COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4812, 24 August 1876, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

The Customs duties received at this port yesterday were as under ; Spirits .. .. 210 0 7 I Goods by wght 13 411 Wine .. 29 9 0 Ad valorem ..136 7 2 Tea .. .. 19 7 0 “ Sugar ~ .. 39 18 0 1 Total .. £448 12 8 The Customs duties received at this port for the month ending August 17, were as under: — . Spirits .. 39G3 8 0 Goods by wght 377 19 8 Cigars .. 456 18 10 Ad valorem .. 2410 10 4 Tobacco .. 897 8 G Other duties.. 421 IS 8 Wine.. .. 523 18 11 Light . dues, 0 Beer .. .. 53S 8 7 shipping, &c. 203 10 S Tea .. .. 77112 11 Coffee.. .. 99 19 9 ■ "" " Sugar .. .. 1056 7 1 Total .. £11,731 10 6 Wo report a steady amount of business done in the import trade during the past month, which, as compared with the same period in former years, shows a a considerable increase. As stocks continue large there has been no improvement in prices, which remain sufficiently low to prevent any fear of competition from without. Bulk brandies, owing to large stocks in bond, have not advanced here, although prices have gone up in the English and Australian markets. Holders of currants for a similar reason are asking a higher figure than last month's rate, but are not freely responded to; and kerosene, owing to short supply, has advanced to 2s. sd. and 2s. 7d, per gallon d.p. With those exceptions there is little or no change to report. Trade continues healthy, and trade bills are moderately well met in spite of the chronic complaint of tightness in the money market. Our arrivals during the month have been—the Horsa on July 20th. from Now York, with cargo: the Dunbritton, 147 S tons, August 4, from London, with cargo ; Fritz Reuter, 1800 tons. August 4, from Hambur" with emigrants; tho Wollomai, from Melbourne, and the John Knox, from Sydney, with cargo. The Pym left lor Newcastle on August 10r the hntz Renter, for Callao, onthe 10th August; and the Horsa, for San Francisco, on August 23rd. The following vessels have sailed or are loading in London for this port;—Midlothian, 1100 tons, sailed on May 19; Waikato, 1021 tons, sailed on Juno S: Zealandia, 1115 tons sailed on Juno 15 ; Waimea, St. Leonards, and Avalanche loading. The Panola sailed from New York on Juno 19, with general cargo, and the Josephine is loadin" The May, from Foochow, sailed on July 14 The Sarah File is loading in Melbourne. The bank rates are as under Discount on local bills—Under 95 days 7 per cent.: under 125 days, 8 per cent.: over 125 days, 9 per cent. Exchange on London—Buying rate at 00 days, 1 per cent, discount; do GO days, J- per cent. do. Selling rate at 90 days, y per cent, premium ; do CO days, 1 per cent, do ; do SO days, U per cent, do ; on demand, 2 per cent. do. Interest 'on deposits for 3 months, 4} per cent.; 0 months, 5 per cent.’: 12 months, 5} per cent. Ale and Porter (duty paid, Is. per gallon bulk Is 3d. do bottled).—Stocks of bottled ales and stouts are ample for all requirements, the demand having been only of limited extent and restricted to current wants. Prices continue to rule low, best brands being quoted at 10s. Cd. to 11s. fid. per dozen, while outside brands are not worth more than Bs. 6d. to os, Cd. per dozen. . „ Bags and Woolpacks (duty, 10 per cent.)-Corn-sacks are dull, and meet with little enquiry, holders asking 10s, to 10s. Cd. per dozen. There is as yet no enquiry for woolpacks, which are quoted at 3s. to Ss. Cd. for full size, in trade parcels. Candles (duty. Id. per lb.)—The market Is well supplied with sperm candles, and at this season a good trade has been doing at 9}d, to lOd. per lb. for foreign, and 10jd. per lb. for Price’s Belmonts. Cement (duty, Is. per barrel)--Very little has been done in this article, as most of the contractors for public works have laid in their own stock. There is a large stock in the hands of consignees difficult to move, except in small lots, at 17s. Cd. per barrel for best brands. , , Coffee (duty, 3d. per lb.)—There has been the usual retail demand for this article at Is. 3d. per lb. in Confectionery (duty, 2d. per lb). —Moderate enquiry for Keiller’s make at 10Jd. per lb. Flour (duty, 20s. per ton),—Prices of Adelaide flour have slightly hardened daring the month as stocks have become lighter, and holders now ask £l4 10s. to £ls for best brands. Fruits (duty. Id. per lb)—Currants, owing to light stocks and the rise in price in the Home market, are now held for 4|d. to sd. per lb., some holders keeping back for a higher figure. Kaisins are in moderate supply at eid. to eid, per lb,; sultanas, 81 to Sid.; muscatels, Is. to Is. 2d. per lb., if in good condition ; figs, Bd, to 9d.; dried apples, 7d. to 7Jd. per lb.; Persian dates, CJd. to 7Jd- per lb. , A good business has been done during the month in all descriptions of dried fruits. _ , , Hops (duty, 3d. per lb.)—No Kent hops in importers’ hand's. Californian hops are worth Is. to Is. 3d. per lb.; Tasmanian do. Is. 4d. to Is. Cd. per lb., with limited enquiry. Malt (duty, Is. Cd. per bushel.)—There is no English malt in stock. Metals (duty, 10 per cent.)— Corrugated iron has been in active demand during the month, stocks in first hands being light, when the large amount of building now going on is taken into account. Best brands of 24 gauge are worth £3O to £3l per ton; 26 gauge, £32 to £33 per ton according to condition. At auction 6 tons Orb brand fetched £32 per ton for assorted sizes ; Morewood’s, £32 10s. Fencing wire meets with little inquiry, and sales are difficult at£l7, £lB, and £l9 per ton for Nos. 6, 7. and 8. Oils (duty, Cd. per gallon.)-Kerosene oils continue scarce, the WoUomai having brought only 800 cases, which were immediately taken up. The Ada Wiswell, now at Dunedin, has 3000 cases for this port, the bulk of which has been placed to arrive at Is. CJd. to Is. 9d. per gallon in bond. Present quotations are nominal, at 2s. 6d. to 2s. 7d. per gallon d.p., there being absolutely none in stock. The Panola, which sailed from New York on June 19, has 3200 cases on board for this port. Paint oils move off at last month’s rates; moderate business doing. Oilmen’s Stores (duty, 10 per cent.)—A fair trade has been done in most of the articles coming under this head, but importers find great reason to complain of low profits owing to excessive competition. P.ice (duty. M. per lb.)—Price Is In fair supply, with moderately good demand, at £22 to £29 per ton, according to quality. Salt (free.)—Salt continues scarce, and holders are getting £6loa. to £C per ton for fine and coarse. Spirits (duty. 12s, per gallon.)—Trade has been of an improved character during the month, although prices show but little variation, owing to tho large amount of stocks in bond, Martell’s and Hennessy’s brandy, in quarters, are worth Bs. to Bs. 3d. per gallon: case do, 30s. to 31s. 6d.; Bisquit Dubouche case brandy, 255.; other brands meet with little inquiry. Eum, dull, at 3s. 9d. to 3s. lOd. for 10 per cent, 0.p.; 4s. Id. to 4s. 2d. forSOo.p. Dunville’s whisky, in quarters, 6s. 6d. to ss. 9d. per gallon; in case, 175.: Scotch, 4a. 6d. to 7s. per gallon, according to brand. Burnett’s old tom, 15s. per dozen; Booth’s do, 15s. 6d. to 10s. per dozen; geneva, In moderate demand at 13s. to 17s. per case, according to contents. Sugar (duty, Id. per lb.)—Moderate stocks, with good demand, but owing to the competition at present existing prices are cut down to a minimum of profit. We quote Sydney Sugar Company’s No. IW, £45 ; No. 2W, £44 ; IC. £43; and C, £4O per ton, dnty paid. The quotations for Yarraville sugars are similar, but the quality is not so well liked by the trade. Brewers' crystals are worth £43 10s, to £44 per ton ; crushed loaf in fair supply at £SO per ton. Tea (duty, Cd. per lb,>—Stocks of old teas are becoming lower, several lines having been cleared during the month at better rates than was anticipated. We may therefore look for a tolerably clear market for the new season’s teas, which may be expected to arrive here in the course of next month. Tobacco (duty, 2s. Cd. per lb.; cigars, duty Bs. per lb.)—A fair amount. of business has been done In twists during the month, with no change in prices, at Is. Cd. to Is. 6id. per lb. for best brands. Tens are worth Is. 6d. to Is. Bd. per lb. Havannah-shaped raanilas 50s. to 80s. ; Swiss, 35a.; Havannahs, £ll to £lB per 1000. , „ , , , , , . Wine (duty, 4s. per gallon}—Moderate trade doing in low-priced sherries and ports. At auction twenty quarter-casks of Yglesias and Sons sherry fetched 4s, 6d., 4s. 9d., and ss. per gallon ; Spanish red wine, 4a. 6d.; Pomeral claret, 235. per dozen; Mcdoc, 9s. per dozen. Wines of good sound character are In good demand, and realise fair prices.

COLONIAL PEOBUCE. Butter.—The present high price of fresh butter has diminished the supply of keg butter, which now comes forward in small quantities only, and is quoted alls. 2d. to Is. 3d. per lb., if exceptionally prime. There is a larce stock of old cure on hand difficult to quit at any figure, and is only sold at auction at prices varying from 4d. to 9d. according to condition. Cheese.—Market well supplied with Canterbury cheese, which is worth from 9d. to lOd. per lb. Flour.—The millers down South have again advanced their quotations 10s. per ton, and prices are now firm in this market at £l2 10s. for Canterbury and Oaraaru mills in sacks, for bakers’ lots. As the stocks of wheat appear to have been overrated for local consumption, prices, which have hitherto ruled low will in all probability show a further advance before next harvest, , , „ Hams and bacon,—Hams and bacon are in full supply at 9d, to lOd. per lb, for new season’s cure. Grain.—Feed oats have been in good demand, and clean feeding sorts have sold readily at 2s. Sd. to 2a. 5d per bushel, while prime milling oats are worth 2s. Bd. per bushel, Stocks moderately ample. Maize is now coming in from the coast, and sales have been made at 4s. 4d. to 4s. 6d. per bushel for new ; milling wheat is quoted at ss. Od. per bushel; chicken feed, 4s. to 4s. 3d. ~ , Timber.—The demand for sawn timber continues good. Sales of small cargoes from the coast at 10s. 6U. per 100 ft. We quote pine boards and scantling 10s, 6d. to 11s. ; totara, 15s. to 165.; kauri, 13s. to 14a, per 100 ft. for builders lots. _________