COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2426, 14 January 1882, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

fho Customs duties collected at Christchurch on Thursday, January 12th, were as follows: Soirits. £BS 43 10; tobacco, .£14119s 6d; wine, £3l l'2s; beer, .£5 15s 6d ; sugar, £2 8a 4d; tea, £l9 ; goods by weight, £l3 18s 6d; ad valorem, £59 9s. Total, £397 7s Bd. At the usual sitting of the Waste Lands Board, held at Christchurch on Thursday, January 12th, sales were made as follows: Ordinary, Ashley, 60a 3r 20p ; Akaroa, 127 a ; Ashburton, 6a; village settlement, Fairlio Creek, la. Total acreage sold, 194 a3r 20p. Total cash received, £395 15s. Refunds were made on account of former purchases in the Bum of £l3 14s 9d. Business during the past week has been rather quiet, and not up to the usual standard attained at this season. Sales have been only of a retail character, and those only for actual requirements. Doubtless as the harvest progresses greater aetivity will be perceived. An absence of speculation still continues, although the rise in some goods offers a good field to the enterprising. Sugars have established an advance equal to that maintained in Mauritius, fine white crystals being now readily quitted at £32 10s. Yellows and browns are comparatively scarce, bat our markets are now in better supply by a shipment just to hand ex Mountaineer. Spirits have seen fair business, brandy of medium qcality having been qnitted_ at good rates both for ease and bulk. Geneva is getting in short supply, and has had inquiry for small contents. Scotch whiskey at 4s 6d has also had some attention. Danville’s Irish meets ■with fair sales at current rates. Old Tom . and rum remain neglected. Few sales of wines are noted, port of good quality being rather scarce, has more inquiry, and clarets still continue in good sale. Champagnes now have little notice. Ale, in bottle, has been freely placed at fair rates ; bulk has had good sale, but of this stocks are limited.' Stout meets with no demand. continue firm, and are slowly but surely rising. Twist is freelv quitted at Is 4d, Nailrod is in demand at Is 9d ; fancy sorts are scarce, and almost unobtainable. Galvanised iron is well held and advancing, and a demand likely to arise for immediate wants will doubtless cause a further rise. Fencing wire has had a little notice; binding wire just to hand is being pushed off at low rates. Wire nails are in insufficient supply, and command good figures. Teas have had fair attention at from medium to fine quality; stocks are in favour of holders. Oils have as yet little notice ; toiled and raw are quoted at 4s 3d and 4s respectively. Machine, for harvest purposes, has had good sales at 4s 6d ; the finer sorts are tco high to find buyers. Kerosene rules low, and ia only quitted at a small margin to importers. Rica of fine quality has pood sale at 27s ; lower sorts are neglected. Salmon has been quitted at 8s ■3d ; lobsters at 9s. Sardines are almost cleared out of first hands, and now fetch high figures. Elomo raisins have had small sales at 7£d ; sultanas continue high, and cannot profitably be quitted under 9d. Currants continue easy at sid, with large stocks. Salt, on account of heavy shipments to arrive, is being forced off at low rates. Cornsacks meet with little inquiry, but, doubtless, as the season progresses, will see great activity, stocks not being more than equal to requirements; present quotations are firm at 9s GJ. Wool packs now meet with little notice, the balk of the demand having been supplied. The recent arrival of the Helen Scott, after a very protracted passage, has relieved the anxiety of those concerned. The Loch Dee, from London, has also put in an appearance. Money continues easy and credit giod, and beyond a late failure of an old-established concern, trade may be stated to be in a healthy state