COMMERCIAL.

West Coast Times, Issue 971, 2 November 1868, Page 1 (Supplement)

COMMERCIAL.

Since our last Summary, business in the import trade has been of an exceedingly fluctuating character. At the commencement of the month, the condition of the entrance to the port shut us out from the receipt of fresh supplies by seaboard, and the values of some articles of merchandise were consequently considerably enhanced, while some ,few were so cleanly run out that quotations became merely nominal. This undesirable state of matters was, however, put an end to on the loth ultimo, when.the Maid of Erin schooner, from Melbourne, and the Dancing Wave, from Lyttelton, entered through the new channel, and brought up to the wharf. Since then all the cargoes which had been previously lying out in the roadstead have been brought into the market, and iv some instances have caused an alteration in the. quotations previously ruling: The most notable of these is flour, which, previous to the new arrivals, had been ruling at £27 for best brands of Adelaide. So soon, however, as it became manifest that the needed supplies were about to be placed on the market, the previously nominal quotation of £27 was abandoned, and endeavours were made to place the Adelaide flour "to arrive " at £22 10s. This figure is that at which we now quote best Adelaide brands. About 10s per ton more may perhaps be obtained when sold in small parcels, but the market quotation is not at present higher than £22 10s; provincial flour is governed in value by the price ruling at the time for Adelaide, and also by the district whence imported to this coast. Flour from Dunedin mills is best esteemed by bakers here after Adelaide, and, at the close of. the month, the quotations were £21; Canterbury and Nelson being quoted at from £19 10s to £20. Tasmanian flour is not much favored, and rules generally about £1 lower than Provincial. Horse feed has maintained considerable steadiness throughout the month, and has not as yet been influenced by the arrival of fresh shipments. During the short interval between the closing and reopening of the port, some advance was obtained in oats over our previous quotation, but the closing price remains at 4s. Bran, at our last report, was quoted at 2s, but has since risen in value, and is now fully worth 2s 3d. Chafir has maintained our previous quotation throughout the month, and closes as it commenced at £15 per ton. Potatoes have experienced considerable fluctuation during the month. We quoted them at our last report as worth £8 per ton for New Zealand growth, while those from Circular Head were unquotable, because out of the market. Supplies to hand since then at first lowered the value, and £7 10s was scarcely obtainable for New Zealand, but the demand has so exceeded the supply that we have to quote now New Zealand grown at £10 per ton. Victorian potatoes are entirely out of the market. Since our last report there have been some considerable supplies of onions brought into the market, but stocks were so bare that these were at once absorbed -without effecting any change in market value. We quote these at 6d to 8d per lb, according to quality and condition. Prime butter has been extremely scarce throughout the month, and high prices have ruled. The whole of the shipment received per Auckland from Sydney realised Is 6d per lb. This butter was, however, of exceptional quality,- and is scarcely to be taken as a criterion of market value. We do not think that any large parcel to hand would realise more than Is 3d to Is 4d. Inferior qualities of butter are now entirely out of the market. Cheese is also one of the articles which has been affected by the condition of the port. At our last report, we quoted Provincial at BJd. Since then as much as Is, and even Is Id, has been obtained for prime samples, and the closing price is not less than lljd. English cheese remains as per our last quotation at Is Id., but there is little of very good quality in the market. Hams and bacon have not been very remunerative for some time, fresh meat having been in good supply. We quote Coey's and Sinclair's hams at Is 4d; Conipton's at Is 3d; bacon at Is 2d. In groceries there has been little change during the month. Teas, which were getting low in stocks at the commencement of the month, without, however, any change in values, have by. recent arrivals become rather plentiful, and are quitted but slowly, in consequence of expected arrivals of new season's by way of Dunedin, samples of which may he looked for in a few days. Sugars have been well supplied, and prices are unaltered. Coffee we quote at Is 4d per lb; currants, s£d; raisins, 7£d; Scotch jams, 10s 6d per doz; Tasmanian ditto, 9s 3d; marmalade, Us 6d; pearl barley, 31s per cwt ; oatmeal, 23s ; oysters, 10s 6d per doz ; lobsters, 8s 6d ; salmon, 19s ; sardines, halves, 9s 6d ; quarters, 6s 6d to 7s. In spirits there has been some fluctuation during the month. Hennessy's bulk brandy is now quite out_of the market, scarcely a quarter-cask being procurable. C. V. P. has been sold as high as 8s 9d, and is even now worth from 8s 3d to 8s 6d. Hennessy's case brandy is, on the other hand, rather well supplied, and is not worth more than from 31s to 325. Geneva of J.D.K.Z. brand was until recently quite out of the market, shipments to hand have, however, put us in possession of a considerable number of cases, the market price for which is 19s 6d. Inferior brands are unquotable. Old torn is worth 19s to 20s per case ; whiskey, 14s ; rum, in bulk, 5s per gal.; whiskey, 6s to 6s 3d. There is little doing in wines, and prices are unchanged. Sales of merchandise at auction have been very limited dining the month, and are almost entirely comprised in the reports we append.

Mr G. W. Binxey reoorts the following sales for the month :—

October 3rd. — At Rooms, Canterbury butter, Is 2£d ; inferior buttur, 4d to 6d. A sale of boots, averaging very good prices. At Waller and Craig's, timber and ironmongery, at full market rates. At Moffat's right-of-way, . Moffat's buildings (to.be removed), £55. On Gibson's Quay, Victorian Timber Yard, £180. Privately, Gawn's flour, £21 ; Wood's, £20 ; oats, 4s 2d ; peas, 2d ; jar jams, B£d.

October 10th. — At Eooms, Byass's stout (green label), 8s per doz ; chaff, £U 15s per ton ; bran, Is 9d per bushel ; potatoes, £9 5s per ton ; kerosene, 2s lOd per gallon ; green peas, 2d per lb. Sale of furniture and sundries at full market values. Privately, Lewis's condensed milk, 15s per doz ; Wood's ftonr, £20 per ton ; Gaunt's flour, £29 per ton ; Melbourne Mills's flour, £23 per ton. October 17th. — Ex Dancing Wave, from Timaru — Potatoes, £8 per ton; oats, 3s lid per bushel; bran, 2s; flour, £19 5s per ton; sharps, 2s per bushel; carrots, £5 10s per ton; chaff, £10 10s; J. Jones' property, Re veilstreet north, £38 ; furniture and effects at good market rates.

October 2-ith.— Ex Anne Moore, from Melbourne;— Potatoes, £7 15s per ton; biscuits (Swallow and Ariel's), 6d per lb; desert biscuits, 6d per lb; chaff, £14 per ton. Ex Brayo — Hart's flour (more or less damaged), in 200 lb. bags, £18 to £19 per ton. Ex Sarah and Mary, from Melbourne — Chaff, £15 per ton; potatoes, £8 10s; maize, 6s 3d per bushel. Ex Queen of the IslesOats, 4s per bushel; potatoes, £5 per ton; Dunedra flour, £19. Ex Mary Ann Christina—Oats, 3s IOJd per bushel; bran, 2s 2d; potatoes, £9 per ton; colonial cheese, 9fdper lb. Wreck of the Isabella as she layed stranded on the beach, with gear, tackle &c, &c, £76 16s. ' ' October 31st— Ex Alhambra, Queen of the Isles," and Mary Ann Christina— Chaff, • '(.'r Continued in I< ourth Page. ;

Continued from first page.

£14; Hurt's flour, £21; Dunedin flour, in 50 lb and 100 lb bags, £19; potatoes from £5 to £9; oats, 3s lid; bran, 2s Id to 2s 2£d; Christchurch cheese (damaged) s£d; ditto, (sound), 9|d; eggs, 9d per doz. ; potatoes (all faults), £4 ss; Duffield's flour, (all faults), £15 10s; chaff (all faults), £8; Allsop'sale, 12s. Ex Pilot— Chaff, £14 to £14 15s; firebricks, £13 10s ; Harper's coffee, Is. In the rooms— Tea (all faults, 22s per box; raisins, sd; Melbourne preserved mutton, in tins, (all faults), 4d per lb; ling, fish, 3d; assorted sauces, 7s 6d. Sales of furniture, clothing, drapery, plated-ware, ana jewellery, at prices averaging full values. Privately — Sydney butter, Is 4d; American brooms, 22s 6d.

. Mr Kichard Reeves report as follows :—: — The past month will bear a very favourable contrast with the three months preceding— a decidedly better tone being evinced in every branch of business. This is doubtless owing in a great measure to the port being now open. Of merchandise there have not been many sales by auction for the past month ; nearly all .arrivals having been taken into store from ship's side. The few lots of goods submitted to public sale were, nearly in all cases, damaged, notwithstanding which they realised good prices. I have had several auction sales of drapery and haberdashery during the month, and have realised fair prices for the lots sold. Several properties passed through my hands since last report, but with the exception Of property in the centre of Revell-strret, the prices realised were not satisfactory to the owners. Fat cattle have been realising extreme prices during the past month. Some prime pens touching 70s per 1001 b. Last Tuesday, however, the market was slightly in favour of the buyer. Sheep of good quality may bs said to about pay the dealer, although in some instances the contrary may be said. Pigs have been very bare in the market for some time. I sold a shipment ex Kennedy, last trip, at an average of 8d per lb. Horses —really good sound young useful horses in good demand ; a small mob coming in at present would pay. The class of horses wanted for this market is good packers clean hacks and medium draught. I sold three small lots the past month, at satisfactory prices.