COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4324, 29 January 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

DUNEDIN IMPORT MARKETS (From tho Times, January 25.) A fair amount of business has been transacted during the week, a large proportion of it—as any one glancing over the manifests of steamers and coasters might have seen—having been export. Sailing craft of everv kind are at present very fully employed, frolghts'offcring in every direction, and consisting of general merchandise, as well as of transhipments from vessels in the harbor. Sugar lias largely occupied the attention of buyers. Ou Tuesday, the 19th, Messrs, McLandress, Hepburn, and Co. submitted at auction the Christchurch portion of the cargo of the Royal Diadem, from Mauritius, consisting of 3GS2 mats, the whole of which was knocked down at the following prices Finest yellow crystals. £32 : finest counters, £32 10s.; finest do., £33 17s. Gd. and £34 ; finest do., £33 Iss. and £34. The qualities were not first-class, nor the assortment varied, and consequently above prices fell short of recent rates by about 40s. per ton. “On account of whom it might concern,” 3032 pockets of damaged sugars, ex same vessel, were also disposed of samo day, and at values as nearly as may be the same, allowing for their damaged condition prices ranging from £27 ss. to £32. A few days afterwards tho counterparts of the previous sale of the Christchurch portion, damaged, were also sold, and realized—for the kind which brought £32 sound, £3O damaged ; for £31125. 6d.. £3O ; for £35 55., £3O ; for £32 10s., £3O 15s. ; for £34, £3l 55.; for £33 155., £3l 10*. A consignment of 2870 hags Yarraville Refinery Company’s were then offered, but, popular ns these sugars have hitherto been, without a single bag having been disposed of. The arrival of two vessels simultaneously from Mauritius—the Fanny Breslauer, 257, and tho Prosper©, 12S~had then been announced. These will influence the market for the present. In tea some little movement has been effected this week. The cargo of the Amur, we are informed, will be submitted privately for sale ; every successive experiment for several seasons past having gone to prove that the trade decidedly prefer this mode of purchase to the more public one of auction. Wo believe that in tho teas constituting this cargo, the special present want of buyers will be met. The demand for low class teas has gradually almost worn out, and a demand arisen in its stead of a higher kind, which the superior classes that in various grades constitute the present cargo, will fortuitously meet. In spirits we have not yet any improvement to note. Hcnnessy, in case, has been remarked as a trifle firmer, but bulk is unaltered, and in no other spirit is any change noted. In the absence of any movement to relieve the dulness, we may notice that a species of fanciful bottling, consisting of crystal flasks, and other novel descriptions of bottles, newly come into vogue, have reached tho market, and are selling, various brands of brandy reaching the retailer in these vehicles. Genova, J.D.K.Z, we find quoted at from 13s. to 13s. Cd. In tobacco, very little alteration has really taken place since our last. But we have heard of sales, and of some disposition being observable on the part of buyers to yield advanced rates. Butter is a little more plentiful. Cheese remains scarce, prime being in good demand. In hams and bacon, good colonial is enquired for ; both Colonial and English are very scarce. For hops, new season’s, very extreme prices are demanded ; but we hear of no transactions. Malt is still neglected. Cornsacks are still saleable at 12s. Gd. Kerosene remains in very limited demand, low prices ruling, although stocks continue moderate. Candles arc equally dull, and for lightweights extremely low prices only can be got. Galvanised iron continues good stock. Holders arc very firm, and asking from £35 10s. to £3Gs. 10s. Parcels landing are taken up readily. In cement, the market is entirely bare, and the demand increasing with the increase of concrete buildings and tho pushing on, of public works, very high prices could at present be obtained, it would readily bring from 245. to 255. This is not likely to hold long. Breadstuffs and grain are beginning to indicate the approach of harvest. Prices are less firm. Flour continues at the same rates, but is quoted easy, Wheat is quoted at from ss. to 6s. Cd. —sales. Oats (and from the false policy of farmers) have suffered considerable reduction. Instead of availing themselves of a fair or of a high figure when the market was active, they have held until now, only bringing forward their parcels in the face of the new crops, and when the promise of their being forward in from two to three weeks, has given to the market a downward tendency. Quotations are now fropa 4s. lOd. to ss. 3d. This result is only fairretribution.. They not only bring loss upon themselves, but seriously mislead the whole trade. Oats, It is expected, will open at from 3s. Cd. to 45., as the crops are looking magnificent and abundant—crops of all kinds as well as oats.

BY TELEGRAPH. , CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. New Oats, 3s. Cd. to 3s, od.; wheat, no,new in market yet; bran, £G; sharps, £G 10s.; flour, £l2 10s. to £l3 10s. Millers’ stocks are down.