COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3252, 9 July 1872, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Monday Evening.

The amount of Customs Revenue received r.o-day on goodit entered for consumption wa« <h follows, viz. t — £ a. d. £ b. d. Brandy ...107 4 10 Tobacco ... 41 12 6 Whisky ... 9&14 4 Tea ... 10 0 0 Do. col. ... 815 2 Coffee ... 20 7 3 Geneva ... 34 4 7 Sugar ... 24 4 2 Rum ... 57 4 10 Drapery... 5 7 3 Kerosene... 20 0 0 Sundries... 10 11 6 Total ...£442 G 5 Revenue on gold ... £1070 19 3 The following is Messrs J. H. Clough and Co.'b Station Produce Report, dated Melbourne, June 29th :—

Wool.—Since our last report two small public sales have been held, consisting of odd lotti, and about 200 bales have beeni disposed of. As is usual at thia season, very little is offering for sale, nearly the whole being shipped, and consisting entirely of fellmongers' sorts. Sheepskins.—We have held our usual sales, all of which have been fully attended : competition is brisk, and prices firm. We have disposed of a large quantity of all kinds, although the quantity now offering in the market ia considerably reduced iin consequence of the decreased supply of sheep coming forward. Our sales have been at the following prices, viz.:—For butchers' green Bkins, 3s Gd to 7fl, and up to 8a Gd for extra large crossbreds; dry skins, 2s to 6s 6d each; ana station skins, 5d to 9.} d per lb.

Hides.—-We have had a large supply at our sales, all of which were readily taken by the local trade at the following rates, viz :— For green ox, 21» to Ms, and up to 45a for extra heavy weights ; cow, 17s to 24s each ; wet salted, 4s to 5s 0-^d ; and calfskins 6d to 7d per lb. Tallow.—The quantity offering in the market at present Is limited; at our sales wo have had large attendances, wlbo have eagerly taken up all offering at advanced prices, and the market now remains very firm, and oh the local consumption has very much increased, wo expect higher rates will shortly nile. Our sales are at the following quotations, viz. :—For inferior, £27 10s to £32; mixed, £33 to £36 ; beef, £34 to £35 10a ; and mutton, £36 10s to £37 lOfii per ton.

Leather and Kangaroo Skins.—There is a good demand for leather of all descriptions, which sell at full prices. Kangaroo skins remain as last quoted.

The Argus of the 29th nit. reportu : —

In the import markets business to-day has not been marked by much activity, the early and unexpected arrival of the mail steamer having had the effect for the time of causing buyera to retire rather than that of stirring up inquiry. In breadstuff a very quiefc day has been passed. Flour retains our quotation of £10 5s to £10 10«, but even for small quantities the demand has been very poor, and larger lines have not even been sought after. A small parcel of Adelaide wheat, was placed at 7a 4d ; for prime soft qualities 7a is obtained. Advices from tendon report an improved activity in wheat, which during the last fortnight of the month caused a considerable rise in price. Foreign wheat roae 3s to 4s pr quarter, and the better sorts of white 2s per quarter. Messrs Bnrrows and Perks further state :—" Tho arrivals from the colonies during the mouth have been on a fair scale, and include from 4000 to 5000 quarters f rom the Cape of Good Hope, whence they are sending us more wheat than we have before experienced, and of very useful quality, being free from grass seeds, weevil, &c., but, on the whole, not^ quite equal to the best Adelaide or Tasmanian ; the value of the latter is now, for good to fine, from G2a to 04s ; for Cape, G2s to 63s per 4961b. Flour is still in less demand than wheat; best qualities are worth 42s to 43a per 2801bs net, landed ; but seconds, of which most of the late arrivals consist, are in very limited request, and not worth more than 37» to 39e, ouch qualities being very unsuitable for the London market, especially as it is at present muck overstocked with secondary and low qualities of American. There are now 142 wheat cargoes on passage to the United Kingdom, against IG3 m the corresponding week of 1871, and 156 in 1870." Oats nave shown little animation ; we hear, however, of 700 bags medium and heavy Tasmanian having been placed afc^or about 3s 2d. Supplies of maize are oa a much, better, scale ; the market is decidedly easier in consisquencc, and though we quote 3a 2d to 3a 3d for trade parcels, we learn that 3s Id had to be accepted for about 80» bags disposed of in parcels. A shipment of 1000 boxes Oape raisins has been placed at 4d per lb in bond. Currants are also being enquired after, and appear as if they were to be more prominently noticed again. A large business confcinnes tobe reported in tobaccos ; we learn of 9GO, boxes Venus and Two Seas, more or less faulty, having been cleared out privately on terms withheld. A shipment of 50 half-tierces Raven Twist, to arrive, has been rtssold for shipment at the extreme figure of Is 7d. All the flatwork advised this month as coming forward to Cameron's agent does not amount to more than 12 cases and 25 boxes navy and fancy goods, while Childrey's agents inform us that the only shipment of their twist advised this mail for Melbourne had been burnt on the way from New York to London. A rise of from six to eight annas per lb. is advised from Calcutta on castor oil ; holders hero have in consequence raised their price to 4s in bond. A parcel of 3500 bushels malt has changed hands at a very full figure, quotations range from 10s 6d to 10s 9d. Salt moves off freely for trade purposes; In the shipments advißed this month, Stables, in their circular, call attention to an error made in putting down an additional entry of 393 tons as by the Birchgrove, when the entry in question was nothing more than a duplicate of what had previously been made. This correction would reduce the shipments of salt from 1141 tons, as given, to 748 tons. In the supplement, which brings up the list of exports a fortnight later, not a single shipment; : of salt appears. Sugar in very firm, and the advices to hand are likely to stimulate the market still further, movements being observable in

most of the foreign markets. Privato letters' from Batavia utate that mach speculation was going on in the article there, Mid white crystals were m great demand- In London, up to 17th May, sogar was in active request, prices each day showing a hardening tendency. The demand had been general, both from the trade and speculators;;-the'former giving their attention to cargoes off coast, a»d the latter more particularly seeking purchases doe several months hence. The Hokitika, arrived to-day, is reported from Natal, and supposed to have a cargo of tine produce. She brings her own advices. The vessel and cargo come to the consignment of Messrs. Spenco Brothers. The timber sales comprise—22 logs cedar, sold at 35s 3d, and 16 Jogs disposed of at 25s 3d ; 83 logs Maryborough pine, quitted at 10« 9d to 11s, and 3in. plank at 13s 9d ; also doors, ex Otto and Antouie, assorted sizes, which brought 4s 6d to 11s Gd. The cargo of red deals, per Monarch, and the cargo of Norwegian timber, per Otto and Antonie, were submitted likewise to competition, but withdrawn for higher prices than the bidding touched j the rates demanded, however, were at a later period conceded for 6 x I| and 6 x g white T. and G. and 4-out weatherboards. The St. Petersburg, arrived to-day with flooring,, is the last cargo for the season of Norwegian timber, and a period of four months must elapse before another cargo can come forward.

LONDON COMMERCIAL NEWS.

The following in the Colonial Produce Report of Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co.'a London agents: — WOOL. The second series of Colonial wool Bales for the present year, which commenced oa the 11th April, terminated on the 11th insfc. The quantities arrived and catalogued were ati follows:— Arrivals. Catalogued.

About 12,000 bales of the new arrivals were forwarded direct to the manufacturing districts and the Continent, and of the quantity catalogued about 15,000 were bought in ; and withdrawn. | Previous to the opening it was thought that some reduction would take place in the price of wool at this series ; but the decline has been far greater than was anticipated. Although the attendance on the opening night was good, there was a marked want of spirit on the part of the buyers, particularly on foreign account, the larger portion of the considerable purchases made last sales on French account being unsold ; and the direct shipments from the Colonies having considerably diminished the orders from America. The large quantity bought in on the opening night had a depressing effect on the market, some considerable orders in the North having been countermanded, and as the sales progressed the following decline in prices was established; viz. :—New South Wales and Queensland, 3d per lb ; Victoria, 3d to 4d; South Australia, 3d; New Zealand, hi to lid ; Swan River, Id. Cape of Good Hape ileece, Id j second white, Id to Ud. Tasmanuin wool sold with scarcely any reduction, the quantity being very limited. During the last week there was a slightly improved feeling in the trade, some considerable parcels having been taken for American account, which caused the sales to close with better spirit; and as it is expected that the arrivals for the next series, to commence on the 20fch June, will, with the parcels bought in, not exceed the quantity for offer at the corresponding sales last year, we shidl not be surprised to see prices somewhirl; firmer, the more bo m the total quantity for offer during the present year will be about 80,000 bales leas than in 1871. WHEAT AND FLOUK. In consequence of the advance of prices of wheat in America, and the millers here ref>lenishing their stocks, which were very ow, the market has again advanced, but even mow the late fall in prices has not been regained. Warm dry weather is now wanted for the growing crop, which is not spoken very favourably of, and should tho present unseasonable weather continue, values must advance. Australian wheat is now selling at from 63s Cd to 64s per 4961b5, ex ship, and flour, 44b for 2801bs. New Zealand wheat may be quoted at from 56s to 635, and flour at not more than 40s, the quality beiug poor. TALLOW AND lIIDKH. There has been a good demand for Australian tallow since our last, and prices have advanced Od to 9d—the value, to-day, of good to line New Zealand mutton being 43s Ud to 44s 3d, and fair to fine beef tallow 42s Cd to 43s 3d per cwt. Hides are rather dull of sale, but we quote no change in the value of New Zealand, which is still6Jd toO.{dper lb, for both heavy and light weights. NBW ZEALAND HEMP. The market continues very firm, with very small stocks j only about 300 bales remaining in first hands, and arrivals very small. At auction, on the Bth inst., about 600 bales were offered, of which about 400 were sold at full rates, ranging from £34 to £38 sa. PRESERVED TINNED HEATH. The market remains very dull, ond to effect sales low rates have to be accepted. The consumption of this article continues good, and appears to be on the increase ; but the wholesale houses are able to buy at a low rate, in consequence of the large quantity offering. The present prices for mutton are —61b tins, 4£d ; 41b, s|d to s£d ; and 21b, s<ld to 6d. There is very little demand for mutton with bone, but 61b tins are worth 4id per lb. Bank rate, 5 per cent. London, 17th May, 1872.

BERLIN WOOL SALES.

We exract the following from Messrs Gustav Ebcll and Co.'a circular, dated Berlin, May 10th ;—

The discouraging state of the London market, and a similar drooping tendericy at the Antwerp sahjs, for Buenos Ayrea wool, influenced our market to such an extent, that, for some weeks past, it was difficult to move wool even at very reduced prices. Consumers began to reflect upon the enormous rise experienced during the six months previous, and to expect, such a reaction in prices as the sound state of the woollen industry, and the probable ultimate relation between supply and consumption, did scarcely warrant. In the face of these unfavourable features, and bearing in mind the close proximity of the European clips, it was rather a risky undertaking t proceed with our second Colonial wool sale on the Bth inst. However, the result of the same has shown that our fears were unfounded, and wo are pleased to state that the auction went off with unwavering spirit and competition of numerous home and foreign buyers. The catalogue comprised:—4loo bales Cape snow white and scoured ; 950 do Cape fleece, eastern and western; 400 do Australian fleece, Port Phillip and Sydney; 350 do Beoinos Ayrea and Montevideo, in grease ; 250 do Russian, ready for use ; in all 605© bales; which, wiiJa the exception of a few lots, withdrawn in consequence of high limits, were sold at prices fully on a level with, and in some instances surpassing, our January aale quotations for Cape wool, and ruling up to Id per lb above present London values. In Australian fleece wool a few clipa were offered, and considering the small and unsuitable selection and not prepossessing condition of the same, fetched satisfactory prices, although & portion was withdrawn. Through the decided Bucceas of this, our aecona public sale, under adverse circumstances, our Colonial Wool Market may be considered as fiirmly established, and we think we can safely recommend to conitigneea in the Coloniea a trial, which, beaidea

' considerably lower charges; ensure* for suitable wools quite as good prices as London. | Efforts, and no doubt successful once, arc being nude to seenre for next year a fair share of Australian produce for our public sales, and we are sanguine that the result will ?>e satisfactory, as our Continental pcombcrs only wait for an opportunity to I compete for their large requirements nearer ■ home. Oar third public sale -will probably take place about the end of August. Some 10,000 to 15.000 bale*, mostly Cap wool, are expected to be offered, and although it is difficult to prognosticate with any amount of certainty the future movements of the wool market, we do not anticipate any material change in prices for this year.

land Victoria Adelaide New Zealand Swan River Tasmania ... Cape of Good Hope 31,292 72,623 23,354 '21,627 2,331 3,72f» 21,(502 29,590 68,153 22,382 21,588 2,398 3,829 11,664 176,615 159,604