COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7789, 8 November 1886, Page 12

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

N«w Zealand Hhbald Office. Saturday afternoon. Business for the last four weeks has not been characterised by the usual activity of this season of the year. The shrinkage In value of oversea goods has had some effect in reduolng the volume of trade, looking purely at amount, but the reduced spending power of the community consequent on low prices of fat stock, farm and dairy produce, lessened employment, and poor returns from investments have exeroissd an adverse influence, which inoreased settlement, a steady development of manufacturing industry, greater distribution of business to Southern ports, and increased value of provincial wool, tallow, and gum, have not been altogether able to neutralise. Our immense natural wealth in the finest building timber in the world remains practically locked up, be* oause of there being no payable demand. The survival of the fittest theory has been nearly worked out in our little commercial community, and trade is now considered in a muoh sounder state. Engagements are well met, and the restricted accommodation from the banks has had the good effect of Inducing the safest and largest buyers to operate oautiously rather than risk any possible financial difficulty. Money is a trifle easier, advanoes on the wool clip being repayable within a few weeks, and the new loan of a million and a half having its effect in financial circles. The floating of this 4 per cent, loan at a trifling advance on the minimum of £97, is not a subjeot of muoh satisfaction, seeing our 4 per cent, loan of 1885 brought the exceptionally high average price of £100 6s 9d. It is universally deplored that the splendid opportunity of convincing the British public of the enormous mineral wealth of the colony by a thoroughly representative display of auriferous ores at the Colonial Exhibition in London has been neglected. We venture to say that if some of the specimens taken from the Moanatalari, Success, Tokatea, Caledonian, Prinoe Imperial, and Cambria mines had been shown, with exhibits from the wonderfully rloh region of Westland, the stay-at-heme good public of Britain, knowing little of .their colonial empire exoept from print and hearsay, would have been astonished and delighted at the magnificence of the display whioh could easily have been made by a little exeroise of foresight and practical intelligence at a trifling cost compared with much of the needless expenditure incurred by the preparation and printing of elaborate returns, scarcely ever read, and much other Government waste. We know bow British investors have responded to the invitation of Queensland, and a large share of English oapital would have come to this colony for mining Investment if there had been a little less regard for anatomy, dried beetles, and Maori carvings in tho arrangement of our Exhibition court; and a better grasp of the tendenoy of the inquiring mind of the millions who in Europe want to know all about New Zealand, and who often read muoh to its de- ! traction by writers, who, if they knew one . quarter of its resources, would be as optimist as they are now hostile. ' Elsewhere the unfortunate cable dispute i between the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company and the New. Zealand Government is fully dealt with. The contention of the latter is well supported, and it may be regarded as ( certain that some well considered calculation has appeared to justify the Postmaster on the stand taken up. Rents are generally lower, and there Is an all round tendenoy to adapt cases to altered circumstances beyond control. Economy is now [ rigidly enforced lr> all directions, and the con- . viction is deepening that we are nearing the < end of the unexampled depression referred to so '• often— glimpses of the break in the big blaok : cloud that has so long hung over the commercial ' horizon of the oolony being distinctly observ- ' able. In our other columns appears a most interesting address of the ohairman of the Bank of New Zealand, at the last 'yearly .meeting of the shareholders,

Pressure on our space this issue compels our reference to market movements within the closest oompass consistent with justice to principal items of interest. Bottled beer is moving s, little more freely; values in the several brands are unaltered. Building materials are dull of sale, but as some large contracts are likely to be noon open to tender the ensuing summer will probably see a revival of activity. Galvanised iron has been quitted in fair sized S parcels at our quotations. Cement is a trifle firmer. German brands are hard to quit. Slates are in heavy stock. Candles are still selling at very low rates, a parcel of Young's British wax being quitted at eightpence in small lots has weakened values in Price's make. In bags and bagging wool* packs have been going out freely at full rates. Cornsaoks are hardening, but the earlier South Australian harvest is making prices firm in Australia, and so far there has been but little New Zealand business. Buyers are ohary of operating until the oargo of the Triumph, from Calcutta, is on the market. Coffee is ruling high, stocks being very short. Flour has advanced 10s per ton. Oatmeal is lower; no Australian demand having taken place for oats, holders in the 3outh are exhibiting a greater inclination to realise. Dried fruits are without material ohange. The first parcel of new season's will arrive by the Tonga** riro to-morrow. Hops are being held for longer figures. Oilmen's stores are practically unaltered, as will be seen by a glance at our quotations. Oolman's starch is rather scarce. Yeatman's foods have been well Introduced. In fish, salmon has moved up to Bs, duty paid, for cocktail. Within the last week considerable business has been done in supplying the South Island markets. Jams are now largely made locally, but as the province does not produce small fruits equal to Tasmania, the latter island sends a liberal supply of pulp to escape the ljd per lb duty. Kerosene is in large stock, being, as a rule, imported by American firms as a freight for their gum-carrying vessels to New York, and to save bank exohange. No marked alteration in value has ocourred within the month ; but now that the summer is reduoing demand the market may be considered easier. A fair business has been done in teas. Prices are apparently uninfiuenoed by the Eastern rise on rates of exohange. The season's stock generally comes by one or two steamers dlreot from Fooohow, and little alterations In rates occur until nearly the end of the season, when the state of stock guides operations. Sugar is without ohange as regards whites, but Brewer's crystals have advanced in sympathy with the rise at Mauritius. Fiji greys and light yellows have been selling at low rates. As the hop beer season is olose a stronger inquiry for rich grainy browns may be expected. Tapioca and sago continues very firm, the demand keeping good. For rice 4000 bags arrived lately. The demand is improving; values are unaltered. Wines and spirits remain very dull of sale, and now that the warm season is setting in consumption of the latter will doubtless fall off, Australian and other light wines, olaret, lager beer, ginger ale, and similar seasonable liquids becoming more in demand- Considerable business has been done in South Sea Island Lime juice for Melbourne. The tobacoo market is somewhat dull stocks are heavy. In snuff, S. P. Wilson brand has taken the premiership from the old-established one of Taddy and Co. Salt is without change. Soda crystals have fallen. Heavy parcels to hand and to arrive make consignees anxious to escape store rent and double handling. This also applies to whiting. Vinegar is being largely made locally, and having good tariff advantage is displacing imported, exoept in the case of best brands of case, suoh as Champion's, Crosse and Blaokwell's. and Sir Robert Burnett's. When last mall left ordinary kauri gum began to weaken but orders arriving by subsequent inward mail, price of ordinary again hardened and has remained firm and active up to date but now looks like falling. East Coast remains quiet and unchanged. The s.s. Mariposa took 5 tons to San Francisoo and the Lutterworth sailed on Ootober 21, with about 240 tons for London. The Alastor and WMtangi are loading for the same port. The Nettie will sail for New York after arrival of inward mail with about 400 tons, to be followed by the Mary E. Greenwood in December. Supplies during the month of Ootober were about 420 tons and from mail to mail about 360 tons. We quote : Poor ordinary, 25s to 325: fair ordinary, 40s to 41s; superior ordinary, 42s to 44s ;East Coast, 50s to 535. AUCTION SALES. Ootober 14. Mr, J. R. Randerson reports :—There was a fair attendance at my auction sale to-day, when over two acres volcanic land, Allendale, Mount Albert, were offered for sale. The bids started at £206 and ran up to £250, at whioh figure the property was withdrawn, being under the reserve. Ootober 26. To-day Mr, G. Lewis held an important sale of clothing and drapery at the stores of Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co. There was a large attendance of buyers. Every line put up was sold, but prices ruled low, and much to the advantage of the purchasers. Mr. G. W. Binney sold to-day 250 oases of Hobart apples ex s.s. Te Anau. Frenoh orabs realised 9s to 10s 6d; stone pippins, 6s 3d to 7s 6d; stunners, 6s 6d to 7s 6d per case. Also sold 152 sacks wheat, at from 3s lOd to 4s Id per bushel. Ootober 27. To-day Messrs, B. Tonks and Co. sold by auction at their mart lot 167, suburbs of Newcastle, Waikato, containing 4 sores 1 rood 21 perches, with buildings thereon erected, for £50. The same firm also sold a quantity of fruit. There was a fair attendance, and prioes ranged for apples (Hobarts) 5s to lis oase ; oranges. 6s 6d to lis case; lemons, 6s fid case; mandarins. 10s 6d to lis; onions (Oallfornlan), ljd lb; walnuts, 5d lb. Messrs. 8. Cochrane and Son sold at their rooms to-day 12 aores of land at New Lynn, on the Great North Road, owned by Mr. N. G. Lennox. The property realised £180. October 29. Mr. Gabriel Lewis continued the important sale at Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co.'s warehouse. .All the goods were sold, excepting the ontlery and plated goods, whioh will be sold at an early date at the stores of the auctioneer. The attendance was large throughout, and, considering the large amount of goods sold, prioes must be considered satisfactory—the sale lasting four days, from eleven to four o'olock each day. 1687 lots were disposed of. Messrs. B. Tonics and Co. held a sale of Tasmanian potatoes-both seed and table-at their rooms, to-day. There was a good attendance, and the prioes obtained were fair. Messrs. J. Reid and Co. sold some 300 sacks of potatoes at their mart, and the prices realised were satisfactory. Kates or Exchange on jlondon.—Buying : 120 days, If per cent, discount; 90 days, i per cent, discount; 60 days, J per cent, discount; 30 days, * per cent. Demand, par. Selling: 90 days, J per cent, premium; 60 days, } per cent, premium • SO days, 1} per cant. Demand, 1} per cent, premium. Fixed deposits : 8 months, _ per cent.; 6 months, 5 per cent.; 12 months, 6 per cent. Albs and Porter.— Dunedin Ale (duty paid), in bulk (pale), £6; xxxx, £8. Ale, in bulk (duty paid) per barrel, Bass's, £7; Ashbv's, £8. Ale (in bond), Tennent's. pints, 4s to (is Od; Bass's Dogshoad brand (Bead bottling), pints, (is ; quarts, 8a fid, in bond; Bulldog

(R. Porter and Co's bottling), 6s and 8s; W. Younger's, 6s and 7s 8d ; Ashby's 6s 3d to 8s 9d; Bass's (Blood bottlers), pints, 4s; quarts 6s 6d, Anglo-Bavarian: pints Sb 6d and Bb. Boar's Head Stout; quarts, 8s 9d; pints, 6s 6d. Guinness' Harp brand by Postor: pints, 6s; quarts, Bs. Norway ales, pints 6a 4d, quarts Bs. Poster's Bugle stout, quarts 9s, pints 6s 8dBlood's, pints, ss; quarts, 7s; Dogshead, Guinness' (Read's bottling), pints, 6s; quarts, 8s; E. Porter & Co.'s bottling, pints 6s, quarts 8s: Spark's Moline bottling, 6s to ■ 9s 3d ; Burke's, and 9s ; Cameron and Saunders's 7s and 9s 6d; other brands, 5s and 7s 6d; Combe's, quarts, 7s ; pints, 6s 6d. Duty: Pints, Is 6d; quarts, 3s per dozen. Building Materials.— may be quoted at K.B. 14s 64. Slates: Supply beyond requirements. English Countesses are worth £11 to £12. American, £8 to £10. Plaster of Paris, lis. Bags and Bagging, Woolpacks, full lOlbs., 27 x 54, Calcutta, 2s 6d to 2s 9d ; Dundee, none; cornsacks, 4-bush., 2gd lb, 6s 6d. Brkadstt/jts and Grain.—Local best silk-dressed flour, £11 10s; household, ( £lO 10s ; Southern brands, £11 6s to £11 10s. Wheat, 6s to 5s 6d. Bran (Southern), £5; local millers' quotations, £6 10s per ton. Sharps.£7 10s; Southern sharps, £4 10s. Maise : Local, 8s to 89 3d; Fiji, none; local Wheat, none. Oatmeal, £14 to £15; Barley (for malting). 3s 9d to 4s. Oats, 2s 4d to 2s Od; pearl barley, £18. Cabin bread, £16 to £16 per ton. Cordaob, d.p. (Subject to trade discounts)— Manila hemp rope, all sixes, Sydney, £60 to £70: Auckland made, £70 to £78: wl do and lance lines, £80; cutting in falls, £ 0- New Zealand flax rope, all sizes, £40 Auckland made, £88 to £40; wool lashings, £38 ; clothes lines, 6d per lb., subject trade, discount; Manila clothes lines, 8d; oakum, free, ditto, £40; spun yarn two-yarn ditto, £48 to £55; twine, shop, d.p., per lb., 9d to Is 2d ; sewing twine, is Id per lb.; local make, is to Is 3d. Newcastle is sufficient for requirements, 22s 6d to 26s at ship's side ; 28s to 81s in yards, may be taken as a fair quotation. Bay of Islands, 13s, at the mines, is quoted; Whangarei coal, 9s 6d; ditto, Waikato, steam, 8s: household, 12s. Coffer and Spices (in bond), per lb.—Ceylon, coffee plantation, 9d; do., Fiji, 4d to 6d ; chicory, colonial, 46s per ton ; cocoa, d.p., Taylor's Is 3d; Fry's is 3d; Van Houton's, 3s 9d ; Eppe's, Is 6Jd; Maravilla. Is Od; chocolate, Taylor a, Is 3d ; Fry's, Is 3d. Spices, d.p.; Cloves, Is lid; bleached ginger, lid ; unbleached do., 9d; nutmegs, 2s 3d to 2s 6d ; black pepper, whole, 9d; white do., is 2d. Confectionery.—Local manufacturers are producing good articles, and tho consumption is gradually increasing. Waters's colonial boiled, 4jd; dry, 7d; jujubes, Is Id; Keillor assorted confections, 9Jd; Gray's, 9Jd; candied lemon and orange peel, dp., lOd ; citron, Is 3d; Keillor's jujubes, Is Id to Is 2d ; Gray's jujubes, Is Id to Is 3d. Gum, Flax, &c—We quote : Poor ordinary, £25 to £32 ; fair ordinary, £40 to £41; superior ordinary, £42 to £44; East Coast. £50 to £53. Flax : First quality, £15 to £21 ; second, £12 to £16; tow, £7 to £9 per ton. Cocoanut fibre, £15 to £17; Cocoanut oil (fine whito), per ton, £32 10s. Copra, per ton, £9 to £10, Fungus, Sid. Ironmongery.— nails, invoice, 10 per cent, off list; galvanized corrugated iron, duty now 40s per ton, 6, 6, 7, 8 feet, £18, £21, £22, and £23 10s: 9 to 10 feet, £26; English bar iron, per . ton, £9 to £10; pig iron, £4 10s; plate Iron, £10 to £11; fencing wire is overstocked, duty. 20s per ton assorted sizes, £11 10s. Sheet-lead. £18; pig-lead, £18; sheet-zinc, £25. Powder, Kairaes', Curtis ■ and Harvey's, 5d per lb. ; Hall's. 6d to 6Jd, sporting (in canister), 2s ; for 20 and 24, d.p. canister, No. 2, d.p., 3s 6d. Yellow metal, 7Jd; Muntz, 7 jd to Bd, duty. Jams, Dried Fruits, &c—Duty: Dried fruit, 2d, and preserves, lid. English marmalade, lib.-tins, duty paid,7s 3d; Gray's, 7«; Moir's,7s3d; Hobart jams, Knight and Johnson, 5s 6d to 5s 9d ; Peacock's, 6s to 6s 3d; Murray's, Dunedin, 6s to 6s 4d ; jars, 6jd to 7id; Nelson (Now Zealand), 6s 6d ; sultanas, OJd ; muscatels, Is 2d to Is 4d ; olemes, 7d; currants, 6sdto6jd,; figs, 7d to 8d; Turkish prunes, 7d to Bd. Dried apples, ordinary, In kegs and coses, 4d to 4ia ; evaporated, 6d to 7d. Leather and Hides.—Sole leather, lOd to Is 3d per lb.; kips, Is 6d to 2s ; runners, 2s 6d to 2s 9d • calf, colonial, 3s to 4b 3d; basils, 12s to 28s per dozen ; closed uppers, 4s 6d to 9s 3d per pair. Hides, 2Jd to 4d; calf skins, 3Jd to per lb.sheepskins, 6d to 6s. ' Manures.— bonedust, £8 to £9; Auckland, £8 10s; superphosphate of lime. £7 to £3* bonoflour, £8 ; Peruvian guano, £16 to £18 per ton ; animal manure, none; cocoanut oil cake (none); linseed cake, £12; Maiden Island guano £8; Huon Island guano, £6 to £6 ; Hurst's chemical manure, £14 108; Freezing Company's superphospate, 82 per cent.. £8; 26 nercsnt., £6 J corn manure, £8; root manure, £8 10s; grass manure, _ 7 10s ; bonedust, £9. Malt and Hops.—English malt, no inquiry is experienced. Colonial, 6s6d to 7s. Hops: Nelson new season, 7d to 9d; glucose, £22 to £25, d.p ,' delivered to brewery. ' Oilmen's Stores. - Price's Belmont Candles duty, lid, £ d ' d.p., per lb. ; Brandon's Ska; MoLeod a Dunedin of various brands 4jd to sjd; Orient Candles 9id, d.p.; Atlas Paraffins, 9d; Panther fluted and plain, 9id ; Price's National, 9d, Price's Battersea, 9d. Young's British Wax, BJd. Local blue mottled soap, £28 per ton ; carbolic, £29; best yellow, £28; household, £16; first Crown £26second Crown, £17; soft soap, in tins, 4Jd per lb.; toilet, Od to lOd per lb.; mould candles, 6d per lb.; all subject to trade discount. SaltCoarse, W. »nd W. £3 6s to £3 10s; fine Blaok Horse, £4; Adelaide coarse salt 40s t.i 455. Jordan almonds, 2s. Blacking paste, and Martin's, 4s 6d; Colman's starch. No. 1: white, 325; blue, 84i; Orlando Jones' starch, 80s. Gill and Tucker's starch, 30«. Gladstone, 28s to 295. Mustard, d.p. : Champion's genuine 1-lb. bookshaped tins, 19s to 19s 6d; J-lb. tins, 9s 3d to 9s 6 d; Colman's 1-lb. tins (red), 10, 6d half ditto, 6s 9d; 7-lb. .tins (red to green), 7id to Is; 1-lb. tins (green), 18s : J-lb. dittos 7s 6d; DSF J-lb. tins, 9s 3d; Keen's, 9s. Blue : Keckltt's Thumb, Bid; Paris, in squares, lOd; Keen's, B*d. Matches: Vestas, d.p., Bryant and May s 250, per gross, 15s 6d; ditto, plaid, 4s to 4s 3d; ditto, fancy oral, 22s 6d; Bell and Black's, 15s to 16s; plaids, 4s to 4s Cd; B. Bel) and Co., 250's. 15s; plaids, 4s; Oil: Castor, in pints, 8s Sd; half-pints, 4s 9d to 6s; quarterpints, 3s 6d. Salad : C. and 8.. pints, 13s to 14s; half-ditto, 6s 6d; Morton s pints, lis Od; half-pints, 5s 9d. Pickles : Stephens pints, 7s; Crosse and Blackwell's, pints, 12s 9d; Pool's, 9s; Morton's and others, from 7s 6d to Bs. Rice (ground), in tins, 4id~ Sauces: Lea and Perrin's, half-pints, 12s 6d to 12s 9d; C. and 8., half-pints, 9s; Miller's, 7b6d; Stephens', 6s 6d; Goodall's Yorkshire Relish, 6s 6d Vinegar, d.p.: Champion's, per gallon, 2s 4d; Pew's, Is 9d to 2s ; Evans, 2s 2d; Burnett's, 2s: Potts', la lid. vinegar, case: Champion's, 8s 6d; Burnett's. 7s 6d ; Morton's, 7s 6d. Treacle : Golden syrup, 3d per lb. American honey, 2-lb. tins. 12a 6d, d.p. Sago, 2Jd; tapioca, 2Jd. Cornflour: Brown's, BJd, d.p.: Brown and Poison's, 6Jd ; Johnston's. 6Jd: Wade's, 6u; Munn a. 6d. Preserved milk : Nestle's, 7s; Milkmaid, 6s 9d to 7s. Tartaric acid, 2s 4d ; cream of tartar, Is 8d to Is 9d ; bicarb, soda, 12s ; soda crystals, £7 Oils and Paints.—Duty 6d a gallon. Colza, in drums, 4s 3d; bulk, 3s lOd; linseed, boiled drums, 3s 4d; bulk, 8s 3d; raw drums, 3s 2d ; bulk, 8a; castor, in bulk, 3s (id; kerosene, d.p., 130 test, Is Od; kerosene, in bond, 130 test, lOd to lid ; 160 test, Is 3d to Is 4d. White lead, ground, per owt., genuine, 265; No. 1 white load, 225; red lead, dry, £110s. Oil colours, assorted, £110s to £1 18s. Turps, duty paid ; drums, 3s 6d; American, 3s 3d; whiting, per ton, £4 ; resin (scarce), £10; American carriage varnish, 7s 6d to ' lis per gallon, Cheese—Provincial, 5d to 6}d; Canter--1 bury, 5d to Sid. Salt butter, 8d to 9id, for good sound. Rice, i.b., Rangoon, £12; Japan dressed, £14 10s, for parcels. Hams and bacon (duty, 2d per lb.); Canterbury bacon and hams (in cloth), sides only* 7d; equal Nos. hams and bacon, 7_d; hams only, B}d. Fish : Ling, 4d; preserved red herrings, in tins, 30s to 82s per dozen (2-lb. tins); white, 84s per barrel; Findon haddocks. 10s; lobsters, American, libs., 9s 6d; 21bs„ 18s; salmon, lib. cocktail 8s; other brands, 7s ed to 7s 9d; pickled salmon, 3d; sardines, quarters, 4s 6d to 5s ; halves, 8s 6d; oysters, 6s 6d ; mullet (Kaipara), 6s 9d to 6s. Susurb, d.p. —Brewers' crystals. £80 to £81; Mauritius white crystals, £27 to £30 ; New Zealand Company's Auckland Refinery, d.p., No. 1,£28 10s; No. 2, £27 ; No. 8, £20; MHlaquin, £26 10s to £27 ; English crushed loaf, 4jd ; Californian crushed, 4}d; Californian cube, 4d; Fijian whites, £26, d.p.; rations, i.b., £14 to £18; grey counters, £22; China whites, £28 to £29. I

Spirits.—Brandy : Rouyer, Goulllet and Co., 25s and 88: MarceUaln's, case, 22s M, IB; flask, 28s fid; half-flask, 35s 6d; quarter-flask, 53 Cd, and in bulk 7b 9d; Hennosgy's brandy, bulks 13s (id to 14a; case, 33s 6d; Blsquit Duboucho and Co.'s pale, in hhds. and qr.-casks, 7s; Beehive, bulk, 8s; Courvolsier's, case, 345; Otard's, case, 29s (nominal); bulk, 10s 6d; Beehive, case, 245; Bisquit, Dubouche and Co.'s, 25s ; Hlne's 28s; bulk, 8s : Oautier's, 32s and 10s 6d; Burgaud's, 7s 3d to 7s 9d ■ Muller Frere's, 20s! Cavalier Frere's, 245; J. B. Rene's case, 225; Meukow, 80s and 10s; Senimaud, 6s to 6s 6d; Deasandlor's, 22s and 7b 6d. Whisky, bulk : Walker's WW, 10b; Greenless and Colville's 6s 6d to 6s 3d, and Qreenless and Colville's V.0., 8s 6d; case, Rob Roy, 18s; case, Beith, Ross and Co.'s, 6s; Teacher's, 10s ; Vint's bulk, 7s 6d 10 8s; Vlnt's case, 20s 6d; Dunville's, 6s 6d ; case, 18s ; Lome Highland, 21s; Red Deer 6s 6d to 7s; case, 19s; Craig, 6s 6d and 245; Heddle's old case, 16s 6d; Royal Blend, 245; Teacher's old, 265; Encore, 19s; Banagher--18s; Walker's WW, 21s; Jeraboam, 28s; LL, 22s 6d to 235; all in bond. Geneva, proof, 3 gal. lons, JDKZ, 15 bottles, 14s 6d; 20 bottles, 17s 6d ; key, geneva, proof, 13s Schnapps, Wolfe's, 21s 6d; Dew of the Alps, ;275. Gin, Booth's, 16s; Burnett's, 13s. Lownde" rum, 30 op, 4s to 4s 3d ; Red Heart, case, 25s 6d; Burnett's case, 225. Key, 225. Teacher's white rum, 32s 6d in bulk, d.p. Duty, 14s 64. Timber. — Quotations are as follows: — Kanrl boards and scantling cargoes, 100 feet, at mill, f.0.b., East Coast, 8s 6d to 10s; firstclass ; 6s, second-class; at yards, Auckland, 13s to 14s 6d first-class ; 8s 6d second-class. Flooring, 13s 6d to 16s first-class; 9s fid second class; rusticated, 16s 8d to 17s. West Coast, sawn kauri, 108; square baulk, 6s 61 to 6s ; white pine (kahikatea), 6s 6d ; T and G, 8s Od f.0.b., at mills '. at yard, first-class, 13s; second-class, 8s; Hobart palings, 6 feet, 18s 6d; 6 feet, 15s 6d; Hobart rails, £3 16s. Tobacco.—Duty, 3s 6d, Venus, 14s; three-quarter boxes, Is 3d to Is 4d; Venus, Navy flat work, Is 6d ; double-thick ditto, Is 6Jd; Ruby, 2s 6*d; Victory. 2s ; Juno, la 6d ; Unique, Is 6d; low, 10s, 9d to lid; Orion 14*8. Is 2jd; Cameron a Fancy Aromatic, Is 8d; Derby, Is 5d to Is 6d; Over the Water, flat work, all shapes.ls 2Jd to ls8d; Signet, Is 3d: Gem of the Sea, la 3Jd. Teas.—Prices range as follows (in bond):—Congous, common, 9d to Is Id; middling to fine kinds, Is lid to Is 4d ; Saryunes and Panyongr, Is 4d tols7d: Souchongs and Chingwo Kaisow», Is 6d to Is fid. Indian teas are coming into the market regularly. Prices may be quoted for Semi-broken and fine Souchong kinds, la 5d to 2s Id. Wines.Champagne, duty paid: Perler Jouet and Co., first quality, quarts, 80s; pints, 84s; halfpints,, 945; second quality, quarts, 645; pints, 68s; half-pints, 78s. Montabello quarts, 84s; 84s; Moot, quarts, 70s; pints, 965; Roederer quarts, 100s ; pints, 105s ; Pol. Roger and Co. 1003 and 106s; Adolphe Collins, 60s and 70s ditto extra superior, 70s, 80, St. Huberts Australian, 2s per dozen. AUCKLAND STOCK AND SHARE MARKET. There is no improvement to report in the stock market. Prices show a slight decline since last month. The Bank of New Zealand half-yearly meeting has just taken place, and considering the state of business and the depression that exists all through the colonies, the directors' report is considered satisfactory, the reduction of the dividend from 15 per cant, to 12} per cent, will, of course, affect the market value of shares. At present there are sellers at £19 2s 6d, with few buyers. The National Insurance Company have declared a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, and these shares have been in demand at 15s 6d, cum dlv. South British are also wanted at 28s 6d, and no quoted sellers. Standard and Colonial are also inquired for at low rates. Land Mortgage shares are quoted, buyers 20s, with few sailers 21s. Loan and Mercantile, sellers £4 4s. Gas »hares a shade lower, but In fair request. Business generally is of a most restricted character, and though there is more hopeful feeling, there is as yet no visible improvement. Money in small sums on good freehold security is worth 8 per cent; in sums of a thousand and upwards, about 7 per cent. There la nothing to report from the goldflelds, there being scarcely any speculation in these shares. Caledonians have been dealt in at 6s 6d, with few sellers at 7s; and there has been a little demand for one or two of the Upper Thames stock*, in consequence of the expected start of a new gold and silver saving plant which it just about making its trial on Karangahake ores. This plant, known locally as Beilly'a Pan Process, is expected to be a great success. We hear by cable that the Telephone Company, Coromandel, has been floated in the London market, and the shares subscribed three times over ', this mining property is thought very highly of, and would hare been worked with local capital had ii not become necessary to make calls for the sinking of the shaft to a greater depth, and the difficulty experienced in times of depression, such as we are now going through, in getting in calls for any purpose whatever, induced the directors to look abroad for the necessary support to carry on m'ning operations on their property. There are great expectations of success, as in the past enormously rich ore was taken from this well-known mine. The following will show the present rates and course of sales for the month :— . :

Company. Buyers. Sellers. effected. £ s. d. £ 8. d. £ 8. d. Bank of New Zealand 19 2 6 19 6 0 19 2 6 National do 1 17 0 Colonial do 216226 216 N.Z. Insurance .... 3 6 0 South British do. ,. 18 6 17 0 27/—28/6 National do 0 15 0 0 16 0 14/—15/ Standard do. _ .. - 0 10 6 M.Z.L.&M.A 4 6 0 N.Z. Land Mortgage .. 10 0 - 21/1 AucklandGas 11 0 0 Union Sash & Door .... 10 0 Auckland Timber „ — — 45/ N.Z. Shipping 1 14 0 TaupiriCoal „ ..166166 „ minino: a talari ....«, 0 7 0 _ Cambria.. — ,. „. 0 2 6 _ Prince Imperial .. .. 0 2 6 _ New Find ...... .. „ Albnrnla „. 0 2 0 .. Lurnach.. .. .. .. 0 3 0 .." Ro«s United ...... 0 3 6 Humphrey's Gully .. .. 0 4 6 Old Caledonian .. 0 6 6 0 7 0 6/—7/ Alex. Saunders, Stook and Sharebroker. Auckland, November 6, 1836.