breadstuff* and Grain.—The flour and gram market has been and continue remarkably dull, and it appears that th>j bakers are well stocked. The holders of Southern f*>ur have reduced prices 10s per ton, without ho*' ever . creating any^better demand, and as th<* season advances it will necessariiy shew gre*tfir weakness. New Adelaide wheat is alreadv available, and the Auckland harvest is earlie»-*tlian the Southern. Our wheat crops are considerably in excess of last season, and owing to th»' continuous rainfall are looking well, and the** will be an unusually heavy yield. Horsef»ed participates in the prevailing dulness, owin? to the superabudance of green fodder. Tha liay crops are equally heavy, and aro being se ,ored with comparatively little damage. .Auckland best silk dressed, Xl 5; Auckland household, £12 10s; Southern brands, £11 10s to £12; Southern wheat, 5s Gd: feed oats, 2s 9d to 3s; bran, £6 5s per ton; Sydney maize, none; Fiji I maize, iis Gd to 4s; oatmeal, 15s; pearl barley, 2Ss. Bonedust. —About 20 tous bonedust and 10 tons bones have been received. With bags, best imported bone dust, £S10s; vitriolized bones, £10 ; Peruvian guano, £1S to £20 per ton; Maiden Island, £S per ton. Coal.—During the month a cargo of Newcastle was sold by auction at 2Ss 6d, alongside the wharf. The excessive stocks have been added to during the month, by 1700 tons, and every available storage has been occupied. Cordage, D.r.—Some 94 coils have been received, and the two next ships bring only to the value of £50. Europe ropes, per ton, £54 to £70; Manilla ditto assorted, ditto, £G5 to £34; New Zealand flax rope, ditto, £45; small sizes, 5Jd lb.; oakum, free, ditto, £42; spun fine two-yarn, ditto, £70 to £80; twine, shop, d.p., per lb.. Is 3d to Is Gd; sewing twine. Is Id per lb. Coffee and Spices (in bond), per lb.—Cocoa and chocolate have been received to the extent of 27 cases to b« added to the large stocks on hand. There is no change in quotations. , Ceylon, plantation. Is do., native, none; Java, Is 2d; chicory, colonial, 7£d; cocoa, d.p., Taylor's, Is Fry's, Is 3d; Epps's, Is 7d; Maravilla, Is 6d; chocolate, d.p., Taylor's, Is 2}d. Spices—cloves, 2s 2d; bleached ginger. Is l£d; unbleached do.. Is Id; nutmegs, 4s 3d; black pepper, whole, d.p., ICd; white do, lljd. Confectionery.—We confirm our former remarks, as we have to record imports to the extent of 121 cases. Candied peels have given way owing to large imports and a desire to realize. Auckland, E. Waters's colonial boiled goods, Sd; dry goods, 10d; Keiller's assorted, 10£ d; candied lemon and orange peels, d.p., la 2d; citron, Is 4d. Groceries, &c.—The expected shipments announced in last have arrived, and fully supplied tho the market. It will be noticed there is little variation in prices. The ISOO boxes candles have arrived, and 256 cwt. (1280 boxes) are expected in the next two ships, ltf? cases vestas and matches have been landed; 559 cases jams have been received, and 15G cases of preserved fruits. Colman's starch, No. 1, white, blue, 4£d. Candles — Price's, lOd; Taylor's, Leith, De Roubaix, lOd; Price's Belmonts, lOgd ; paraffin, Is i lid to Is 2d. Mustard, d.p.—Colman's 1 1 lb. tins (red), 10s Gd; half ditto, 5s Od; 71b. tins (red togreen),7jd to lid ;1 lb. tins (green), 13s; half lb. ditto, 8s; DSF, i lb. tins, 10s. Matches, Vestas, d.p., Bryant and May's, 250, per gross, 20s; ditto, wood, Gs 3d to Gs 6d; Letchford's, 250, 20s; Bell Black'sditto, 20s. Oil — Castor, in piuts, 9s Gd; half-pints, 5s Gd. Salad—C. and 8., pints, 13s ; half ditto, 7s 9d; Morton's pints, lis; half pints, Gs Gd. Pickles— Crosse and Blackwell'a, pints, 12s; Morton and others', 10s Gd. Rice (ground), 23 lb. bags, 4£d. Sauces—Lea and Perriu's, half-pints, 12s 9d; C. & 8., half pints, 9s. Vinegar—Champion's, per gal., 2s Gd; Hill, Evans, 2s 3d. Treacle— Go'deu syrup, per cwt. f £110s; sago, 3jd; tapioca, 3£d; cornflour, Brown's, sd, d.p.; Brown and Poison's, 7£d ; Munn's, ssd. Gum, Flax, &*c. —Home adviGes by the last mail have had a depressing influence, and the price of gum has declined to £35, with a downward tendency. The barque Thames has sailed for London, and the barque Columbus will follow, it is expccted, this year. The shipments effected during tho month exceed 582 tons. Gum: Ordinary scraped, £35 per ton. Flax : Finest quality, £19 to £21 per ton; fair to good, £15 to £18; native dressed tow, £14 to £17 per ton. Cocoanut Oil (fine white), per tun, £2S. Copra, per ton, £12. Cotton Seed, per too, £2 to £210s. Ironmongery.—The goods recorded in last summary, ex last ships, hare been landed, and have not in any way interfered with priccs. The next two ships bring £0943 hardware, S3 tons bar and rod irou, 8 tons hoop, 7 tons sheet, 43 tons plate, 25 tons pig, 48 tons galvanized, 5 tons lead, 5 tons yellow metal, 5 tons copper, 222 boxes tin, 32 tons nails, 100 tons wire, and 7 tons steel; also 5 tons blasting powder. Ewbank'a nails, invoice; wire.ditto, 15 per cent, ditto; galvanised corrugated iron, Gospel Oak, £30; Morewood's, Phillip's, and Hill's, &c., £30; English bar iron, per ton, £15; pig ditto, £7. Powder, Hall's. 7d; Kame's, Curtis s, and Harvey's, s£d to Gd per ib.; sporting, 20 and 24 sizes, cLp., 2s; canister, No. 2, d.p., 3s 2d. Jams and Dried Fruits, &c. —Last month we reported the imports of jams as light, and the market being fully stocked with dried fruits. Since then 589 caaes jams and 156 cases preserved fruits have been received; also IG4 packages currants, and 59 packages raisins. The next two ships bring 215 £wt. currants, and 4 cwt. raisins. A shipment of dried Californian grapes was received, small in size, but resembling muscatels. The sale is recorded under groceries. Prices have slightly receded. English marmalade, 1 lb. tins, 9s 6d; Hobart Town jams, Gs €d to 7s; in jars, s|d to 6}d; Raisins (d.p,), sultana, 8d; muscatels, lOd; cleme, 6£d; currants, 4£d. Leather and Hides.—Sole leather, lid to Is 2d lb; kips, Is 6d to 2s 3d; calf, colonial, 3s to 4s 3d; basils, 10s to IGa doz.; closed uppers, 4s Gd to 9s 3d per pair. Hides, 4d; calfskins, 5d per lb. Malt and Hops,—English malt !s amply stocked, 207 quarters to arrive. The brewers are now busy, and, doubtless, all available stocks of malt and hops will become absorbed during summer. A further shipment of American hops came to hand by the s.s. Colima, from California, and a portion, rather better than the former lot, realized Is Od lb., d.p. We confirm.our last remarks regarding American hops, and we believe that, if they are attended to, they will successfully competo with isew Zealand and Tasmanlan. Hops are in good request and firm in price. English malt, d.p., lis Gd per bushel, and tanks £4; colonial, 8s Gd, nominaL Hops: Colonial, 1870, Is 9d to 2s; Knglisb, none. Provisions.—The market for provisions has been exceedingly sluggish. At a sale by auction, Watts' loose hatns and bacon, sound, realized lOd per lb., proving the market to be amply supplied. There is no really good cheese available, and tho Canterbury in the mtfrket is worth lOd per lb. We have before remarked on the approved quality of well-packed American sugar-cured hams and cheese. Salmon, in tins, has advanced in prlco ( and pickled salmon is wanted, and would command 4d. Sardines and herrings are too well stocked. Ships' stores supply the demand for preserved meats, &a American hams, Hid, d.p., and bacon, 9d. Also Colonial (Canterbury, in cloth) bacon, 10£ d; hams, Is to Ib Id; cheese (provincial), 7d to 9d; Canterbury, 10d to 10Jd; salt butter, lid lo Is for good sound; rice, £20 to £28; coarse salt, £3 ss; fine, £3 12s Gd; English hams, Is 4d; ditto bacon, Is Id. FishPreserved red herrings, in tins, 33s per dozen (2 dozen tins); white, per cwt., 355; lobsters, American, 9s; salmon, ditto, 8s 9d; sardines (Albert's), quarters, 5s 3d ; halves, 8s 9d; oysters, 7s Gd. American cheese (new), lOd, d.p. Salt is largely over-stocked. Navy Stores.—We have to record receipts of ship> chandlery to the value of £1142, including 36 anchors and 8 chains. The graving dock lias met u n V ntimel y 'ate, owing to the Harbour and l SHs verrun tho constable in secondary, aiXtZt?. expenditure, and some p"toh and " ,vo t0 be foun<l - 130 barrels the valu» come and <*nvas to 01 £050; rope, £480. The two noxt ships bring ahort shipments Canvas, invoice prices; pitch, Stockholm (Is per barrel), per barrel, 40s to 50s: tar Stockholm hri St 1 H arrCl , ) - per barrel/ 40a to 60sresin, bright amber, d.p., i:i2 ' Oix.s and Paints.—All tlie shipments last recorded '• have arrived, viz., 2 hhds., 78 barrels, 694 drums linseed oil; and 133 casks ISO points which have not improved prices. The next two ships, Carnatic and Brodick Castle, bring 4962 gallons linseed oil; paints valued £GO3. TUe trado are fully stocked, and consignees b»TS tho frMteet difficulty la pWiag

their consignments. The prices quoted are low, but higher values cannot be got wholesale. Colza, d.p. in drums, per gallon, 5s 3d; bulk, 4s Gd; linseed, boiled, in drums, 4s; ditto, raw, 3a 9d; ditto, in bulk, 3s 3d. Kerosene, d.p., Devoe s, 2a; Diamond, 2s: Oleophene, 2s. Castor oil, bulk, 4s 4d. White lead, ground d.p., per cwt., £110s to £2 2s; red lead, dry, £1 15s. Oil colors, assorted, £1 7i 6d to £114s. Turps, d.p., in drums, ss; American ditto, 4i Gd; whiting, d.p., per ton, £7. Spirits.—There has been a good business done in spirits, both for home consumption and export. Hennessy's case brandy has sold to arrive at 31s. The imports very much exceed the deliveries, and as it is the close of the year we give the stocks in bond on the 10th December as a guide, viz., brandy, 78 hhds., 505 quarter-casks, 4927 cases, chiefly second brands; rum, 32 hhds., 109 quarter-casks; whiskey, 177 quarter*casks, 19 octaves, 533 cases; geneva, 3772 cases; gin, 523 | cases. The two ships to arrive bring brandy in bulk, 203S gallons; brandy in case, 3756 gallons; j rum, 3540 gallons geneva, 3032 gallons; British spirits, bulk, 350 gallons; ditto, case, 394 gallons. Brandy (bond), bulk, Otard's, (is9d; MarteH's pale, j 7s 6d; Hennessy's do., 8s; Bisquit, DubouchtS and Co.'s pale, in . hhds. and qr.-casks, 6s i 9d ; case, Hennessy's, 32s ; Martpll's, 29a; j Otard's, 245; Beehive, ISs; Bisquit, Dubouehe | and Co.'s, 245; rum, 30 0.p.,4s 3d to 4s 6d; whiskey, Grceniess <»nd Colville's, 5s 9d; Bcith, Ross and Co.'s, 5s to 5s 6d; Dunville's, none; case, Campbeltown, 14s to 15s; Greenless and Colvilie s, ISsGd; Dunville's, 17scase; all in bond; geneva, proof, three gallons JDKZ, 14s; ditto, 19 u.p., 10s to lis case; key Geneva, 13s: schnapps, Wolfe's, 21s Gd; Dew of tbo Alps, 27s Od; gin, Booth and Burnett's, l*s Gd to 15s. Sugars.—The sugar market has been inactive, and yet the deliveries and clearances during the month were 439G packages. The stocks in nond are now 6023 mats, 1954 bags. 23S kegs. These are certainly small compared wish other New Zealand markets. Prices remain precisely as before. Victoria companies sug«ir drops, £35; ditto, i.e., 345; Sydney companies white, No. 1, 345: all in bond. Mauritius whites, £29 to £33; brewers crystals, £32; light yellows, £29 to £31; Honolulu, lights, none; dry yellow, £27. Teas.—The clearances of teas have been above the average, numbering, with duty paid, imports and exports IG7I packages. The stocks in bond, 10th 1 December, numbered 220 chests, 2010 half-chests, I 2150 boxes, 143 packages. Price 3 range, for old, little or no demand; new season's, about Is 5d to I 2s 2d. Timber.—The exports have been nearly half a million feet, and yet there is a coinplaiut of dulness in trade. Foreign markets have been depressed in common with European markets, and timber, like iron, has suffered a reaction downwards, hence we may expect a similar influence here. Four years back many mills were inoperative, and the supplies of sawn timber were comparatively small. Now it is computed the supplies are equal to one million feet per week, value £200,000 per anuum. Some cedar (Hobart Town) palings, posts and rails have been received. Boards and scantling, 100 ft., 7s Gd to 12s; at mill, f,0.b.. East coast, Gs to 10s 6d; West, Ss tolls; white pine(Kahikatea), 7s Gd, f.o.b. at mills; New Zealand palings, sft., 9s; Oft., 10s; ti-tree rails, £2 6s to £2 10s per 100; puriri posts, £5 10s to £0; shingle?, 10s to ISs per 1U00; Hobart Town palings, sft., ISs; Oft., 20a; Hobart Town rails, £4. Tobacco. —Barrett's Crown, li 7d; Two Worlds, Is 5d ; Navy pocket pieces. Is 2d to Is Gd. "Ihe stocks have been very much added to during the month, still the demand has been Rood. We enumerate clearances and exports at 157 packages, and the stocks in bond, loth December, at 6SS boxes, 306 casus, 54 packages, 12 tierces, for which latter there is no demand. The demand for cigars has been slow, and there are S7 cases in bond. Two Seas and Venus, Is 8d to Is lOd; Two Worlds, Cavendish, in other brands, from lOd to 13 3d. Wines.—As we estimated in last summary issue, there has been a decline in the demand for ports and sherries, and proportionate improvement in the demaud for case light wines; 522 cases were delivered, and the stocks in bond are: 25 pipes, 9 butts, 20 hhds., 599 qr.-casks, 54 octaves, 4137 cases. Champagne, Delnhard's, quarts, 1 dozen case, 40s; pints, 2-dozen case, 44s per case; Perrier's Imperial (d.p.), 50s; Perrier's Carte Blanche (d.p.), U3s. Sherry: Couzen's, rom 7s Gd to 13s Gd. Claret: Common Saint Julien, 13s; medium to good, 18s to 265; superior, 30s to 40s. Port (in bond), in qr.-casks, from £0 , to £20. Sherries £15 to £32, in qr.-casks. |

Tijjber.—Boards and Scantling, 100 ft., 9s to 15s; lis Gd at mill; planed, tongued and grooved, lis Gd. | New Zealand Palings, sft., 12s Gd; 6ft., 13s ; Ti-treo Rails, £3 per 100; Puriri Posts, £0 10s to £7; Shingles, 10s to ISs per 1,000; Hobart Town Palings, sft., 17s; i ft., 19s; Hobart Town Rails. SOs. Kauri Gum anl> Flax Market. ! We quote the following priccs on the Auckland i market delivered nett cash:—• | 3om.—Ordinary (scraped) .. £34 per ton | Flax—Finest quality .. is to —perton j Flax.—Fair to good .. .. 15 to 16 „ I Flax.—Native dressed, unicntched 14 to — j Tow 7 to 8 „ | Coal and Firewood Market. I Coal.—Newcastle. 403 to 45s per ton; Bay of Islands, at yards, 25s per ton; ditto, at the mine, 12s 1 per ton. Firewood.—Uncut, 14s per ton, delivered; Cut, 17s Gd per ton, delivered. Leather. Sole Leather, lid to 15d Manures. Bone Dust, with bags, best imported, £10; Bone Flour, £11; Vitriolized Bones, £10; Provincial, £8 per ton (wholesale). Guano. Peruvian, £19 to £20. AUCKLAND CATTLE MARKET. Mr. Alfred Buckland's Weekly Report. Consequent on the rough weather very little business was done in the horse market on Friday last. Those sold brought: For medium draught horses, from £13 5$ to £26; small-sized horses, from £4 to £10 each. The sale of hides, skins, and bags of wool, was morn fully supplied than usual. Hides in demand at previous prices. Skins lower from Gd to Id each. Wool freely competed for, and prices equal to that given for the bales obtained. At the Ohaupo sale much of the stock and usual attendants were prevented by the flood from putting in an appearance. About 150 cattle were yarded, and mostly in good condition Fat cattlebrought 30s the 100 lbs. Grown steers and cows at Auckland rates, butyearlings wero in demand at extreme values. The sheep were of good quality, and brought, varying with their quality from 10s to to 32s each. Horse stock offered plentifully, and were dull of sale. Heavy draught mares (foals at foot), £40 each; medium draught £16 to £25; unbroken stock, £7 to £20 each* Less than the usual number of cattle were yarded on Wednesday last, at Papakura, and, although there was a smaller attendance than customary, there was a good demand for all offered at fully late values. 100 head of cattle and 200 sheep were yarded, and, with the exception of a few iuferior sheep, all sold satisfactorily. At Remuera, on Thursday, dairy cows at profit were offered in greater than usual numbers. They were in steady demand at late values, store cattle wore plentiful, and the prices given for them leavo but little prospective profit. Fat cattle in full supply; 140 head penned, of variable quality. In the early part of the sale prices rallied slightly, but quickly fell to last week's quotations, and at conclusion of the auction second-class quality were at lower ratos. Store t i u P in limit °d numbers, with a steady inquiry at high values. Fat sheep in less than usual numbers, but without any improvement in prices. Lambs in ' fair supply, with a slight improvement in value. Pigs j scarce, and in demand. Prices given were:—6 to 10- ' months -old calves, 30s to 42a; yearlings, £312s Gd: 18- 1 months-old, £3 10s to £4; grown steers, £7 to £8* dry cows, £5 to £7; fat cattle, 25s to 32s Gd the 100 lbs.; inferior sheep. Gs to 9s each; fat sheep, 3d tho lb.; fat lambs, 10s to 13s Gd each Messrs Huhtbr and Nolan's Report.—Horses: The market during tho week has been but moderately supplied; there lias been a spirited demand, und prices have been sustained. There wero not so many as usual submittod for sale by auction but were almost without exception disposed of at'sati-rfactory prices. We quote hacks from £7 7s 6d to £16 5/• light draught horses, £15 15s to £21. Cattle: There was an unexpectedly large muster at Newmarket on Tuesday, but being comprised principally of small lots were slow of sale. Dairy cows, uuless really firstclass, are a shade lower. There is little alteration in the value of stores. Fat beasts wero in adequate supply, and prices have an upward tendency. Wo sold dairy cows for £6 5s to £10 2s Gd; yearliags, £2 2s to £2 16s; two-year-olds, £3 17s 6d to £5 7s 6d; three-year-olds, £515s to £6 7a 0d; beef, from 28s to .35s per 100 lbs., sheep: There was a good number of stores penned, but they did not display care in the landing, nor were they in fresh condition, conse™M D il 7 *?? Ce , S i t , Uled J?"- sheep, II well fatted, " i? p n r . . Lambs were plentiful, and PlmL j i 2 P oor small ones are rejected, rigs in moderate numbers. Good Dorkera competed lor, but ew «. de,cri P uS«XkJd In <U-

MONTHLY REPORT OF SHAHE MARKET. During the month business in all stocks has been of a very limited character. Our bank and insurance shares remain firm at quoted rates. Bank of New Zealand sales, £17 2s 6d old, and £16 12s 6d new Issue, at which prices there are buyers and very few offered. National Bank shew a alight rise; there is a demand at 735, with sellers at a slight advance. Colonial Bank shares are offered at 31s 6d, buyers about 30s. Fiji Bank shares are not quoted; there are sellers at 48s. New Zealand Insurance sales at 80s. with sellers at 80s. South British are firmer; sales, 50s 6d to 51s 6d, with buyers at latter rates. National Insurance, 24s to 235; buyers, 22s 6d; sellers 245. Standards find buyers at 13s, with sellers 14s 6d. Auckland Gas, sales, £10. Thames Gas, few sales, 2Ss. Sash and Door are offered at £9. New Zealand Shipping shares, sellers 2ls (50s paid). Mining stocks have, from various causes, been very much depressed; however, now that the drainage I question in relation to the Waio-Karaka flat is likely to be arranged, we may hope soon to see an improveI ment in the market and a larger return of gold. ! Moanatairi shares, in consequence of improved ' prospects of the mine, rose quieUly from 12s 6d to 80s; I there are now sellers at 255. Caledonians have fallen from 80s to 655, at which quotation there are now selj lers. City of London shew an improvement; sales, 24s to 265, with very few offering. Cures have fluctuated very much; sales, to 12s 6d; there are now buyers at 10s. Queen of the May find sellers at 9s. Union Beach shew a decline from 90s to 755; at which prices there aro a few offering. Tokatea, 14s to 13?, with buyers about 12s 6d. Pride of Tokatea are reported to have better prospects; sales, 2s 6d. Roval Oaks have been done at 10s; closing sale, 7s Gd. Bismarck, sales, 10s, with sellers at about same figure. Tairua; few sales eariy in the month, 9j 6d to 1.0s; there is now no demand excp.pt at merely nominal rates. Few transactions In A jax shares at Is 3d to Is Gd. Albion, sales, double issue, at 12s Sd. Red Queen, Is lOd, with few sellers at 2s. Alexander Saunders. No. 2, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, New Zealand, December 16, 3875. MR. VICKERS' WEEKLY STOCK AND SHARE LIST AND INVESTORS 1 GUIDE.

THE MARKETS. Farm and Dairy PnoDuca. Wholesale Prices. a. d. s. d. 8. d. s. d. Sutter, fs, lb 0 0 to 1 0 Lard lb .. 0 — 0 6 Butter, sit, lb 0 0 — 0 0 Bacon, Pro. 0 — 0 0 Cheese Wra. 0 0 — 0 8 Hams, Pro. 0 0 —> 0 0 Do., Ct'bury 0 0 — 010 Ct'bury bacon Hi — 0 0 Eggs, dozen 13 — 00 Ct'bury hams 1 2 — 00 .Retail Prices. ■\filie, quart 0 0 to 0 6 j Fowls,pair.. 1 6 — 2 0 Butter, fs, lb 1 3 — 0 0 Ducks, pair 2 © to 2 6 Butter, salt 0 0 — 0 0 | Geese, each 4 6 — 6 0 Cheese, col. 0 0 — 1 2 ( Turkeys, do. 3 0—5 0 Eggs, dozen 0 0 — 1 0 J Bacon, lb .. 1 S — 0 0 Lard, lb. .. 0 8 — 0 9 | Hams, lb. 13 — 00 Bread 3|d to 4d 21b. loaf. Flour Market. Wholesale. £ s. d. Snperfino Flour, silk dressed, per ton .. 15 o o Fine Flour, ditto, household.. .. .. 12 10 0 Seconds, per ton » .. 10 10 0 Sharps, per ton.. 6 17 6 Adelaide, per ton .. .. .. .. 14 t) 0 Oamaru, ditto .• ». 12 0 0 Dunedin dittc 12 o O Canterbury, ditto .. .. .. .. 12 0 0 Bran, per bushel (sacks included) .. .. 6 5 0 Auckland "beat per bushel (best) .. .. 0 5 0 Adelaide wheat .. 053 Hay asv Cors Makket. Wholesale. a d a d £ s. £ s. MaUo, Sydneyo 6 — 0 0 Hay, ton ,. 5 10 — 6 10 Do., Pro. ..4 0—4 9 ' Oaten, ditto 0 0 — 5 10 Do., Fiji ..4 0 — 4 0 i Lucerne,ditto 0 0 — 6 10 Oats(South) 3 0 — 3 61 Straw, ditto 2 10 — 3 0 Wheat (fowl) 4 0 — 4 3 Chaff, ditto 7 0-0 0 | Potatoes, new 7 0 — 8 0 Retail. ». d. s. d. s. d. s- d. Maize .. .. 5 0 — 5 6 Lucerne, cwt. 0 0 — 6 6 Data, ditto 4 0 — 4 3 Oaten, ditto 5 10 — G 0 Bian, ditto 1 4 — 0 0 Straw, ditto 4 0 — 5 0 Wheat (fowl) 4 3 — 4 0 Chaff, ditto 7 0 — 7 10 Say, cwt. .. 5 0 to 0 0 Building Ma.tekia.ls.

I I 1 "So h Amt. Amfc| Lst Jj company. Capital, of paid sales § Sh. up. o g * « s Bank of N. Zealand 600,000 10 10 lfjt 16 8$ Ditto, new issue .. 16£ National Bank N.Z. 2.000,000 10 3* 72/0 0 52 Colonial Bank N.Z. 2,000,000 5 1* 31/ — — N.2. Loan <fc Mercantile Agency .. 1,000,000 25 2h 4£ 12£ 7 Fiji Banking & Commercial Co 250,000 5 2J 48/ — — If. Z. Insurance .. 1,000,000 101 ™ S. British do. .. 750,000 20 33/4 51/G10 6} N. Insurance Co. .. 1,000,000 10 i 24/ 19 ' 3| Standard Ins. Co. .. 1,000,000 10 i 14/ — | — Auckland Gas Co... 30,000 6 5 10/ 15 ; 7k Thames de. .. 25,000 21 33/ 2S 10 13J Union S. & D. Co. 20,400 6 5 9 20 ;11 Hauraki S. Mill Co. 10,000100 88 — 10 — Auckland Steam ! Packet Co. .. 150,000 10 i i 10 10 Auck. and North ) Shore Ferry Co. .. 5,000 I 1 18/ 5 5$ Bay at Is. Coal Co, 20,000 10 10 6 10 ;17 V. S. Cross & IF. N. 10,000 10 10 8 10 jl2J Waikato Steam N". and C. M. Co. .. 10,000 10 8 — — 1 — !_ {Ex dfv. 22, Insurance Buildings, Dec. 16, 1875.