COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zzaxahd Herald OiHce. Saturday afternoon. The duties collected at the Customs to-day were £3317 Os lid. The Customs receipts for the week were as follows :— Duties .. .. •• .. £0,681 10 7 Lighthouse daei .. .. .. 05 15 C Merchant shipping fees.. .. 7 15 6 Pi ot an l pott charges .. .. 0 39 9 Arm 3 Act .. .. .. .. 2 15 0 i»oM duty .. .. •• .. 193 11 3 Miscellaneous 13 19 3 Total ... .. £0,999 C 10 The arrivals during the month have been the barques luglewood and Adamant, from London, with. cargoes valued at about £GG,OOO. With regard to the latter, a considerable portion of her cargo was selected for the festive season, and in several instances we hear of the market being missed by her long voyage. The departures have been the ship Waikato, fer London, with a cargo valued at close upou £49,000, consisting chiefly of gum, wool, and a little Island produce. The stability of the Auckland district, to which we have often referred during the late depression, and which we contended was sound in comparison with the other parts of the colony, still continues so, and w« are glad to record that the month has passed off very satisfactorily, very little assistance, indeed, being required. A more striking example of this stability cannot be produced than the tables furnished by the Customs for the quarter ending December 01, which shows nhat while other districts indicate a considerable falling off in the Custom's returns, our own for that period only shows a slight decrease of £2370. Money is a little easier, and on good security is obtainable at 9 to 10 per cent., while the indications are that very shortly more advantageous terms than those will be obtained. Our wool-growers have-every reason to be satisfied, not only with the amount of wool clipped., but also with the priceß realised at the local sales, as it cannot be gainsaid that the reaction in the London wool market, coming so opportunely, turned the scale as to whether (with many) wool-growing to advantage would be a thing of the past. Some slight uneasiness exists with regard to the weather, both here and in the Sonth, as during the past month, and even at the present moment, it is unusually wet for this period of the year, and, should it continue so, will probably endanger the crops both here and in the Southern provinces, a calamity which we trust will be averted. So far as this district la concerned, the outlook for business during the year is most encouraging. The high value ruling for kauri gum (one of our largest exports), the improved demand for timber, the announcement of the carrying out of long-promised public works, and the favourable reaction on our goldfielda, all tend to inspire greater confidence than has been experienced for a long time past. That the public are also impressed with this feeling is evident from the improvement in the value of bank and other stocks, and in reference to our share list it will be seeu that a most marked advance in the price of has taken place during the month. With regard to the goldlields, thb outlook is certainly very promising, and when we consider that a sum of about £18,000 will have been circulated iu dividends within about a month, it can easily be imagined thac such an amount of money set at liberty for investment is likely to have a good effect upon business in general. While such are our prospects at ihe opening of the New Year, it would not be out of place for traders and others to guard against over-specu-lation, and not repeat the lesson of 1878, with regard to excessive importations. Stocks of almost every class of merchandise are fcufiicient for many months to come, and the slightest increase would only mar the judicious course pursued during the past Business during the month of December is generally very unsettled, runoing chiefly on articles specially required for Christmas; and, although this particular branch has been more curtailed than usual, there has yet been business of a speculative character in other merchandise, and to which we shall briefly refer.—Breadstuffs and Grain : There is very little change to record in flour, the same values ruling as were current last month—namely, Local superfine, £IG ; household, £14 ; Southern brands, £13 to £14 ; and Adelaide, in small lots, £15 to £15 10s. Oats are heavily stocked, and sales have been made as low as 2a -3d at ship's side. Maize : The duty which was levied prior to the departure of last mail has been repealed, and prices are therefore lower —namely, Californian, 3s 10d to 4s; Fijian, 3s-3d to 3s (id; local, about the 9ame. Brandies have at last moved up in sympathy with other markets, find where it will end for choice brands it is difficult to say, ns the tenour of advices from London show little or no margin for importers. Hennessy's is quoted here at lis Gu to lis 9d for bulk, and case 41s. Of secoud brands there is a fair stock, but the demand is light. In other spirits these remarks are also applicable, the extra duty militating against speculation, yet the amount of revenue of duty collected during the quarter is slightly in excess af the sum collected during the corresponding period in 1878. Australian wines, of which a large consumption took place last season, have been almost shut out of the market by the extra iuty of 2s per gallon, and the trade look upon this step as retrogressive, as a taste was being acquired for these wiues by a class that do nob indulge in European vintages. Beers of choicc bottling, such as the Dog, Bulldog, and Griffin, still continue to maintain their supremacy, and, although late arrivals from London have brought forward parcels, yet the market readily absorbs them at our price List* Stouts are heavily supplied, Cameron and Saunders' meeting with the best demand. Cement is only moving off iu small trade lota, out of store, and 10s to IGi Gd U the figure for that which changes hands* Candles have had i bruk trade, and large parcels have been quitted at jirices higher than those ruling last month. Price's Belmont's, 10.Ad; Do Roubaix's, Jenar's, Nevas', and others, 9Jd. L'he general tone of holders is for still higher rates. Dried fruits have been in brisk request, mt the market in choice fruit has been very jare. The consignments ex Adamant were too ate for the spurt, but, nevertheless, should neet with a remunerative sale. Groceries and )ilmen's stores of all descriptions are fully iloclied, and the reports of the various trade sales ield during the month are far from satisfac;ory, the trade being supplied for some time to *ome. Kauri gum continues to move up, and ;he prices realised during the month are beyond all precedent. Ordinary sorts have been sold at £05, and the demand seems in nowise slacker, while the receipts for the month are jeavier than ever known, viz., about 500 tons. The ship Waikato sailed on the 23rd ultimo, with 214 tons, for London. The discovery of lew fields in the Waikato district will augment the receipts of this article, but so rar the quality does not meet with the favour as that- produced from the North and East Coasts, kc. Metals have not moved off with the same briskness as last month, but prices continue about the same. Gralvanised iron meets with ready sale, and is absorbed as soon as landed. Fencing wire is getting well stocked) the demand at this season being light. Malt and Hops : The market has jeeo supplied with English 1879 growth by ship-

menU vix the South, and, so f« as regards Uie ' former, brewers generally import th-ir fcwn, and is worth 10* 3d to lta 6:1 in tte open market. The samples of English hops to hand are not very good, and holders ask 4 3 to is 6d. Colonial growths are reported to bo as good, or better, and w0 cornine-nd just as good prices but for the name. Linseed has moved off at slightly better values, and raw io almost bare, many hoVders quite out. Kerosene is still heavily stocked, with about 2000 cases afloat. Devoea and Star brands are held for Is 9J, duty paid. Salmon has been rery little inquired for, and the Australian markets are so much higher that the last shipment by the mail from Mn Francisco was conveyed on to Sydney. Ihe little doing realises about S-i Ci for lib. tins, and 15s Gd for 21b.-;., tins. Salt has been very scarce for a couple of months, and prices ran up to figures that have not been touched for several years The barque Adamant brought forward a quantity, and we hear of sales at the shm's side of 15s for coarse, and £o loi for fine. The duty of £1 which existed last month has been repealed by a committee of the Home of Representatives. Sugars have again slightly advanced in value, but still the market id under those in Australia. The arrivals this month have been light, as merchants cannot import at the rates ruling nere. As stock becomes lighter higher values must necessarily rule: therefore, several holderß refrain from making sales. Aoout 11.00 mats of Fijian counters and rations are to hand, but the holders are not anxious to offer them, as they anticipate better prices ere long. Timber : The local demand still continues good, while the export of baulk to the Australian markets is on the increase, but no improvement in values is yet Tea: The usual demand for home consumption has fcone oif, but an impression prevails that the late advance in Sydney and Melbourne will affect prices here. learn that a large parcel was re-shipped to Sydney a few days ago, and realised a better profit than could be obtained here. We print elsewhere a revision of the tariff, which will prove interesting to our foreign readers, as it contains many alterations from that published in our last monthly summary.

RaTßs of Exchange os London. —Buying: 130 days, lj per cent, discount; 90 days, li per cent, discount; 00 days, J per cent, discount; 30 days, on demand, par. Selliug: 90 days, ? percent, premium. GO days, liner cent- premium; 3U days, 1$ per cent, premium; demand 2j per cent, premium. Discount —95 days, Si per cent. ; 125 days, 9V per cent. ; exceeding, 9 per cent Freights. — The following are the rates of freight quoted at this port for London: — Wool, greasy, gd per lb.; ditto, washed. Jd per lb.; leather, 70s per ton; oil, SOs per tun of 252 gall*.; tallow, 50sper ton; copra, COs pur tnn; whalebone. SOs per tori; kauri guin, 52s Gd per ton; shells, 603 per ton; dead-weight, 30? per tou; cotton, pressed, 3d per lb.; sheepskins, £d per lb»: measurement, SUsperton. Alk* and Pouter. —Best biauds of ale 3 have moved into cooS-iniptioa fairly, while seco d qmlitiss are npg'ect d; Dogsuead, Bulldog, Grirlin, meet with mo t favour, and have been purchased to arrive. The stocks of stout w-ie never so large nor prices lower, and the piios attained for outside bottlers of Guinness's, Blood's, and Pig are simply ruinous to consignors. Lunedin ale, in bulk (pale). £5 ; xxxx, £0 10s. Ale, in bulk (d.p.) per barrel, R. Younger's, £G 10s : Bass's, £6 los to £7; Ashby's, £S. Ale {in bond). Ten* nent's, pints, <5s 0.1 : quarts, Ss 91; Bass's Dog&heid brand (KeaVs bottling), pints, 6s Ci, quarts, 9s ; Bulldog, It. Porter and Co.'a bottling. 6* 9d and Sis 3d; Griffin brand, Cs 91 and 9j 3d ; Ashb?'s. 6s 3.1 and 8s 01 : Ind, Coop-, pints, Cs CI; quarts, Ss 9d ; Bass's (Biorul bottlers), pints, Cs Cd ; quarts, Ss ; (Byass bottling), Gs Ci an I 9s. Stouts in bond; Blood's, Ss 3d ; pint-*, Ci 3d; Pig brand, Ci 3d ; quarts, S>3J; Do*shead. Guinness's (Head's bot. tling). pints, Cs Cd ; quarts, Ss 6d : K. Porter and Co.'s bottling, G* 9d atd 9.h 3d ; (Jrifiin brand, Ci 91 aDd 9i 3d; Burke's, Cs and D»; C.imerou and Saunders's, 7s and 9s Cd ; other brands, 5s and 7s 6d ; Combed, quarts otferl at 7s. Duty—pints, Is 3-1; quart 3, 2s 01 per dozen.

Building Materials. —?ement has been moved in fair quantities, but; lor Urge parcels toarive there i-» not much improvem *ntin value ; White's sold in sm ill lots at Ids to 17s; K. B. & s>. about the same figure, but no large parcels arrived, and these price* refer to wh »t is stored. Slates are hardening in value, with an upward tendency, Countesses have been placed at £13 per thou* sand. American plaster, a l.ttle inquiry, but consumption exceedingly li^lit. Bags and Bagging, d.p.—Woolpacks aud cornsack* have beei received largely, and the supply ii now heyond what will be required. Woolpacks. full lOlbs., 27 x 54, Calcutta, 3s? Uundee, 34 3i ; cornsacks, 3-buah., 2£d lb., 9a 3d to Oj Cd per dozen. Ronkdust.—A. lanje quantity for this time of the year is being sold, but at low figures, which leaves no margin. Stocks continue heavy, and a qu-intity will be l*ft over for naxt season. Australian bone lust, £7 103 to £7 15i. Vitriolised boues. £9. Peruvian guano, £17 to £18 per ton; liuon Island, £5 to £5 5*J Maiden Island, £0 10s to £7 per ton ; animal manure, none; cocoanut oil cake, £7 per ton Breadstuff.* and Okain. —The market in flour has undergone little change. Th« impost of 2Cs per ton on imported will in a measure shu» out Adelaide. The duty on iinportei roaiz-i is repealed. Adelaide, £15 105, bikers' parcel* ; best silk dressed flour £10 ; household, £14 ; Southern brauds, £13 to £14 ; Adelaide, £15 10s, for small lots. Wheat (Auckland), none; feed oats, 2s 3d to 2i 0 I ; bran, £5 ;o £'J per ton ; Fiji maize. 3s 3d to 3? 6d ; Sydney and California, 3s 9d to 4* ; oatmeal, £15 ss. Barley (Californian. for malting), 4s 61 to ss; South-rn, 0s to 6a 3d; Cape barley, 2s 7d ; pearl, £24 5s to £24 10s. Cabin bread, £20 per ton. Potatoes, £G to £3 ; liobart Town, none.

Cordage, D.r.—Fully stocked. Manila hemp rope, all sizes,£oo ; whale and lance lines, £70 ; cutting, in falls. £63; second quality, all sizes, £52 ; New Zealaud flax rope, all sizes, £42 10s; wool lashing, £3S 10*; clothes lines, 5d per lb., subject to trade discount; Manila clothes lines, 8.1 ; oakum, free, ditto, £42; spun fine two-yarn, ditto, £70 to £80 : twine, shop, d.p., per lb . Is 3d ; sewing twine, Is per lb.; local make is to Is 3d.

Coal.—Newcastle coal is selling at 32s to 33t for cargoet alongside, net much demind, local more in request: Bay of Islands, 135., f.0.b., at the mines, and Whangarei coal, 9s to 13«, ditto, Waikato ; steam, 8); household, 10s. Copfee and Spices (in bond), per lb. — Ceylon, coffee plantation, Is 41; do.. Fiji, lid; Java, 1? 3d; chicory, cdonial, 7Jd ; cocoa, d.p., Taylor's, Is 4Jd ; pry's Is 3d ; Epps's, Is Gd ; Maravilla, Is 6d; chocolate, Taylor's, 13 2d. Spices,d p.: Cloves, 2s 2<l ; bleached ginger, la lid; unbleached do.. Is Id; nutmegs, 3s CI; black pepper, whole, Sd; white do. lid. CosrecTioNKßY. — Local manufacturers are pr.>. during good article?, and the consumption is gradually increasing. Several sales o' Knglidi confectionery have been held, but the goods w*re generally passed in. Waters's colonial boiled, 7jd; dry goods, 10Jd; Keiller's assorted, IOJd ; candied lemon and orange peel, d.p., lid ; citron, Is 1.4; jujubes. Is Id. Oust, Flax, &c. —Gum has gradually hardened in value thoughout the month, a-d it is now dearer thin has b»eu known for yeir?, especially «u ordinary, the advance beinz more marked in this quality, wild pricc* may bs quoted at £5 to £7 per ton dearer. The >htp Waikato sailed on the 20th ul:. fox London with 214 tons. Ordinary may be quoted at £G2 to £*55. an I fancr grades at exorbitant values Flax : Finest quality, £17 to £i 7 103 per ton ; tow, '£10 to £12 per ton. Cocoanut oil (fine white), per ton, £30. Copra, per ton. £14 to £15. Whale oil, £23. Ironmongery.—Th-; demand for metals has been brisk, aud almost every article under this heading maintain* t v e firmness of list month. Blasting , powder is almost out of stock', and the demand for the South is such as to c&use a i firm t no, notwithstanding stocks have come to hand. Ewbauk's nails, invoice, 5 per cent, oft list; galvanised corrugated iron, duty now 204 per toD, Walker's. Stork brand, Gospel Oik, and others, from £27 to £29; Knglish bar iron, per ton, £11; plate iron, £13 ; pig ditto, £4 fencing wire, duty *io* ton, £15 to £10 10s ; sheet-lead, £21 ; pic-lead, £2J ; sheet-zinc, £28 10 < to £30 10s. .Powder, Kame's, Curtis and Harvey's, ad to 6d per lb. ; Hall's, sjd to Csd; sporting (in canister), 2s: for 20 and 24, d.p . canister, No. 2, d.p., 3s Cd. Yellow metal, Sd; Mnntz, Sd. Jams, DiUKd Fruits, &c. — Dried English fruits have met with fair inquiry, and good sound is sel'ing at an advance upon Ivt nioptb. Stacks of low and medium currants are not quite so heavy, having been worked down in the absence of foreign fruit. The duty on dried fruit, under the new tariff i* 2i'. KnfclUh marmalade, lib -tins, Si : Hobart Town jams, Cs to 7s; jars, 5,M to ; sultana?, 7d ; muscatels, 7£d to lid; eleme* 7d ; currants 4£d to f»£d ; f1g3,~7d to lOd. Dried apples, ordinary, in kess and case?, 61 to 6i.l ; Alden's process, 7jd to g£d. d.p. Leather and Hides. — Sole leather, 9.1 to Is 3d lb.; kips, Is Cd to 2s; runners, 2* Id to 2> Qd ; calf, colonial, 33 to 4s 3d ; basils, 10a to 13s doz., closed uppers, 4s Cd to 9s 3d per pair, iI ides, 3d to 3-Jd; calf skins, 3d per lb.; sheepskins, 61 to 3; 6 i. Malt and Hoi»h.—Malt during tin month has met with little demand, and several shipments of both Kngli-h and colonial are on tSe market. Knglish 10s Gd, and tanks £4 ; colonial. Si C I to 9j. Hops ; Advices frjm England hive hardened the market considerably, aad thi few saled of Knglish tli*t have bsen made fhowa decided advance. 1579, prime 4s to -li 61. Nelson (new), l<9dto2?; liivarian, lion*?; Americau (new), Is to 1* Id; Tasmanuu, la 9.1 ;t02<84.

QiZiMEn'h Stores. —Price's Belmont candles* duty ljd. 10£ d d p.,per lb.; De Iloubaix,Jt?nar, Brandon':}, Nevas and (Jouda's, Schiedam, 9'd.. J,ocU blue-mottled soup, £27 per ton ; carbolic. £23 ; b'i.st yellow. £.27; household, £14; first Crowu, £2.1 ; second Crown, £19 ; soft soap, in tins. 4Ad per lb.; toilet, 8.1 to 9d p»jr lb. ; mould candles, fid per lb ; Jill subject to trade discouut. wnich Las been very scarce, is now to h*ud, and sjld at ship's sid- —cjarse, £4 1.55; fine, £5 15'. Manure fair, X 3 10s to £3 12. Gi. Jordan almonds, 1j lOd to 2s; blue, Sd to lOd; blacking, paste, 53 Gd ; Colman's starch, No. 1, white 4{.1, blue, 4jd; Orlando Jones's starch, 3jjd. Mmt»rd, d.p.: Colman's 1-lb. tins (red), 10s Gd; half ditto, 5a 9d ; 7-lb. tins (red to greew), 7£d to Is : 1-lb. tius (green), 13s; ditto, Ss : D.*5F £-Ib. tins, 10s Gd. Keckitt's blue, S}d> Matches: Vestas, d.p., Bryant and May's 250, per gross, 21s; ditto, plaid, 53 01 ; ditto, fancy oval, 12s, ISs Gd to 24* Gd ; Letchford's 2f>o, ISs ; Bell and Black's, 19s ; pla'ds, 5i 3d ; 11. bell and Co., 14s; phids.os ; Crown plaids, 4s G1; 250's, lGs Oil; Castor, in pints, 8s 9d ; half-piuU, 5s Gd; quarter-pints, 4s 3d. Salad: C. a oil 8.,- pints, 13s ; half ditto, 83 ; Morton's, pints, 10s Gd ; half-pints, Gs 3d ; Soutb Australian fjmr'fl, 32<: half-pints, 9s. Pickles: Crosse, and Blackwell's, pints, 12s; Morton's and others, from 8i to 10s Gd. Kice (ground), in tins, 4jd. Sauces : Lsa and Perrin's, half-pints, 12s 9d, C. & 8., half-pints, 9s; Miller's, 7 s Gd ; Gs Gi. Vinegar d.p. ; Champion's, per gal., 2s 4d : Hill, Evans's, 2s; Burnett's, 23 3d; Pott's, 2s id. Treacle, golden syrup, 3d per lb., in bonl; American hon-y, 2lb. tius, 12s Gd., d.D.: tnso, 3id; tapioca, sd. Cornflour Brown's, 4*d, d.p.: Brown /»nd Poison's, 7d ; Munu's, Cd"; AniroSwiss u iilr, 9i 3J ; Borden's eagle, l*2s Gd t> 13j. Oils axd Paints.—Duty Cd a-gallon, The market, for oils and paints, as reported io our last, still continues fairly, but what little basines3 may he dona, has participated in th* general improvement Linseed has moved off at slightly better valuta, and raw bulk is inquired for. Kerosene: Stocks sill continue equal to requirements/and advices of 2000 oases

on tbe w.vy is announced. QaoUtlon# are A | i;hade firmer for standard brand*. Cclra m drums, 4i 9d; bulk, is 3d ; linseed, boiled, 3s 31; raw, do., 3s 6d; boiled, in drums, 4s 3d: raw, do , 4s; c«tor. In bulk, 4s od; kerosene, d.p., DeToe's, Is Od; diamond, none- Is 91: Electric Luht, -Is 9.1; Downer's, 2s sd; Young's paraffin, 2s Sd ; Niagara, li 101 : Sunlight, 2«. White lea»l, over«todcei : ground, per %wt.» genuine, 40s; No. 1 white lead, 3is to 34s ; red lead, dry, £1 15s. Oil colors, assorted. £1 10s to £l ISs. Turps, d p.. drums, 33 3d; American, 2s 6d; whiting, per ton. 10s to £6; resin, £10. American carriage varnish, 6* tD 20* per gaLon. Pro> iiiojfs.—The improvement n ticed in our last still applies to »he present month, and hams and bacon of good quality are sODght and command tgh i rices. Salmon h»s been moving slowly. b«t are held firmly lib.-tin?, S* :21b-tins, 15s 6d, Colonial (Canterbury, in cloth) bacon and; hams assorted. lOd to 10} I: cheese (provincial), 7d to 8d ; Canterburj*. Sd to tld : salt butter, 7d to 91, for good sound; rice, £24 to £27 10s; English hams. Is 'A : ditto bacon, Is. Fish : Lin,?, 4ld; preserved red herrings, in tins, 30s to 32s re? dozen (2 dozen tins); white, 31s per birrel: Finnon haddocks, 10i ; lobsters, American («carcfc), libs., ll's 6d ; 2'bi., lss; pickled salmon. 4jd ; sardines (Albert's], quarters, 53, halves Ss Cd ; oysters, 5i 6d. SuoAhs.—A large consumption going forward, which is gradually increasing in constqaence of the ir:wth of the district Tbe advance note 1 iu other narkets has streogtheoe l this, but not to such an »xtent as what wis anticipated, but stocks in hinds are being reioced, an 1 still higher prices must remit. Sjdney, No. I, £33: YarraviU-* IC. £33 ; IW, £42; brewers' crystals, £33 to £40 ; Mauritius whita crystals, £37 to £30; yellow, £32 to £3i 10» ; English crushed loaf i< in good supply, a: £42 to £44 ; Fijian rati >ns, £2C ; yellow crystals and counters, £28 to £30. Spirit.''.—There has a fair buunes* done in brandies at enhanced prices, in consequence of the unsatisfactory news from Jjraace. Hennes»y's is gradually hardening in vale, with no great stocks. Hennessy's bulk, lis 91 ; Courvoister's, bulk, Si 61; case, 253 ? Bisquit, Dubouche and Co's. pale, in hhds. and qr.-casks, 9s; Beehive, bulk, 7s ; Heanessy's case, 4ls; Otard's, none; Beehive case, 24s ; Bisquit, Dubouche and Co.'s, 27s ; Hine's, 28s ; bulk, 8-*: Alarcellain's, 19s 01 aud 6s : Rouyer, • G "millet aud Co;, Ids 61 ane 9* 91; Gautitir's. 2S* and liurge.bdV, Cj9l; Muller Frerc's, 20* ; Cavalier Frer-'s, 245. J B. Rene's casa. 22*. Whisky, bulk: Greenless nnd Colville's, Os 31 to 6s 6J and ISs ; case, Rob Roy, 16s; case, Beilh, Ross and Co.'s, 5s Cd; Teacher's, lis; Dunviiles, os 9d, case, 17s 6d ; Lome Highland, 21s ; Red Deer, 6? 6d t3 7s, cue, 37s ; Hedles's old. 16j 6d; Teacher's old, 24s ; tncore, 19s; 19s 61 ; Walkei's Kilmarnock, 13*; all in bond. Geneva, proof, three gallons, JDKZ, 15 bottles, 14i Od ; 20 botttes, 22< ; key geneva, proof, 13s. Schnapps, Wolfe's, 2ls 6d ; Dew of th« Alp 3, 275. Gin, Booth's, 16s ; Burnett's, 15s. Lowndes's rum, 30 o.p. 4* 9d, in b;ilk ; Red Heart, case, 25s 6d ; casa, 21*. Duty, 14s. Tobacco. —Thera Ins baen the uiual demand, and stocks o: direct shipments are getting reduced. Several pirccLs huve, however, been reteive.l from interoolo .ial markets. Coaipe;ition is very strong, and prices are if anything a sha e weaker. Jn additional duty of Is is now lev ed, or a tual of 3< 61. Venus, 10-i, three-quarter boxes. Is 31; cases, la 41. Venus, N.ivy Hit wor«, Is Od ; d ut>i'* thi.k do., U 7d ; Over the Water, 10s; case, ls3£d; Barrett's Crown, lud ; Two Sets, Is to Is 3jd ; Victory Twis:, U 3iil, and casia. Is sd, low 10s, SI to lOd; Camerou's Fauey Aromatic, Is 61 to Is SI. Timber.—The demand is gradually improving for local and So-ithern markets, whili a fair trade in bau k has b:eu done, but the Austrian markets are now stocked in the latter. While such i 9 the Cise. the demand is not anything Jike equal to the supply. The duty which formerly existed has been again levied. Quotations are as follows: Kauri boards au 1 scantling, cargoes, 100 ft., at mi»l. f.0.b., East Coast, 9s Cd to 10s Cd ; 53 Cd to 6s 61 for second-cUss; West Coast, 7 s 6d to 9s ; baulk, 5s to 7s tfd ; white p;ue (Kahikatea), Gs ; T and G, 8?, f.0.b., at mills; Hobart sft., 17s; 6ft., 19s; Hobart Town raiJ?, £3 17s Gd.

Teas.—Have moved off in the ordinary trade requirements, but tbe last few days has developed speculation, as telegrams from the Australian market note a decided advance there, and several shipments h*vo been returned t.iere at a profit to the exuorter.--. Medium to gool Congous, Is 91 to 2s Id; ration t or open leafed, Is Id ; Assams, from 1* 9i to 3* i.b.

Wines.—lt was anticipated that a demand for Australian wine would have set in during the mouth, but ai yet there is little doing, and stocks are beginning to accamuhue, hs several shipments have been received. The Increase of duty from 2i to 4s thereon will in & great measure militit-: a?aiuit its use. Some superior 8u rry has been quitted at auction at 6d, worth double the tigure In England. Good port is in demand, with only moderate supply. Champagne (d p.) : Pcrier, Jouet ana Co., first quality, quarts, 80s; pints, 84s; hilf-pinis, 94s ; second quality, quarts, C4s; piuts, 63s ; half-pints, 735. logeilheim, quart*, 80s to S4* ; Most, quarts, BSs ; pints, 90s. Roederer, 100s; piuts, 105s; Pol Royer aad Co., 100j aod 105s; Adolphe Collins, quirts, COs ; pints, 30i; ditto, extra superior, qua-t. 60s; pints, 36i. Deinhardt's quirts, 1-dozens case, 46s ; pints, 2-dozen cise, 59i per cise; PerrierV Imperial oillery, 4Qs, and Carte Blanche, 80j. Sherry, overstocked.