COMMERCIAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1993, 8 December 1863, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

SYDNEY MARKETS. Sydney Cohmeiictal Intelligence. — There has been more activity in our markets during the past month than we have noticed for many months past Although it is satisfactory to record this state of things, prices are, however, with very few exceptions, no higher. The late failures have for the time checked speculative transactions, importers being unwilling to sell their goods except for cash ; buyers whose credit is good are also indisposed to operate at present ; consequently when sales are forced lower rates have to be submitted to. We subjoin the latest report of our markets: — Flour: The market is firmer. First brands of Adelaide are quoted at £14 10s ■ per ton, and sales have been made at that price. Wheat is also more enquired for, but prices show a slight decline on the quotations of last month. Adelaide, Gs 3d per bushel ; Californian, 6s— Liquids : Ale in bulk is firmer, and has been more inquired for since the warm weather i set in. First brands range from £6 to £6 10s ; other brands £5 to £5 10s. Porter in bulk is very dull of sale.' Taylor's is quoted at £6. Brandy is not bo firm, stocks being exceedingly heavy. Martell's is 3d. per gat lower, and is quoted at~9s 3d to 9s 6d; Hennessy's, 9s to 9s 3d. . Bum is a little firmer, and 30 op is worth from 3s to 3s 2d; i 10 op nominal. Geneva : Stocks are still heavy, and first j " brands range from 9s Gd to 10s. Whisky is dull of sale ; Irish, 3s to 3s 6d ; Scotch, 8s to 3s 6d. In- wines there have been no transactions of importance. First-class sherries command full rates, but low sorts are dull of sale. The quotations range as follows : Sherry, in wood, 5s 6d to 14s; port, 5s to 14s— Teas are hardly so firm, in consequence of ! late arrivals. Congous are quoted at from £G to £8 10s f per chest Boxes, 25s to 27s Gd. Green teas are very dull of sale, and prices nominal — Sugars : After the departure of the last mail there was some speculation in low sugars, and prices ruled higher; but during the last two weeks the maket has been easier in consequence' of arrivals. The quotations, however, show a slight advance ' on last ■ month's prices, and are as follows : Eoaf, £54 to £56 ; Mauritius crystals, £32 to £37 10s ; yellow, £25 to £28 5s ; grey, £22 to"£24; brown, £21 to £23 10s ;,' Manila MO, £28; C & NR, £25 to £25 10s ; current clayed, .'£2s to £25 10s— Coffee is without any alteration. Plantation lOd to lOJd per lb in bond ; Manila, 9d to 9jd per lb'tn bond — Candles are still very dull of sale. Bolmonts are quoted : 12d to 12d£perlb; light weights, lOd to lOJd per lb— Colonial Produce : The wool market has been depressed, and sales , are with difficulty effected, except at reduced rates, to which holders do not appear willing to submit ; consequently most of the wool offered at auction has been withdrawn. The late news from England is, however, of a more satisfactory character, and may cause some animation in this market. The new clip ha 3aa yet come very sparingly to hand, and until it arrives in larger quantities prices cannot be fairly tested, und only nominal. A flrst^class clip, XP in diamond, belonging to Mr E. King Cox, has been sold privately at 2s fid per lb, with 25 per cent pieces, &c, at half-price. The quotations are: Scoured lsGdto2s2d, fleece Is 5d to Is 9d, greasy GJd to 11. ' Sheepskins are firm, and notwithstanding the dulness in the wool market, prices are well maintained. At auction, yesterday, prices ranged from s|d to 7?d per lb— Tallow : The market has been very thinly supplied, but the quan- ' ty has nevertheless been above the requirements of the town. Trade prices have consequently giving way snffi- ' ciently to enable shippers to appear in the market The decline in prices aa compared with last month is equal to 30b to 40s per ton ; the quotations being — mutton, £35 to £3G ; beef, £29 10s to £30 10s per ton — Hides without alteration. Inferior and light hides are dull of Bale. At auction to-day about 1500 were sold at from 5s to 11s 9d each. — Rice is firmer, in consequence of a considerable advance in the Melbourne market. Large sales of Patna, ex Elizabeth, have been made at £20 per ton and smali sales as high as £21 per ton. The rice ex Oxenbridge is quoted at £18 10s to £19 per ton. — Salt is a little firmer. Fine is worth £4 15s to £5 per ton. Liverpool, £3 5s per ton. — Dried fruits are not in much request, considering the season of the year. Currants are quotsd at 3.J to 4d per lb. Baisins, Gd to 6id per lb.— Oilmen's stores : All articles under this head are dull of sale, and prices have a downward tendency, stocks being heavy and plenty to arrive. — Provisions : Hams and bacon have been speculated in at improved rates, but they have since given way Hams are quoted at ll£d to 12d per lb.— Tobacco : Trade in the imported article has not been of a yery brisk character during the past month, arising principally from the continuous shipments of inferior Northern make. Australian manufacture has also no insignificant effect upon the market. Speculators of 18G1 contemplate a clearing out sale after the despatch of the mail, and their stocks of negrohead being considerably, reduced, no doubt anticipate a favorable market. Good Southern tens and half-pounds, being much below the price of negrohead, are coming into demand. Our quotations .are for sound. American twist, 5s Gd to Gs Gd ; southern tens and half-pounds are worth from 3s to 4s in bond ; northern make of all kinds, whatever it will fetch in the market Cigars : We have no advices of any sales or shipments from Manila. Stocks very much circumscribed, and prosent market rates 60s in bond. — Herald, Nov 21. The Sydney Morning Herald of the 21st ultimo, says: — The last six months has shown a much increased trade, consequent upon tbe demands for shipment to New Zealand, Queensland, India, and China, causing a large amount of ready money to be_ expended here. To New Zealand we estimate that during the last six months over a thousand horses have boen shipped, two-thirds of whioh were heavy draught stoclc, coating on an average fully £40 each; the other third principally troop horses, may be fairly taken at £20 per head; add to this £10 per head for freight and forage (payable here) would give, say £44,000. The New Zealand Cattle Trade. — The shipments of stock for New Zealand continues to form an important item in the business transactions of each week ; and it would appeal* that the trade is likely to increase to a very considerable extent, notwithstanding the want of facilities for the embarkation of cattle. During the week two shipments have taken place. — Maltland Mercury.