COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4387, 12 April 1875, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties received at this port for the month from March 12 to April 10, 1575, were asunder:—

The import trade of -the past month has been moderately brisk, and stocks are in many cases becoming lighter, as, with the exception of the Dallam Tower, which arrived here with emigrants and cargo on the 17th March, we have no English arrivals to report. Although the demand for all descriptions of imported goods lias been active, prices still continue to rule low, in consequence of heavy stocks and the strong competition that exists being greatly in favor of the buyer, and the amount of goods shipped to the various outports during the month is a sufficient indication that our position as a central and distributing port is daily becoming more appreciated. The returns of the value of imports to Wellington, for the year ending December 31, 1874, were £1,084,0>7. as against .£721,021 for 1873, showing an increase of 50 per cent.; the exports for the same period being, for 1373, £101,03(5, and for 1874, £527,483, or an increase of thirteen and a-half per cent. The imports for the whole of New Zealand in 1873 were £0,404,087, and for 1874 were £8,121,812, or an increase of about 25 per cent.; the exports being—for 1873, £5,251,205, and for 1874, £5,010,371, an increase of O.t per cent. The consideration of these figures, while affording subject for reflection as well as for congratulation on the great progress of trade in the whole of the colony, would occupy too much space to discuss within the limits of the present article. The Soukar sailed for London on the 4th April, having on board 5582 bales wool and other produce, valued at £100.551 Is. 10d.; the Ardcutinny, for Newcastle, on March 19 and the Esk. for Valparaiso. The following are expected from London, several being overdue The Edwin Fox. Sunbeam. Kingdom of Italy, Hindostan, Halcione, and Waimea; from New York via Port Chalmers—The Light of the Age and Mercury ; and the Queen of the South, from New York direct. The May is also daily expected from Mauritius via Adelaide, with sugars and flour. Bank rates of exchange and discount on local bills are unaltered from last Ale and porter (duty paid, bulk, Is. per gallon; bottled, is. 3d.)—This market is still heavily stocked with bottled beers, and sales are only of a retail character, with little prospect of improvement, now that colder weather is approaching. The stock at the end of March was 3500 cases, and since then 300 cases have been added ; while the delivery only amounted to 800 cases, so that we have at least six months’ supply held in bond or duty paid. Blood’s stout is quoted at 11s. to lls. Cd. per dozen ; Guinness’s. 11s. Gd. to 12s. per dozen, other brands finding little favor. Tonuent’s and Bass’s ale arc quoted at lls. to lls. Gd,, other brands nominal, with little inquiry. There is no English bulk ale in the market. Bags and woolpacks (duty, 10 per cent.) —Cornsacks are in little demand, mostly for export to the other provinces, and we report a sale of 30 bales at lls. 3d. in one line for the South; but quotations are not less than from lls. Od. to 12s. per dozen for shipping parcels. ‘W'oolpacks—season over. Full size ’packs are quoted at 3s. Gd. to 3s. 9d. . Candles (duty, Id per lb). —As the season advances, this article is coming more into demand ; but up to the present time sales have been limited to the current wants of the retail trade, and prices show no improvement. The stock on hand is estimated at 6500 boxes, quotations varying from lOd to 10id per lb, according to parcel. Cement (duty, Is per barrel). —The demand for Portland cement is moderate at 20s to 21a per barrel. Present .stocks are light, there being not more than 400 to 500 barrels in importers* hands. Advices are to hand of several large shipments on the way. Coffee (duty, 3d per lb). —Little trade doing. Stocks of plantation coffees are moderate at Is 3d to Is 3*d per lb In bond

du“ (dUty ’ Sd P “ Ib) - Sa,e ** *6 W per lb Confectionery (duty, 2(1 nor , Keiller’s make is quoted at JO.iti per'lb 1 ° stoc^s ' Flour (duty. 20s per ton)._Tlus maricet is entirely bare of Adelaide flour, which is much wanted by the bakers, who cannot use the Canterbury flour by itself The May s cargo consisting of 210 lons, now due had been taken up to arrive by the trade, at rates withheld. It is quoted at £l4 10s. per ton Fruits (duty. Id. per lb.)-. Currants lire exceedingly low in stock, in fact almost out of the market and in fair demand at nominally 4jd. per lb for prime fruit. Raisins are also becoming scarce, and are worth Cjd. per lb. Muscatels, in really prime condition. are in good demand at Is. Id. to Is. 2d. per lb. Figs, in small boxes, in moderate supply at 3ld. to 9d. per lb. Sultanas, 7d. to 7M. per lb. Dried apples, no inquiry, the large quantities of green fruit now imported from Nelson and other places interfering with tho sale of this import. Hops (duty, 3d. per lb.) —There are.no English hops of 1874 growth in the market, but the considerable quantities of colonial growth- now coming forward amply supplies the deficiency. We report the sale of 12 bales of 1873 English hops at Is. 9d., and the new would probably be worth Ss. per lb. Nelson hops are worth Is. 4d. to Is. Gd, per lb. for. a good sample. Malt (duty, Is. Gd. per bushel).—There is but little English malt held by importers, who quote Us. 3d. per bushel as current rate. Metals. —A good demand has been experienced throughout the month for galvanised iron for homo use, and large orders have been received from tire various outposts during the past month. Every-ship-ment is freely taken up as it is landed, at rates from £35 to £3B per ton, according to make and guage. Wire is dull, with only occasional sales of small parcels at £22 to £2lper ton, for 0 7 and 8 cf good brands.

Oils, (duty. Gd. per gallon.)—This market is fully supplied with kerosene, present stocks amounting to close upon 4000 cases, and advices are to hand of the following shipments to arrive :—The Light of the Age, now’ due, brings 1500 cases; the Mercury, COO cases, both via Dunedin ; and the Queen of the South cleared from New York on February 3 for this*port direct with 2250 cases. At Mr. R. J. Duncan ’sanction sale on March 15, 500 cases of Devoe’s brilliant kerosene, to arrive, were offered and withdrawn at Is. id. per gallon in bond. Present quotations are nominally 2s. to 2s. 2d. d.p., and a fair amount of business has been done. Paint oils have been in good demand at 4s. Gd. per gallon for raw and boiled linseed in drums. Stocks moderate ; colza in little demand at 4s. 9d. to ss. per gallon. Oilmen’s Stores, (duty. 10 per'cent.)—A very good trade has been done during the month in articles coming under this head. Stocks are getting lighter as importations, owing to previous heavy stocks have considerably fallen off—so much so that some lines are becoming scarce, as pickles, Lea and Perrins sauce, and several others.

Rice (duty, Id. per lb.) —This grain has been in little demand during the month, there being a decreased consumption as the cold weather approaches. Clean dressed is worth £26 to £2B per ton. Spirits (duty, 12s. per gallon)—Hennessy’s case brandy has been in more active demand, stocks in bond being lightly held, A good business has been done, and holders arc now asking 325. to 335. per case. Martell’s ditto, is quoted at 295. Gd. to 31s. per case. Bulk brandies of these brands is nominally Bs. 6d. per gallon for quarters, with few sales to report. A line of Bisqult Dubouche brandy, in quarters and cases, has been quitted at 6s 6d. per gallon, and 20s. per case. We also report the sale of a parcel of (.Hard Thirmy and Co.’s pale brandy at 7s. 3d. per gallon. Other brands meet with only limited inquiry. Rum— Ordinary sale and demand, 10 per cent, 0.p., at 3s lOd. to 4s. : 30 per cent, 0.p., 4s. 4d. to 4s. Gd. per gallon. Case gin is in little demand, and prices nominal, according to contents. The same remark applies to whisky and old tom, Booth’s and Burnett’s manufacture of the latter being the only two brands inquired for : quoted at 15s. 6d. to 15s. 9d. per dozen. Sugar (duty. Id. per lb.)—Bonded stocks are becoming lighter, but prices hitherto have shown no signs of hardening. Quotations for Mauritius sorts and Melbourne Sugar Company’s remain about the same as last month, with a tendency to go down if sales are forced. We quote IC, £43 to £43 10s.; C, £4l ; and Y, £36 per ton as current quotations, but at auction on the f)th a parcel of 13 tons Y sugar was sold by R. J. Duncan at £34 10s. per ton, and white crystal sugar at £43 7s. per ton. Tea (duty, Od. per lb.)—Market fully stocked, last year’s teas moving off gradually at slightly reduced rates. The new season's teas are in fair demand. The Spray arrived last week with the portion of the Medora’s cargo intended for this port, being new teas from Foochow, and has reached a fair average market.

Tobacco (duty, 2s. Gd. per lb.)—Market firm with an upward tendency, although stocks held in bond are still large and beyond the average. St. Andrew’s twist is worth 2s. Del. to 2s. 10d.; Black Swan, Is. 7d. to Is. 7*d.; other sorts nominal. Venus tens and Cygnet do., are now worth Is. Did. to Is. lOd. No inquiry for other brands. Wihc (duty, 4s. per gallon).—Market fully stocked and the ordinary amount of business done. NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE, Butter.—Abetter demand has been shown during the month for cured butter, and sales have been made for the various outports at Is. 3d. per lb. for prime cured in kegs. There is an increased local demand, and stocks in dealers’ hands being light, prices show every disposition to harden. Cheese.—Port Cooper cheese has shown improved value, and prices may be quoted at lOd. per lb., with an upward tendency, as every parcel brought into market is quickly taken up by the trade. Flour.—During the month small cargoes of flour have been received from Canterbury to some extent, and prices have pone lower in consequence. Holders now ask £ll to £lllos. per ton for sacks and bags in bakers’ parcels. A line of Ruddenklau’s brand has been quitted at £ll per ton for sacks. Owing to the largo stocks of wheat grown this season, both in the Canterbury and Otago provinces, there does not appear to be much prospect of any higher rates this season, in fact, the 'farmers will have some considerable difficulty in getting rid of their produce, as the harvest all over the world appears to have been greater than has ever been previously known. Hams and bacon.—Prime cured and in cloth in good demand, at improving rates on previous quotations. There is very .little coming forward. Bacon being worth lOd. to 12d. per lb.; hams, Is. 4d. Timber.—Sawn timber continues in good demand, as the building trade is in an unusually aettve state. Supplies are to some extent equal to the requirements, and prices are consequcnty unaltered from last month’s quotations.

Spirits £2674 0 0 Sugar .. £1452 12 11 117 11 0 Goods by ad 813 15 0 valorem. .. 5092 10 Wine 340 10 5 Goods by other 252 8 9 duties .. 097 19 0 Tea ., (303 1 6 Lights, shipCoffee & cliiping dues. cory 73 4 9 &C. .. 1S5 19 0 Goods by weight .. 457 C 11 £12,831 S 2