COMMERCIAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 224, 28 May 1896, Page 26

COMMERCIAL.

' This week being towards the close of the month Jhtro has not been very much business passing in the import market. Prices generally are firm, there ars no marked alterations in values to Report. There has besn the usual inquiry for Sried fruite. Currants are quoted Sjd to 4d per lb. are very firm at 4|d to 5d per lb, and rfemes secure 4gd to 4}d par lb. There has been a .pretty good demand for figs, and prices rbbge ifrom Sid to 61d per lb for hags, according to quality, and 6}d per lb in layer?, while lib boxes Bell at 6s to 63 3d per dozen, according to size. Pates are also in g< od request and sell at 4d par lb. Fish moves off quietly and prices remain Unaltered. Vancouver s&lmon secures 7s 6d to 8s per dozen for tall tins, according to brand, and Ps'per dozen for flats, while for " Cocktail, the leading brand in tMs market, 9s 6d per dozen is obtained. Sardines sell at 6s 9d to 7s per dozen for halves, an<l 3s 9d to 4s per dozen for quarters. Ling fish is reported by Home buyers as being difficult to obtain, and local holders hive hardened their price to 5d per lb. Very little business is passing in hops, and the current quotation is lOd to lOJd per lb, f.o.b Nelson. A few Californians have changed hands during the week at Is Id to Is 2d_ per lb, according to quantity. Dressed Japan rice has receded in value a little, and is now obtainable for £19 10s to £20 pertAD, duty paid, but as there is a slight advance reported from Japan, it is expected that prices will harden again very shortly. Patna is without alteration, and move 3 off slowly at £12 15s to £13 pfer ton, in bond. The sugar market is unaltered, Queensland and China finest whites and Company's No. 1 securing £24 to £24 10s per ton. The bagging market is quiet, tho demand for corssacks falling off as the season advances. To-djty's quotation is 4a 7Jd to 4s 9d per dozen, Recording to quantity. In woolpacks there is nothing doicg. As to be expected at this season of the year, kerosene is in good demand. The price is unchanged, and 1* 4jd per gallon is the current quotation for ordinary trade lots, but for large parcels a shade less would be expected. There Eat been the usual business passing in iron and hardware lines during the week, but prices are without alteration, and there is nothing of ipecial interest to report. The twelfth annual report of the Perpetual Trustees Company states that the profit and loss account (hows a net profit for the year of £1677 Is 6d, which, added to £1857 5s Id brought forward from previous year, gives an available balance of £3534 6s 7d. Out of this an interim dividend at the rate of 12J per cent, per annum was paid for the half-year ending 31st October 1895, which absorbed £507 17s 4d ; and the directors now recommend the p»yment of a dividend at the same rate for the half-year now closed, and cairying forward the balance (£2518 lls lid) to next year. The Hon W. Downie Btewart, M.L_.O., and Mr Thomas Moodie are the retiricg directors.