COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 7747, 19 October 1888, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

The amount of revenue collected at the Custom-house on goods cleared to-day for consumption was L7IG 7s Cd. The property at the corner of King, George, and St. David streets, on which Albion House stands, has been purchased for L 2.800 by Mra .lames, the occupier of the premises.

THE CUSTOMS REVENUE,

The total receipts from diatoms for the past quarter amounted to 341,770. This is only L 20.000 (in round numbers) more than the Customs revenue for the September quarter of J887; but the new "primage" duty yielded L14.4G3, so that the year's total revenue wider the head of Customs amounted to 1*359,233, or to nearly 135,000 above last year's figures for the corresponding period. Notwithstanding the increase in the spirit duties from 14s 6d to 15a and lfis per gallon, the revenue from that Item shows a falling off of LB.OOO, or nearly 10 per cent. The increase of Is per lb on cigars and snuff has brought in practically the same returns as the smaller duty, the increase being only a few pounds. The tobacco duty has produced almost exactly the same sum as last year; and, taking the different classes of wines, it appears that the one on which a 6a duty per gallon is now paid has yielded some 16 per cent, less revenue than it did the year before with a duty of 5s 6d. The increase on the other class from 6s 6d to 9j is associated with a decrease of 3 per cent, in revenue. On the othor hand, the class on which the duty has been increased ftom 4s 6il to 5s exhibits an improvement at the rate of nearly 12 per cent. Ale and beer (in the wood) have yielded less revenue by about 16 per cent., and the extra 3d per gallon on the same liquors (in bottles) has only resulted in some 7 per cent, less revenue being realised. Altogether the revenue from alcoholic liquors and tobacco in its various shapes is less by about LIO.OOO than for the September quarter of last year in spite of heavier duties. Next to wines is tea, the duty on which is raised by 50 per cent. Here, again, the increase in duty from 4d to 6d per lb has given no increase in revenue, but, on the contrary, there is a falling off to the extent of as nearly as possible 20 per cent. Coffee and Bugar give much the same ai last year. The latter displays a slight improvement, as also do "goods by weight," but the difference ia very trifling. The ad valorem and miscellaneous duties, however, show a large increase of over L3s,ooo.—'Daily Times' telegram.

STATISTICAL,

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. The traffic returns for the four weeks ending 15th September are:—

Grand total.. £85,n0 111 £ao,(iuo 10 3 GOLD EXrOHT. Comparative return of the quantity and value of gold entered for duty for export from New Zealand for the quarters ended 30th September, 1888, and 30th September, 1887:-

CUSTOMS REVENUE during quarter ended 30th September, 1888 : Total revenue all ports, L31j!),233, as compared with 1324,507 for corresponding quarter last year. Auckland, L 82,0. r >4; Wcllington,Ls4,r>3B; Lyttelton, L 56.834; Duncdln, L88,74fi. The primage duty amounted to L 14.403 for all porta. POST OFFICE REVENUE for quarter ended 30th September, 3888: Postal revenue, L 48.293, as compared with L 40,070 for the corresponding quarter of 1887. Telegraph revenue, L 25.133, as compared with L 22.870. Value of Government telegrams, L 5.110, as compared with L 10.605. DAIRY PRODUCE EEPORT. Messrs Lewis and Innes, of London, report under date September 8 os follows :

Cheese.—No New Zealand arriving. Our last sale was at 50a. a fortnight ago,! and since that dato the prioe has given way slightly. It w;s then 2* better than American of Bame grade, which fact, speaks remarkably well for a first year's experience of the London market. We believe eomo Bm'all lots still remain in importers' hands T'ade is quiet at the moment, but an improved demand is expected when the August-September make cornea in from America. Butler.—Danish now worth 112s. with a quiet market, but a demand exists for good table quality of any nationality at 80s to 90s. Tho imports sinco April have been :

THE TEA MARKET. The National Mortgage and Agency Company have received the following commu* nication from their Foochow agents :—" Tranactions for the colonies have been on a limited scale, the s.s. Ching Tu takes only some 700 tons for all ports. So far, prices for common teas have been so maintained as to render operations on thiß grade only possible to a small extent. Excellent value is procurable in Becond crop teas, which, strange to cay, are more sappy and full in cup, as well as brighter in infusion, than first crop teas. Our first crop is 65,000 chests short, the second ditto is 25.000 che?ts in execs', and the third crop is not likely to be more than 60,000 chests; this, coupled with the uncertainty of no fourth crop and a grand total yield of not moro than 520,000 chests, renders the position stronger and more favorable than has been for many years past. The direct Bteamer for New Zealand is due here about the middle of next month, and in all probability it will be the last of the ?eaion. ' xchange is unchanged at 3s Ojjd. six months' sigh*, but at the moment of closing with an upward tendency.

STOCK" AND STATION REPORT.

Mr Donald Stronach (on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited) reports for the week ended October 17 as follows '• —

Fat Cattle.—2o9 were yarded to-day at Burnside, including some of very choice quality. Prices were about on a par with those ruling last week, with a slightly upward tendency. Best bullocks brought L 8 to LlO 7s 6d, medium Lsto L 7 10s; cows, L 4 to LB. Fat Sheep.—3,o6o were to hand to-day, of which number 585 were merinoos. For all. lots suitable for export there was a strong demand at rates fully better than those ruling last week. On the other hand, Bheep of only medium quality or unsuited for freezing hardly touched last week's prices. Best cross-bred wethers realised 14s 6d to 19s: ewes, 13s 3d to 18s 3d; merinoes.-7a 9d to 13s 3d. We sold 845 as follows:—On account of M* A. Fraßer, Macrae?, 255 merino wethers at 7s 9d to 8i 3d; Mr H. M. Spencer, Etalvale Station, Nightcaps, 32 merino wethers at Bs, and 38 cross-bred do at 15s 3d; Mr "Watson Shennan, Conical Hills, 54 merino wethers at lis 9d, and 119 cross-bred do a* 14s 6d to 15s ; Mr Androw Harvey, Waikaka, 21 cross-breds (mixed Bexes), ""at 16s; Mr John Harvey, Waikaka Valley, 39 cross-bred wethers at 15s; Mr William Telford, Otanomomo, 100 cross bred ewes, 13s 3d to 13s 6d; Messrs Ross Bros., Bushey Park, Palmerston, 67 merino wethers, 13s 3d ; Mr W. Dunn, Milton, 14 merino wethers at 13s 3d, and 54 cross-bred wethers at 15s 3d to 15s 9d; Mr A. M'Laren, i MiltonV'SjJ cross-bred wethers at lis 6d. We have sold privately during week 4,000 sheep for refrigerating, including 3,000 sold in conjunction with one of our branches.

Fat Lambs.—2B4 were penned of slightly better quality than last week. Competition was good, and prices fully better than last week. We sold on account of Mr J. Sutherland 46 at 5s to 8b 3d.

Pigß.—Seventy-two were penned. Heavy baconera reached 70s, medium 35s to' 'sob; porkers, 23s to 355. Property Sales.—We have sold during the week three of the remaining sections in Merino Downs estate, containing 433 acres, at satisfactory prices. There is considerable inquiry for

this and other country property, more indeed than there has been for a long time past. This improved state of things is induced, no doubt, by the higher prices now ruling for stock and produce,

[By TktiKoraph.]

Sydney, October 18.-About :550,000ft of first-class dressed kauri timber, ex Syren, Seabird, and Lookout, was sold at auction yesterday, and realised from lis 9d to 19s Od, according tj size; 120,0C0ffc first-class, undressed, 17s 3d to 20a .'id; 24,000 ft second-clas?, undressed, 12s 3d to 20s 3d ; first-class eKtra wide, undressed, 2ftj to 21s 6d. Maizo, 3s; oats steady at 2i 5Jd to 2s 7tl; bran, 10ld to lid; pollard quiet at 9Jd ; chickwhcat, 3s (id; butter —imported 9d to lOd, locally-made Is to Is 3d ; cheese, Sd to 9d; bacon, BJ-d to 9.'.d; lianv, Is to Is Id; oatmeal, Ll2 to Ll2 10s." Mei.houunk, October 18.—Wheat, 4s 4\& ; flour firm - stone-made L 9 5•, roller-made LlO 15s; stout New Zealand oats, 3a 4d; barley feed 2s 9d, English 5a 7d; maize, 3s Hi]; rye, "~t fid; bran, Is. A/iRr.AIDK, October 18. Wheat—shipping parcels 4* fid, fanners'lots 4s 4d at Port Adelaide, 'U 2d at out ports; Hour—stone L 9 lO.j, rollei-niado LlO 10h ; bran, Is 2d; pollard, Is Id ; oats, 3s 5d to .'!s fid; potatoes—Warrnambool L 5 7s to 1,5 ]2s Od, Ballamt 1.5 17s fid (both duty paid).

NORTH ISLAND. Revenue. Expenditure. Kawakawa .. .. £358 7 10 £257 10 0 Whangart i .. 330 3 10 215 13 3 Auoklind .. .. 7,677 1 11 5,859 11 4 NnDier .. 4.115 9 8 2,509 11 10 Wellington .. .. 4,345 1 8 3,501 18 2 WaDgauui .. .. 4,453 0 C 4,423 9 4 Totals .. .. £21,178 5 0 MIDDI.B ISLAND. £16,827 11 11 IIumnui-Bluff .. £38,262 16 3 £30,997 5 2 Greymoutb .. .. 2,434 0 3 551 1 0 Westport ... 2,172 0 9 1,123 18 9 Nelson 078 0 11 604 16 8 Picton 390 7 9 603 16 9 Total .. .. £43,937 16 11 £?8,780 18 4 nr.tiJ t, I'nl PftK 11/1 1 11 finnnnn in a

1881 3 18S 17. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Oz. £ Ox. £ Auckland . 7,327 28,350 7,035 20,032 Marlborough 018 2,253 007 2,403 Nelson . 1,038 3,674 903 3.634 WcBt Coast . . 28,8. r >3 115,357 23,500 01,257 Otago . 10,055 01,018 20,010 81,450 Totals . . (53.891 214,452 53,471 211 332

Total, May. June. July. Jan to Jul) cwt. cwt. cwr. cwt. New Zealand butter 501 6 5 14,409 Australian ., 55 51 9,724 Now Zealand cheese 6,240 2,010 3,923 24,391 Australian 2 5 62