COMMERCIAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 23 November 1867, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

-*- Cantbebtjkt, — The Lyttelton Times of the 21st reports : — Messrs Wilson and Alporb report a largo supply of cattle, sheep and horses, at the Carllon Yards, yesterday, and prices ac follows: — Three-years-old, nearly fat weighty steers, £13 to £16 ss ; two-year-old, do, £9 5s to £12 ; cows, from £9 15s to £15 ; large working bullocks, in good condition, £20 ; q pen of 60 halt-bred wether hoggets, with good fleece, at 12s 3d each ; a pen of 100 merino ewes (a few lambs given in), 8s 6d each ; horses sold at satisfactory prices. About 80 head of cattle were yarded, and as a whole they were a prime lot. London, October 2. New Zealand Stocks and Secubitiks. — New Zealand 6 per centß, not quoted — (quoted on September 28, at 107 to 108) ; do 5 per cents, 94^ to 95£ ; New Zealand Bank, 9 prern. j Ofcago Bank, 4 dis. ; P.N.Z. & A.R.M. Company (10), 7 ; do (5), 3\ ; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, \ prom. ; New Zealand Trust and Loan, 1 prcm. j Otago and Southland Investment, His. The Stock Markets on October 1 resisted the influence of a combination of favorable circumstances. Consols left off at 94J- to f for money and account, being exactly £ lower than at the departure of the previous mail. Railways also declined, and bo did all the speculative foreign stocks. The only securities that maintained their prices with anything like firmness were New Zealand, Australian, and a few other colonial securities. Money is in no demand, and first-class bills are very readily taken at 1\ to 1$ per cent, Advances are offered on the Stock Exchange at 1 per cent. The Bank of New Zealand havo notified that they have been instructed to offer for public tender £200,000 of the £500,000 loan authorised for tho service of the piovinco of Auckland, New Zealand, and of which the first instalment of £100,000 was disposed of in September, 1863. Tho instalments are to oxtend to tho 15th January. A general court of tho proprietors of the Bank of England was held on Sept 12, Tho net profits for the half-year ending August 31 amounted to £629,072, making the amount of " rest" on that day £3,657,003. A dividend at 4£ per cent was declared for tho half-year, without deduction of income tax, leaving tho " rest" at £3,002,118. The directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company have iß3iied their half-yearly report. Tho revenue account shows that tho total darnings by the cables during tho year ending 27th of July last amounted to £205,317, but from this the Anglo-American Company have deducted £21,896 16s on account of tho two accidents that occurred to the 1866 cable, and tho charge, not having been agreed to by the Atlantic Company, has for the present Jvjgycairied to a BUsponso account . NotwithstanujEffthese large deductions there remains I to the c»&dit of tho revenue a balance of £28,133 16s sd, andout of thip tho board proposes to deolaro a dividend for the year at the rato of four per cent free of income tax upon the first eight per cent preferential stock. The report further states that the board have been hitherto unsuccessful in their efforts to arrange with the directors of tho Anglo-American Company & reduction of tariff. The Credit Mobilier of Paris is now in liqudation having been brought to the necessity of asking assistance from the Bank of Franco in consequence of its satellite companies being unable to fulfil their engagements.

Colonial Wool Sales.— Tho Rome News of the 2nd October gives the following report of the ■wool sales, then just concluded : — The third series of colonial wool sales for the year commenced on August 15, and terminated on September 21. The quantity catalogued was 143,030 bnles, the arrivals since the previous sales being 126,846 bales, the excess of 16,184 bales arising from Sydney and port Phillip wools held over from the May and June sales. Messrs Dutton end Ferry in their circular say tho attendance of home buyers was good, but Franco and other parts of the Continent were net so well represented as at the last two series. Notwithstanding tho extreme cheapness of money, but little, if any, improvement hud takeu place in the state of the wollen trade in the short interval (considering the large quantity then disposed of) elapsed since the last sales ; fair spirit, however, was shown at the opening, and the prices realised were equal to tho average rates paid in tho May and Juno scries. Although at times the somewhat unsettled weather caused some apprehension as to the result of the harvest, thus iacreasing the existing depression, the quotations for all good regular flocks have been well maintained throughout, but inferior and faulty wools, of which there has been a large proportion, have sold very irregularly, and on the whole these descriptions have ruled in favor of buyers. The j sales progressed with little or no variation for the first three weeks, when, with an increased attendance of buyers, more animation was shown in the biddings, particularly for tho fine sorts, both of combing and clothing, and as tho prospects for the harvest by this time looked favorable the market assumed rather a firmer tone, and continued without alteration until the close. Sydney and Port Phillip wero in large supply, but presented only a small selection of really choice flocks ; these latter excited keen competition, and extreme rates wore realised — they hewever mainly consisted of strong haired wools, adtipted for combing and faulty kinds. For the better descriptions there was a fair demand at fully former j rates, but the burry, raoity, and seedy sorts were ' much neglected, being heavy of sale, even at a reduction of Id per lb. compared with last sales. Of scoured thcro has been an abundant supply, and the better classes participated in the active competition which took place for the fleece wools, lato rates being fully maintained, whilst the demand for the inferior was very sluggish, and they sold Id and l£d per lb lower than in May, Van Dietnen's Land were limited in quantity, aad prin- | cipally consisted of medium flocks, evincing no improvement in quality and condition, and former ! rates wero scarcely realised. Adelaide, as mdi- j cated by tho prices, were of poor breed and wast- ' ing condition, the greasy being principally of the red earthy and mushy descriptions, and the scoured badly got up and seedy. New Zealand have formed a leading feature in tho series, being j nearly one-third of tho quantity offered ; they comprised some good combing flocks, both w&shed and in the grease. They found ready purchasers, but prices show a reduction of about Id per lb compared with last sales. Gape comprised a small selection from tho western district, for which May-Junes prices were scarcely ob tuined. Of Algoa Bay the comparatively small quantity of well grown shafty tlocks sold readily afc rather higher prices, as likewise the scoured, of which there was a good choice, and they were taken freely for exportation, but the short faulty kinds were much less competed for, and lower prices had to be submitted to. Lambs of good quality, and free from defect, have been very •carco compared with former series at this period, and they have commanded full rates. On the other hand, faulty descriptions have sold lower. Wo estimate tho quantity taken for export at about 60,000 bales. Inasmuch ns 440,195 bales have passed the hammer this year, or wilhin 15,617 bales of tho entire import of 1866, and with little if any recourse to speculative purchases. It is reasonable to presume that with a less depressed state of trade more remunerative prices would bo obtained by iniportaro , on tho othnr luuid, taking into consideration the rapid progress the growth of wool has anado of late in tho colonies and Buenos Ayros (which latter comes directly into competition with tho Cape), it is rendered probable that prices of the raw material (particularly of medium and low qualities), will in futuro rest on a lower basis. London, October 10, Evening. Tho regular weekly returns made by tho Bank of England have just been published and are not so favorable as they have been quite recently. During the week tho bullion in vault has decreased to the extent of nearly £385,000. London, October 10, Evening. Consols closed at 94$ for money • Liverpool, October 10, Evening. The Cotten market closed heavy with a decline of fully $d per lb on most American descriptions, though tho lower qualities have declined most. The sules to-day have reached 12,000 bales. Tho following aro the authorized quotations. Middling Uplunds 8^ d j Middling Orleans B£. New Yobk, Oct. 11, noon. Gold is inactive at 143 fc. San Francisco, Oct. 10. Flour — A further advanco has taken place since our last weekly report. City brands are quotable at $7 25 a $7 50 for baker's extra in half and quarter sacks ; outside brands at §7 a §7 25, extra in half and quarter ditto ; extra family, both city and country mills, at $7 25 for half and quarter ditto ; superfine at $6 50 a $6 75 in half and quarter ditto ; fine in half sacks at §5 75 a $0, and quarter ditto at §6 a $G 25 por barrel. Wheat — Holders aye firm in demanding $2 35 for extra choice lots, and wo note parcels held tit a still higher figure. During the past week, extensive transactions have taken place, and sales have been made for export and consumption at figures ranging from §2 15 a §2 25 for fair to extra choice grades. Valparaiso, Sept. 16. Wheat — In this article tho demand is very dull, and tho small lots which arrive cannot find purchasers at last prices, say $3 75 per fancga in stout bags ; 5,000 fanegas wero sold at Llico at §3 12^ in bulk in warehouse, and about tho same quantity at tho samo price in San Antonio. Last i advices from Tome quote §3 50 per hectolitro in bulk in warehouse, but without sales. Flour — Tho demand ab present is confined to ! local and coast consumption, consequently trans- j actions have been very small, the last pale of | ' South brands was made at $7 60 per 200 lbs less 6 per cent ; Santiago best brands have been sold at $8 25 and $8 12* per 200 lba less 6 per cent., ! but only in small lota, and holders would accent §8 por 200 less 6 por cent for a quantity. ! Barley — This article remains tho same, and wo quote to-olay §1 62£ per fanega for 155 lbs in ordinary bags, and §1 75 in stout bags.