COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8398, 23 January 1889, Page 5 (Supplement)

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Wednesday Evening, January 23. January is usually a quiet month in the import market, the holidays breaking iv upon it, and causing a general disinclination to trade to nny considerable extent. Busiuess during the mouth, therefore, has been a little curtailed, and except; for one or two leading Hues the deniaud for goods has been limited to the supply of actual requirements. Values of goods, however, have been well maintained, and as the outlook is somewhat brighter holders anticipate goo 1 trade, and are therefore firm in their quotasions. Although town trade has been comparatively quiet, country business has considerably improved, Tho exceptionally fine weather we have been enjoying has brought the crops well forward, and with every prospect of a pleutiful harvest, and good prices for produce, the general tone ot trade is hopeful. The favourable result of the local wool sales has had a beneficial effect upon things generally, and altogether the outlook is brighter than it was. The arrivals during the month comprise the Hurunui and s.s. Runpehu, from London; Jessie Ruadman, from Liverpool; Laira and Lavinia, from Mauritius,

ALE AND STOUT. (Duty: Is 6d per gallon, or 3s per dozen.1) There has been a fair demand for thesu during the month, and some favourite brands are iv short supply. Prices cannot be said to have advauced, but in consequence of the advance in the price of brewing materials in England the agents of some of the leading brands have given notice of their intention to increase their list rates. The following are the current rates for ordinary grocers' parcels:—Bass' nle, bottled by Foster, 11s 6d to 12s per dozen; Bulldog, 11s 6d to 12s; Burkes, 11s 3d to 11s 6d; Boar's Head, 10s Gil to 11s ; Daukes', 11s to 11s 3d; M'Ewan's, !)s 9d to 10s ; 'Pennant's, 9s ; lud Ooope's, 10s ; Liuinncss'stout,bottled by Burke, lls to 11s dd; lister's, lls Oil to 12s ; Bulldog, lls 6d to 12s ; Boar's lie.id, 10s (id to lls; Daukes', lls to lls 3d; I'ig, 10s 6-,\ to lls; Johnson's, 10i to 100 Gil; Blood AVoolt's, 9s Oil to 9s 9d pijr dozen—all duty paid.

UAOUINO. (Duly : Woolpucks, 2s (id per dozen ; corusacks, free.) Considerable business bar; been duno iv cornsacks during tho mouth. Supplies on the spot have been supplemented by arrivals from Australia. Trices have cnutiuiieil steady at from 6.s ;5d to (is -Ijil per dozen for parcels, up to b's (id for sumll lots. Thij season for woolpacks being now over there is nothing doing in them. CANDLES. (Duty : 2d per lb.) Thu principal item of interest iv thiu market during the mouth has been the advance of )>vx lb established by thu local manufacturers. Prices now raugo from 5M per lb upwards. Tin ro is vtry little doing in English candle;:, aud for such lots as are available holders ask 7d per lb. CEMENT. (Duty: 2s per barrel.) The market is very tore of cement, aud an advance of Is per barrel has been established during the month. Knight Bevnn and Co.':;, the kisdiiiß brand, is held for 21s ptr barrel, :ind other brr.niU for 2(h p-:r barrel, ex stove. nniED rituiis. (Duty: 2d per lb.) This market, has been rather dull during tho month, traders having laid in full .stocks previous to the holidays. The range of prices kneps low, and not very satisfactory to holders. Ordinary tradfi lots s.:ll as follows :— (ilirr.ints, IM to r.il per lb; sultana, fvfd li> (id per lb; I'.lcmi'S Ti.'.il to S.'id per 11). Muscatels move oil" a!. ls:M If) U'M Pr lb, and tigs at 7s pnr dozen— all duty p\id.

VISIT. iDuly: Dried, picltk'si, nr Halted, 10s per cw( ; polled or preserved, 2<l per 1b; pustu, 20 per cent, od valorem.) Tli'-i Juukmhl lor fish ha* been rather better during th'j last 10 days-, ami an improved trade has licnu tlia result. Ameruan salmon secures chirr -.iU( iiti'in. " Oou'ntail,"' llu; l^aiiiiig linunl, i; in ::i!i!'.U Mipii'v, ami coimimnils .KM Oil )nr ; ,i ( . z .., : ; <-.rn--i- "'iVaii-'M .v H itUVoii) Us 6-1 to KM iv.'r ili'-".:.-:'. Uys'M'.i cmve uIV for rcijuin'inu'il.'; ■: \ii ~>:- 0.1 i^c (!-.'.-::-.:n, and lons'.i-vi at 10s to 10s Gil I !>• r den n. Sud.'n.-a »ti: ii-iici,, and yriees aru ! lialc raoro than nuiniiisl. Wo quote them 8s

Oi per dozen for halves, -Is 9d per dozen for quarters. New Hug fish is offering at sid per lb—all duty paid. HOPS. (Duty: 6d per lb.) This market is without much change. Nelson hops as usual secure the bulk of the 1 rade and as stocks of these are limited holders are quite lirrn in their demand for 2s per lb. For imported hops there is not much sale and prices are little more than nominal; as an index of values we quote Californians, 2s 3d per lb; Bavarians, 2s Gd ; and English, 3s perlb, duty paid. METALS. (Duty: Galvanised iron, £2 per ton; fencing wire, £1 per ton; barbed wire, £2 ptr ton ; pig iron, free.) The past has bean a fairly good mouth in the meta! market. Advices from Homo all recording hardening rates there, have given a tirm tone to the local tu-trket, and holders .ire standing out for better prices. Galvanised iron has advanced, Orb being now h«ld for £21 10s per ton, Kedclyffe and Avon for £21 per ton, usual extras. Fencing wire is very firm at £11 per ton for number 8, usual extras, in parcels. Some parcels of pig iron have changed hands at £4 per ton. Sheet zinc ;ve quote £28 per ton, aad sheut lead £21 to £22 per ton firm.

OILS. (Duty: 6d per gallon.) A steady inquiry hns been maintained for oils during the month and prices have slightly hardened. Raw aud boiled

linseed oils are in good request at 3s to 3s 2d per gallon respectively. Colza oil goes iuto consumption at 3s 9d per gallon. In castor oils there has been some speculative business, aud trade lots are now securing 3s Id to 3s 2d per gallon. Kerosene is dull at Is Sid to Is 9d per gallon, for high test oils ; " noonday" commanding Is lOd in small lots. In turpentine there is a fair business doing at 3s 9d per gallon, all duty paid. RICE. (Duty: 6s per cwt.) The business in Patna rice has been of the usual moderate character, requirements being filled at £22 per ton ; dressed rice sells iv trado lots at £18 per ton: some parcels ex^steamer have been disposed of from the wharf at uudtr these quotations. SPIKITS. (Duty : Bulk, 15s per gallon proof; bottled, 16s per gallou.) Business iv spirits during the mouth has been quiet, traders having fully supplied themselves previous to tho alteration in the duty. Some

lines of case are in regular demand, and sales are mostly now at duty paid prices. Holders do not yet secure the full advantage warranted by tho increased duty,but are content with a portion. As an index of current market values for trade lots of spirits, we quote:—Brandies : Hennessy's, 37s per case; Denis Mouuie'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, 6s to 6s 9d per gallon and 20s to 22s per case. Whiskies: Old Highland (Thorn and Cameron), 7s 6d to 8s per gallon; Lochiel, do, 7s per gallon; Dunville's Old Shamrock, 5s 6d; Ardberg, 5s 6<:1; Longjohn'u, ss. 6U Of case whiskies, Greenlees' Old Highland commands ISs; Duuville's, 16s to 17s; Burkes, 15s to 16s; Loch Dhu, 16s; JDKZ geneva, 12s to 12s (id per case; Burnett's Old Tom, 12s; Wolfe's schnapps, 21s 6d; Lemon Hart's rum, 3a 6d per gallon. SUGAR. (Duty: p per lb.) This import has attracted a considerable amount of attention during the month. Stocks have been augmented by the arrival of two cargoes from Mauritius, and shipments of China sugars have also arrived via Australia. Supplies in first hands, however, are rather light. Agents of China sugars have advanced their prices 20s per ton during the month, and an increase of 10s to 20s has bsen established in Mauritius. Both the Laira's and Lavinia's cargoes were offered at auction, but importers' limits were not reached and both shipments were withdrawn. They were subsequently, however, placed at an advance on the bidding and prices are now very firm. Freights and exchanges in Mauritius are against buyers, and there appears every prospect of present rates being fully maintained. The exceptionally fine weather has been very favourable for fruit, and the demand for preserving purposes has arisen somewhat suddenly. This has led to an increased demand, and altogether sugars appear good stock to hold. Wo quote current rates for trade lots -.—£26 to £26 10$ per ton for snowdrops; £25 10s to £26 per ton for fine whites; aud £25 to £25 10s per ton for greys and good whites; yellows command £2-1 to £2-1 10s per ton—all duty paid. TEA. (Duty: 6d per lb.) There is an improved tone in the tea market, and salus ar.e slightly on the. increase.