COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10311, 19 March 1895, Page 2

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Monday Evening, 18th March 1895. February was a dall month for trade. Loca\ influences contributing to this wore holidays and stock-taking. March, however, opened briskly, and business has continued fairly active ever since. Country storekeepers are buying freely bo as to lay in stocks before tho approach of winter make* road traffic difficult. Values of goods generally are fairly well maintained, although tho margin of profit is gmall. Tho arrivals during th« month inolude 8.8. lonic, s.s. Tongariro, s.s. Fifuthir-e and Kangitiki (from London), and s.s. Banffshiro (from Newcastle).

ALK AND STOUT. (Duty : Is 6d per gallon, or 3s per dozen.) A fair business hsia been dono in ale and stout during the month, and operations have been pretty evenly distributed over the brands that have secured a firm- footing ] in the mirket. Values are without altsra- I tion. As an index to current values we quote ] the following as agents'' list prioes i-^Bttis's ale, bottled by Foster, 11s 6d to 12s 8d per. dozen; Bull Dog, 11s 6d to 12s 6d; AUsopp's, j 11s to lls Od per dozen; Burko's,' Us 3d j to lls 6d; Boar's Head, 10s 6d to lls; Daukes's lls to 11b 3d; M'Bwan's,' 9s 9d to 10s; Tennant's, 9s; Inde Coope's 10s ; Aitchison's, 10s 6d tolls; Guinness'sstout, bottled by Burke, lls to lls 6d; Foster's lls 6d to 12s ; Bull Dog, 11b 6d to 12s ; Boar's\Head, 10s' 6d to lls : Daukes's; lls to lls 3d; Pig, 10s. 6d to lls; Johnson's lbs to 10s 6d; Blood Wolfe's, 9a 6d to 10s per dozen —all duty paid. BABGING. (Duty: . Woolpacks, 2s 6d per dozen; cornsacks free.) A good deal of basiuesi has been done in a quiet way. in cqrnsackn dvi ing the month, but at prioes showing a reduction on previous quotations. So many now import direct who formerly purchased on the spot that tho volume of local business is considerably curtailed, and ! operations are comparatively on a Bin»U scale. Sales hive been made at 4s 4d per dozen in quantities to 4s 6i per dozen in ordinary lots. In woolpacks there is nothing doing. CANDLES. I : (Duty: 2dp»rlb.) I With the shortening of the days the demand for candles has sensibly inereised; Best brand! of imported ara selling freely at 7^d per lb, duty paid. The balk of orders continues to be secured by the local manufacture. Prices of the latter rangu from sid to 7d per lb, according to quality, with a sliding noale of discounts according to quantity.

■•• ■<.'■ : '•■ '■ -....- CEMBSTT. .■ . - - , ' (Duty: :2s per barrel.) '. ■ .' The ta&rket for cement has fluctuated considerably daring tb,e month. Sale* of leading breads wore made at lls per b*rrel, but prices nave since advanced tj 12s and 12s 6d-per barrel. The local manufacture is quoted at 13s per barrel.

DSIBD FROTTS. ■ (Duty: 2d-per lb.)i A fair demand has besn kopt ap for fraits during tha moufcb,. Currants have been easy, bat during the last few days they havo shown a disposition to harden, and are quoted 3£d per lb firm. Sultanas go into cpusumptioa ut Sd per lb, and elemea at s£d to sJrd per lb. Figs secure some attention, and are taken up in ordinary lots at 63i 6d per dozen in lib boxes, s^d to 6d per lb in b*gs, and 6id to 7d per lb iv layers. All fruits duty paid.

(Duty: Dried, pickled, or salted, 10s per cwt; potted or preserved," 2d per lb ; paste, 20 per cent, wl valorem.) , This being the Lsntea.season fish are in improved demand. Ling and bonelets cod secure fair attention. The former is selling at+Jd to 5d per lb for best brands, and the latter at 5d to S^d per lb. Sardines are nnohanged in value, being taken up for, requirements at up to 6* 9d per dozen for halves and 3s 9d to 4s per dozen for quarters of leading brands. '' . ■

HOPS. (Duty: 6d per lb.)

There ii very little business dping inhpps. Brewers have good supplies on hand, and little will ba done until the new crop of Nelsons is op the market.. Meantime Nelsons are quoted lOd to 10£ d per lb on fpot'i tnd id per lb less f.o.b, For imported hops there is no inquiry.

':; ",-[- ■. "' '' i -METALS.' , (Duty:■• Galvanised iron, £2.per ton; fencing '■■-.■ wire, per ton;,barbed wire, £2,per ; ton; pig iron, free.).,.',,'. ••■■-..» . .., Trade in iion and hardware lines; ; was .very quiet during Februarr, but since the opening of the present month business ba3 considerably improved. Values of leading lines have been subject to few alterations, and quotations are enticely regulated by the quantity required. >Galvaoised i.ron is firmat £17.10*peDtan duty. p»idi(usual extras) for parcels of five, tons and upwards, and at £19 for one ton lots. Similarly fencing wire sells in ordinary lots at £10 per ton (usual extras) down to £8 15s to £9 p«t ton for parcels. Barbed wire has been gelling in quantity ati£U per. ton. SlieetJe*d is disposedt of at £14 lQsand £15 10, i per Jon, according to quantity. Block tin; secures 9d per Ib. , Sales of 1.0.. coka tia plates have been made at 13s per box in quantity. ,'•;

;.,: .-. ■'. '..... .'.-■.- '■ 'oils;-., .. ...... .:,.:: .(Duty :6d pcjr gallon.) Kerosene has continued in fair, demand during the month. Stocks' arb not heavy, but there are good supplies afloat. Sales of fairsized parcels of high-test oils havo been made at Is 3^d per gallon both on spot and to arrive, while ordinary lots secure Is 4d per gallon. Kaw and boiled linseed oils are selling at 3s 2d per gallon together. Tarpentine is disposed of at 2i 9d to 2s lOd per gallon, according to quantity. . Colza oil sett* at' 33 6d per gallon for lubricating and at 5»Sd to 4s per gallon for burning. O»stor oil is qaiet at 2a 5d to 2s Sii per gallon, AU pita duty paid. .

bice. (Duty: 6s per cwt.) . Tha market is now fairly well- supplied with new Pain* rice, and the quality of the later shipments shows an improvement on those firßb to hand. Paresis are.offering at £12 per ton, in bond ; trade lota Becnre up to £19 per ton, duty paid. There is nbs much doing in dressed Japan rice; nominal quotations are £1? 10s to £19 per ton, duty p*id.

(Duty: Bulk, 15s per gallon, proof; bottled, . 16s per gallon.) i An average business ha? been cloee in wines and spirits during the month, but nothing haß transpired calliug for special notice. As an index to current values we quote the following as agents' list prioes :—Brandies : Hennessy's, 365,6 d per case ; Denis^Mounie's, 10s per gallon inbuilt and3ls 6d per ease; Biequit, 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.22sper.ca.se; Champagne- yineyard,' 7s par gallon and 20s, to 2ls .per case ;; Dessaudier's', 6s to 63 9d. per gallon and 20s to 22s per case; Luclen Foiicauld's, •7s 6dpergallonand2osperca.se. Whiskies: Old .Highland (Thorn and Cameron), 7s to 75.6 d per gallon ; Lochiel, do, 6s 9d to 7s per gallon; Danville's Old Shamrock, Ss 6d; Ardbeg, 5s •6d ; Longjohu's, 5s 6d; Thorn and Catne.ron'B 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'sj 16s to 17s; Burkes, 16s ; Loch Dhu, 16s; W. W. whisky, 21s per case; Usher's Glenlivet, 19s, special reserve 22s 6d per. case ; JDKZ geneva, 12s 6d per case; Burnett's Old Tom, 12s 6d to 14s ; Wolfe's schnapps, g2s to 235; Lemon Hart's rum, 3s 6d per gallon.

SUBAB. . ' (Duty': With tha passing away of the preserving i ssason there ha? been a diminution in the demand for sugar. It continues, ,howayer, in j steady inquiry for other purposes. Busincis is almost confined to finest whites, and stopkj are j mostly of Queensland sugars. These secure £22 to £22 10s per ton, duty paid. . whites and. greys are' quoted 20s per ton less, but trade in these is small. TEA. (Duty V 6d per lb.) A fair business has been done in teas during the month. Stocks of suitable sorts are not heavy. As usual the principal demand is for blends-I —chiefly of Indian and Ceylon.

THE DUNEDIN WOOL SALES. | The New Zealand Loan.and Mercantile Agency. Company (Limited) report having held j their fourth sale for this season at the Oddfellows' j Hall, Rattray street, on Thursday, 28th February, when there was a very good attendance of buyers, considering the lateness of tho season. Nearly all the Home buyers who were with us oaformer occasions, several from Canterbury, also all the local buyers, including representatives of the Roslyn andMosgiel Factories, were present. All operated with a moderate amount of spirit, more particularly in merino, which realised prices quite up to those obtaining earlier, aDd in some instances slightly more. Cross and halfbrei had fair attention, fetching prices in most instances equal to late rates. As might have besn expected at the tail end of the season mo3t of the wools gffered were oddments; in fact, rather a poor selection compared with the catalogues presented on tha previous occasions. They catalogued 424 bales, of which they sold 350, the balance not fetching reserves:

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. Teport as follows:—The fourth series of wool sales for this season was held in the Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday morning, when about 1550 bales were offered by the various selling brokers, the greater portion of which was cleared at very Bitisi aotory prices. There was a large muster of all sections of buyers, and competition throughout the sales was spirited. Our catalogue comprised some 100 lots, representing 342 bales in all, of which 300 were sold and 42 bales passed in, bid prices not reaching reserves* The selection of wools offered was not up to tha average, being for the most part late shorn clips and stragglers' wool, the bulk showing a considerable amount of seed. As compared with last sales, prices for halfbreds and croasbreds were from par to }d per lb higher, merinos Id to. Jd higher, while locks and pieces ruled about the same. This liss in prices is, no doubt, accounted for by the fact of favourable cablegrams having been received from London regarding a slight risa in prices sines the close of the last series in that centre, together with the fact that catalogues were small and buyers anxious to operate. We quote: Halfbred and crossbred in light condition and free from seeds, 6Jd to 7i pot lb; do, medium, 5Jd to 6id; do,

Inferior and wasty, 4Jd to 5Jd: merino in light condition and free from seeds, Od to 7d; medium do, 4Jd to 6Jd ; inferior and wasty, 3Jd to,.4ia ! halfbred and crossbred pieces, bulky and light, up to id ; do, medium, 4Jd to sirl; do, heavy and small, 3d to 4A; nierieo' pieces, 3d to *id; inferior to medium, 2d to 2Jd; loclts, Id to 2Jd. Messrs Wilmau K. Rbvnoids and Co. report as follows :—We held our fourth sale of the season in tho lodge room of the Oddfellows' Hall, Rattray street, on Thursday before the usual attendance of buyers, and altogether had a vory satisfactory clearance of all oddments and passed lines from previous sales, as well as clips to hand since. We consider the sale was in many ways better than both the second and third owing, in part at an^ rate, to the small quantity of wool offered— in all only some 1200 bales. All through the bidding was more regular and spirited, and this resulted in fair value being bid for each lot, and such was not the case in previous etiles. Fine quality wools did not show much, if any, advance, but merino was much better, ordinary half and crossbreds somewhat firmer, while odd bales and pieces of all descriptions were keenly competed for,: In nearly all cases wo got au advance on passed in lota, and did not, find, it necessary to reserve a dozen bales altogether.