COMMERCIAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 40, 18 January 1881, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Wellington, January 1& The usual dullness after the holidays, has been experienced during the past week. Complaints are general ; we have no alteration to report in the markets. Sugar appears to be attracting attention, and it is the belief of many that prices will harden considerably, there is a considerable rise reported in Mauritius, and we are ipfnr-rnpA f.hafi hjui Sold mare than can be delivered. In the face of this we expect high prices will rule until the new crop arrives about July next ; quota* tions are nominally. — I. W., £44; 1.C., £40 and C. £36 ; but then is not that competition or anxiety to sell, experienced for two or three months past. English crushed loaf sugar is scarce and inquired for. Foreign is in full supply and quoted at £46 to £43. Tablet sugar is also very scarce. The seasonable demand for ale is quite up to the average, Griffin's, Foster's and other knows brands receiving a fair Rha"<> of attention, quotatiouaaref rom 1 2$ to 12 • I for quarts, and 7s 9d to 8s for pints. Stout is Belling freely at 11b GJ to 12a. according to samples and brands. Hennesay'B 1 star case brandy is scarce md holdeis ask and get 4ls per case ; J. 8., bulk, ia quoted at 10 i 9.1 to 11s. Sales at the former figure havo come under our notice in small lines. Whiskies have been selling freely, case at from 16s to 21s and bulk from ~n (id to Ss accor-ling to samples. Sweet Geneva has been inquired for, but our stocks are very low. Dried fruits have not altered since our last. Currants are firmly held for 6*4 to 6&d ; Eleme raisins, 7d to 7£d ; and Sultanas, 7d to 7Jd ; stocks are exceedingly light, and several overdue ships are eagerly looked for. Candles are scarce and quotations are D.R. C. or D.R. Jenar, 9d to 9£d. Prices are in full supply and worth lOd to 10£ d, but the demand for this description is limited. Kerosene has a little firmer tendency, stocks are light and no shipments close at hand, we therefore look for an advance in prices ; quotation for overtest oil ia 2s. Galvanised iron is slow of sale, the reported shipments ex Buranui appear to make speculative purchasers careful ; we cannot however see how prices can go below £23 for 24 guage, and £25 for 26 guage. Fencing wire iB very low, sales have been made during the week at £14 10s for No. 6, £15 for No. 7, and £15 10s for No. 8 and 9, but at these prices the margin of profit to the importer U small ; sheet lead has been sold at £21 10s and £22 ; no sales of nails have come under our notice. Cornsacks have had a little enquiry from outside market, but they are firmly held here for 8< 9d to 98, an offer to clear a line at 8a 3d was refused, flour is unaltered, first class brands atill command £11 to £11 10s, but there is no speculative enquiry. The prospects of the harvest continue good and there is a probability of a heavy yield. -N.Z. Times. Christchcbch, January 14. The following are current market quotations ;— Old wheat, 4s 3d, but it is too early to tpnge the value of the seecLorop sales, latter quoted at 3a 9d to Ss#H ; chick wheat, Is 9d to 2s4d ; oats, Is 3d to Is 7W ; new barley, Ss 6d ; flour Bells fairly at £11. PjaM£RSTOH>T§»furd»y. Messrs Stevens & Qafion held their second stock sale ozrWednesday. and there was a largeattendance. The following is the report of the prices realised :— About 225h«*d of oattle yarded, and 400 sheep. IWand-a-half year steers, £4 7s 6d ; yearling* £2 5s to £2 10s ; cows £4 to £4 10» / milch oow» at proßt, £4 15a to £6 10s ; beef from £6 6s to £6 7s 6d, and .£6 10s ; store sheep* 4s to 6s 6d. There was fco sale for hones worth noting. Every lot was sold underfthe hammer, with the exception of » few cows. — . Manawatn Times.