COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 758, 10 September 1886, Page 16

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times Office, Thursday Evening. The arrival of vessels with cargoes from other than colonial ports have been the steamers Rimutaka and Coptic, from London ; the barque Prinz Albert, from Hamburg; and the steamer Whampoa, from Foochow. There is at present the usual demand for stout, and a somewhat more active inquiry for ale, as stocks are being laid in for the approaching warmer weather. First-class brands of stout, such as Griffin’s and Bulldog, are quoted at 11s to 11s 6d. Other descriptions of good quality, but not recognised as leading brands, have been sold as low as 9s 3d for quarts, and 6s 3d for pints. Of ale, Bulldog is quoted at 11s 6d, and Griffin’s at 11s. Good but not favorite brands have been sold at 7s 9d for quarts, and 5s 3d for pints. Usher’s whiskey i 3 quoted at 22s for VO, and 10s for bulk; Teacher’s SBH, 22s 6d in case, and 9s in bulk ; Walker’s Kilmarnock, in case, 20s ; Cock of the North, 19s 6d to 20s in case ; Robertson’s Dundee, 18s; Dunviffe, 18s; and Kinahan, 21s. Hennessy’s brandy is quoted at 35s 9d to 365. for 1-star, and 48s for 3-star ; and Denis Mounie at 31s 6d in case and 10s in bulk. The following are the present prices in Wellington for the Auckland Co.*B sugar : —No. 1, L2B 10s ; No. 2, L 26 10s ; No. 3, L2O. There has been a small shipment by steamer from Sydney of the Millaquin brand of Queensland sugar, which has sold at L 26 per ton. A small quantity of China sugar has been sold at the same rate. Fine salt is exceedingly scarce, owing to the mishap to the ship Guinevere, bound for this port. Nothing less than L 4 10s to L 5 per ton is now accepted. Coarse salt is still plentiful, and the price correspondingly low, 46s being about the minimum. Part of the kerosene which was on board the American vessel Chasca has arrived from Sydney in the ss Wakatipu. It has come to a very bad market, as retailers are already fully supplied, and it is believed that about 9000 cases will be put into store. 500 cases of the Light of the Age brand (150-test) have been sold at Is 8d to Is 9d, duty paid. Current quotations for other branes are 9fd for 130-test, and Is OJd for 150test, in bond. Several complaints have been made of the quality of some brands of both 150 and 130-tests. Much of the fruit in the market is somewhat old. Good quality of currants are selling at 5Jd to s§d in cases, and a farthing less in casks. Elemes are quoted at 6£d, sultanas at 6d, muscatels at Is 2d, and figs (in lib boxes) at 7s. Canned dessert fruits, such as peaches, apricots, and pears, sell at 12s 6d for Candles are still exceedingly cheap. London sperms are quoted at 7Jd as a maximum, and fluted parafins have been sold from 7Jd to 7|d, Colonial candles as low as 3d to 4i. There is little salmon in the market, and the news from Western America shows that the take of fish has hitherto been not much more than a quarter of the average. Some shipments of oysters have been received, and part has been placed at 9s 6d ; lobsters are quoted at 9s 6d, for Star brand. A further shipment of tea has arrived by the s.s Whampoa from Foo-chow. Notwithstanding higher prices in China, reductions in the rates of freight and in exchange enable importers to lay down stocks in Wellington more cheaply than ever. Flour still continues high in , price, best brands being worth Lll 10s to Ll2 5s per ton. There is almost a certainty that there will be a scarcity of wheat in this Colony before next harvest is gathered, and it is believed that what remains will be found to be of inferior quality, the best grain having already been converted into flour. Oats are not so firm as they were last month, the New South Wales demand, on which prices in this Colony greatly depend, having somewhat slackened. STOCK SALES. Dunedin, September 8. The New Zealand Loan and c Mercantile Agency Company report (per Mr DrStronach) as follows: There were yarded to-day 178 head cattle. Best bullocks brought L 9 10s to Lll 17s 6d ; light and medium L 5 5s to L 9; beef 27s 6d per 100 lbs. Sheep—3lß4 were penned. Best crossbred ewes and wethers bought 13s to 15s ; three pens 17s ; medium to good 7s to 12s 6d ; merino wethers 5s 6d to 10s ; mutton If dto per lb. There were 68 pigs. Porkers and baconers were in active demand. The prices realised were per lb over those of la3t week.

Christchurch, September 8. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) report per Mr E. G. Staveley as follows : At Addington yards to-day there was a full supply of fat sheep, about 6000 of all sorts being yarded. There was a good demand but the market was easier. Mutton brought to 3d per lb, heavy crossbreds 16s to 21s ; prime merinos 13s to 16s ; ordinary 8s to 9s 6a. There was a moderate supply of fat cattle ; and values declined owing to importations from Wellington. Beef brought from 21s to 24s per 100 lb ; prime bullock L7los to L 9 10s ; cows and heifers L 5 to L 8 10s. There was a better demand for store sheep and cattle. Pigs were dull and values were unchanged.