COMMERCIAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3977, 13 December 1873, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Stand akd Instjba.nce Co. — The Otago " Daily Times" of the 9th inst afcatea that, at a meetiag held on the Bth mat, it was stated that a considerable number of applications for shares had already been received from the Northern provinces, and that more were now on their way. Besides these there are about 14,000 shares applied for in Otago. Dunbdin.— The "Otago Daily Times" of the Bth inst reports as follows : — The beginning of the month has opened fairly. As in the week preceding, so in thia, sugar has been the most promiijent article engaging the attention of buyers. Oa Tuesday last Messrs MLandresß, Hepburn and Co offered at their rooms the cargo of the Le Nore, from Mauritius, which was entirely sold with the exception of one Hue of very low rations, passed in at £22 per ton. Prices obtained were : — For fine to finest white crystals, £36 7s 6d to £38 10s ; fine to finest yellow crystals, £33 5s to £35 58 ; brown crystals, £28 12s 6d ; and rations, £22 to £23— a1l in bond. Notwithstanding the bo recent sale of the cargo of the Jane Rowland, on being convinced that the importers had resolved to sell, the trade thus heartily responded, and bought at a decline upon last cargo of 10s per ton in white crystals, and 20a per ton inbrown,up to finest yellow crystals. The Emperor, 295, from Mauritius, baa since arrived. Stocks of general goods have been further enhanced by the arrival of the Zealandia, 1116, from London, and of the Jessie Headman, 962, from Glasgow. Bottled ale and stout continue scarce, the first we hear of likely to put the market in better supply being Tennent's, advised to arrive per City of Dunedin. Brandy manifests a slightly declining tendency — prices not giving way much, but buyers being disinclined to operate. In rum, we hear of no sales of any note, and very little inquiry. In whisky, the demand for high class brands haß slightly improved — not much, but noticeable from its being its quiet season, and from the dulness that has characterised this spirit of late. Genera, JDKZ, has been quitted at from 13s 9d to 14s. Tea continues to pass into the hands of the trade in small parcels. The Carl, from Foo-chow, may be looked for shortly. The market is now well supplied with sardines. Salmon continues scarce. Currants remain firm at 4id. Butter is now coming in freely. Prices, for prime, from 7£d to Bd. In cheese, some considerable parcels of colonial have changed hand?, but at prices under last quotations. Kerosene is very slow of sale (to be expected in the summer months), and selling at ratefl which leave a loss to the importer. Cornsackß have been sold, -we believe, at from 13s 9d to 14s ; but some importers prefer holding until the season has further advanced, Woolpacks : owing to the number of those who haye imported this year — there are few buyers, and difficulty in quitting experienced. Hops, 1873, may Boon be expected. Considerable stocks of 1872' a are still on hand. Tobacco is in regular fair demand — the second importation of direct shipments from Cameron Brothers, consisting of twists, 10's, and aromatics, has been placed in one line, prices withheld. In gulvanised iron, sales have been made at a slight concession, which importers are reluctantly compelled to accept, despite of the firmness of the iron market in England. Of course this will remedy itself ere long. In fencing wire, parcels are made at maintained rates. In flour, quotations are unaltered and a fair demand exists. Oats are dull — the highest quotations being 4s. In wheat, very little has been done this week, and prices have declined to from 5b to 5b 2d. Bran, scarce, remains at £4. 105.

Matjbitius. — The Melbourne "Argus" of November 28 reports : — Private telegrams from Mauritius have been received via Aden, dated 14tk November, which state that whites were quoted at 7.50d01, or about 10 cents lower ; both whites and yellows were in good demand, especially the latter, which were scarce. One vessel was then loading for Melbourne, one for New Zealand, and one had been chartered for Sydney. Exchange and freights were unaltered.

Sydney. — The " Sydney Morning Herald" of December 2nd reports as follows of the markets: — The Asbhurton, from Rangoon via Melbourne, brings 5892 bags dressed, rice. The R.M.S. Bangalore takes 38,715 sovereignp, 13,2140z gold, 321 20z silver. Business in the import markets was duller to-day than is usual, even on mail days. We only heard of a small sale of Patna rice at £26. Messrs Bradley, Newton, and Lamb sold by auction a shipment of kauri timber, ex Phoebe, at 15s to 23s per 100 feet. In the stock and share market there was a decided improvement in the number of transactions in bank stock, and prioes opened rather firmer than on Friday. City Bold at 10 to 10i, Joint Stock at 12$ to 13, New South Wales at 47%, New Zealand at 17, and Union at 49. Holders of Commercial have raised the selling price to 80\. Steam and Insurance offered at former quotations ; no Bales. Debentures the same.

SAN Fhanoisco.— Via Melbourne we have San Francisco advices to September 23, reporting a firmer market for breadstuff's. About 500,000 busbels of wheat had changed bands during the previous week for Shipment to England. Twenty-nine cargoes of the new crop had previously cleared for that market. Closing quotations were : — Wheat, 2 dols 15 cents to 2£ dole ; barley, 1 dol 50 cents to 1 dol 60 cents j superfine flour, 8 dols.