Markets.

Otago Witness, Issue 1241, 11 September 1875, Page 11

Markets.

Witness Office, Thursday Morning. The ordinary course of business has been to some extent interrupted since oui last by the two days' festivities, consequent upon the opening of the Clutha Railway. But according to some business men two days of holidaying have rarely entailed a larger measure of hard work to make up lee way. This must have been caused partly by the number of visits paid to town by country storekeepers on this auspicious occasion. But let middle men and importers in town take heart of grace. As the lines open business will t flow over the year more equally, and enable them with less of risk aud a surer means of calculating their wants, to pursue* the even tenor of their way. In spirits, brandy still maintains the improi ed position to which it has attainsd. Case Hennessy is practically out of the market Other brands are selling bretty freely. Geneva continues dull. Old torn is dull also. Whisky continues in fair demand, favourite Scotch brands being almost exclusively enquired for. Ale, imported, e\en of such names as there is always a sure H a limited market for, is in decreasing enquiry, the price also declining, fctout, if it cannot be reported upon quite so unfavourably, is still exceedingly inactive, and stocks oppressively heavy. Tea, as we have before remarked, suffers from the stage in the seasonal history of last year's cargoes, at which they have now arrived, and is generally complained of as inactive, one house alone being an exception ; their cargoes, they say, are all but cleared out. Holders, confident in the qualities and values of their stock, manifest no anxiety on the head of balances remaining, to compete with next season's. In sugar, there has nothing occurred worth noting. Oilmen's stores continue good stock, and are being supplied upcouutry freely, at remunerative (though not largely remunerative) prices ; but to which should be added, indirectly and gradually, a proportion of the saving effected bythe transmission, in whole or part, to the ssveral localities being by rail rather than by dray. Dried fruits, including currants, eleme raisins, &c, are selling freely at improved prices. In hams and bacon there is a very active enquiry, but as it is exclusively almost lor sufficiently cured— for prime quality— ft cannot be met in anything buc a limited degree. In colonial inferior abounds, imported is scarce and dear. Cheese of sound and prime make is good stock, realising readily from 10J to lid. But the difficulty is to find really good. Butter is declining in price, but is not yet much more plentiful. The produce of the dairy, however, is every day increasing smd improving. In kerosene Diamond brand is selling low. In hops, lS74's continue scarce; older hops won't sell. Malt is dull. It may be that brewers for sundry reasons will yet find that their interests lie not in using exclusively, but in mingling with Coloniil, English imported malt. Galvanised iron isiuimproveddemand— price£36. Stocks, it is said, are lighter than is generally supposed. Cement is still in over supply. The present market quotation does not exceed 20s. Fencing wire is not over lively, and prices have declined at Home, rendering it a fortunate circumstance here that stocks are light. Flour is selling 1 freely from the mills, sales being both local and export, at the price now so long maintained— £lo per tou. Wheat is in fair demand at from 4s 3d to 4s (Jd. Oats are dull, quotations being— for feed, from 2s 6d ta 2s 8d ; for milling, from 23 9d to 2s lOd. Barley is quiet at from 3s 9d to 5s 9.1, according to quality. Pollard is still quoted at £6 ; bran at £4 per ton.