COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2209, 25 March 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties collected at Christchurch on Wednesday, March 23rd. were ns follows :—Spirits, £235 5h lid ; tobacco, £lO7 16s ; wine, £35 2s 8d ; beer, £3 10s 6d ; sugar, £6llßs 7d ; tea, £IOB 4s 8d ; goods by weight, £1 4 12s 5d ; ad valorem, £BB3 15s: other dntios, £.2 11s 8d ; total, £1655 17s sd.

Although the business transacted in the import market during the past week shows a slight improvement, yet the volume is not so satisfactory as coaid bo wished. Sales of most lines are being pushed, but traders ns a body are still guarded in purchasing. The consignees by the Marlborough and the Orari may look forward to a qnick discharge of their goods, as both vessels are wanted for tno loading of grain. Advices from Wellington report that qnick despatch is being given to the Borneo, and that we may expect her arrival here ▼ery soon. Sales « f teas in low and high class have been frequent during the week. Sugars still maintain the easy feeling that has lately characterised the market. Loaf, ex recent arrivals, has been sold np to 58s. Van Honfcen's cocoa has been freely taken at 4s 6d to 4s 7d. The agents of Mellor’s sauce report that the late active demand continues unabated. Oilmen’s stores have only seen trade enquiry. Clearing lines of Tasmanian jams have taken place at 5s 9d to 6h. Tobacco has been moved in fair lots at Is to Is Id for cases, according to brand. There has been a slight enquiry for carbolic acid, and a little business can be noted. Sheep dipping material has not been much noticed. Some invoice hues of boiled oil to arrive have been taken at 4s 6d ; spot lots are quoted at 4s 8d to 4s 9d. Castor has been sold at 4s for parcels. Kerosene, Eoyal brand, has been placed at 2s, but Id more is now asked; other brands of high test are quoted at Is lid to 2s. Turpentine is not in over supply, and higher rates have had to ho paid. Sulphur is out of stock, and lots brought from intercolonial ports have fetched up to £24 10s to £25. Soda crystals stand at 10s to 10a 6d. Candles, 94d to according to brand. ELemes in harbor are offering at 7£d to Wax vestas are in fair supply, and prices have in no way altered. Hoping and seaming twine have had business at recent rates. Cornsacks are without alteration. An improved trade can bo noted in fencing wire, but the demand is not extensive. All the numbers are in fair supply, except 4 and 9. Barb wire has been selling more freely, importers showing a disposition now to reduce the price, ns the invoices coming to bund show a less cost. Invoice parcels ol galvanised iron have been placed at £25 to £26, according to brand. Standard iron La still scarce, and orders are difficult to fulfil if standards are wanted anything out of the ordinary size in length. White, red and alsiko cl:.vcrare now obtainable, and the cow grass will be in the market in a day or two from p creels now landing. Prices for all these are at extreme rates, varying from Is to la Id. Ale and stout in bottle are without activity. Brandy is quoted at 8s to 8s 3d for the brands most commonly taken Considerable sales of Eoedorer's champagnes have been made for export, d* o no doubt to the increased price now asked in the home market. All the leading brands show an advance of .os to 7s per case in the cellars on the Continent, and orders at the old rates have iu every case been declined. Bernard's ginger wine has seen business at 265. Whisky still labors under depressing effects of over stocks, more particularly in case. Transactions iu common clarets ate now becoming much less frequent. LAND SALES. Mn Charles Clark hold an auction sale of land at his rooms in Hereford street yesterday, at noon. There was a very good attendance. He succeded in Bolling three quarter-acre sections in Worcester street east, near Stanmoro road, for £2OO each on abort terras. Ho also offered and sold a quarter aero situate in Ashburton for £4O cash. Total sale, mw. Mbsbrs H. Matson and Co. held a sale of land at their rooms, Cashel street, on Thursday, the 24th fust., by order of the Kcgistrnr of the Supremo Court. The property consists of 19 acres 3 roods, j adjoining the town of Leeston, known as paddock 5, with a house orectod thereon. It realised £MO per acre, or a total sum of £592 10s. COMMERCIAL TELEGRAMS. Wellington, March 24 Mr James O'Shea reports :—Flour, Adelaide, £l3 100 to £l4 ; Canterbury, £9 10s to £9 15s ; Oamaru, .810 to £lO 5s ; oats, feed, Is 8d to Is lOd ; milling, la lid to 2a Id ; potatoes,4os to 455; Sydney maize, 9d to 3a 3d j barley, no sale ; feed, 2s 9d,