COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11198, 22 August 1898, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

i * - I Daily Times Office, Saturday eveniDg. There has only been a quiet business passing in the import market during the past week, and there are no important changes in prices to report. Values of goods generally are firm, but the demand has been mostly confined to the supply of actual requirements. In sugars there is nothing new to report; of China sugars the market is bare, and business is con-fined-to Queensland and Colonial Sugar Company's sugars. Shipments of the former arrive here regularly, and parcels of finest whites are placed at £15 5s in bond, while trade lots move off at £20 lOs^per tori (duty paid). The quotation for Colonial Sugar Company's No. 1 whites is £15 lOs'per ton'(f.o.b. Auckland), or up to £20 per ton (duty paid, delivered). In dried fruits, the demand for currants still keeps up, and the price has somewhat hardened, importers not being inclined to sell under 4|d per lb. There is an ordinary business doing in other fruits, and prices are without alteration, elemes being quoted at 6Jd per lb, and sultanas 6Jd to 6|d. Figs secure 6|d per lb for layers in boxes, and up to 6s per dozen for lib boxes. There has not been much demand for fish during the week, and.there is no change in values. Vancouver salmon gobs into consumption at 7s 3d to 7s 6d per dozen for best brands in tail tins, and at 7s Od to 8s for flats. Wo may, however, expect that prices of this line will firm somewhat before long, as it is reported that the Vancouver " run" has been a failure this year, and this is almost certain to affect quotations. liing is without; alteration, and continues to move off at 4£d and 5d per lb for best brands. There is the usual business passing in candles, the local manufacturers securing the bulk of the trade at prices ranging from 3Jd to 5Jd per lb. For best imported candles 6£d (duty paid) is the current quotation. In hops there is nothing doing, the nominal quotation being Is 6d per lb. At Nelson stocks are not heavy, and holders are asking Is 4|d per lb (f.0.b.). For best samples of Californians Is 7d per lb is asked, and for best Ec-nts 2s per lb. Stocks . of dressed Japan rice are small, and £25 10s per ton is the quotation for trade lots, while Patna rice is selling firm at £24 per ton. There is very little doing in kerosene just now, nominal prices being 9d per gallon in bond for parcels, and Is 3d to Is 3Jd per gallon for trade lots (duty paid). Baw and boiled linseed oils move off slowly v at 3s Id per gallon. Turpentine is quoted at '3s 6d per gallon, and1 castor oil 3s 8d per gallon. Business in,the hardware market is, as is usual at this time of the year, dull just now; but shows signs of improvement now : that the weather is picking up a little. i