COMMERCIAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 149, 10 March 1866, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

West Coast Times Office, Friday ovoning. The total amount of duty on imports collected at the Custom-house to-day was £232 19s. The following are the items :— Wines and spirits ... £121 1 5 Ale and stout 85 13 0 Tobacco 20 12 6 Sugar 5 0 1 Ironmongery 12 0 Total £232 19 0 No gold was cleared. The period intervening since our last smmmary has not been characterised by any material change in our market. Imports have been light, scarcely keeping pace with consumption, and thus affording opportunity of reducing heavy stocks which had previously accumulated ; and supply and demand, with some exceptions, may now lie considered fairly balanced. The losses sustained^ by shippers will, no doubt, act as a caution in future transactions, for although there is a large and thriving population in the district consuming a full average of imported goods, it is quite possible to overstock the market. We now look forward to remunerative prices for judicious shipments. Thore has' been a decidod improvement in spirits of all kinds. ' Brandy, in bulk and case, has met with bettor demand ; M&rtell's and Honnessy's in bulk realising 9s. to 9s, 9d. por gallon, case ditto 3ds. to, 365. per oaso. Flour having como in frooly, has not sold well, participating in the tone of Viotorian and other markets ; cannot bo placed at over, for Adelaide, £28 to £30 5 Chilian and Oalifornian, £23 to £25 per ton, Oats havo been sold in parcels at 6s. 9d. to 7s. 6d. per bushoi, market well snppliod; oh'aff, £16 to £18 por ton. Hams and bacon continue very scarce, bringing for first brands 2s. to 2s. Id. Butter— colonial, is more frooly offbrod, and prime lots sell for Is. lOd. j Cork is unsaleable. Good teas are storoe and wanted. Sugars moot with a fair demand, market well supplied. Oilmen's stores — scarce, and would come to a good market.