COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6510, 7 January 1882, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

Lyttellon Timet Offioe, Friday Evening. Before proceeding to notice the traneactiona of the week, it mvj not be out of place to briefly eummariee the buiinewof the past twelve roonthi. At the beginning of the year trade bad gradually come back to a Bounder bftoie, and the then promise ot a continue* and improving feeling bae, on the whole, been fairly realised. Bu»ine« during the year has J»en conducted with coniiderable caution $ the

dark days of the crisis from whioh wo bad emerged not hating faded from the remembrance of the community* That soason of tribulation has been a most wholesome le*son, and one whose teachings hare cheeked over • speculation and kept operations in legitimate channels. At the opening of 1881, with money abundant, low rates of discount, credit sound, a good namel, and transactions governed by watchfulness on the part of traders, it is no wonder that the outlook pointed to a healthy and payable state of matters, if not to largor operations. The aaticipafcions formed have been, as wo have already said, fairly realised, while tho Tolumo of trade hat been pleasingly and singularly free from embarrassments. Iraporters, again, hare kept supplies ot mo»t descriptions of goods down to tho level of requirements, and the year has not been marked by much speculation in merchandise, transactions having been oonfined a gratifying manner to business limite. Of course there are overstocks of some kinds of goods, but as they are mostly in firm hands this matter will shortly right itself. The circumstanoes surrounding tho beginning of 1881 are applicable in a much stronger degree to the year coming on. It opens with a reasonable prospeot of an averago and satisfactory business. The price of wool, and the probable value of the incoming crop of grain, fairly warrant suoh anticipations. In a pursuance by traders of the same policy, and the exercise of the same caution, we have every guarantee that the operations of 1882 will be as commercially sound and successful as those of the year that has just ended. Like the preceding, the volume of business of the past week has been appreciably affected by the late holidays. Sales while distributed over a great variety of articles, have been comparatively limited. Sorting up accurately describss the nature of the business that haa transpired. Sugars, however, form an exception to this. Quittances of parcels of whites at an advance of 10s per ton, have been frequent lately. Teas of medium quality have been in moderate request, at Is Id to Is 3d in half-chests. Holders of tobaccos are firm in their quotations. For twists Is Sid to Is Bd, according to brand, is asked for small lots. American advices report a further rise, and prices here are hardening. Btocks are not heavy. Salmon, in lib tics, is selling at 8s 3d to Bs. 6d, while for lines a concession is obtainable. The high price of sardines has, for the present, cheoked business. Invoices of soda crystals to land are ■ offered at low prices, but in view of shipments to follow, buyers are not eager. Wax vestas continue dull of sale. Until stocks work down little improvement in price can be expected. Bice is selling at exceptionally j low rates, and values are affected by the presence of several lota of re-dressed damaged. The increased cost of candied peel is being felt, and- importers now ask Is 2d. Kerosene is moving quietly at Is lOd to 2s 2d for low and high test respectively. In jute goods we have not much to note. For cornsacks, importers are asking 9s 3d and 9s 6d for ordinary and large size for invoice lines. These high prices sensibly affect present operations. Buyers are holding back, as the requirements of the season are problematical, and importations are on a scale equal to the best of crops. Woolpacks, outside of the station and farming demand, are without attention.

The enquiry for fencing wire continues quiet. Galvanised iron, in assorted lines, has been placed at £25 10s to £26 for Orb and Gospel Oak. Wire nails are scarce ; invoice , parcels fanning command 21s to 225, accord* ing to assortment. Wines tnd spirits are without alteration, and business has been of a retail character. The. foreign arrivals embrace the Marlborough and the Helen Scott, from London. Consignees by the latter vessel had almost given her up. She brings a large quantity of binding wire, and a considerable assortment of shearing season, and Christmas goods, which are, of course, too late for the market. There iB no material alteration to note in the money market. Investment sums still continue abundant, while discounts have in no way been altered. GKAIN AND PBODUOE. There has been very little doing in the grain market during the past week. The late spell of warm weather has brought the harvest quickly upon us, and in many distriots cutting is already in full swing. Wheat.—Prices stand at 4s to 4s 2d, but no business of any extent has transpired. Old stocks continue to be cleared out tor the Home market. Late cablegrams report a slight improvement. Oats.—Not much has been done outside a few sales for local use. Prices remain at Is lOd to 2s for feed, and 2s Oid to 2s Id, for milling. | Bablbt is firmer in values; prices are quoted at 3s 6d to 3s lOd for best quality. The opinion is generally entertained that higher rates will rule for this grain, as the incoming crop does not promise to be of the best kind, either as to quality or quantity.

Floub.—From Jan. 1 millers have receded the price to £lO 10s for best brands. Gbabs Seed. —Several samples of the new crop have been offered, but little business has transpired. Sellers ask 8s 3d to 3s 6d, but at the moment buyers do not feel inclined to respond. Some parcels of cocksfoot, for early delivery, have been sold. Prices are likely to rule about 3d to 3£d, but it i« yet almost too early to give fixed quotations. Daisy Pbodtjoe continues dull of sale, and values are unchanged. OUBTOMS* BEVENUI. The following was the Customs' revenue 00l tooted on Thursday, Jan. 51— Wines, £62 0s i spirits, £77 8s Id ; tea, £7B 19s 4d; sugar, £53 18s ; tobacco, £75 15s 6d ; cigars, £42 18s 9d; cigarettes. £45 : snuff. £lB Os; goods by weight, £590 Is 2d i od valorem, £926 14s; other duties, £4ll 8s 4d ; total, £2382 8s 2d. LAND SALES. At the sitting of the Waste Lands Board on Thursday, the following amounts were sold, realising £222 Is 3d i—Ashley, 20a; Aehbueton, 62a Ir 8p ; Qeraldino, 8a 2r 37p; total, Ilia Or sp, Befunds were made on account of former pur. chases to tho amount of £Blos. Compensation on account of Public Works, 33a Or 15p. The Nbw Zkauhu Loah & Mbecaktiui Aojsbot Co., Limited, report on tho produce markets for tu« week ondiog Jau, Sas follows : Wool.—Arrivals into store are increasing daily, and it is sow certain that ut tho next series ot Biles, to bo held on Jan. 17 and 18, larger catalogues than usual will bo submitted. Our latest tolegrapbio advices from London, under date Jan. 3, roport:"Wool market unonanged. Trade in tho manufacturing distriots la brisk." Shskpsiikb.—Parcels coming forward now consist chii fir of pelts and quarter-grown skins. At Thursday's soles there was tbe usual attendance of buyers, but a want of animation characterised the market, and displayed Itself in a general decline in values. Wo catalogued about 600 skins, whloh realised as under:—Butchers' crosa-breds, largo, 6s 44 to 5s lOd; eeaond quality, 8s 8d to 4g 4d j merinos, medium quality only, 2s fid to 3s lOd j country crois-breds, Ss Id to 4s 2d j pelts, large and woolly, up to 2s j medium. Is 3d to Is 8d j badly saved and stained, 7d to Is Id; lambskins, Is Bdtolsod. , Hide*.—The market for the moment Is quite unsettled. Bayers deolino to operate at late rates, and brokers display no disposition to force trade. All ooiving forward are consequently being treated with salt. ... Tallow abd Fat.—None of the former was offered. For rongb fat 2d to 2Jd was obtained;