COMMERCIAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2667, 14 April 1868, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Caktekbuey. — The Lyttelton Times of Saturday reports : — The ordinary course of business for the past week has been somewhat interfered with by the auction sales which have taken place, still there has been a fair average amount of transactions. The fourth of the month passed off well, and there are no fresh failures of any consequence to record. The circulation of large sums of money .through the province, for the purchase of grain, is having a most excellent effect. In grain, there has been a fall in the price of oats, and buyers are difficult to meet with at. 2s per bushel ; the quotations may be considered as Is 9d to 2s. Wheat is scarce, and firm for really good samples, but the price does not range beyond 5a to 6s per bushel. Cornsacks are exceedingly scarce, and as much as 20s per dozen has been offered for them. The Gainsborsugh, shortly expected, will supply our wants in this respect. (3-oneva continues scarce, and is rising ail over the colonies. In brandies, a fair business has been doing. Old torn is very lightly held. Bulk and bottled ales are very quiet and difficult to sell. Bottled stout of good brands moves off freely. Cement is all but out of stock, and is wanted. Medium sherries are more in demand. Ports are quiet. Hams, bacon, and cheeße (English) are out of stock, but are not asked for. A better inquiry has been made for corrugated iron, but other kinds of building rnaterals are very dull of sale. Sugar? are moving off freely, and stocks are getting low. Teas are pretty heavy in stock, but a fair businesf is doing. The money market is easy. — Our last quotations for the grain market, remain unaltered, and, with the exception of flour being alittlefirmei atj£l3, and oats, continuing dull,we have nothing

to record. The rates obtained during the past week are R9 follows : — Wheat, 5s 6d to 6s ; oats, 1b lOd to 2a ; barley, 3s 9d to 4s 6d ; flour, £17, £18, and £19; bran, £3; sharps, £5; peas, 3s 6d ; and beans, 4s. Otago. — The Daily Times of the Bth instant says : — Breadstuff's are quiet, at maintained quotations ; and without any change in prospects. Oats remain nominally at last week's value ; but late Australian advices have caused the market to lose its firmness, and there are no considerable purchases at current rates. Sales of sugars at maintained values have beon mado. Teas have also been quitted rather more freely, and medium to good congous are now held with greater firmness. Spirits have been dull ; Hennessy's case, to arrive, lias been pluced, and parcels on hand moved at 31s. In malt liquors, nothing stirring, except a trifling business in bottled stouts. Melboubne. — The Argus of the 4th instant says :— Ureadstuffe are very firm at the rates lately established ; we hear of about a hundred tons of dour having changed hands at £21 10s. Sales of wheat, in moderate parcels, are likewise reported .it 9s. Oats appear to have touched the lowest point for the present, a further decline being arrested by speculative attention having again been directed towards this article. We learn of about 15,000 bushels having, in consequence, changed hands, and close on 4s 3d has been realised for best Tasmanian. Offers for large parcels to arrivo at a similar price have, moreover, been rejected. Maize is quoted at 8s 6d. The low price ruling for deals is beginning to attract notice ; some 60C0 pieces have been sold privately at 4£d for 9x3, and offers to purchase several cargoes have also been made, but as holders are very firm, and now ask 4£d, these have not as yet led to business. Oregon timber has been quitted at £10, and at a concession on this figure, the balance unsold of the same description could also have been cleared off. In liquids we note sales of Jeffrey's ale to land at 9s 3d to 9s 6d according to quality. The clearances of gold effected at the Customs during the week amounted;; to 43,478 oz. The total quantity exported since the beginning of the year has been 626,519 ozs, of which 62,206 oz were transhipments from New Zealand. The ! total exporfs during the corresponding period of last year amounted to 479,886 oz, of which 56,755 were the produce of New Zealand goldflclds. Sydney. — Telegrams dated the sth, published in the Argus, say that trade is dull and prices unaltered. Adelaide. — Telegrams dated 4th, are as fol; lows : — The corn market is firm. A superior sample of wheat has been sold at 12s ; but best samples are quoted at 9s. Flour, £21 10 ato £22.