COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1124, 28 July 1865, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

The "Canterbury Press" of the 24th inst, reports : —

At Barnard's repository, horses were selling at low prices ; those placed, however, were a very inferior lot, most of them having passed through the yarJs frequently during the season. Mr Alport's sales during the week were fairly attended, and the articles placed met with a ready sale ; at his Thursday's auction sale of plants, some specimens suitable for immediate effect, fetched extravagant prices, but the run of the stock realized less than nursery prices. Grains are nominal, in large lots ; small lots change hands for current consumption, but we ' cvnnot quoie prices any higher. Wheat per bushel, 7s top price; barley, do, 4s to 4* 6d ; and oats, 2s 9d to 3s. Good Darwent potatoes arc quitted at L 4 par ton, and carrots at L 2 10s to L 3 10s; with a nvidentfu dsm md. H;i;/ keeps at its price, from L3 t> L3lO j per ton, according to quality, with moderate sales ; some large holders are preparing it for shipment to the Hokitik'i.

The barque Metaris arrived at Ly ttelton on the 25th, from Newcastle, which place she left

Daily Times Office. Thursday Evening. The total amount of revenue received at the Customs to-day on goods passed for home consumption was LOGO 13s Bd, the items being—Brandy, 87 gals, L 52 Is9d; whisky, 55 gals, L.33 8s 3'l; geneva, 71 gals, L 43 8s 2d; wine, 64 gals, Ll4 11s; bottled beer, L 5 15s 6d; tea, 4301b5, LlO 15s; sugar, 2240 lbs, L9 6s 8d; coffee, 9861b5, Ll2 6s 6d; chicory, 1120lbs, Ll4; drapery, L 431 Is lOd: sundries, L 39 19s. ]?or miscellaneouß goods for export and country trade there has again been a lair demand, though business ia still unmarked by any very heavy operations. The flour market is as last reported. Provisions are active, but though parcels of bacon and hams are selling very readily, rates have not suffered any noticeable alteration. Very little is doing in bulk or bottled ales. Spring stocks are now coming to hand, and in all probability beers of all kinds will be more dealt in after the lapse of a week or two. Buyers art1, however, at present disinclined to meet importers' prices. A quantity of over-time bonded goods were sold by auction in the lobby of the Customhouse yesterday. The attendance was very meagre, but the prices realised were better than those obtained on former occasions. The sale was conducted by Mr Harris, lato of Qtioenstown, who has been appointed by the Collector salesman to the Customs.

Although no large transactions have taken place during the week, more business is being done, and a feeling of buoyancy is growing amongst all classes ; sales are not pushed except in the case of insolvent estates, and mon^y is decidedly somewhat easier, although the Banks have not as yet lowered their rate of discount. They may have {pod and cogent reasons for so doing ; but looking to tho state of the English market, where the rate of discount has fallen to the ordinary level, it may be presumed that the reaction will before long be felt on their side. By litest advices we may look for some fall in the price of our staple commodity, wool, arising from the largo stocks of cotton which, owing to the conclusion of the war in America, are being pushed into the markets ; but; we think no great unrasiness need be felt on that account,as tho numerous fabrics in which wool is used, cither wholly or in partake not likely to be dispensed with. Any great fall in wool will arise, should it occur, from tha derangement of the money market by the sudden supply of cotton and the stimulus to the cotton trade, and when this emergency is over, wool will probably rule as high or higher than before. Our attention has been called to the fact, in two instances, of a difficulty having occurred in insuring goods shipped from London for this place; the cause given by the underwriters i*, that some consignees make it a practice, if goods show the least trifle of damp on the cases, immediately to hold a survey and get then condemned and cold on behalf of whom it may concern, the same consignees buying them in at a low rate. We have never heard of this practice brine carried on. But as we are credibly informed that in two instances it has been assigned as a reason for refusal to insure, it is right that the Chamber of Commerce should institute an inquiry, and should ascertain if there are any grounds for the report, and that, if these are true, it should be contradictel by authority.