COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4483, 27 March 1876, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald Office, Saturday evening. The following are the Customs receipts for the week ended to-day :— Duties £4603 1 S Lighthouse dues 40 14 6 Fees under Merchant Shipping Act 12 19 0 Fees under Arms Act .. .. 11 S 0 Gold duty 314 14 2 Miscellaneous 2 0 0 Total £4,990 16 11 Christchurch.—The Lyttelton Times of the ISth inst. reports as follows : —The grain market during the iveek has been rather dull, first hand transactions being rather limited. Wheat still commands 3s 9d at Christohnrch, and in some instances 3s 10d has been paid for very prime lots. Oats are in fair demand for speculative purposes, but there are very few orders for this cereal in the market at present. Barley is very depressed, and sales are difficult to effect at our quotations, which are nominal. A fair amount of business is doing in dairy produce. Cheese is in a little better supply, but butter is still coming to hand slowly. Manufacturers of hams and bacon report large sales during the week, and stocks are now almost exhausted. Buyere' quotations for delivery at Christchurch railway station : —"WTieat, 3s 9d to 3s 10d; oats, Is 7d to Is ; barley, 3s (nominal) j butter, 9d to 9£d; cheese, 7Ad to Sd; grass seed, 4s 6d. Dukeden-.—The Otago Daily Times of 20th inst. reports :—" Trade during the past ■week—to use a phrase which need notrbe stretched to mean too much either one way

or the other—has been quiet. It couldn't be called brisk—it. conld not be called dull. The business transacted was much of the same kind as it has been for months trade parcels to keep up supply for consumption in town and country ; the same absence of speculation observable ; the same cautious attitude maintained by buyers, and the same confidence which induces to hold maintained by sellers. In breadstuffs, we have little on this occasion, beyond indications, to point to, and these pretty well all in one direction; there are no signs of advance. Mour is still quoted at £11 (sacks), but the attitude assumed for it wants a firm look. A decline is expected, though not a great one ; sales are beinw regularly and freely made. Wheat (new) Is quoted at from 4s 3d to 4s 6d, with the downward incline, on which is based the fear for flour. Samples of old wheat are scarce. New oats have attached to them the prices of from Is Gdto Is Sd, old being offered at Is 10d. Barley, for which there is slight enquiry, is nominally quoted at 4s. Bran, in consequence of the cheapness of oats, has fallen to 75s ; pollard still selling at £6. In spirits, the same want of all life prevails. Brandy is as inert as it can well be, its only sign (if it really is making any sign) being that it inclines tojdeeline still further. Case is offered at.3os. In whisky there is little enquiry ; nor in geneva or rum is there any movement. Wine seems to partake of the general partial collapse, but, never being in large demand, and being less regular in its periods of enquiry, not the same importance is attached to this. Ale (imported) moves slowly. Porter moves more freely, special brands, and those among the steady constant favourites, that for the . moment have the command of the position, more particularly. Tea is much as we reported it a week ago. Inquiry will certainly be resumed ere long ■with more energy, compelled by the exhaustion of supplies laid in some time ago. In sugar there is no change. Provisions are in stalu quo. It may be expected that the present change in the weather, should it continue, will affect dairy produce, and especially raise the price of butter. Hams and bacon (imported) are dull; the market but sparely supplied. Currants are selling freely at 4Jd; raisins, at from GJd to 6Jd. Malt is in very light inquiry. In cement, sales of parcels have been made at ISs, but it is held generally for 20s, which may be regarded as its market value. In timber, Baltic deals have been sold this week in parcels at 225. In kerosene, Devoe's is selling freely at Is Gd. In candles, De Koubiux's move pretty freely at 10d.

Sydney, March 15.—The Sydney Morning Herald reports:—Business in the import markets to-day maintained the improved aspect noticed yesterday. For good brands of bulk ale, inquiry is active at full rates. Hennessy's battle-axe brandy is firmer ; 29a 9d was paid for a parcel of 300 cases. Kerosene oil steady, with sales of Devoe's at 2s Id; castor changed hands at 3s 6d. In teas, we heard of the quittance of a parcel of good medium congous at equal to late rates. Sugars are without alteration. At auction, Mr. Threlkeld disposed of the cargo of kauri at improved prices ; one inch rough boards realised 21s ; half-inch, tongued and grooved, 17s; architraves and mouldings, 3d to 3Jd ; skirting, 3}d per foot. Melbourne. —The Argus of March 11th reports of the Melbourne markets : —ln the import markets a moderate business hss been done, though transactions have not been of much account as a rule. Breadstuffs are assuming even a firmer appearance; flour is readily sold at £11 10s, and though sales are of a restricted character, some large parcels could be got rid of at a trifling concession. Wheat is also very firm, and 5s 3d is readily bid for prime northern, which, owiug to the small quantities offered in the open market, has not led to any transactions. Business in oats is limited to the quittance of low and common qualities, o£ which sales are reported at 2s lid to 3a. Maize is firmjat 4s 9d to 4s 10d, but stocks being so light sales are trifling. In sugars we hear of a very brisk demand for brewing crystals, which is likely to result in business, some clearing sales being now under negociation. Of teas, only a trade enquiry is mentioned; low medium congous have been sold at Is 4d. In oilmen's stores, business is reported in starch. Two shipments of Coleman's blue starch have been taken up at Gd. Dried fruits are obtaining favour; we hear of an invoice of 100 barrels currants having changed hands at 3d per lb. in bond. A line of 200 drums linseed oil has been taken up at a concession on our trade quotations of 3s 9d. Sardines are in request for shipment; a parcel of halves and quarters has been taken in bond at a price, duty paid, equal to Ss 7Jd and 4s 9d respectively. Trade sales of new Patna rice continue to be made at £1C 10s in bond. In tobacco we note the offer by auction, this forenoon, of 32S packages of Williamson's good, of which the auctioneer succeeded in disposing of ISS packages, at prices ranging from Is lid to 3s for sound, and at Is Id to Is 2Jd for damaged. In liquids, we learn of the sale, to arrive, of 500 cases Hennessy , at 30s 6d. CALLS AND DIVIDENDS. The following are the current calls and dividends prtyiiblc in tliG companies named below t — £. s. d. Date. Call— Herald 0 2 0 — April 3 Pride of Tokatej .. 0 0 6 — April 12 DrviDßHP— National Bank.. .. 0 p.c. — Mar. 23 Union Beach .. ..5s — April 2