COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10099, 7 April 1896, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

AUSTRALIAN COMMERCIAL NOTES. Press Association.-ElectricTelegraph.-Copyright. Sydney, April 0, Imports at Port Sydney last quarter showed an increase of £893,000 compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The increase was general, excepting in sugar, in which there was a heavy falling off. On the other hand, exports declined 1093,000, shipments of gold accounting for no less than £402,000. The opening of the month put more life into the import market, and forward orders were extensively booked, shough prices showed no change.t The intervention of the holiday interfered with the "fourth"settlemeiits, but the outlook i 3 considered brighter. Sugar is scarce, and very firm, best white selling up to £22 10s. The Colonial Sugar Company is buying up Mauritius sugars, and there is talk of considerable further shipments from the same source. Breadstuff* are dull. New Zealand wheat is a little weaker, and is offering at 3s 7d (to arrive). Owing to the fall in San Francisco, Californian wheat shows an easing tendency. There is talk of San Francisco and New Zealand wheat finding its way to Melbourne, and two Californian wheat vessels have been chartered with Melbourne option. The feed produce market closed brisk and firm with nil upward tendency. Potatoes are in good demand, and prices ruling are better. Merchants advanced prices in consequence of reports from the country, which show time the frosts which are already beginning to make an appearance, have caused considerable damage to potatoes, besides other crops and young grass. It promises to be an early and a hard winter. Melbourne, April G. The approach of the holiday seasou further restricted business in the import market during the week, excepting for forward orders. The opening of the month's accounts showed very little done. Quietness and steadiness at late quotations is the closing report for breadstuffs, feed, and produce lines. At the annual meeting of the Mutual Assurance Society of Victoria, the reuort stated that the new business ol last year represented £313,000, an increase of £29,000 on the previous year, and yielded an income of over £10,000. The total income for 1895 was £155,300. In connection with the quinquennial investigation, properties had been revalued oa the basis of present rentals, and £56,000 written off. The total funds were £81)0,000, compared with £062,000 at the close of the previous quinquennial period. The report was adopted. Adelaide, April 6. No rain of consequence has fallen for' several months, and the drought is again becoming serious. Water is very scarce, and many districts, even within the metropolitan area, have found it necessary to restrict supplies. Crops and stock are suffering con* , siderably.

THE MAILS. CHIEF POST OFFICE, AUCKLAND, Mails will flo«a it miliar ; This Day. For Matakana, nor Maori, at 6 a.m. For Waiwera, Leigh, and Mullet Point, per Rose Casey, at 10 a.m. For Coroinandel, per Coromannel, at 10 a.ra. For Wanganui and Southern Ports, per Glenelg, at 11 a. m. , _ For Gisborne, Napier, and Southern Potts, per Anglian, at 6 p.m. Per Tasinanii, as follows For Ceylon, India, China, Japan, Straits Settlements. Aden, Suez, Mediterranean Ports, and Continent of Europe, at 3 p.m. For Australian Colonies, Fiji, Noumea, and United Kingdom via Suez, at. 3 p.m. ■ For money orders, registered letters, books, and newspapers, at 2 p.m. Parcels for New South Wales and Queensland, at 2.30 p.m. .. „ Mail will lie duo in London oil May 21. For Taurangi and Opotlki. per Waiotahi, at 4 p.m. For Unwell, Kawakawa, R.iweiif, WiMiigaro*, and Manf.onui, per Clansman, at 6 30 p.m. For Wlianairei Heads. I'.inw Hay, Marsden Point, tVaipn, Whingarei, ICanio, Manwpai, Hikurangi, Kaurihohore, and Ruakaka, per Wellington, at 7 p.m. For Thames, Turua, and Paevoa, per I'aeroa, at 7 p.m. For Poit Fitzroy, Tryphena, and Okupu, per lona, at 7.45 p.m. Wednesday. For Russell, Opua, Kawakawa, Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji, per I'polu.at 4 p.m. Thursday, AFRII. 10. For Rarotoiißa ami Tahiti, per Iticliuiond, at —. Friday, April 17 For Fiji, per Taviuni, at i p.m. For I'uy-i'Kur Point and Cromarty will cloio at Invercargill on Thursday, loth April, at 12.30 p.m. S. 13. BISS, Chief Postmaster. TKI.ICQItAMS ItV MAIL, For United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, Australian Colonies anil Tasmania, also India, China, Japrn, and Straits .Settlements, via Sydney, will close at Wellington, por llautoto, to-day", 7th instant, at noon. For Australia and Tasmania per Wakatipti, close at Wellington, on Thursday, 9Ui instant, at 1 p.m. IV. S. Furbv, Officer in Charge.