COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7784, 31 January 1887, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Satuvdiy evening,

The amount of customs revenue received today .on goods cleared for consumption was £195 5s sd.

The revenue collected at the Customhouse during the past week on goods cleared for consumption amounted to £7622 13s sd. * The beer duty amounted to £228 ls Bd, and the gold duty to £660 lis sd.

There is little to add of interest to our report oE the import market published in our mail summary on Wednesday laat. With the approach of the close of the month business has slackened off somewhat, although one or two special lines continue to receive attention. Sugars are in good'demand, and the market is firm at our last quotations. The warm weather has brought about a fair demand for ales, and leading brands are readily disposed of at agents' prices. In champagnes, clarets, and other light seasonable wives there is also a fair trade doing. Some large sales of cement have been effected during the mouth from ships discharging, and parcels have been quoted at 14s and a shade under." Dried fruit?, as to be expected at this season, are a trifle dull, although with light supplies on hand currants are in good inquiry. We quote primo fruit 5-fd to SJ-d per lb. The inquiry for fish is improving, though still limited, and not so great as might have been looked for with Lent approaching. Best brands of American salmon we quote 8s 3d to 8s Gd per dozen; sardines, 8s 6d per dozen and 5s per dozen for halvesandquartersrespectively. Stocksof Nelson hops are getting low, and the reports regarding the growing crop' are favourable to holders. Prime samples command lOd per lb, but there, are lines to be had under thi3 figure. Considerable quantities of galvanised iron have arrived during the month, but in the face of the | favourable news of the improvement in the English market holders are inclined to keep their stocks in hand for better prices than have been lately ruling. Fencing wire is very slow of sale. Numbers C, 7, and 8 are offering at £10 to £10 yDs, leading brands. Barbed wire we quote £24 per ton. As to be expected at this season, the demand jfor kerosene is very slack. Stocks are heavy.^nd only lots for requirements are being quitted at from ls 7d to ls 9d per gallon for the various high-test brands with which the market is supplied.