COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume XXXII, Issue 4399, 5 September 1879, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

PBSBB Office,. Thursday Evening. The Cnitoms revenue collected on Wednesday a-anated te .£lO9l Os 2d, aa follows: —Tea, _Sl9 14» ; suf-ar, J354 9s Id; wine, £%9 8s 7d ; spirits, £360 13s 3d; tobacco, -3144 17s 6d ; oil—an's stores. £84 9s lid; drapery, _8197 12s ; boots, £7 9s : hardware, £79 3a; drugs, _C2B 10s ; furniture, JB2 12s; cemeat, £7 10s j fancy goods, -32 14s; sundries, £43 17s. There was no land cold by the Waste Lands Board on Thursday. Business generally still continues thoroughly inactive, ana from every quarter, both wholesale and retail, we hear nothing but,'complaints of the paucity of orders. It is more than probable that the absorbing interest created by the general election now going on is one of the disturbing elements affecting business at the moment. At any rate it is to be hoped that the attention at present withdrawn will re-assert itself in an appreciable improvement as soon as ihe fight has been lost ana won. There is no doabt money for mortgage purposes is now more plentiful and rates more easy to the borrower, but general t-ade is not quite so satisfactory as it could be wished. The fourth of ihe month has only passed moderately well, while the strain experienced has been heavier than lately. The month has opened very badly as far as actual sales are concerned, and buyers are remarkably guarded in their purchases. The week's operations under review do not embrace the quittance of many invoice lines, transactions for ihe _ moat part having been confined to distributing parcels. Bottled ales remain unaltered, Bass', of the heat bottlers, commands 12s to 12s 3d, but less has been accepted, when stout has been taken with the parcel- With the approach of the summer a better enquiry should be noted, and stocks are not excessive. Bottled stout continues dull of sale, and parcels of any bottlers are difficult to quit. Prices range from 10s 6d to lis 9d, according to the brand. We cannot report much business in liquors. Trade sales of bulk brandy have been fair at late rates, but the interest excited in the Melbonrne market consequent on the reported probable shortness of the IVench production has not extended to this market, as stocks held are sufficient to keep us going for a long time. The only item in short supply is Hennessy' a case.which commands 34s to 34s 6d Otard's case has been quitted at 255. The slightly i—proved demand noted last week for whiskeys has been maintained, and small lots both of case and hulk have changed handa for quarters; best blended has been placed at 9s to 103 ; Lily at 7a to 7s 6d; Dalmore, 5s 6d to 6s. Several small parcels of lower grades are being tried at prices varying from 4s 6d to ss. In case prices realized have been, Kilma—iock,2ls; Lome and Sob Boy, 19s to 20a; Irish whiskeys have not received much notice. There is nothing doing in rum, the deatand lately having noticeably fallen off. Sales of Wolfe's and Hart's schnapps ore reported at 22s 6d and 20s respectively. Geneva has been quitted at 13s 6d to 16s, according to contents. Porta and sherries remain without life. For groceries and kindred lines the inquiry is equally confined. Salt is offering freely and at non-paying rates. Soda crystals, in ton lots, are being taken np at .£3. Sugars and teas are quiet. A sale of a large line of castor oil can be noted, at a price withheld. Kerosene is steadily going into consumption at Is 6d to Is 7d for low test oils, and Is lid to 2s 3d for high test. Van Eenten's cocoa is ruling Wgh,th» market bein_- complet-ly bare. Small sales of woolpacks, to ke»p going until tho arrival of the Campsieglen with stocks, have transpired at 33. For parcels to land 2s 9d is being asked. Fencing wire and galvanised iron are unaltered. Cement is in over supply and, failing sat—factory rates, consignees are strong in the hope that in the advised falling off of shipments prices will improve. Slates, both English and American, are dull of sale. We note the Ada Whitwell was to sail from New Tork for this port via Dunedin on the 10th August.