COMMERCIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3502, 28 April 1873, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

Daily Times Office, Saturday evening.

A general complaint of dulness has prevailed this week, accounted for by being so near the end of the month, and by the broken weather, which for some days lias prevented the loading of draws, and discharging of lighters. Several limited shipments of imported bulk ale. per Euterpe and Lutterworth, have been placed, the small demand which now exists for this article having been pretty well met by this supply. Bottled ale and stout, of approved English brands, are still in brisk enquiry ; and all parcels afloat, we understand, have been sold to arrive. Spirits remain at last quotations, and no change in demand perceptible. Whisky may be fairly looked for to improve, but we presume the season is not far enough on. Dairy produce, and provisions generally, arc advancing. Cheese of good quality is now worth 9d ; butter, lOd. We may expect that from districts where public works are proceeding the supply will be limited this year, and the tanners receive the benef t. A small parcel of English hams and bacon has been sold at a good price. Colonial continues scarce and uncertain. We should be glad if, among the various manufactories forvariouspurposesspringing'up on every hand, we should hear of one on a large scale for the manufacture of hams and bacon, by which the demand might be regularly met, and from the skill employed the quality might be depended upon. Several lines are still scarce in oilmen's stores and groceries. Values are being conceded, and ere long the change will be established. In sugar, the market is firm ; prices realised at sale of cargo ex Adelheid having fixed an advance of from 30s to 4()s on previous quotations. A small parcel from Honolulu, in kegs, was sold this week by Messrs M'Laudress, Hepburn, and Co. at auction, realising for slightly different shades of yellow L 39 and £31 7s 6d. There has been a fair enquiry for tea, both medium and fine. We observe that several parcels have come by the steamers lately from Melbourne, and believe the market to be fully supplied. In candles no change is noted. There has been no further move in kerosene oil to that intimated in our last. English malt is still scarce, and worth 13s 9d. Hops are in sufficient quantity ; prices unchanged. Cornsacks are not held by importers; are in enquiry, and worth 18s. Cement, in small quantities, is only in second hands. Galvanised iron continues quite as scarce as for some time back. Parcels now advised to arrive would be bought up readily at advanced rates. Fencing wire, Nos. 6, 7, and 8, is difficult to be had; quotations extreme. There are known to be parcels on the way. Floi": continues at £11 10s, at which price a brisk shipping trade, to Northern and Southern ports, is being done. Wheat is quoted at 4s Bel for good samples. Oats are still worth 3s fully. They are not coming forward in quantities, but we look forward to a better supply, as the farmers are now busy threshing. Barley—very little offering—is still worth from 7s to 7s 6d. The crop has been pretty well all bought up by the brewers.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co., report for the week ending 26th April as follows :—

Fat Cattle.—A fair number came forward, 57 head—chiefly good quality—being yarded. We sold 34 head at from Lo os to L 7 los'f or bullocks; L 4 10s to L 6 for cows—equal to 20s per lOOlbs for good quality, and 17s for medium ditto. We also sold privately to the Meat Preserving Coiupany 425 head, at 17s per lOOlbs. Fat Sheep —1200 merino wethers and ewes of good quality were penned. We sold 716 merino wethers at from 8s 6d to 9s; and 216 merino ewes at from 6s 6d to 7s. We quote prime halfbreds, 2k\ per lb; ditto merinos, 2}d. We sold privately 700 merino wethers, at 8s 6d each. Store Cattle.—Good grown cattle, for forward delivery, are enquired for. We quote bullocks, 3to 4 years old, L 4; mixed lots, L2los to L2lss. Store Sheep. — Half-breds and merino wethers are still in active request. We sold 7CD merino ewes, full-mouthed, at os; 400 ditto at 4s 9d; 2000 store wethers, full-mouthed, at 6s. We quote half-breds, 2, 4, and 6-tooth, at from 11s to 12s; mixed lambs, 8s 6d to 9s; merino wethers, 4 and 6-tooth, 7s ; ditto, full-mouthed, 6s; full-mouthed ewes, 5s to 5s 6d.

Horses.—Good draught stock and strong coaching colts keep in demand. We quote first-class draughts, L 45 to L6O; medium do, L2sto L 3 5; good hacks and light harness horses, LlB to L 2 5; medium do, Ll2 to Lls; light and inferior, L 3 to L 6.

Wool, Sheepskins, &c. —Two public sales have been held this week. We sold on Thursday a few odd bales of wool, and 1700 sheepskins, as follows:—Greasy merino wool, 10^d to ll^d per lb.; ditto halt-bred, llgd ; scoxired (mixed lot), 19|d; station sheepskius, B|-d to 9id per lb.; green skins, merino, Is 6d to 3s 7d each; ditto half-bred, 2s 2d to 4s 4d : hides, 16s to 24s 6d. Grain. —Wheat continues in fair demand, and good milling samples are worth 4s 6d to 4s 9dper bushel; inferior, 3s 9d to 4s. Oats are scarce, and wanted at 2s lid to 3s for feed, and 3s Id to 3s 2d for milling samples. Barley—none offering.

Tlie amount of Customs Revenue received todav on goods entered for consumption was as ollows:— £ s. (1. £ s . a. Brandy ... 73 IS 5 Beer ... 30 0 0 Geneva ... 43 12 5 Tea ... 19 6 0 Rum ... 20 18 10 Drapery .. 3 15 6 Wme .. 5 1.2 3 Sundries ... 34 13 4 Total £221 14 9