COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3041, 3 September 1870, Page 4

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

<» INDEPKNDENT ofllce, Friday evening. The present is usually the dullest season of the year, and formß, as it were, an interregnum between the winter and spring trades. Although the presence of so many of U.M. ships of war in our harbor, together "with the sitting of the General Assembly, have caused some stir in the place, and would tend to give a stranger tho impression that great activity prevails, we cannot disguise the fact that the amount of actual business done is hardly borne out by appearances. The Star of the South and Halcione have arrived from London during the pnst month, and our market is consequently fully supplied with the description of goods usually shipped from the homo country. Price? rule low, and goods barely yield an average profit to the importer, but we think wo may safely prognosticate that matters, gloomy as they hare hitherto been, begin to exhibit tokens of improvement. Ale and porter — With the exception of a small shipment of ale, there is no bulk English alo or porter in stock, the colonial beer having now entirely superseded it. The stock of bottled alo is moderate, with little or no demand, at prices varying from 9s lo 11s por dozen. Bottled porter is more enquired for, but stocks are ample and far above tho demand. Prices, according to brand, 10s to 11s 6d per dozon. Bugs and woolpucks — Tho enquiry for corn sacks hn3 somewhat censed, and they are now quotod tit 14s per dozon ; woolpacks, nominal. Candles — The stock of sperm candles is still in excess of requirements, and sales arc Blow at lU-cl to ll£-d per lb. Coffee—Plantation coffee, light stocks, with usual demand, at lOJd to lid per lb, in bond. Flour and grain — There is no alteration in the price of flour ; Wood's Canterbury flour is quoted at £13 10a per ton ; moderate stocks. We can give no quotation for wheat. Oats have come in li'eely, and 2'ealize, according to quality, from 3s 3d to 3s (id per bushel. Wo look for large shipments from Canterbury, as tho farmers there have been evidently holding buck I heir stocks in expectation of an advance, which is not now likely to ensuo. Thero is little demand for malting barley, and prices aro low. Maize— No enquiry.

Fruits, up to the arrival of the. Halcione, have been scarce. The supply she brings will meet the want of this market until the cargo of the Electra reaches this port, as that vessel has large shipments of new fruits on board. Currants are worth s£d to 5-J d per lb ; eleme raisins, 6Jd to 7d per lb ; figs, 9id ; muscatels, Is to Is Id, for new fruit. Hops — Market over supplied ; no enquiry. Malt — Heavy stocks in bond. We hear of no sales, and quotations ore unaltered. Oilmen's stores— Plentiful. Some lines that were scarce last month have been replaced by consignments recently received, and prices aro without alteration. Oils— Kerosene : tho stock of this oil is only moderate, but small shipments arrive so continuously that prices are kept down, and 3s to 3s 2d por gallon is the highest quotation forCoaens' and Downer's brands. Other brands are iv no demand. Eice in fair supply, at £24 to £26 per ton for clean dressed Patna. Salt — Market full from recent arrivals. Fine snlt is worth 90s ; coarse, 80s per ton. Soft goods — A fair amouut of business is doing in drapery, mostly for shipment coastwise The town trade lias been I'allier dull, but as the Halcione brings tho supply of spring and summer goods we look for much improvement during the ensuing month. Tobacco — There is no cliange from last month's quotations. Stocks are in fair supply. Tea — Our stocks of good tea are becoming low, but tho market is still stocked with old teas. Buyers aro holding back for tho new season's teas, which may be shortly expected, and really choice sorts are in demand. Svgar — The price of sugars for Company's sorts remains the same as quoted lust month, with the usual demand ; crushed loaf, dull of Bale at £55 to £56 per ton, d.p. < I Wines and spirits — Wines dull. Brandy in quarters is in fair supply at 7s 2d to 7s 3d per | gallon for Muvtell's and Hennessy's ; case brandy is scarco and quoted at 28s to 29s per ease ; j b.p. rum, 4s Id to 4s 3d per gallon for ten per cent j 0.p., 4s 6d for 30 per cent, o p. ; case gin, plentiful and dull of sale at prices regulated by contents ; whisky, Scotch, in fair supply at lls 6d to 14s 6d ; do, Irish in fair supply, at 17b 6d to 183 ; bulk whisky is not in demand — good stocks. Keg butter is dull of sale, and 9d to lOd is the quoted value of a first-class sample, but shippers aro inclined to look with distrust on tho present stock, and prefer waiting the new season's supply,