COMMERCIAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 202, 12 May 1866, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

West Coast Times Ofllco, Friday Evoning. Tho duty upon imports collected at tho Custom Ifouso to-day amounted to £334 11s Tho following merchandise oloarod bliows its distribution :—: —

No gold was cleaved.

Hokitika, May 10. Considerable activity has been evinced in our import market during the past month. Goods arriving have been turned into stock at prices generally considered remunerative to shippers, and with evident confidence to buyers as to good returns. Imports on the x whole have been light. Houses for some timo previously, importing for own trade, finding they could buy cheaper in this matket, have to some extent, discontinued sending orders to other markets, and although our quotations are an improvement on last summary, they have scarcely kept pace with the advanced prices quoted by our Victorian friends in some major items. Business during the month has been good and satisfactory, and likely to con thine so unless our market is again rusheS with goods to be sacrificed, though this is not likely to occur, looking at the prices ruling iv adjacent markets, and losses previously sustained by shipments here, which will tend no doubt to more judicious transactions. Ale and Porter have met with limited demand, the season being against largo purchases for stock. Blood's stout ia worth 18s to 18s 6d, duty paid ; Byass', 17s to 18s. Ale in glass has received but little attention, aud is placed at lGs to 17s per dozen. Bulk Beer, English, is scarce, but will not pay at prices lately realised, preference being given to local brews, which are being sold at about £7 10 per hhd. Wines and Spirits may be favorably noted. Brandy, first-class, as Martell's and Hennessey's, has become scarce, and will realise in bond 9s 9d to 10s. C. V.P., U.V.P., and similar class, have participated in the advance to tho extent of 6d to 9d per gallon. Case Brandies are in good demand at better prices. Geneva is slightly improved, and does not show so much loss as last month. Whiskey in Bulk has not altered, but case has improved. Bitters and Cordials, though not in heavy demand, find moderate sale. Provisions have realised good prices, and we quote for Bacon and Hams, Sinclair's, 2s to 2s 3d; Coey's York and Cumberland are very saleable at slightly under Sinclair's price ; colonial has been offered Ifreely, but not being well selected or packed, meets with little favor and is sold at a loss. Butter has for some time been scarce, and prime colonial will {bring 2s to 2s 4d ; good supplies are known to be coming forward. Cheese has been freely sent hcre,'especially colonial, which realises, for prime lots, Is 4d ; English is scarce, a largo parcel by the Maria, though damaged by saltwater, realised from lOd to Is 2d, Candles have participated in the ad- | vance *in Victoria and Sydney ; indeed they are scarce here, and may be quoted at 1 s 4d to Is sd. Fruits (dried) are in bettor supply, maintaining recent quotations ; stocks sufficient. Oilmens' Stores having come moro freely to hand, prices have scarcely been maintained, consumption is not large, and market easily overstocked. Flour and Grain-— Tho demand for flour has been limited to immediate requirements, as the decline in prices in other colonies coupled with reduced freights to our port, has led to a corresponding reduction here. Stocks at present are equal to our requirements, and shipments coming forward will keep our market well supplied. Adelaide, .£2l to £23 ; Chilian, £17 to £18. Oats — The low price ruling for some time past is now telling on the market ; shipments, we understand, are limited ; stocks are low here, and good sample* have been sold at 7s to 7s 6d, Bran is unaltered. Chaff meets with good demand j » stocks light; and recent shipments havo been placed at from £26 to £30 per ton. Potatoes are in good supply, realising £10 to £12 if in good order.

Messrs Wilson, Burkem, and Co. report that the market has been so crowded with stock during the past mouth as materially to reduce prices. This applies to the two staples of cattle and sheep. The quality of beef which has been brought into this market has been so good for some months past that such a glut as has lately occurred renders inferior and even fair beef almost unsaleable. Auction selling has very much ceased, butchers preferring to combine and purchase a mob. This method of olearing stock has its advantages

at certain times, but may prove dangerous if a long system of credit is established. Agents will shortly have to employ such a staff of men as will necessitate higher prices. This will have to be done in order to keep separate mobs of Bheep and cattle which have crowded in together. At this moment, for average mobs of cattle a better price is obtainable on the East than on the West Coast, and we have no hesitation in stating that dealers will make nothing whatever for the next threo months. Really good cattle have been sold during the last few days, in lots, under 7d per lb ; and by public auction an occasional nibble has been made for under that. Fat sheep are just saleable at Christchurch prices, and if owners of flocks on the Eastern side press for such rates as we see quoted in reports, the dealers and drivers must lose evtrything. A few fat calves will always sell well, but a score would swamp the market. Lambs are out of season. ' Pigs are a good saleable article, but if overdone will share the fate of other stock, We should strongly advise none but fat pigs to arrive ; it is impossible to fatten here a lot of wild, course, lean pigs. Horses were inquired for repeatedly, and of course, were found wanting; but owner's prices rose with tho demand, and little business has been done. We quote cattle as worth 7d to 9d ; sheep, 4£d to 6d ; pork, lOd to 14d ; according to quality and number taken. We cannot too strongly impress on cattle and sheep owners in Canterbury tho fact that they must be losing many of their customers by late high prices, and that they must bear in mind in future that this market is now well-known, and that competition will always take place as soon as anything like the old prices recur. Christchurch and Hokitika aro now placed bo close together by telegraph and road that next grass season we expect to execute commission for stock owners direct on this side, and even now have secured and sold to arrive several thousand sheep, and several hundred cattle without putting parties to tho inconvenience of a journey. If somo system could be adopted to prevent crowding into the market at once it would be a great boon to both dealers and butchers, but the peculiar formation of the country renders this almost hopeless. We trust, however, next month to report a more settled and less desponding state of affairs. Hokitika,* 10th May, 1866.

Messrs M'Landrkss, Hepburn, and Co. Rkboht — During the past month a decided improvement in our markets generally, and business asumes a much healthier aspect, with every prospect of being still better. Our sales at auotion havo been few, but very well attended and the competition spirited. Underneath we rate some. April 3. — Compton's hams, 28 Id per lb. 5 bacon, 2s o£d ; colonial hams and bacon, Is 6£d; Port Cooper cheese, Is 4d; Morton's salmon, 225 ; pickles, 17s 9d ; Byass' stout (quarts), 16s 9d ; pints, 10s ; L.W. candles, Is 3d : lobsters, 16s ; bran, 3s ; oats, 6s ; Lea and Perrin's sauce, 16s ; Huntley and Palmer's biscuits, 45 per cent advance on invoice. April 6. — Port Cooper cheese, Is Gd ; Chilian flour, L3O: Manukau potatoes, L 8 10s; bottled fruits, 19s; salmon, 21s Gd ; sherry (quarts) in bond, Lls : Hunt's <D> <it> port, Ll2 ; kerosene oil, 4s Gd ,; Hennessey's pale brandy, 9s 3d. April 11. In the insolvent estate of A. G. Miller the stock-in-trade fetched very high prices. Premises, L 260. April 17. — Candles, Is 3d; Boniot's brandy, 7s Cd per gal. ; colonial cheese, Is 4d ; cased sherry, 355; Machin's stout, 16s 3d: Victoria No. 2 white sugar. LSB ; oysters, 15s ; bran, 2s 10s ; Ch. V. P. j brandy, 7s lOd per gallon ; JDKZ geneva 15s. April 26. — Cameron's pickles, 14s 9d ; Gamble's salmon, 19s 3d ; congou tea (half-chests), Melrose D.P. L 4 2s Gd; Company's No. 2 white, LSB ss; Ist counter, L 56 ; Tainsh's jams, 12s Gd ; candles, Is 3 Jd ; Hart's flour, L 23 ss ; bacon, 2s ; pickles, 17s ; Crosse and Black well's jams, 13s ; Morton's salmon, 21s ; C. V. P. Brandy, 8s 5 Hennessy's palo, 9s 3d ; Deinhard's No. 2, 59s Gd; claret, 20s; JDKZ geneva, 14s; rum, 3s Gd; Hennessy's cased brandy, 345 ; Downing* s Old Tom, 13s 6d ; Byass' stout, d.p., 15s Gd ; cased sherry, 345, April 27. — Little Fred's cargo of potatoes from Manukau, L 7 7s Gd, onions, 4d. May 7. — Potatoes, L 7 6s, to L 8 ; cheese, Is. 4d ; salmon, 21s ; Deinhard's No. 2, 60s, d.p. May 8. — We this day sold the wreck of tho schooner Maria; the hull brought L3O : riggings, spars, &c, LIBO. May 9 and 10,— Damaged goods, ex Maria, which brought high prices, and attracted a large attendance. Hokitika, March 18th, 1866.

Messiis R. Reeves and Co. report — Since our last a fair amount of business has been transacted, aud tho market in every respect is steadier, although badly supplied at present. A still further decline in flour has taken place, owing to recent advices. We quote Adelaide at L2O to L 25, Ohiliau Ll7 to Ll9. Hay. — We quote lucerne at Ll4 10s to Ll6 10s ; oaten at L2l. Oats. — In active demand, but iiono to hand. Bran, — Much firmer ; we have placed a large parcel at 2s 9d and 2s lOd, Chaff.— Low in stock. Have sold during the month, oaten at L 22, and. lucerne at Ll6 10a. English Hams and Bacon. — Still in demaud at good prices, but colonial most unsaleable. Buttor.— Prime samples very scarce, and worth from 2s 3d to 2s 6d. Bulk Ale and Porter. — A steady demand for the former, but stocks low. One parcel of Bass' No. 4 we placed at LlO. Porter, same as last month. Bottled Stout.— Good brands in fair request at paying prices, but market over stocked with inferior articles. Bottled Ale.— Very slow sale. Candles are still more enquired for; Nevas, aud Price's worth Is 5d and le 6d respectively. In Oilmen's stores a steady business is doing. Sugar. — In good demand at paying rates. Wines and Spirits. In steady demand. Tobaccos. — Stocks full, and slow of sale. Driod Fruits. — Same as last month, Timber. — Unsaleable at paying rates. Galvanized Iron. — Demand limited, Iloktyika, March 11th, 18C6,

.m-andy £69 0 0 "Whisky 24 16 11 Geneva 106 17 6 Sweofc&in 30 13 7 Wino (in wood) 6 4 0 (inbottlo) 4 9 1 Beer (bottled) 21 1 6 Tobacco 25 3 9 '.• ' Tea 13 10 0 Sugar 31 10 0 Candles 2 4 8 £334 11 0