COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7272, 4 February 1889, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

The following is the revenue collected at the Customs for the week ended February 2nd, 1889:— . £ s d Customs duties ... ... 7876 16 6 Beer doty 14914 3 Otherreceipts ... ... 142 16 2 Total .. v r ... . : ... 8169 611

Business in the import market has been rather disappointing during the past week, the purchases of the trade being almost entirely confined to sorting up for immediate requirements. The arrivals comprise the direct steamship Kaikoura and ship Rakaia from London, and considerable sales have passed of goods to land by these vessels. Cornsacks have met with an active demand, and holders now ask a substantial advance on late quotations. Heavy sales have passed of castor, and machine oils at importers' .rates, binder twine has also met with an active demand, and there is a probability of stocks running short of requirements. Transactions in reapers and binders continue to pass upon a satisfactory scale. Teas meet with a moderate demand only. Sugars are not heavily held, and fine to finest whitecrystalafetchfrom£2llosto £22 10s Lb. Fine salt is scarce, and spot lots are taken up at the advanced rate now ruling. Kerosene meets with frequent deliveries for this time of the year. The Mathilda Hennings has arrived at Dunedin from New York, and comes on to this port at an early date. Candles are dull of sale ; shipments afloat show a considerable advance in cost. 1000's vestas, which are scarce, readily fetch 68s 6d to 70s; 250's, 18s 6d and upwards. Van Houten's cocoa sells at usual rates. Tinned fish meet with a fair demand. Salmon continues scarce, and sells in trade lots, for cocktail at Used, outside brands down to 10s 6d. Currants are dull of sale. Rice, tapioca and sago all move off in trade, lots at late rates. The several agents report a fair enquiry for vinegar, white e&rch meets with regular sabs at full rates, . Bottled ale and stout meet with limited trade sales. In wines urxd spirits ;no transactions have passed which call lor, special notice. . In building materials the market remains unchanged. Galvanized iroo sells at the advanced price now firmly established. '