COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5301, 14 February 1879, Page 3

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Thursday Evening. At the time of the departure of the last mail business was pretty brisk, several special circumstances having combined to make the month's trade more extensive than usual. The present m mth, however, opened very quietly, and there is little business doing beyond the supply of trade requirements. The arrivals during the month comprise the Western Monarch, the Easterhill, and the Fiji, from London; the J. A Borland, and the Charles E. Deering, from New York. KEROSENE. Stocks of this article have been considerably increased by the arrival of the J. A. Borland and the Charles B. Deering from New York. The brands in the market have rapidly increased with the demand for high-test oils, and at the present moment buyers have a good variety to choose from. At the present season the consumption of k-;io~ene is limited, and sales passing are only of small parcels. During the month a shipment of De voe's was sold under the hammer at ls ld per gallon, in bond. We quote present market rates: Diamond, ls 2d; De voe's, ls 3d to ls 41; Noonday, ls 7d; Light-of-the-Age (150ieg). Is 81; Nonpareil (lsoJeg), ls 91 ; Calcium Light (Is6deg), ls 91 per gallon, in bond. CANDLES.

The excellence of the local manufacture is interfering very considerably with the sale of tho imported article, and it appears to be impossible to get even a covering price for the latter. We quote De Roubaix-Jenar's, 91 per lb, duty paid. SUGAR. The demand during the month has been quiet, purchases last month, when the reduction in duty came into force, having been ample for requirements. Stocks, of whites especially, are moderate, and holders are inclined to stand out for better prices. We quote first whites up to £35 10s ; second do, £33 10. to £34 10s; greys, £33 ; first yeb lows, £32 10s; second do, £31 to £32; brewers' crystals, £33 108 to £34 103. TEAS are moving off freely, but importers are grumbling at the rates paid for parcels. The quality of the season's supply is very superior, and prices aro lower than they have usually been hitherto. ALE has been in brisk demand during the month, and shipments of favourite brands have been freely taken up as th-y arrived. We quote Foster's (Bass"), 12s 3d to 12a Gd; Bulldog, 11a to lis 3d; Tour.cat's, 10a 9d to lis ; M'Ewan's, 10a 91 to lis. STOUT haa been more inquire I for during the last few days, and sales are passing at the usual rates for tho different brand?, which we quote : Guinness', bottled by Burke, Us 9d to 12s ; by Johnston, 10s 9d to lis. Bulldog, Us to Us 3d; Pig brand, Us to Us 31 WISES. Except for clarets and other seasonable sorts there is little demand for wines at the moment. SPIRITS. The advance in the Melbourne market, combined with telegraphic news received from Home, had a favourable effect upon the price of Hennessy's brandy early in the month, and holders here are now disinclined to sell, except at prices in advance of those lately raling. We quote sales of case at 333 61 to 345, and stocks light. Bulk has hardly altered, and is still obtainable at 9s 9cL. Secondary brands are not affected by the advauce in Hennessy's, but sell at the usual rates, according t> the positions they hold in the favour of the trade. Whiskies sell pretty freely, and some favourite lines are running low in stock. A shipment of a brand new to this market, and from which tho fusel oil has been extracted—the "Encore"—has been placed from the wharf at 16a per case. Dunville's is almost out of stock, and is much wanted. We have no change to report in our last quotations. Gin keeps moving off freely at, for parcels, Us 6d to 12s 6d for smtll contents J.D.K.Z., up to 16s for four gallons proof. Key Geneva sells at 10s 6d to Us. Burnett's old torn is Ec.rce, aud commands I3s to 13a 3d. Rum is in fair demand, and stocks are moderate. We quote Lemon Hart and Co.'s, 3a 91 to 4s ; R W.P., 3a 9J ; Boord's, 4s; and Mauritius, 3s 6d. TOBACCO. Trade has been dull during the month, and prices rule low. Two shipments of Cameron's tobaccos have arrived during the month, per J. A. Borland and Charles E. Deering, adding considerably to previous stocks. We quotemarketrates -Venutstens, ls3dtols4d; twist, ls 4d ; Over the Water and New Zealand Joys, ls ljd to ls2d; Black Swan, ls 31 to ls4d. Aromatic tobaccos are scarce, and command good prices. Ciaars are in good demmd.

FISH has baen in fair dsmaud during the month, and the tendency of tha market is upwards. American saltnoa sells freely at 8a 6d to 8s 9i for best brands ; oysters at 4s 3d. Lobsters are unobtainable at any price. Ling fish is beiDg inquired for, but supplies of fine qualities are light. Red herrings move off at 103 6J for firkins and 13s for quarterbirrels. Sardines ara in good inquiry at 8s 6d for halves, and 5i 4d to 5s 6d for quarters. butter has b^en in bare supply during the month, and lOd is freely paid for prime quality. cheese is also difficult to secure in quantity, and commands 7_d to Sd per lb. DRIED FRUITS. Business in these has been quiet during the month, the season of greatest demand having just passed. Telegraphic advices are to hand of a considerable rise in the London mat kets, but as yet no appreciable effect is noticeable here. We quote currants selling at 4d; sultanas, sd; muscatels,. 10Jd to ls; valencias, 5d to 5Jd. Jordan almonds are very scarce, and command 2s 3d per lb. Figs srs also scarce, and wanted. j hops. I There have been considerable sales of hops of all descriptions during the month, and fine samples find ready buyers. We quote sales of Kent goldings at Is 9d from the wharf; ordinary Kent?, ls 3d to ls 6d ; Californian, Is to la 3d. MALT. Of English there are no supplies in the market, and so great is the demand in the present scarcity that indifferent samples of Colonial command 9s to 10s per bushel.

FENCING WIRE,, , ; The season being still in front of us, business in this article is very limited, and prices vary considerably according to the size of parcels; We quote best brands £13 - 10a, £.14, ond £14 10s for numbers 6, 7, and 8; but concessions on these prices can be obtained for parcels ou the wharf. GALVANISED IRON continues slow of sale, and all-round parcels an be obtained at £25 10a to £20 per ton. CORNSACKS. . Just as we were going to press with our lust Summary, the Amelie and the Lowes water put in an appearance at the Heads, bringing to our- market full cargoes of Cab cutta goods. Although the bulk of the lines had been placed to arrive, the influx of goods caused pri3es to give way a little, ana comsacks were for some days freely offering, in parcels, at 7s 9d to Bs. Since then rates have become firmer, and for ordinary lots holders ask 83 to 8s 3d. CASTOR OIL, , per same vessels, was taken up in parcels at 4s 4d to 4s 6d, aud for these 4s 9d is now asked, PAT.VA RICE found buyers at .£2O and £21 per ton, in ' bond. GRAINT. In wheat there is nothing doing at all, and prices are simply nominal. For oats there is little inquiry, and quotations remain at 3s 6d to 3s 8d per 'bushel. Barley.—There is an inquiry for samples of the new crop, but business, in either old or new, there is none.