COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10263, 22 January 1895, Page 2

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Monday Evening, 21st January 1895. Between the publication of our last and the present summary the Christmas and New Year holidays have intervened. Trade previous to Christmas was very brisk, and all seasonable lines were in active demand. Since then s. slight reaction has set in, and since the close of the New Year holidays business has continued particularly quiet. This was not altogether unexpected, as there ia always a few weeks' lull after the turn of the year. Values of goods generally are fairly well m&intained, but the operations of the last week or two havo been entirely limited to the supply of actual wants. The arrivals during the month include the ss. Doric, b.g. Bimutaka, and s.s. Duke of Westminster, from Loadon; s.s. Strathord, from West Hartlepool; Zealsndia, from Liverpool ; Canterbury, from Glasgow ; Annie Fletcher, from Bristol; s.s. Port Melbourne, from Calcutta; and the Laira, fram Mauritius. ALE AND STOUT. (Duty: Is 6d per gallon, or 3s per dozen.) A fair demand has been kept up during the month for the best known brands of bottled ale, and ordcre have been pretty evenly distributed over these, A3 an index to current values we quote the following as agents' list prices :— Bass's ale, bottled by Foster, lls 6d to 12s Gd per dozen; Bull Dog, lls fld to 12s 6d; Allsopp's, lls to lls 6d per dozen; Burkes, lls 3d to lls 6d; Boar's Head, 10s 6d to lls; Daukes's lls to lls 3d; M'Bwan's, 9s 9d to 10s ; Tennant's, 9s; Inde Coope's 10s; Aitchison's, 10s 3d to lls; Guinness'sstout, bottledby Burke, lls to lls 6d; Foster's lls 6d to 12s; Bull Dog, lls 6d to 12s; Boar's Head, 10s 6d to lls; Daukes's, lls to lls 3d; Pig, 10s 6d to lls; Johnson's 10s to 10s 6d; Blood Wolfe's, 9a 6d to 10s per dozen—all duty paid. BAGGINQ. (Duty: Woolpacis, 2s 6d per dozen; cornsacks free.)

The principal event of tha month h»3 been the arrival of the steamer Port Melbourne from Calcutta with some 3000 bales of cornsacks for the local market, besides other Eastern lines. Harvesting is a little backward this season, and tha Pert Melbournp's shipment has arrived rather early for southern requirements, consequently there has not beon very much business done yet, and tha bulk of her shipment has gone into store. Tha market price at the moment is little more than nominal. Large lines were disposed of from tha wharf at 4s 6d per dozen, but for ordinary trade lots out of store the current quotation is 4s 9d per dozen. A feature of the trade this season is the large number of consignees of the Port Melbourne's cargo. Importations are now much more widely distributed than they were —that is to say, that instead of a few large importing houses getting down supplies for resale, a number of those who used to buy on the spot now import direct. Woolpacka being out of season thers ia no business to report. CANDLES. (Duty : 2d per lb.) There is % quiet business passing in candles, most of which is done by the local manufacturers. Tho outlet for imparted candles is small, and the market io subject to very little fluctuation. Best brands of London sperms are Belling in small lots at 7id to 7£d per lb (duty paid). CEMENT. (Duty : 2s per barrel.) Although there has not been much business done during the month the cement market has continued very firm, asd holders do not quote under 133 per barrel (duty paid, ex store). DRIED FRUITS. (Duty : 2d per lb.) Although the market h»3 not been active since tha holidays there has bean a fairly steady demand for dried fruits. Stocks of currants, both now and old, are large, and the market for them ia not very strong. Old currants are offering freely at 3£d per lb and new currants at 4d per lb. Sultanas and olemes are in moderate supply and prime qualities raadily secure &|d per lb in trade lots. Figs are in good inquiry, and tho quality this season is very fine ; sales are passing ia large layers at up to 7£d per lb, and boxes at 6e to 6s 6d per dozen according to size (all duty paid).

(Duty: Dried, pickled, or salted, lbs per cwt; potted or preserved, 2d per lb; paste, 20 per cent, ad ■valorem.)

There has been very little business done in fish during the month and the market is quite inactive. Salmon is bought for requirements a<; 7a 6d Oo 8s per dozen. Sardines move off in small lots at 6a 9d per dozsn for halves and 3s 9ii to 4s psr doaen for quartette best bisncis (all duty-paid^

HOPS. (Duty : 6<l per lb.) There has not been much done in hops during the month. Only a few bales hays been disposed of locally, and these almost entirely NeUous. Stocks of good quality are light in NeUon, and the current q notation for theaa i« lO^d per lb, f.o.b. On spot here a few odd b:vlta are placed at Is per lb. In imported tops there is hardly any business doing. UCTALS.

(Duty: Galvanised iron, £2 per ton ; fencing wire, £1 per ton; barbed wire, £2 per ton ; pig iron, free.) Trade, in iron and hardware lines has also bean quiet since the close of the holidays. Wq have no alterations in value to report;; prices generally remain quite steady. Of heavy lines galvanised iron move! off at £19 per ton—usual extras; and fencing wire at £10 to £10 10 1 per ton—usual extras. Sheet lead sells at £17 per ton. Blook tin is a sha.de easier, and sells at 9d to S£d per lb for colonial. For I.C. Coke tin plates there has been a littlo inquiry, and sales have been niado at 15a to 16a per box.

OILS. (Duty : 6d per gallon.) Cable advices received during the month of an advance in kerosene in New York equal to Jd par gallon hava had .% tendency to harden holders on spot, aud the market is quite firm afc Is 4£d per gallon (duty paid) for trade lots of high-test oils. Parcels hiva beau sold during the month at Is 4d, bub holders ara not anxious

at present to quit any quantity. The arrival o£ tho Port Molbovirne from Calcutta has augmented stocks of castor oil, and this ia now offering at a concession apon the rates previously ruling. For ordinary trude lots 2s 5d per gallon ia the current quotation. Raw and boiled linseed oil are selling at 3s 2d per gallon, Turpentine is quoted 2s 9d per gallon (all duty paid).

BICE. (Duty: 6s per owt.) Trade in rice is very quiet, and values are not strong. Current quotations for both dressed Japan and Patna rice are £20 per ton, duty paid. The new crop of Patna rice should be here before long, and buyers will uot speculate beyond their immediate requirements pending its arrival.

SFIRITS. (Duty: Bulk, 15s per gallon, proof; bottled

16s per gallon.) We have nothing of special interest to report ia spirits during the month beyoad a fair seasonable demand for most descriptions. Tho large variety of brandß in the msrkefc keeps stocks from running down and, in consequence, prices seldom vary from one month to another. Parchasss have been pretty evenly distributed over the brands that have established themsalves as favourites in the market, and as an index to market values wo quota the following as agents' lint prices :—Brandies: Hennessy's, 36s 6dpercaßo ; Denis Mounie's, 10s per gallon in bulk and 31s 6d per case j Bisquit, Dubouche, 6s 9d to 7s per gallon and 21s 6d to 22s 6d 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; Lucien 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, 5s 6d ; Longjohn's, 5s 6d; Thorn and Cameron's finest Scotch, 3a 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; Dunvilla's, 16s to 17a; Burko's, 16s; Loch Dhu, 16s; W. W. whisky, 21s per case; Usher's Glenlivet, 19s, special reserve 22s 6d per case; JDEZ geneva, 12s 6d per case; Burnett's Old Tom, 12s 6dtol4s; Wolfe's schnapps, 23s to 235; Lemon Hart's rum, 3s 6d per gallon.

SUGAB. ' (Duty: £dperlb.) The Laira arrived from Mauritius during the month with 400 tons of sugar for this market— all beßfc whites. There is a brisk demand at present for preserving purposes, and as Mauritius is the favourita sogar for this"purpose, it is finding ready esle. A large portion of the cargo has been disposed of at figures ranging up to £16 10s per ton for large parcels, and. up to £17 per ton for trads lots, in bond. A good business has also bean done in Qucaualarid sugars, finest whjtas being disposed pf at £22 10s per ton. There is no business jfco speak of being done in Colonial Sugar Company's sugars, as they have not the hold upon the market here that they have in the northern ports, and sales are mostly made from the refinery to retailers' direct.

TEA. (Duty: 6dper Ib.) The. jwual demand.fer tea has bsen kept up during."the month, and some }ots have been offered at auction with fairly satisfactory results.

MONTHLY WOOL, GRAIN, SKED, AND ' PRODUCE REPORT. ' ' Messrs William E. Reynolds and Co., sf Dunedin, report for the month ending 21at January 1595 as follows :— ■ During the past month some fine showers have been experienced throughout the country, which, we may add, came none too aoon, as the crop 3 and grass were becoming stunted for want of it. The former are now looking exceedingly well in all parts, and north of Dunedin harvesting is going on in many quarters, while the southern crops will not be ready for some weeks yet. Business, generally speaking, is quiet, owing to want of speculation and the poor outside demand for all produce, &c. However, we trust that matters will improve as the season advances. Wheat.—There is practically nothing doing in this cereal, consequently we have, little to report. We have not heard of any sales being made outside the colony recently; while the demand locally is very email, owing to mills closing down and overstocks of flour. We repeat quotations: Prime lonp berried, 2a lid to 3s; good medium, 2s 9d to 2s ]0d per bushel of 601b (sacks weighed in and f.0.b., net cash). Oats.—Since our last advices these have been keeping very steady indeed, and, if anything, show a slight advance. Stocks are gradually diminishing, and local consumers have on several occasions experienced difficulty in supplying their requirements at quotations, and in cases have paid above same to make sure of a purchase. This is mainly due to a somewhat unexpected deraaad for oatmeal. In about another month some of the new crop will be in, and it iB difficult to predict as to the result of its arrival, but unless matters improve we are inclined to think it will have a depressing effejt. To-day we quote: Prime milling, Is 7Jd ; heavy bright feed, ls,7d ; good medium, Isf^d per bushel of 401b (f.b.b., sacks in, net).

Seeds.—So far the demand for the autumn sowing in the North' Island has been small for all classes of seeds. This we attribute chiefly to buyers in thosS parts holding off pending the arrival of "new season's" ryegrass and cocksfoot, which they are in hopes of getting at lower rates than sellers are prepired to let last season's go at. This we have been partially prepared for, as prices have been high lately.' There is very little of this year's seed in yat, so we are not in a position to report definitely meantime. Clovers and fine grasses are moving off very slowly. Wool.—Since our last report the second sale of the Dunedin series has taken place, and results are, if anything, more unsatisfactory than the rirst. There were some 10,000 biles catalogued by all the selling broker.?, and most of this quantity was sold. The bidding throughout was fairly keen up to ruling rates, but buyers did not seem inclined to go an ace further. There is little doubt that light and clean three-quavterbred wools were rather firmer than at last sale, but against this finer qualities (heavy and faulty) were fully id to id lower, and met with rattier a dragging demand. Other qualities were much the same, but, owing to our local buyers not operating so freely, were, if anything, a trifle le6S firm. Our next sale takes placa at the beginning of February, wheu fair catalogues will be offered. Cheese.—Heavy shipments of this are being made to London, and from accounts the quality throughout is fully equal to last season's. Prices remaiu unaltered, and will likely stay so until later on in the season, when supplies will become shorter. Loif size, 4}d to sd; medium, 4id to 4Jd ; Cheddar, 43d. Cutter.—Not in very good demand for export, although for local consumption it is having a good deal of inquiry at up to 9d for prime factory and 5d to (id for prime d-.iiry. Potatoes.—New kidneys are commanding the market, and, owing to plentiful supplies, have eased considerably. Best are worth from £i to £i 10s; good, £2 10s to £3 (f.0.b.) Chaff.—lf really prime in good demand, and' scarce at £3 5s par ton ; medium, in better supply, £2 10s to £2 17s (kl per toil (f.0.b., sacks extra). Flour.—Stationary. Best brands (20001b to ton): 200's, £7 6s ; lOO'i), £7 10s; 50's, £7 15b. Oatmeal.—lij good demand and steady. Bulk, JEB 10s ; 7's, £9 15a per ton (22401b); 25's (short ton), £S 5a (f.o.b). Pollard.—Steady, £3 per ton (f.0.b.). Brail.—Plentiful, £2 per ton (f.o.b).