COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3251, 8 July 1872, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Saturday Evening.

The amount of Customs Revenue received to-day on goods entered for consumption waa a« follows, viz. : —

£ s. d.

Brandy ... 22 4 7 Tea Whisky col. IC> 5 2 Sugar Wine .. 513 7 Sundries Tobacco ... 22 2 0

£ 8. d. 25 7 C 56 1 1 S lti 11

Total ...£156 11 4

The business of the week has been comparatively trifling, but at this season of the year an invariable dullness prevails in Duncclin. Taking this into consideration, then, with the rough weather, which is closing up the roads and effectually preventing traffic, there is nothing to complain of. The snowfalls, let it be remembered, arc wind-falls to the miner, enabling him to pursue successfully his operations for months to come ; and lire thus, though impediments to business in the meantime, means of making trade for the future. In sugar, the advanced prices realiHcd at lute auctions arc being fully maintained. Advices from Melbourne are to the effect that the market is very firm, with a tendency to advance. In spirits, the business done has been light. Trade parcels of Henncssy's brandies, both in bulk nnd case, have been quitted at well sustained prices. At last quotai-ioriH, they they may bo noted as firm, in tea there is no improvement to notice ; but as stocks in bond have been relieved te a, considerable extent, and arc not much in excess, an improved demand may be looked for soon. We understand that iron continues to advance in value upon last quotations. Machinery of every kind has become more expensive at home, and holders of machinery and implements here are instructed to obtain augmented prices. In building materials, no alterations have taken place. Slates are scarce. Galvanised iron is entirely out of first hands. In Canterbury choose sales have been effected at prices as before. Parcels of prime butter have been Hold at B.^l. In groceries the market remains unchanged. Stocks arc plentiful—not in excess ; and the current rates that have ruled for some time are well maintained. Kerosene remains firm at 2s Id, in bond. Caudles have hardened som what, and sales been effected at the extreme of our last quotations, which have ranged from 1 l|d to 11 id. In tobacco, twist of good quality is eagerly sought after. Other qualities are in full supply. The demand has not improved. In hops, quotations remain as at our last. Taamanian 1872's continue to give great satisfaction. Flour is in good demand at £13 and £13 10s. The grain market is firm ; wheat utill quoted at from 5s to 5s 4d; malting barley, 5a 6d; feeding do, 3s 9d to 4s. On oata no improve-

ment bos tslcm place. McUxiunie quotations arc :—Hwr, £16 to £10 10«; wheat, 7s to 7s 3d ; oatfj, 3s to 3* 3d.

Meant* Wkhjiit, Stbphknho.v, and Co, report, for the week ending Cth July, as fol

lows :—

Fat Cattle—The number yarded wa* 55, ef which wo *.wld 30 head, middling to fair quality, at £0 tO» to £7 fw for bullocks, and £5 to £5 5s for cow». We quote prime quality 20s per lOOlbs ; middling do, 17». Fat Sheep.—The market is bare, and none were yarded. Wo have sold 2500 for forward delivery. We quote prime merinos 3d IK-rlk, half-bred* 3M. fitoro Cattle and Store Sheep,—No transactions.

Country Safes — We held our monthly sale at Mosjpel on Tuesday, the 2nd imt. There v,-a# a fair quantity of stock offered, but owing to the severe weather, buyers were little inclined to operate. We sold 30 head fat cattle at £5 to £0 ss, equal to 18a per !001 bo ; also, 20 cows and steers, half fat, at £3 to £4 ss. On Thursday and Friday, the 4th and sth iiist., abso, we held our monthly milea at Palrncreton and Waikouaiti. There was a fair attendance, and a good business was done. GO head of fat cattle sold at from £3 10» to £5 15s per head. Horses.—There is a moderate demand for good young draughts. Good strong coach horses have also a fair enquiry. Next week wo shall offer by auction, on account of Mr Thomas Bookless, M very superior draught colts and fillies. We quote first-class draughts at from £45 to £50 ; medium do, £25 to £30 ; good hacks and light harness horses, £15 to £20 ; light and inferior, £3 to £0.

Grain.—Wheat continued in good demand, and first-class i aniplcs are saleable at 5s 3d to 5s Od per bushel. Oats have an improved enquiry, and good milling samples are wonted at 1h lOd per bushel; feed, Is 8d to 1b 9d. Barley.—Good malting in lequc-it at 5s 3d to Tv (id per biudi<:l. Wool, tec —We held a sale of sheepskins and hides at our stores on Wednesday. The attendance of buyers was large, and considering the tenor ol the late telegrams regarding the home market for wool, the prices realised were satisfactory.

Our Jjotulon advices, v'td .Suez, under date of 17th May, my :~ " Wool.—The second series of Colonial wool sales for the present year commenced on the 11 th lilt., and closed on the 11th inst. The quantities arrived, catalogued, and bought in or withdrawn, respectively, were an follow: Arrivals, 177,504 balea ; catalogued, I.' 9,(504 bales ; bought in or withdrawn, 15,500 bales. Of this quantity about lI,GOO bales were forwarded direct to the manufacturing districts, or abroad. "The weakness in prices at the close of the last series ishewed that the highest point had been touched, and that lower values might be expected when the market became | well stocked. It was therefore not surprising that the present sales opened with some indecision on the part of buyers, for operating in a falling markot is always attended with difficulty. The opening rates were very nearly the Bame as those current during the last days of February, and although pretty fairly maintained for a few days, while pressing wants were being supplied, the downward tendency of the market was soon apparent ; and, although very gradual, the decline was decided on nearly all descriptions. On all classes, except Cape, the decline is fully 2d, so that we are nsw about on a par with November rates. The homo trade operated throughout with much spirit, but the foreign competition was not up to the average, and to this mainly must be ascribed the want of firmness. The French buyers, after having operated bo heavily in February at the highest period, were very cautious this time, owing to their previous purchases remaining undisposed of. Nor were orders very large or numerous from the United States—the direct shipments from the Colonies being now on sale there. During the last week, however, some considerable parcels were taken for American account, and this tended much to strengthen the market. There has been an an admirable selection of first-class wool at this series, especially of Port Phillips, and the prices realised ought to be thoroughly satisfactory to tlie growers. On the other hand, there has been rather a scarcity of good middling sorts, and these have therefore ruled proportionately higher than the best qualities. Since the sales closed on the 1 lth mat., there is not much fresh to advise. Some considerable salts have been mode privately of bought-in wools, and the trade seems to be firm. The next public Bales will begin on the 20th June, when the quantity to be offered will be very large, which will of course tend to keep down prictß, but at the later sales of the year we may probably have a firmer market. The arrivals of wool up to this time for the June sales are, 18,422 bales Now Sotith Wales and Queensland ; 25,912 bales, Victoria; 15,978 bales, South Australian ; 25C1 bales, Western Australian ; 3374 bales, Tasmanian ; and 18,130 bales, New Zealand ; besides 19,188 bales, Cape ; making a total quantity of 101,205 bales.

" llrcadstuffs.—Since our last the cold wot weather that we have experienced has caused an advance of 3b to 4s on red wheat, and Is to 2s on white. We quote value of Australian wheat 62s to 64b, extra, 65s per 40Gibs ; and flour 42a to 4Gs per 2801b5., according to quality. " New Zealand Hemp.—A healthy demand still prevails, and good quality has advanced £1 to £2 per ton. The sales for the month amount to 1200 bales. Common kinds are in very moderate demand, and any increased supply would be diilicult to sell. About 100 bales tow have realised an advance of 10s to 20s pur ton, viz., £15 10s to £1G 15s per ton. "jTallow.—This market lias advanced considerably, and there is every prospect of prices being maintained. At the public sale to-day there was again an improved enquiry for Australian tallow, good to fine mutton selling at 44s to 44s Gd, and fine to good, 42s Gd to 43s 9d ; beef, 42s Gd to 43s ; mixed, 43a to 43s 3d per cwt. Only 92G casks were offered, and all sold, except a parcel of beef held for extreme rates.

" Preserved Meats.—There has been more animation lately in this import, and somo extensive sales have been made, but we canuot quote any advance in prices. Mutton in Gib tins is worth 4!/d per lb, and beef 4gd to 5d per lb, less 2.<r per cent, discount, and 41b mutton is worth G|d, the demand running much on the smaller sized tins."

Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co., report, for the week ending 6th July :—

Fat Cattle.—4s head fair quality were yarded, of which 40 head were sold at from £4 10s to £5 5s for cows, and £0 5s to £7 7s Gd for bullocks, or equal to 18s for medium, and 20s for prime quality. Of these, we sold 15 head, and privately we have placed 40 head at £5 10s each.

Fat Sheep—Are in active demand, the stocks on hand being very limited, while, on account of the severity of the weather, fresh supplies come forward very slowly, and prices have consequently advanced. There wcro none yarded on Wednesday, but privately we have placed 300 merino wethers at ins each, on station, and 300 delivered in town at S\d per lb, which bitter we quote as the value of really prime mutton.

Store Cattle.—A few good lota are offering at reasonable value, but we have no sales to

report. Store Sheep.—None offering. We have numerous enquiries for all descriptions, for which fully late quotations would be freely given. Sheepskins.—On Wednesday we Bold at auction about 1000 skins : cross-bred green skins, at 3s llcl to 4a 9d ; merinos, 3s each ; and dry skins, at 9^d per lb. New Zealand hemp continues in request, bnt the nrnrkot is entirely bare, and any lots coming forward would command full prices. Grain.—Wheat is in fair demand, but the business done daring the week has been slight. Quotations :ss2dto 58 4d, for good to Biiperior sam pies. Barley—prime malting is readily saleable at 5a 6d. Oats are with-

out alteration, fine f«axi beiag worth In 9d, milling, is 10d per bnshcl.

The Homo Ncwb of May 17th Bays :—

The report of the Otago and Southland Investment Company {I^unit«d), to be presented to the HharcholderK on the 21st, states that the net profit (including £371 brought forward from last account), after payment of ink: rest on loans on debenture and of ordinary expenses, amounts to £0-119. The interim dividend of £2000 paid on 13th November last leaves £4419 now available for distribution, which the directors recommend to be applied as follows, viz., £2000 towards the payment of a further dividend of the same amount free of income tax, making ten per cent, for the year; £2000 to the reserve fund ; and the balance of £419 to be carried forward to the credit of next account.