COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4411, 10 May 1875, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties received at this port, for the xaonth from April 10 to May 6 inclusive, were as under. Spirits .. £2899 18 7 Goods by adCigars .. 249 14 5 valorem .. 3775 10 5 Tobacco .. 595 12 0 Goods by •Wine .. 327 6 6 otherduties 474 6 4 Ale .. .. 280 1 3 Light dues. Tea & Coffee 1130 3 6 shipping. Sugar .. 1339 13 7 &C... .. 12119 7 Goods by —-—~ weight .. 679 1 0 £11,879 6 8 During the past month the import trade of the port has been of a more active character owing to the arrival of the Edwin Fox and Sunbeam frorn London with general cargoes; the May from Mauritius via Adelaide with sugars and flour ; the Light of the Age and Mercury from New York with kerosene and American goods, and the Mary Bannatyne from Melbourne, with a full cargo of Victoria Company’s sugars, &c. Stocks in importers hands are in many cases rather heavy, but owing to the constantly improving demand, some lines have been allowed to run low, notably in oilmen’s stores and dried fruits, which, a short time ago, were a perfect drug. Corrugated iron also, owing to the large amount of building going on, is much wanted, as are several other articles connected with that branch of trade. Quotations in most instances are unaltered from our last month's report, and are still, owing to strong competition, lower than meets the views of importers, in fact altogether in favor of buyers. Owing to recent advices, Hennessy's case brandy is held for an advance, the stock in bond having become low, and London - quotations for brandies rendering it impossible to lay them down here at the figures they have ruled in this market for some time past. The Carnatic, for London, sailed on the 29th of April, being the last wool ship of the season from this port. We are sorry to report that Mullins and Son, general dealers, of the Hutt, have been compelled to call a meeting of their creditors, with liabilities over £9OOO, but it is generally thought that with careful management the estate will realise 20s. in the pound. Bank rates for exchange and discount are unaltered. Deposit rates may be said to have had a somewhat upward tendency, but we see no reason to vary our last quotations. It is understood that proposals to ' enter into a fresh agreement have been made, but we have heard nothing definite to lead us to infer that •there will be an early settlement of the differences .which exist between the banks. This is to be regretted, more especially as we cannot look for a reduction In discount rates, when it is remembered that there has been a large increase in bank advances in excess of the increase in deposits for the twelve months ended 31st. March, 1875. After the bank returns for the last quarter are published, we shall have some observations to make on this point. We of late have had to chronicle many banking changes,, some of which will have been viewed with regret. Mr. Adam Burnes—differing on matters of policy with the London Board—-has thought fit to resign the general management of the National Bank of New Zealand, whidi In the short space of eighteen months after its establishment under his charge, was in a position to pay -its shareholders a dividend. Mr. Burnes, for some time after his arrival here, was in delicate health, but he is now, we arc happy to say, almost himself again. The post has been assumed by Mr. John Bridges, of the London Board, formerly, and for some years manager of the Bank of New Zealand in this city. Mr. Palmer, Inspector of the. Bank of returns to Australia, we believe to the •management at Melbourne- He has been , succeeded by Mr, Morrah, formerly of Ballarat, but more recently manager of the Sydney branch of ’ that bank. It may also be mentioned that the management of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand In Wellington has been assumed by Mr. Frederick Cook, formerly manager of the Union Bank of Australia, Melbourne. Ale and Porter (duty paid, bulk, Is. per gallon, bottled. Is. 3d.>—Stocks of bottled beer are in excess of our requirements, and even favorite brands arc difficult to move off except in small lots;. At auction Guinness’s stout fetched 11s. Sd. per dozen, and best brands of both ale and stout cannot be quoted higher than 11a. to 11s; 6d. per dozen for parcels. ; Bags and Woolpacks (duty, 10 per cent.)—There is nothing doing in woolpacks, and stocks' are held over until next season. , Comsacks have been in better inquiry, and several parcels have been quitted for outside ports at Us. 3d. per dozen. Stocks are ample, but there is no local demand. Candles (duty, Id- per lb.) —An improved demand 'has been exhibited for this article during the month, and quotations have been firmer than for some time past. Our stocks continue heavy, although some few lots have been sold at auction during the month as low as 9.jd. per lb. Holders are now asking lOd. to lOjd. for Price's Belmont sperm. . Cement (duty. Is. per barreL)—None in the market. Quotations by importers 21s. to 225. per barrel, but we hearof a sale of 200 barrels, to arrive per Hannibal, at ISs/per barrel, d.p. Coffee (duty, 3d. per lb.)—Market dull, with ample stocks of plantation, which is quoted at Is. 2d., in bond. Chicory (duty, 3d, per lb.) —In little demand at £sd. per lb., d.p. Confectionery (duty, 2d. per lb.)—Full stocks of Keiller’s make at 10J<1. per lb. Owing to largo local manufactures there is but little demand for the imported article. Flour (duty, 20s. per ton.)—Our last shipment of Adelaide flour has been entirely taken up by the retail trade, and stocks are bare. Wo quote £l4 10s. to £ls as current value. As there is a very large quantity to come forward from the southern provinces there does not seem to be any probability of higher rates ruling -tills season, notwithstanding the large shipments of wheat that are being made from CanterbUscuifc (duty. Id, per lb.)—Dried fruits of every kind are scarce, but at this season, owing to the large supply of green fruit, the want is not much felt- Currants are exceedingly scarce and worth, nominally, 43d. to sd. per lb: Elcme raisins arc also in few hands, and quoted at C£tl. per lb. ; sultanas, 7d. to 71d.; muscatels, none; figs In moderate supply, at Bd. to 9d, per lb., according to condition. Hops (duty, 3d. per lb.)—No stocks of English hops in Importers’ hands. Malt (duty, Is. 6d. per bushel)—Stocks light. Little inquiry. Metals (duty, 10 per cent.)—Corrugated iron meets with active inquiry, owing to the large amount of building in progress, and shipments are freely taken up on arrival at £35 to £36 per ton, for best brands of English. Fencing wire dull. Stocks heavy. Best brands of solid wire quoted at for No. 6, £22 ; No. 7, £23 ; No. 8, £24 per ton. Oils (duty, 0U per gallon)—Kerosene is in full supply, owing to the recent large importations. Prices range from Is. lid. to 2s. 2d. per gallon, d.p., according to parcel Paint oils in active inquiry, at 4s. Bd. » per gallon, for drums ; colza, scarce, and much wanted at ss. 6d. per gallon ; castor, Ob. Cd. to ss. Od. per gallon. Oilmen’s Stores (duty, 10 per cent.)—Market moderately supplied with most of the articles included under this head, quotations yielding a moderate profit to importers. Several lines are wanted, which

some months ago were overstocked, as pickles, bottled vinegar, Lea and Perrin’s sauce, Ac. Rice (duty, Id. per lb.)—Ample stocks, at £25 to £2B per ton. Spirits (duty, 12s. per gallon)—The stock in bond of both Hennessy’s and Martell’s brandy, in bulk, continues large, and sales are only made to meet the ordinary wants of the retail trade, at Bs. Gd. to 9s. per gallon. Hennessy’s case brandy is rather low in stock, and worth 325. to 335. per dozen ; MartelVs, 295. Cd. to 30s. Several parcels of Bisquit Dubouche’s brandy, in quarters, have been quitted for an outside market during the month, at Cs. 6d. per gallon, and the same brand of case at 20s. to 245. No other brands are in demand. Rum is in full supply. Lemon Hart's being worth Ss. lOd. to 4s. per gallon for 10 per cent, 0.p., and 4s. 2d. to 4s. Gd. per gallon for 30 per cent. o.p. Geneva dull at 13s. Gd. to 18s. per case, according to contents. 100 cases JDKZ gin—3 19-32 gallons, 2’B o.p—were sold by auction by R. J. Duncan, at 14s. 6d. per case, and 40 cases Bell brand, four gallons each, at 13s. Whisky, Scotch in case, 13s. 6d. to 18s.; Irish, 17s. per dozen. Sugar (duty, Id. per lb).—Stocks of sugar continue heavy, and about 250 tons have been received during the month, consisting of about 120 tons of Mauritius sorts, the balance being refined sugars from Melbourne. We cannot quote higher than £43 per ton for IC : £4l per ton for counter; and £34 10s. to £35 for yellow. Tea (duty, 6d. per lb). —The usual amount of trade has been done during the month, prices ruling much the same as our last quotations; but there have been no speculative purchases. Tobacco (duty, 2s. Cd. per lb). —Prices are firmer, and have still an upward tendency. We quote Venus tens Is. lOd. to 2s. per lb.; signet do. Is. 9d. to Is. lOd. per lb.; St. Andrew's twist,. Is. Od. to Is. lOd. per lb.; Black Swan and Barrett’s anchor brand. Is. 7d. to Is. Bd. per lb., in bond. Wine (duty, 4s. per gallon).—Moderate business doing. At R. J. Duncan’s auction sale on the 28th ult. Biuno Silva's 4 diamond port fetched 9s. Gd. per gallon (in bond), for quarters, the lower qualities being withdrawn. St. Julien claret realised 13s. 6d. per doz., in bond. Stocks of low priced wines are heavy, and difficult to move at any figure. NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. Butter, in kegs, meets with little inquiry for shipment, and sales during the month have been restricted to the local trade. Holders are asking Is. Sd, to Is. 4d. per lb. for prime cure. A fine sample has been recently imported from Adelaide, and is selling here at a lower figure, duty and freight notwithstanding, and several shipments are expected from New South Wales by the Easby, but our farmers are slow to take warning. Cheese. —Canterbury •cheese has been in active demand at full rates, and now sells readily at IOJd. to lid. per lb. for a good sample. Flour.—Both Canterbury and Oamaru flour have advanced 20a. per ton, the Southern millers having raised their price to that extent, owing to,the large amount of orders on hand. Quotations for bakera’ parcels are now £l2 to £l2 10s. for sacks. As grain stocks in the South are heavy, we do not think prices can be maintained, notwithstanding the large shipments to England and the other colonies. Oats. —DuU, and difficult to move in any quantities. Sales at 3s. sd. per bushel.