COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10597, 18 February 1896, Page 2

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Monday Evening, February It. We cannot report a very active busiuesa in the import market sinca the despatch of our last mail summary. Values of goods havo baen well maintained, and in some cases advances have been established, but the volume of business bus not been beyond the average, Tho principal features of the latter part of the month have been the demand for jute goods and the advance ia the price of sugar. Business is very sound, and bills were well met on the 4th of the month. j Kb« arrivals during the mouth inclnde the s.s. Gothic aud s.s. Blamari, from London; Margaret Galbraith, from Glasgow; the s.s. Chilka, from Calcutta; and the Neliie Brett, from New York.' ALE AND STODT. ', (Duty : -2s por gallon, or 4s par dozen.) ; The market is just in the same position as last reported. The only demand for imported ale is for fust-class brands that have established themselves in the bigUcsi favour in the market. Second brands have been almost entirely displaced by the local brew since the additional duty of Is pec gallon was imposed. As an index to market values we quote the following:— Bass's ale, bottled by Foster, 12s (3d to 13a per dozen; Bull Dog, 12s 6d to 13s 6d; Allsopp's, 10s 6d to 11s 6d per dozen; Burkes, 135.t0 12s 6d ; Boar's Head,' lls to 11« 3d ; Daukes's 11s 6d to lls 9d; M'Ewan's, 10s 9d to lls; j Guinness's stout, bottled by Burke, 12s to 12V 6d ; Foster's 12s 6d to 13s ; Eull Dog, 13s 6d ta 13s ; AUsopp's, 10j 6d to lls 6d ; Boar's Head, lls to lls 3d; Daukes'si lls 6d to lls 9d; Pig, lls to 12s; Johnson's, lls to lls 6d per dozen—all duty paid. BAGGING. ' (Duty: Woolpacks and cornsacks free.) The s.s. Chilka, from Calcutta, arrived last week, and in anticipation of her arrival there had been a considerable amount of business done in coi-nsacks. The harvest promises to be a plentiful one, and it is anticipated th&t all supplies to hand will be required, while short stocks in Canterbury have brought about a demand from that province for purchases in the local market. Business has beea done in parcels (ex ship) at 4s 4^d per dozen, butordinary trade lots are freely quitted at 4s 6d per dozan. This price i» for 44 s, the sizs which is mostly mcd in this province. For northern districts the larger sizes (46's and 48's) are in most: request, and these secure 4s 9d and 5s per dozan respectively. This being the off season for woolpacks, there is no business of any kind passing in them. CANDLES. (Duty :2d per lb.) Trade in candles has baen quiet during the month, as to be expected at this season. We have no change in prices to report. As usual, the bulk of the business has been done in the locally-manufactured article, which sells at fram s£d to 7d psr lb, according to quality, with a sliding scale or discounts according to quantity purchased. The current quotation for best brands of imported candles is 7£d per lb (duty paid). . ' , CEMENT; (Duty: 2s per barrel.) There hss not'been very much business done in cement during the month, and quotations are unaltered, 12s 6d to 12j 9d per barrel (ex store) beiDg secured. DRIED FRUITS. (Duty: 2dperlb.) A steady demand has ruled for fruits duting the month,' and prices have been firmly maintained. Supplies of sultanas and eletnes are beginning to run a little short,' and the price is Grin at 4jd per lb. Valenciaa command the same figure. Currants are quite firm at 4d. Figs sell at 6s to 6s 6d per dozen in lib boxes. ■The position of the fruit market at Home makes holders here quite firm in their quotations. fish. • ■ (Duty : Dried, pickled, or salted, 10s per cwt; potted or preserved, 2d per lb; paste, 20 per cent, ad valorem.) ' ' ' The approach of the Lenten season has given rise to an increased inquiry for fish, and there is a. fair amount of business passing for this time of the year in all descriptions. Salmon is in good demand, and secures for Vancouver 8s per dozen in tall tins and 9s in flat tins. Of American salmon "Cocktail"- brand maintains premier position, and, secures 9s 6d per dozen. Other brands of Californian salmon are. selling at variom rates a shade' under Vancouver. Sardines are without change, going into consumption at 63 9d per dozen for halves »nd 3s 9il per dozsn for quarters, duty paid. HOPS. (Duty:' 6dperlb.) This is the dull season of the year for hops. Stocks of Nelsons are almost cleared out, and the new crop is already being looked fotward to. This i» rather backward this season owing to the continued cold weather. In the ordinary course samples should ba.to hand next month. The small quantity of best quality available at Nekon is quoted 7d per lb, f.0.b., bat lower qualities are to bshad for less money. There is very little business doing in imported i hop), only a few bales being Bold occasionally for hopping down purposes. Kents secure 2j per lb and Californians Is Id—in small lots. METALS. (Duty: Galvanised iron, £2 per ton ; fencing wire, barbed wire, and pig iron, free.) Circumstances have combined to harden prices of motals during the month, and quotations are higher than previously. Galvanised iron is getti/ig scarce, and secures lip to £20 per ton for 5-ton lots. The quotation for larger parcels is £18 10s to £19 por ton, usnul extras. Fencing wire sells at from £8 53 per ton in parcels up to £10 per ton in ton lots, nsual extras. Barbed wire varies in price according to holders' ideas, and can be purchased from £14 pec ton in parcel, while small lots secure as high as £16 to £16 10» pet ton. Sheet lead is quoted £17« 5i to £17 10s per ton. Block tin We quote 9Ad per lb. There is nob much business doing ia I.C. coke til! plates, but sales have been reported at up to 14s per box.. OILS. 1 (Duty: 6d pur gallon.) The arrival of the Nellie Brett from New York has augmented ttocks of kerosene, but nt this season of the year there is not much business passing, and we do not hear of auy salas of importance. To-day's quotations for ordinary lots of high test oils is Is 4£d per gallon, bat a shade under this would be accepted for parcels ex ship. Noouday, which forms a large portion of the Nollie Brett's cargo, comrtmtxb, aj iuuhl, Id por gallon mor» than other brands. Turpautino wo quote 2* 7d to 2s 8d per gallon. Thy k.b. Ohilka baa brought Home shipments of cantor oil, and these coma to a favourable markot. l'rioen for ordinary lots are firm at 2i 8(1 to 2s 9(1 per gallon. Raw and boiled linseed oila aru without change, selling at 3s 2d and 31 3d por (rallou n/spoutivoly. Colza oil is tulcen up at 3« 9d' per gallon for lubricating and up to 4s 3d por gallon for burning purpose.'. All olio duty paid. iuck. (Duty :6« por cwt.) Until' tho arrival oV the s.B. Ohilka tho market wiih bare of IVinti flea. No important Bnlet nro yot reported, but ordinary trrvde lots nro being placed at up to £18 10a per ton, although luis monoy would bu accepted Tor purcohi. Tlioro is a otsady but nmull business panning in dressed Japan rico at £20 to £20 10s per ton, duty paid. SPIRITS. (Duty: Bnlk, IBs per gallon, proof; bottled, . ■•■ IGb por gallon.) ■ - , BuninMN in w'iuct and spirits hns been a little hotter during tho month, local causes having oxintcd formi incrensod demand—for light winea moro especially. Wo have no alteration in quotations to report. As usual, transactions )j»vo been pretty ovenly distributed over those brands which have ostiiblinhod themselves as I'avouritcß in the market. As an index to current values wo quote tho following as agents' list pricss :—Brandies : Heimefjsy'n, 36s 6d por case ; Denis Mouuio's, 10s por gallon in bulk iind 31b Gil per case ; Bioquit, Dubouche, 0s 9d to 7s por gallon and 21s 6d to 22s Gd per case; Associated Vinoyards Company's, 6b to 7s por gallon and 21s to 22s per en.no; Champagne Vineyard, 7b per gallon and 20s to 21s por case ; Dossandior'a, 6s to 8n 9d per gallon and 20.1 to 22s per enso; Lucieu Foucauld s, 7s 6d por gallon and 20b per case. Whiskies: Old Highland (Thorn and Cameron), 7s to 7s Gtl per gallon; Loohiel, do, 6s 9d to. 7s por gallon; ; Dunvillo'B Old Shamrock, Ss 6d; Ardbeg, 63 | (3d ; Longjohu'B, 5s Gd; Thorn and Cameron'o j finest Scotch, 3s 4d to 3s 6d porffallon ; Usher's Glenlivet, 7s per gallon, special reserve 9s to 9s 6d per gallon. Of oaso whiskies, Greeulees's Old Highland commands 18s; Dunville's, 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; Biirnctf s Old I I Tom, 12s 6d to 14s ; Wolfe's schnapps, 22s to j , Z3s: Lemon Hart's rum, 3s 6d per gallon. I suoak. (Duty: p per lb.) ' Business in the sugar market has been very brisk duricg the month, aud tho action of the Colonial Suirar Company in »dv»rjcin« theic

prices 10» por ton led to a similar advance be- ] ing established in Queensland sugars, the only 1 foreign sag&r now available in the marker, j stooks of Mauritius nnd China being cleared out. , The demand for preserving purposes hai beeu active, aud holders of sugar hnvo found no diffioulty in securing full prices for their stocks. Best Queenaland whites are quite firm at £16 15s per ton in bond for paroeis, and £22 per ton (duty paid) for ordinary IoU. The Colonial Sugar Company's price for No. 1 is £16 10s f.o.b. Auckland, and the local market rate is practically ruled by this company's Auckland quotations. ■•• ■

TBA. (Duty: 4dperlb.) An average business has been done in teas during the month, blenders actively pushing their various brands. Advices from the other side indicate a hardening market for both Ceylon and Indian teas.