COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 319, 27 December 1862, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

DAILY TIMES OFFICE, Friday evening. The were no export entries for Gold at the Custom House to-day. The Customs Revenue on imports to-day amounted to L 426 4* 6d, of which the following are the principal items:—Sugar, 32,491 lbs, L 135 7s 7d ; tobacco, 912 lbs, L6B 8s j brandy, 139 gals, L 63 2s 3d; measured goods, L 44 12s; wine, 219 gals, L 32 17s ; rum, 30 gals, whiskey, 30 gals, Ll3los.

By the Barque Victoria we have Melbourne papers to 12th instant. The following report is from the Argus of that date.

" The extent of business in the import market has been limited, and country ordera have been on the decrease. Until the Christmas vacation is well over, no improved demand is looked for in tbe latter branch of trade, unless the intelligence by the mail, now overdue, lead to speculative inquiry. Flour remains in fair request, at steady rates. Wheat improves in demand. Sales of Victorian grown are reported, at from 5s 3d to 5s 4i; and South Australian, at 5s 6d per bushel, bran ha 3 advanced to ls 91 per bushel. Messrs Fraser and Cohen offered a large assortment of wines, spirits, and tobacco for sale by auction today. Of the' latter a small portion only of the twist, duty paid, and a few cases of other descriptions, were sold at about previous quotations ; the bulk being withdrawn for higher prices than wei'e offered. 'Of the wines and spirits, also, but small portions were disposed of, with the exception of geneva, of which 1.000 ca*es JDKZ (duty 265) were placed at lis 6d per case. Gustave Edouard and Co's brandy, pale and dark, realised 5s 3d per gallon, and Madeira wine, 3s lOd do, in bond. The same firm also placed—French salad oil, pints, at 9s 6d; French capers., small bottles, at 63 per dozen; and fight weight foreign candles, damaged, at 9§d per lb, for net cash. ;Me<srs Gemmell, M'Caul and Co, sold Sharpe's broad axes, "No. 4, 42s 6d. Hall's, broad axes, Nos. 4 and 5, 48s ; Chinese oil, 4s pet* gallon net; Grecian Astor chairs, 75s per dozen; and general assortment of ironmongery at fair prices. Messrs Greig and Murray held a sale of iron ancl iron goods, and realised the following prices :—2OO tons pig iron, L3osto L 3 10s per ton ; Scotch iron,' all fanlts, L 24 10s do; do, s und, 24-gauge, L 26 10 do ; Johnson's iron, sound, L 27 15s do : flat and bar iron, L 7 do; round and square iron, L 7 10s-do; octagon steel, L3710t0 L 44 do; sashweights, L 4 17s Gd do; tiu plates, all faults, 29s to 31s per box; navy canvas, ls 3|d per yavd ; Ewbank's nails, 22s to 32s per keg; American cut nails 14s 6d to 20s do.

In the stock and share market, sales are reported of Colonial Bank of Australasia at Lo 12s 6d; National Rank of Au-tralasix. L 4 7s 6d; Bendigo Waterworks Company, Ll 4s; Sandy Creek, Poverty Reef (Mining), 8s ; and Scarsdalc Great Extended Company, L 3 15s premium. The market has been fully sustained throughout the day. Horse Markkt.—-Messrs. Row, Kirk and Co. report—" A tolerably full business has been done since our last report; and for gooci stock prices have been fairly, maintained. The principal demand during tlie week has been for horses suitable fjv shipment to New Zealand, and buyers for that market being numerous, eligible lots met with a brisk competition, and realised satisfactory rates. First class heavy draught horses have been sold privately at L6O to L7o; medium draught, the class most in -request, have been readily sold at from L 25 to 40: inferior were taken at about last wo-k's quotations. No highpriced kncks have come to hand. Useful light harness horses were in fair demand, and payable rates were obtained without difficulty, Early in the week we disposed of two mobs privately at low figures; and on Wednesday a small lot from Western Port, by auction, at au average of LS ; same day, useful colts, irom Woodend, at Ll2 per head." Mr Thomas Herbert reports :—" The market dull, having been inundated with weeds. Prices have rauged from 20s. to L3O. Fair average stock from the country are saleable at from L 8 to Ll3 per head."