COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 35, 25 December 1861, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

The following is from. Messrs. Staples & Co.'s Circular : — Melbourne and Geelong. To these ports we have to report nineteen clearances, against twelve in previous month, and sixteen in corresponding month of 1860. The declared value amounts to £426,780, against £376,665 for August-Septem-ber, —being an increase of £50,115. The values for September-October, 1860, were £270,776 —so that we are still further in excess of the exports of that date. Upon looking, through the earlier columns, we are at a loss to discover where the increase is to be found, as, with the exception of plain cottons, we have had a decrease in almost every one ; and we find the total of the first two pages of our present number, as far as saddlery, to be £135,300, against £159,045 in August-Sep-tember (not including late entries), giving a decrease in our present publication of £23,745. In books, paper, stationery, and paperhangings, we have a large increase. Of nearly all other metals the amounts are not heavy. The VoUigeur took out gun batteries valued at £14,000. Of oils, the supplies are below our average qualities, with the exception of olive, in bulk, which is usually shipped heavily about this season. Agricultural implements, machinery, and railway materials, shew large amounts —the increase in these three items alone balancing the decrease in the drapery columns. Slates have gone freely in the Liverpool ships, and deals are beginning again to show largely in their column. In spirits, we have nothing particular to note, but of wines the exports have been very heavy. We note the departure of the " Melrose" from Malaga, with a cargo of wines and fruits, but are unable to say for what port —probably to wait for orders. Of cheese, butter, bacon, and hams, and malt, we have a fair but not an unreasonable quantity. Olive oil, in case, is abunilant. Dried fruits are very moderate. We have a small proportion of both British | and foreign candles, with the exception of the cargo of the Neva Company, per Neva, from Leith.

Money Market and City Intelligjence.City, Friday, 25th October.—The general di count market continues to exhibit a tenden( towards increased easiness, transactions in the bei qualities of short-dated paper having- taken pla< a fraction under 3 per cent. ; in most cases, hot ever, 3£- per cent, is required, and that quotatio is sufficiently below the official minimum to dive] business from the Bank of England. Much of tb uneasiness lately engendered 'by the situation c affairs in, France has been removed by the ire proving tone or the letters now daily receive! from-Paris, and the progressive recovery in the Rentes. There is at the present moment an un usual accumulation of money at the Stock Ex change, and the demand for loans is exceeding^ moderate, although they can be easily negociatet at 1£ to 2 jDer cent. Ix)ndon Wool Report, October 23, 1861.— The same inactivity noticed in our last repor continues, and the few contracts made are en: tirely for hand to month operations ; the onlj exception being for low East India's, which hay found a ready sale for America at an average advance of Id. to 2d. on the rates current in July. Our own manufacturers were likewise steady buyers at this advance, some very large contracts having been taken for blankets for tliat market. The next series of colonial wool sales commence on the 7th of November, the arrivals including held over wools now amounting to 65,000 bales, which it is anticipated will be increased to fully 70,000 bales ; the largest number ever offered at the November sales. ' With reference to the probable range of prices it is difficult to form an opinion : alf operations in the North are conducted with great caution, and there is evidently but little disposition on the part of either dealers or manufacturers to have large stocks ; this may produce some slight reaction in prices, as few will like to purchase more than their probable consumption till the end of March next, when* if the accounts given of the large clip anticipated are realised, a very large February-March sale may be expected. The price of Consols on the 26th of October 92-I-& for money, and an eighth higher for the account; they have been as low as 92£ for money Colonial Government Securities.—New South Wales Government Five per Cents., 1866, paid, 100; closing prices, 98 to 100. Do., 1871 to 1876, paid, 100; closing prices, <, 98 to 99. Do., 1888 and upwards, paid, 100 ; closing prices, 98 to 99. Victorian Government Six per Cents., April and October, paid, .100.;. closing price% 103^ to 103-f. South Australian Six per Cents** 1878 and upwards, paid, 100 ; closing prices KQ& given. .:, " Sellers of Victoria Government Debentures have predominated during the last few days, ani the price, a3 well as that of New South Wale© Bonds, has experienced a decline. The Dailf News remarks that " there is - a vague feeling of anxiety with regard to the progress of political affairs of Victoria under the- system of free suffrage." ...... ■-•■■'