COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8362, 10 December 1888, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Saturday evening. The amount of customs revenue received to■day on goods cleared for consumption amounted to £354 6s 9d.

As usual, at the beginning of a month, business in the import market during the past week has been fairly brisk. Values of goods have not undergone material alteration, but have been well maintained. On Thursday last Messrs E. 0. Reynolds and Co. offered at auction the Dunedia portion of the Penpont's cargo of Mauritius sugar, when every line was disposed of in unusually quick time. The prices secured did not rule high, but the bidding was spirited. Fine to finest greys realised £19 2s 6d to £19 7s 6d per ton; yellows, £19J12s 6d per.ton; snowdrops,£l9 los per ton; and brewers' crystals, £20 10s to £20 los per ton. Privately a considerable amount of business has been done in sugars during the week, ank stocks are not by any means largo. Trade lots are placed at £26 per ton for snowdrops (duty paid), and greys to fine whites £2o and £25 10s per ton. The demand for fruit for Christmas trade has hardly set in yet, and prices are not very firm. The market is plentifully supplied with new fruits, and these are offering in trade lots as follows:—Currants, 5d per lb; sultanas, 6d per lb; Elemes, 5Jd per lb ; Valeucias, s|d per lbf muscatels, Is 2dto Is 4d per lb, according to quality; figs, 7s to 7e 6d per doz. Fish is slow of sale, and values are unaltered. Beat brands of American salmon sell at 10s to 10s 6d per doz; other brands 6d to Is per doz less. Stocks of Patna rica are small, and trade lots command £2110s to £2210s per ton; dressed rice is in plentiful supply at £19 to £20 per ton. There is still some business passing in cas9 spirits. Leading brands command a slight advance on previous duty paid prices, but not the full amount of the additional duty. Salt continues to rise in value. Black Horse (fine salt) now secures £5 to £5 10s per ton; coarse is quoted at £4 5s per ton. There is a little more business doiug in tea, but nothing worthy of special note. In the bagging market there is some inquiry for cornsacks, the first shipment having recently arrived, via Melbourne. Prices still range up to 6s 6d per dozen, according to quantity. Woolpacks are still slow in moving <jff, 2s 3d per pack is the best, price obtainable for ordinary lots. Hops continue very firm, holders of Nelson's asking up to 2s per lb. A good business has been done in the metal market during the week, and values of most lines are hardening. Galvanised iron is held for £21 to £22 per ton, usual extras. Fencing wire has advanced 10s per ton, to-day's quotations for No. 8 being £11 per ton. Cement has also -advanced, and is firmly held for 183 to 18s 6d per barrel. Kerosene is dull, as to be expected at this season; high test oils are quoted at Is Bid to Is 9d per gallon, duty paid. Raw and boiled linseed oils move off at 3s Id to 3s 2d per gallon, and colza at 3s 9d per gallon. Coarse castor oil is held for 3s per gallon. Miller's lines keep up in response to the advance in produce. To-day's quotation for flour is £20 per ton, and for oatmeal £1110s to £12 per ton.