COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5627, 28 November 1879, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zkala::.') Hxiiald OiHVr. Thursday evening. The duties collected a', the Customs to-day were £1101 Ss S.I. The increased business which we reported last week has ceased, and within the last few days has dropped down to its ordinary limits. If anything, there is less doing than for a long time back, a state of things that wns to be pxnected after the unusual spurt, purchasers being disinclined to operate at the advanced rates which the new tariff will enforce; but this will come when oil stocks are worked down and prices will then have to be paid iu accordance therewith. The tone of the market is decidedly upwards, and we shouM not be surprised in the face of this, and tne clieerii:-' news of the firmness of wool in the Londou market, to see a very large business going forward when settlers have received their returns for this season's wool. The recent land sales in this and other parts of the colony are indicative of the decrease in the value of rural lands, and it is evident that the prices which were current here a year or two ago were smiply inflated. While this may be said of the out-couutry districts, town and city proi>ei ties nave not suffered so great a relapse, and we hoar of several sales having taken place at advanced rates. A very large number of buildings are going up, and it is surprising to see the graduil but sure extension of the city. The most important feature this week is another rise in sugar in the Sydney and Melbourne markets, which, of course, has made holders a little firmer in their quotations. Yet we hear of sales below what it is reported worth in the Sydney market. Sydney 1C has been quitted at £41 10s to £'42, but holders to-day are asking £•«. Fijian yellow crystals and counters, from d*rk to light, have been inquired for at £26 to £:W. Although the advance iu sugars has been the most rapid for several years back, many contend that too much is made of the short crops iu one or two places, and that speculation has a great deal to do with the advance, and those of this opinion have sold, or are selling, content to accept the risk of getting in again. Galvanised iron still meets with a steady demand, and trade lots have boen sold at £27 to £23. Salt is very scarce, and commands exceptionally high rates. Coarse, £-5 5s ; and fine, £0 ss. Candles are being reduced in stock, and the arrivals hy the two English ships arfi very light. Price"s~ Belmonts are placed at 10d and Bramiou's Nevas and others at 9d. Dried fruits are, of course, dearer, and we hear of small sales of currants at stl tn s|d; elenies, G\d ; sultanas, CJd. Boaclust hss been sold in one or two places rather freely, from £7 10s to £7 ir>s. Comsacks are beginning to be inquiied for, the low prices tempting buyers, and we hear of 0s for large lots. Breadstuffs remain about the same, the market being well supplied with Southprn brands. Adelaide is being offered at £15 to £1D 7s Gd. Oats are still very low in value, and may be obtained from 2s 4d upwards. Maize : The firmness we recorded last week has passed away, and. if anything, this grain is lower in value. Fijian has been quitted at 4s to •Is Id ; Syduey, 3s 10d to 43; and local, 4s. So long as oats keep so low there is no chance of the high prices of last year being obtained. Gum is still on the advance, and we hear of sales to-day of ordinary at £50. Such n price has not been obtained for years past, and we are afraid it is too good to last. The barque Georgietta, for New York, will sail on Saturday, carrying away 370 tons, or thereabouts. Old potatoes are very scarce, and commanding £9 to £10, and new Id per lb. Butter is still plentiful, the bulk of it fresh, realising Sd, and prime diary from 9d to 10d. Eggs are very scarce, and readily fetch Is. The sharemarket, especially in bank and insurance, shows a c'ecline ; in fact, there are very few transactions, and, to do business, a discount upon quotations would have to be allowed. On the other hand, mining shows increased activity, and the declaration of a good dividend or two would stimulate all branches of business.

AUCKLAND CATTLE MARKET. MB. ALFRED BCCKLASD"3 WEEKLY REPORT. At the Hajmarket, on Friilay, hay was at lower Tallies, from Is 'Al to 03 GJ the cwt.; oats, 2s oil the bushel; bran, £5 per ton. Horse portion sold. Young drr.ught horses, medium strength, from £17 to £26. Heavy draught not inquired for. A pair of buggy ponies, £-4 ; riding horses, from £7. The b'iggy advertised brought £40, and a spring cart £14. On Tuesday, bides bronght 2Jd to 3d the lb.; tallow, 20s CJ the cwt.: sheepskin?, l< 7il to 3s each. Packages of wool from 3J.1 to o|d the lb. At Kcmuera, on Thursday, dairy cows were in moderate Lumber and dull of sale. Xot icany store cattle offered, those were in good enquiry at prettr late values. Three-year-old steers brought i.7 12s 0d each. Fat cattle in good supply, 130 head yarded. Prices steady throughott at a slight advance, and ranged from were: 7 steers, J. 'bilworth, £11 2s Gd'; 14 steers, Jliclean, £10 lls Id; 8 steers, John Smith, £10 5s ; C steers, James Robertson, £10 2s G J ; S steers, D. Caley, £10 ; S steers, James Cane, £'.) 0s Gd ; S cows, J. Gibson, £7 Gs ; 1G head. C. J. Storey, £S 15s ; 11 steers, Awitu, £9 1.-J3, and the Shorthorn cow, £35. Store sheop were dull of sale. Young ewes brought 4s 9J to 5s 3d each. Fat sheep in moderate number and without alteration in values; lambs abundant, best (jutality, 10a to 15s; medium, from Ss ; infeiior, from is each. Pigs in larger supply than for some time, with a good eniiuirj'i at satisfactory prices. MESSRS. HUNTER ASD NOLAN'S WEEKLY REPOHT.

Horses.—The demand has continued good, and an average number k.ive been brought forward, but there was little alteration in value. At the Durham Yards, or. Friday, about the usual number of entries was made for disposal by auction. There was steady competition throughout tbe sale, and, with very few exceptions, sales were effected at urices satisfactory to the vendor. Hides, skins, and wool, on Tuesday, were well competed fer. Hides, fiom 3d to .SAd per lb.; wool, from Gd to 7|d ; skins, from Is 4d to 3i 4d. Cattle.—There baa been a large number of stores brought forward, and about ihe usual supply of other descriptions. There was little alteration in value, but the demand was good, and prices ruled in favour of the vendor. A large draft of stores from the North were yarded at Newmarket on Tuesday. Graziers were in attendance ; competition was good, and the yards were cleared. But few dairy cows orfered, and of very indifferent description ; consequently the prices were low. Fat beasts were in steady demand at last week's quotations. Sheep.—The Newmarket yards were completely rilled on Tuesday, but competition was good throughout, and, with the exception of a few pens, last week's values were maintained. Lambs were plentiful, and sold at from 5s to 12s Cd. Pigs were plentiful. Good porkers sold well, but large, coarse pige were at low values.