COMMERCIAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11918, 17 December 1900, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Daily Times Office, Saturday evening,

The amount of revenue collected at the custom house to-day on goods cleared for con sumption was £767 17s 6d.

Business in tho import market during the week has been pretty good, and promises to keep up until Christmas. . Attention, as is natural at this season, is chiefly directed towards fruits. The market was so hare of supplies before the arrival of last shipment? that traders have been buying freely ever since, and prices have been fully maintained. Currants arc selling at 7d per Hi, suHanas at 7cl per ])>, up to 7jd per 1b for small quantities. JElr-me? are in fair demand at 5Jd per lb. while figs aro soiling- freely at 6,jd per lb in bags, 6|d per lb in layers, and at 6s per dozen in small boxes. There is a small quantity of Malaga muscatels in the market, and the?© are being' quitted at Is 2d per lb. CnlifnrniiWß are Belling nt 10(1 par 11). There is not a great deal of business doing in fish, but valuer of all descriptions are very linn, and stocks are light. New ling finds a ready pale at 6d per lb' for best brands. Fresh herrings (fiats) command 6s 6d to 6d 9d per dozen. Kippered herrings und herrings in tomato have been disposed of this \venk nt 9s 3d lo 9.3 6d per dozen. The small slocks of i'almon available are causing prices to keep high, and host red soekeyo fish secure in flats'los 6d to 11s per dozen, and in tails 9s 6cl lo 10s pqr dozen. Sardines are taken up for requirements at 6.1 to' 6s 6d per dozen for halves, and at 3s 3d to 3s 6il per dozen for quarters, according to weight. Litest advices regarding dressed Japan rice report an improvement in the market at port of shipment, but so far values here are not affected. The business done is not. large, requirements only being filled at £15 to £15 103 per ton. Patna vice in very slow of sale at £13 to £13 ]0s per ton. There is good inquiry for sugar, and the market is very firm, with a prospect of advancing. The only supplies in the market outside the Colonial Sugar. Company's output is Queensland " Millaqnin " brand, and this fells freely at from £17 per lon in, bond for parcels upwards, while ordinary duty-paid lots command £23 per ton. These are about the same prices as the output of the Colonial Swpir Company, the latter company pro ft ically riding the New Zealand markol. There is nor. so much demand for alo and fitout as usual at this reason, nor for clarets and champagne, lnit, it may improve with the nearer approach of Christmas. Spirit? ai'3 in fair request, whiskyß securing' the lion's share of attention. There is nothing now to report regarding candles. Tho consumption at Hiis time of the year is a lessening quantity, and the bulk of' the. business passing goes to the local manufacturers. Hops aro quiet. New Kelts aro expected by tho s.s. An(pa. A few odd sales have been mado of Cilifomias at Is 5d to Is 7d nor ton. according to quantity. There is nothing doing in NeKons on spot ; Nelson quotation remains at 9Jd per lb net f.o.b. In the bagging market there, is no inquiry yet for corneaeks, being rather oarlv in the season. The steamer Tfcl'finn. Ml, Calcutta on l.he Blh inst. with )hn fir»t direct shipment of comsacks for New Zealand. She will he followed by the s.s. "Whangape a month later. Tn iron and hardware lines business has been a little rniietor this week. There is a sensible improvement, however, in the demand for heavy' line?. Quotations are as last reported. Kerosene continues very firm, as stocks are extremely light, and the shipment, coming by the Star of Kngland is not large enough to affect the market. Meantime sales r,re freely made of patent nozzle at .Is 4d

per gallon. Raw and boiled linseed oils are in the same position as last reported, and ire quoted 4s 6d and 4s 3d per gallon respectively Turpentine sells at 3s 9d to 4s per .rallon, and castor oil at the samo prices. Cement is quite firm at 16s per barral.

PROPERTY SALE,

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. (Limited) report having sold Taieri Lnk" homest»vd block and run adjoining to Mr James Matheson at a satisfactory figure.

DUNEDIN HORSE SALEYARDS. Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. report as follows:—There was a moderate entry of horses for this week's sale, only some halfdozen draughts being forward, and about a score of useful hacks and harness horses. Business, as is usual just before the Christinas and New Year holidays, wns not particularly brisk, still -most of the horses in fouiuS new owners. The prices obtained for them, however, were not quite equal to recent quotations. Good youu" horses, both draught and light, continue very scarce, and provided vendors let it become known to the public by advertisement that their consignments will be sold on a certain day, they can always rely upon good competition ill this market. On Saturday we sold a few aged draughts at from £35 to £U, and several useful harness horses at from £8 to £19. We quote:—Superior young draught geldings, i! sto £52: extra good, prize horses. JE63 to £60; medium draught mares and geldings, £30 to .£10; aged draught mares and geldings. £22 to £*?f5 ■ upstntid inf C 3 rvi&sc liovsop, £^5 to £?0; weil'-matched carriage pairs. £50 to £G0; strong =prin"-van horses, £25 to £32; milk cart and butchers' ordercart horses, £16 to £20; tram horses, £12 to £15: light hacks, £7 to £10: extra good hacks, £18 to £05; weedy and aged hacks and harness horses, £2 to £5.