COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2186, 26 February 1881, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties collected at Christohuroh on Thuraday, February 24th, were as follows s Spirits, .£321 4s 9d: cigars, £23 Is 2d; wine, JE6 3b ; beer, £lO 13s; sugar, £6O 13s 4d; tea, £2O sa; ad valorem, i)l i)a Bd. Total, £444 7s 9d.

At the usual sitting of the Waste Lands Board, held at Christchurch on Thursday, February 24th, sales were mode as follows : Ordinary: Ashburton (.town lands), la lr; ■village settlements, deferred payments, 6a. Total acreage sold, 7a lr. Total value, .£169 ss.

The pant week has not shown any increased activity in the import market. Business continues exceedingly qniet in nearly every branch, notwithstanding a better demand was anticipated towards the close of the month. During the weok, the Borneo has arrived at Dunedin from New York, after a voyage whose quickness compared with the general ran from that port forms a pleasing contrast. As she has Men chartered to load home from hero with wheat, the consignees of her cargo for this 'place may rely on her early appearance. The Mabel, also from New York, having discharged the Dunedin portion of her freight, has gone to Wellington, and, after unloading there, will como on with the Lyttelton goods. In goods not much has transpired. A few sales of yellow Bngars have been mado, in view of the expected additions to stocks. Values, however, both for whites and yellows, have in no way ohaoged. Groceries generally have only lad trade enquiry. Soda crystals continue very scarco, and until![supplies come to hand by vessels now due prices for odd lots will rule higher than ever. Sulphur is next to out of stock, and orders have had to be filled from in. tercolonial ports. Cement is quoted to arrive at 15s to 15s (id. Galvanised iron remains at old quotations, with a dull inquiry. Heavy standard iron has run out, and orders cannot be filled until parcels now afloat come to hand. A parcel of ground bark haa been sold at a price withheld. Sheet lead has been placed at £24 for Nob sand 6. Spirits are withont change. A clearing sale of an invoice of case brandy for export haa -transpired; rate not stated. A line of Courvoiaier's has also been taken up at a prico equal to 30s. Whiskey has only seen trade inquiry. As the season is drawing to a close, holders are endeavoring to clear out of clarets, especially of the lower grades. The clause of the Customs Act affecting the collection of duty on case goods, and which is of material importance to those interested, comes into operation on the Ist •f March. The alteration is a step in the right direction, both for Customs, traders, and consumers, but the reading of the Act at present adopted by the Customs is looked upon by mercantile people as rather strained, and is alao likely to cause a good deal of irritation. Tho particular clause of the Act is rather in. definite in the wording, and a little more care taken at the time of framing would have removed the cause of complaint. Iu dealing with all case spirits other than Geneva there is no difficulty, as they are put up in dozen packages. Some however question the reading sought to be established by the department, and maintain -that any fraction of a gallon over 2 gallons in a package should be charged as 3 gallons, and over 3 as 4 gallons. It is generally thought that if the Customs department were to give a little more publicity to tho modifications made in the tariff, by the ruling of the Commiasioner when disputed items have been submitted, or when any alterations take place, the public convenience would be consulted. But in affairs of this kind the department is about on a par with iho railway management in its dealing with its customers, COMMERCIAL TELEGBAMS. Auckland, February 25. Oats, first-class sample, 2b 4d. Wheat is not likely to rule above 4s 6d per bushel, unless for good fine samples, although the harvest has been a plentiful one, and on tho whole very successful. A by no means inconsiderable proportion of the wheat contains sprouting grain. Dunedin, February 25. Mr J. B. Bradshaw reports :—Bank of New Zealand shares, £22 10s to £22 15s; Colonial Bank, 42s to 43b ; National Bank, 645; New Zealand Insurance, 70s; National Insurance, 28s 6d to 29b ; Colonial Insurance, lis 3d to 11a 6d; Union Insurance, 20s; Standard Insurance (buyers), 8s; South British Insurance, 59s to 60s; New Zealand . Shipping, 97s 6d to 100 s.