COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9118, 18 May 1891, Page 5

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Saturday Evening, 18 th May 1891. Ag is usually looked for at this time or the year, trade during the past month has not been very brisk, and prices have not fluctuated very much. Trade is steady, and stocks of leading lines are not excessive. Credit is good, but both sellers and buyers operate cautiously, tho consequenco of which is that orders are not large, and buyers do not run any riskof overstocking themThe arrivals during the month include the s.s. lonic, s.s. Duke of Buckingham, and Waimate, from London ; and tho Bonny Doon, from New York. Aliß AND STOUT. (Duty: Is 6d per gallon, or 3s per doz.) There has been a fair average amount of business done in ale end stout during the month. Favourite brands secura naturally the bnlK of the business at agents' list pneen. As an index to market values we quote the iollowing as current rates for ordinary trade lots or favourite brands :-Bass' ale, bottled by Foster, 12s to 12s 6d per dozen; BuU Dog, 12s to 12s 6d; Burkes, lls 3d to 11s 6d; Boar's Head, 10s 6d to lls; Dauke's, lls to lls 3d; M'Ewan's, 9s 9d to 10s ; Tennant's, 9s ; Ind Coope s, IDs ; Guinness' stout, bottled by Burke, lls to lls dd; Foster's, lls 6d to 12s ; Bull Dog, Us 9d to 12s 3d • Boar's Head, 10s 6d to lls; Dauke's, lls to lls 3d; Pig, 10s 8d to lls; Johnsonb, 10s to 103 6d; Blood Woolf's,9s 6d to 9s 9d per dozen—all duty paid.

BAGGING. ;Duty:. Woolpacks, 2s 6d per dozen; corn, sacks, free.)

Although the season for cornsacks being in demand is now nearly over, prices have hardened during the month and supplies in importers hands are very small. Sales of trade lots were passing early in the month at 5s 3d per dozen, but to-day's quotation is firm at 5s 6d per dozan. Woolpacks are not yet inquired for, it beiug rather early for business in them,

CANDLES. (Duty: 2d per lb.) In consequence of the iucreased prices of raw material, paraffin candles have slightly improved in value; best brands of imported are quoted 7Jd to 7jd per lb. Local candles sell as übusl at from 6a per lb upwards, but paraffins have advanced 7£ per cent, during the mouth.

CEMENT. (Duty: 2s per barrel.) The price of thiis has been maintained during the month, and trade lots have gone pretty steadily into consumption at 20.3 per barrel. Tha tone of the market has weakened within the last few days, but quotations remain the same.

DBIED FBUITS. (Duty: 2d per lb.) A moderate business has been done in fruits during the month, raisins if anything securing a larger amount of attention. Values all round are a shade easier than when we last wrote and cule to-day as follows :—Currants, 4jd to 5d per lb; Valeuciaa, 6^d per lb; elc-ines, 7u to 7Jd per lb; sultanas, 8d to B£d per lb—all duty pail

(Duty. Dried, pickled, or salted, 103 per cwt.; potted or preserved, 2d per lb; paste, 20 per cent, ad valorem.) Tbero is very little of interest to report regarding thia market. Traders have supplied requirements at current rates, which rule as follows: —American salmon 7s Gd per dozen, cocktail securing 9s 3d per dozen; lobsters are out of the market and not quoted; sardines have gone down in price lately ia response to the reductions at Home, and are freely obtainable at 7s 6d per dozen for halves and at 4s to 4<j 3d per dozen for quarters. Ling fish niovts of£ at 4Jd per lb—all duty paid. HOPS.

(Duty: 6dperlb.) In consequence of large shipments of Nelson hops to Australia values o£ spot parcels have hardened during the month, and small browers lots are quoted up to Is 2d per lb. For parcels f.o.b. Nelson holders aßk Is to Is Id per lb. METALS.

(Duty: Galvanised iron, £2 per ton; fencing wire, £1 per ton; barbed wire, £2 per ton; pig iron, free.} Oiily a moderate bnsiuess has been done in metal and hardware lines during the past month, and there is nothiDg out of the usual to report. Some lines have hardened and some are a shade easier, but all round values are very much S3 they were a month ago. Galvanised iron has been a little firmer during the last few days and is selling at from £21 10s per ton in parcels up to £22 10s per ton in small lots, usual extras. In pig iron a small business is doing at from £5 2i 6i to £5 5s per ton. Fencing wire is scarce at the moment, and is readily saleable at £13 to £14 per ton, according to quantity. Barbed wire sells at £23 10s to £24 per ton for the imported article and at £22 10s to £23 for the lo al make. Sheet lead we quote £22 10a per ton, pig lead £19 to £20 per ton. Block tin Is Id to la 3d per lb, according to quantity. I. C. coke tin plates are firm at 25s 6d to 26s per box.

OILS. (Duty: 6d por gallon.) Stocks of kerosene have been increased by the arrival of the Bonny Doon from New York, but as the season of the year has now begun when the consumption is considerably increased, the value of kerosene is a little higher than it was when we last wrote. Ordinary trade lots secure la 6d to Is Bid per gallon for high test oils. During the earlier part of the month business was done in parcels at less money, but holders aro not now willing to quit except at improved rates. Knw and boiled oils continue to maintain their values, the former selling at 3s 7d to 3s 8d per gallon and the latter at 3s 9d to 33 KM. Colza moves ofi at 4s 3d to 4i 6d per gallon. Turpentine is a shade firmer, and is held for 3s 8d to 3s 9d per gallon in trade lote. Castor oil has also hardened a little, and is firm at ii 4a per gallon; all duty paid. EICE. (Duty: 6s per cwt.) Stocks of lice, both Japan and Patna, are ample for requitemeuts, but values are not very firm Dressed Japan is freely offered in trade lo*s at £21 103 to £22 per ton, duty paid, and Patna at £13 10* per ton, in bond, but to quit any quantity importers would quote a shade under these figure?.

SPIRITS. (Duty: Bulk, 15s per gallon proof; bottled, 16s per.gallon.) There is notbinn new to report regarding tno trade in spirits. Those brands that have secured a Hold upon public favour receive regular attention at the hands of buyers, and as constant supplies are kept up prices do not alter from oae mouth to the other. As an index to market values we quote a few of the leading brands as follows:—Brandies: Hennessy's, 37s 6il 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 21s to 22s per case; Cnaropagne Vineyard, 7s per gallon and 21s to 22s per case; Dessandier's, 6s to 6s Od per gallon and 20s to 22s per case. Whiskies: Old Highland (Thorn and Cameron), 7s 3d t,o 8s per gallon; Loohiel, do, 7S per gallon; Dunville's Old Shamrock, os 0d ; Ardbeg, 5s 6d; Lougjohn's, 5s 6d. Of case whiskies, Greenlees' Old Highland commands 18s; Dunville's, 16s to 17s; Burkes, 16s v ; Loch Dhu, 10s; JDKZ geneva, 133 per case; Burnett's Old Tom, 13s; Wolfe's schnapps, 2da . Lemon Hart's rum, 3s Cd per gallon.

SUGAK. (Duty: §<l per lb.) There has been a steady demand for sugar daring the month, and last quotations have beea maintained. Stocks of flnest whites especially are in small compass, and there does not appear to be any prospect of values receding. There are no shipments afloat from Mauritius, and those coming forward from other ports are light. Finest Mauritius whites go into consumption at £21 to £2110s per ton; good whites at *21 per ton; and greys at £20155; all id bond. New Zealand Company's No. 1 is selling to the trace at £27 5a to £2710 a pec top, dntjr j?as,

TEA. (Duty : Od per lb.) There has been a littlo more business acne in teas during the past month, but tho demand has been principally for blended teu«, and the sale of original importations is now very muchhandio»ppnd by thi« bold which bluuded teai uave taken upon publio favour.