COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9179, 8 October 1888, Page 12

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald Office. Saturday afternoon. Ocr other columns refer fully to the one event of supreme importance under this heading—viz., the committee's report on the position of the Bank of New Zealand. Trade during the last four weeks has steadily improved, not perhaps so much in volume as in character. Engagements continue to be well met. Buyers are operating with commendable caution; while sellers exhibit no anxiety to realise on every day goods, seeing the upward tendency of prices, Business in the soft goods branch has been specially good. Wholesale competition has of late considerably lessened. Production is rapidly increasing—gum, Max, coal, timber, dairy produce, Hour, keg and preserved meat, &C, showing up excellently. All available export tonnage is rushed. The area sown under wheat this season is double that of last year, the country trade being benefited by the greater employment of labour. Farmers realise that an average of 40 bushels an acre can stand even a low price under the use of labour-saving agricultural appliances, and that the per ccntage of cost per bushel is reduced by increase in the extent of operations. The season is a splendid one. It is years since fruit blossoms were so rich. The wool clip promises to be heavy, ami the trade outlook for the next six months justifies the confidence generally expressed. The financial thunderclap has cleared the air, and a serene commercial atmosphere is making everybody hopeful without rash anticipations." Outside capitalists are beginning to see in this colony great opportunities for fairly safe ventures now that values are all more reasonable. The recent turn for the better in homo values of our main products is estimated at one million of money in favour of the colony, without reckoning increase of stock or crop. Mining business, as will be seen by our special report, has been quiet. It is to be regretted that insufficiency of capital has brought our woollen manufactory at Onehunga to tinancial grief. Island trade continues about the same. The hoisting of the British flag at Rarotonga is considered as a wise act. We review the market movements of the month as usual — Bottled ale and stout: No change in demand or prices. A fairly steady business in Read Bros, and Porter and Co. s goods. Spirits move to the trade with a slightly better demand. With the free houses competition with local wholesalers has come from Dunedin. The town demand for whisky runs principally on Walker's Kilmarnock, while in the country Ushers brand is the most popular. The Distillers Company are making headway, while the old name of Greenless is losing favour. The arrival of the Lutterworth supplies the market in many descriptions that were bare, owing to the loss of the Trevelyan. The usual quiet, steady trade has been done in brandy at unchanged rates. 20-bottle 4-gallon Geneva continues scarce, The price has slightly advanced. Only a very slight trade has been experienced in wines. Coffee has advanced from a id to a Id per pound during the last day or two. Candles arc steady at last month's rates. The colonial make of carriage candles has competed successfully against English. The latter are being driven out of the market. Cocoa : Demand very strong on Fry s, with stocks only lately replenished. Van Houten sales a good average with no alteration in price. Business in Taylor's and Epos' slow. In chemicals, bi-carb. soda in good demand; soda crystals hill stocks; cream of tartar and tartaric acid, in kegs, more inquiry. Cornsacks: Recent arrivals from India meet requirements. importers could not lay these goods down under sixpence per dozen advance now, owing to rise in Calcutta prices. Woolsacks arc in full supply. There has been no reduction since last month. Australian stocks are heavy but high transit charges are against any active competition. The business in imported confectionery is steadily being undermined by the good quality of the local production. In Hour, the local millers are busy, an excellent demand for roller flour is kept up in the province, and export business has been considerable. Values ha\e improved in flour ;iOs per ton and bran 25a during the mouth. Flax is becoming one of the leading export lines, its improved _ home value leading to greater provincial yield, and more distribution of wage money. Tow is nearly unsaleable owing to difficulty of obtaining freight. In building materials, most of the large contracts are now nearly completed, with few others being undertaken, trade is rather quiet. Cement is a glut. Plaster not so plentiful, with price about 15s for a parcel. There has been a slack local demand for galvanised iron, but we hear of 20 tons going to Wanganui, and other parcels at different points on the Coast. Quotations are £18 per ton. Sheet lead : Stock is equal to requirements ; value, £20 per ton. Dried fruits have weakened during the month in currants, elames, and sultanas, which are all about id per lb lower. Trade has been fairly good. There are no muscatels in the market, and few figs. Dates are being better inquired for, but the demand is not so active as last year. Dried and evaporated apples move slowly. Stocks are concentrated. The inquiry for fish is sluggish, except for export to the Islands, where we are pleased to hear the natives are beginning to take to New Zealand mullet in preference to salmon.

Sardines still keep exceedingly dull. Fewhouseholders will pay the high price asked for Alberts. It is almost too soon in the season for any active inquiry for salmon. Hops have advanced immensely ; all available at Nelson have been bought up. One house in Dunedin is the principal holder of what is left in the colony of this season s. Old season's remnants can now be cleared with advantage. Malt is dearer. A speculative demand is advised from Australia. Jams have disappointed all traders. The consumption has tallen off considerably. Large stocks of Tasmauian pulp were imported previous to the alteration on duty, and desire to realise in face of restricted demand is lowering rates. A large proportion of second class quality is a feature of the market. The sale of jellies is a thing of the past. Kerosene has had good demand. Values are high. Stocks of low test are not heavy, ami a large part is kept for export. Castor Oil: Owing to the several arrivals from Calcutta with jute goods, all more or less bringing parcels of castor, the business has been overdone. Boiled and raw linseed oil has had a steady and improving demand. Fencing wire, both plain and barbed, has been in active request, so much so that stocks have nearly run out. The good passage of the Wairoa puts importers in a position to rill orders. Bar and rod iron remains at £9 per ton. Pig iron is very scarce. Pickles are in generally short stock. The introduction of a good Southern brand has proved the absurdity of importing what ought to be a plentiful home-made supply. Low-priced have been scarce. Sauces are still in heavy stock, but imports are dropping off, except in Lea and Perrins, and one or two brands of high class make. After a long neglect, Mellor's has come into favour again. An unusually active demand has been experienced for golden syrup and treacle. In the latter a Melbourne, export house has been competing with the local article. Starch has been in fair demand, Colman's packet being scarce. We hear of several parties on the lookout for a good site for a starch manufactory, the tariff advantage being exceptionally good. Blue is in heavy stock. Sail has recovered again after a drop of 10s per ton. Stocks are held firmly under the belief of a further rise in rates of freight, which is everything on low value bulky goods. Sugar : A large business has been put through. Company's No. 1, No. 2, and No. .'•> prices have been unaltered. These lines have had the lion's share of the trade, but there have been fairly large sales of China and Queensland whites ana Fiji yellows; these latter are scarce, with good demand boisterous weather in Fiji preventing several intended lots from coming by late opportunities. French cubes and tablets are in good demand. Dutch crushed quiet. Brewers' crystals inactive. Glucose dull. Tea; There have been no heavy sales during the month, but a good distributing trade has been done in all usual grades, from Is 4d to Is lid, duty paid. Comparison of duty on this line with that operating in Victoria is freely commented on : here 6d per lb, there Id. Although the duty falls relatively heavier on common as against fine, the demand runs mainly on the former. Choice teas in boxes are good property, holders making their price without difficulty, the market being linn in all the colonies. A steady sorting-up business has been done in Indians, with no activity in orange pekoes, scented caper, or young hysons. 'Tin plates are rising in sympathy with the advance in home quotations for tin. I.C. coke has been rather scarce. Wire nails : Stocks are full. The making of gum cases and cabin bread cases for export trade causes considerable use of these nails, other than for the building trade, now so dull. Quicksilver: Limited inquiry at '2s 8d per lb. Turpentine: Well supplied; price, from ;te 3d to ."J.! 6d. In spices, pepper has advanced id per lb. Sago has risen per lb for white. Brown sago is unsaleable. Tapioca is without change. Rice : A steadv business in' Japan at about £13 per ton. We hear of parcels done a trifle under. The market has weakened slightly since receipt of last Eastern advices. It is not so much a question of first cost as of freight rates, and owing to the Newcastle coal strike these are likely to rule still higher than even now. Tobacco : Business has been fairly good. Prices are piactically the same as last month, and the demand for various brands keeps about the same. Whiting is rather scarce, and parcels are held for £4 10s per ton. Vinegar : Very little demand except for case to the Island. Bulk meets with little or no inquiry thus early in the season, Kauri Gum Report. — Although prices have not fluctuated much since last mail, the demand, especially for best qualities of ordinary, has been very strong, and this market is steady. The Albert Russell sailed for New York on 2"2nd September, with oS(i tons. The Star of the East is on her way here from a southern port, and on her arrival will have prompt despatch for New York, her cargo being all engaged. The Crusader is still loading for London, and will clear next week. Supplies from mail to mail are about 675 tons. We quote : Fair ordinary, 29s to 30s ; best ordinary, 'Us ; East. Coast, 4'2s to 435, Mr. J. Aitken Council reports the sale of three allotments of land, fronting Waitemata Harbour, and having a total frontage of 91) feet to London-street, by a depth of about 155 feet, with seven-roomed dwellinghouse thereon, the property of Mr. J. E. Calvert, for the sum ot JL'bbj.

Rates of Exchange on London.—Buying: 90 days, 1 per cent, discount; 60 days, i per cent. discount; 30 days, J per cent. Demand, par. Selling: 90 days, J per cent, premium ; ('0 days, J per cent. premium ; 30 days, \\ per cent. Demand, 1| percent. premium. Fixed deposit: 8 months, 2 per cent. ; 0 months, 3 per cent.; 12 months, 4J per cent. ALES and Porter.—Ale in bulk (duty paid) per barrel: Bass's, £7 ; Ashby's, £8. Ale (in bond) Tennent's, quarts, 4s to lis ; Bass's Dogshead brand (Read's bottling): pints, 6s; quarts, Ss Cd (in bond); Bulldog (R. Portor and Co.'s bottling), (is and 3s ; W. Younger's, f>s and 7s ad ; Ashby's, Os 3d to Ss 9d ; Bass's (Blood bottlers), pints 4s, quarts 6s (id. Anglo-Bavarian : pints 5s (Wand Ss ; Boar's Head Stout: quarts, 8s 9d ; pints, (is 6d. Guinness's Harp brand by- Foster: pints, 6s; quarts, Bs. Norway ales: pints, 6s 4d; quarts, Bs. Foster's Bugle stout: quarts, 9s; pints, 6s 3d. Blood's: pints, os; quarts, 7s. Dogshead Guinness's (Read's bottling): pints, 6s ; quarts, Ss 3d. R. Porter and Co.'s bottling: pints, Os ; quarts, Ss; Spark's Moline bottling: 6s, and 9s 3d; Burke's : 6s, and 9s. Other brands : 5s and 7s 6d. Duty : pints, Is 6d : quarts, 3s per dozen. Building Materia^.—Cement maybe quoted at K. 11., Us Od; German brands proportionally lower. Slates : English Countesses are worth £11 to £12 ; American, £8 to £10. Plaster of Paris, 15s. Bags and Bagging.—Calcutta full weight woolpacks, 2s 7d ; corusacks, 7s 6d per dozen. Breadstui-'ks and Grain.—Local best silk-dressed flour, £12; household, £11; Southern brands, £10 to £11. Wheat, nominal, 3s 9d; no local sellers. Bum, £5. Sharps, £5 10s ; Southern sharps, £5. Maize; Local, 2a 3d. Oatmeal, £1110s per 20001b.

Barley (for malting), very scarce. Oats, 2s lOd (bags given in). Pearl barley, 21s. Cabin bread, £17 per ton. Cordage, d.p. (Subject to trade discounts). Manila hemp rope, all sizes, Sydney, £43 to £50 ; Aucklandmade, £61 to £63 ; whale and lance lilies, £80 ; New Zealand flax rope, all sizes, £35 osto£37 0s; Auck-land-made, £36; wool lashings, £3S; clothes lines, 5d per lb, subject to trade discount; Manila clothes line, 8d ; oakum, free, ditto, £40; spun yarn two-yarn ditto, £48 to £55; twine, shop, d.p., per lb, 9d to Is 2d ; sewing twine, Is Id per lb; focal-make, Is to Is 3d. Coal.Newcastle is almost unobtainable, owing to millers' strike, 35s at ship's side, 36s 6d in yards, and 40s delivered, may be taken as a fair quotation. Bay of Islands, 13s at the mines, and 27s 6d to 30s at yard, is quoted ; Whangarei coal, 9s (id at mine ; ditto, Waikato, steam, 8s ; household, 12s. Coffee and Si'iOES (in bond), per lb.—Ceylon, coffee plantation, Is 3d ; ditto, Island, none in the market; chicory, colonial, 42s per cwt; cocoa, d.p., Taylor's, Is od ; Fry's, Is id, scarce ; Van Houten's, 3s 7d ; Kpps's, Is 7d ; Maravilla, Is 6d ; chocolate, Taylor's, Is ad ; Fry's, Is 4d. Spices, d.p.: Cloves, 2s; bleached ginger, Is; unbleached ditto, lOd ; nutmegs, 3s 8d ; black pepper, whole, Is 2d ; white ditto, Is (id. Confectionery.—Local manufacturers are producing good articles, and consumption is chiefly in their goods. Waters's colonial boiled, 4jd ; dry, 7d ; jujubes. Is Id ; Mennie and Dey's boiled, 4Jd ; Keillor's assorted confections, Did; Gray's, 9£d; candied lemon peel, d.p. (duty, 5d per lb), lOd; orange, Is ; citron, Is 4d ; Keiller's jujubes, Is 4d ; Gray's jujubes, Is Id to Is 3d ; Coinpagnie Franyais' gums, Is 2d. Gum, Flax, Ac—We quote: Gum : Fair ordinary, £29 to £30; best ordinary, £31; East Coast, £42 to £43. Flax : First quality, £18 ; second, £16; tow, unsaleable, nominally worth £3 per ton. Cocoanut fibre, £15 to £17 ; cocoanut oil (fine white), per ton, £24. Copra, per ton, £9 to £12. Fundus, 3Jd to 4d. iROiNMONUEiiv.— corrugated iron, 5 to 8 feet, £18 10s to £19 10s ; 9 feet, £19 10s to £20 10s ; 10 feet, £20 10.* to £21 10s ; English bar iron, per ton, £9 10s; pig iron, £4 10s to £4 12s Cd ; plate iron, £10 to £11 ; fencing wire, assorted sizes, £11 10s. Barbed wire, £23 10s to £25. Sheet lead, £20; pig lead, £18; sheet zinc, £25; powder, Curtis, Harvey, and Hall's, Gd to 7d; sporting (in canister), 2s; yellow metal, 8d to Od; .Mums, SJtl to Aid Jams, Dried Fruits, etc.—Duty, 2d per lb. English marmalade, lib., d.p., 7s 3d: Gray's, 7s; Moir's, 7s ad ; Hobart jams. Knight and Johnson, os Od ; Peacock's, 5s to 5s tid ; Murray's, Dunedin, 4s 9d to 5s ; jars, (Jjd to 7^l; Nelson (New Zealand), 5s to 5s (id; sultanas, tijd.; French muscatels, scarce, Is 6d ; California!!, none; denies, sJdto Od ; currants, 5Jd ; tigs, 9d, scarce ; Turkish prunes, 7d to Sd ; dried apples (duty, 2d per lb) ordinary, in kegs and cases, 6£d; evaporated, 7Jd ; dates, sd. d.p. Leather and Hides.—Sole leather, lOd to Is 3d per lb; kips. Is 2d to Is lOd ; runners, Is 7d to Is Sd ; calf, colonial, 2s (3d to 3s (id ; basils, Ss to 18s per dozen ; closed uppers, 4s tid to lis 3d per pair ; hides, 2jd to 4Jd; calf skins, 4d to 5(1 per lb ; sheepskins, (id to 4s Bd. Manures.— bonedust, £0 10s to £8; Auckland, £8 10 ; superphosphate of lime, £0 to £8 Ids ; boneflour, £8 ; Peruvian guano, £14 to £17 per ton ; animal manure, none ; cocoanut oil cake, none ; linseed cake, £12 ; Maiden Island suano, £8 ; Huon Island guano, £5 to £6; Freezing Company's superphosphate, 32 per cent, £8 ; 25 per cent, £(i ; corn manure, £S ; root manure, £8 10s; grass manure, £7 10s ; bonedust, £8 10s ; Chesterfield guano, £3 10s. Malt and Hops.—English malt, no inquiry is experienced ; Colonial, 5s (id to 6s. Hops : Nelson, new season. Is 5d ; old. Sd to lOd ; glucose, £20, d.p., delivered to brewery. Oilmen's Stores.— Belmont Candles, now duty, 2d, 7}d, d.p., per lb ; McLeod's Dunedin of various brands, 4d to 5Jd; Orient Candles, 7}d (Dunedin make) ; Atlas Paraffins, 9d ; Panther fluted and plain, 9d ; Price's National, Bjd ; Price Battersea, SJd ; Young's British Wax, B]d ; Price's London Wax, 7Jd ; local blue mottled soap, £23 per ton ; carbolic, £27 ; best yellow, £36 ; No. I household, £15; Ist Crown, £20; 2nd Crown, £17; soft soap, in tins, 4Jd per lb'; toilet, 9d to lOd per lb ; mould candles, 5d per lb— all subject to trade discount. Salt, 10s per ton duty: Coarse, W. & \V\, £4 6s. d.p.; tine Black Horse, £4 10s, d.p.; .lonian almonds, 2s 4d; Valencia.), Is; Blacking paste, Day and Martin's, 4s Oil; Colman's starch, No. 1 (duty, 2d perlb): white, 495; blue, 495; Orlando Jones' starch, 445; Gill and Tucker's starch, 445; Heumann's, 445. Mustard, d.p. : Champion's genuine 1-lb book-shaped tins, 19s to l»s Od; |-lb tins, 9s 3d to 9s Gd; Colman's 1-lb tins (rod), lis Gd ; half ditto, 9s; 7-lb tins (red to green), 7td to is ; 1-lb tins (green), 13s ; J-lb dittos, 7s 6d ; DSFi-lb tins, (scarce), llh, 19s; Keen's, Blue: Ki'clcitt's Thumb, Sid ; Paris, in circle, new make, 7d ; Keen's, Sid. Matches: Vestas, d.p., Bryant anil May's 250, per gross, ISs ; ditto, plaid. 4s 6d ; ditto, fancy oval, 24s (id ; Bell and Black's, 17s ; plaids, Is 4*d ; It. Bell and Co. 250's, 17s :td ; plaids, 4s 3d. All match quotations regulated by quantity of parcel. Oil : Castor, in pints, 8s 3d ; halfpints, 4s 9d ; quarter-pints, 3s tid. Salad : 0. and 8., pints, 13s to 14s ; half-ditto, 6s ; Morton's pints, lis Od ; half - pints, 5s Cd. Pickles: Stephens' pints, 8s ; Crosse and Blackwell's, pints, 13s ; Pool's, 9s ; Morton's and others, from 9s ; McConnochie's, none. Kice (ground), in tins, 4jd. Sauces : Market largely overstocked. Lea and Perrin's, half - pints, Its; C. and B„ half-pints, 9s 6d ; Mellor's, 7s (id ; Stephens', Os Od ; (joodall's Yorkshire Relish, 7s ; cheaper brands innumerable. Vinegar, d.p.: Champion's, per gallon, 2s 4d ; Pew's, Is 9d to 2s ; Evans, 2s 2d ; Burnett's, Is lid ; Potts', Is lid ; Dunedin pure malt, Is 7d. Vinegar, case : Champion's, 8s Gd ; Burnett's, 7s Od ; Morton's, 7s Od. Treacle, 2d ; Golden Syrup, bulk, 2d to 2Jd. American honey, tins, 12s od., dp. Sago, 3d ; tapioca, 3d. Cornflour : Brown's, 3jd, d.p. : Brown and Poison's, 7d ; .Johnston's, GJd ; Wade's, sd; Munn's, Od. Preserved milk : Nestle's, 7s to 7s 9d, according to parcel ; Milkmaid, 7s 3d to 7s Gd. Tartaric acid, 2s 3d ; cream of tartar, Is Sd ; bicarb, soda, £11 ; soda crystals, £0 10s. Whiting, £4 ss. Oils and Paints.— Gd a gallon. Colza, in drums, 4s; bulk, 3s 7d ; linseed, boiled drums, .'is Cd ; bulk, 3s 3d; raw drums, 3s 4d; bulk, 33 ; castor, in drums, 3s 3d ; kerosene, d.p., 130 test, Is Sd ; kerosene, in bond, 130 test, Is to Is d ; 150 test, Is 3d. Vvnito lead, ground, per cwt, genuine, 26s ; No. 1 white lead, 225; rod lead, dry, £1S 10s. Oil colours, assorted, £1 10s to £1 ISs. Turps, duty paid : drums, 3s Od ; American, 3s 3d ; rosin, £S. American carriage varnish, 7s 6d to lis per gallon. Provisions.—Cheese : provincial, scarce, 5d ; Canterbury, nominal, 50. Salt butter, 8d to 9d. Kice, "i.b., Japan dressed, £12 15s to £13. Canterbury bacon and hams (in cloth), sides only, Ojd; equal numbers hams and bacon, 7d; hams only, Bd. Fish: Ling, sd; boneless cod, 4d ; preserved red herrings, ill tins, 37s per dozen (2-lb tins); white, 30s per barrel; Findon haddocks, Ss ; lobsters, American, libs, 10s Gd ; 2lbs, 18s ; salmon, lib cocktail, d.p., lis; other brands, 10s Od d.p.; pickled salmon, Od ; sardines, quarters, 4s Od to ss, halves, 8s Od ; oysters, 0s; mullet (Kaipara), 5s Gd. Sugars. — Brewers' crystals, £32 duty paid, (duty Jd per lb); New Zealand Company's Auckland refinery, d.p., No. 1, £27; No. 2, £20; No. 3, £23 10s; Millaquin, none; Fiji, crystal, none; China, £20; English crushed loaf, 3jd ; French cube 3Ad; yellows, i.b., Fiji, £16 10s ; browns, £15 10s Spirits.—Duty, 15s per gallon of proof spirits ill bulk, 10s per gallon in case. Brandy: Itouyer, Gouillet and Co., 25s and Ss; Mar. cellain's, case, 22s Od, i.b. ; flask, 28s Od ; half-flask, 35s 0d; quarter-flask, 53s 6d, and in bulk, 7s 9d ; llennessy's brandy, bulks 13s 6d to 14s ; case, 30s 3d ; Bisquit, Dubouche, and Co.'s pale, in hhds. and qr.-casks, 7s ; Beehive, bulk, Ss; Courvoisier's, case, 345; Otard's, case, 29s (nominal); bulk, 10s Od ; Beehive, case, 245; Bisquit, Dubouehe and Co.'s, 265; Mine's, 28s; bulk, Ss ; Gautier's, 32s and 10s 6d ; Burgaud's, 7s 3d to' 7s 9d; Mailer Frere's, 20s; Cavalier Frere's, 245; J. B. Rene's, case, 225; Meukow, 30s and 10s; Senimaud, 6s; Dessandier's, 22s and "s 6d. Whisky, bulk : Walker's WW, 10s; Greenless and Colville's, 5s 6d to 0s 3d, and Greenless and Colville's VO, 8s 6d ; case, Rob Roy, 18s ; case, Beith, Ross and Cc.s, 6s; Teacher's, 10s; Vint's bulk, 6s 6(1 ; Vint's case, 20s Od ; Dunville's, 5s 6d ; case, 18s ; Lome Highland, 21s ; Speyside, 21s ; Red Deer, 0s 6d to 7s ; case, 19s ; Craig, 6s Cd and 24s ; Royal Blend, 24s ; Teacher's old, 26s ; Encore, 19s; Banagher, 19s ; Walker's WW, 22s ; Jeroboam, 28s; LL, 22s Oil to 23s ; all in bond. Geneva, proof, 3 gallons, JDKZ, 15 bottles, 14s0d ; 20 bottles, 18s; key, Geneva, proof, 13s; Schnapps, Wolfe's, 21s 6d. Gin, Booth's, 16s; Burnett's, 13s. Lownde's rum, 30 0.p., 4s; Red Heart, case, 25s (id ; Burnett's case, 225. Key, 225. Teacher's white rum, 32s Od in bulk, d.p. Timber.—Quotations are as follows :—Kauri boards and scantling cargoes, 100 feet, at mill, f.0.b.,

East Coast, 9s to 10s first-class; 6s second-class ; at yards, Auckland, 183 to 14s 6d first-class.; Ss 6d second-class. Flooring, 13s 6d to 16s first-class, 9s 6d second-class, rusticated, 16s 6d to 17s. West Coast, sawn kauri, 10s; square baulk, 6a 6d to Bs, white pine (kahikatea), 1* 6d: T. and -Mb, f.o.b. at mills ;at yard, first-class, 181; secondclass, 8s ; Hobart palings, 5 feet, 13b 6d ; 6 feet, 15s ; Hobart rails, £3 15s. .„_,.„ Tobacco.-Duty, 3s 6d. Venus, 14s; three-quarter boxes, 19 3d; Venus, Navy flat work, is 4d; double-thick ditto, Is 4d ; Ruby Aromatic, 2s 6d, Victory, is lid; Juno, black, all shapes. Is 3Jd to is 4Jd; Unique, Is 4d; low, 10 lid; Cameron's Fancy Aromatic, Isi M, Derbv, case, Is 7d ; boxes, is 8d ; Over the Water, flatwork, all shapes, Is 2d ; Nailrod, Is 2d; -Signet, is lid ; Gem of the Sea, Is 8d ; Josephine,. is 3d, Columbia, Is sd; Watson and McGilTs twist, 26 s, Teas.—Prices range as follows (in bond). — Congous, common, 6d to 7d; middling to fine kinds, lid to is; Saryunes and Panyongs, Is 4d to Is 7d ; Souchongs and Kaisows, Is 4d to Is 6ci; Orange Pekoes, Is 3d to Is 7d. Indian teas are now largely used for mixing. Prices may be quoted for Semi-broken and fine Souchong kinds, is fid to 13 lid, duty paid. , WiNES.-Champagne, duty paid: Pener Jouet and Co., first quality, quarts, 105s; pints, 110s ; halfpints, 120s; second quality, quarts, 85s; pints, 90s. Montebello, quarts, 84s; Moet, quarts, 90s; pints, 965; Roederer, quarts, 110s; pints, 115s; Heidsick, same; Pol. Roger and Co., 100s and 105s; Adolphe Collins, 90s and 95s ditto; extra suporior, 70s, 80s ; St. Hubert's Australian, 32s per dozen ; Penfold's, 32s per dozen.

Comparative return showing the amount of Customs duties (after deducting refunds! collected for the quarters ending respectively 30th September, ISBS, and 30th September, 1887 :—

MR. A. SAUNDERS' STOCK AND SHARE REPORT. The stock and money market has been firm during the last month, and a good deal of business has been transacted. The market has, however, during the last week been absolutely electrified by the report of the committee of inquiry of the Bank of New Zealand. The affairs of the Bank were found to be in a worse state than was anticipated, and the Committee fearlessly and unflinchingly told the shareholders the worst. This outspoken statement has instilled a feeling of confidence in the Directors and the Bank throughout the entire community, and will no doubt do a great deal of good to the colony of New Zealand now the worst is known, not feared. Although £3 per share have been taken from the old shareholders, the stock is in demand at £8 10s to £8 17s 6d. Other bank stocks are firm. Loan and Mercantile.— report of the Bank weakened this stock to a trifling extent, but there is a good market for the shares nevertheless. Land Mortgage shares have receded somewhat in value. Gas (Auckland) are steady; these shares are seldom without friends at high rates. INSURANCE.—In spite of the number of fires of recent date most of our insurance stocks keep firm. The South British Insurance Company have decided to declare a dividend of four per cent, for the past half-year, making eight per cent, for the year, and the company's business is on a sound footing. Coal.—Taupiri shares have not fluctuated. The coal strike at Newcastle has had the effect of raising the price of Westport shares, and numerous inquiries are continually made for coal properties. Mining.—Works of considerable importance are going on in the various mining centres, and during the coming spring a large output of gold is expected at the Thames and from the upper country. Coromandel is coming to the front again. The Kapanga is reported o be turning out large quantities of gold, and a .ividendis expected to be paid to the English shareholders. Other claims are paying well, and fresh ground is being taken up daily. The outlook for the goldtields is decidedly brighter. The following list gives the fluctuations of the market, and the present prices of stocks :—

Alex. Saunders, Stock and Sharebroker. Auckland, October 6,1883.

Duty. 1888. 1887. 3 £ h. d. £ a. d. Spirits, 16s gal 5,78 1 J? 1 1 Spirits, 15s gal. •■ .. 8,162 12 0 Spirits, 14a 6d gal. .. — li ' iis ° 7 Spirits, perfumed, 21s ,,*,,, n gal. 100 19 6 117 14 0 Spirits, methylated, Is «al. 20 13 10 - Cigars and Snuff, 6s lb.. IS 1 0 1,819 8 7 Cigars and Snuff, 7s lb.. 1,485 6 10 — Cigars and Snulf, New Zealand manuf'ctur'd, Is lb . ... 101 16 6 66 18 0 Tobacco, 3s 6d lb. .. 11,166 5 3 10,030 6 9 Tobacco, unmanufactured, 2a lb .. .. 595 6 0 202 8 0 Tobacco, New Zealand manufactured, is lb.. 2b3 11 0 90 2 0 Wine, 6s gal 719 15 4 - Wine, 5s lid gal — 652 19 fa Wine, sparkling, 9s gal. 71 11 0 — Wine, sparkling, 6s 6d gal. ... .. - 48 13 7 Wine, Australian, 4s Cd gal. — 86 16 11 Wine, Australian, 5s gal. 169 16 2 — Beer, in bottle, Is 6d gal. 727 11 6 917 17 9 Beer, in wood, Is 6d gal. 66 10 6 — Beer, in wood, Is 3d gal. — 31 5 0 Tea, 6dlb 1,925 17 0 — Tea, 4d lb - 3,380 11 2 Coffee, Cocoa, &C, 3d lb 456 12 5 401 5 3 Coffee, roasted, 5d lb... 0 11 8 1 17 6 Sugar, &c, id lb. .. 8,371 S 1 7,835 19 4 Glucose, Id lb 57 3 7 — Opium, £2 lb 54 10 0 — Opium, £1 lb. .... — 24 0 0 Goods by weight .. 5,106 0 4 4,365 15 11 Ad Valorem, 25 % ..10,887 14 2 565 14 0 20% .. 18,472 IS 6 — 15% .. 2,034 1*11 18,063 i 6 10 % .. 1,969 19 0 — 5% 211 4 0 — 1% .. 3,452 4 1 — Cocoa Beans .... — 0 9 4 Other duties _ .. 3,418 18 3 2,865 11 11 £85,861 4 6 £66,726 19 6 Less refund - .. — ° 16 0 £66,726 3 6

Company. Buyers. Sellers.! e g edi Ifi s d£ s d Bank of New Zealand 8 IB' 0. .. '10/7/6, 10/14/ National do. .. .. 1 16 0 N.Z. Insurance .. .. 4 1 6 SO/, 81/6, 81/ South British do. ..250260 47/6,48/ National do. .. .. 10 0, 18/9 Standard do. .. .. 0 14 6 14/ Colonial do. .. .. 0 5 0N.Z. L.AM. A 4 2 0 S3, /S3/6, 80/6 National Mortgape .. 0 10 9 0 11 0 Auckland Gas (old) .. 10 15 011 0 0 10/17/6 Thames do 1 16 0 35/ Taupiri Coal 2 4 0 Coromandel Steam ..080 N.Z. Land Mortgage .- 0 18 6 Kempthorne, Prosser, it Co 10 0 Accident Insurance .. 0 7 3.. _ MINING. Cambria 0 4 0 Saxon 0 4 6 5/3, 3/8, 4/5 Old Caledonian .... 0 3 3: Trenton 0 2 6 2/5,2/6 Manukau .. ..016 Union, Wailli 0 6 3! 6/6,6/ Alburnia 0 2 01/9,1/10,1/11 Adeline Amal 0 0 6 Paroquet 0 3 0 3/, 3/6, 3/8 (Jem 0 10 1/4,1/6 Gold water 0 13' Crown 0 4 6 4/, 3/11, 4/2 Woodstock 0 2 3: Kenil worth 0 3 3 RovalOak 0 4 0 3/9, 3A1 Mata 0 1 0 Martha Extended ..007