COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4435, 7 June 1875, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties received at this port, from the Ist to the 31st May, 1873, were as follows Spirits -..£3000 B 11 Goods byadCigars - 149 13 2 valorem .. 4784 10 10 Tobacco .. 008 5 6 Goods by : , Wine .. 347 17 2 otherduties 557 13 0 Ale .. .. 377 0 0 Light dues. Tea .. .. 674 1 0 shipping. Coffee .. 84 0 0 &c 254 16 5 Sugar ... 1263 3 5 Goods by £13,400 8 1 weight .. 908 11 8 1 ~ ■ The Import market during the past month has been exceedingly quiet, yet, notwithstanding outward appearances and the general absence of bustle which must have been apparent to all, a considerable amount of business has been transacted, and stocks have materially lessened. The general tone of trade appears to be healthy, speculative transactions being the exception rather than the rule, and dealers confine themselves to the supply of ordinary requirements. There has been consequently little or no fluctuation In values, which still remain sufficiently low to offer strong inducements to outside buyers. The building trade Is Just now probably the most active, and a good demand exists for all articles under this head. Corrugated iron and Portland cement are specially wanted, every shipment being readily taken up to arrive, at high rates. In liquids spirits show no Improved quotation, with the exception of Hennessy’s case brandy, which has suddenly become scarce owing to shipments falling off. Bottled beers are netting a loss to importers just now, the season being against the consumption of this article, and this market being overstocked with outside brands. There Is a marked and continued Increase in our coasting trade, and the want of sufficient shipping is beginning to make itself felt. We understand that the Express steamer, formerly running between Dunedin and The Bluff, is to bo placed on the line between this port and Napier, and that the contract has been signed with an engineering firm In this place for the building of a new steamer for the Wellington and East Coast trade. Our arrivals during the month have been the Hlndostan, and,Kingdom of Italy, from London; the Queen of the South from New York, and the Malay from Hobarton. Departures nil. Bank rates of exchange are unaltered, being—Selling rate on London at ninety days, J premium; sixty days, 'i premium ; thirty days, 1J premium ; sight, 1} premium. Buying rate—Ninety days, discount; sixty days, J discount; thirty days, 1 discount; sight, par. Discount on local bills—Under ninety-five days, 8 per cent.: over ninety-five days, 0 per cent. Interest on deposlts-5 per cent, for thirty days, 6J for three months, and 0 for twelve months. , Ale and porter (duty paid, bulk Is,; bottled. Is. 3d. per gaUon.y-Nothlßg worthy ol mention has been

done in bottled beers during the past month, the bad weather operating unfavorably against the consumption. , Quotations are consequently low, nor can wo give liighcr rates than 11s. to 11s. Pd. per dozen for favorite brands of ale and stout, at which prices sales have been limited to small trade supplies. Stocks continue heavy. * Bags and woolpacks (duty, 10 per cent.) —A few lines of cornsacks have changed hands for shipment to the Southern provinces, there being little or no local demand for this article. There is a considerable stock (in importers’ hands. Quotations range from 10s. 3d. to 10s. 9d. per dozen, according to parcel. There is no inquiry for woolpacks, tho season being over; stocks ample. ' . , 11m Candles (duty, Id. per lb.)—Stocks of sperm candles are lightly held, and prices have shown a tendency to improve. Holders are now asking 10id. to IOJd. P Cement (duty. Is. per barrel.)—Portland in active inquiry, there being none in first lianas at this moment; it is worth 235. per barrel, owing to the large amount of local works now in progress. . . Coffee (duty, 3d. per lb.)--Plantation coffee, in boDd, is rather dull at Is. Sjd. to Is. 6d. per lb. Moderate Chicory (duty, 3d. per lb.)—ln little demand at 6jd. per lb., duty paid. . ~ ... , , - Confectionery (duty, 2d. per lb.)—Keiller s make is in fair supply at IOJd. per lb., but owing to the large amount of local manufacture the demand is much less than formerly, , . ~ , lrl _ Flour (duty, 20s. per ton.)—Stocks of Adelaide flour are low, and mostly in the hands of the bakers, there is consequently little or no change in previous Quotations to report, £l4 10s. per ton being the nominal rate. By latest advices from Adelaide the Mary Miller was loading for this port, and wo also learn that a shipment may be looked for per Lady Denison, via Melbourne. Fruits (duty. Id. per lb.)—Currants continue scarce, and are worth 4|d. to sd. per lb. for sound fruit,- of which several parcels are now landing from the London ships. Owing to the high prices ruling for some time back, we understand orders have been sent to Melbourne, and several shipments are now due. Eleme raisins are also in short supply at 6Jlb. per lb. Muscatels, none in this market. Figs of prime quality in fair demand, and worth BJd. to 9d. per lb. Hops (duty, 3d.‘per lb.)—New Kent are quoted nominally at 3s. to Ss. 3d. per lb., but there are none in first hands, the quality of both Tasmanian and New Zealand growth apparently finding favor in the opinions of the Wellington brewers, to their ultimate exclusion from this market. Wo quote Tasmanian hops at Is. 9d. to Is. lOd.; Nelson do., at Is. 9d. PG Mal*t (duty. Is. Cd. per bushel).—None in importers’ hands, the brewers importing direct for theur own wants. Quotations nominal, at Us. 3d. to 11s. 6d. per bushel ; tanks. 655. extra. , Metals (duty, 10 per cent.)— Corrugated iron scarce, and much wanted, at £B6 to £37 per ton for best brands 26 gauge; we hear of sales of a few lots at £3B per ton. Fencing wire dull, at £22 to £24 per ton. Sheet lead scarce, quoted at £3l per ton. Sheet zinc, £3B to £4O per ton. Wire nails, stock inadequate for present demand, worth £25 to £3O per ton. Oils (duty, 6d. per gallon).—The arrival of the Queen of the South has kept this market fully sup plied with kerosene, which moves off at Is. 104 d. to 2s. per gallon. Paint oils are in good supply at 4s. 6d. per gallon for tins; 4s, to 4s. 3d. for bulk. Turps, tins, 4s. per gallon; drums, 4s. 6d. per gallon. • Colza. ss. Castor, ss. Od. to ss. 9d per gallon for drums. . . . . . , Oilmen’s Stores (duty, 10 per cent.) —A fair trade has been done during the past month in all articles coming under this head, and stocks have generally become more manageable than was the case some time back, several lines being scarce and in demand, as pickles. Lea and Perrins’ sauce, halves sardines, vinegar—a result that at one time could hardly have been expected for a much more lengthened period. Rice (duty, id. per lb.)—Clean-dressed Patna nee is in fair supply at £2O to £23 per ton; demand good. Spirits (duty, 12s. per gallon).— Hennessy’scase brandy is so extremely scarce as to be considered out of the market, and quotations are consequently only, nominal, at 335. to 345. per case—Martell s being quoted at 30s. to 315.; moderate stocks. The scarcity of the more favorite brands has not been without influence on other qualities, which have come more into demand, at improved rates ; and the stock of Bisqnit Dubouche’s brandy has been bought up at 205., being now held for 21s. Cd. to 225. per case. Hennessy’s bulk brandy, in quarters, is in short supply, at Bs. 9d. to 9s. per gallon ; Martell’s do., Bs. 6d. to Ss. 9d. per gallon; Bisquit Dubouche’s do., Cs. 9d. per gallon.— Rum—Stocks large, with only moderate demand. We report the sale of White's rum, in hhds., 30 per cent, 0.p., at 4s, 3d., for transhipment to a Northern port. Lemon Harts, 10 per cent, 0.p., is quoted at 3s. lOd, to 45., and White’s at similar rates. Whisky is in little demand, for Irish at ss. 6d. to ss. Od.; Scotch, 4s. 6d. to 6s. per gallon; Dunville’s case, 175.; Scotch ditto. 13s. to 15s. 6d. per dozen. Old tom, no dem Sugar (duty, Id. per lb.)—This market shows little signs of improvement, although a very largo amount of business has been done, and continues to be done, at quotations that are comparatively as low as last month’s rates. IC remains at £43 to £43 10s.; C, £4O to £4l; Y, £35 to £36 per ton, for Melbourne Sugar Company’s pieces ; Mauritius sorts, of which stocks are very low, being worth similar prices for corresponding qualities. . . . . Tea (duty, Gd. per lb.)—Usual amount of business done, at last month's rates. Tobacco (duty, 3s. per lb.)—Moderate business doing, prices continuing firm for favorite brands, out side brands meeting with little enquiry. We quote St. Andrew’s twist. Is. 9*d. to Is. lOd.; black swan. Is. 7d. to Is. 7id-l Barrett’s, Is. 7d.; Venus tens. Is. lOd. to 25.; cygnet, is. lOd. per lb. -- Wine (duty, 4s. per gallon)—Little business doing, the demand being very limited, and dealers showing no disposition to purchase more than' actually required for their ordinary trade; good sound wines generally command a fair price, bub this is overstocked with inferior ports and sherries, which are utterly unsaleable. NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. Butter.—Butter in kegs has been comparatively neglected during the month, there being no demand for shipment to any of the outports; the high price of fresh butter has, however, given rise to a small local demand, and holders have been obtaining as high as Is. 2d. per lb. for exceptionally good cure. Cheese.—Cheese has been scarce and in active demand at 10i<l to lid. per lb. Bacon and Hams.—Bacon and hams equally scarce and enquiried for, prime cure being worth Hd. to Is 4d. per lb. , . t Flour.—Flour has remained steady during the month, at £ll ss. to £ll 10s. per ton for best brands of Canterbury, bakers’ parcels; Oamaru flour ruling 20s. per ton higher. There are at present no indications of a change in values to any extent, although prices, if anything, have a slight tendency downwards. Grain.—Oats continue depressed in value, owing to the enormous stocks grown last season in the Southern provinces, and in spite of large shipmentsto Australia. We cannot quote higher than 3s. 4d. to 3s. Cd. per bushel for a fair sample, and understand that large orders are in course of delivery at those rates. Maize Is in fair supply at Cs. per bushel for new grain. Malting barley meets with good inquiry, and is worth ss. 6d. to 6s. per bushel fora good sample Potatoes well supplied at 80s. to 90s. per ton. Sawn timber in good demand at last month's rates.