COMMERCIAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2721, 29 December 1882, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties collected at hristhurch on Wednesday, December 27th, were, as follows:—Spirits, .£229 9s 9d; cigars, £5 11a 9d; wine, ill 4s; beer, £G 15s ; sugar, -£4O 8s sd,- tea, .£24 4s 4d; goods by weight, Ha 6d; ad valorem, £GO 9s; other duties, £251 4s sd. Total, £854 18s 2d. Business during the past week has been, as is usual towards the end of the month, rather contracted. The Christmas holidays have also checked operations, and no improvement can bo expected till the turn of the new year. The money market continues rather tight, and great caution has to _ be exercised in negotiating sales, a few late failures having tended to make sellers chary of giving extensive credit except to very first-class marks. Bottled ale has good enquiry, and being low in stock shows improved value. Stout is in ample supply, and has only moderate sales. Wines, considering the season, have had little notice, and that principally for champagne and claret; while port and sherry have been neglected. Sales of spirits of all kinds have been nominal. Scotch whiskey continues in heavy supply, which, with advices of largo shipments to arrive, tends to keep quotations low, without leading to increased quittance. Woolpaeks have slight enquiry, k and sales are noted of small lots, chiefly for scourers’ requirements. Calcutta oil, ex recent arrivals, has been placed at low figures. Sugars are now in ample supply, and quotations consequently easier. Sales continue freely for tine whites, while yellows and browns are rather scarce, and command high rates. The arrival of the Dallam Tower from Calcutta completes importations of cornsncks for this season ; quotations, on account of heavy stocks, rule rather low, but the season is hardly sufficiently advanced for any extensive business. Tobaccos are a shade easier for twists, fancy sorts however continue firm at high rates. Heavy goods as salt, soda crystals and cement are in largo supply, and though offered low have only small sales, ft Dried fruits, as is usual at this season, have Sfood enquiry; stocks being ample, the sales noted have been at low rates, with the ex--1 ception of muscatels, which continue scarce I and at high figures.