COMMERCIAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3175, 17 April 1871, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Independent office, Saturday evening. Wo note an improving demand for goods of every description for the outports, although the stoppage of tho road to the Walrurupa district for drays necessarily checks operafiona in a quarter where a large trade has been hitherto done. Otherwise the business of tlie past week has been especially dull and n<> transactions of any magnitude have eomo under notice. In imported goods stocks continue ample and prices rule low. Sales are restricted within tho smallest possible limits consistent with tho looping up of the necessary stock, for the ordinary requirements of the retailers' trade. In other respects mutters appear to bo moderately healthy, the caution that biio for some time pact been exercised by buyers having been followed by good results that would be further increased if check to the exaggerated system of credit, to retail cuBtomerB could ho adopted. We firmly heHers th»t in r.o other part of the world can there beeornuch credihgiven for smull articles, and the consequence follows that the retail shopkeeper is always bumpered by a largo number of book dchtp, insignificant in their separate amounts, but gradually iricnjasiiiK <>n his books from year to year, mil il his capitul is swallowed up, and in the event of insolvency or death, tlu-ae amounts become impossible of collection. We <Nmnot too strongly depre cate this systom of universal credit, whicn is, in reality, the hidden cause, which has for some time past been sapping the foundiitiona of business in the city, the evil results of which, we fear, have yot io be felt, although we hardly see a cure for it in the ureeenr overdone number of retail Bhops. Groceries aio in full supply. In wines and snirils the usual amount of bueiners is done, with little variation in price, and stocks in bond continue heavy. Flour is at our last quota' ion, with a filiifhl. tendency to harden, and pales of Canterbury of first brands have been marie at £\3 10s and £14 per ton, but the tmde rlo not jrom inclined to lay in stocks even at these figures, in spite of the general indications of a rise in value in all the adjacent colonies and rather lean to

the opinion that, owing to to the krge yield in the crops of the past season no material advance in value can be sustained. There have been no arrivals of oats, but wo hear of a sale of 1000 bushels of prime sample to arrive at 2a 9d per bushel. Our market is in the meantime well supplied, and as dealers hands are full, any largcqvantity sent in would considerably depress prices. | There is no improvement in tho butter trade, and prime samples of cured butter in kegs may bo said literally to " go a begging" at 6d per lb. The export cattle trade is also at a standstill, tmd stockowners complain of no demand. Fat beasts for tho butcher aro worth 15s per 1001 bs. CANTERBtmr.— The "Press" of the 15th reports :— During tho early part of the week a very strong desire was manifested to purchase wheat owing to tho Australian advices, and 4* 2d to 4s 4d was readily paid for superior parcels, and 43 6d in store was refused. Tho last telegrams from Molbourno, however, advising a check in breadstuff's, have in a manner reacted on this market, and stored samples were yesterday placed at 4s 4.£ dto 43 sd, while future deliveries were moved at 4s 2d to 4a 3d. The fact, however, that all tho millers have yet the bulk of their purchases to make, will to some extent support prices. The millers are quite out of flour, and cannot supply orders fast enough. Prices are very flrm at £13 to £14. Oats are somewhat easier ; prime milling samples have been placed at 2s 3d in storo, and Is lid to 2s for forward delivery. Several sulcs of barley hare been effected, but in every instance tho saraplo has been below prime ; 2s 9d to 3s are about average rates, while 3s 3d to 3s 6<\ would bo paid for superior Chevalier malting parcels. Oornsacks meet with a steady demand at 14s 3d to 14s 6d, at which figures heavy sales have been made. Messrs Preeco, Ick and Co. report :-— Cattle— 4s head wero yarded, and all sold except two head, as under. Cows, nearly dry and inferior, brought £3 15s to £'i ; do, new milched, or nearly calving, £5 7s 6d to £6 ; steers, 18 months old, £2 15h to £3 7s 6d ; yearling heifers and steers, 37s 6d (o 49s ; calves, 6 to 9 months old, 20s to 29s j do, a week old, 8a to lla 6d. PigsVery large numbers are now coming forward, nearly 300 wero yardod ou Wednesday and Saturday last, all of which were sold at fair prices. Bacon pigs realised fully 3id, and porkers 4d per lb. Oats— Good Canadian, 2s to 2d 4d j ditto Tartarian, la 9d to 2s. Potatoes—Good I -er wonts, £3 to £4 per ton. Carrots, £2 por ton. Onions, £8 to £9 ditto. Flour— best brands, £13 por ton ; ditto, farmers' gristing, £7 to £10; sharps, £4 to £5. Bran, £3. Cheese — by auction — good, 5d per lb ; medium and inferior, 2J-d to 4d ditto. BaGon, good, 5d to 7d ; inferior, 3d to 4£d. Hams— very scarce; good are worth 7d to 9d por lb ; medium and inferior, 5d to 6d per ib. Otaqo.— The "Times" of the 10th reports : — "Business continues quiet, with transactions in the market light. The market is aupplied with very few brands of ales and stouts, and for the latter a better enquiry has existed. Cornsacks continue to move only in light parcels ; 13s 6d to 13s 9d are holders' rates. Small sales of Devoe's kerosene aro reported at 3s 6d, duty paid ; buyers hava been expecting easier rates, but ns immediate alteration seema now likely. The produce market hai been moderately active. Graiu has generally come to hand very sparingly, good samples of feeding oats finding ready purchasers at 2s 3d to 2a 4d. Wheats have been quoted during tho latter part of tho week at 4s 3d to 4s 6d ; but it is now doubtful if tho latter figure would bring out parcels of prime quality, tho market closing with a docided upward tendency. Flour has been in good demand for tho town trade, prices ruling latterly at £11 10 ato £12, millers declining large engagements at the latter figure.