COMMEECIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 232, 17 September 1862, Page 4

COMMEECIAL.

Daidy Times Omcß, Tuesday Evening. Since our last summary report for the English mail, a marked alteration in tie prospects of trade has taken place. The discovery of a new goldfield at the Ihimtan, and the movement of population towards that locality has decidedly been the feature of the month. In fuct, the excitement caused when the discovery was first made public was intense, and the attention of all was diverted from the u*ual channels of trade, to such matters as were foleiy connected with the hew rush. A brisk demand for mining tools, picks, shovel, tin dishes, cradles, &c, soon aiose, and the stook of cabin and pilot bread which had been, an unsaleable article for months past was eagerly purchased until oar market is almost cleared.-- ■:■'". :'■,.'. '■■:■ ■ ""■ ' '••"■ "■'■'.' - Within the last fortnight, however, the excitement has subsided, and after the spurt for certain items named above, trade seems decidedly dull. Such stores as -were sent to the Dunstan met wiih ready sale at remunerative rates, and as a considerable population is now settled on the new goldfield, and by almost all accounts the majority doing well.—We may look for a regular outlet for merchandize on that field. Many miners have ; returned to their old localities in the Tuapeka district, and storekeepers ia that quarter are evincing a greater feeling of eonfiv dence in their purchases. V: newsirom the goldfields has already pven an impetus to immigration. rDuring the past month our population has received a net addition of some 1,300 people. «r: .: By the arrival of the Eanjratira we have later dates from Sydney and the Northern Provinces, she brings intelligence'of the total wreck of the Lord Worsjey on the Taranaki coast, a .great loss to the trade of New Zealand, steamships being scarce in these waters; fortunately no lives were lost. Wehave had some important arrivals during the month, viz., the Escort and Bombay from London, the Grasmere from Q^de, and the; Carlotta "from New York. IF.Sv bringing a considerable aggregate addition to pur stocks of imported .merchandise.: ;i - The annual meeting of 'the Chamber of Coramereo was held on the 12th inst.,,when the report of the committee was read, arid rieif officers for the ensuing year elected. There is much room, for the influence and action of the Chamber in the present very imperfect state of our mercantile Jaw and general commercial matters, and if the committee do their duty, there is hard work before them. The weather, until to-day, has been very fine, and has added much to the cheerful feeling which prevailed during the first week or ten days of the present month. Now, however, it seems as if we might expect a bout of wet and rough weather, ana, as a natural result, we look for some stagnation in trade. Ale and Porter.—Direct arrivals from Britain Kave been very heavy for our limited market, espeh daily of beer in hhds. Cartage'to the mines is very "high, and there is consequently hut little demand for the country, and stocks axe accumulating. The rates which"have ruled -for malt liquors in Australia for some time past have been such that no profitable imports could be made thence, and as we have nothing to fear from that quarter, with a little management and confidence, present stocks should be oi Honest value. >' , Bacon ahb Hams.—First-class parcels are not plentiful, but we do not find, the demand so brisk as it has been. Butter of prime quality is very scarce indeed j supplies, as spring advances, may' be "looked "for from Wellington, and when this quality is to hand at all freely, there is a very limited demand for Cork. Candles. —Market supplied; value of. full weights is Is 3d and Is 40, according to circumstances. - ' Coals. —The domestic trade is a very limited one; considerable supplies are however needed for our bteamer trade, but which is mostly supplied by imports by those interested. There cannot be said 'to fie any open market value for thja commodity,, ■ Pish. —Demand has been* very 'dull Indeed, but as cartage gets cheaper there must be more purchasers for sealed qualities. Sardines have recently u.et with &liittitedenquiry. . \ ;.' *.;"*'" Fruits —In bottle, continue dull and unrenronerative, on this quality, tfie present preposterouß duty ■ of 4s a cubic foot tells severely, being some 70 per I cent <ra prime cost. ' Currants have been very scarce ; I

now limited supplier are to hand, and valnea a shade easier, 7i we quote their value, D. P. Kaisina are rather scarce. ..Flouji.- Sjjock* of pood, Adelaide qualities were very low unUl tbe arrival of.'the Kita,' and Sea Nymph bringing a supply of some 450 tons: The trade has recently improved ami prices are decidedly firmer. Wo qnoto values £18 10a to £20, accordiug to brand and quantity. lied EXAls' demand dull, and present wants sup-

Hardware.— 30 inch shovels were much sought alter early in present month, and all E.P. were eagerly bought. L.H. have been bought ou speculation, and aro good yalu© There is less demand for sluicing forks and puddling hoes. \ Picks are mostly out of first hands, but there is no wholesale demand at present. Axes and hatchets have been ready of sale. . , Oatmeal.—Scarce, and value improved. Oilmkns' Storks.—ln limited demand, without any alteration in values.

Oils.—Keiosene is lower, a large arrival took place in the. Carlotta from New York, which will suffice for the market for some time to come. The dealeru are well stocked.

Pearl Barret continne3 very acarco, wholesale parcels are worth 37s &1 a cwt. Quicksilvhb.—There has been some enquiry for lately, and from the nature of the gold obtained at the new mines, it is likely to be freely used we should think.

Suoab.—The murket is supplied, and the trade beins; very limited a parcels, vafucs are a shade lower if anything, but price does not indues purchasers where stock isi not wanted. :

Tk4B.~A little more demand, but values sere hot improved much except for low qualities, which are running low in stock. ' •^-Transit.' —The building trade has been very dull indeed, and most of the Yards In town are fairly stocked. Supplies are moderate. ; : . .Tobacco.—;i)epkiedly firm in value, and a good deal is at present going into consumption. Cigars ore in very light demand., ; > : ---=;•.■ -.-■,.■■?■ u Wi&t^ and SpjßiTf—Demand dull. Old Tom in case is scarce, so are'firafc brands of pale brandy in quarters.- :- ',; j-\'--'' .'■ ■. i.';-./.' •■•■■■■' v: -. ■ -• •■•'■• ■:■■■

There wero no expoirt entries for gold passed at the Custom House to-djay. The Customs Revciiuo coHectod at the Port of Dunetliu on Monday, thu 15th instant, amounted to £C3B 9i. lid. The following were the principra items: Bramly, 203gnUons, £91 11 8 « M; whiskey, 97 gallons, £4411s j jjeiieva, 212 gallons, £95 Ifis 7d; rum, 65 Rallona, £& si ; wine, 129 gallons, £\0 7a; ale, 1453 gsaions, i.'45 3s; tobacco, 1321 Iba, j£lo3l9sod. '

The Kovenue' receivisd from Import and Export Duties at the Port oFDanedta, from Ist January to 16th September, 1832, simounted to £146,341 5a Id.

Return op Import Duties, Cow,?ctbi> at thk Pout ay Donedin, ifaoK 1m January to 16th Septkmbrr 1802 :~

Return showing: the Value of Exports from tho Port of Dunedin, being the Producu of tha Province of Otago, from January 1» to September 10, 18C2.

-January February March - April May - June July August - to September • • . , . £ s. <l 15,975 1 10 ■-■•.■ 13.525 15 0 . 13,562 9 10 - 13,001 17 - 12,442 13 7 - -10,448 11" 8 - 10,835 9 1 ■■- 11,282 11 6 - 7457 11 0 ' £109,121 6 1

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