COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2191, 4 March 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties collected at Christchurch on Wednesday, March 2nd, were aa follows: Spirits, .£lB3 2s 7d ; tobacco, .£37 12s 6d ; wine, ,£23; beer, £2O 17s 6d; sugar, £32 4s 3d ; tea, £3O 6s 8d ; goods by weight. £6O 3s 9d ; ad valorem, 13s. Total, £3BB Oa 3d. The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) have received the following telegram, dated London. March Ist: Wool—Competition is decreasing, and quotations are on an average o£d to Id lower than at tho opening. Up to date 90,000 bales have been sold. Wheat —'Market firm. Adelaide is worth 49s Gd, and New Zealand 47s per 4981 b. Tallow —Market quiet. Mutton is worth 36a 6d, and beef 34s per owt. GRAIN AND PRODUCE. Tho past week has seen a considerable business in wheat carried through, at rates ranging from 3s 3d to 3s 9d, according to description and quality of the grain. The majority of London cironlara to hand by the last mail give little hope to shippers, nevertheless the tone pervading them has, we are glad to notice, had no disoouraging effect on our local buyers. Flour meets a fair demand at £lO, bat the trade is not as brisk as is customary at the opening of the season. Oats are offering very sparingly, yet sufficient for all the demand there seams to bo. Prices range from Is 4d to Is 7d, according to quality. Barley is very difficult to place at anything approaching satisfactory rates. Really good malting finds buyers at 3s to 3s Gd, but low grades can only be placed by accepting such prices as Is 9d to 2s Gd, which are most unsatisfactory to the unfortunate growers. Bye grass seed is in good demand, and farmers might do worso than sell whilst the demand for autumn sowing exists. Cocksfoot is comparatively neglected, and difficult to sell at over 2id. Dairy produce shows no marked alteration, butter being still quoted at Gd and 7d, and cheese at 3.Vd.