COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4395, 21 April 1875, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Tho following decisions as to the rates at which the undermentioned articles arc- chargeablo under the Tariff Acts have been determined by tho Hon. tho Commissioner of Customs:—Biscuit making machinery, free; candle making machinery, free; cheque books, 10 per cent, ad valorem; cocoanut oil, free; diving apparatus and fittings, free; earthen Ink wells for schools, free; empty cardboard boxes 10 nor cent. ad valorem; fire brigade ladders, free; galvanized Iron spike nails, free; gasaliers for places of public worship free ; hat linings and ventilators, free: hearse plumes, 10 per cent, ad valorem; hub boring machines, 10 per cent, ad valorom ; indiarubber belting, free ; iron girders and columns for building free; iron rivets not for ships, 10 per cent, ad valorem; iron sheaves for blocks, 10 per e 6 ", 1 - B< J valorem ; iron urinals (imported by Corporation, free; lead pipe making machine, free; machinery for scented soap Saktog, toe; Mlnton's flooring tiles, free; needles

for sewing machines, free; oil colors in tubes, 2s. per cwt.; paints specially imported for railway carnages, 2s. per cwt.; pea flour, in tins, Is. per lOOlbs.; peas, preserved in tins, 10 per cent, ad valorem; plain cyphering school books, free; samples of carpet, i» per cent, ad valorem; Turkey oil stones, free; vulcanite (artificial) teeth, free; whalebone, free ; wire rope for mining purposes (not being fencing wire) free ; wood naptha, free. SYDNEY Wt>OL MARKET. Messrs. Fanning, Griffiths, and Co. s wool market report, dated Sydney, April 9, for the San irancisco mail is as follows: . AVhen issuing our last report we commented on what seemed to us an unwarranted fall In price established at tho commencement of the London February sales, and the news subsequently received of continued firmness with upward tendency, resulting ultimately in an advance of Id. to ljd. before the close of the sale, has been very welcome. Still such fluctuations and unevenness are not productive oi good, while they serve as an argument for not relying on the one market system. If with an offering of 206,000 bales in February the market was unmanageable, what is to bo expected when 400,000 bates come to be submitted in the May series, or something like 100,000 bales more than in corresponding period last year? . ~ Increased facilities and quicker communication are tending to move forward the year's supply ami account for the larger offerings in the earlier series of sales. Can we expect manufacturers and others to remember that the actual increase in the year's production will no t bo much in excess of that of last season, and not at all beyond that of their requirements, supposing the consumption to increase relatively, as it has done ot lato years; when they have before them quantities so much larger than they have been accustomed to? We fear not, unless importers and consignees make a stand, and hold for later sales in preference to selling at an undue reduction. All will watch anxiously for ' tho result, but sooner or later, if steadiness and evenness are to be maintained, great accumulations in one spot must be avoided. We have already shown how manufacturers and other business people in America and on the Continent of Europe are beginning to seek to establish direct communication and new markets for wool, and it gives us the greatest satisfaction to announce that every mail brings us confirmatory intelligence of the interest which is being taken in the movement, and of the desire evinced to lend a helping hand. The impetus has thus already been given to the establishment of a more direct communication between producer and consumer, and while every assistance is being tendered towards its greater development by those in other countries, wool-growers and others hero would not be doing justice to themselves to let the movement fail for want of their co-operation. To ensure success all must do their utmost, and when we make known what is being done by some on the part of consumers we trust that the producers will not be slow in coming forward and contribute some aid towards an object, the attainment of which cannot but result in promoting their best interests. Having only telegraphic advice of the February sales, it is difiicult to form a correct opinion of their course, but it would appear-as if great irregularity had prevailed, for while Sydney and Melbourne wools have apparently sold lower than in the corresponding series of last year, the prices telegraphed as obtained for some well-known Adelaide clips in the grease are quoted as being fully a penny above those of previous season. No great amount of business has been done in onr market during the month. For the first week or two the depression reported from London had a corresponding influence on the minds of buyers here, and the growers having mostly sent their produco to market with limits corresponding to the high prices of the last two years, a greater discrepant in idea of value was brought about than could Wa bridged over, and large quantities especially of washed fleece—were withdrawn. Latterly growers have to some extent leduced their expectations, and this action, combined with the better news of advance before the close of the February sales, brought buyers and sellers nearer together, especially as the latter granted an advance of quite Id. per lb. over the prices paid when our last report was issued, the consequence being that some better transactions are reported, even though some lots have been withdrawn. The assortment offered has not been good. Not one "superior" clip has been submitted, and even of "good" the selection has been small, the generality having been of medium to faulty description. The season is drawing to a close. Ships are plentiful, and freights lower than we have seen them for a long time. Our shipments are still below those of last year to same period, and it is doubtful whether the deficiency will be made up before tho end of the Rains have been plentiful, giving abundance of feed for the winter, and though it is yet early to speak of the prospects of the coming clip, we may say that they appear good rather than otherwise. Ur TELEQRAra. AUCKLAND, Tuesday. Sales: City of London, 625. Gd.;.Royal Oak, 7s. Buyers: Beach, Is. Gd.; Bismarck, 10s. Sellers: National, 745.; Fiji, 575. 6d.: South' British, 495.; National Insurance, 285.; Cure, 95.; Bank of New Zealand, 3655.