COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7225, 10 December 1888, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs revenue for the week ending Saturday, Bth December, 1888, amounted as follows:—Customs duties, £6483 4s 10d; beer duty, £29711s 4d; other receipts £1017s 8d; total, £6887 3s lOd.

Since our last report appeared business in the import market has hardly come up to expectations, rather a quiet tone having prevailed since the opening of the month. Engagements falling due on the 4th have with but few exceptions been satisfactorily met. Amongst the arrivals may be noted the direct steam liners Rimutaka and lonic, with considerable cargoes. The Anahuac has arrived from New York via Dunedin, her cargo consisting chiefly of reapers aud binders for the coming harvest. Bulk ale meets with moderate sales. Worthington at from £10 ss, and Younger"s and R&ss at £9 ss. Ale and stout by first bottlers sees usual trade sales. In spirits, Scotch whisky at from 6s 6d to 9s 6d claims most attention. In case spirits but little passing, the trade having laid in stocks previous to the new tariff coming into operation. With the near approach of Christmas, a better inquiry should prevail for wines. The market is at present lightly stocked with sugars, £2010s and £21 Lb,, being readily obtained for whites and snowdrops. Yellovj cnystals are wanted. Crushed loaf sugar meets with sales at late rates. Currants are selling at from s£d, sultanas 6M, elemes 5Jd, Valeneias from Gs to 6|d. Fancy lines suitable for the seasons are aLao meeting with a good demand. Tinned fish are in fair demand. Kerosene is being delivered ex recent arrivals. Candles, both colonial make and imported, are rather slow of sate. Teas are selling in trade parcels only. Golden syrup letches from 20s 6d. Vinegar is in better request. Tapioca and sago sell at up to 3d. The smaller lines of groceries meet with a sorting up notice only. Heavy freight lines, such as soda crystals, fine and coarse salt, are without quotable change.