COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4147, 6 July 1874, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties collected at tho port of Wellington on goods entered for home consumption for the week, ending July 4, 1874, amounted to £1594 os. Bd. From the circulars of Messrs. Arkall Tufts, and Co., of New York, we see that in the eighteen weeks, ending the 13th May, the quantity of Kerosene Oil exported to this colony was 28,700 gallons: for the corresponding period of the previous year it was 18,550 gallons. CniusiCHUßcn.—The Times of Saturday reports : The grain market continues dull, and wo have little or no improvement to note on last week's quotations. Farmers arc busy ploughing and sowing, therefore deliveries may bo considered over till spring. Only a few odd lots of grain have come to hand during tho week. We note the sale of a largo line of wheat, for English shipment, at priceß withheld. Transactions in other grain have been principally confined to provincial orders. Quotations are as follows: —Wheat, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 4d., or 4s. Gd. for extra prime; oats, 4s. to 4s. 3d. : barley, good bright malting samples, 4s. Od. to 4s. 9d. ; flour, £ll 10s. in Backs, £l2 in 1001 b. bags, £l2 10s. for 501 b. bags ; bran, £5 15s. per ton ; sharps, £0 10s. per ton, with 10s. extra f.0.b., in Lyttelton ; oatmeal, £25 per ton. Potatoes are in good demand, and farmers do not feel disposed to accept present rates, £3 10s, in Christchurch. It is reported that there are one or two cargoes on the way from Victoria to Auckland, which will, perhaps, cause prices to case a little, but not to any extent. Our local consumption is much larger than in former years, and through this, together with the very limited yield, we look for prices to be well maintained throughout the season. Butter is still fetching 12jd. to 13d., and cliecr-o 6Jd. to Od. Hams and bacon are in excellent demand, and one or two of our large curing establishments have been compelled to refuse orders for immediate delivery. We quote last week's prices : Bacon and hams, BJd. in cloth: hams only lid; bacon only 7Jd. f.o.b. in Lyttelton.

AMERICAN MARKETS. Messrs. Arkell, Tufts and Co., write under dato New York, 13th May, as follows : Although the question of tho further issue of irredeemable currency has been for tho time settled by the action of the President in vetoing tho Inflation Bill, and general business has somewhat improved, there is very little doing for tho Australian Colonies. The last two mails have brought fewer orders for goods than known for a long time; this, however, is no doubt to bo attributed to the very heavy shipments of the past few months, and until the importers on your side have had time to movo their stocks we cannot look for much improvement. Hardware. —Wo have no change of importance to note. The demand has fallen olf somewhat, but prices remain stationary. The strikes in England may possibly have some ell'ect on prices hero, but in tho present

dull state of trade we do not look for any great Wootiemmre.— There has been but littlo demand. Stocks are light, and prices without alteration. Lumber.— Prices remain firm, as last quoted. For desirable cargoes there is a fair inquiry. Kerosene Oil.—ln spito of the general suspension of drilling in the oil regions, and the advanced prices there, exporters seem to have a lack of conlidence oven in the reduced prices. For case oil tho market is weaker, and we quote nominally Devoes at 22c. The only engagements we hear of are 5000 cases for the S. D. Carleton, for Melbourne, and for tho Oneco, for New Zealand, also about 5000 cases. Exports will be undoubtedly lighter until shippers have reduced their stocks. Lobsters.— The catch has been late by reason of tempestuous weather on the Eastern coast, and no shipmonts have as yet been mado: prices, consequently, remain firm. ... . . Oysters are dull at last quotation, stocks being fair. Tobacco.— There has been a fair trade, with prices steadily held. Freights. —Vessels are still scarce for the Colonies, but we havo littlo change in rates to note. We quote for Melbourne from 22Jc. to 25c. por foot, and for Sydney 25c. to 30c. per foot, according to engagements. For Adelaide no vessel is on tho berth. For New Zealand, the barque Oneco is loading for Dunedin, Wellington, and Nelson, and rates to thoso ports are various, averaging about 35c. per ton. Finance. —Gold has declined since our last to 111| per cent., with little prospect of change. Exchange has advanced, primo 00 day bills being quoted on a basis of 4dol. 87Jc, and for commercial, 4do£ 85c. per £l. Rates are rather uncertain at tho closo. Gold closed weak to-day at 112 J per cent. BY TELEGRAPH. AUCKLAND. Mr. Alexander Saunders reports :—Sales: South British, 495. ; Caledonian, 185 s. ; City of York, lis. ; Queen of tho Thames, 75.; Buyers,: South British, 485.; Fiji Bank, 505.; Thames Gas, 335. ; Caledonian, 185 s. ; Crown Prince, 23t.