COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2838, 13 March 1871, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Saturday Evening.

The amount of Customs Revenue received to-day on goods offered for consumption was as follows, viz. :—

1 £ 8. d. £ c. d Brandy ... 83 9 6 Tea ... 31 6 4 Whisky ... 31 10 9 Sugar ... 29 18 4 Geneva ... 18 4 9 Kerosene.. 15 10 0 Wine ... 12 18 6 Sundries..llß 16 2 Tobacco .. 51 9 8 -—

Total ..£393 4 0

A steady business has been done daring the past week, though the 'operations in the; Import market have not been extensive, and in those coming under observation there has been little of interest. The demand, both from the tip-country districts .and for coast-, wise requirements, • continues moderately good; bat storekeepers are not yet ordering winter goods to any extent, though likely to be doing so immediately. The enquiry for liquids has been slack, and no item can be noted as moving in any but trifling parcels. Brandies, without having advanced, are: looking-very firm, but with only small: skies. For teas we note a fair enquiry, i chiefly for the better kinds, thef values,' of all which are sustained. Common' descriptions of Congous have been quitted during the week, but not freely, and for these values are not quite so well maintained. The sugar market, recently noted as improving, continues' very firm. The cargo of Ihe Havilah, transhipped to this place, was .offered by auction yesterday at Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn, and Co^s rooms. The .trade being unwilling to meet the auctioneers 1 limits, little or no business was done publicly; but it transpired that afterwards the auctioneers placed a considerable portion of the shipment at prices equivalent to current rates, or to an advance of 40s per ton upon last auction sales. Kerosene has been in demand at 3s 6d, and at this figure sales have been making during the week. The intelligence of the arrival &t Melbourne of a heavy shipment, a portion of which is designed for this market, has dulled the enquiry and rendered the market at its close less firm. In building materials nothing of importance has transpired. Importers are doing scarcely anything either in timber or iron, but dealers report business as

having improved during the past week or two ; in the meantime there is no alteration in the quotations for any of these goods. Candles continue firm, but no business of any moment done. Very little also can be noted in the sales of oilmen's stores or light grocery goods. Cornsacks continue to move at 13s 6d> though there is a disposition to look for better rates among some of the larger holders. Light weights have been placed at 13s. The produce market, in consequence of the incoming of the new grain, has shown a greater amount of liveliness ; prices have, however, drooped, and unless something like a fair export demand sets in, the p< esent little improvement in briskness will subside. For samples of good new wheats 4s is now the highest obtainable rate; old wheats seem to be very scarce, and though probably worth 2d or 3d more, nothing seems to have been done. New oats, moving in the early part of the week at 2s 6d, are now offered in large parcels at 2s 3d to 2s 4d ; old oats are still quoted at 2s 7dto 2s Bd. but there are soarcely any offering. New barleys have scarcely come into the market yet, and quotations continue nominal for all except very superior malting parcels.