COMMERCIAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3270, 5 August 1871, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

General dopres-ion lias prevailed in our market during the past month, und certainly the Customs returns of the last two months, showing as they do a falling off in the receipts of one thousand pounds for June, and five hundred and forty pounds for July, when compared with the same months of 1870, should lead us to the inference that our trade was falling away considerably, but taking a fairer average of four months, as under : — 1870. 1871.

it would appear that, although not mating any very great progress, we are, at any rnte, holding our own ; while, from the returns of the other provinces in New Zealand for the same period, we are informed there is a much wider deficiency. Notwithstanding these excessively dull times, there is a strong feeling prevailing amongst most mercantile men that the cautious system of trading and absence of undue speculation, which has beon a marked characteristic for some length of time past, will enable as the better to take advantage of the tide which would appear to have ebbed its full, and to be now about to flow. Meanwhile, to follow up this metaphor, it is Black water with us, and business is stationary. Money continues tight in most quarters, althought there is a large amount lying idle and waiting an opportunity for safe and profitable investment. Current bills are mot with regularity, and with theexception of one small drapery establishment, with trifling liabilities, we liavo no suspensions to record. Beyond the general requirements of the province, there have been no eales to any eztent in any special articles. It was thought at one period of the month that flour was likely to advance considerably in value, and strong efforts were made by the Southern millers to push up the prices. The local trade being well supplied, with no inclination to speculate, high quotations could not be sustained, and prices only remain at a ehadehighor than last month. Generally speaking, stocks are moderate, and the ease with which eupplies are obtained from without, by means of our regular steam communication, in the event of any unexpected demand, serves to equalize prices and to prevent those sudden alternations in value which marked the earlier stages of our colonial experience. Ale and Porter (duty paid, Is 3d per gallon) — There is very littlo good bottled stout in the market, and good brands are worth 11s 6d to 12s per dozen ; for bottled ale the demand is very light, in fact hardly any inquiry. Bulk English Ale and Porter— None in stock. Bags and Woolpacks (duty paid, Is 6d per cubic foot— The season is over for saclf,

which are quoted afc 13s Gd to 14s per dozen ; moderate stocks. Woolpacks are quoted at 4s 9d to 5s for lOfc lb, and 4s to 4s 6d for 8 lb packs. Stocks moderate, and advices of several shipments coming forward for the enI suing season. Boots and Shoes (duty paid, 5s per foot) — Stocks heavy, and sales difficult. | Candles (duty paid, Id per lb)— Stocks of sperm candles are still low, but several lots have reached us during the month from Melbourne, which have kept us from runuing entirely short ; ll^d per lb is the present ruling rate for Price's Behnonts. Chemicals— Sulphur (duty paid, Is per cwt) — Stocks, demand moderute, worth £25 to £28 p. r ton. Soda crystals (duty paid, Is per CW fc)_ ln little demand at £9 to £10 per ton. Tartaric acid and carbonate of soda (duty paid Id per lb)— Dull. Chicory (duty 3d per lb)— ln comparatively little demand. Barry's is worth 6£d por lb. Cement (duty Is per barrel)— Scarce. Good Portland is enquired for. Coffee (duty 3d per lb))— Ample stocks. Little business doing in this staple. Beet plantation is quoted at lOd per lb, in bond. Confectionary (duty 5s per foot) — Imported confectionary is much le3S enquired for than formerly, owing to the excellent quality of our own manufacture. Keillor's is quoted at lid por lb, sales difficult. Fish (duty 2s 6d per foot)— Fish of all descriptions is generally dull of sale at this time of the year, but prices, owing to the limited stocks, remain at former quotations. Salmon, in tins, 14kl to 15d ; sardines, halves, 12s Gd per doz ; quarters, 7s 9d to Bs. Red herrings, 35s per dozen tins of 2 dozen each. Flour and Grain (free)— The flour market during the past month has been in a tolerably quiescent state, most of the trade having laid in Btooks in prospect of the threatened rise, which has, however, failed to ensue. Good Canterbury flour still rules at £16 per ton for sacks, £16 10s for bags, with little prospect of improvement. Oats are in fair supply, and several shipments have been quitted at 2s lid to 3s per bushel ; demand moderate. Fruits (duty, Id per lb). — Tliia market still keeps bare of currants, and prices for good samples are quoted ut sjd to 6d per lb. Elemo raisins are equally scarce, and worth 6£d per lb. Sultanas Ihc\ to 8d per lb. Figs in small boxes are moving off s'owly at 9d. Barcelona nuts, 6 J f d to Gfcd per lb. Green Fruit — Oranges were rather in excess of our wants during the early part of the month, and realised very insufficient prices by auction, having been quitted at 6s 6d to 7s per case. Stocks are now exhausted, and they are quoted at 123. Hops (duty, Id per lb).— A perfect drug in this market, which in flooded with old hops, shipped most probably to obtain the excise drawback. A lot of prime Bavarian hops have been placed ut Is per lb, but sales are few and difficult. M:ilt (duty. 6d per bushel).— English malt is hardly saleable at 83 6d per bushel, and large quantities of colonial are offering at 5s 6d per bushel. Metals (duty, Is per cwt).— Stocks of corrugated iron are moderate, but, owing to tho dulness of the building trade, there is no demand for it at prosent. Scotch iron is quoted at £26 10s per ton ; English, £28 to £31 per ton. Fencing wire — Business dull. Oilman's stores (duty, 2s 6d por foot).— This market is kept pretty well supplied with most descriptions of tin's ware, and although stocks are light compared with what they were formerly, they are sufficient for all demands, and prices remain unaltered, affording but a moderate profit on direct importations. Oil (duty, 6d per gallon)— Prices for kerosene are nominal, and the market is fully supplied. We report sales at 3s for esteemed brands, but holders are asking 3s 2d. Colza — Full Btocke at 6s 3d per gallon ; demand dull. Rice (duty paid) 2s por cwt— Fine dressed Patna is worth £27 por ton for small bags 5 stocks are ample. Salt (free) — Stocks of both fine and coarse have moved off freely at 90s and 80s per ton respectively. Soft Goods (duty paid, 5s per foot;— The month gone by has proved a very dull one in this department, owing to the continued succession of bad weather. Stocks are rather heavier than importers like, and were it not for tho daily increasing demand for the outports there would bo no apparent probability of reducing them. Country orders have come in freely, and the advent of fine weather will doubtless cause a corresponding improvement in the town trade: Sugar (duty paid, Id per lb — We are still dependent on Melbourne for supplies, and consequently regulate our price by their quotations. Stocks are moderate, and fed by every steamer. No IC. is quoted at £49 10s per ton ; 0, £46 10a, and V £42 per ton. Mauritius sugar is seldom brought into this market now, in consequence of tho facilities afforded by the Melbourne steamers, but wo venture to hazard the opinion that consumers would find tho Mauritius sugar a more economical article than the light eort now in use. Tea (duty, 6d per lb) — Sovoral shipments from Melbourne during the month have served to supply our immediate wants, although our stock of old teas is still very large, and must ultimately leave a considerable loss to holders. Stocks of new teas arc moderate, and prices admit a fair margin of profit to importers. Tobacco (duty 2s 6d)— Stocks in bond are not excessive, but ample for all our requirements. Prices are unaltered — demand moderate Wines (duty 4s per ga!.) and Spirits (duty 12s per gal.) — The stock both of wines and spirits in bond is lurge, and sales are of the usual average as to quantity, there being no perceptible falling off or increase compared with the same period last year. Prices also remain comparatively stationary. Hennessy's brandy in quarters is worth 7s 9d to Bs. Martell's, '7b 9d ; case do, 28a to 29s ; rum, L H and Co, 10 0.p., 4s 2d ; 30 0.p., 4s 6d por gal ; Preston's, 10 o.p, 4s; 30 0.p., 4s 3d., with ample stock? ; geneva meets with dull sale at lls Gd to 14s 6d, according to strength and contents ; whisky — Dunville's, (in bulk) — light stock— worth 6s to 6s 3d per gal ; Kinnaban's do, 10a 6d per gal j Scotch, 4s to 5s 6d according to brand. Old Tom — No sale. Wines— Nothing doing. Butter in k^gs— Dull ; sales at 6H por lb. Cheese— lmportations of Port Cooper cheese have been cleared at s£d. Flax comes in freely for shipment, and we report sales at £18 for a good sample. Cattle are in good supply, and graziers are getting 20s por lOOlbs from the butchers for prime beasts. Sheep easy at 10s per head, for fut wothors. Horses — No demand.

April ... £3882 17 3 £4941 0 6 May ... 4572 5 9 5082 2 9 Juno ... 5078 12 10 4079 9 4 July ... 4997 6 8 4454 7 5 £18,531 2 6 £18,557 0 0