COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 284, 1 December 1898, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

.Auckland Star* Office: Thursday, usual at this season of the year retributing- llolises a, re veT? r^"' the ltiftrv Christmas demand being in- * Msed' due to larger orders being ! crCl, in ' owing to the anticipated inj E sec i requirements in consequence coming to the Auckland riliVtrial and Mining Exhibition, JiS opened to-day. -and bids • to he a great success. Already of new faces may he seen in V s treets, and during the Christmas cation no doubt there will be a large • V? fhix from outside districts, but visit--111 from a distance will most probably ol_fer to spend their Christmas at lime and come on to Auckland early ■ rj; c lie w year. The balance of the "Ly season's Christmas fruits arrived r in<r the past week. The elemes . ove d an excellent- sample, but stilfmS were only of fair quality, al-:noti°-n higher in prices than they . er e°at the opening of last season.' 2L Westralia also brought new season's «ates and figs. Th_ latte Rye very ay this season, being about double the y s s eason. being about double the rice 'ruling- twelve months ago. The j sudden advent of hot weather created j n increased demand for canned goods Generally, salmon especially having we sales. Very line samples of soft .},_".] almonds have come forward this Te ar New season's muscatelles have opened in excellent condition. Good c_]es are reported of liquors of all descriptions. Usher's Special Reserve ffhisky is in very short supply, owing to the breakdown of the Firth of Cromarty. The Sukar. which also had supplies'of this brand on board, had to put into Mauritius, and the Gairntoch also had to put back, the result being- that these delays have run the market for Ushers very bare. The Eiffel Tower fruit juice is now being : introduced on this market, and meets j with ready sale, as various kinds of refreshing summer drinks can be made from it speedily, and with little troub- : ]c. The Alice arrived during the week : from New York with a cargo of American .roods, including 12,">00 cases of kerosene. This did not. however. can*e prices to decline, because the yew York market for this article _as advanced considerably, and to-day kerosene is if anything a shade firmer. The kauri gum market has been fairly busy during the past week, the main demand so far being for ordinary grades. Stocks of East Coast are be?inning to accumulate, as buyers are not inclined to pay the prices at present asked by holders, and it would ■ almost seem as if concessions will re- j quire to be made before sales take j place. The flax market is again quiet. ; there being at present scarcely any i orders awaiting fulfilment.. The ] timber industry and building trade ! continues brisk, and mills are still ■{ running double shift. , J Better business has been done on : ' the Exchange during the past week, j Bunker's Hill shates continue to have f

steady demand, as high as 2s Sd having ken offered. This is due to the rich specimen stone from a four inch lender in the mine leading- to the belief that the Hauraki run of gold has been picked up ag-ain. Proposals for the reconstruction of the Barrier Reefs Company, with - a view to producing increased capital, were submitted to shareholders during the week and unanimously agreed to. Under the scheme submitted, paid-up shareholders consent to contribute certain capital, and contributing- shareholders are relieved of a portion of their liability. Waihi Silverton shares firmed in price, Cs being- refused during the week. Moanataiaris also advanced sixpence, and Waitekauris had steady demand 'at 27s Gd. Talismans, on the other hand, were not quite so firm, but are still wanted at 12s. Generally speaking, the tone of the market is good, and an all-round advance is by no means improbable. Potatoes. —The demand both locally and for shipment has continued very brisk. The market for kidneys is firm at £9 to £10 per ton; for Shepherds, £S 10s: and fo Magnum BonTtms. £9. Maize.—The market is extremely bare. The Waiotahi only brought up S3 sacks, the Waltangi about SO sacks. The Xgunguru, which has been barbound in Whakatane for a week, came in yesterday with 300 sacks, the arrivals totalling short- of 00 sacks. We ! quote 2s'lod ex wharf. 2s lOd ex wharf.

Oats.—The market was replenished by shipments per Flora this week, which vessel brought 5000 sacks. Price, 8s 2d to 2s 3d c.i.f.

Chaff.—Supplies are rather bare, but there is no quotable change. Onions.—The new crop is quoted at from 12s to 14s per cwt. _ . Wheat.—This market shows little change, but if anything the tendency is towards easier prices, owing to the fact that the new season's wheat is already in the Australian markets. As really prime grain is, however, scarce in this colony, concessions in price are not likely to take place. Bran and sharps are not meeting with much enquiry at present. Flour.—Deliveries have been heavier (lining the week, owing to orders received for the first of the month.

Cheese.—The market for cheese continues bare in the South, there being a brisk demand for all descriptions •Some of the early factories are sendi'\? out consignments as fast as shippers can get them. Locally, the price

■"'-' -iieese rules high. 'iitmeal has declined in price in • ntpathy with the oat market. Butter and eggs have altered in price during the week. Butter came in so freely tliafc the price declined cue penny per pound. Eggs, on the other hand, rose one penny per dozen. Fruit.—-Supplies of fruit are beginn'ng to come in more freely, local Phims, gooseberries, strawberries, '"(pints and currants being now offered at more reasonable rates.

j tomatoes 6d to Sd, lemons, medium size i W to 10/ case, coarse do. 6/ to If, Cape ] gooseberries 6/ to 7/ per case, Cape goose- : berries 5d lb, gooseberries, selected large 3d lb, ordinary 2;d to 2,.d. small do. Id to , l_d. Poultry: Ordinary hens 1/ to 1/1. roosters 2/6 to 3/, ducks 1/6 to 2/, geese 2/ to 2/6, turkey gobblers 7/ to 9/, hens 4/ to 6/, young pigs 3/ to 12/, according to breed.