COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4174, 5 July 1875, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Business during the past four weeks lias been very fair, considering the period of thtvyear at )*■ which we have awived. Indeed, the first two weeks witnessed a decidedly improved condition _ of the market. And although these .formed the earliest half of the month, which uniformly »< stands well, on account of there being accorded I<to early, imrchasew by established usftge >fi «> credit benefit of some consequence, it certainly had more in it than that, since it was shown "c ' that this; proverbially greater liveliness during these firat weeks had not been so regularly JJJ maintained of late. But, however accounted J" for it was the /act that increased liveliness had prevailed, and that since, or as we are neanng "«• ;he end of June, it has died away—subsided. » Let it be borne in mind that the present is our "' slack season in almost everything—our harvest * has been gathered for some time, farmers are j», gloating over goodly crops in their barns, and maldn<?up their mmd as to whether they will accept of the ruling of the market; our wool has gone home, or over the water to our cousins; the firat excitement of the annual arrival of our two great staple imports from Ohina and Mauritius is past, and. the. trade, familiar with the brands and descriptions of tea, ana sugar in bond, are applying to stoclcs as leisurely as they can, or as they deem it wise, to do: and our up-country trade has to some extent been forestalled by storekeepers having laid in largely prior to/the arrival of winter and broken up roads. But our friends, 111 their impatience, are unwilling to make due allow-;= ance for all the circumstances, although it would be all the better if they did, since, put on a right footing, it would make the actual condition of things seem, as we say, very fair. We note that imports advised are very important in amount. By the circular of Messrs Stables, Straker, and Co., we .are informed., that imports to this port by vessels cleared during the four weeks ending April 21st, amount to £112,900-viz., by Woodlark, 668, £20 GOO, cleared March 25th; by btrathmore, 1472, £01,000, cleared April 17th; by Craigie Lea, G22, £26,000, cleared April 6th; late entries, £5300. Included in these figures are the Spring importations of drapery, amounting to L45,G82, reducing the balance of all other goods to LG7,218; We may enumerate some of the leading items comprehended in this last amount. Kail and general machinery stand at the moderate amount of L 7743. Of galvanised iron 206 tons Are announced ; of woolpacks, L 434; of cornsacks, L 11 7; of slates, »t7;of cement, 2093 barrels; of brandy, in bulk, 310 gallons ;of do in case, 377 gallons; of rum, 1016 gallons; of red wine, 2866 gallons ; of white wine, 756 gallons ;" of. geneva, 4187 gallons ; of beer, in bulk, 22 barrels ;of beer in glass. 115 barrels ; of malt and hops, nil; of candles,' 201 cwt.; of assorted oilmen's stores, L 753. The total imports made to the entire Colony during the same period amount to L 297,700, of which as near as may be 37£ per cent, comes to Dunedin. The previous four weeks amounted to L 178.800, showing thus •that an increase of L 118,900 has been effected. The corresponding four weeks .in 1874 was L 320,500. Our. friends in England will be glad to learn (and many of them will probably hear of it first from ourselves, although it ! I reaches us via London) that another San Fran- \ cisco mail service has been arranged. It would i appear that the contract has been given to the > Pacific Mail and Railway Combination Com--5 pany as the lowest tenderers, the amount ' being£B9,soo vi a Fiji, or £74,500 via Auckland. I This is one of the largest, if not the very largest, steamship companies in the States, and their t name is a guarantee-that neither ability nor ' capital will be wanting on their part to make J the line a success. The City of Pekin, next to ' the Great Eastern, the largest steamer in the } world, belongs to this company. It has been I ranged by Mr Thomas Russell, in conjunction * with the Agent-General for New South Wales. 3 It affords evidence of that attention to order, anc B provision for the future, which characterises all \ well established commercial communities—that c a movement towards a Corn Exchange to be - established in Dunedin, has been conjointly 0 and successfully forwarded by the local &o----s vernment and the Dunedin Chamber of Corny merce, and we would not fail, regarding it 111 " this light, to allude to it. The room in which r the Chamber holds its meetings, having a piazza y in front, is to be used for this purpose. At the d last meeting of the Chamber it wps resolved: — '• " That the Chamber will recogni c Wednesday a and Saturday as the days especially appro--1 priated for Exchange purposes, between the 'f hours of 11 and 2." And also, " That strangers it non-resident in' the Province visiting Dunedin 2r be admitted to the Exchange Eooiu on being 10 introduced by a member of the Chamber; such r> introduction to stand good for any period not ce 3 _ exceeding two months." That the Chamber is t doing good service is evident from other im•il portant matters with which they are dealing, ill One of these is the obtaining of increased facv => lilies for vessels discharging at Port Chalmers. I i The statement of the Chairman on this point L is a3 follows:—" They were aware that for d' home years past every facility had been given 3) to steamers at the Port, by means of which t, they were enabled to proceed with the disvy charge of their cargoes immediately on f e arriving alongside the Jetty. With sailing j 0 vessels, however, the case had been different; ie and in some instances sailing vessels "were un ;h able to break bulk for a week or ten days after in arrival, the principal obstruction being in the of passing of entries. But as the matter now lg stood, it was arranged that sailing vessels „" could pass a general sight entry —as in the case la of steamers—and go on discharging their cargoes lit at,almost the moment they arrived alongside ns the Jetty. The new system was in operation 10 on the arrival of the last few ships, and met lW witji very nnvrked success. There was a want of tl jetty accommodation, and so forth, but it was V promised that this want should be provided ■ 6 for. He hoped they had now started upon a. lie new order of things, which would place their "■ port on more than a par with other ports in the '? Australian Colonies as regards rapid facilities rk for discharging vessels. This was a matter, of of the utmost importance, and if they could sup>n- ceed in securing a good name for their port in 'I'- matters of this kind, it would probably lead to st some reduction in the difference of rates of freight, which had been to their disadvantage ins hitherto.' . iys BREADSTUFF 3 AND GRAIN. \ ■ Ite Duty on grain, 9d per lOOlbs ; on flour, Is per lOOlbs; on rice, 4s 2d per lOOlbs.) We remarked in our last—"A plentiful ;luV year must of necessity be a year of easy rates; re" and in all the markets of the world, nearly, is on this evidently a year of plenty. It does not fol- ," low that the yield will exceed the demand—for rut that, somehow, is never the case, the consumpt !th in those countries that receive, rising as rates on decline, although not to the extent of com--1011 plctely equalising the rate. And thus it is that laV the product of abundant with that of scarce ny years is balanced ; and,, all things considered, me the abundant years are the years for the lin farmer." It puts grower and merchant, howme ever, on their mettle, and whoever he be who is 11 ° tho holder, he is compelled to look about him s?' and consider what, in circumstances of general ,'IL" plentifulness, is to be his move. In a leader ji) which appeared in this paper on the 19th ult, >in- attention was very opportunely directed to the 'lie statistics ot South Australia as of considerable "y interest to us in New Zealand. .It was said— lde " Both Provinces of the Empire may be no termed the granaries of the South—the one IC (i famous for its wheat, and the other for its oats ; red and for the production of each of them the rey*. upective Colonies are favoured by nature. And :aa while it was mentioned that the exportable sur- \ to plus of the wheat crop this year is confidently i,io reckoned at 200,000 tons as against 130,000 m tons last year, it was stated definitely that the yii estimated value of cereals exported from all >Pc ports in South Australia during 1874 amounted 'l le to £1,209,988, the bulk being from Port Ade- ', t c hude, from which place the following shipments md wore made: — Flour. Wheat on, Destination. Tons. £ Qrs. £ do Al«w.liiiy 6X3 6,854 .. 813 1,950 ,Br" Cape G.Hope.... 6,223 81,789 .. 14,653 32,401 '1 Ccvlon 42 420 .. M- OTCitßritan..:. 2,233 29.188 .. 60.2261 131,077 J»r Guam 2,677} 35,917 .. 4,346 11.171 II Java.. 123!) 14,103 .. 439 1.052 m Mauritius., ■ ifilH 49,037 .. 2,334 fi.413 S Natal 696 i. 9,951 .. 398 1,002 red New Caledonia.. 2,701 35,798 .. .. •• T,e N. SWales ■■14-2e8J.107.89S .. 44.539J 103.349 i e New Zealand.... 626 8,560 .. 1.042 2,605 »vv Queensland 15,395 210,103 .. .. ■ md Victoiia........ 1,931 25,900 .. 2,631 5,487 ifa W. Australia.... 953J 12,570 .. 25 60 ing Totals.... 13T515J 717,853 131,761 295,567 'iou This enumeration of the markets is the point by of interest for us. Great Britain takes? but '„ little more than 15 per cent of ths total shipoi ments from Port Adelaide. And it is clear ing that we must do as they have done, and be ined, dependent of any one market. The writer of iitb tjj e article we have referred to makes this further remark: —" In some shape or another our Legislature will have to direct its attention the to obtaining wider markets for our staples, oon Intercolonial ".Free-trade would undoubtedly do -!* 1? much, aud a good deal was x>romised from the ~"t San Francisco service; but, in that instance, jer' we appear to have played into the hands ahe of our American cousins; the balance ol her trade advantages derived fiom the ser--lof yj c(} being largely in their favour." Since c*" our last, operations have been hindered bj "S 1 that suspicious indecision which is character iled istic of the agricultural mind, and which v lon most injuriously felt during the succeeding ugh months to harvest. It may be less operative 11 ood countries where the farmer is less independent mnl P»ut it is none the less a drag upon business J'f,' and a. loss to the Colony, although one that i; vto is easier to clearly demonstrate than to esti the mate. There is no change in flour; at main nnd tuned quotations, a fair business is being done Tas" In oats, the prices may be thus given : Feed S" 1-' from 2>«6d to 2s 8d ; milling, 3s. Growers am tfl holders show no disposition to give way M artY price, though we believe there are buyers a the rotes slightly under these. It may be wort] d off while to mention that the Omeo, in her passag n all from Lyttelton, taking advantage of favourabl rdsy weather, called in at Oamaru, Allday Bay, am Sf Kakanui, and brought along, as the result saage 20,000 bushels oats and wheat. Quotations fo wheat remain: Milling, from 4s to 4s ud; in

ferior, from 3s 6d to 3s 9d. Barley, malting, from 5s to 5.s 9d. ALE AND STOBT. ' ' (Duty, Is 3d per gallon in glass; and Is per gallon in wood.) These are about as flat as it is- possible to be —stout, if anything, the least so, in as far as some moderate sales of bottled have been re-

ported. Bottled Colonial is attaining a large consumption—-bottling processes going on at our numerous local breweries and retail grocers,

besides bottling for themselves. Enterprise, favoured by a climate singularly favourable, promises to extend this industry to very large dimensions. Otago ales are found all over the Colony, and in the Australian Colonies, and as our connections east and west increase the growing export trade of our breweries will swell in proportion. Current quotations are :— For ale in bulk (in bond)— Bass's No. 3, L7; No. 4, L 7 10s; Melvin's Edinburgh, Nos.. 3 and 4, L 6 10s; Marrian's, L7; Colonial, L 4 10s to L 7 10s. • Porter—Colonial (in bulk), Lsto L 6 10s. Ales (in glass) —Colonial, 10s all over; Tennant's, quarts (in bond), Us 3d to lls 6d; Bass's, ?,0s; Younger's, quarts, 7s 6d to Bs. Porter (in glass)—Guinness's, quarts, 13s; pig brand, quarts, lls 9d to 13s 3d; Blood's, quarts, 13s 6d; Machen's, quarts, 9s Gd; Youhger's, quarts, 7a Cd to Bs.;

. ~. . . WINES AND SPIRITS. (Duty—Wine, 4s per gal.; spirits, 12s per gal. Wine is in limited demand, confined chiefly to -medium ports, enquiry running more upon the higher medium, and maintaining the indications which the market, while narrowing in the quantity consumed, has afforded for some time of an improving taste in the matter of quality. Brandy has; • been assuming new phases lately, as we noticed in our last—the brands that have hitherto only taken rank as second to Hennessy, having, mainly on account of the high prices still maintained for that brandy, to some extent obtained a first or semifirst position. • We alluded specially to Bisquit, Dubouch, and Go., and Renault and Co., as prominent among those " that are superseding Hennessy .and Martell at the present time in this .market" Since then, in consequeneo of advices received, and seconded'by its being in few hands, Hennessy's case has firmed to some extent, and is held for advanced' rates, bulk not sharing in the rise, the latest quotations for both being 32<j 6d per doz. and 8s 9d per gallon. Second brands,- however, continue to sell very well. Whisky has been for this week or bo less prominent than it has been lately, if the slow but steady increase of demand for best home brands can be characterised as prominent. The advance is not rapid. It but creeps through a slow present towards a future prominence, which trusted popular kinds are sure to reach —inferior kinds as sure to miss. And to this it is being helped by the partial removal, effected, and the ultimately entire removal expected, of Colonial distilled/from the field of competition—the extinguished local industry (by a paternal Government?) frorn^ the character it had attained, doing service in its death mainly to first-class imported brands, and tending generally to raise the tone of the demand for imported. Geneva continues in good ordinary request, holders asking from 13s 3d to 13s Gd. In rum there is very little doing, a slight enquiry existing for Bed Heart, in case. Quotations are as follow :—Wines — Port, medium, 2 or 3 diamond, Lll perqr-cask; superior do, L2O. Champagne—best brands, per doz., in glass, L 4 10s to L5. Brandy—Hennessy's qr-casks, per gallon, 9s 6d; MarteH's do, % 6d ; Renault's do, Vineyard, 7s 6<l to 8s ; Oturd's. 7s Cd; Bisquit, Debouche, and Co. s, 7s 6d ; Hennessy's, in case, per dozen, 34s ; Martell's do, 295. Rum, 10 0.p., 3s 7^l; do, 30 o. p., 4s per gallon. Whisky in bulk—Kirk-, liston, at per gallon, 3s 6d to 3s 9d; Islay, Sheriff's, at per gallon;'ss 3d to 5s 6d; Bernard's, at per gallon, 4s 6d; Begg's Lochnagar, (is Gd to 7s. Do in case—Campbellton, per doz., 17s 6d ; Taylor'3 do, 17s 6d to 18s ; Bernard's Scotch, per doz., 15s to 16s; Dunville's, at per doz., 17s; Thorn and Cameron's, at per doz., 13s; Begg's Lochnagar, 17s. Geneva— JDKZ, 3 sals, per case, 13s 6d. Gin(O.T.)— Booth's and Burnett's, 13s 6d to 13s 9d. Rum • in case— Red Heart, 27s 6d; in bulk, Lemon Hart's finest, 4s 4d. PROVISIONS. . "■ (Duty, hams and bacon, Id per lb; potted fish, 10 per cent, ad val.) . ; It is only right that we should draw our supplies of provisions mainly from ourselves, and this we so far do that importers of the most important articles have been to a great extent driven out of the market. But if thi3 is all in the way of enriching ourselves by .filling the pockets of our producers, it ia not unattendec with inconveniences, since frequently we fall short, and have besides to complain of deficient enterprise on the part of thosa on whom we have to depend. Being winter, butter rules high, and is scarce ; corned is coming forward a little more freely. In cheese, the supply continues unequal to the demand. In hams and bacon, the prospect indulged in of sufficient supplies of the new cure, first quality, have not yet been realised. There is every inducement, .since every parcel received from Canterbury has gone at once into consumption, at from Is to Is Id per lb. There is no imported Irish in the market of any consequence, and. among imports advised, this line, so far as it has fallen under our observation, is marked nil. Quotations for Sinclair and Coey's hams, Is sd; for "preserved fish as follows: Ling, 4Jd to od; salmon, 10s per. dozen, to 10s Gd; other brands, 10a 6d to lls 6d; lobsters, lib tins, d.p. per dozen, 10s 6d to lls Gd ; oysters, do do, 6s to 6s 6d ; Bardines, quarters, 5s Cd to 5s 9d; do, halves, 9s 6d ; cheese, Colonial, Canterbury, 8d to B.Jd; hams, Colonial, Is to Is 2d for prime; bacop, Colonial, lid to Is ; butter, Is 2d to Is 4d; rice (Patna), £27 to £28 10s. . .. .

oilmen's stokes and groceries. (Duties chiefly 10 per cent, ad valorem.). These goods are generally satisfactory, yielding payable prices—stocks averaging about right. The pulse of the market is perhaps more truly indicated by this numerous description of articles, than by any other. And yet, item by item, we hanlly venture on a' reckoning. We tot up masses, glance at invoices that go up country—having a shy at the loading on the tep.ms—and come at a conclusion, which at tn,e present, considering the season and condition of the roads, must be admitWl as being very fair. We notice that shipments continue remarkably light, and that assorted oilmen^. • stores, by the most recent five ships for this port, reported to 15th April, amounts only to £423, the whole amount imported from Home this year reaching only at date to £1955.; Current i quotations are as follows : —Arrowroot,' S.Jd ; jams arid jellies, English, 6s to 7s 6d per doz. ; do, Colonial, 7s 6dto7s 9d per doz. ; mustard, Coleman's, lib tins, at per doz., lls 6d ; Alb do, at per doz., 5s Gd to 6s; castor oil, Morton's, pints, at per doz., 10s 3d; i-pints do, at per doz., 5s Cd; Bain's A-pints do, 5s 6d ; do, oiL salad, pints, 12s'; Morton's pints, 10s 6d to 10s 9d,; 1-pints, at per doz., 7s 6d to 8a ; pickles, assorted, Crosse and Blackwell's, pints, at per d0z.,135; Bain's, pints,los6d; Morton's do,pmtß,----i at per doz., 9s 6d to 9s 9d'; Sauces, Lea and-Per-rin's, half-pints, at per doz, 12s 6d; Crosse and Blackwell's do, at per doz, 13s 6d; Batty s Nabob do, at per doz, 10s 6d to lls 6cl; Bain's do, at per doz, 8s; Mellor's , pints, 15s; do J-pints, 9s; other (brands, 75,6 dto 8s; starch, Caiman's white, 4Jd to 42d; Colman's blue,. 9d; Glenfield patent do, 7ML; vinegar,' Champion's,-at per gallon, 2s 3d ; Bill Lvans, at per gallon, 2s ; do do, in glass, at per doz; 9s 6d to 10s; Morton's do, at per doz, 9s Gd. Matches—Bryant and May's 250's, at per gross, 21s to 22s ; plaids, 4s 9d; fancy boxes, 250 s,:at per'gross, 22s ; plaids, 4s 9d ; Bell and Black's, 250's, at per gross, 20s fid to 21s; Palmer's 250's, at per-gross, 19s 6d; Kobert Bell and Co.'s 250's, at per gross, 20s : plaids, 53 > Ausstin's 25p's, at per gross, 225; plaids, 5s ad to 6s. BUILDING MATERIALS. ■ (Duty on sawn timber, 2s per 100 feet; on . galvanised iron, 20s per ton.) The several articles that come under this heading have suffered since our last from reduced consumption, alternate, frost .and rain having delayed building operations. In cement the market is less lively, and extreme ratra not obtainable. Slates are neglected. In timber,; stocks have been added to during the last we»k, by the several arrivals we have had from Auckland. Contrary to the full condition of the yards in other kinds, we understand that stocks of kauri'hail run low, but will thus beopportunely made up. Galvanised iron has, in consequence, and partly' also from > stocks having increased, bean slightly easier, although still worth from L 36 to L 36 10s. Quotations for imported timber are:—American lumber, T and G, per 1000 ft d. pi, L1210s; white pine shelving, dressed, d. p., Ll3; Baltic, flooring, 6 x 11, per 1000 ft rg., 14s: do, 6xl, 13s 6d; do, 6"x .j, 10s; do, 6 xJ, 8s; spruce deals, American, sd; Oregon, assorted, LlO to Ll2; kauri pine, per 1000 ft super., 16s to 17s;. pine, 10s 6d. Approximate quotations for galvanised iron are:—Morewood's 26 gauge,_L36 per ton; Gospel Oak and Tiger brands, L3G; Lion brand, L 35; do, best, L 36; Lysaght's " orb,'? L37 10s. Cement, 24a to 25s per barrel. Slates, Countess, Ll4—stocked. ; ' sugar. , ~' ; (Duty, 9s 4d per cwt.) This grand essential to Colonial existence 13 dull. The trade hangs, and large transactions are nil. Yet advices are favourable to importers, and the market firm. Every week since our last has -witnessed accessions made to stocks—two shipments from Mauritius and one from Melbourne. The cargo of the Robert Jones was first added. It is being sold privately, and appears to offer buyers a good selection —from prime white to brown and brewers'crystals. The next from Mauritius was that of the Elliots, 256 tons, consigned to Messrs Neill and Co.; and since that, by the Prospector, from Melbourne, a further consignment of Yarraville refined has reached Mr Driver, in fui-therance of the determination of that Company to establish their sugars firmly in this market. The shipment consists of 8750 mats white crystals, specially selected for this market, and will be submitted to auction on Friday first, July 2nd. This parcel, we believe, • was shipped prior to the burning down of the ■ Victoria Sugar Company's premises. A

general advance of LI per ton in Melbourne ha* been established as the consequence of this disaster j and a similar advance may be safely predicted here, in the case especially' of these (the Yarraville) popular sugars, if not in all. Stocks in_ the hands of holders, with these several additions, would no doubt at the present give a, lowering tendency to the market, but that other influences are operating, and may probably lead ia another direction. But for stocks on hand at the beginning of last season the market must have been by this time, with a certainly augmented consumption, the reverse of overstocked. From Mauritius to New Zealand the import has been short of the previous year by 1741 tons ; this only made up, till, recently, by Yarraville importations and a small _ lot from Queensland. And now, as we have just incidentally mentioned, a large source of supply is cut off by the burning of the Victoria Sug«r Company's refinery works, which cannot, under any circumstances, be rebuilt and at work in less than from eight to twelve months, .-■''. ' ' TEAS. . ' . ' . ' . (Duty, Gd per lb.) . - There has been little business done m tins staple article of import, and of large consuinpt, during the last four weeks. Stocks are not excessive for this period of the year, and although a lull has been experienced there is no reason for despondence, since there is-abundance, of time to reduce stocks before another. season cpmes round. Our own importations, appreciated and known, are well held; but we find Melbourne houses so anxious to share, in the trade that they are tempting transactions by the offer of unusually long terms, four and six months, with promises to renew. The trade demand is limited to a hand-to-mouth supply, and'at'■'present is confined to boxes of the better descriptions.

TOBACCO AND CIGARS. . ■ (Duty, manufactured, 2s 6d per lb. ; sheepwash, 3d per lb. ; cigars, 5s per lb.) _ ; There is very little to report in these articles since our last. Trade continues fair, and prices firm, without any prospect of their becoming; easier. Indeed, stocks having received no additions during the month, holders maintain quotations, and do not seem at all anxious to quit. Advices per last 'Frisco mail intimate that no supplies are coming forward, and further advances may be anticipated. The only, line received from the Australian market during the month is common tens, which we hear realised good prices. Aromatics are becoming scarcer erery day, and before long stocks will be exhausted. Cigars : Genuine Havannas continue very high, as also Swiss. Other kinds remain about the same as last reported. Fre^ont quotations are as follows -.—Stonewall Jackson twist, from Is Gd to Is 8d ; Cameron's Raven twist, from Is Bel to 2s; Cameron S Venus twist, from Is 9id to 2s; Cameron a Cable twist, from Is 9d to Is lOd; Signet, tens, Is 9d to Is lOd; New Zealand Joys, twelves, Is Gd to Is 7d; Cameron's Signet, tens, in quarter and half boxes, Is 7d to Is 7W, andls7|d to Is 8d ; Enchanter, gold bar, Is lOd to 2s ; Enchanter, aromatic twist, Is lOd to 2s ; Enchanter, navy sixes, 2s ; Enchanter, sixteens, Is lOd.to 2s ; Orion, tens, Is 0d; best honey dew, ilbs, per lb, Is 4d ; do, tens, Is to Is 3kl; aromatic, Is 3d ; sheepwash leaf, Calcutta, 3d ; Two Worlds, tens, Is' 2d to Is 4d. Cigars-cheroots, No.' 2. per 1000, L3 ; Manillas, No. 2, L 3 10a ; Hayanas, do, Ll2 to Lib ; Swiss, O.rmond's, LI 16s to LI 17s Gd.

DIIIED FRUITS. • (Duty, ldperlb.) : : For some montns these have been, good stocks, and quotations are favourable. Currants, as will be noticed from the undermentioned prices, have advanced to a figure which they seldom reach. Caperaisins and Sultanas have also advanced. Quotations maybe made as follows:—Currants, 4|d; Jordan almonds (shelled), Is 9d to Is lOd; dried apples, 8M; figsi (71b boxes), 7d to 8d; Elenie raisins, 7Jd;, Cane raisins, 7d; Valencia do, (3d ; Sultaiias, 8d ; Muscatel layers, Is 0^1; Barcelona nuts, bid ; French prunes (glass jars), Is 8d to is 9d; bottled fruits, 12s to 13s (3d ; Colonial do (latins), 8s to 8s 6d. - SUNDRIES.

Hops (duty 3d per lb.)—Good 1874's "are difficult to obtain, and enquiry does_ not go beyond these to other years, which are neglected. . , Malt (duty, Is 6d per bushel) is dull, enquiry which existed to some extent for prime has died away more recently. _ ■ -Kerosene (duty 6d per gallon) continues dull. Stocks in bond very large. Our reference last week to Sydney oil has had the effect of several retailers being induced to make a trial of it, the result of which we have no doubt will prove satisfactory. Candles (duty 2d per lb) are not very plentiful, and are well held, the tendency being slightly upward. : ' ■ [ ''''.'.