CARTAGE REPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 767, 2 June 1864, Page 4

CARTAGE REPORT.

Messrs E. De Cable and Co., Carriers, and General Forwarding Agents, report as under : A slight reaction in favor of the carrier is observable, and significant signs indicate the probability of a decided jise in the rates of cartage, numbers of diggers are returning to their old claims, and for then especial information we add to our usual report the charges for which ihe'nselves and their luggage (not exceeding 56 lbs), may ;be conveyed by wagon to the various diggings.

Ratfs for passengers, Dunstan, Alexandra, Hamilton's, Black's, and Dunstan Creek, £1 5s per head; Wetherstone's, Tuapeka, and Woo! - shed, 10s per head. The above rates are for flour, ironmongery, and heavy groceries in not less than tons. Timber and drapery are proportionably higher. Princes street, Duaedin, 31st May, 1864.

We have our Melbourne files to the 26th imt. The " Argus" of that date reports as follows :—

Business was very quiet to-day, the preparation of advices for the departing mail having engrossed the attention of mercantile firms. Beyond the auction sales, transactions were few. Holders of flour and wheat firmly miin tain their prices, but purchasers are holding back.

'I he holders of Victorian debentures in England will learn with s.">me satisfaction the results of the sale of debentures here in the early part of the present month. Local readers do not require to be reminded—but the information may be useful at home—that only L200,000_ of these bonds were offerad, at a premium of L 5 10*. and that upwar-s of L 260,006 were tendered for at and over that prem.um. The trustees of >he Savings Bank tendered for tbe wlio'e amount offered at a p ernium of L 5 12$ 9J. Several of the tenderers offered, to small amounts, a premium of L 6. The Government accepted the whoie of the tenders which were at and over the minimum. The success of this operation shows the confidence felt here iv the value of theie securities.

Our files from Adelaide are to the 21st instant, The " Register" of the 20th says :—

There has been a most wonderful depreciation in the prices of wheat and flour since our last weekly report. We then stated that there had been a very extraordinary advance. We have now to chronicle almost as rapid a decline. Wheat which on Thursday last was worth 12s per bushel, is now not worth more thaa 9s 3d, and there a"c no purchasers even at that figure. On the other hand, farmers and holders are not at all inclined to accept the redu-tion, and the consequence is that very little wheat is now offering for sale, and no business is doing. Flour has been affected, but not to the same extent as wheat. Wheat.—The latest sales for export today were at 93 3d per bushel at the Port, for small parcals. The prices in town vary considerably, some millers are offering 7s 61, whilst others are willing to give 8s 6d, Flour is very dull, and quotations are nominal at L 23 to L 25 per ton. Bran ds firmly held, and millers do rot feel inclined to sell under Is 3d per bushel. Copper has fallen LlO per ton ; L 95 per ton, at the Port, being the price now asked by the Burra and Wallaroo Companies. No new features in general trade call for special remarks this week. Business is rather dull, but very healthy. The following is the official return of all wheat, flour, bread, and grain, the produce of South Australia, exported during the week ended Saturday, 14t!i May :— Port Adelaide—Wheat, 2570qrs; flour, 126G tons; barley, 126qrs; bran and pollard, 324 tons; oats. 32qrs. Port Elliot—Wheat, 400qrs ; flour, 64^ tons; barley, 36qrs ; bran and pollard, 38 tons, Total—wheat. 2270:}rs; flour, 1350£ tons; barley, 162qrs; bran and pollard, 362 tons; oats, 32qrs.

Our dates from Queensland are to the 19th inst. The " Journal of Commerce remarks :—

There has been a marked improvement in trade in Queensland during the past month. A large quautity of wool has come to hand, as the drays which were delayed by inclement weather have been enabled to reach Ipswich during the fine weather of late. A briskness in the market for

supplies to the interior has likewise resulted from the same cause, and a steady progress in bivsi.ness hasfollowedV'The rai'.way woiks, under Peto, Brassey and Co., has given rise to an im improving trade at Ipswich, where the line has been begun. Men, with horses and plant, arrive by evry steamT, and it is expeeled that the contracts entered into by the firm allude'l to with the Government, will be highly satisfactory to the interests of the colony.

Our Tasmanian dates are- to the 24th instant. The "Examiner" reports on the state of the markets in the following terms : —

"The news to hand per s.s. City of Launceston has had the effect of again inducing holders of breadstufis to hold for increased rates, and in consequence few transactions have taken place. 9s, and even 10s, on terms, were oilseed to-day for wheat, but we do not know of sales at these rates. Some holders of breadstuff's expecf/permanent improvement in the Melbourne market, and having already sold largely, are not anxious to quit at present Oats remain at about 3s lOd to 4s for feed. Potatoes, &c, are unaltered,"

The "HobartTown Mercury 11 of the 23rd reports as follows: —

" The past month has been one of more than ordinary dulr.ess, especially in connection with our export trade, and business on our wharfs generally has been stagnant. This state of things has been brought about a good deal by the fluctuating state of the markets for produce, and also by the recent imposition of heavy wharfage dues in Victoria, which has prevented our timber exporters from dealing as largely as they might ojherwise have done. We have had besides this, very few arrivals, fand_ consequently our shipping reports look particularly meagre, but freightage has really not been in demand excepting for the conveyance of fruits, or of eommiss iriat stores to New Zealand. There has only been one English arrival during the month, viz., the Isle O'May, but by this vessel full stocks of general merchandise Lave been received, and a brisk business has been done in this department of trade, the winter season having now thoroughly set in, and created a substantial demand. Stocks are, however, quite up to requirements, and in some descriptions of goods slightly in advance. During the month several Melbourne importers have paid us a_visit, offering invoices of various descriptions of goods, but we do not hear of any considerable quantities having been quitted ; the goods offered being generally behind the season's requirements. We have every reason to believe that Victorian stocks are very heavy, merchants there having speculated largely on the strength of New Zealand demands, which have in many instances been supplied direct. ' r This will not materially affect our imports beyond the circumstance of a few indents finding their way to Melbourne, which might otherwise have been sent home. Our trade with New Zealand, although it has not been quite so bisk during the last month, is still on the increase, and the opening up of new gold fields there will be likely still further to augment it. We hope in the course of another month or so to have to report large shipments of produce to the New Zealand ports. In our breadstuffs marfeet there have been some extraordinary fluctuations during the month, consequent upon advices from the neighboring colonies and California, and parties will be chary of dealing until the market becomes more settled. At the date of our last, summary, we had justrecovered from a temporary panic, and could quote wheat at from 8s 3d to 8s 6d, since then, however, it has risen to from 9s to 10s, but has now again fallen, and may be quoted at 9s per bushel—flour being from L 23 to L 24 per ton. Recent advices from California, if confirmed, will probably further rt duce prices; but it is likely that breadstuffs will rule above medium rates for the remainder of the season. There has been very little change in the money market during the month, and very few transactions in securities have taken place. Trade generally has been healthy, although one house —Manning Brothers—has temporarily suspended payment, and their affairs have been placed in the hands of trustees.

Our Sydney dates are to the 21sfc inst. The " Herald " of that date says :—

The amount of gold cum issued by the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint during the week ended to-day, 20fh May, has been 32,000 sovereigns. The quantity of gold dust imported into the same establishment during the week, for the purpose of coinage, has been 9,_7630z The Northern escort arrived this evening, with the following quantities of gold dust:—From Rocky River, 208oz 16dwt 7gr; Nundle, 4680z ll<iwt; Tainworth, 1360z lOdwt; Scone, 13oz 6iwt; total, 8270z 3dwt 7gr."

Of the state of trade generally in Sydney, the " Herald " reports :—

Business during the month has been quiet, and with the exception of great excitement in the flour market, there has not been much movement in prices of other articles of daily consumption. The yield from our gold fields continues to fall off, nnd as no new fields have been discovered, the trade with the diggings, whiih was formerly of great magnitude, has considerably decreased. On the other hand, however, there is a ftea'Jy demand for goods for the neighboring colonies of Queensland and New Zealand, and this has materially relieved us of our surplus stocks

Tokomairiro, per ton Woolshed Tuapeka Wetherstone's Dunstan Alexandra The Teviofc Beaumont .. .. Hamilton's Hind.m Black's .. ... Eight Mile Kawarau. Dunstan Creek Lake Wakatipu £3 5 0 4 17 6 6 10 0 7 0 0 12 10 0 12 10 0 14 10 0 10 10 0 11 10 0 6 5 0 12 0 0 12 10 0 34 10 0 13 0 0 18 0 0