COMMERCIAL SUMMARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7569, 21 May 1886, Page 2

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY

Thursday evening. There has uot been much activity in business during the past four weeks, buyers still operating very sparingly ; values of goods, however, have been fully maintained, and several lines exhibit a hardening tendency. Stocks of merchandise, with few exceptions, are moderate, and holders look for an improvement before long. The arrivals during the month include the Lyttelton, from London, and Hertfordshire, from Glasgow, with general cargo ; the True Blue, from Mauritius, with sugar; and the Charles G. Rice, from New York, witli kerosene and other American goods. All of these vessels have discharged their cargoes at Dunedin wharf. ALE AIS'D STOUT. (Duty—Bulk, Is 3d per gallon ; bottled, Is 6d per gallon, or 3s per dozen.) For bottled stout a moderate demand has been experienced, but ales do not command so much attention as might be expected at this season of the year. Current quotations for ordinary lines of the favourite brands of ale and stout are as follows :—Bass' Ale, bottled by Foster, 12s 9d to 13s per dozen ; BulMog, 11s 6d to 12s; Burkes, 11s 3d to Us 6d; Boars Head, Us 3d to 11s 6d; Dauke's, 11s 3d to 11s 6d; M'Ewan's, 9s 9d to 10s; Tennant's, 9s to 9s 6d; Lord Coopes, 10s; Bass' Bulk Ale, £10 to £10 10s per hogshead. Guiness' Stout bottled by Burke, 1 is 6d to 11s 9d ; Bulldog. 11s 6d to lls 9d ; Boar's Head, Jls 3d to 1 Is 6d • Dauke's, lls 3d to lls 6d; Pig, 10s 9d to lls; Johnson's, lls to lls 3d; Blood Woolfs, 9s 6d to 9s 9d per dozen ; all duty paid. BAGS AND BAGGIXG. (Duty—Woolpacks, full weights, 2s (id per dozen ; cornsacks, free.) A fair amount of business is doing in cornsacks, and the tone of the market is firm. No very large lines have changed hands, but there has been a good steady demand for ordinary lots, and the quantity disposed of during the month has been considerable. Stocks are moderate, and it being vow apparent that we shall have none too many for our season's requirements, there is every probability that we may see higher prices ruling shortly, more especially as a heavy advance for all jute goods has been established in Calcutta. The present value of cornsacks in this market is 4s 9d to as per dozen, according to size of parcel. This being the off season for woolpacks, there is nothing doing.

CANDLES. (Duty, Hd per lb.) The winter demand having now fairly set in, a considerable business is passing in candles, but owing to heavy stocks of imported parraffins, and the excessive competition amongst the local manufacturers, prices are cut down so low as to leave a loss to nearly all concerned. The most noticeable feature in the present state of the trade is the great increase in consumption of common grade candles, the public no doubt being tempted by the low price to use them in preference to the better quality. Prices of the local candles range from 4d to 6|d ; imported parraffins, 7fd to S±d. Imported stearine candles are low in stock, but the sale for this description is very limited at present, and Sd to S^cl is the current price for trade lots.

CEMENT. (Duty, Is per barrel.) An advance of quite 6d to Is per barrel has taken place lately, and the prince for leading brands in ordinary trade lots is 15s to 16s ex store. Stocks are moderate, and recent shipments advised on the water are comparatively light.

DBIED FBUITS. (Duty, 2d per lb.) Currants are in strong demand at s£d to oid for prime fruit; Sultana raisins are low in stock, and held for more money. During the early part of the month 6d was freely accepted, but 6|d to 6£d may now be quoted for prime quality; Elemes, 6|d, and not plentiful; Muscatels, dull at Is 3d, nominaly, but less money -would be accepted for lines ; figs, 7s to 7s 6d, with only a moderate business. fish. (Duty. Dried, pickled, or salted, 2s per cut. ; potted or preserved, Id per lb; paste, 15 per cent., ad valorem.) Except in salmon, which is low in stock, there is very little doing in fish. Sardines are slow of sale at Ss Gd and 5s for £lb and $h tins respectively ; Salmon firmly held, and Ss is now the ruling price for cocktail; other good brands, 7s 9d. Ling is dull of sale at 3f dto 4d; lobsters, 8s 6d to 9s; oysters, 5s 8d to 6s. HOPS. (Duty, 6d per lb.) Hops are without animation, and there is only a small business to report. Nelson's are worth (jd to 7d, according to quality, for ordinary trade lots. There is very little demand for imported hops, on account of the cheapness of New Zealand grown. METALS. (Duty : Galvanised iron, £2 per ton; fencing ■wire, £1 per ton.) There is veiy little doing in the building trade at present; consequently the demand for galvanised iron is slow. Stoats are plentiful, and prices range from £19 10* to £20 10s for known brands. A moderate inquiry is experienced for No. 8 fencing wire, which moves off at £10 lOs to £11. Nos. 6 and 7 are low in stock, but the demand is limited. Barb wire is firmly held for £26 10s for best quality. OILS. (Duty, 6d per gallon.) Painters' oils are slow of sale at this season, and the trade has been on a small scale. Although there is no decline in prices, parcels are difficult to quit. Boiled linseed oil is quoted 3s 3d to 3s 4d ; raw, 3s Id to 3s 2d; Colza, 3s 9d to 3s lOd. Coarse castor oil is also slow of sale at late rates. Kerosene has been in brisk demand, and the month's business has been fairly good. Stocks have been replenished by the arrival of the Charles G. Rice, with 7000 cases, ami sales are advised of Crystal, Light of the Age, and other 149deg. test oils at Is 9dto Is lOd; 130deg. test oils, Is od to Is 6d; D.P. Noonday, Is 6d, T.B. For large lines, ex wharf, some concession on above prices has been accepted. The demand for 130deg. test oil has fallen off very much, owing to the comparatively slight difference in price between this description and loOdeg. test.

RICE. (Duty, id per lb.) Patna attracts but little attention, and is slow of sale at £19 to £19 10s. Japan rice moves off in ordinary trade lots at £21 for best quality.

SPIRITS. (Duty, 14s 6d per gallon proof.) There is nothing of interest to report regarding this market, and. only the ordinary trade demand exists for favourite brands at agents' quotations. These do not vary much, but as an index of current market values, we quote a few of the more prominent brands. Brandies : Hennessy's, 36s 6d to 37s per dozen; Denis Mounie's, 10s per gallon in bulk, and 32s 6d per case ; Bisquit Dubouche, 7s per gallon and 22s 6d per case ; Associated Vineyards Company's, 7s per gallon and 22s per case ; Champagne Vineyard, 7s per gallon and 21s to 22s per case; Dessandier's, 7s to 7s 6d per gallon and 22s to 24s per case. Whiskies: Old Highland (Thorn and Cameron), 7s 6d to Ss per gallon ; Lbchiel (do) 7s 6d per gallon - Dunville's Old Shamrock, 6s ; Ardberg 5s Gel; Longjolm, 5s Gel. Of case whiskies, Greenlee's Old Highland commands ISsDunville's, 17s to ISs ; Burkes, 16s to 17s • Loch Dhu, 16s ; J.D.K.Z. Geneva, 12s 6d' for two 24-32 contents; Key Geneva, llsBurnett's Old Tom, 12s; Wolfe's Schnapps' 22s 6d; Burkes Schnapps, ISs; Lemon Hart's rum, 3s 9d per gallon. SUGAR. (Duty, Ad per Ib.) A steady trade has been doing in sugar this month, the only arrival has been the " True Blue " from Mauritius with some 250 tons for this port, and about the same quantity for Lyttelton ; stocks are not large, and prices are without much alteration. Mauritius snowdrops are selling at £-">3 10s; fine white, £2210s ; greys, £2110s (i.b~). Good yellows are very scarce, but tiie sale for this description is limited. Auckland Sugar Company: No. 1, £30; Nos. 2 and 3 are very slow of sale at £2S and £25 respectively (duty paid). SALT. Coarse salt has been in good demand for curing purposes, and stocks which were excessive are becoming reduced rapidly. Fine salt is not plentiful, and is firmly held for from 75s to SOs. TEA. (Duty, 4d per lb.) A moderate business is reported, holders are now beginning to clear out their stocks to make room for new season's supplies. Under the hammer, during the early part of the month, some 2000 boxes and 100 halfchests, mostly low grades, were disposed of. The demand is chiefly for medium and cheap description, finer sorts are not enquired for. TOBACCO. (Duty, 3s 6cl per lb; cigars, 6d.) A fair trade is doing in the leading brands, and some of the favourite makes are low in stock, notably, T. C. Williams' "Juno," for which a good demand exists. Harlequin, Venus, Over the Water, Signet, and other known brands meet with ready sale at agents' prices. There is little doing in cigars, stocks of which are heavy, the trade having fallen off considerably owing to the large sale of cigarettes. URAIN\ Of this market the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. report this week as follows :— Wheat: The market lias been quiet dur-

ing the past week, mainly owing to the paucity of supplies coming forward for sale ; and those who have stored being still unwilling to quit, prices' therefore continue firm at late quotations, viz., for best milling Tuscan, 3s 9d to ,3s lOd ; do do white velvet, 3s Sd to 3s 9d ; medium, 3s 6d to 3s Sd; best red wheat, 3s 6d to 3s 8d ; medium, 3s 3d to 3s 6d ; inferior, and fowls' wheat if whole, 2s 9d to 3s 2d ; broken," 23 6d to 2s 9d (ex store). Oats : A moderate demand exists both for local and shipping requirements, but, owing to the difficulty in obtaining suitable freights, purchases made over a fortnight ago are still in store waiting delivery. This combined with the fact that only a very limited quantity is on offer, restricts business considerably; the market, however, continues firm, and last week's prices obtainable for all on offer. We quote best milling 2s to 2s Id; best short feed, 2s; medium, Js lid; inferior and discoloured, Is 6d to Is lOd ; long oats, Is 9d to Is lid (ex si ore).

Barley :' There is no improvement in demand or values ; best milling, 2s 6d to 3s ; medium, 2s 6d to 2s Sd ; feed and milling, 2s to 2s 6d.

Grass-seed is without much inquiry