COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2475, 14 March 1882, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs dutieß collected at Christchurch on Saturday, March 11th, were as follows : Spirits, -EG 13s lid ; tobacco. .£42 3s 6d; sngar, JM 13s 4d ; tea, £3O; goods by weight, jB2 2s 2d ; ad valorem, .£2B Bs. Total, £' 14 2s sd.

Transactions during the past week have been limited, and our markets for mOBt lines continue somewhat depressed, owing to the_ absence of demand and to the caution exercised by importers in not forcing off goods at previously low rates. Doubtloss, as the month advances more activity will be noticed. Cornsacks have not had much business; the demand has not been so large as was expected. Quotations are now easy at 9s. Seaming twine has had fair Bales at 14d. Salt continues in large Bupply, and low rates are accepted for parcels to reduce stocks. Sugars have Been more business, and fine whites have been freely quitted at £32 lOj. Yellow crystals have small sales, which, together with browns, are in short supply, and command extreme rates. A fair business has been done in tobaccos, ohiefly for Nailrod, which, being rather scarce, fetches high figures. Sales of twist are noted of best brands at an advance on previous rites. Brands of fine quality nave had good inquiry, but the quotations necessary to secure sales do not cover present cost of importation. Hennessy's case is in short supply, but obtainable at low rates. Geneva, of small and large contents, has had fair sales ; stocks Ibeiag reduced, qaot .tions will doubtless harden. Scotch whiskey, of fine old quality, baa been more freely quitted than formerly, lower sorts are unnoticed. Dunville's Irish, in casks and cases, meets with nand good sales Bottled beer, in good condition, has had some inquiry ; lower sorts are in large supply, but unsaleable at almost any figure. Stout has been freely quitted for leading brands, and sa'es of inferior sorts are noted at exceedingly low rates. Port wine of from medium to best quality being rather scarce has had small sales. Wherries have had na attention. Krug's champagne being in excessive supply, has been quitted at low rates. Monopole and Boederer's have steady sales at fair prices. Candles find buyers in small lots at 9£i for Belmonts ; other aorta are unnoticed; doubtless as the season advances improved rates will rule. Kerosene has little attention, and the low rates asked fail to lead to bueiae s, the large quantity afloat tending to discourage speculation. But little has been done in dried fruits. Currants continue easy at 5Jd. Eleme raisins have small sale at 7fd. Muscatels, being in short supply, command full rates. Tea 3 have not had much notice, and that only for the finer qualities, which are now more in favor; lower kinds are in excessive supply, and difficult to quit. Fish has been unusually dull for the seaton, and only ■mail sales of salmon and sardines are noticed; the latter continue at a high figure, which tends to check sales. In building materials, a disposition has been manifested to quit cement at forced rates on account of heavy shipments. Galvanised iron is now firm at £;5 103 for Sarcels. Sheet lead at 22s to 22s 6d for 3J to 6. 'encing wire, contrary to usual experience, h.s lately had an active enquiry, at from £l4 10s to .£ls 10s for assorted parcels. COMMERCIAL TELEGBAMB. Dunedin. March 13. The British and New Zealand Mortgage and Agency Company (Limited) have received the following telegram from Messrs Belmnth, Schwartze and Co., London, dated 10th inat. : " Sales continue very animated. Prices for good greasy are on the average id to Id higher; for good fleece and sooured fully Id; and for particularly fine crossbred |d to Id higher than at the close of the last series. Prices for inferior wools and clothing sorts are unchanged."