CARTAGE REPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1052, 4 May 1865, Page 4

CARTAGE REPORT.

Messrs E. De Carle and Co., report a brisk business during the week. Since our last reports, cartage has advanced considerably, and is firm at our quotations. The recant heavy rains have undoubtedly influenced the rise in cartage, and from the fact that up country stocks are very

scant, we have every reason to believe that our quotations will be maintained for the next few days : — , • Tokomairiro, per ton £3 0 0 . Woolahed, do ... 4 0 0 Tuapeks, do 7 0 0 Wetberstones, do 7 10 0 Dunetan, do 15 0 0 i Alexandra, do 15 0 0 The Teviot, do ~. .. 18 10 0 Beaumont, do 8 0 0 Hamilton do 9 10 0 Hindoo, do 7 0 0 Blacks, do 15 10 0 Waipoii, do 6 10 0 EiehtMile, do ,14 0 0 Dunstan Creek do .. .. 15 0 0 Hillß do 14 15 0 Hogburn, do 13 0 0 Murphy's Flat 8 0 0 Lake Wakatip, do 23 0 0 The above quotations are for flour, grain, and iron. DEPUTATION FROM THE CHAMBER j OF COMMERCE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS. A deputation, conak ' g of Messrs B. J3. Martin, G. Turnbull, W. A. Tolmie, J. Mudie, Henry Driver, J. A. Ewen, and Martin Sholl, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, had an interview by appointment yesterday, witli the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs (Major Richardson), at which the Chairman of the Chamber presented a memorial seeking alterations in certain regulations of the Customs lately put in force under the Customs Act of 185 S. The Secretary and Inspector of Customs (Mr Carkeek), and the Collector, were present. The main points of the memorial were :— .1. The late enforcement of the 12Gth clause of the Customs Act under which free and duty paid goods shipped coastwise, or interprovincially, require to be passed by entry ; and the suspension of delivery from lighter after 4 p.m. The Commissioner informed the deputation that this complaint had already been anticipated, and that it was not the present intention of the department to enforce the 12Gth clause. 2. The prohibition as to transfer of a mershant's (roods, on his request, from one bond to another, which the collector felt called upon to exercise, on the ground that frequent transfers in such cases would lead to alterations in the Customs jJepartmental books. Mr Turnbull pointed out that the cost of 3artage would protect the Customs against my unnecessary removal. The Inspector (Mr Carkeek) expressed his opinion that the merchant always had tho right of removal, provided that no extra jxpense was caused to the Customs thereby. The Commissioner did not see any obstacle n complying witli the request urged by the leputation, and would give the matter his mmediate consideration. 3. The system of weighing and gueging joods on the public wharves was represented is obstructive, owing to the want of proper shod accommodation. Major Richardson stated to the deputation that he had already brought the matter under the notice of tho Provincial Government, and hud been informed that in the present decline of trade ie was not considered prudent to incur any additional outlay for this particular accommodation. Mr Martin explained how inadequate existing accommodation was found to be, and after explanation, the Commissioner recommended the Chamber to renew their application to the Provincial Government. The " Southland News" of Tuesday reports : —" Business has been brisk during the day, and some largo parcels of pojds have been moved off. Flour is offered at rather lower rates, being for Adelaide best brands X2G, and Chilian dull of hale. English al<_>, of the new brew, is still in demand, with but little offering. Spirits an-1 groceries are moving ofl freely. Auction business lias been f kite very quiet." By the Albion, which left Melbourne on the 27th ultimo, we have Victorian files to that date. The following appears in the commercial article of the " Argus" of Thursday, the 27th April :— The departure of the mail steamer to-day has interfered with business, and the import markets huve not been nctive. In breadstufis there is no change to note. Flour is going off in trade lots at L.22 10s. For wheat, buyr-rs decline to cr'de the present price for wholesale parcels. Holders arc asking 1M 9:1, and in some cases 10s per bushel. Rice is in inquiry. A number of trade parcels have been quitted at L 23, and sales of 50 tons have been made at something under this figure. Tliroebushel bags have changed hands at lCs (id. In spirits a limited trade has been done ; 30 hhdsof Henoossy's brand v, dark and pale, have been sold at about 7s 'Jd, and 250 cases of JDKZ genera, high duty, at 9s. Salt is in b-'ttcr demand, and sales have been made at L.'s ss, Teas continue in good inquiry, and the finer sorts especially arc in request at excellent prices. Dried uppks of g'>od quality are scarce. Those offering have been bought up to-day at 3i<l in bond, and are now held for 4d. The balance of a shipment of kerosene has been placed ; a parcel of 300 cases of the same article to arrive has changed hands at 3s Id. Galvanised iron remains firm ; offers of a shade under L 27 for a shipment of Git. 7ft, and Bfr, but chiefly 6ft, 26 gauge, have been refused. We have our files from Hobart Town and Launceston to the 22nd inst. The "II.T. Mercury" of that date gives the following report :— Business during to-day has been somewhat dull, merchants being chiefly employed with their advices per Melbourne and English mails. The news to hand is likely to have the efiect of firming the breadstuff* market, but its tendency is as yet hardly felt. Prices arc meanwhile without alteration, -viz.— Wheat, 8s to 8s 3d per bushel ; flour, L2O per ton. Other prices continue without eh:uig<i, as under :—Oats (new), 2s 9rl to 3s 3d per bushel ; old 3s to 3s Gd ; hay (loose), L 3 to L 3 103 per ton ; pressed, L4toL 45s per ton ; barley (English). 5s 6d to Gs per bushel ; Cape, 3s 9d to 4s per bushel ; potatoes, L 4 to L 4 ssper ton; onions, LS toL9perton; cheese, Gd to lOdper lb, according to quality ; butter, 6d to lOd. For fruit there ia a good demand, and hard sorts may be quoted at from 5s to 6s per bushel ; ripe and soft fruits realise only from Is 9d to 3s per bushel. We take the following from the " Launceston Examiner1' :— Breadstufls have been in a somewhat unsettled state for some time past—to some extent in consequence or the uncertainty which has prevailed in reference to the extent of shipments from Chili to these colonies. Prices have declined slightly in the neighboring markets, and this has, of course, affected our market; but, although sales have taken place at reduced rates, there is a general inclination to hold for better prices. Flour is quoted at LlB wholesale, and wheat 7 s 6d, though some

holders refuse to sell under Bs. From a return published in the " Gazette," we learn that during the quarter just ended, 255 tons of flour and 990 bushels of wheat were imported into this port, whilst we exported during the same period 183 tons flour, 6784 bushels wheat, and 29,662 bushels oats. Oats are firm, at 2s Gd to 2s 9d for feed; for seed 4s are demanded.

Sydney papers to the 22nd ult, are to hand. The " Herald" of that day gives the following as the latest report of the stale of the markets:—

Flour: This market has been depressed, and prices role fully 20s per tqn lower than last month. The quantity exported from South Australia has been below the amount forwarded last year; our stocks are not, therefore, very large. But, as several ■vessels are daily expected from Valparaiso, buyers will only purchase to meet imnu-diate wants, and a further decline in prices mRy fairly be expected should any quantity be received from South Australia for sale. Adelaide first brands arc quoted L 22 to L 22 103 per ton. Wheat is not so firm, bat prices arc unchanged. Adelaide, 9s 3d to 9s 6d per bushel.