COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2204, 19 March 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties collected at Christchurch on Thursday,March 17th, were as follows.—Spirits, £ll6 19s lOd ; tobacco, £37 19s 6d : wine, £5 16s ; sugar, £179 8s Id; tea, £3 13s id; ad valorem, £139 12e. Total, £lB3 8a 9d. At the usual sitting of the Waste Lands Board, hold at Christchurch, on Thursday, March 17th, sales were made as followsOrdinary—Ashley, «3ft2r2sj); Selwyn, 6a Or 4r; Akuroa, 469 a: Ashpurton, 56a 3r, Geraldine, 315 alr 14p. Village settlements, deferred payments, la. Total acreage sold, 910 a3r 3p; total value, £1827 14s Id. GRAIN AND PRODUCE. The continuance of fine weather has enabled farmers to make rapid progress with _ threshing operations, and in consequence, deliveries are being made with great freedom ; indeed, 100 freely considering the scarcity of tonnage. Next week will, however, see a slight improvement, as several largo ships will then be ready to take some cargo, and thus oaao the demand for storage space in Lyttelton. Iho maikets remain much as last quoted. Short wheat of good quality is readily saleable at 3s 6d f.0.b., and Tuscan at 3s 9d also f.o.b. Beyond these rates buyers appear disinclined to operate. We have been shown some private telegrams from_ England which do not give a very hopeful view of that market, but it is yet early to speculate on tho probable prospects of either European or i American crops. Flour continues to seek a fair | demand at £lO. For export to Australian ports -or foreign, there is no enquiry. Oats aro offering in moderate quantities at Is 4d to Is 7d, according to quality, and a fair amount of business has been carried through at those rates. Barley is no way improved, and must ba considered a most unsatisfactory cereal to havo anything to do with. Many growers are, wo understand, availing themselves of freight facilities to test the Homo markets. Good malting cannot bo quoted at over 3s, and fair at 2s Cd, ordinary to inferior, 2s 3d to Is Cd. The potato season has not yet opened, bnt we hear ■of a fow sales at 30s per ton for forward delivery. Grass seed continues in excellent request at 3a Gd to 3s 9d. Bnttcr is in fair demand at 6d to Gjd, Cbeeao neglected at 3jd.