COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2704, 7 December 1882, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties collected at Christchurch on Tuesday j December sth, were as follows: Spirits, .£215 6s 8d ; tobacco, £5 10s ; wine, £25 7s ; beer, £G 12s ; sugar, £54 19s Id; tea, £22 7s 6d; goods by weight, £47 6s 4d; ad valorem, £32 8s ; other duties, £l4 Bs. Total, £429 4s 7d. ENGLISH Messbs Miles Bbothebs and Co. report, under date London, October 20th, as follows : WOOL. During the short time which has elapsed since the close of the last sales very little business has been passing in our Wool Market, only a few bought-in lots of Australian and Cape wools having changed hands at about September rates. Keports from the manufacturing districts are encouraging, trade being steady, and consumption of the raw material good. The total available quantity (with the 40,000 bales old stock) for the November series, to open on the 21st proximo, will probably amount to 140,000 bales, which will include some 33,000 bales of the new Australian clip. The arrivals to date are as follows : Bales. New South Wales and Queensland ... ; 11,923 Victoria 15,779 South Australia 6,713 Western Australia 40 Tasmania 229 New Zealand 12,974 Cape of Good Hope 22,154

Total 69,812 WHEAT, FLOUR, &C. We have to report a firmer feeling on our com market, in consequence of the determination of American shippers to restrict their supplies, and [wheats have recovered to the extent of Is 6d to 2s per quarter from the lowest point touched. The visible supply in America is now estimated at 13,800,000 bushels, while the shipments from that country during the fortnight show a falling off of 472,000 quarters. The total on passage from all parts is about 1,880,000 ■quarters, against 1,903,500 quarters this time last year. Stocks of Australian wheats here are limited, and with only a small quantity to arrive These descriptions are now worth Is 6d per quarter more money, the value to-day being 48s 6d to 49s per 496 lbs ex store. The deliveries of English wheat having considerably fallen off lately. New Zealand descriptions have improved 2s for long berried, and Is 6d for average quality, the former being now quoted at 46s to 475, and the latter at 42s 6d to 44s 6d per 4961 b, ex store. Flour is in steady demand, but prices are unaltered, Australian superfine being 33s to 345, fine 27s to 295, and New Zealand 31s to 33s per 2801 b. Fine malting barley is in good request, the demand for grinding descriptions having also improved, and are 6d per quarter dearer. New Zealand is now worth 34s 6d to 42s per 4481 b, according to quality. Oats show an advance of 6d to Is per quarter; for fine New Zealand sorts 30s to 34s per 3841 b is now paid, and 24s to 27s per 3361 b for average quality. Beans bring 40s to 42s per 5041 b. TALLOW AND HIDES. At the sales to-day there was only a limited demand for Australian tallow, and 916 casks were sold out of 1729 casks offered. Prices were somewhat irregular, but on the average about last week’s rates were obtained. Quotations are 44s to 45s 3d good to fine mutton, and 43s to 44s 6d for fair to fine beef. Stocks now amount to about 6300 casks. Salted Hides.—At the public sales on the 12th inst., there was a fair demand, about 5000 hides being sold at and after the auctions at fully previous rates, viz., heavy ox sid to old ; light ox, 4Jd to sd; cows, 5d ; kips, 4jd to 4Jd and second class, &0., 4d to 5d per lb. Bank rate 5 per cent.