GENERAL MERCHANDISE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14830, 22 November 1913, Page 6

GENERAL MERCHANDISE.

Tea.—lndian: A large quantity at auction, almost a record. The general tendency was easier, although finest teas sold well. The export trade arc buying heavily, and tho market looks healthy. Ceylon: A fair quantity at auction (20,000 packages). Values, if anything* a trifle easier, but fine teas showed no alteration. Common tea barely steady. Java: Abjut 3600 packages up for sale. Demand on the whole steady, especially whore tens showed quality. Medium and common sorts, if anything, a trifle easier. On account of tho strikes local stocks of many of the moat popular brands are now runuing short. Coffee. —There have only been small quantities at public auction this week, and the tono has been very firm. Both Homo trado and export h<tve boeu .buying, and supplies have aot been sum* cicnt for requirements. Tbo market closes generally about 2s to 3e dearer. Santos: A very firm and activo market, closing 2s dearor for the week, after having been Is higher still. Reports of 1914-15 crops, now flowering, continue to come to liand, and without exception tlioy aro unfavourable. If this should bo borne out by actual results/the market will bo faced with a further shortage in the visible supply. Kapoc.—Tho market declined in accordance- with our anticipations, but has again slightly strengthened, and in tho interval a fair amount of business has been put through. Tobacco. —This line, liko many others, is also sbort on account of tho boats not being able to discharge. Mediterranean Fruits.—"Uie first shipment of the- new season's parcels has been transhipped at Melbourne, and is now on the way to New Zealand. Calif ornian Dried Iruits. —• The steamers Willochra and Canada Capo ; aro bringing forward fairly largo par- ! eels of this fruit. Californian Canned Fruits.—Fairly heavy shipments have been made per the abovo steamers Willochra and Canada Cape. ! Salmon. —The agents for Shamrock British Columbia salmon report good sales on account of tho superior quality of this brand. Linseed Oil during the week took a sudden advance, but to-day's quotation for Thistlo brand has come back to within a Jd of the previous week's price. White Lead.—Although it has teen anticipated for some time that a decline would be reported, such cloclino has not yet come about. Pig Iron. Bar Iron, and Steel.—There is no change to report from our last quotations.