COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4852, 5 June 1877, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New ZF.AJ.A>"r> Herald, Office, Monday evening. The amount of duties collected at the Customs to-day was £!iOT> ]s Id. Business during the month has not shown t'ni.t <-!;ji.ncity we anticipated, but, on th.- contr.uy, ha* been marked V>y a season of depression and an utter absence of speculative purchases, if we except bread.-itutfs. The bulk of the mercantile community complain of the dulness of trade, and are somewhat .surprised at this, as it was thought that the large sums ot niuiiey recently drawn in dividends from the hi«;al piMtields would have m.i.li- an improvement in the general ti.ulu. This state of things is not line to the want of capital, as there is abnnd-.iice of this awaiting proU.ble employ-Mt-iit, as evinced by the e°u-erii«-.,s with which in.-iiu'iiic.) and bank stocks" aie sou-ht aft-r. The disquieting news from Kmi< pe has had a sensible elfect upon several articles of local induatry, materially that of Max, which, with the probability of the supply from Kussia being cut off, will tend to stimulate this branch of trade which has been languishing for several years. The imports during the month are light, the barque Alastor, from London, being the only vessel reaching port. In wines ami spirits there is little change to report, if we except brandies, which are well supplied, holder?, nevertheless, are asking higher prices than last mouth, but not in the sumo ratio as is being done in the

Australian markets. Case brandy, hitherto scarce, is now well stocked, vhilo bulk is less so. ifcnnessy'a case ha-; been sold at 32s fid, hulk, 0s ; Maitell's a shade untler, -while other brands have not improved in price. Ales show

a large falling off in the consumption, while stouts are more active and a shade better in j.iice, but the demand for each is limited, and generally prices rule low. Candles are not over-

stocked, and n<l is !.skcil for Price's and Brandon's. Several lots are coming forward, and are hcl.l for a shade beyond the above ligure. The tendency is decidedly firm, inasmuch as Melbouriiß houses at the present moment decline to book orders. Sugars are heavily stocked, and notwithstanding the high prices ruling elsewheie, buyers will not respond, and a line of Company's No. 1 has been sol.l at i'3s 10s. Currants are fairly supplied, and merchants lire asking from s|d to f>id per In., and inclined to hold for more. Kaisins aie scarce; denies quoted at o')?d ; sultanas, 10d. Dried apples are almost a drug in the market, and C>i«l is the outside juice. Tinned salmon is scarce, and for what little there is in the market 10s to 10s (id can be got, but the new season's catch has been sold to arrive at Us till, while a. smw.ll line changed hands this afternoon at 10s. The demand for preserved fish of any description is very limited. Groceries have not commanded any greater value than hist month, and although auction sales have been less frequent, prices realised show little or no improvement. Fencing wire still continues scarce, and is in request, and a line has been placed at £10 10s. Galvanised iron is in the same category, and commands from £:.".) to £'M per ton. Kerosene still maintains the same quotation as last month, and Diamond has been soltl at 'Js '3d. There has been little or none of Devue's in the market. This quotation is not likely to be sustained, as shipments are afloat that will be offered for less money. Flax shows a slight improvement in value, and ex porters arc asking from £19 to JL'L'l per ton. Gum is rather easier in price, in consequence of very few buyers being in the market:, and ordinary scraped is worth about i' 27 per ton. lSreadstulfs have occupied considerable attention during the month, and the local millers have advanced their quotations of the best brands to £22. Adelaide and Southern markets showed n greater advanc- than our own market, but the least upward tendency in those markets would assuredly raise the price of breadstuff's here. Grain is much dearer, and prices have risen considerably. Feed oats, which were worth about ;is :>d this day month, are now held for os Gil to 3s 7d, with no great stock in hand, but largo shipments are to arrive, which will bo held for the same price, ilaize continues rirm in price, and although large parcels have arrived in the interim from Fiji, good sound samples readily command from 4s (">d to Is 9cl. The stock and share market lias boon very lively, and shows a decided improvement all round. It is gratifying to note that what are always looked up'in as permanent investments, have gradually advanced in value, and it is evident that those who have benefited by the recent spurt in mining stocks, have prudently re-invested their savings in banking and insurance shares. BauU of Now Zealand stock are in steady demand at.. t'L'O 15s: Colonial Sank !0s; while National Jiank shares hare advanced to par, 70s, and buyers are still in the market at that figure. New Zealand Insurance, 105s ; National, ols lid : South British in demand at Sss ; and .Standard, ]5s lid.

Meldocbxe.—Tho Argvt of the 21st May reports :—ln the import market Irisincss during the forenoon was not marked by much appearance of activity. Xo inquiries beyond actual and any sales effected were strictly confined to the execution of mere trade orders. We learn the Insurance Oflicea, dated the 17th inst., which states that no war rink is yet charged liy the ollices in London. The question consequently naturally arises, were the banks not somewhat precipitate in including in the exdianne rate tiNcd for the last mail an additional chm-e ti» cover war risk? The market for bivaiUtufFs is still quiet, and we have no special business to refer to. Flour is in little request, Imttia.lo lots are still moving off at £17 7s lid to £17 Ills. Of course no large buyers could be got to pay the price, though it is probable that at a shade under purchasers could be found willing to operate. Wheat is firm at 7s '3d, for prime nmthern, at which, moreover, there are more buyers than sellers. I'u.sincss in both flour and "wheat is pending. Oats are very firm nt the improvement established. Quotations from 3s 7d to Is 2.1. Maize U now selling at 4s 3d, at which figure trade parcels are quitted. Sugars are inquired for for trade purposes : and notwithstanding tho ciMcr feeling noticeable at yesterday's auction sales, there is no sign in the open market of prices living way in the slightest. The Victorian Befinery Company continues to move trade demand for the Dione'u shipment, and buyers ill treaty for parcels only wait tho examination of the bulk on landing to close for several good lines. Candles aro saleable at very full rates. Goudas are offering to arrive at 9Jd, and for other brands to tljd would' be taken. Messrs. Kitchen and Sons state that some uncertainty has arisen amongst the trade regarding the quotations of their petrolines, and wo are requested to say again that their price for that quality to colonial buyers is lljd. Kerosene oil U inquired for, and parcels of Devoe's arc moving off for export at Is Il.fd. A shipment of pig iron, just arrived, has been sold to land at £D r>3. A line of about Co bales wool-packs has changed bands at 3s In liquids we note a further inquiry for rum. About 100 quarters H.W.P. have been disposed of at up to 3s 7£d- A line of 50 quarters of Twiss and Browning's has also been quitted at 'M 4Jd.

Sydney.—The Sydney Morniny UcraUl of tho ISth May reports:—As regards the import markets, general business continue tolerably brisk. Country orders are coming down freely, and wholesale houses are consequently pretty active. Buyers ot currants are open to operate at tid per lb. A good many lines of te.is, mostly of low descriptions, have changed hauls at from 50s to yijs tier half-chest. lioies are not much inquired for. There is but little movement in sugars, but recent quotations are firmly maintained. Soda crystals have advanced to £S 15s to £0. Caustic soda is also rather firmer ; sales have been made at £17 30s. Spirits in glass are rather dull, but there is some inquiry for dark brandy in bulk. Bottled stoutis getting scarce ; leading brands are worth from 0s to 9s Gil. and Pig has been quitted as high as 10s 3d to 10s 6d. Woolpacks are moving at about '-is (id. A few cornsacks left in owners' hands are held for 10s. Quotations in the breadstuff's market are unchanged, though holders are firm. A few small parcels of wheat were quitted at fully late rates. AUCKLAND STOCK AND MINING ASSOCIATION. Quotations fok Ju.ve ■!, 1877. IJus'iicsj I ,;| MInK dou '- Uuycrs. roller. 13 ail; o( N.Z _ £20 If/ - Colonial .. .. 4S/ -I:: 0 ' — f=. llrilish lusuranc!.. — _ Stmdar: In; ... is« N V. Insi.ran.-o .. _ - 10.V r.Mi.ju -a h nml Uo irl — £.0 — U.'iioa Sif-h ami Dour; j Caledonian .'. .J SO,' 82 (5 ! — M'.-.mu.uari .. . .£lls to £12i X.Hr,,' £1115/ v.-.L.t.-k.uiri .. .. - ; _. • i./ ■ T»':.v. t 15,17 0 I IUO ' IT.; l>. .-.1, ~f Itrvjty .. _ i _ I 22 fi KumnuilliU .... - | 28/ _ i'.abj 100,11.3 I — ; — Kuljcrt l-Mter J. KriaVu'iri'e ■ I'.i.ii Mnwiir-.y J. B. Morij'th Wni. Kior.rl t. I.«ikli Wl>:te .-alii!:el Vicktrs fob-:tt Home