COMMERCIAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 2785, 16 January 1869, Page 4

C OMMERCI AL.

Independent Office, Friday evening. ! Business has not improved during the past month to any very perceptible extent, although we have received a large accession to our stock of serviceable goods by the arrival of the Melita, and Wild Duck from London, and some slight animation may have been felt in the country trade, as might be expected at this season, -when most of the wool comes in for shipment. The low price of this staple, us well as of every description of country produce, has necessarily imposed upon producers, the obligation to restrict their expenditure within the smallest compass in order to meet the exigencies of the times and keep within their present lessened incomes — and the town trade naturally suffers. Dealers complain that things are duller than they have been known for eomeyearg past, and that there is agreufc difficulty in getting in outstanding accounts — as the Provincial Government employes and contractors have their accounts some months in arrear, it is not surprising that a general tightness should be folt among all classes. This state of depression, together with the uncertainty incident upon a state of war — which, although sufficiently distant to preclude any notion of danger, either to person or property, cannot fail to have a damaging effect on all mercantile operations — have neverthelets Berved to bring down the value of both property and goods. The Otarai station, which was valued at £15,000 some few years back, has been sold by auction for £8,000; and we hear of another station in the game district, for which £40,000 has been refused, having been just purchased for £21,000. Goods generally rule lower in value, and few sales of any magnitude occur. Dealers buy sparingly, and no temptation in price will induce them to depart from their rule of limiting their purch. n ,ses to the ordinary requirements of their trade. A cargo of tea has been just landed by Messrs Turn bull, Beeves & Co., ex Mary, from Foo-Chow-Foo, which have, wo believe, been selected with special regard to the taste of this province, and are sure to be of excellent quality. We can, however, speak positively as to the condition iv which the cargo has been landed as being unexampled — every package being as fresh looking as when it loft the packer's hands in China. The Asterope, -with a full cargo, suiled on thelOth for London, and the Electra, Melita, and Wild Duck will follow shortly. It id with much regret that we notico the cessation of the Panama mail contract as, irrespective of the loss it must be to us and the whole of the Australian colonies in the stoppage of a regular communication with the West Coast of America, and its probable influence on the flour market of the Colonies, is a direct loss to this port of so much actual expenditure per month in fresh provisions, &c , for the steamers and their passengers. We hopo to see an undertaking so energetically started yet carried out with success. Ale and Porter. — Market fully supplied and sales difliculfc. Importers are asking 11s Gd per doz for Ind Coopcs bottled ale (new brew), and 9s to 10s 6d for otjier brands. Blood's bottled stout is worth 12s dd, and London Bottled Beer Company's 11s Gd, othor brands from 9s to 10s 6d. Draught ale and porter — superseded by colonial brew, and nominal at £7 per hhd, duty paid. , Bags and Woolpacks. — There has been a rise in the value of three- bushel sacks owing to the increased demand, and sales have been made at 14s to 15s per doz. Woolpacks — nominal. Candles. — A speculative demand for sperm candles has raised tho value to 12d and 12id per lb, but we do not think tho riso will be maintained here, our consumption being much reduced by the low price of kerosine. Sydney moulds oro worlh 7d. Cofftje.— Liglifc stocks of raw coffee, but little demand, and prices unaltered. Flour. — Adelaide flour is firm at £16, Chilian [ £15 per ton, colonial £16. Our future rates will

dopend on the Australian markets, as the stock on | hand is not heavy. Hops. — New hops are worth 2s to 2s 6d per lb, although a small parcel at auction only realized 1b 6d per lb. i Rice. — Over supply of inferior quality at £12, while good Patna is worth £24 to £28 per ton. Salt. — Full stocks and unsaleable. Fine salt realized 50s per ton, and coarse 30a by auction. Liverpool salt is quoted at 70s to 80s per ton by importers. Spirits. — Usual demand. Fair stocks. Marfcell's brandy, in bulk, 7s 9d to 8a 3d per gallon. Case do, 28s to 29s Dunville's whisky, 6s 6d to 7s per gallon for quarters ; 18s 6d to 19s for case. Old Tom, 16s per dozen. Geneva, 16s to 22a per case, uceording to contents. Rum, 10 0.p., 4o 6d per gallon. "Wines. — Usual demand. Are stocked with inferior. Sugar. — The advance in Melbourne has been followed by a similar rise here for Company's pieces, and quotations are now fully £2 over former value. Duty paid — No. 1C is quoted at £52 per ton ; No. 2, W ditto £54 per ton ; No. 1, W ditto £58 per ton ; V ditto £40 per ton. Mauritius and other sorts are so little in demand, that we notice 258 bags of Mauritius reshipped back to Dunedin. Tea — Fully stocked, previous to the arrival of the Mary, whose cargo will be tried at auction next week. Tobacco. — Barrett's twist is worth Is 9d per lb, other sorts nominal — in fact, wo believe there is a large quantity introduced, free of duty, which of course stops the sale of the legitimate article. Cigars. — Havannah shaped, in demand, and worth 758 to 80s per 1000, in bond. Butter. — No demand for salted, in kegs, there is a large afcook on hand, and sales have been made at 7d to 8d for prime — inferior quality, totally unsaleable. Cheese. — Colonial is saleable at 9d to lid per lb, and we believe a good manufacture would always command a remunerative price in the Melbourne murket, where it is in request, if good. Oat 3. — Market full. A shipment would be wo»th 2s 9d per bushel for a good sample. Maize is in no demand on account of the great prevalence of weevil this season — fortunately, there is no large stock on hand — present quotation, 4s 6d per bushel.