COMMERCIAL NEWS

New Zealand Mail, 22 April 1887, Page 18

COMMERCIAL NEWS

The Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington for the week ending on Saturday amounted to L 4269 3s lOd. Beer duty, L14116s sd. Messrs George Thomas and Co report produce prices :—The Easter holidays have somewhat interfered with business, and a consequent dulness exists in all descriptions of produce. There are no changes to note during the past fortnight, and we simply repeat former quotations. Feed oats rule from Is lid to 2s Id ; milling and short potato samples still command 2s 2d to 2s 3d ; oatmeal, LlO 10s ; oaten straw chaff, L 3 10s ; sheaves, L 4 10s ; flour, LlO (sacks); fowl wheat, 3s 6d to 3s 9d ; bran, L 4 : pollard, L 4 10s-; wheatmeal, LlO ; maize (scarce), 4s 9d ; feed barley, 2s 9d to 2s lOd ; potatoes, 55s ; beans, 3s 9d ; peas, 3s 9d ; rye grass seed, prime sample, 3s 9d per bushel ; farmers’ parcels, 3s 6d ; cocksfoot, 3fd per lb ; carrots, 45s ; mangolds, 45s per ton ; onions, L 6 per ton ; cheese (market overstocked), 4d to 5d ; bacon, 6d to 7d ; hams, 7d to Sid; eggs, scarce, from 28 upward per doz. Butter —There are no inquiries for salt samples, and stocks are daily accumulating; we quote from 5d to 7d; these prices, however, are only nominal; fresh descriptions are more plentiful, and quotations have reduced to 7d and 8d per lb. Poultry remains very low in prices, and demand is unequal to supply ; we quote fowls, 3s ; ducks, 3st 6d; geese, 5s ; turkeys, Bs. Arrivals of fruit have been confined almost exclusively to Hobart shipments of apples and pears, which are in demand at somewhat reduced rates, Wanganui quinces are dull at 7s pbr cwt. Messrs Arthur Warburton and Co. report for the week Banks —New Zealand, sellers Ll 7 15s; National,. 335; Colonial, buyers, 41s ; sellers, 41s 6d. Insurance —New Zealand, 67s 6d ; South British, 253 ; National, 12s 6d to 13s ; Union, 193 to 19s 6d ; Standard, sales, 10s 6d ; Colonial, 3s. Miscellaneous —Loan and Mercantile, sellers, 80s; Land Mortgage, sellers, 21s 6d ; National Mortgage, 16s 6d ; New Zealand Shipping, sellers, 30s; Union Steam, LU 15s ; Mosgiel Woollen, 71s ; Kaiapoi, sellers, 80s ; New Zealand Drug, 15s to 15s 6d ; Napier Gas, buyers, Ll2 10s ; Wanganui Gas, sellers, Ll2 10s ; Westport Coal, 27s 6d (60a paid); Wellington Trust and Loan, L 6 7s 6d; Equitable Building, L 6 10s; Wellington Gas, Ll 9, L 9 10s, and 40s ; Gear Meat, buyers, 755. Messrs Arthur Warburton and Co. report the following returns of amalgam from the Reefton mines for the week: —Globe, 4 )Bozs ; Welcome, 4210 z ; Keep-it-Dark, 3140 z; Progress, 185 oz ; Just-in-Time, 210 oz ; Nil Desperandum, 1630 z. ' . Trade during the past month has been fair, although, owing to the few arrivals, there has been a scarcity in one or two lines. There are, however, a couple of shipments to arrive shortly, so that the scarcity is not likely to last. The only cargo vessels which have arrived here during the month have been the Tongariro and Arawa (London), and Scottish Bard (Glasgow). The Trevelyan is expected from London, and the N.M. Slade from New York shortly. There has been a very brisk demand in ale and stout of various brands. In consequence of the absence of Dog’s Head other brands have been more in request. Griffin’s is quoted at 11s for quarts and 7s for pints ; Porter’s Bulldog, 11s 6d for quarts and 7S 6d for pints. Hall and Bourke’s stout has been selling freely at agent’s quotations. Bass’ bulk ale has met. with small inquiry at L 9 to L9lO : ', dutypaid. In spirits, Hennessy’s brandy, 1-star, is afc--35s 6d to 36s ; 3-star, 48s to 50s. Denis Moume and Co. ’s stocks are light, and good sales, are reported at 31s 6d to 32s ; bulk, 10s to 10s Sd, Bisquit du Bouche is quoted at 22s 6d case,, 7s " 3d to 7s 6d bulk. In whisky, Walker’s Kilmarnock has met with most inquiry at 20s; Usfaer’fa at 22s 6d, and Teacher’s at the same, price. Royal Navy rum is quoted at 9s _6d!;; “ n ® Jamaica, at 225. 6d. The market is- bare of Burnett’s Old Tom, and Geneva has been selling at 13s to 15s, according to strength and contents. In sugar, the Auckland Company have announced a rise of 10s per ton on better qualities, No. 1 being now quoted at L2B; No. 2, at L 26 ; and No. 3, at L 22. American granulated is wortk n d x P a A, which is in very light supply and good demand, at L 27. Pending the arrival of the Trevelyan the market is very bare of currants, large sales having been made at s£d in barrels, and sid in cases. Elemecfc quoted at w 6d • sultanas, 6d; muscatels, at Is 3d; and prunes, at Is 2£d in bottles, and 10£d in tins. Salt—London coarse is in light supply, and may be quoted at 6Ss ; fine is worth 70s, but we hear of a sale to arrive of 100 tons at a concession from current quotations. Kerosene—-There is a tendency on the part of holders to advance prices, which, iu the face of heavy stocks,

it Is difficult to maintain ; 130-test is quoted at 9ltd to 9Jd ; and 150 at lljd to Is. FishThere has been a small shipment of the Cuttintr Co’s Cocktail salmon of last season 8 catoh, and most of it has gone into consumption at 8s 9d to 9s. There are no other brands available. The Lenten season being at an end, other kinds of tin fish are almost neglected. Sardines are quoted, nominally, 9s to 9s 6d ai d 5s to 5s 6d ; lobsters, 9s to 9s 6d ; red herrings, 30s; f resh herrings, 5s 6d to 6s ; Findcm haddocks and preserved bloaters, 9s 6d to 10s. Cement —There are no transactions of any magnitude to report, quotations for next stock being 143 to 14s 6d for first-class English brands. We hear the Auckland manufacture very highly spoken of, and it is likely to supersede to some extent the imported article. Tobacco agents report the usual brisk demand for Juno, which has been placed in large lines at Is 3id to Is 4d. Black Swan, twist, Triumph twist, Triumph nailrod, and Over the Water nailrod are quoted at Is 2d to Is The only brand of aromatic which meets with any inquiry is Williams’ Imperial Ruby twist, in which large sale 3 are reported at 2s 3ci to 2s 4d« Messrs Chas. Pownall and Co., Mortgage Ageuts, Wellington, report the money market, so far as amounts offering for mortgage investment, has collapsed, and the large applications from all parts of the Colony are therefore not negotiable. Quotations for the rate of interest are equally unreliable, 7s, 8, and even 9 ner cent, being demanded under pressure for the" few small sums forthcoming. In the London market the value of money has gone down to Bank of England rate-2£, and, commercially, 1£ per cent. There is no doubt the state of uncertainty as to our present position has caused a feeling of distrust, naturally, for the moment, reacting upon this Colony, which, however, the firm position of the wool market may tend to alleviate. Messrs Freeman R. Jackson and Go’s Johnsonville report.— Cattle were yarded in usual numbers. The quality was from fair to prime, with the exception of a few green steers. No wethers came forward, and the ewes were only half fat. We would point out to our numerous clients the advisablenes3 of sending only stock of the best quality. Old ewes are neglected, and hardly saleable. Pigs sold at last sale’s prices, small pigs being well competed for. We quote ox beef at 163; cow beef, 12s 6d the 1001 b. Our prices are—One line of 48 bullocks made from L 6 2s 6d to L 6 17s 6d, average L 6 8s ; smaller bullocks, L 4 10s, one pen up to L 7 2s 6d ; cows, L 4 2s 6d to L 4 12s 6d, average L 4 6s 10d ; small cows, L 3 os to L 4 ; veal calves, 24s ; ewes, 63 2d to 6s 3d ; ewes and wethers, mixed, 6s 9d to 8s 3d ; lambs, 6s to 7s ; pigs, porkers, 14s to 21s ; •small pigs, 6s 9d to 9s.

WELLINGTON MARKETS. Wholesale Prices. FARM AND DAIRY PRO HUGE. £ S. d. £ s. d. Milk, quart - 0 0 4 to 0 0 0 Butter, fresh lb - . 0 0 6 to 0 0 T Salt butter - - 0 0 0 to 0 0 6 Cheese, Col. . 0 0 4 to 0 0 55Eggs, dozen - 0 2 0 to 0 2 6~ Lard, lb. - 0 0 4b to 0 0 54 Bacon, lb. - - 0 0 6 to 0 0 0 Ham, lb. - 0 0 7 to 0 0 0 Fowls, pair - 0 3 6 to 0 0 0 Ducks, pair - 0 0 0 to 0 3 6 Geese, each - 0 2 6 to 0 3 0 Turkeys, each - 0 4 0 to 0 5 6 Hat and Corn Market. £ s. d. £ S. d. Maize, Poverty Bay - none Oats, feed - - 0 1 H to 0 2 2 Wheat do - - 0 3 0 to 0 3 6 Carrots - 2 0 0 to 0 0 0 Hay, ton - 4 0 0 to 0 0 0 Oaten, ton - - 4 0 0 to 5 0 0 Straw, ton - 3 0 0 to 3 10 0 Chaff,— - - 3 5 0 to 3 15 0 Oaten hay - - 4 0 0 to 4 10 0 Wheat straw - 3 0 0 to 0 0 0 Onions, per cwt - - 0 6 0 to 0 6 6 Potatoes, per ton - 2 15 0 to 3 0 0 Floor Market. Wholesale. £ 8. d. £ S. d. Sharps, per ton - - 4 5 0 to 4 10 0 Adelaide, per ton - 11 15 0 to 12 0 0 Bran, - 3 15 0 to 4 0 0 Colonial Flour . 10 0 0 to 10 0 0 Oatmeal . 10 10 0 to 10 15 0 Pearl Barley 15 0 0 to 16 0 0 Seeds. £ 8 d. £ 8. a Ryegrass, bushel - 0 3 0 to 0 3 & Cocksfoot, lb. - 0 0 3* to 0 0 4i Wt. Clover, lb. - - 0 0 10 to 0 0 0 Red, do - 0 0 8 to 0 0 9 Alsyke, lb. - - 0 0 10 to 0 0 0 Cow Grass, lb. - - 0 0 7 to 0 0 9 Timothy, lb. - 0 0 6 to 0 0 0 Rape, lb. - 0 0 4 to 0 0 0 Linseed, per cwt. - 0 36 0 to 0 0 0