COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11922, 21 December 1900, Page 2

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Thursday, December 20. Since the despatch of our last summary three woeks ago business has continued active and we have very few alterations in values to report. A.steady demand has been maintained for seasonable lines, and there has been practically no fluctuations in values. The Christmas holidays just being about to begin there will be very little business done until after the close of the New Year holidays. Retailers, both town and country, have supplied themselves fully with goods for their requirements. The arrivals since the desuatch of our last summary include the s.s. 'Buteshire, from London; ship "West-land, from Liverpool ; barque Alexa, from Capetown ; the barquentine Senorita, from Ipswich; and the s.s. Star of England, from New York. ALE AND STOUT. (Duty: 2s per gallon, or 1s per dozen.) The inquiry for ale and stout has not been more than normal; ales, as to be expected in the summer season, have secured the greater share of attention. Business has bnen pretty well distributed over the few leading English brands which have established themselves as favourites in tho market, and these have been quired at agents' list prices, which rule as follows:—Ale: Bead's Dog's Head. 12s 6d; Foster's, 12s; Allsopp's, 11s; Ihler and Bell's, 10s 6d ; Daukes's 12s ; Burkes, 12s 3d. Stout : Read's Dog's Head, 12s 3d; Foster's, 11s; Edmond's Pig brand, lls; Johnson's. 10a 9<l; Burkes, 12s : Blood Wolfe's, 10a 9d ; Daukes's, 12s; Porter's Bull Dog, 12s; all duty paid. BAGGING. (Woolpacks and eornsacks. free.)

There has been hardly any business done in the bagging market since the despatch of onr last summary. The season for woolpacks has practically closed, and it is just a little early for active business in cornsacks. The s.s. Tkhona left Calcutta on the Bth inst. with the first direct shipments of enrnsaeks and other Eastern lines for the New Zealand market. She is to be followed by the'e.s. Whanjrape a mbnth later. When the Ikhona gets closer,to hand no doubt there will he inquiries for her shipment. CANDLES. (Duty : 1(1 per lb.) As to be expected during the summer season, business in candles has fallen off a little, and there is nothing doing beyond supplying requirements as they arise. The bulk of the business goes to the local manufacturers, whose prices range from 4Jd per lb for Elec- ■ tries up'lq 6d per lb for National Paraffins and 6id per lb for Imperial Paraffins, with a. sliding: scale of discounts accordinc to auau-

tity purchased. There is only a limited outlet for imported candles. Best London sperms are disposed of at 6|d to 7d per lb (duty paid), and Roubaix de Jenar's at 7d to 7-Jd per lb (duty paid) in Bmall quantities..

CEJIEN'T. -(Duty. 2s per barrel.) A fair business has been done in cement during.the month, and prices are firm at 16s per barrel (duty paid, ex store) for ordinarylots.

DRIED FRUITS. (Duty: Id per 11); figs, 2d per lb.) As to be expected, business in dried fruits has been very brisk during the month'in. view of Christmas and New Year requirements. The market here was,, absolutely bare when the new fruits arrived, and buyers have therefore operated very freely right up to the present time. Currants have sold freely at 7d per lb for finest samples and sul-' tanas at the same figure; elemes have been placed at 53d per lb, Figs have received a little more attention than usual, and a steady business hal* been done at 6Jd per lb in boxes, 6Jd per lb in layers, and 6s per dozen in small boxes. ■ There has also been a little business done in muscatels at Is 2d per lb for Malagas and at up to lOd per lb for Californians.

FISH. ■ . (Duty: Dried, pickled, or salted. 10s pop cwt; potted or preserved, 2d per lb; paste 20 per cent, ad valorem.) _ . There is npt a great demand for tinned fish at tliis time of the year, but the market for all descriptions is very firm. Best brands of Red Sockeye salmon secure 10s 6d to 11s per dozen for flats and 9s 6d to. 10s for tails. Stocks are very light, and this keeps prices firm. Fresh herrings are selling at 6s 6d to 63 9<3-per dozen for flats; kippered herrings and herrings in tomato secure 9s 3d to 9s 6d per dozen. There is a little demand for ling "fish, and best brands secure 6d per lb. . Sardines are quitted for requirements nt from 6s to 6s 6d per dozen for halves and 3s 3d to 3s 6d per dozen for quarters, according to weight. All fish duty paid.

HOPS (Duty: 6d per lb.) New Kents have not reached the market, but are on board the s.f. Aotea, which is duo shortly. Californians are being taken up at irom 'is 5d to Is 7d per lb according to quantity. There is no business doing in Nolson hops, but there have been Bales in. Nelson for export to Australia^ Fine samples secure 9|d per lb net, f.o.b. Nelson.

METALS. Duty: Galvanised iron, £2 per ton; fencing

wire and barbed wire, free.) Business in iron and hardware lines haß continued very good during the month, and full prices have been maintained. There as an improved inquiry for heavy lines. V\e quote galvanised iron £24 to £24 10? per ton, usual extra; fencing wire, £13- per ton, usual extras. Sheet lead sells at £24 to £24 10s per ton, and block tin at up to Is 6d per ' Ib. In I.C. coke tinplates there is no business doing to speak of. OILS. (Duty: Kerosene, free; other oils, 6d per gallon.) There has been a good demand for kerosene during the month, and as stocks are extremely low prices have been fully maintained. The current rates at which business has been passing arc Is 3£d to Is 4d per gallon. The Star of England, from New York arrived to-day, but as she has only a small shipment (some 3000 cases) their arrival is not likely to affect values, although no doubt quotations may be slightly cut for lots ex wharf. Raw and boiled linseed oils meet with a small inquiry, and quota-tions are firm at 4s 6d and 4s 8d per gallon respectively for small lots. Turpentine is taken up lor requirements at 3s 9cl to 4s per gallon, and castor oil at the same figures. All oils dutypaid.

BICE. (Duty: Free.) There is very little business doing in this import, although advices from shipping port indicate a hardening market for dressed Japan,- but it does not affect values here in any way. Sales here are only to supply actual wants, and are made at £15 to £15 10s per ton. Patna is slow to move, and onlygoes into consumption in small lots at £13 to £13 10s per ton. SPIRITS. (Duty: Bulk, 16s per gallon; proof, bottled, 16s per gallon.) As to be expected.at the approach of the Christmas season, -business in spirits ; and seasonable wines shows an improvement. Whiskies secure most attention. , We have no changes in values to report, as the market is kept regularly supplied with the brands, which have made a name for themselves in the market, and established a firm -hold on buyers'

favour. AsanioctSx to rilarket rates we quota the following as agents' list 'prices for'ordinary purchases:—Brandies: Honnessy's, 36s to 37s per case; Denis Mounie's, 31s to ?2s per case; Martell's, 35s per ease; Bisquit, Dubouche, 6s 9d per gallon and 21s per case. Whiskies: Thorn and Cameron's Old Hightand. 7s to 7s 6d per gallon;. Lochiel. 6s 9d to 7s per gallon: Danville's, ss; Long John, 7s 6d; D.C.L.. 7s 6d per gallon. In case whiskies we quote:—D.C.L., 20s: Dunville's. 15s: Burkes, 15s; Walker's W.W., 20s: Old Ship. 18s; Gaelic Old Smuggler, 20s per case. J.D.K.Z. Geneva, 2 gallons 9s, 3 gallons 12s 6d, 4 gallons 15s; "Key" Geneva, 2 gallons, 8s 6d per ease, 3 gallons 11s 6d, and 4 gallons 13s fid; Burnett's, Old Tom, 12 bottles 13s 6d, 14 bottles 14b; Wolfe's Schnapps, 21s 6d to 225; Gilbey's Schnapps, 15s to 15s 6d: Lemon Hart's rum, 3.5 9d to 4s per gallon; Lamb's Imperial rum, 3s 3d to 3s 6d per gallon; Lamb's Golden Grove rum, 5s to 5s 6d per gallon.

SUGAR. (Duty: id per lb.l A fair business has been done in sugar during the month, and the demand will improve with the nearer approach of the preserving season. The market is dependent upon supplies of Queensland sugars and the output of the Colonial Sugar Company. The latter

company practically rule the sugar market in New Zealand, and as they have not varied their prices for some time there has heen no alteration in Queensland sugars. The latter, "Jfillaquin" brand, sells at from £17 10s to £17 15s per ton, in bond, for finest whites, according to size of parcel; small quantities secure £23 per ton, duty paid. The Colonial Sugar Company's outpui; commands the same figures. TEA. (Duty: 2d per Ib.) A good business is passing in teas, pritveipally in blended sorts in bulk and pacieets. For these, the latter especially, there is keen competition amongst the various blenders, and this insures the public getting a good article at a moderate figure.

PROPERTY SALES. Messrs James Samson and Co., instructed by the Port Chalmers Corporation, sold by auction on the 12th- at the Council Chambers, Port Chalmers, the lease for 14 years of allotment 29, block IV, North Harbour and Blueskin district, containing about 50 ncres. The upset price of the land was 8s an acre, and after a apiritea bidding it was knocked down to Mr P. O'Farrell, of Mihiwska, for 19s an acre. There v;as a good attendance, and the advanco of the selling price over the upset rental would seem to indicate that property at the Port is increasing in value. The Perpetual Trustees, Estate, and Agency Co., and Sievwright, Bros., and Co., report that they sold for the trustees of tho ■ late Hon. "W. J. M. Larnach, C.M.G., Lot 10 of the Camp estate to Mr T. Landrcth, at £16 per acre Lot 9 was passed in, tho reserve not beino- reached. Two acres M poles at. Bockyside were sold to Mr Samuel Dairies at £70. The N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. roport having offered Mr J. C. Buckland's property at Rock and Pillar on the 11th; at their rooms, Rattray street. The property was offered as a whole to begin with, but the bidding not reaching vendor's reserve, the, auctioneers submitted it in" lots as previously advertised. ■ For Lot 1, consisting of leasehold and station buildings, the bidding was fairly brisk, although. not reaching Mr Buckland a reserve, and was passed in; as also were tho othpr blocks. The auctioneers afterwards sold the property privately. . Mess's Matheson, Pram, and Co. report hay, me sold, on behalf of Mr R. Palmer. Lewisville, Milton, his compact little farm of about lo acres, containing some of the host agricultural land in the Tokomairiro district, at "a highly satisfactory price.

GRAIN, SEED, AND PRODUCE- REPORT. Messrs William R Reynolds nnd Co., merchants, report for the month ending December 19 as follows:— , , Since onrs of a month ago the weather has been very broken and windy—more so than usual at this time of the year; but crops nevertheless continue to look well, nnd, though it is a little early yet to predict, a good harvest is looked for. " The area under crop, too, is going to be large, especially the oat. crop; while the area, shut up for the saving of ryegrass is likely, to b» smaller than usual. Whoat.—The past month has been a dull one. in this enreal, owing chiefly to the scarcity of freight.' Many holders would be quite prepared to try the "London market were opportunity offering, despite thn fact that it does not show raunh if any. profit on to-day's f.o.D. prices here. Now that the wool season _is on, it is rot likely that much freight will be obtainable, for the next three months, and what little wheat does go forward will bo at from J2s Gd to 35s per ton weight. Millers on the spot are not operating very freely, but sufftcien''/ so to keep the market about where it was lest month—namely, at 2s 6A to 2s 7d for prime-lor"j-herried; short-berried, 2s 4d to 2s SM: and' fowl feed up to 2s P.d per bushel of GOlb (f.0.b., sacks in, net cash). On.ts.—We adviied in - our lost report thct owing to Imperial frovernment orders being nlaccd for Smith Africa an advance in pr.ee had taken nlaj-.. This ban continued un to now, and the -ranrkct closes very firm with_ a disposition 10, if anything, advance slightly. The Australian and even North Island dermnu is very small, niuch more so than usual; but lar^e South African orders much more than cpiiincn'ato. and it seems to us that it n poino- to take stocks.nil t.hi»i-.v.;uio ;-..--" ' '

demand through between now and the arrival on the market of our new season's grain. Wo quote: A grade, Is 9Jd to Is 10d; B grade, Is 9d to Is 9Jd; C grade, Is SJd per bushel of 401b (f.0.b., sacks in, net cash). Barley.—lt is almost with regret we find ourselves compelled to report so stagnant a market in this grain. Prime quality has nearly all been picked up long since, and much of the medium quality has gone too, while ordinary and inferior qualities are in very heavy supply, and almost unsaleable. We quote: Prime malting, 2s lOd to 3s; good, sound quality, 2s 3d to 2s 6d; milling, Is 6d; feed, Is 4d per bushel of 50lb (f.0.b., sacks in, net cash). Grass Seed.—The spring sowing is over, and the demand has hardly been as good as was exacted, especially.f or ryegrass. The prices, howevei, are so low that, holders are indifferent about reducing quotations; market therefore keeps steady a^-for heavy-weight, 3s; 281b, 2s 9d; 271b, 2s 8d; 261b, 2s 4d; 241b, 2s 2d per bushel of 201b (f.0.b., sacks extra, net cash.) Cocksfoot is vory dull indeed, and much the same remarks apply. We quote 181b seed, bright in colour, 3Jd; 161b, 3Jd to 3Jd per 1b (f.0.b., sacks extra, net cash). Clovers.—Stocks are well cleared out, and what is left is firmly held. We quote: White clover at 75s to 90s; alsyke, which is very scarce, 75s to 90s; cowgrass, 55s.up to 75s for colonia! grown; timothy, 25s and up to 35s for colonial grown. ■ ', "Chaff.—There is 'too much of ordinary quality offering on the market, and prices aro low. Prime quality is scarce, and there is no chance of exporting, as other markets are lower. Potatoes.—lt is now much too lato in the season to ship these, while kidneys only come on to the market in sufficient, supply to meet the demand.

Butter.—The past month has seen an impprovement in this market owing to the firmer tone which prevails in London, and as many factories this year have gone in for consigning they are likely to 'directly derive the benefit. The rise at Home seems to have been in some measure anticipated here, and actual prices therefore have not advanced much. We quote prime factory, 9Jd to 9Jd (f.0,b., boxes in). Cheese.—The. demand continues as keen as ever, especially in loaf and medium size for Australia, of which, ever since the season opened, there has barely been sufficient forward to meet the demand. With the New Year stocks should begin tc. come forward more freely, when a, slight easing in prices is not unlikely. Meantime we quote: Loaf size, 5Jd; medium, ssd; large size, 5d to s}d per 1b (f.0.b.). Bran.—Stocks are very light indeed, and we can only'quote nominally £2 15s per ton (f.0.b.). Pollard.—Much the..same remarks apply, and we quote £3 ss.

. Oatmeal.—This being the off season there is not much business doing. We quote: Bulk, £9 ; 7's. £10 10s; and 25's (short ton),1 £9 per t6n (f.0.b.). ■Floui.—No change to report, and quote as last: 200's, £6 10s; 100's, £6 15s; 50's, £7 (f.0.b.).