COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4243, 26 October 1874, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

4> The Customs duties received at this port (or the mouth from September 26th to October 24th inclusive were as follows : £ >. d. Spirits 2244 10 5 Cigars.. .. ~ .. .. 231) 10 7 Tobacco COT 15 0 Wine .. 205 2 « Beer 72 18 9 , Tea 516 11 0 CoiTeo and Chicory 71 12 0 Sugar 1070 3 4 Goods by weight .. .. .. 384 19 9 Goods ad valorem 2008 18 4 Other duties 275 0 7 Light dues, &c 164 7 3 £BBB7 17 3 There has been little alteration in the import market during the past month, and prices, owing to the largo amount of competition, rule lower than may he altogether desirable .to Importers, although offering strong inducements to purchasers at the various outports. In fact, the generality of English imported goods are quoted at figures that can leave but a margin of 2) to 3 par cent, of profit. Trade has been only moderately brisk for this period of the year, while the contined increase in the Custom House returns, and the amount of goods shipped coastwise, show that the central position of this port and its advantages as a distributing one are daily becoming more appreciated. In tiie local retail trade some degree of dulness has prevailed, due mainly to the inclemency of the weather ; hut business is iu a healthy state, and bills are regularly met. Our London ships have been limited to the a' rival of the Cartvalo, with cargo and immigrants, most of which have boon distributed; and The Douglas, which put into port two days ago, hut having sickness on hoard is now in quarantine, which will load to some delay before her cargo can be landed. The Malay arrived from Hobarton in the early part of the month with a seasonable cargo of timber and potatoes, and since then the Nightingale, from Adelaide, has reached this port witii flour and potatoes, the latter of which were becoming scarce and much wanted. Auction sales during the month have been few, and only of a retail character. Mr. E. J. Duncan on the 14th sold 20 National Bank Shares at 705.; and 20 Fiji Bank shares, 50s. paid up, at 605,; and subsequently refused an offer of 03s. for the remaining 100 shares; and on the 21st a few only Colonial Bank at 135.; South British Insurance at 475.; and National Insurance at 255.; the bulk of the shares advertised being withdrawn. Bank rates of premium and discount arc unaltered. Bottled Boer (duty paid, bulk Is. perga!., bottled Is, 3d,)—This market is still much overstocked with bottled beers, and the demand during tiro month lias been only moderate at quotations ranging from Us. to 12s. per dozen for favorite brands of ale and stout. As the weather becomes warmer we may look for some improvement in the demand, but while stocks continue so heavy there is not much prospect of higher rates being obtained. There is no English draught ale or stout in the market. Bags and Woolpacks (duty 10 per cent.)—Comsacks meet witii no inquiry at this season. Stocks are moderate, quoted at 12s. Gd. to 13s. per dozen. Wool packs move off steadily at 3s. 9d. to 4s. for 101b.' packs. Stocks ample. Candles (duty Is. per lb.)—Belmont sperm show no improvement, there being largo stocks In store. Sales are limited to trade requirements, at IOJd, to IOJd. (duty la. per barrel)—There is a good demand tor tills article for the numerous undertakings now in progress, and wo report a sale of 1000 barrels of White's cement (in bond) at 20s. Od. per barrel in a line to the public works. Quotations for small lots rule la. 3d. to 2s, per barrel higher. Coffee (duty 3d. per lb.)—llaw coffee in bond is now quoted at Is. 3d. to Is, 4d. per lb,, and is in fair Chicory (duty 3d. per lb.) —Full stocks at.G)d. to OJtl. per lb., but difficult of sale in consequence of the largo proportion of colonial manufacture now produced. Confectionery (duty 2d. per lb,)—But little trade doing in Kciller’s make, which is quoted at 10.)d. to IOJd. per lb., the local manufacture in a groat measure superseding it. Flour (duty 20s. per ton)—A shipment of Adelaide flour lias been received per Nightingale, for which importers are asking £lolss. to £l7 per ton. Fruits (duty Id. per lb.—Currants have been excessively low in stock, but there being large parcels to land ex Douglas, now in port, prices have only slightly advanced, and good fruit is quoted at 4Jd. to sd. per lb.; Eloino raisins are in good supply, at OJtl, to 03d. per lb. ; Sultanas meet with moderate demand at Til. to 7)d. per lb. : figs, Btl. to Od,; dried apples, very scarce, and worth Od, per lb

Hops (duty 3d. per lb.) —New Kent hops are worth Is. 9d. to Is. lOd. per lb , and have been mostly bought up by the brewers. Old hops are unsaleable, and at auction no bid could be obtained. Malt (duty Is. Gd. per bushel).—The stock of English malt is low, and at this season meets with little enquiry, as the brewers prefer the colonial. We quote Us. per bushel. Tanks, £4 10s. Metals (duty 10 per cent); —Corrugated iron continues in good demand, owing to the large amount of building now going on, and best brands arc quoted at £35 to £36 per ton. Fencing wire has been quitted in largo quantities at £25, £2O, and £27 per ton : but as the wants of the farming community are pretty well supplied, prices arc likely to decrease. Sheet zinc and lead are worth £44 and £3O per ton, with fair demand. Oils (duty Gd. per gal.)—Kerosene, dull—market moderately supplied, at 2s. Sd. to 2s. 4d. per gal. : but sales to arrive per “ Oneca” have been made at rates much below those figures. Raw and boiled linseed in active demand, at 4s. Sd. to ss. per gal for drums. Colza, ss. Gd. per gal. Oilmen’s stores (duty 10 per cent.)—Stocks of oilmen's stores continue ample, with perhaps the exception of one or two unimportant lines ; and importers still complain of dull trade, and low margin of profit, which cannot exceed 2£ to 3 per cent, on cost and charges. Rico (duty id. per lb.)—Really good rice is worth 2Ss. to 30s. per cwt : inferior, nominal. Moderate stocks. Salt (free). —Largo stocks of fine and coarse, at 80s. to 85s. per ton. Spirits (duty 12s. per gal.)—There is no alteration in quotations for brandy. Trade is dull, witli a total absence of speculation. Martell’s and Hennessy’s quarters worth 10s. to 10s. Gd. per gal. Case do., 30s. to 31s. per doz. Other brands, nominal, and little doing. Rum, 30 per cent 0.p., is quoted at 4s. Gd. : 10 per cent, do., 3s. lOd. Geneva —Stocks accumulating ; price, nominal, at 12s. Gd., according to contents. Whisky—Danville's case is quoted at IGs. Ud. to 17s. ; but little doing with other brands. Sugar (duty Id. per lb.)—This trade is in an unsatisfactory state, owing to large quantities of the Yarraville sugar being pushed into the market on consignment, and prices of all other sugars are affected thereby. Quotations for Victoria Company's and Mauritious sorts rule unnecessarily low, and cannot be quoted higher than, for first counters, £43 10s. to £44 per ton ; counter, £4l; and yellow, £3O to £37 per ton, d.p. Tea (duty Gd. per lb.)—The new season's teas, ex “ May,” are now being offered privately, and the trade are supplying themselves with some of the best numbers at fair rates. Generally, business is quiet, and quotations range from Is. Gd. to 2s. 3d. per lb. In old teas, not much doing. Tobacco (duty 2s. 6d. per lb.) —Prices of choice brands of twist tobacco have an upward tendency owing to advices from America of short supplies, and the high rates ruling in Melbourne, where this article has been made a speculation. St. Andrew’s is quoted at Is. 7id. to Is. Sd.: black swan, Is. OJd.; and Shcdlard’s, Is. Od. per lb. in bond; tons meet with little inquiry. Cigars (duty ss. per lb.)—Manilla cigars are worth 755. pgr 1000; German do, 40s. to 80s,; Havaunah, £ll to £lO per 1000, in bond—a good sample of the latter being very scarce and wanted. Wine (duty 4s. per gal.)—Little doing and quotations nominal. Stocks of inferior wines are large and difficult to quote. COLO.VtAL PRODUCE. Butter.—Butter in kegs for export Is comparatively neglected, there being but little enquiry, and, owing to the increased consumption of fresh butter, but little coming forward. Quotations nominal, Is. 2d. to Is. 3d. per lb. Cheese. —Cheese is in demand at improved rates. Good Canterbury being worth 9d. to Did. per lb. Flour. —Flour up to the last week has remained at last month’s quotations, since then holders have advanced the rate 10s. per ton; but in the face of the low price of wheat in England, which must to some extent check exportation, we hardly think the rise will be sustained. Oamaru flour is quoted at £l3 12s. Gd., and Canterbury £l3 per ton for sacks. Hams and Bacon. —Hams and bacon are scarce, and in good demand at Bd. to 10d. for good cure. Grain.—Oats are becoming low in stock, and are firm at ss. 3d. to ss. Gd. per bushel. Potatoes. —A shipment of Van Diemen’s Land potatoes was received during the mouth, and realised £7 to £7 10s. per ton. They continue scarce, and are now quoted at £8 to £S 10s. Timber.—Sawn timber has been in good demand, many of the buildings now In course of erection being delayed owing to the short supply. Matai is worth £7 10s. per 1000: red and white pine, £7: and totara, £9 to £lO per 1000 ft., for mixed boards and scantling. Wool. —A few loads of the new clip have come in for shipment, but we have heard of no sales. Prices are not likely to rule lower than last season, and most of the growers will prefer shipping on their own account to accepting low rates here.