CANTERBURY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 720, 8 April 1864, Page 4

CANTERBURY.

The "Lyttelton Times" of the sth, thus reports :— The Customs duties for the month of March amount to L<To2l 17s 4xl, being made up as follows: — £ s. d. Collected at Lyttelton ... 5141 1 6 Collected at Christehurch ■ branch 1880 15 10 The receipts in January amounted to L 6300, and for February L 6500, thus the March receipts evidence the usnal steady increase, and a present annual rate of L 84.000. The amount of business done in importation, as indicated by the above figures, would not seem to shew that the present tightness ;',. the money market is exercising any very depressing influence upon trade. It might be observed that the duty paid at Christehurch has already reached the rate of some L22,oooper annum. As this rate must increase considerably when the bonding warehouses now in course of construction here and neaving completion, are ready fcr the reception of goods, the Customs duties at Christchureh will probably reach L 40.000 per annum. The opening of the Christehurch Custom-house is shewn by the above statements to have been productive already of very considerable convenience to business residents on the plains, notwithstanding the defects inseparable from the broken line of communication with the shipping in port. Wheat.--The market has been, well supplied, and prices have ruled somewhat higher, 6s 6d, 6s 9d, and even 7s being obtained for the best samples. Some heavy shipments of wheat have taken place lately ; for instance, the Prince Consort took away 1500 bushels on the 31st ult., for Wellington. But it is not probable that these large exporlations will continue, as it does not pay the exporters to purchase at the present high rates. Flour was in ereat demand, and realised 25s 6d per lOOlbs, and L 24 per ton. .Barley—There has been a considerable demand for this article. The price for the best malting samples being 5s to 5s 3d. The Rifleman, which sailed for Auckland on the 31st ultimo, exported 2000 bushels. Oats were plentiful, and were offered at 3s to 3s 61 per bushel wholesale, and at 4s retail. A considerable quantity wa3 recently shipped f o Auckland. Sharps realised 2s per bushel, and bran Is 6d per bushel retail, and L 6 5s per ton wholesale. There was nothing done" in maize, and very little in peas, the price of the latter remaining much the same as the last quotation. Potatoes were inquired for, the -price being, wholesale, L 5 to L 6, and about L 7 retail, per ton. ■WHOLESALE PRICES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE. Wheat, at6olbs, 63 to Potatoes, per ton, L 5 6s 9d 10s Barley, at 501bs, 5s Onions, per cwt, 18s Oats, at 401bs, 2s 9d to Carrots, per cwfc, 3s 3s Apples, per lb, 3iSd Peas, at 601bs, 4s 6d to Ditto, Hobart Town, 53 Der case of 401bs, 8s Beans, at GOlbs, 4s 6J 6d to 12i to 53 Butter, per lb, Is 81 Flour, per 20001bs, L 24 Eggs, per dozen, 23 3d Ditto, per iooib3, 24s Fowls, per pair, 6s 61 Duclis, per couple, 7s Sharps, per 201b*, 2* Firewood, per cord, Bran, per 20ibs, Is 31 wharves, L 2 153 Hay, per ton, L 3 to L 4