COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4742, 30 April 1877, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Saturday evening. Thd jonount of Customs Revenue received to-day od g oi« entered for consumption n ax follow*:— & B. d. £ .. d. Hran-Jy .. .. 38 2 7 Tea .. .. 44 0 0 Whisky,. .. 54 10 Sugar,. .. 36 5 1 Wine „ .. 28 3 6 Drapery ~ 80 2 0 Tobacco ~ 74 9 0 Sundries ..145 7 0 TMal -.. ' ... .. £496 10 8

The past week has been quiet, as is usual when the end of ihe month 13 so near. There have been no transactions of consequence. The Baron Bantyre, 1623 tons, from London, pas=cd the Customs to-day. Sho brings, besides 1000 tons of railway plant, 1800 tons of general cargo, the cons-ignors of which, looking to the fact pf war having actually broken out, may be regarded as fortunate, or r3 having just saved themselves or their principals from inevitable advances in many de criptions of goodS, consequent upon that unhappy evtnt. Among our trade circulars via San Franfdseo there is appended to one the words "In the event of war this list is withdrawn." Of course, the extent and nature of the manner in which the markets will be effected, the current of national disturbance alone will determine. • In brandy there is not much to boast of ; the current quotations for Hennessy are 10s to 10s 3d in bulk, 33s 6d in caße, prices which are not by any means remunerative to importers, since the cost in London is not less than 8s lOd. Large sales from the wharf havo been made this week at 9s 9a. Advices recently Jrom Melbourne hayo not improved .the position of the premier brand, while they have rather improved secondary qualities, diverting enouiry for the time, to some extent, in that d'rection. The holders of Reviere, Gardrat, and Co., and of Rouyer, Gardrat, and Co , quote sales at from 8s 6d to 9s. A.V.C. is quoted at, for bulk, from 7s 9d to 85, cases 22s to 22s 3d ; Ota-ii's at, for bulk, from 8s 6d to 83 9d, cases Ws 6i. In whisky, the demand, though slightly increased, boar 3no proportion to, the stocks held. Enquii/runs upon favourite brands, of which there are sufficient choice. Quotations may be made ss follows :—Ardbeg, 63 to CaSd; Glenlivet, 6a 3d to 6s Oil; Thorn and Cameron, 5s 3d to 5s 6d; Glenury, 5s 9d to 6s; Dunville'ti, 6s 9d to 6s, cases 17s to 18*; Lonjrjohn's, 5s 9d to 69, case 163 Od to 17s ; Bernard's, 4s 9d to 03, case 14s. In geneva there is no I improvement: enquiry at a minimum. In rum there lis a slight demand for Lemon Hart and Red Heart, 4s fceinij about the quotation. Wine is still quiet, no transactions of the consequence being re-, ported. In a'e. there continues the usuil moderate demand for b.st brands at ordinary rates., Porter as being more seasonable is moviug off rather morY brisk y.- The. following are quotations for parcels of some extent:—Bull Dog, from 11s 6d to 11s 9d; Guinness".-', by Burke., lls fld ; Guihness't!, p:g brand, 11s 6d; Blood, Wolfe, .lls3d; Guinness, by Johnstone, lls. For smaller parcels 12s 6d can be obtained. We may remark that what has been the normal unlioillhy condition of the market for imported beer for years and years back, is apparently as for from being remedied as eyor. 'ihe local brews are so Entirely popular, and of such, real excellence, that the demand for even famed English names is limited very much. Set consignors, disregarding en< irely this circumstance, continue to make altogether disproportionate ahipat the inevitable cost of very unsatisfactory account sale 3. In te* we can only report that the uaual trade is maintained satisfactorily. The wants of the trade being studied by importers, orders are circumscribed now almost entirely to our own mirket. In sugar, the cargo of the May is reported' as getting rapidly placed at full rates, in good trade Jot?; From all accounts sugar is destined to rise, and, may be, to become very scarce. Christchurch has not sufficient stock to meet requirement* till next crop; and how far Dunedin, with its monthly consumpt of -250 tons, is from having this we reed not say. Looking beyond New Zealand.and Australian m«kets, and to the unequalled increase of consumption, and rise iv price in Europe, with all impending exigencies besides, it does sppeir a very likely circumstance indeed that sugar will be both scarce and dear.' In provisions, hams and bacon, imported, Prenter's.have been selling at la Id, but the demand is very light, and they move" very slowly. Good Colonhl cures were sold at auction this week at Bsd ; but they are fairly worth more than that, as more, indeed has been got since sale. In cbeese the morket is becoming easier, and quotations may now be made as at from 6d to 7Jd, according to quality. In fish the lessened demaud U more for tinned than for o'.hers. Ling may ue quoted at from 6d to 6Jd; American salmon, in tin. at-lls 9d ; herrings (white) in fair demand, at, in half-barrel*, 30s; in firkins, 13s; ths same prices being got for red. In galvanised iron the demand is good, and rate 3 tending hiyh r. Fencing wire is selling freely, at full rates, socks low. In cement, holders bad looked for higher rates, but the arrival of 1100 barrels per Baron Blantyre, lias mai' tivined prices easy, as they have been for some time. Sales have lately been made at 183 6d - 18s miy now be quoted as the en: rent price. In fruits, the war news, has caused an active demand to spring up. Desolating the ye;/ country where they are mainly procure!, scarcity anddearncss must inevitably follow. In currants, good Patras are quoted at 5d ; Pergos and inferior qualities may be had at 4jd. In hops, old are disappearing, one firm is sold out; new are quoted at from 2s 4d to 2s 6d. Candles, as a consequence of war in Russia, are ako in active demand. QuoUtions are —Bcimont, at from iOJd to lOJd; Do Koubaix, Jenar, and Co,, and De Roubaix, Odenkoran, and Co., IOJd ; Gouda and Apollo, from lOd to IOJd ; Kitchen, Belmont, lOd—holders firm. Kerosene is very firm, and likely to advance. Supplies in bond, and coming forward, are unequal to the consumpt of winter month*. Quotations are,—Devoe's, 2s 7d, I.B.; Ivoon Day, 2s 6Jd ; Diamond, 2s Od. Flour ie in fair request at £13 per ton.orders from town and country cominir forward faster than they can be executed. Wheat is offering less freely than it was Uat week. Quotations are—For prime milling, at from 5s to 5s 4d ; inferior, 3s 6d to ss, according to samples. Oats a-e also ltS3 freely offend, quotations being, for prime milling, from 2s 3d to 2s 6d; inferior, 2s to 2s 3d. Oatmeal remains at £14 per ton in brisk demand. Barley is in v-ry limited request, best malting is wjrth from 4s to 4s 6J ; feed and milling from 23 6d to 3s. Pollards are quoted at £7 per ton ; bran at £3 15s.

Messrs M'Lanjress, Hepburn, and Co. further icport having Sold parts of sections 20 and 27, block XXVI. (full qiurter-acre), Great King street, with tho buildings thcieon, for £1150 cas'i.

Mr J. B. Brabsuaw reports the following for week ending Saturday, April-£Bth, viz.:—

Sale3.—Colonial Bank of New Zealand shares, at £2; National Insurance Co. share?, £1103 (id to £1 113; Cromwell Quartz Mining Co. shares, £2 lCs. ~ Buyers.—Bank of New Zealand shares (cum div ), lit £19 17s 6 t; Colouial Bank of New Zealand shares, £2; JNTational Bank of NewZeahnd shases, £3 7s; .xationul Insurance Co shares, £1 Us; South British Insurance Co. share 3, £3 15a ; Now Zealand Insurance Co. shares, £4 123 6d; Standard Insurance Co. snares, 35>; Albion Brewery Co..'shares, 4s ; Mosgiel Woollen Factory Co. stares £2 103; Otago and Southland Investment Co. sham, £1 sa; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. shares (new issue), £2 10s; Otago.Daily Times and Witness Co. shares, £55. Money.—Secured on freehold property, MS to £9 per cent, per annum.

Messrs Whiteiaw and Co. report sales of shares during tha past week as follows:—' :

Insurances.—National, 31s (cum div:); Standaid,l4s Cd ; South Biitish, 7tss. Banks National, CSs : Colonial, 40s and 41j. Other Companies.—Mo giel Woollen Factory, 503 ;. Walton Park Co, 10s. ' ' Buyers.—lusuraaces: National, 303 Gd (cum div.) • Standards, 14s 61 ; South British, 755; New Zealand