COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 784, 18 June 1864, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Friday Evening.

Export entries were passed at the Customs today upon 31710z lodwt of gold, duty L39S 9a sd.

The total revenue received upon articles for home consumption was LBIB 5s Bd, diyided «s follows :—Geneva, 24t gals, LlO9 19s 5d ; wine, 157 do, L 23 Us; brandy, 365 do, L 164 5s 7d; whiskey, 138 do. 162 3s 8i; rum, 42 do, LlB 18s; ale, ia bottle, 305 do, Lls 8s; do, in bulk, 200 do, L 62 l«s; sugar, 98851b, L4l Zs lOd ; tea, 475 do, L 7 183 id ; tobacco, 505J do, L 37 18s 3d; cigars, 131 do, L 9 13s 9d; drapery, Llls 19s 4d; sundries, L 135 16j 61.

When last English mail left we had begun to receive advices that the new Pelorous Bound Digging-; were not quite so attractive as at first supposed. This view has since been confirmed, ami its effect has been not only to check that alarming exodus of our miners which had bo seriously unsettled business, but also to induce many to return and resume work on our gold fields. Confidence on the part of our up-country storekeepers lias now been, to a gn-at extent, restored, and during the past month they have been sending their orders to town rather more freely. This, coupled with some speculative purchases for shipment to IJavelock, lias impacted a little more life to our market, but how long this may last is very uncertain, as with a continuance of the wet and stormy weather, which has prevailed without intermission for the last three days, we may expert to hear shortly that the up-country roads have become impassable.

On the Ist June the Banks raised the rates of discount, fnd the following scale is now rigidly adhered to: —2 months' bills, 8 per cent. ; 3 mouths' bills, 9 percent; 4 months' bills, 10 per etnt.; overdue bills, 12 per cent; and overdrawn accounts, 12 per cent.

It ia supposed this strong repressive measure

BRBADSTUS'FS, (Free)

Flour. - This ari icle during the month has fluctuated between L3U and L 35 per ton, and at the latter figure it is now firm, owing to the absence of f uppJies, but the high price restricts business, buyers only taking what they rfquire from day to day. 'i'he arrival of a few hundred tons would send the price down to L3O.

HORSE FEED. (Free) Tasmanian Oats shew signs of a slight improvement, and may now be quoted at 5s for a good sample, but our large local crop will prevent any material advance in price. Californian oats, 4s 3d to 4s 6i ; Scotch and Danish, unsaleable ; bran in good demand at Is lOi.

BEER.—BULK AND BOTTLE. (Duty, 25s per hhd, and 2s per dozen.)

Balk Ale. -New brew is still seriously interfered with by the presence in our market of large parcels of old brew, with which the trade supply themselves at low prices; and to such an extent has this prevailed lately that even our local Breweries have been compelled, in several instances, to stop working for the present; however, this state of things caat>ot last much longer, and with a continuance of light shipments from England, we may anticipate a favorable, reaction shortly.

Bottled Ale, in limited demand, owing to winter season ; 10s to 10s 6d. Bulk Stout continues in fair request at L 6 10j.

Bottled Stout in good sale, at 10s 6d to lla for Byass', and Victorian stores, respectively.

paovrsiONS, (Free.)

Bacon and Hams.—Fair business doing, but prices tend downwards; present value of Sinclair's, Is Id; Hooey's, Is; other less favorite brand*, lid.

Butter, D. R. Cork.—Business very limited, considering that this (winter) is the season of our largest consumption. Prime new sells at lOd.

■ Cheese. —English, in fair demand at Is. Fish, in full supply. Salmon, 17s; red herrings, 2 doz tins, 30s; lobsters, 8s; ling, 4^d.

oilmen's stokes. (Duty 4s per cubic foot.)

Stocks continue large and Sales slow even at quotations. Batty's pint pickles, lla; assorted snuces. 10a; jams, 13s; bottled fruits, 18s; sa'.ad oil, half-pints, 83 6d; sardines, halves, 11?; quarts, 6s.

BUILDING MATERIALS,

(Free.)

Timber.—lmports have been light, consisting chiefly of Scotch flooring and deals ; still the market is much depressed, owing in a great measura to winter having put a stop to building generally. Prices shew a downward tendency, nnd we quote, l£in. flooring at 26j ; lia., 23s ; Jin., 20 ; and Jiu., 18*. The fall in deals has not been quite so great, they may still be quoted atsifor 9x3.

Galvanised iron has also experienced a decline, and W3 quote for Morewood's 26 guage, L 36 Scotch, 26 guage, L3l per ton.

SPIRITS. (Duty, 9s per gallon.)

Brandy, bulk—Market rather firmer, especially Marcell and Hennesav's pale for which holders asK 10*61; other brands do not shew the same firmness—stocks being large.

Brandy, case—Slow sale at 27s for Martell, and 30s for Hennessy's,

Whisky, bulk—Rather more business done laiely at 3s for Kirkliston, and 33 61 for Camp - beilton.

Whisky, ca^e— Still difficult of sale even at 7s 6d to Bs, which may now be regarded as the current value.

Geneva JDKZ— Stock becoming reduced, and sales more readily eflected at 12s.

SUGAR. (Duty Id per lb.)

The chief salfis this month have been at auc-

tion, when fully 3000 bags were placed at prices which show a reduction of L 2 to L 3 per ton in prices ruling at the time last mail left. We notv quote good white costal at L 39 10s; first counters, L 36 10-;; and second counters, L 32 10s, all in bond, (.oaf and crushed loaf sell slowly at 6d per lb, duty paid.

TOBACCO

(Doty Is 6d per lb.)

Pales Y?.ry slow. T.visfc of good quality, brings 5s in bond. Half-pound lumps, 3s to 3s 6d, and tens 2s 6d to, 33.

TEA. (Duty 4d per lb.)

Demand slightly improved, particularly for a fair quality—in chests, at L 8; and half-chests, about L 3 10s to L 3 153, duty paid, tftock still large, but large proportion consists of tea too low in quality for this market.

DRIED FRUITS. (Duty 4a per Cubic Foot.)

Stock continues large, and sale* difficult to effect even at quotations, currants 4Jd, sultanas 7d, eiemes 7d, figs 7^d, and muscatels 9d to lOi.

SUNDRIES,

Candles.—(Duty 3s per cwfc.) -Demand not quite so active, and Belmonts, in 11b packets, do not being more than Is, Nevas Is, and Hale's lid. Soap.—(Duty 3* per cwt.)—Stock light, and holders of Steele's Liverpool demand L 37, but colonial, at L3sto L 36. interfere with sale

Malt. (Kree.)—Many brewers having stopped working, sales are difficult to effect, prime new ia not worth more than 9j.

Hops.—(Free.)—For the same roason hops ara difficult of sale, and stocks increase.

M'Landre3s, Hepburn and Co., Auctioneers, report an average inonr.h's business, notwithstanding the caution recently characterising th* operations of buyers.

At a iarj;e clearing rale of provisions on 20th ult. satisfactory rates were obtained, viz :—Coey's hams and bacon, Is I.J f, othtr brand'! Q.\i[ t> 12d ; candles, light weigurs, B|-i j pearl buley, 22s to 245; congou ten (halves), L3s*to L» Hi 6'd ; orange pekoe, 2s 61; onions. Lll s<; potatoes, LBoj ; roll beef ami bacon, 3.U to 81; carbonate soda, 2ia 6J.

Oa the following day, Moftatt's bacon, 11$ 1; Campbell's, H^d; Hunt.! LH shovels, 255; Hall's candles, 10^ 1; low class sherrie3, 15s in bottle.

On 28ih ult., c*ra;o of Rangoon, from New York :—Spruce flooring. Ll2 ; T and Q lumber, LlO 103; shelving, Lll; laths. 19j A large assortment of doors and sashes at fair a^vaacs on cost, Also American chairs, iv great variety, at remunerative prices.

On 30th ult.—English atrl Aimrieaa furniture, at prices satisfactory to the importers; (double diamond) port wine, L.44 per pipe ; ditto (four diamond) LSG per \ib>e ■ provincial flour, L2B 10a; carbonate soda, 21s. On 3Urh ult.-Soft goods, blankets, slops, ice, at rates unfavorable to shippers. Large clearing sale, boots,—kip nnggets, L 8 17s 6d; other levher goods at pricjs leaving a margin ou cost. Portable 4-horse power strain engine, L2OO. On 7th June.—Large cleaving sale at Messrs Dalgety, Kattray ami Co, of provisions, wined, spirits, and sundries

Kirkliston whisky in bottles, 7-s 9d; ditto in wood. 3s Id; Oampbelltown whi-ky, 3s 4d, and 3s B'l, in wood ; Campbell's whisky, (duty paid) 27s per tall.; Eass' ale, =piots, 5s 3d; ditto, quarts, 103 61; Byass, quarts, 10s 6A ; pints, 6s 6d; sherry, inwood,L4o; do bottled, L3B; muscatels, 10Ji 10 lid ; figs, 7<i and 7Ji; currants, 4d ; do 32:1 to 4£d; capers half-pints, 6s 9d; salad oils, half pints, 9s 3d; castor oils, half-pints, 12s Gd to 13s 31; capers, half pints, 7s; Lea and Perrins' sauces, half-pints, 14s 6i ; do, pints, 20s to 22.-;; carbonate soda 223; vinegar iv bulk, Is lUd ;do in bottle, lls CJ; Scotch confeciiorory, lljjd r.o Is per lb; sardines, halves, — ; do, quarters, 6s 10.1 to 7s ; pearl barley, 22s 6J; tartaic acid, '2s 3d ; paste blackiug, 7s per gross ; curry powaer, 9s; Jiquorice, 13Jd ; coarse salt, L 3 7s 6tl; London soap, L 34; crushed loaf sugar, s|d to 6d ; bottled fruits, 16s ; white lead 30 s; paints, '25a to 28s 6d; putty, 15s ; coal tar, j 35s ; do pitch, 255.

On Bth offered the cargo of Fawn from Mautitiuatoagood company of purchasers. Kati<>ns L 26 to L2B ; ordinary counters, L3(i to 134; crystals, 13112s 6d to L 39 15s. The trade competed spiritedly for all the samples with the exception

has been resorted to by the Banks with a view to cheiik speculation in sheep and cattle, which has been extensively carried on of late. Mercantile business has been conducted too quietly for months p st to occasion any suchgpressure. Failures in our trading community during the past month have be.en confined to one or two country and one or two small town storekeepers. Considering the long continued depression that has prevailed in our markets we think credit hitherto has been fairly sustained. Our gold escort returns for the month sum up 43,000 oz.

of a small quantity of crystals, which remained unsold, the limits not being reached. The fame firm also reports having • sold tbe lighter Thames for L 290. also various leasehold properties in King and Frederick streets, several s'llotments in the Club Reserve block at 45s to 70s per foot frontage, lease of shop in George Btrert,L2#>; ditto LlO5. Prop.rties in Stafford street for L 2600.

Messrs A. G Fisher and Co. (auctioneers) report business during the month succeeding our last summary, to have been toleVably brisk—good attendance at the various sales, and fair bidding. They have sold through the pa*t month—Martell's pale brandy, in bond, at 10s 6d per gallon; Central Vineyard's ttrondy, duty paid, 36s per case; Kirkliston's whisky, in bond, from 8s 3d to 8s 9ii; geneva, 13s ; Jamaica rum, qr-casks, 4s per gallon, in bond Wine—Port and sherry, superior, 45s per dozen; superior sherry, per qr-casks. L 23; Champagne. 50s per dozen. On the 23rd ultimo, they sold at the bonded stores—Port wine, in hhds, 2s 6d per gallon; also, quarter-casks at 5a 3d ; sparkling burgundy, at 80s per dozen ; new currants, at 4£d p-r 1b; dried apples, at 4£d ; oysters, at lls 6d per dozen; vestas, Bowler's" a' 103 to Us per gross ; jams, English, 12s 3d per dozen ; prime tea, 50 half chests, in bond, 455; kerosene oil, in cases, Cozan's, 4s 6.1 jler gallon ; cider, 20s per dozen ; Byass's bottled ale, from 10a 6d _to lls 6d per dozen; Boss's No. 3, new brew, at L 8 per hhd; Tennant's, bottle, at 4s 6d per doztn pints; sugar, brown, from L 32 to LBS in bond; loaf; sugar, slightly sweated, 5§ i; flour vTasmauian), L' 27 108 to L2B per ton; hams and bacon, from 9d to lid per lb ; butter, Colonial, from lOd 10 lid per lb, inferior from 51 to 7d per lb; prime Port Cooper cheese, lOd to 10id per lb; herrings, i9s per keg; potatoes, L 8 to L 8 10s per ton; onions, from LlO to Ll4 per ton; ling fijh. 18s percale; fruit, assorted, for apples from 9s to 15s per case; pears, 8s to 12s; quinces, 12s 6d; Hobart Town Jams, from 10s to lls per; dozenjllb Jtins. A large sale at the rooms, Princes street, of imported furniture from celebrated manufacturers, realised satisfactory prices. The timber, ex Mary Prances, has been placed at rates, for 6 x I|, in running, at 13s per 100 feet; 6 x fin, do, lls do; 6 x Jin, ;do, 10s 6i do; 6 x g, at 9s 6d ;6 x £in., 93 ;a) 0 white Riga deals, 9x3, at sd; red deals, 9x3, ex Lady Milton, at s|d. Scotch iron, 24 gusge, at L 27 10s; 26 and 28 euage, at L3O per ton; 3£,000 viscountess slates, at LlO ss, Posts and rails, ex Australasian Packet, 80s per 100. The Golden Fleece Hotel and premises, at Waikouaiti, was offered by auction, and bought in at L 3500'; 300 acres land in the Hawkesbury district, was placed at L 3 per acre. The ketch Courier, from Auckland, realised L 525 in the trust e-tate of W. and GK jSmith, at Waikouaiti; the attendance was good, and prices realised were very satisfactory.