COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1860, 16 December 1867, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Saturday Evening.

Tho total amount of Customs revenue received to-day on goods cleared for consumption was L 206 5s Bd,' the items being— Geneva, 122 gals, L73 Gs 8d; rum, <M gals. L£B Ss ; wine, 210 gals, L-il 19s 3d ; bottled beer, 223 gala, L13.18s 9d ; sugar, L 9 18s 4d; cocoa, L 2 l(is : drapery, LlO 11s 8d ; sundries, Lls 7s 3d.

A better inquiry for staple goods has existed throughout the week, and altogether a fair amount of general business has been going forward. The market for breadstniFs has experienced a decided change. For several days past, the. millers have gradually increased prices, and the rate now asked for Provincial flour is Ll4 10s, with a prospect of a higher value. The parcels of Adelaide lately in first hands are reported as placed at correspondingly high rates, but for the i last considerable transaction, tho price did ; not transpire. Oata are at last week's quota- ! tiona, with greater firmness. Sugars have been seHing freely at maintained prices, the , stock haa considerably worked down, and' parcels of fine crystals are not plentiful Teas have also been dealt in both for town requirements and - for shipment;. medium |o good congoua . realise rates hcirly'Son a par with those cuirtjent previdus to tho arrival of the,' new se&eoe'a ■ teas; ordinary descriptiona taVc also been selling rather better. Not much

ha» taken place in prarituobu; holders ask Is 2tl for guaranteed ■ parcels^ of hams and bacon, equal proportions, but no Bates can be referred to. Colonial cheese and butter arc in fair snpply. In liquids, transactions have not been individually heavy. Bottled beers have moved rather more freely; but the reverse bun been tho easo with bulk beers. JirandicH, In slender parcels,- have been placed. Hcnncasy's and MarteH's pa'e stand at Gh M. Building material* are dull, no arrivals of Scotch flooring llavjng taken place, ami the article iis scarce and at high value. Candk-8 arc in very full supply, and kerosene depressed. CornHacku arc quoted at Via. ■ ":' '

The Si/tinei/ Hn-nl.l of tho .'JOth, reports as follows; —

ftrcadstuffe &u<] Ccrea-la.—Early in tho week tufcgrniiiH from Adelaide, reported more cxtanmvc injury to the South AuatraLan grain ami crop than was at first anticipated, and ngantu here w»ro instructed to raii!dr jirict-w, and only to 'dinposo of small quantities pending further advices. The Adelaide imllenj must have good cause for alarm or they would not act thus, as it has Wen UKtial for them at this period of the yt-.-ir to briii? down prirus if jtoasible, ho a« to ho able to buy new wheat at low rates. Advies from the country districts of thin colony are equally nn ararable to farmers* prospects. I'ho drought nan caused great damage, and the heat is premature, ripening the crops before the grain has filled, so that although tho cam look large enough, a shrivelled gram, all hu«k, ia what they contain. Sale* of Adelaide silk-dre*sed have been made at Lls 10s, which in tho top market price. Town mills nre BcHingfirst Hour at LI 5. Most of the South Australian wheat in stock here is held for a considerable advance; 6a fid nett has been refused for a parcel. All the portion of the Sylphide'a cargo of Chilian remaining on board when the vessel arrived hero, about GOOO bushels), was placed by auction on Monday, at 4s Hid for much damaged, up to 5s -id for beat. About 120 tons transhipped into tho Alfred, at Navigator's Island, was prcvioiißly sold at . r>e. Oats are dull at 2a Ski to 3s ; barley, 2s 3d to 33 3d. Maize has declined to Is lOd for best, and Is 8d for inferior samples, and if freights wore lower, large parcels would b« sent to England.

Telegrams from Melbourne and Adelaide, via Sydney, under date '29th November, state an follows:—

Memioujikk.—No business doing. Wheat, 58 to 5s Gd ; Bait, L5 ; Downer's kerosene, la lid.

Adklaiuk.—The corn market is very firm; holders are not anxious to realise. Wheat is quoted at 0s (3d to 5s 7d ; flour, Ll3 to LI4.