COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4204, 18 January 1879, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Pbbss Office, Friday Evening. The Customs duties collected on Thursday, 16th January, amounted to .£558 4s sd, the itemß being.—Tea, JEIBSs 8d; sugar, £8$ 18s sd; coffee, 4541859 d ; spirits, £63 7s ;wine, .£lO 9s ?d; tobacco, £94 12s 6d; goods by weight, 13s 6d; ad valorem, .£263 16s; other duties, .£ls.

Pbsss Office, Friday Evening. The improvement in the import markets noted in our last has been well maintained throughout the week, and a satisfactory business has been recorded. Teas have received a good deal of attention; several parcels have chinged hands at full rates. Stocks of sugar have been further augmented by arrival of the Ebenezer, from Port Louis, with about 330 tons. We hear negotiations are pending for the sale of a large portion of tins cargo. Good trade sales have been effected at _32 to -31 for soft whites, _33 to £34 for white crystals, and .£3310s to £34 15s for finest white crystals. Spirits—Very little doing in these goods. Hermeasy's brandy continues to be enquired for, but there is no case in the market; 34s 6d would be given if obtainable; 10a is asked for bulk of the same brand. Tie trade are purchasing very sparingly, and only retail lines are passing. Bunochlade's old whisky has been placed at 9s 3d. Bottled ale would show better business if stocks of the favorite brands were in better supply; 12s to 12s 3d is the ruling quotation for Basa trade mark. Bottled stout h depressed owing to heavy stocks. Basa' No. 4 bulk has been placed at £9 10s ; stocks are almost run out. Kerosene and candles are both suffering from the same cause—over supply,—and business can only be effected at rates belew cost, vis, 12d for kerosene, and 9d to 10£ d for candles, according to brand. Trade sales in these lines are very meagre. Woolpaoka— The season for these is nearly over, and business is confined to felhnongers' parcels. 3s 6d is obtained from storekeepers. Comsacks have been in excellent demand, and several large lines have changed hands. Prices are somewhat irregular considering that importers of these goods are not numerous. Sales are reported at from 8s for 25 to 8s 6d for 2s. An offer of 8s ljd has been refused for a line of 200 bales. The 'Amelia and Loweswater are reported at Port Chalmers with cargoes direct from Calcutta. Some of these goods have been offering in this market, and a few sales have taken place. In■iiraificant sales of galvanized iron and fencing wire have been mads at £24 10s for Braby's iron, £25 Gospel Oak, and .£ls to .£ls 5s for Ryland's wire. Cement continues in active request at 18s to 18s 6d at railway. A parcel of Champion's vinegar has been takei np at 2s 3_d in quarters, 9s 6d per case for white, and 8s 6d for browa Tobacco—Raven twist has seen good business at Is 6fd i b. The E&ngitiK sailed yesterday with a full cargo for London. The Antares has completed her loading, and will follow in a few days. The C. S. Bushnell, from New York, with reapers, oil, notions, Ac., arrived January 9th, and the Helen Angier, also from New York via Port Chalmers, is hourly expected.