COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10240, 24 December 1894, Page 2

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Saturday eveniDg, 22nd December 1894.

I All during the mouth buuineas has been vsry active, probably more so than during any ot'ner of the previous 11 mouths of the year. The principal demand, of course, has been for fruits, and ib is probably owing fco lhaif cheapness that the demand for Christmas require- | meats has been greater than usual. Although perhaps the trade of December this year does not exceed that of the corresponding month last year, still there has been a ste&dy improvement during the laat three months. The arrivals during the month include the s.s. Kaikoura, ».«. Gothic, and Blenheim, from London; Firth of Forth, from Naw York; Auriga, from Mauritius ; and Cyniaca,, from Algoa Bay. ALE AND STOUT. (Duty :Is 6d per gallon, or 3s per dozen.) Tfce fine summer weather which has buen experienced during the month, has favourably affected the demand fur sle, and a good business has been done in favourite brands. Stout naturally is in less demand at this aeaaon. As an index to curroat values we quote' the following rs agsnts' list prices:— Bass's ale, bottled by Foster, 11s 8d to 12s 6d per dozen ; Bull Dog, lls 6(3 to 12s 6d; Allsopp's, lls to lls 6d per dozen; Burkes, 11b 3d to lls 6d; Boar's Head, 10s 6d to lls; Daukea's lls to lls 3d ; M'Bwau's, 9s 9d to 10a ; Tennant's, 9s ; Inde Coope's 10s ; Aitchison's, 10s 6d to lls; Guinness'astout, bottled by Buvke, lls to lls 6d; Foster's lia 3d to 12s ; Bull Do"-, lls 6d to 12s ; Boar's Head, 10s 6d to lls; Daukes's, lls to lls 3rt: Pig, 10s 6d to lls ; Johnson's 10s to 10s 0; : Blood Wolfe's, 9a 6d to 10s per dozen—al! i!:ity paid. BA«QIN(S. (Duty: Woolpacks, 2s 6d per dozen; cornsacks free.) The last has been a quiet month in the bagging market. The season for woolpacks is ovar, and fclis demand for conieacka lias not yet act in. It is now Doing appreciated that the supply of woolpacks on hand is very small even for this time of the year, and it ir. not unlikely thst for the few purchases that will be made from time to time before the opening of usxt season an advanced price will be asked. Sales have been making at Is 9d per pack, but I fio-day's quotation is firm »t 1h 9£d per pack. The Port Melbourne, from Calcutta, wir-h corn- • sacks and other Eastern lines for the New Zsaland market, is dus on the coast in the course of a week or so. No doubt as sbe get? nearer home there will be business done to arrive. CANDLES. (Duty; 2d perlb.) There is nothing of infy'rsst. Bo report regarding candlen. As to be exnpitwi at this season j the demand is quiet), aiut the buUs of the j bnsine'.ii offarivi* jj':'E "lfir! ""• '•"■»'!l! of the ; local inrtnufatturers. Best brauos of Londos j igperins are eellins at np.to lid p?r lb. |

CEMENT. (Duty: 2s per barrel.) The market has strengthened during tho mouth, and for trade lots 13s per bavrsl (duty paid) is asked.

DRIER FRUITS. (Duty. 2dperlb.) A large business has *ecu done in fruits during the month, the Christmas demand having been heavier than usual. Owingtothe low prices of raisins the demand for these has been greater than at any time before, and currants have correspondingly suffered. Stocks of raisins are low, while stocks of currants are plentiful. We quota: New currants 3Jd per lb, and old 3£d. New elames and sultana-, have been sailing freely at s! ( d. per lb. Muscatels have been in good demand at lo 3d per lb for Malaga, and Is per lb for Californians. Figs have mot with good inquiry, and gone into consumption at 6s 6d per dozen for lib boxas, s£d to s|d psr lb in bags, and up to 7£d per lb in layers. FISH. (Duty: Dried, pickled, or salted, 10s per cwt; "potted or preserved, 2d per lb; paste, 20 per cent, ad valorem.) There haa not been any particular demand for fish during the mouth. Salmon has gone into consumption at 7s Gd to 8s per dozen for be3t brarjds. Sardines are unaltered, and are taken up for requirements st 63 9d per dozen for halves, and 4s per dozan for quarters. HOPS. (Duty: 6dperlb.) The hop market has been very quiet during the month. Stocks of Nelsons iv growers' hands are rather light, and the price in firm at 10£ d per lb f.o.b. at Nelson. On spot here a fewsales are made at Is per lb. Californians sell in small lots at Is 4-d per lb. METALS. (Duty: Galvanised iron, £2 per ton ; fencing wire, £1 per ton; barbed wire, £?. per ton ; pig iron, free.) A good hnsinesß has been done in metal and hardware line* during the month. The demand for eouutry requirements has been quite aotivo. There are no actual alterations ia prices to report, but values generally are very firm. We quote: Galvanised iron, £19 per ton (usual extras) ; fencing wire, £10 10s per ton (usual extras) ; barbed wire, £17 to £18 per ton. Sheet lead has slighiily improved, and is quoted at £17 to £17 10s per ton. Block tin sells at 9-^d per lb for colonial, and at 10gd per lb for I Eujlish. In I. C. Coke tin plates there is nothing deing. OILS. (Duty : 6d per gallon.) Owing to the protracted voyage of the Firth of Forth stocks of koroseue had run extremely j low, and holders would only sell iv small lots to their regular supporters at"ls 5d per gallon, ! duty paid, for high test oila. With the arrival ! of the Firth of Forth, howevar, the tension on the market has been relieved, and prices have now receded to Is 4d per gallon for parcels, and Is 4-£ d per gallon for trade lots. The Firth of Forth brought 8000 cases, o£ which 7000 cases wore Light of the Age. Hales have buen made freely from the wharf, about half of the shipment having been placed from the ship's side. Cable advices have just b«en received from New York of an advance in the market there of Jd per gallon, and, although at this j time of tha year the requirements for the local market are small, it is not improbable values may be affected by this news. The market has basn rather bare of other oils, but sioek have i been increased by ths arrival of thfl Blenheim. Raw and boiled oils have been soiling frealy at 3s 2d to 3s 3d per gallon, and are firm theroat. Castor oil sells at 2s b'd per gallou, and colza oil for burning purposes at 4-s 3d. Turpentine to taken up at 2s 9d to 2a lOd per gallon. All oils duty paid. BICE. (Duty: 6s par cwt.) Thera is nothing of interest to report concerning the rice market. Anticipations that values would be affected by the trouble in tho Bast have not been realised, and the market is far from strong at £21 to £21 10s per ton for dressed Japan and £21 per ton for Patna, both duty paid. SPIJIITS. (Duty: Bulk, 15s per gallon, proof; bottled, 16s per gallon.) As to be expected at this season, spirits and light wines are in good demand, and a fair quantity has been placed during the month. As usual, th 9 bulk of orders have been pretty evenly distributed over the brands that have established themselves ao favourites in the market. As an index to current valuas, we quote the following as agents' lint rates :— Brandies : Hennessy's, 38s 6d per case ; Denis Mounie's, 10s per gallon in bulk and 31s 6d per case; Bisquit, Dubouche, 8s 9d to 7s per gallon and 21s 6d to 22s 6(1 per case ; Associated Vineyards Company's, 6s to 7s per gallon and 21s to 22s per case ; Champagne Vineyard; 7s per gallon and 20s to 21s per case ; Dessandier's, 6s to 6s 9d per gallon and 20s to 22s per case; Lucieu Foucauld's, 7s 6d per gallon and 20s per case. Whiskies: Old Highland (Thorn and Cameron), 7s to 7s 6d-per gallon; Lochiel, do, 6s 9d to 7s per gallon; Dunville's Old Shamrock, 5s 6d; Ardbeg, S3 6d ; Longjohn's, 5s 6d; T!iom and Cameron's finest Scotch, 3s 4d to 3s 6d per gallon; Usher's Glenlivet, 7s per gallon, special reserve 9s to 9s 6d per gallon. Of case whiskies, Greenlees's Old Highland commands 18s; Dunville's, 16s to 17s; Burkes, 16s ; LochDhu, 16s; W. W. whisky, 21s per case; Usher's Glenlivet, 19s, special reserve 22s 6d per caso ; JDKZ geneva, 12s 6d per case; Burnett's Old Tom, 12s 6d to 14s; Wolfe's schnapps, 22s to 235; Lemon Hart's rum, 3s 6d per gallon. SUGAIt. (Duty: -idperlb.) The most interesting event of the month has be«n the arrival of the Auriga from Mauritius with a shipment of 400 tons of sagar. This shipment marked a new departure in the method of bagging Mauritius sugar. Instead of being bagged in mats as usual" it all came iv Hessian bugs, and was landed in very fioe order, not one bag showiug signs of damage. The shipment came to a good market, and, consisting entirely of finest whites, was readily disposed of. The bulk was placed at about £17 10s per ton in bond. Thetaarket has beuu kepb well supplied also with QueeDßland sugars, mid these have been selling steadily at £23 to £23 10s per ton. The Colonial Sugar Compauy at Auckland have reduced the price of their finest whites by £1 per ton, and their quotation is now £17 per ton f.o.b. at Auckland. This makes tha delivered price less than what is being paid for Queensland sugars, but tho j latter have a good hold upon the lecal marked and their values have not besn so far affected to any great extent by the reduction made by the Colonial Sugar Company.