COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2079, 22 October 1880, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs dnties collected at Christchurch on Wednesday, October 20th, were as follows Spirits, £312 5s lid; tobacco, .£127 4s 6d ; wine, £43 Us 2d; beer. £5 15s 6d; sugar, £37 17s sd; tea, £l6 13s 4d ; goods by w.ight, 9a 7d; ad valorem, £2B 11s; other dnties, £34 5a 3d ; total, £631 17a 2d.

Tho inclement weather experienced has doubtless had something to do with the falling off in tho inquiry during the past week, Ihere has been an evident disposition shown to restrict purchases to the barest limits, but with an improvement in tho weather and a nearer approach to the end of the month, when forward operations are the rule, business may be expected to manifest the same comparative activity which baa marked it for some short time. A telegram to a private firm in town notifies the sailing of the Ocean Banger from the Mauritius for this port on the Bth October. It is to be hoped that the remainder of the voyage will be more fortunate than the beginning. One of the few items that has elicited any active inqnirySwithin the last few days has boiled oil; it is the more noticeable owing to the shortness of stocks at the Small tec? MJ& vamsed iron, tho only features being a slight scarcity of 6ft. lengths. Moderate sales of fencing wire are reported. The present quotation of No. 8 is .£lB to .£lB 10s, with a rather short supply. The deliveries of barb wire daring tbs week have Been heavy. The present weather has had an effect in stimulating the demand for ploughshares, and holders have been pleased with the greater frequency of orders. Owing to the same cause, the demand for clover seeds this season has long ago passed over the usual time and is still characterised by some considerable life ; prices, however, rule very high, and white and cow grass are difficult to obtain in quantity. Spot lots of purple and green top Aberdeen turnip seeds are selling at 130 s to 150 s; Devonshire grey and purple top mammoth, 112 a. Cnt loaf sugar of good quality is selling at 53a to 54a. Sales of rice have been made at 22s to 265, according to sample. For spirits not much can he noted. Bum has had fair enquiry at 4s to 4s 6d for 8 to 10 o.p. Whiskey and brandy are without any special feature, having shared in tho general quietness. A few quittances of low to medium sherries have taken place at 6s to 10s in bond. Business in champagnes has been of the moat retail character, and has ran on one or two brands. No alteration has taken place in bottled ale and etont, and the market is characterised by the utmost listlessness.