COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11842, 20 December 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald Office, , , ' Thursday. evening. j As the last mail left we were 'just commencing the Christmas trade in earnest, and ' business lias been extremelw brisk again dur- ■ ing the last three weeks. -It is about time , we had a really busy period, because it can- '■< not bo said that the spring months have been satisfactory, even a decided slackness being often apparent. As we write, however, :• there are 110 complaints on . that score, . for wholesale and retail alike are at high pressure in'dealing with the business that is offering. As this is the last Summary of the .year, we may-briefly note some of the striking features of 1901, without being- in possession of the figures that will shortly be available to" show the exact position of the various commodities. Commencing with our principal export, wool, the value of which far and away exceeds any other product,', the year has been exceedingly disappointing. Opening at low rates, it seemed impossible for values to fall, and many were in hopes of a recovery, but unfortunately prices continued to droop, and look now about as bad as they can be. At the first wool sale of the season there was an . unusual quantity passed in. as it failed to reach the owners' reserve, but this only shows that exporters pre not keen to operate in the face of such discouraging reports, and if the owners can get in London prices equivalent to their reserve none will be better pleased than the would-be exporters. It looks very liko as if low prices have come to stay, and squatters will wait, in vain for the remarkably high values of a couple of years ago. Our next most valuable, export, meat, has also been low. and the export has been con-' siderably checked, for while London prices have been down. New Zealand prices have been up, and the freezing companies have not been able to operate to such advantage as in former years. The local advance has been caused by the heavy export of previous • years, which reduced the numbers here to such a large extent, that when the returns were in it was found that we had in the case of sheep and cattle hardly more than enough for colonial requirements. Of course, the high values have compensated graziers for the low price of wool, but the colony has not had the assistance of the heavy total in the value of meat that usually swells the export list. Gold generally comes next on the list, and it is gratifying to note that we have a substantial increase, in the value of this product this year. The "West Const of the South Island has long ago lost its sensational returns. although some of the mines further inland from Greymouth have been getting very payable results. There has also been the collapse of the. dredging boom.in Otago, which promised so much and gave so little, 'especially to the shareholders. But, although our speculating boom has disappeared, we can safely say that in one part of the Auckland district mining is beinar carried on with very pleasing results. The premier mine, the Waihi, has a regular.. programme of beating all previous records in nearly every monthly return, the last to hand being very satisfactory. '; Other large mines have now their batteries in full working order, and are regularly helping to pile up the returns, while others again are developing their properties preparatory to the actual saving of the prceious metal in the near future. In this connection it is much to be regretted that, the Government should see fit to suspend active operations 011 the railway line that should soon connect Paeroa with Waihi. It is only a short distance, but it would carry an immense amount of; traffic* from the very day it was opened, as it would take everything to and from Waihi, besides tapping the intervening towns, Karangahake r and aikino, where the noise of hundreds of head

)f. stampers denotes life and business. There s certainly a tunnel ill the way, but even hero two ends are served by the one effort, is it would open a way for the rails, and ilso test the country for possible further •t-efs. And yet, just as the summer, is here ho work of pushing on the ; railway ceases. Wo think that if the Minister who is responsible for this cessation had to traverse the present road between Waihi and Paeroa in the depth of winter he would be of the same opinion as ourselves, that this railway line would be of more use than some of the projected works in the South Island. Dairy produce will probably be found to figure next on the list, and here we have nothing but satisfaction to record, unless it is in the fact that the first part of the season has been unusually dry. This climate is so even that we do not trouble about rain' or sunshine until towards the end of summer we find the city short of water, but this year there has been a .somewhat serious drought in many parts : of the colony, and although it has now terminated, it will most likely have left its mark on the dairy industry on account .of the less quantity of ?rass available. Prices arc very good, and with this encouragement'all engaged in the industry are extending their operations as fast as they can. It is greatly to be wished that the Government - would take steps to secure the early opening up of some of the thousands of acres of land in this district, tvliieh could be offered to intending settlers it- only a fraction of the cost of equal land in Taranaki or the South. It seems to be •mining contrary to the nature of things to 50 continually buying up more expensive snd already improved estates in the South. ,vhen the same settlers could open up land lero that is at present lying idle. It is ilso to be regretted that the Government should allow anything to interfere with the •ompletion of the Main Trunk railway, which, resides connecting us with Wellington, would ipen up :o much country that is at present n accessible. In the South Island the drought which lias seen experienced during the spring months las affected some of the markets, for in some places grass has been so short that stock iavo had to be fed ;on what was intended : or cropping. In any case, the crops would lave been rather poor, but this has some;imes taken away all chance of any cropping it all. The most noticeable has been in jrass seed, which lias been eaten off in many places instead of being allowed to go to seed. Oats also went to head so quickly an account of the dry weather that many :>f the farmers turned their cattle into the standing crop. Wheat prospects look so bad that all holders are looking for better prices, and are keeping their stocks off the

market until the rise ; comes that lias been so long delayed, i Stocks are not very heavy because free shipment was induced to London by the low freights to be had when frozen meat was not offering, and although for a few weeks the price declined when wool appeared for freight, and the rates recovered, still stocks had already been depleted to such an extent that the above result/ ensued, the advance during! the last few weeks being fully fourpence per bushel. It is expected that this will shortly have its effect on the price of flour, but no move has taken place so far beyond a general curtailment of business. The large association in the South is not supplying all brands at present, and it looks as if it has entered in earnest upon one of its duties, limiting the output. Oats have had a great deal of attention owing to the large export trade to South Africa, which has kept the price particularly high since the beginning of the advance, which took place in May. As the crop this year exceeded any previous season by some millions of bushels, this has been an extremely profitable line for Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. Just now the market is still, and would probably • incline to weakness, : but for the poor prospects of the coming, harvest. We have frequently touched on the remarkable fluctuations in potatoes, which go up and down according to whether Australia, is buying or not. A large proportion of this last season's crop lias found an outlet there at better prices than we have had for a long time, but now all the trade here is in new potatoes, which are coming into the market very plentifully. As for the future, there is not so much likelihood of export to Australia, now that they have inter-State free trade, but the duty there of 31 per ton will not prevent shipments when they do happen to be short. In maize the duty is so high that we shall decidedly feel it, and growers have recognised this as a serious blow to the industry of the Bay of Plenty. Exports were kept up fairly regularly until the very week that the Federal duty was announced, but it ceased then,, apparently for good. Hams and bacon are particularly scarce this season, large quantities having been bought up for Sydney before the duty was imposed, and, as pigs are not so numerous as previously it is not likely that we shall be dependent on that market as an outlet for any surplus. Peas and beans are generally a heavy crop, but they soon ran short after Inst summer, and, as for the coming season, we hear that this has also suffered by farmers having to turn their stock into the growing crop, owing to want of pasture through the drought. It is most unfortunate that some of the abundant rain of this month had r.ot fallen three months ago, especially in the South. Flax has been booming, and with the present paying prices it is a pity that the supply of green . flax is so' short that millers are unable to keep up with their; contracts. There is little doubt that closer settlement in the country : will, limit the area of comparatively waste land that is now given to flax, for with the exception of swamp? tho presence '

or? nax denotes ? gouu i»u«, r,-V ~—- fully justified in. causing' it to mate room |g for grass. , . r• i i Fungus has been exported m fairly, large . ' quantities, and >. the price, as usual, lias been '<. ■ t-ery good- of .late," although weaker now, ana J . jiclined to droop more. A : The timber trade is still in a good state, iespito the prospective curtailment of tho a \port of some kinds to the Commonwealth. [t seems' that this has drawn more attention:. .. J|| to tho fact that our forests are not limitless, especially of kaliikateti.' which is used largely for butter-boxes here and its Australia, ana will l>o used still more largely. A few years; ago kauri timber began to go up in price, j - and it was /, expected to be only temporary,. ; but this has, been followed.by other advances, ( ) E and the opinion has been expressed that the price will go up and up until all tho kauri is exhausted Tho trade in kauri gum will be found reviewed in anothei column. In the; import market the chief feature isthe gradual movo to America for lino after line that used* to come from other sources. Attention has been frequently drawn to tho shipments from New York, which used to 1 be on sailing vessels, but now require lines : of steamers. • On the San Francisco side there used to be one small steamer a month.and this was generally sufficient until jusi" before arrangements were made for the substitution of a largei steamei every .hrco weeks. The Americans have secured the .■ trade in everything that they can make or: grow, displacing the import I from, England' and the Continent. ' " T *\ The markets have been fairly regular, kerosene giving its share of attention as usual.; Just after the colonics had expected a regVNj lar range, of lower; prices, owing to the Borneo competition, wo get the news that the; Standard Oil Company has bought .Ait the" Shell Transport Company, and this has put/*' ' up both kerosene and benzine'. . : There is at present a scarcity in English : . . bottled stout, and stocks are nothing- like sufficient for. the season's , demands. Ting. ; j was caused by the English brewers. Guinness and Co.. being unable to cop© with the demand for South Africa, and they, have out' short the supplies to bottlers. . Large purchases have, already been made of all the lines # that could bo picked up. Cordials sold badly last, season, but the trade has opened up welt this year. Cornsacks have been coming down from tho high prices lately registered. Tho demand is less now in Auckland, large, quantities being required 'during the last few years for . the Austrians, and many have now left tho gunrfields* Woolpack.s have had regular. sale. KAURI GUM MARKET. The quantity of gum that has arrived since last mail left is larger than wo have been accustomed to see in a similar , period for some time past, but considering that the arrivals reported : last mail were smaller than , usual, and that gum is Just now being hurried into town in anticipation of .the fast- 1 approaching holidays, this larger production l ; * : is not surprising, and does not indicate any change of the position on the gumfields". There has been a fairly strong demand for' gum during tho last few weeks, and prices « have been forced upwards all round, in spite of the fact that they were already at a very unprofitable level as compared with those ruling in. the ' selling markets. - The scarcity of good qualities has put the market into the hands of the sellers, who have used their opportunity with the result above noted. Tha ' arrivals of gum. since last mail left have been about 500 tons, and the stock now here in the hands, of sellers and - shippers is about--1600 tons. ... "Wo quote as follows:—White gum: Poor ordinary, 30s and upwards; fair, ordinary, 50s and upwards; bold threequarterscraped, free , from nuts, 78s and upwards;! East Coast, good quality, 72s and upwards;! rescraped, 118s and upwards. Black gum :'■■■; v ■■■ Nuts, 12s and upwards; medium, free from sugar, 18s and upwards; good, 52s and up- .. wards. Shipments have been made as under: For London direct: Per s.s. Tongariro, 22 tons; per s.s. : Rangatira, 19 tons — per s.s. Indraghiri, 116 tons per s.s. Star* of England, 120 tons. For London, via Australia: Per s.s. Warrimoo, 4- tons. For New ' - York direct: Per barquo Star of the East, 498 tons. For San Francisco direct: Per s.s.'• Sonoma, 1 ton. Total, 780 tons. ■ 1 "" " 1 .«*> :—.— . - AUCTION SALES, ETC. ■ . November 29. ■ There was a good attendance at Mr. Thornes*>. land sale to-day, when the following pro-- ; perties found purchasers:—House "of 10 rooms in Brighton Road. Parnell, with front- ' . age of 100 ft, brought £525 a cottage of sis' rooms in Crammer Road was sold for £450 J; and a farm at Paiua Bay brought £350. ;. - December 6. j At Messrs. Samuel Vaile and Sons' sale to j day the following country lots were sold: — S.E. part allotment 132 and S.W. 133, Wairau, 40 acres, 3s per ■ acre; allotment 72, ■ r Mangonui, 61 acres, 2s 6d per aero; W.-ant\. " • E. parts 7, Mangonui East, 90 acres, Is 6d V r per acre; W. part 17, Mangonui East, 100 acres, 2s per acre; allotment 10, Mangonui East, 273 acres, 2s per acre; allotment 25, • Ahipara, 158 acres, 2s per 1 acre; allotment [ 61, ,Waiau, 80 acres, 7s 6d per acre. December 12. • A number of city leaseholds for a terra of 50 years were offered for sale to-day by ■ auction by Messrs. Hall and Perkins, the following lots being sold—Wakefieid-street, allotment 5, section 35, Mr. A. Myers, ■ £35 -per annum;' Hopetoun-street, allotments 18 and 19, Mr. Brown, £6 each allotment 20, ■ Messrs. McLachlan and Casey, £6; Great' North Road, lot 2, section 1, P., £4- 15s, Messrs. A. Robertson and Baker. The other ,-3|& allotments offered were ; passed in. * JgHpl , BANK KATES. .IB BUYING SELLING. . Wil Demand ~ § Z"1 ' Demand „ 1£ % } U 3o days .. g % _-Dls- SO days ... 1J X V Pre» . '"m ( 0 days .. i% f count fill days ... 5% {miura- " % 90 days ~ J % I 90 days ..- J% ) \ TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFERS TO LONDON.— 11 per cent., plus cable charges. DEPOSITS.—By Lank of - Now - Zealand: 1 Fixed for 3 months, 1 per cent, per annum;, .• ; 6 months, 2! per cent, per annum il2 months, 3 per cent, per annum. By National Bank: Fixed for 3 months, 1 per cent, per annum; 6 months, 2 per cent, per annum; 12 months, * 3 per cent, per annum; 24 months, 34 ,per ' cent, per annum. By* Australian , Banks:!. _. Fixed for 6 months, 1J per cent. per.annum;! ' - , 12 months, 3 per cent, per annum. PRICES CHARGED BY THE WHOLESALE'. TO DISTRIBUTING HOUSES: - •> Albs and porter, duty 2s per gallon.—Ale . (in bond):; Bass' Dogshead brand (Read's ■ bottling, quarts, 8s 9d; pints. 6s 9d;, •Foster's Bugle quarts, 7s 6d; pints, 5s 6d., ;; ■ . Bulldog (R. Porter , and Co.'s bottling), " ■ •' quarts, Bs, 9d; pints, 6s 9d Franz Joseph's 5 ' « ! lager, 1 quarts, 8s 9d ; pints, fis 9d. Dunedin. " , . (duty paid), quarts. 8s: pints, 4s 6' l . Stout (in bond); Guinness' Dog's head brand (Head's; , bottling), quarts, 8s 9d ; pints, 6s 9d. Fos- i . ter's Bugle, ■ quarts, 7s 6cl ; pints, 5s- 6d. ; i :.'*■■ Bulldog (R. Porter and. Co.'s bottling).: . . quarts, 83 : 9d; pints, 6s 9d; Jolmson'3 quarts," Bs,- pint!:, 6S; Ashby's, 6s 3d; to 8s 9d. Anglo-Bavarian, quarts,: 83 "9d;, - - pints, 5s 6d. Dnnedin (duty paid), quarts, 8s; pints, 4s 6d . : BUILDING ; Materials.— . K.B. and . White's 14s. Slates: English Countesses are worth £12 to £13. Plaster of Paris, 14s to - 16s. All these quotations nominal. Fire-. - . bricks, ,2Jin £8, Sin £9. less trade discount. • _ BAGS AND - BAGGlNG.—Calcutta full weight " woolpacks. Hid lb. bale 2s IJd: less 2s 2d to 2s 3d; cornsacks, 48in, 5s 9d; 44in, 5s 6d; Hes- :-V t sian bags, Zs 7d to 4s 6d. , . ," •, ■■ ; . ' 'V" Of BREADSTDFrs AND GRAIN".Best roller flour, in sacks. £6 15s to £7 15s, less usual discounts; 100's and 60's in proportion to extra f,bagging. Southern wheat, milling, 2s lid to ■■}/. -i i. 3s,- -. f.0.b.. Southern ; ports, according to quality, sacks extra. Bran, £4 l£s ex store. ■ Sharps, £5. . Maize, ex wharf, 2s 3(L. " ' • Oatmeal, 25's, £13; 7's, £14 10s. Barley for' "(■ : malting, 2s 9d to 3s 6d; feed, 2s 6d to 2s 9d. Oats, ex wharf, 2s 9d to 2s ,10id. ; Oats, ex store, 2s lid to 3s. Pearl"barley, £12 103. Split peas. £12 10s. Cabin bread, . £13 per • ton. Settlers' bread, £15. Newcastle, ship's side, 24s 6d; delivered, ' ' - £1 13s; Hikurangi Coal Co., 8s 6d f.o.b. Wliangarei; Hikurangi Collieries Co., Bs. f.o.b. .Whangarei.' Taupiri Steam, at mine,' 9s; do., household, delivered, £1 6s. CORDAGE — Manila r hemp rope. all .'v-,; sizes, 'Auckland-made, best, £74! 10s; ; New Zealand flax , rope, . • all sizes, £43: clothes lines, 6d per lb. subject . (-5 to trade: discount; point spun yarn, ' £58; twine, shop, d.p., per lb. 3|d to Is 2d; • sewing twine, 9d to Is 8d per lb. I , , .. ...-'> ; ••. ; • .•: . ' '„ - . . j COFFEE AND SPICES, per lb.—Ceylon coffee: ■' plantation, No. 0, Is 7d; No. 1, Is 6d; No. ? 2, Is sd; No. 3, Is 4d; Mocha, Is 7d; ditto. ~.. b Island,' Is 2d; chicory. 36s per cwt in tins? Symington's Essence of Coffee, 12s 6d; local, i'-.> • 10s. ■ Cocoa: Fry's. Is 3d; Van - Hou- •■' F '■ ten'S, 3s 3d; Epps*. Is 4Jd; Cadbury's, Jib, ,9s " 6d, lib ' 18s 6d, lib 36s • 6d; Rowntree's, -03 ' • 3d. Chocolate: Fry's. Is 3d; Vi-Cocoa, 3oa ■ 7s 6d; 4hoz, . lis; 9&oz, -225. per v.dozen. - - * Spices: Cloves. lOd; . bleached ginger, iod; nutmegs, is 9d to 2s; cinnamon, 23 * 3d; blaak ■ pepper, whole, in bond, 9d; white, «' , do., is; chillies. Is. ~ ... v -; ;■ ; . v.CONFECTIONERY.— boiled, 3»d ; . dry. goods, 4d, less ; trade discount; gum"' jujubes. Is; ' jelly ditto, 7£d; Keiller'a assorted confections, 7Jd; Gray's, 8d; candied j lemon peel, d.p. (duty, 3d per lb). 9d; ■ orange, lOd to lid; citron, Is 3d; local, from >. • 4Jd for lemon to;; Is for citron; Terry's ju- •''. J jubes. Is Id, Denholm's, Is 2d; Keiller's fruit ' jujubes. Is 4d: ; Jib chocolate creams, 4s 6d; .• 5-' cream sticks. Is 3d; chocolate sticks. Is 4d.'' - GUM, FLAX. Etc.—' Gum: Poor ordin- • ary, £30 and upwards; fair ordinary, £50 and' upwards; bold, three-quarter- /i scraped, free from nuts, £78 and upwards; East Coast, best quality. , £70 and upwards: re-scraped. £118 and up- , wards.- Dark gum: Nuts, sifted. £10 and up-'.' J " wards; medium, free from" sugar,-£lB and ' ■ upwards; good, £48 and upwards. J Flax-' : 2 Fine, clean, Auckland, 1 f.0.b., £28:;10s • good. ", fair average quality, f.0.b., £26 10?,; tow. £4 • ? 10s per ton. . Cocoanut fibre, per ton," £20. Copra, pec ton, £12 10s, Fungus, 3kl.

SjU' IRONMONGERY.—! corrugated - iron, I'(dutv paid, £2 per ton), basis. £19 to £19 10s. ' English, bar iron, per ton, £10 10s basis; gal- ' •*> vanised' fencing -wire, 6 to 8 gauge. £11 10s to , >'• £12 10s: English'barb -wire. Jils 10s; American, £14 10s; English pig iron. £5 ss; pig lead >4 1 T £15, sheet lead, £20; i zinc. • £35,; I.C. coke tin plates, 20in by Win. 18s: 6d ; blasting i powder, " 8d; mnntz 'metal, 9d; quicksilver, 3s. -

*»''• JAMS.' Dried Fruits. Etc.—C. and iB. Mar- - malade. lib, d.p.. 6s 6d; Keiller's marma- - M * ' lade, lib, d.p., 7s 3d ; Phoenix and St., George, 5-5 * Dunedin. 53 - 6d: Nelson (New Zealand). 5s ■ 9d: Auckland-made, lib tins. . ss; 1 lib glass 4s 6d; English, 6s 6d; Smyrna sultanas, 53d ; " %< American, ft 6Jd; Malaga r muscatels. ; lOd; elemes, 7 sd; ,i currants, ; 3?d d.p.; j; Californian * prunes, ; 6d; dried apples, 6kl; dried? apricots, : 8&d; , seeded raisins, > lib packets, 7d.

I/BATHER AND HIDES.—SoIe leather, ' 9£d to la 6d per lb; kips, Is 3d to Is 6d; runners. Is 3d ®to Is 6d lb; black harness.'. Is 2d to Is sd; ! V brown, harness. Is 4<l ; calf, colonial, 2s 6d, ".'■basils, 8d to - lid : per lb skirt, 17s to 20s per side; closed , tippers, 4s 6d to 8s iSd per pair: hides.: ox, 41 d to 5Jd per lb; stent ox, 6d to 6id; cow, 4d to 4£d;--calf- ' skins, 4d to 4Jd per lb; sheepskins, Is 3d to '23 6d. v

MANURES.— bonedust, £4 to £4 ss; Auckland, £7 superphosphate of lime. £5 ss; bone flour, £7 15s: k: superphosphates. Anglo - Company, £4 ; 15s; ;. cocoanut oil cake, £5 10s; kainit,"£4 ss. New Zealand : Drug Company's manures :. • A superphosphate. £5 153 - per ton; ? bonedusrt. ' steamed £7 ss: honedust. green. £7 15s; - honedust- and .blood, £6 15s; root' manure. £7 ss; grass manure, £7; potato manure. ... £7 ; ss; ■ turnip ' manure, £7; ■ corn manure, ii i £7; maize manure. - £7. ss; orchard manure, :£7 . 15s; onion • manure, £7 15s; clover manure. £7 sulph. of ammonia, £15 10s; Coral Queen guano, £4 15s. .

MALT AND HOPS.—Colonial, 4s 9d to ss. Hops: ' Nelson, brewers', B£d to lOd; grocers hops, packets, 8d to lOd; Californian ditto, lla.

Oilmen's stores, Price's National, 6bd; Battersea Wax, 6Jd; Price's London Wax. 61d; Price's self-fitting, . 71d; 1 rice s car- >■ riage, 71d; local ¥ sperm, ,43d to 5d ; > wax, 53d to 6d; raining, 61d; local blue mottled soap, £22 per ton;. carbolic, £28; best yellow. V. £25 ;>.... National, £22; double Crown. ' . £23 ; - ■ Golden .... - Crown, .. £18 » household, £14 to , £16 ;:* soft _ soap, _in tins, '5d ' per - lb; toilet, 7d per. lb : —all subject to trade discount. -.Salt. Black Horse, fine,. £3.155, coarse, £3 10s; _other ' brands, fine £3, coarse £2 10s: rock salt. £5 - Jordan : almonds. 2s 3d; Blacking Paste. Day and Martin's, 33 6d ; • local. 3s fid; Colman's starch, . No. .- 1,/ duty. iff. 2d per lb), white, 46s 6d; lib pictorial, 535; . local, 37s ;. 50 case lots, 355. Mustard. - d.p.: Colman's, lib tins (DSF), 17s 6d; halfditto, 9s: lib tins, ss; Keen's DSF, same '■i-Vprice; Colman's, 71b ' tins (greun), Hid; ' Blue: Reckitt's Circular. 7s 6d - per gross ;:. Bag. 83 3d ;' - Colman s Azure, Bid per lb ; Reckitt's Square, . BJd ; Keen's souare, Bid. Matches: Vestas, d.p., Bry- : ant and May's, 250's, -per . gross, l6s ; . R. . Bell and Co.'s, 250's, 14s 6d by- the case; plaids, 3s 4£d; other brands,- ;2id. to 3s 4d; cardboard vestas, >8s 6d. • Oil: . Castor in , pints. 7s; half-pints, 4s. Salad: C. and 8., i ' quarts, 275: pints, 14s 6d: half-pints, 8s 6cl; - Morton's, pints, 8s 6d; half-pints, 53. Pickles: ~. Crosse and Blackwell's, pints, 17 od; ,G Ward's 17s 6d : Capt. White's,' 143" and 24s ; Morton's, 12s 6d ; local, 7s 6d : Flag Brand. Bs, 5 cases, ,7s 9d ; Rice, .No. 1, Polished Japan, £15;. ditto, ground, ' 2'id.' Sauces: Lea and Perrm s. ' halfpints.. 13s - 6d; pints. 255; Gillard s halfDint" 7s 6d; Mellor 8." half-pints, ' 3a- 'pints, 14s : - Holbrook's. • quarterpints, 7s; half - pints,. , lis ; .pints, ?,2s; Goodall's Yorkshire- Relish, 7s. Vinegar, d.p.;- bulk. Champion's, per gallon, 2s; Sarson's. Is lOd; Holbrooke, Is lOd; ( Burnett's: Is lid; Potts'. 1s • lO.d: local. Is to Is 3d. Vinegar: Case, C. and 8..'95; Cham- £ pion's. 9s; ;Burnett's, 7s 6(1; Morton 8s 3d; ' Stephen's. Gloucester 6s 9d: local. 4s to ;ss; Hill's and Underwood, built. Is lid; case, 7s. ' Treacle, bulk, lis. 6d; golden r syrup, bulk, 15s; tapioca. £16; sago, £14 10s. Cornflour: Maize. 2|d' d.p.; ; Clemant s-t2?d; - Bro ;l and Poison's patent, 6Jd: Indian. .5 ? d.; W. poison's Indian.'4Jd , Preserved milk: Nestles. ' ,'i: 5s 6d; Milkmaid, 6s; local brands, 5s 3d. ■ Tartaric acid, in jars. Is 6d; in keg. Is 4d; cream ' of tartar, in jars. Is 2d: in bulk, lid; bicarb. ; r 3oda. . 10s: local . soda _ crystals, £5 10s; whiting. £5 ss. . . ... .. - .

OILS AND PAINTS.— 6d a gallon.;' Colza. • in drams, 4s 9d : bulk,' 4s 3d; linseed, boiled, i"<■ drums, 4s lOd; ■ bulk, 4s -8d ; - raw. drums. 4s ; 8d • • bulk. 4s 6d : castor,' in drums, 33 10|»l • to ' 4s; ' half-cases. 3s 9d; Kerosene, 150 --'test, case, 7s 4d to 7s 7d; genuine white lead, . . ground, per cwt fi6ih air SKO. s and;Ms; red lead, dry, .3,45. in. 281b; . zinc. : white. ' 389 . to 445. Oil colours. , assorted, £2 to £2 -5s .per , cwt.- , Turps: American. 3s; resin, £6 15s to £9, according to grade.. Varnish, oak, 8s to 15s; ' copal, 12s 6d to 255; Benzine, Is 6d. : ,j Naphtha, 2s 9d; Gasoline, 3s 6d. Quotations regulated by quantities and qualities.

I 'ROVISION3.— • Factory, 4 2 d to 5-d, ' dairy, 3id, to 4ld. Good keg butter. 8d ; second quality, 64 ; . facV- - tory, lid. Eggs. Bd. : Bacon, sides only, > . 7d to 7*d; hams, only, 7?, dto Bid. Pish (duty.. 10s per cwt); .Ling. ; .6id; boneless cod. 6id ; ; preserved . red vWierrings, in tins, 33s per dozen tins (each 24 fish) ; white, 39s per dozen ; <V* • fresh herrings, (is 6d; Findon haddocks, lOs; / . lobsters. New Zealand, lbs 6d r Diffby. chicks, 9s' fid ; salmon, lib. ■ Cocktail, • lis ; ' Alaska. 7s 6d to '8s 6d; • British Colum- : ; bia. : 8s 6d .to.r 9s ,6d : salt • sal- . . mon, sd; - sardines, , quarters, 3s 3d to 6s 3d; halves, 6s to 9s 6d. according to brand;.oysters, 8s; mullet-,.5s 3d, 25 cases ! j - ' ss; whitebait, lis; boiled rabbit, 9s 6d; • .' corned beef. 12s, 6d ; sheep tongues, lib. tins, -V • 12s 6d to 143 6d, according to brand; 21b, 235.

i SUGARS.— Duty, id per 10. .(Colonial'Sugar • Company's Auckland Refinpry d.p., No. 1, £20 10s; No. 2, £19 15s; No. 3. £18 ss; Cubes, £23; , Queensland yellows, £18. ' Molasses, £5. ..

■ CPiaiTS (in bond).— 16s per. gallon o» proof .spirits in bulk or case. Brandy: -• , lionver. Gouillot. and Co., 255; Gilbey Uni- , versal brandy, flasks 288. i-flasks, 303; Hennessy's, case, one star, 375; three star. 51s; Bisquit. Dubouclie. and Co.'s. pa.e. in linns. • 7s. quarter-casks 7s. 6d. octaves 8s; Eiaouit. • ' Dubonche and Co.'s case, 255; Boomerang. Australian, bulk 7s 6d, case 225; * ChateauTanunda, case. 225. Whisky, bulk: aI- . ' Iter's WW,'Bs 6d; Usher's Sit,' 10s 6d; Usher s - 0.V.G.,' 8s; D.C.L.. old. 5s '6d ; ' very old, g ' - 8s 6d; VOS. 10s 6d: case. Old Scotch, 18s; Tery ; old, 22a; YOS. 265; Gaelic, V2s; ' Buchanan's House -of Commons, ; ; Robertson's three star. 28s: Dunvillo a. 20s; - '» Dunville's special liqueur, 32s ; Oil bey s A Viceroy (Irish). 20s ; Jamieson (Irish), one star, . 253 ; ' three star. 32s ;: Teacher's, 25s ; Walker's W.W, 22s ; Usher's SR. 23s 6d: Usher's OVG. 21s: Usher's OVG. ! *& A flasks, 28s, half-flasks 355; White Horse, 225; 5, " ••• ' TJam Var.' 203: Gilbey's Strathmill. 225: '€->aatev Brnemar. 18s: BOBS. 20s; LL. 22s 6d to 235; Cambus. 16s; Gordon's, 15s; Dcwar's, 2ls; ffiHiA Haig and Haie, 225; ' Geneva: proof, |jjga|f]Br 4 gallons,' JDKZ. 20 bottles, 18s 6d; under proof, 16s' 6d; schnmps, Wolfe's HHotT quarts./■ 245, pints,. 25s 6d ; Gilbey's Silverstream. BOBS. 20s; 11. 22s dry pin, Cambus, 16s; Gordon's, 15s; Dewar's, 2ls; Haig and Haig, 22s ; Geneva, proof, 4 gallons, JDKZ. 20 bottles, 18s 6d; tmder proof, 16s 6d; schnapps, Wolfe's quarts. 245, pints, 25s 6d ; Gilbey's Silverstream, 18s ; Gilbey's dry gin, Hf . 14s ; Tower dry gin. • 12s ; Dis-HfK'."-tillers" Company, lis; Burnett's Old Tom. ■Er*'. 14s; . Gilbey's Old Tom, 13s; Lowndes Wt;• rum, 30 0.p., .4s 9d in hhds., 5s in ¥f;: 'v quarter-casks, 5s 3d in . octaves ; Key, 228 per case ; Gilbey's Governor-Gene-ral rum, 20s per case • Champagne, d.p.: Sr £'!,• Pommery. < quart 120s, -pint 1255; Heidsieck.'quart. 1255, ; pint, . 130s; Ayala, ■ quart 'r i , 115s. • pint 120s; • . Australian , -wines, ouart. 335; Gilbey's port arid sherry, d.p., • v 365, 455, 555. and 755. according to grade.. • \ TlMßEß—Quotations are as . follows:— , timber, at East Coasft and Auckland mills; Ordinary building timber, undressed. 100 ft,, /» . first-class 15s. medium 12s . 6d, : seconder '* class 9s 6d ; flitches, all heart, 14?. flooring hoards, dressed,- p.t.g..' first-class 175.. me-' dium 14s 6d, second-class lis _ . 6(1 ; lining boards, n.t.f . beaded, or V-jointed. firstclass 16s 6d. medium 14s. second-class lis; rusticated weatherboarding, "first-class 17s. medium 14s 6d. second-class lis ■ 6d ; " ' boat boards. n\aned two • sides. Sin ■i 15s 6d Jin, 16s. For widths over :l2in. 6d * extra per inch per 100 ft j is charged. and for lengths over 24ft_ extra . prices are charged. Logs, 4s to 6s 3d, according to girth. ToRACcn.-- 3* 6d. Rubr Aromatic. 2s id; Victory. Is lOd to 2»; Juno, black, all nbapos. Is 3d to Is 4sd; Ascot, Is 6d; Derby, ten cases Is 7d. single case Is Bd. box Is 9d; - Venus. Is 6d; Golden Eagle, red. 2s XL Ad ;• Yellow. 2s 3d ; Welcome Nugget. 2s 5 fid; black twist, 26 to lb. Is; Golden Eagle, ' 407; tins. 3s: lor. tins, 3s '3d: Wills' Capstan. full and medium, 4nz tins. 3s: 2oz tins. Os 3d ; mild. 3d more: elro=e cit*!>vf>ttp > tobacco, 2oz packets, d.p., 7s; Old Judge, ditto, Bs. TEAS (in —Darjeeling. scarce ; good to ' fine qualities difficult to obtain, say. Pekoes. Is 4d to Is 6d : Bekoe Souchongs, fine. 10a to Is; finest, Is to. Is 2d: Dooor. good medium Pekoe Souchongs. 9d to lOd: Ceylon, fine ' Broken Orange Pekoe are .scarce, medium -. to , fine. Is . 3d < to: Is ; 4d; finest Is 8d to Is lOd; medium Broken-Orange Pekoe, lid to Is 2dßroken. Souchong and Pekoe Souchongs 7d .to Bd. Fannings, good medium, say, Sd to lOd. : Linen Lasts Longer Use Hudson's' Soap • Linen Lasts Longer ! for 4 Soaking and Linen Lasts Longer ! Washing Clothe?. Linen Lasts Longer ! Hudson s. Soap .:s ' Linen Lasts Longer ! as , good ■ for Y\ ash- ; Linen Lasts Longer! ing-Up as . *or lilnen Lasts Longer! - Clothes. We have just opened up some of the latest novelties in ladies' neck-wear, stoic ties. Is, Is 3d, Is 6d, Is 9d. Is lid. 2s 3d, -2s 6d.-' 3s 9d, 2s lid each; new stock ties. 2s fid, 2s lid, - *' 3s 6d each; lace collarettes, Is llcl, 2s 3d. 2s 6d, 2-5 lid.' 3s 3d. 3s 6d, to 42s each; lace 6 scarves. 6d. 9d. Is, Is 3d. Is Mills 9dMs lid, 2s 3d. 2s 6d. 2s 9d. 2s ,13 3s 3d, 3s 6d, 4s 6d, to • 6'.s each. Special value now on, at Smith and Caughey's lace department. Painless Corn Cure: This preparation com nletely cures-' the most painful ' Corns, , hard or soft. A few - applications .only re '' ' ' quired to deaden the pain. It is also most • , useful in removing any thickening of the epidermis, or horny portion of .the. skin. Full directions attached to each bottle.' Prno Is. wm •— T . Krl«on; hemist. ■ Auckland. • • • ■ . " Sunshine Jelly' Crystals, a dainty delicious •wholesome set-off to the table at an- meal ' :for indoors, camping, picnics, for bachelors, BP^fe'frr for weddings especially. Tucker's everywhere.