COMMERCIAL

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3169, 10 April 1871, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

New Zealand Mail Office, Friday evening. The recent succession of bnd weather has greatly interfered with all business during the past week, and, although the commencement of the month, when, generally, trade is at its best, it is seldom wo can recall a period where bo few transactions, and those of so little magnitude, have transpired. Our task is consoquently a light one, as prices, with few exceptions, remain unaltered. Sugars are somewhat lower, owing to the decline of 40s per ton which has taken place in Australia, whence we derived our main supplies j our stocks are fortunately light, with the exception of Island sugar, which does not appear to gain much in favor in this market and which will ultimately be re-exported. Flour continues firm at tho late advances, but the news of the amount of damage received by the late crops down South is so contradictory that it is difficult to form any conclusion as to its value in the future in the face of the large yield in the other colonies. Feeding Grains have been in more active demand, but prices continue too low to afford much encouragement to shippers. Good samples of oats are worth 2s 8d to 3s per bushel, though great difficulty would be found in placing any quantity at those prices. Salt butter, for export, continues in little demand, and is quotod afc Sd to 6d per lb for prime samples. There is very little offering, and comparatively no enquiry, and unless a demand should spring up we muoh fear that holders will suffer considerably. Flax is coming in freely for shipment, and evidently improving in public estimation whilst from all accounts in tho neighboring colonies it is taking a high rank as a rope making fibre under tha name of manilla, whatever may bo ita future destiny under its own name as a new material for textile fabrics.

Axjckiand.— The " Southern Cross "of the Ist says :—" Stocks of teas, which were getting email, are now very fairly supplied by the shipments received, and good congous, in half-chests, range from Is 6d to Is 7d in bond; boxes, from 17s to 20s. A seasonable import of tobacco has also come to hand. Good tens, in bond, are now worth from lOd to Is Id per Ib. Cigars, Prince of Wales brand, 32s per 100 ; operas, from 42s to 50s. In candles the market is unaltered, Belmont sperms, full •weight, being still quoted at IHd, duty paid. Bice is in good supply, and is worth 21s per cwt, duty paid ; pearl barley, in 561 b bags, 19s per cwt. Stocks of oilmen's stores are, in many respects, very small. Batty's vinegar, in bottle, may be quoted at 10s 6d. Of aardines, in \ tins, the marltet is absolutely bare, and they are now worth 8s 6d per dozen ; halves are also scarce, and fetch 13s. Bloaters, in tins, are in short supply, and are quoted at 34s ; fresh herrings, in keg, 40s ; a shipment of lobster could readily be placed at 12s 6d ; salmon is in less demand, and brings 15s ; anchovies are also scarce, and are worth 12s for Crosse and Blaokwell's, and a similar price for the essence. For Morton'B and Whybrow's salad oil, in pints, from 7b 6d to 7s 9d is asked ; Crosso and Blackwell's, 9s. Vestas, in 2505, are worth 19s 6d per gross ; plaids, 7s 9d. The cargo of the City was valued at £70,066 ; of which £45,880 was the worth of gold on board. Gum contributed £13 020, and wool, £5,936. There was also shipped for tho home market butter to the value of £100. One noticeable feature in the City of Auckland's cargo is the entire abaence of any shipment of flax. The Hero, however, on Thursday, took 198 bales flax and 80 bales tow for Sydney. In broadstuffs tho increase noted ]»Bt week in the price of flour has again declined, and flour at tho mill is now quoted at from £13 to £15. Canterbury wheat has been sold at 5s 3d, and Adelaide at 6s 6d. Two large shipments have been received from Adelaide this week, tho first, per Lono Star, amounting in all to about 201 tons, and the second per Cyrus yesterday, to 4,100 sacks. Exclusive of the cargo of the Cyrus, 853 tons of breadstuffa (wheat and flour) have been imported during tho month of March. The quantity of oats received during tho same period was 7,802 bushels. Several parcels of maize have been sold this week at 5s 3d ; oats from 3s 4d to 3a 6d.

Cattle Report. — All the salesmen report a Bteady inquiry for good draught stock, but the Bupnly is very limited. Hunter and Nolan report for cattle : — Dniry cows eh^w a slight upward tendency, having sold moro on Tuesday at auction, at prices over £10, than for Borne time. There was more animation in the bidding for fat stock, and a higher average obtained. We quote 27s 6d per 1001 b. Sheep were penned in fair numbere, and obtained an advanced price. Stores are in good request, and the market is bare of fat sheep. We sold hnlf-breds from 12s to 15s ; some very choice, 17s to 22s ; mcrinoes, fro'Ji 8s to 10s 6d ; fat lambs, from 83 3d to 12s 6d ; store, from 5s to 6s 6d each. Pigs.— A very large number have been brought forward and sold freely, late prices being sustained.