COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7358, 10 July 1889, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

When we last wrote business in the import market showed some signs of improvement, and during the past four weeks under review the volume of trade passing has been well up to the average, lne effects of the farmers storing their wheat for higher prices than those offering has been felt, more particularly in the country districts. Business generally continues upon ja flrnv basis, and shipments.' advised are well within the consomin* power of the place. The present prices

rulmg for Wo(rt od froam mntton are most encottraejnff to the cheep farmers, and we may Jhat another large and most compfctefreerinK establishment has just now In faU working It is to be hoped that the extra tonnage likely to ply the Home ports and New Kafifd «»» nOt lead EngUsh j shippers into torisigaiug merchandise to any great extent as the results can,not but turn out disastrous to those concerned, the communities' consuming requirements being weU c atered . '° r by importer* »* this side of the globe. It is pleasing to notice that the Government Intend to P"** 1 **? Tra^ 3 M»ft« Bill SSSIh tfito t»«ion. The Union InearaaceT Company and the Farmers' Society have held their annual nveettajrs. »nd the balancesheets presented to their shareholders were of a character to all concerned. ~The new term" of credit in the grocery trade ,- am e into force on the Ist Inst., and no doubt will check operations to some extent for the current month. Amongst foreiim arrivals may be noticed the direct steamers Doric and Kaikoura also Rothesay Bay and Opawa, all of which bring the usual mixed cargoes of merchandise. The Customs revenue collected at Christchurch for 3aae was £18,402195, as compared with 15s 9d for the corresponding month last year. Engagements throughout the month have been met with pleasing promptitude. Ihe chief item of interest daring the month was the unprecedented rise in the value of sugar. ! The whole of the shipment by the Dartagnan, from Mauritius; some 350 tons, was sold by public auction in Dunedin at from ; £36 to£37los».b Quotations in this market have ruled up to £45 for snowdrops At the moment the market is not in a settled state, and is likely to remain so until tue situation has been Mly determined. Stocks at present are by no means heavy. In teas a good business has passed, sales being forced for stock-taking purposes; values, however suffered little. .Boxes ot low and flue grades of China have continued scarce. Indians and Lev ions have also met with regular snips, and the latter sorts are coining tnor.into general favor. In tobacco, the agents report fair sales of ltuby and Juno, ox steamer. The business p.tHsim? in Cameron's tobaccoes has been clut'tiy confined to distributing houses. < andies have seen an improved demand. iii;imont's and Nationals have fetched ty.l and Bsd respectively. The colonial manufacturers report heavysales, chiefly lor rue low qualities, at from ojd. ? o & ?. l . a \-*.\ n ' 1000's Cos to 6/«. and for 230s 18s ud to 10s, with trade sales only. Hups have been dealt with in grocers' parcels only. In dried fruits—Currants have sold at from 4Jd to ad; stocks have been reduced ; elemes SM, and sultanas up to 6/..1. Tartaric acid at 2s Id, carbonate of soda 12s, and oream of tartar at Is Sd to Is 9d. have all seen sorting up sales. Vail Houtens, Cadbur/eaud Fry s cocoa have all met with good sales at regular rutes. Coffee essence has also met with i inproved demand. Cornflour, B. and P., has fetched from 7d, whilst outside brands have sold at from .iAd. In tinned flsh, salmon at from 10a to Us 3d, the latter for cocktail. Sardines dull of sale, at late rates. Jams and marmalade have met with good sales, and latterly prices have seen a sharp rise. D.S.I. mustard at from 18s 6d to 18* 9d for Js. Salad oils have been dull of kale. Heavy sales of rico have passed, ex recent arrivals, at prices favoring purchaser*. Sago and tapioca have seen an improved demand, as is usual at this season, at late quotations. Kerosene has met with a heavy demand, and deliveries have been frequent throughout the month. Salt to hand by the Olive has been sold in quantity, the demand being brisk at this season. Soda crystals and whitinghave been without quotable change. Bottled ale and Btout of first brands, such as Beads Does' Head, Foster's, Porter's Bull Dog, have met with regular sales at Importers' rates. In brandy, the several agents of Bisquit Dubouche, 0.V.P., Dennis Mounie, &c report trade sales only. In case brandies a email business has passed. Scotch whiskey at from 6s 6d to 9s 6d 1.8. has seen fair sales. Case Kilmarnock, Lome, Royal Blend have been placed in regular parcels. Bum has met with a better demand. Geneva and old torn have sold in quantity at late quotations. Sales of port wine have been effected at from 7s od to 12s 6d i.b.; lower qualities have continued short <n stock. Sherry has been neglected. In building materials little change has taken place. Galvanised iron o.b££i lOe; raw and boiled linseed oils at 3s 3d to 3s 4d, dull of sale; sheet lead from £19 to £20; castor oil has met with improved demand at 3s 3d. There has been little cement offering, with a limited demand. No. 8 fencing wire in better demand at from £11 5s to £12.