COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3245, 1 July 1872, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Saturday Evening. 7*he nmonut of Custom*) Revenne received to-day on goods entered for consumption was

Again, from causes entirely temporary, the business done in Dunedin during the past week lias been trifling in either quantity or importance. The mouth has but just terminated, and with that, the interruption caused by stock-taking. But this interruption has till now operated ; and, in addition to this, the weather has continued unpropitious. To the frost and snov of the previous week heavy rains have, succeeded, which, beyond the districts more immo diately adjoining town, has effectually [jut a stop to the transmission of goods. .Should the weather clear up, there is every reason to expect a rebound of business for some weeks. Sugar has again more than anything else engaged attention. On Thursday, Messrs M'Lanrtress, Hepburn, and Co. offered the balance of the Parana's cargo at auction, also & parcel of 3G9G pockets ex Racer, from Melbourne. A considerable portion of the lots offered, especially -whites, were sold at prices fully maintaining the late advance. The yellows had ag?in to lw passed in, in consequence of the biddings not coming up to importers' reserves. A struggle has been going on in Melbourne between buyers and importers ; the Melbourne papers predicting as the probable result that buyers will be forced to come to importers' view. A similar struggle is taking place hero at present, and importers are equally confident. In all probability they will prove ultimately right. Advices are well authenticated. Stocks are light, and the weekly consumpt ia not less than fifty tone. In spirits no alteration has taken place. Colonial provisions are improving. Butter and cheese both tending to burden. Among articles of Colonial produce we would note, that enquiries for hemp and flax cannot bo ixifct iv quantities sufficient for shippers' wants. The demand for these staples ia in excess of supply. During the week active enquiries have been made for currants, and considerable sales have been effected at 4£d, holders asking more. Kerosene is firm at from 2s to 2s Id in bond. Caudles

arc tending to »till further improvement. Stocks of tobaccos are more than ample, as is proven from recent auction sales having gone off heavily. Quotations in ironmongery and galvanised iron remain without any alteration. Blasting powder is still not in over supply ; a few hundred kegs which arrived by the Ironsides do not affect the market. The grain market has fluctuated very little since our laat report. 5s to 5a 4<l is offered for wheat, farmers holding for 5s Cd, which they are not likely to get till millers' hands are lightened of Hour, good stocks of which are in brisk demand at last quotations. The quotations for barley are now— For good samples, 5s 6d; for inferior lota, 3s 9d to 4s. Oats still rate low.

Messrs Wiuoirr, Stephknson, and Co. report, for the week ending 29th June, as follows :—

Fat Cattle. —The number yarded was in excess of the demand, but good quality fully maintained late rates. We sold 24 head of that description at ISe to 20s per lOOlbs. Prime quality may be quoted at 20s per lOOlbs ; middling do, 17s Gd. __ ; Fat Sheep.—-The demand is good, with a bare supply. At auction, we sold 100 merino wethers, middling quality, at 10s 6d; and privately, GOO do, at 3d per lb. We quote prime mutton, 3d per lb; middling do, 2id. Store Cattle and Store Sheep.—No transactions.

Horses. —Draughts and strong coach horses are in fair request. We quote first-class draughts £40 to £45 ; middling do, £27 to £32; good hacks and light harness horses, £14 to £18 ; middling do, £10 to £12; light and inferior, £3 to £6. Wool.—By the Californian mail we are in receipt of our London advices, which state, under date of 2nd May, " The public wool sales are not going off favourably. Prices have become weaker since the earlier days of the series, and show an average decline of about 2d per lb. Inferior greasy wools, and coarse and half-bred descriptions, are most depreciated, the better class maintaining nearly the same value that they commanded in February. The conspicuous absence of French competition has a marked effect on ■chose descriptions of wool usually taken for that, market, especially unwashed parcels. The sales are characterised by considerable irregularity, the buyers showing ft good deal oi caprice in their biddings." Grain.—Wheat continues in good demand at 5» 3d to 5s 4d per bushel, trat there are few sellers under 6b 6d. Oets in fair request at la 9d for feed, and It lOd to Is lid for

milling sample*. Barley, malting, scarce, ami wanted ki fa to 5s Gaper biuheL

Messrs Driver, Strwabt, and Co. report for the week ending Jane 29th :— : Fat Cattle,—7o head were yarded <m Wednesday, about 25 head of which being of inferior quality. The whole were, however, disposed of, good quality realising foil 20a per lOOlbs. We sold 46 head at the yards, and 53 head privately. Fat Sheep.—Only about 100 very ordinary mixed ewes were penned, which we sold -at 8s each. There is a very (short supply of prime ahe<;p coming forward, which are now w<>rth 3tl to 3Jd for merinos and cross- breds. We have nold 500 privately. Store Cattle,—No important transactions to report. Store Sheep.—There i» a good demand at our quotations, say 7« Gd for merino wethers, 7n Gd for sound ewes in Limb, Gs Gd for merino lambs ; cross-breda, i 1b fco 12s ; ditto lambs, 7s to Ba. Stations. —There arc no properties at present in fche market, bat we hear of one or two which will be offered after shearing. Sheepskin*.—No salea have been held. Prices privately have been slightly easier during the week. New Zealand Hemp hsus been in active demand, but operations have been restricted by the very limited quantity in the market. We have placed several Btnall parcels, say about 40 bales, at from £18 10a for rough, to £23 for good median). Grain.—Wheat is firmer. Wo quote good ordinary at 5a Id to 5s 2d ; prime, 5» 3d to 5a 4d—-at which latter figure wo leant a small parcel of choice quality has been placed. Barley continues in excellent demand. In oats, there was a movement early in the week, and a few thousand bushels fair feed changed hands at a alight advance on Jste rates. Latterly, however, the market relapsed, and vrw cannot now alter our former quotations—say, fine feed, Is 9d ; milling, Is 10d. Wool.—None now offering. By the Ne- | vada we are put in possession of London advices to 2nd May, and hereto wo annex our agent's Colonial produce report of that date :— Wool.—The market is still depressed, and since our last a further decline has taken place in the price of Australian wool, good to fine flocks now being 3d to 4d per lb lower than the highest rates in February, and greasy wool about 2d to 2.Jjd, the largo quantity brought in having had a bad effect upon the trade of Yorkshire and France, and orders have to some extent been countermanded. This docs not apply to New Zealand wool; as the quantity is limited, prices have only fallen about Id per 11). We do not think that present rates will continue, but expect to see prices rally before the July sales, although they will not probably be as high as those ruling in February. Wheat.—Since our bust report the wheat market has somewhat improved, a continental demand having sprung up, and the shipments advised being smaller than usual at this time of the year. Fine white wheat seems likely to continue scarce, and 63s has been lately obtained for fine Australian and New Zealand, Tallow and Hides.— There host been a good demand for Australian tallow, and prices have slightly advanced, the present value of New Zealand mutton of good to fine quality being 42s 9d to 43s Gd, and fair and fine beef tallow, 41s 9d to 42s Gd. Hides have declined in value, the price to-day for New Zealand both heavy and light weights being 6£d per lb. New Zealand Hemp.—Pricea still remain very firm, although the present high rates are to a certain extent curtailing orders; but as the stocks are small, full pnees are paid by dealers, and we do aot expect to see any reduction until there is a material increase in the importations ; pricea range from £31 to £42 15a per ton. Preserved Tinned Meat. —The market is still very dull, and there has been no alteration in prices since our Last.

ii follows, viz. :— £ «. d. Brandy ... 16 IS 5 Whisky ... 10 2 10 Tobacco ... 27 0 0 £ a, <L Tea ... 10 2 6 Sugar ... 9 14 3 Sundries ...IBS 7 6 Total ... £227 5 6