COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13812, 28 January 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.

Daily Times Office, Saturday, Jan. 26. MONEY AND TIUDU. Buying.—Demand 7s 6d per cent, discount; 30 days, 12s 6d per cont. discount; 60 days, 17s 6d per cent, discount; 90 days, 27s 6d per cont. discount. Selling.—Demand 10s per cent, premium; 30 days, 5s per cent, premium; 60 days, par; 90 days, par. Telegraphio Transfers to London.—l7s 6d per cent, premium, plus cable charges. Deposits.—Bank of Australasia, fixed for 12 or 24 months, 3 per cent, per annum Other banks, fixed for six months, 2 per cent, per annum; 12 months, 3 per cent, per annum; 24 months, 3£ per cent, per annum. There is no change in tho local money market, conditions being unaltered. The continued dry weather has caused some oxoitonient in the grain markets, and tho future is problematical. Otherwise tho course of trade is devoid of any feature, except that values are well maintained, and in tho case of all iron, hardware, and woodwaro goods likely to go still higher. BREADSTOFFS.

The most notable- factor affecting Iho local wheat market is the> purchase by a syndicate of local millers of a lino of 2000 sacks of Victorian wheat. This was purchased at 2s IOJ<I f.0.b., and will cost buyers about 3s 7d delivered at mill door. As the bulk of fcho Now Zealand wheat now. offering is not of first-class quality, millera reckon that the imported wheat at 3e 7d will be better value than tho home-Rrown. article at 3s 6d. The policy of this move is manifestly intended to check the inflated ideas of growers who talk about 3s 6d and 4s per bushel as the opening price for the new season's wheat. Ultimately the Now Zealand market must be regulated by Australian prices. Tho local wheat market is a. shade easier, owing, to tile satisfactory turnout of tho line of Melbourne wheat. Tuc sample is small berried, but cleau, hard, and delieiouely nutty. Submitted to a test, it will grist 45 bushels to the ton of flour, as against 47 to 48 bushels of New Zealand wheat. This makes it fully Id per bushel bettor value than the home-grown article. Further supplies arc on the way, purchased at a shade less money, and this has had a qiiietoning effect upon the local market. It 19 reported that tho iiv&t line of new Canterbury wheal— a sample of pearl—has been purchased by a Chrietchurch miller at 2s lid at siding.?, and it is anticipated that the now wheat will open at from 2s 10d to 2s lid on trucks. Meanwhile millers are purchasing sparingly old wheat, and despite the failure of the crope round about Oamarii the trend of prices is towards an easier market.

Fowl feed continues scarce and dear, tho small supplies in store being taken for local orders at up to & 4d. Shippers are drawing supnlira from tho north on tho basis of 3s JJtt f.0.b., s.i. At their monthly meeting held in Christchurch lost week the directors of tho NewZealand Plourmillore' Association decided, upon a reduction in the price of flour, amounting for the Dunedin market to 5s per ton and for Invercargill to 10s per ton. The reduction, ostensibly, was made to check the importation of Australian flour, wJuco is swd to be coming freclj into the

.Vorili Island; but. tho strange feature 08 the case isthat. no reduction was made in the shipping price, which remains at £8 10s per ton f.o.b. The revised looal tariff now stands as follows:—Sacks. £8 15a per' toivji' 100's, £9 ss; SO's, £9 10s; 25% £9 15s. There is no cluwge in flour; tlio drop in the Jnvercargill price lias stopped importations to that market, and no Australian flour is advised as coming to the looal Market.

There is a brisk demand for offal, and millers arc altogether unable to keep pace with the orders. Pollard k quoted at £♦ 10s for both local and shipping orders; and bran at £'t for local orders, and £3 15s f.o.b. for shipment. The oat market is difficult fo reporti upon, and there is much divorgenco ofi opinion as 1o the future, in many cases the wish being father to tho thought. I rooably tlio local market hae never boenl so bare of stocks at this time of year, and tho scarcity extends right up to Gutter- ' bury. Southland holders are." not willing to quote, and thus, although inquiries fronU the north are numerous, tho business passing is only limited in extent. The unfortunate lew who must have oats for immedialG shipment are having to: pay /. through the" nose. For instance, 2s W f.0,b.. s.i. was puid the other day fora lino of 100 sacks of B grade for' prompt shipment at Lyttelton by the Apariina. Many shippers refuse to quote at all, and anything from 2s 5d to 2s 6d f.0.b., s.i. is tlio nominal quotation for B grade. The future of prices is exceedingly problematical. On t-ho one hand thero is tho fact that the ' Canterbury now oats arc now coming , on to tho market, and that sales aro reported! at 2s Id on trucks. On tho other hand' it will bo at least two months before thel {southland new oats uro available. Merchants and millers am known to bo bare of stocks, and with the. old oats strongly, hold, tho market may advanco considerably. Tho key of the position is, however tclt to ho with tlio failure or otherwise, of tho turnip crop. If, as indications seem to show, the drought has really broken, and tho rain comes in time to savo tho bulk of the turnips, then the ox-, eitement in tho oat market may fiizjeiout, and things settle down to normal., • Should, liowover, tho turnips fail, tben tiioV situation would be serious, and oats mayi' go to anything. It i a significant thai the. Australian oat market lias firmed during tlio week, tli IB precluding all importations at present Now Zealand prioea* The oat markot fully maintains its firmness, but tho business passing is limited, owing both to the high prices' ruling andS to the 6inallnes3 of available stocks. Samples of now Canterbury oata haw been shown on this market, but tho quality ie poor. . Still, reports indicate that there will' be a good crop in tho north, whilst Southland expects to havo' an abundance. Until, however,'tho new crop comes on'to'the', market in any quantity, prices may be expected to rule. firm. Millers aro paying 2s 5d and 2s 6d for oats, -which are little more than B' gr-jde, ex etore, whilst Bbjffi holders are asking 2 S Ed f.0.b., e.i. for B grado Cartons.'

Owing to the advance in oats the prioeof oatmeal has risen to £13 per ton., . Pearl barley is unchanged afc £M 10s. PRODUCE MARKET. Tho potato market is easier, and! Up-&H Date and British Queens aro soiling aiif from £6 10s to £8; Peninsula-grown, l<8.! per lb. . There is no chango in the tatter maT&et.i Farmer's pats are worth 7Jd to 8d; Bcpanu tor pats, 10d to lid; separator bidk, 9d to. 10d. First-grade factory is quoted as [oh lous:-Prints, 11J<1 Wlced and lljd casa,;i ilmlk, Hid. Milled butter is quoted a± 9idl f.o.b. for first-grade, and 9d for secondgrade. _ , ■ Quotations for olicese aro 6id to 6jd for-, factory mediums, and Akaroa js obtainable at 6d. Eggs are w &vi demand, »nd command lid to Is per dozen. Tho poultry marftct is over-supplied. Our> rent quo'tations aro as follow:—Hone, Is 6d to 2fi; roosters, 3s 6d per pair; ducklings, 4s; geeee, 6s; turkeys—hens sd, gobblcre 7d to 8s per. lb.Tlio demand for pigs -continues eaejr., Baconors are worth 4-Jd: and porkera.4d.i Bacon Hunaiiis a.t H\>{, and hama at Si. Chaif.—Very choice ohaff is iDfliiired foe et £5 8s 6d, and prhne eamnka find readji salo at frojn £5 to £5 ss. ALB AND BTOUT. (Duty: 2s per gallon, or Aβ per dozen.) Tho following prices will be maintained for (ho undoraiontioiied brands o£ ale and stout, and under no circumstances will these rates be departed from, :aml, further, nothing under five cases ie to be sold at, an in-bond price, and no mixed five-case ■ lots aro to be sold at a five-case price:— Five- 'LessM

■ ■ ' . • ■■'•:""*'.'.'«Sfift.;': QIWB-W „ ■ , •' • Lota titiea. Koadg ale, quarts ... ..... ;„. 13/6 13/6 : Read's ale, pints •., ~ .. — g/G Road's stout,.quarts .. ... 13/0 13/3 Read's stout, pints - 8/3. Following is tho agents', list of prices fop other brands, the , quotations being fpr orcii- ■■ nary lots per (dozen quarts, all duty paid r —Ale: Forterls Bull Dog, 12s 6d; Foster's, 12s;' Tcnnant's, 12s. Stout:. Porter's Bull Dog, 12s to 125.6 d; Burko's, 12s 6d to 12a 9tl; Johnson's', 11s 6d to,l2s;'Hall's Boar's Head, 12s; Foeter'fi,. lls 3d; Tennant's, :11s . 6d to 12s; 'Pennant's lager beer, Iβ 6cl for pints and 11s 6d for quarts. ■ ■. EAGQINQ. > . (Wbolpacts and Cornsacks:: Free.) _ In -the faoo of the high prices paid! by importers for their (season's. supplies • 06 cornsacks, indications point to a slump in tho price of this commodity. The'Aparimal brings only 10,196 eacks for tho entire,/ colony, and under ordinary circumstances sacks would be scarce and prices rule hitfli, especially 6ooing thai at present the markofl is emita bare and an early, harvest is expected.' The unexpected factor in the situation, however, ie tiro sliiinfeage in tho Australian harvest, and the consequent srhif; in the cornsack market over there. This means that swi'e a.r© offering both.' in Sydney and -Melbourne at .considerably under Caloutta. prices. New ZcsJamKbuyom will consequently bo rfWo to. draw from tlio Commonwealth, ami,, after all, those who ha-vo held off to tho last wilt coino out the best. CANDLES. (Duty: Manufactured in British dominions, Id per lb; foreign candles, l£d per lb.) Burmese decorated candles am quoted at 7{d in 10-box lots, ?3d for five boxes, and 8d for lesser quantities. Tho current quotation for Eurmeso candles is Sid fon looz 6'e, plain and fluted; and 6Jd for eelf-fiSing and carriage, this tariff beins Bubject to tho usual discount. The local manufacturers' tariff stands as follows :— Gold Medal and Exhibition, 6d; Minin;? and Standard, 6id; Composites (plain and fluted) and Magnct, s{d; Duoal Paraffim and Superior Wax Paraffin, SJd:; Bril"ants, sid; Aclamanfe, sd; Prize Medal, Electrics, and Eockets, 4Jd.' These rates are subject to a sliding scale, of discount, according to quantity purchased. Ogston's Aberdeen candles are selling at 6d to 6W.. Price's brands are selling at the followinp rates:—Tor London Sperms, 6W to 6Jd( (duty paid), and London AVax and I a.t 6d to 6Jd.

_ CEItENT. (Duty: Manufactured in Brif.isli dominions, 2s per barrel;, foreign cement. 4s pec ban-el.) Quotations remain as follow.—Under 20cask lots, 14s 6d; 20 to 99-casfc lots, Us 9a; 100-cask lota and over 13s.

DBIED FRUITB. (Duty: Currants and raisins, l<? pep ]b;' figs, nuts, ehell almonds, evaporated! apples, prunes, and dates, 2d per Jb;Jordan almonds, 3d per lb; Sicilf *lmomls, free.) The demand for seeded raisins for the Christmas tmdo has txwn flxcontionallv • eood, and retailers wJio thought they hail sufficient for tlic year's requirnmente have. jnad to make new puroliasos. Sultauas and 1 currants retain their firmness. Tho Home market* aro advancing ourrante having jumped £2 a. ton within the past week. In tho local market from 52d to 6d is asked! for sultanas in 1»XO3. ami 7s per dozen m cartons. New season's Jordan almonds, are wiling at 2e 4d. Advices from San FranCisco state that stocks of canned fruit am exhausted and no more diipmeate will bo tomlo to New Zealand. Local utocb art! V in smaU compass, ami a farther advaiits has *j been made in tho price of (second standards - which arc now quoted at 9 9 9d for apricots,' as S(t for peaches, and fe 6d for peire To accentaato the situation it is now announced that the Teviofc erowere will not bo canning w/v fruit this year: winlst in the North) island no apricots will bo canned, but only iwnchce and pears. There is likely lo be a. dearth of apricots,- f* r which ttie demand! just now h brisk. l"hp Aparima brinßs a! big stock of canned pineanples. Currail; nunfations are'as follow:—New dates 8s to jjs-odin cartons, and at 4Jkl to 4Jd in bulk; [_»,'«, in layers, 6Jd to 7d; in 5Jd to ojd; m snail boxes, lOoz, 4s 6d: 12oz io Um, Si 6tl: eultanas— avomge quality, 53d :■ select**], 6d; in cartons, 7s; currants, 4|<J to 4»d, according to quality alhl sampler carton currants; ss"3d; prunes,'6d to 6jd, according to efee of fruit: cartons, 7s 6dV o!<!mos,_ sJ,<l; imisoaMs—Mnlsea, Is Id to Is 2(1 m trars. amt'ls to "Is Id in boxes -1 Oalifornian, 51b trays. 10d: 101b bags, 94<1 ; Sicily almonds. Is 4d. For catuied fruits current quotations are m follow: — Second Water Standards. Standards.. Apricots .... 9/ 9/9 10/3 P«ffs .. .. 8/9 9/9 . jo/ Psacho ... .. 8/9 9/0 10/

Evaporated apples are quoted afc 7)d in balk.

(Duty: Dried, pickled, or salted, 10s per owt; paste, 20 per cont. ad valorem; potted and preserved—British 2d per lb, foreign 3d per 11).) There is a bettor demand for fish of nil kinds. Another advance of 3d per dozen

>s reported in Morion's herrings, which are - now quoted at 6s for fresh, 7s 3d for Wrings in tomato, and 7s 6d for kippered herrings. Current quotations for salmon are as follow:—Hats, 10s 6d; talk, & to; half-flats, 6s 3d for beet foramk Other quotation!; aro:-Codfish, 53d in 21b blocks and s£d in strips. Sardines—Albert quarters, 7s 3d to 7s Gd; Albert halves, 10s -3d to 10s 6d; good quality halves 6s and 63 6d, and quartern 3s '6d to 4s; skipper sardines, halfe, 10s; quarters 5s M; fimoked sardines, 9a for halves anil 5s for quarters; white herrings, 21b for 2-100's and 30a to 32e for two-dozens; red hertringe, 20a for 2-200's, 17e for one-dozens. iPindon haddocks and bloaters are quoted at 93 6d and 8s 6d respectively. Hay's now Beeson's ling fish Li quoted at 6d. HETALS.

■(Duty: Calvankod iron, £2 per Ion; fencing wire and barbed wire, free; ironplain, black sheet, rod, bolt, bar, and plate, not produced in Uriiiah dominions, 20 per cent, ad valorem.) .'Bie iron and Jiardwaro market continues

on its upward course, and a number of 'further advances in die local market aro 'tariffed. ]3ar iron lias advanced 10s per ion, and as now quoted at £1110s for 10-ton lots, to £12 10s for smallor quantities. Shoeing bars havo also advanced 10s per ton, and aro now quoted as follow:— BB 11, £15 IDs; Netherton's £14 10s; and ordinary brands, £12 10s. Hoop iron is inow quoted at_ 153 for black and 25s for ■galvanised. Wire'nails hayo advanced 10s yer ton, and tho basin prico is now £17. fencing wire Jias taken a jump, and is IiDW quoted at; £11 10s for under one ton, and £11 5s for ono to five-ton lots. Galvanised wire has iuado a similar advance, and is quoted at £13 5a for under ono itoii and £13 for ono to five-ton lots. Ingot ttin 3>as declined Id, and is quoted at 2s 3d for colonial and 2s 4d for Lamb and Flag. -Other quotations Tomiin unaltered as foidoy:— Barbed wire, 15s to 15s. 6d; 'lead sheet, 283 6d to 29s 6d; galivinised wire netting, £26 10s per ton for 36 x , U x 17 gauge; three-mile lots, £26. 0.0. iron, £22 10s, Orl) 10s extra, with Usual loneesflions for 10-ton lota. Stool plalca £12 to £13 10s, steel angles 'dBI2 to £13. Galvanised iron, plain, 24s to 2!»—with Die usual concession ol h .per owt less for lOcwb lots, l'i/j iron, £5 .15s to £6 per ton. Tinplatcs, in short supply, firm, 17d 6d. Iron liooib, £W; tee ■•bare, £13 l(b. Pig lead, 245. OILS.

: <Duty: Xerosene, free; other oils, 6d per gallon.) , Quotations rac warehouse are unaltered as' folioiv:—Kerosene, White Roso IOJd, l£ca. Rose Bid; benzine, Is Id to Iβ 2d; naphtha and motor spii'it, Is 4d to Is sd; gasoline/ ls-10d to Is lid; turps, 43 3d. '.The prico of linseed oil ia firm at is 6d for iraw mid 3s 8d for boiled. Castor oil is ,qaoted at 33 10d for half-cases and 4s for drams. OILUM'B BTOBES, ETC, •TJioro is a big advance hi cream of tartar, and 95 por cant will now cost over lid to lam). Tho current local quotation is firm at Hid. An advance lias taken placo ia Morton's outer-oil, whjoh U now quoted at 4s 6d for soz bottles and 6s bd for lQoz bottles. Tho Apollo brings supplies of a number of lines badly needed for , iho replenishment of stocks. Theso includo Woarbonito of coda, condensed milk (Milkjnaid brand), b*thbricke, Lea and Perrin's sauce. There has been a big demand for iWMto'a jollies this eoasaa, and stocks aro Tunning down. There is & great ecarcity . of jams, and several of the manufacturers aro imablo to execute ordore. Now that ■ tho now season's fruit is available tho i ecaraty should soon bo remedied. A very ,'i big rise has recently taken place at Home in blucstone. • The quotation for matches now stands:— Plaid vestas, 3s 6d to 3s 9d; Bell'e 250'e, 16a 3d to 163 6tl; and Bell's Boyal, 8s 9d 'to 9s. For dcssioaled eoooanut ourront quotations are:—Chests, 4jd; hali-chesis Mi quaxter-cbests, s{d; packets 6d. Flog tomato sauce, 7s. Kow season's hemp seed, 255, now season's canary seed, 235. I'or pumice the tariff now stands:—Five oases lls, one to four cases 12n. Tho various brands of boot polish aro quoted as follow:— Nugget, email 3b ud; largo, 0s 6d; two-lin-onc, 4s 9d; Court: Small Sβ 6d, large 6s 6d; Record: Small 3a 6d, largo 6s 3d; Everett's 6s 6d to 6e 9d for largo, 3a 6d to 3e 9d for small; Abbey 5s 9d to fo 3d for large. Other qnotations are as follow:— JBrunner Moode carbonate of soda as 13s. Force food, 22s 4<l. Haricot beiuiii, Els and English peas 19s. Packet liops, Is 6cL Sadler's mastoid, 4e 8d for quarters, 8s 3d for kikes, and 16s 6d for lib tins. OPalereon's camp coffee, 12s. The following tariff has been fixed for Brown and Poison's and Brown's cornflours!— Brown and Poison's and Brown's lraizo: 15 boxes, 22d; 5 boxes, 2?<1; 1 4o 5 boxes, 3d; Brown and Co.'e Patent, 3Jd; Brown and iPolson's Indian, 5Jd. Harvest Qucon cornSour is selling- nt 2Jd to 3d. Tartario aoid —jxKrdexcd, 3s 5(1-; crystals, Iβ sd. Milktmaid milk, 6s 6d. Colman'a starch, sid to 5Jd. Neavo's food, 10s to 10s 3d. KoilEer% marmalador-llb 7s 6d, Zlb 13s fld. IRdbertson's Golden Shred marmalade—lib fa 6(1, 21b 13s 6(1. Orosse and Blackwell'e nnarmalado—lib jars 8s 3d, 21b jars Us 6d, lib tins 6s 9d. Lucca oil-O. and 8., 265; iMoxton'e, 249. Day and Martin's blacking, 3a 3d io 3s 6d. Morton's capers, 5s 6d; curry, 5s 6d; salad oil, 5s 3d and 8s 6J; and castor oil, 4b and 6s 6d. Croam of tartar (French, in kegs), 11W; Mortoii's oream of tertar (in tin-lined oases), Ofl Id. Batltbrioke, Is 9il to 2s. QuaJcer otttfl, 22s 6d. Vermicelli acd lnaoaroni— Kinoldi'a (in Ub cartons), 4d por lb; Italian (in 41b boxes), 4Jd. Cloves, Is 6d. Whiting, 5s 3d. The Lariff for IFry'e cocoa is as followe:—Homoeopathic, for 10 boxes, la and for lesser quantitics, Is 4<l; concontraicd, 3s 2(1; and soluble, Iβ 4d. The tariff for Symington's ooßco cssonee is as follows :~Five-o»so lots 12s 3d, ono-caso lots 12s 6d. Woods's peppermint euro, 13a 6d per dozon for ."mall end 22s 6d for large. French.beans in tins—lib 55,'211> 8s 9d. Mellor'e caseo 12a, 1 case IZs 3d; lesser quantities, "J* 6d.

niCB. (Duty free.) Japan rico is firm at £17 to £17 10s, and tbat prico is not likely to stand for long. SAGO AND TAFIOOA. (Duty: fieo.) Tho Aparima brings auiplo supplies of logo and tapioca, which, owing to a riso in Singapore freight*, chow renewed firmness. Tho market is linn at 25s 6d for e&go and pearl lipioea, end 26s for flake. BAIT. (Duty: Kroe.)

Thero is anothor salt war in Australia, •which possibly may affect tho New Z<uifatxl murker. A recent Sydney advice .etatcfi:—"Tho great bulk of tho salt used in New South Wales cornea from South 'Australia, and prices for a considerable timo past have boon regulated bv a contention, in which three or four South Australian concerns were interested. Ifccpntly, it is understood, intcnini dissensions occurred ill tho convention in regard to ikeeping strictly to the terms of tho agreement, aiul the result is that practically a Kilt war has be«n declared, in which the parties of tho convention will be tho participant*: Tho most interesting feature to tho publio in "flio slrnggfc, perhaps, is tho news that already prions for salt haro keen reduced from 7s 6d to 15s per ton, according to quality. Tho extant of this rsduotibn may bo gauged from tho lollowiug quotations, which aro now in forco for quantities of not less than ono ton delivered:— Kaglo coareo salt, 50s per ton; Emu crude, 32s 6d; Castlo refined coarse, 45s j extra, fine, 62s 6d; dairy and tablo, in 561b and 1121b calico bags, 85s; flossy line fait, 47s 6d. Tim Castlo Sale Co-oporativo Companj (Ltd.) lias also decided fo placo on this market tho following oxtra. brunds of salt:—XXX ooarso 6alt, 30s; and Tower extra line salt, 47s 6d. Tho redticlion in rates caino at an inopportuno time, owinjr to increneed coet of * production in South Australia. .Wages had boon raised lately, and had tho convention not been broken up an advance, in prices might reasonably have been expected. The. lowering of quotations will probably, th«refore, lead to heavy losses." We append tho selling tariff arranged ss betneon the wholesale and retail houses for Otago and Southland: — Black Horse Salt.

Fine. Coarse, S-ton lot, per ton .... 82/ .. 73/ 1-ton lots, par ton .. .. Sol .. 75/ Lsswr quantities, per cwt. -i/G .. 4/ Liverpool Liverpool Coarse Fine and tnd Pig Coarse. C«et!e Fine. J'erTon. Per Ton. 19-ton lots .. .. 60/ 70/ 5-ton lots .. .. 6J/ .. ~, .. 7:2/ 1-lon lots .. . 65/ .. :.., .. 75/ P«Cwt. Per Cut. lesser quantities 3/9 4/3 Parcels may bo niado up of mixed lots. These prices may bo reduced by 2s per ton when silt is delivered direct from the ■wharf, and thoy include- cartage to any point within Dunedin or suburbs. The Silt Company has undertaken not to supply anj wholesale firm which docs not abide by a tariff agreed upon by the majority. It Ig-.eJsQ understood that the imports ol

Liverpool salt will bo kept, within a certain limits so that' proportionate quantities of Liverpool and Adelaide may be sold in tho colony. SUGAR. (Duty: id per lb.) Tho Colonial Sugar Company's tariff stands as follows:—Finest whites (Xo. I and la), £15 7s 6d per ton in bond for file-ton parcels, £15 10s per ton in bond for three-ton parcels, and £20 15s per ton duty paid for smaller quantities; No. 2is quoted at 10s per ton lower than tho above rates— viz., £20 5e per ton duty paid; and brewere' crystals 10s per ton higher—viz., £21 Sβ per- lon, duty paid. SCMI , . (Duty: Yellow soap, 5s per cwt; fancy soaps, 25 per cent., ad valorem.) Tho local manufacturers' tarilf stands as follows:—Laundrine. Klaine, and Blue Mottled. £24; Prize Pali-, I'rnc Medal, and Golden Dawn, £22; Laundrj. £21; Milling and Four Crown, £20; Three Heart, £19; Throo Crown No. 1, £16; Household, £15; Tlireo Crown No. 2, £15; Mngic, 17s 6d; Victory, 14s; 1.X.L., 1&. Bwan floating soap is Belling at. H3 per box. Tho price of Lever'e dry soap is lls bil for 10-box lots and lie 9d for les-er quantities. Lever Bros.' Vim, lls for single easos (three dozen) and 10s 9d for five-case lots. Lever Bros.' coal tar and glycerine foap, 5s per hoi of ono dozen tablets, or at 4s fxl as part of 10 boxos; skin fioap at, Ifts per box of 36 tablets, and Yo Goodo Brown Windsor at 9e 6cl jicr box ot 72 Inblols; Lever's Divan soap, 7s 6d for 10-case lots, and 8s for lesser quantities; Lever's oatmeal soap, 5e 6d for 10-casc lole and 5s 9d for k-saer quantities. BFIMTB. (Duty: Bulk, 16s per gallon; proof, bottled, per gallon.) Tlie following prices will bo maintained for the undermentioned brands of spirits, and undcr.no circumstances will these rates bo departed from, and, furllwr, nothing under five casee is to lie fold at an in-bond prioo, and no mixed five-caso lots aro to be sold at a five-oMu price: — Five-case Lesser

Lots. Quantities. HcWieaay's X brandy .. 37/ li 67/0 llennesay's XXX brandy 50/O • S'JfO Denis llounie brandy .. S.l/!) 02/G AVolfe's schnapps . .. 2W 54/0 J.D.K.Z. 2gal Geneva, .. 10/0 40/0 J.D.K.Z. 3g»l Geneva .. ]4/ll 57,'1i J.D.K.Z. 4ja,l Geneva .. W!» 75/0 Sir It. Uuriietl'e Old

I Tom gin — 50/0 llrandy tariffs liavo been arranged as follow: — Boomerang—lo eases, 21s; iiye eases, 22a; lessor quantities, 55s duty paid. Bisquifcdu Bouehe—lo cases, 235; five oaece, 22s 6d; ono case, 55s duty paid. Tho following tariff for Otago and Southland has beon atranged by tho supplying linn.— GilbeyVdry gin—l ease, 45s duty paid; 5 cares, 15a in bond; and 10 cases, 11s in bond. Haig and Ilaig 3-Star whisky is quoted at 20s for 5-caso lots and 48a for lesser quantities. The Whisky tariff stands as follows:—Ten eases, 20s in bond; five caßce, 21a in bond; and leaser quantities 50s duty paid. Tho brands included in this arrangoment are Dcwav's Special, Usher's 0.V.G., Whito Horee, D.C.L., Walkor'e W.W., Gaelic, Old Smuggler, and Bucliauan'e Houm of Commons, The nvico of Crawford's whisky now stands: 1 For fivecase lota, 25s in bond; lessor quantities, 52s duty paid. Watson's No. 10 Old Scotch whisk)- is quoted at 20s in 10-case lota in bond, 21a in five-case lote in bond, and 50s for lesser quantities, duty paid. Walker's Red Collar special whisky is quoted at 55s per case. Buchanan's Black and White, whisky is in demand at 55a. As an index to market values we quote the following sgpnte' list:— Brandies: Mortell's, 36s to 37s per case. Whiskies: Thorn and Cameron's Old Highland, 7a to 7s 6d por gallon; lirown'a Crown, 7s to 7s 6d per gallon; Lochiel, 7e 6d per gallon; Ben MaoDhui, 7s per gallon. Cisa \vhi6kies: Ueher's Special Reserve, 22s 6d; Sanderson's, 20s; DunTillo's, 17s 6d; Burko's 15s. Genevas: Key—two gallons 8s 6d, threo gallons 11s 6d, four gallons Uβ 6d; Ollboy'e eohn&ppe, 15s to 15s 6d; Lemon Hart's nun, 4s to 4a 3d per gallon; Larub'e Imperial rum, 3s 6d to 4s 5d per gallon; Lamb's Golden Grovo rum, 6s to 6s 3d. Tho manufacturers have fixed the price of Silverstreaui schnapps at 48s per case.

(Duty: Free.) An average business is p6sing in tea, trade for the most part being confined to tho favourite packot blende. TOBACCO. (Duty: 3s 6d per lb.) The tariff o ( . tho British-Australasian Tobacco Companj stands as follows :— Lesser C»se Box Quantities. Brand, Lots. Lots. Duty Paid. Havelock (dark) 1/10 5/4S Hiwelock (aromatic) .. 1/11 2/1 5/!) Mixture.—2oz, 3/0; 4oz, 3/3. Mixture-Dark, 3/3. Canary cigarette tobacco—lib cirton?, 2/7. Juno tobacco: —Five eases, Is 4d; one caso, Iβ Sd; one box, Is 6d; lessor quantities, Is 6Jd. In the future .Tuno tobacco will be put up in cighl-10-i he-pound rods, blocks, and pocket pieces, instead of 7£-to-the-pound as formerly and 4J-to-Hie-pound blocks. The T. C. Williams's (ariff stands as follows: — One Lesser Case Box (JuanBrand. Lois. Lots, lilies. Viotory (aromatic) .. 1/11 2/1 5/D Diadem ' I'll 'Hi r>|!> Nosegay l/!l 2/1 r>/!) Royal Colours .. ~ 1/11 2/1 5/9 Golden Eagle .. .. 1/11 2/1 5/9 Lucy Hinton .. .. 2/1 5/3 5/11 Ruby .. s;{i 2,7 MS Welcome Nligget .. 'J/C 2/7 G/;| The T. 0. Williams Company Golden Eaglo-Cut Gold Bars-is quoted' at 6s 9d for 2ok tins. A samplf line of Lambert and BuUtr's tobacco, light ami dark, in 2oz tins, is being put upon ibis market. It is quoted at 3s 3d per lb in bond. Current quotations for ollvcr brands aro as follow:-Derby, Is 8d to Is 9<h Harlequin, Iβ 3|cl per case lots. 1 R IJd'for box lot«; 5s duty paid for lesser "quantities. Derby mild tobacco, in 2oz tins, is quoted at Is 9d. First. Wator—Aromatic. Iβ 9d to 2s; Triumph (dnfk), Is 2d to Is 4d. White Rose tobacco-Case, lots, 2s 2(1; box lots, 2e4d. Red Funnel tobacoo is quoted as follows:— Dark Light Black. Aromatic. Aromatic. Five cams ... 1/6 lHh 119b One 0136 .. .. 1(7 1/8 1/10 Lessei quantities 1/8 1/3 2/

EXPORT OF FROZEN UUTTOJf. AUCKLAND, January 10. The frozen meat ehipped from Auckland for the December month was valued at £IG,BSS—a Tecord for one month. Beef loprct«nted £21,012, lamb £4736, Mid mutton HIM. For tlie half-year ended December 21, of beef, 215,4041b of mutton, and 237,0C91b of lamb were shipped from Auoklaud.

TARAJfAKI DAIRY PRODUCE. NEW PLYMOUTH, January 3. For tho mouth ended December 31 Hie buttor and oheese exported from the Breakwater totalled 43,458 "packages and 2097 cases of choose rcspoctivoly, as against 27.527 packngee and 719 caeca for December, 1905, the v«luo3 being £1f)8,G45 and JE7BUB, coirtp*re«i with £ 05,37 C and £2260.

SALE OF HOTEL PROPERTY: James Samaon and Co. roport having sold ou account of Mr James Caldwcll, lvOio h>9 rotired from business on account of illho&lth, the Gridiron Hotel, Princes street, Dunodin, to Mr Satmiol Geddos for the sum oi £8500. Mr Geddes w»s for many years the proprietor of the Empire Hotel, Nas'oby. CHRISTOHURCH MEAT COMPANY. OHRISTCHURCH, January 9. As is tho case with the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, the Christchiueh Meat Company hue had a- good year. Tho annual report and balance sheet shows Ihat 1,350,000 head cf stock was put through its works during tho year. The balance of £14,493 which was left standing to the debit ol profit and lose last year has been wiped out, and the £15,000 transferred from the reserve fund to meet tho heavy loss, shown us tho result of tho previous year'e working, has been replaced. In addition to this, it is proposed to add £5000 to tho roeorve fund, which will then stand at £41,000; to set aaido £5000 »s the nucleus of » special account for the equalisation of dividends; to pay » dividend at tho rate of 8 per cent., absorbing nearly £ 13,000; mid to carry forward to next year 'llio retiring directors, Mr John Roberts, GM.lr., of Duuodin, ami Mr G. G. Stoad of Chnekhurch, notify their inteuticu to sluiu for re-election. CUSTOMS RETURNS. Tho net Customs vpTenue for Dimedin for the month of December was £34,693 19s lid. Beer duty contributed £3547 18s 7ti. Iho sold oxported was 73690*. valued at £30,076. Tin. Djjuree for last month wore: Customs dutv. £36,490 5s 2d; beer duty £2626 11s 4d; K old exported, 23.49702, raluod at £95,051. For the month of December lost roar the returns were- Customs dutj, £55,430 7s llil; beer duty £3297 16s; K o!d exported, 64760z, valued at £25,373.

Tho relume tor tlio past quarter arc as follow.:.—Customs dutj, £103,576 ss; beer

duty, £9167 5s 8d; gold exported, 38,50907,, valued at £165,627. Tho returns for the eamo period of 1905 were: Customs duty, £108,347 18s 9d; beer duty, £8763 12s 9i'l; gold exported, 19,4400z, valued at £77,363.

CUSTOMS RETURNS IN , AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, January 3. The December quarterly relum of Customs and excise duties collected in the port of Auckland shows tliil £191,477 was collected under the Customs and £301 in excise duties. These figures show an increaee of £25,000 and £78 respectively compared with the corresponding period of 1305, and belt the record quarter of 1904 by tho big margin of £700, thus creating a new record.

Tho gold duties, which totalled .49323 for the quarter, show the substantial incronse of £2484.

EXPORTS OP AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, December 31. A feature of the exports from Auckland for December is the record amount of butt-r handled the total value of £33,437 for the month being no Jess than £61,449 in excess of that for December, 1905, constituting a record for any month. The shipments ot the principal exports for tho month are as follow:—Butler. 16,4u9ewt (£93,4371- cheese "u7' ™ 1J9 , ); °f ts ' ™ ,; «^ !s ml ]J,.9Bcwt GC2497); mutton, Wlcwt (£677)' tons (£15,984); tow, !M (oua (iS18). BANKING RETURNS. WELLINGTON. January 19. the bulking returiw for the pnst quarter •how that the total liabilities j u wcro ±21,800,448, as against £23,972 561 in December, 1900. The assets α-t the ,4 le dutee were f32,553,391 and £25,322,909 reaiiec£l42,ilo7. lliero is an increase in nil claases ol deposits. Government deposits increased by i«5,132 freo ilopouis by the very substantial sum of £1,111,033, and fixed deposits by £G7,1G0 Com a-iul bullion have increased by £1M4'585 Govcriinicnt sociwilics by iT-1,131, ailvimces by £1,5(1,089, and other Mcurities by f<58153 lhe (bscounts are leas by a. lilt],, "more than £10,000. Taking a series of years, the total average assets and liabilities, and the excess of the former over the l»lt«r arc sliowvi iu the table appended: —

Kxcess ot Jjoc. Aessts Liabilities. Assets. 1901 ..£18,621,773 £17,283,045 i-1,535,128 1002 .. ]<1,1G2.178 19,018,533 143.61G 190S .. 20,580,887 20.301,934 1904 . 21,290,485 2O,O0S.i:!O 1,198,295 1905 .. 22,582,991 21.850,448 732,543 1006 .. 25,322,80!) 23,072,501 1,350,343 In iivo years the assets have increased by £6,501,136, and the liabilities by iC,665,91C. BAJTK OF NEW ZEALAND. The following is tho statement of 111(1 overage amount of liabilities und jussets of the Bank af Now Zealand, in New Zealand, during the quarter ended 31st December, 1906:Liabilitics.—Notes in circulation, £863,231 15s; bills in circulation, £45,398 0s Cd; balances duo to other banks, £22,838 la 8d; Government deposit?, =£2,103,841 2s Id; other deposits—not bearing interest, £-1,093,614 19s 2d; bearing interest, £1,562,830 Gs lid;—total average liabilities, £12,301,754 6s 4d.

Assets.—Coinwl gold and tilver aud other coined metal, £2,023,287 18s 9d; gold and silver in bullion or bara. £83,324 Gs 10d: notes and bills of other banks, £93,0-24 2s 6d: balances due from ether banks, £354 14s Bd; landed property, £104,153 10s: amount ot all other securities—notes mid bills discounted, 812.M5 13a Id-; colonial Government securities, £936,704 6s 8d; other funded securities—debts due to the bank (exclusive of debts abandoned as bad), J5.471.538 19a 2d; securities not included under the above heads, £72G,420 9s lid; —total average oasets, £10,381,204 Os 4d.

Four per cent, guaranteed stock, £1,000,000 (interest £130.000 for six months, paid to Ist jCoveniber, 1906); preference shares fully paid up issued to the Crown under "The Bsuik of New Zealand Act, 1903," £500,000; rate of Ihe last dividend declared to the shareholders, 6 per cent.; ordinary share capital Jpaid up to £500.000), £500,000; amount of tho lust dividend declared on preference shares, £25,000; amount of the last dividend declared on ordinary shares, £25,009; amount of tho reserved profits at the time- of declaring such dividend, £81,294 10s 3d.