COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5329, 26 April 1878, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

The amount collected during the corresponding quarter of 1877 was £44,885 18s. sd. The import trade of the past month has shown little improvement, and as stocks of all kinds continue to be heavy prices remain lower than desirable. The uncertainty existing as to the probable state of affairs In Europe, and the possibility of war being proclaimed, have no doubt bad some effect in bringing about the depression, but our low quotations are due entirely to overshipmeuts and the desire on the part of consignees to realize. There is nevertheless a strong and improved demand for the country and outports, as evidenced by the quantities of goods shipped coastwise, and with a little more care on the pvrt of English shippers matters may soon readjust themselves. Very few shipments are coming forward of Kartell’s and Hennessy’s bulk and case brandies, owing to the unremuneratlve rates that have been ruling for some time past; and other brands are coming more into notice than formerly. We report the sale of a line of 100 quarters of United Vineyard Proprietors’ brandy at a price withheld. In spite of the dullness payments continue to be moderately well met, and vve have only to report one failure during the month, in the wine and spirit trade, Mr John F. Hargetts, a meeting of whose creditors is called for May sth. The auction trade sales that have been held have showed a marked langour and disinclination on the part of buyers to invest at almost any llgure that must be exceedingly discouraging to importers. At Mr. Isaacs’ sale on the 17th the following prices were obtained, most of the lots being withdrawn:-10 cases Bell and Black’s plaid vestas, 5s 6d per gross; 5 cases Bryant and May’s plaid vestas, 3s Cd; 30 boxes De Ronbaix candles, Old; 6 tons Sydney IC sugar, £45 53 per ton; 10 cases Bull Dog stout, 10s; 10 cases Henucssy’s brandy, 335; 10 cases Lome whisky, 10s Od; 10 cases Burnett’s old tom, 13s; 50 boxes Golden Eagle cigars at £9 10s per 1000: 10,000 Ormond Swiss at 80s; 5 cases half sardines, 8s 3d per dozen; 30 boxes tea, 22s Gd; 10 cases salmon. 10s to 10s Cd per dozen, etc. There have been no ships from London during the month, our slapping list being confined to the usual Australian steamers, and coal and coasting craft. The Rialto and Carnatic are loading for London, and will sail shortly, and the Chasoa and Margaret Galbraith are laid on to follow. The River Leven sailed for San Francisco on the 4th instant, and the Lanarkshire for the same port on the 22nd. The following table shows the quanity and value of wool shipped from the port of Wellington from November, 1877, to 31st March, 1878

The following vessels have sailed from London for this port, or are loading;—The Leucadia, sailed January 1C; and the Canmoro, s.s., January 18. Craigie Lee, sailed February 6, but put back to Dover, having been in collision with a steamer near Gravesend. The Frith of Forth, Himalaya, Abeona. and Orari were loading. From New York the Sophia R. Luhrs, G. AY. Tucker, and Star had sailed, and the Mercury was loading. The May sailed from Singapore on March 4 with a cargo of Eastern produce for AY. and Cf. Turnbull and Co.

Rates of freight to London.—Grease wool, gd per lb.; washed do, £d per lb.; tallow, in cases, GOs; in casks, 70s; and hides, 55s per ton. Bank Kates.—Exchange forbillsonLondon—On demand, 2 percent. premium; at3odays, 1} percent, do; at 00 days, 1 per cent, do; at 90 days, } per cent, do. The banks’ buying rates are—For bills at 90 days, 1 discount; CO days, £ discount; 30 clays, par. Discount on local bills, under 95 days, 7 per cent.; under 125 days, 8 per cent.; over 125 days, 9 per cent. Interest allowed on deposits lodged for 3 months, 4£ per cent.; for C months, 6 per cent.; for 12 months, 5£ per cent. The Suez mail was delivered here on April 4, and the San Francisco mail on April 12. Ale and porter (duty—bulk, Is per gallon ; bottled, Is 3d per gallon).—A fair trade has been done in bottled ales and stouts during the month, and stocks of best brands are becoming lighter. We quote Tennent’s at 10s 9d per dozen; Younger’s, 10s per dozen; and holders of Bass’s bottled by Griffin are asking as high as 11s Gd to 12s. Stoats, if in fair condition and sound, are worth 10s Od to lls Gel per dozen. Bulk ale is in moderate demand, and sales of Bass's No. 4 are reported at £9 10s per hhd., Ind Coope’s ale £9 per hhd. The same brand in bottle is quoted at lls for quarts and 8s for pints. Bags and woolpacks (duty, 10 per cent}.—Cornsacks are in little demand for local wants, sales being made mostly for shipment to the Southern ports, which regulate our prices. We report the sale of 50 bales at a price withheld, holders asking 10s Gd to 10s 9d per dozen for small lots. Woolpacks—Season over; no demand ; stocks fairly ample, Candles (duty. Id per lb). —Stocks of sperm candles arc fairly ample, and are, in fact, larger than desirable in face of the present values. Foreign candles arc worth 9,|d to 9jd per lb. Stocks of Price's Belmonts are lower, and arc quoted at IOJd, Messrs. J. Kitchen and Sons report that they are still dependent upon their Melbourne works for petroline candles, and that the demand there this mouth has been so great that they have been unable to execute orders for this market. Their works in the Adelaide-road are nearly completed, when they will be able to meet trade requirements with material made on the spot. In soap they report a fair month s business. Cement (duty, Is per barrel).—This market is now fully supplied with cement, both direct and from Australia, and prices arc somewhat easier. Stocks are mostly in the hands of one or two lirms, who quote 18s to 18 Gel per barrel, but wo understand that a line of 500 barrels changed hands at 17s Cd. Coffee (duty, 3d per lb). —Stocks of plantation adequate for trade requirements; quotations continue the same as last month, Is 2d to Is 3d per lb, in bond. Chicory (duty, 3d per lb).—Foreign chicory meets with no inquiry, as New Zealand grown is sold as low as Gd.

Confectionery (duty, 2d per lb).— Keiller’s make is in moderate demand at lOd to 10id per lb ; pastilles scarce at Is IJd to Is 2d per lb. Flour (duty, 20s per ton). —The Southern Cross brought about 200 tons Adelaide flour in tho early part of the month, and prices are weaker. Holders are still quoting £l7 10s for sacks in trade lots, but in face of the low values of Southern brands we look for lower quotations. At auction on the 24th Mr. Isaacs sold Canterbury and Oamaru (new) flour, in 5 ton lots, at £lllos to £l2 per ton.

Fruit (duty. Id per lb). —Cun-ants are in full supply at 4ld to 4.fd ; demo raisins, dull at 4£d to Gd ; figs 7d; muscatels, la to Is 2d: dried apples, (id; and Persian dates, 6d to Cd per lb. Few sales to any extent in dried fruits are reported, the business being entirely confined to small parcels. ll'ips (duty, 3d).—The brewers are with one tion tho only holders of Kent hops,- and they are fujly supplied. Wo quote Is 7d to Is 8d for 1877’5, Nelson hops are in fair demand at Is 2d to.la 4d per lb. Malt (duty, la Gd per bushel).—There is np.English malt in importers’ hands. Quotations are-nominally 10s to 10s Od per bushel. Metals (duty, 10 per cent.); corrugated iron and fencing wire (duty, 20 per cent) —Corrugated iron is in fall supply, and prices continue lower than suits the views of importers. Best brands are selling at for 21 gauge, £2G 10s per ton ; 20 gauge, £27 10s to .£2B per ton. Sheet zinc is in fair demand at £35 10s to £3G per ton ; sheet lead scarce, and worth £27 to £2B per ton.

Oils (duty, Cd per gallon).—Stocks of kerosene are light, and do not exceed 1000 cases. Few shipments arc advised as coming forward from America, and prices are firm at Is lid to 2s per gallon. Colza and castor oil in drums are dull of sale at 5s 3d to 5s Cd per gallon ; paint oils in full supply at 3a lOd to 3s lid per gallon, for drums ; whitelead, at £37 to £4O per ton Oilmens’ Stores, (duty, 10 per cent).—Stocks generally are ample, with a fair demand, but prices continue low. Some few lines are scarce, as Lea and Perrins' s»uce, sardines, and salmon, but quotations arc unaltered, as several shipments are expected. Klee, (duly Jrt per lb.)—Holders ask last month’s rates, but sales are so few and unimportant that quotations are only nominal.

Salt (free).—Fair stocks of coarse and fine at 75s to 80s per ton.

Spirits (duty, 12a per gallon).—Owing to the comparatively low figure that has ruled in this market for Henucssy's and Martcli's brandies for some time past, shipments have fallen off, and our stocks of these brands are becoming low ; but as yet there is little advance in quotations, owing to tho presence of several other brands which are rising in public estimation. Heunessy’s is quoted at 10s for quarters, and 33s Gd for case ; Martell's, 0s Cd to Os ,9d, case 32s Gd ; Otard’s and Barnet Fils, 7s 9d to 8s per gallon, and 20s to 28s per case ; Courvolsier’s, 20s per case. We report the sale of a line of 100 quarters Champagne Vineyard Proprietors’ brandy at a price withheld. Pam continues dull at 3s 8d to 4s. Geneva moves off slowly at 13s Cd to 10s Cd, according to contents ; Booth’s old tom In moderate demand at 15s per dozen ; whisky Is unaltered, stocks large. Sugar (duty Id. per lb.)—Prices of sugars have remained unaltered during tho month, with the usual trade demand. Stocks moderately ample, full supplies being received monthly by steamer from tho Australian Sugar Refining Company, their sugar having to a great extent supplanted the Mauritius sorts, owing to the regularity of tho different qualities, and the equal weight and handiness of tho packages. We quote No. 1, £4O; No. 2, £45; and No. 3, £42 per ton. These numbers representing tho former mark* of 2W,

IC, and C, Crushed loaf in moderate supply at £53 per ton, d.p. , , ■ , Tea (duty Cd.. per lb.)-Fair trade in better class teas at paying prices. Large quantities of damaged teas have been pushed off at auction at low rates, which has interfered with the regular trade. Tobacco (duty 2s Cd per lb).—This market Is well supplied with tobaccos, and owing to the fall in the Australian markets a decline to some little extent has been felt here. Best brands of twist are worth, for Black Swan and St. Andrews, Is s}d to Is Gd per lb; Venus tens, Is 6d to Is 7d; Over-the-water,-Is 4d to is sd; other brands difficult to quote at any figure. Cigars (duty, 5s per lb)—Swiss cigars have been m fair demand at 38s per 1000. , . Wine (duty, 4s per gallon).—Ordinary demand for . ports and sherries ; good sound wines generally commanding a fair remunerative value in this market. COLONIAL PRODUCE. Butter (luring the month has not improved in value to the extent usually the case at the present season. Stocks appear to be large, while the demand for export is only limited, and sales are restricted to the supply of the local demand. We quote prime quality in kegs at Btd. to 9d. per lb. Bacon and Hams.—The new cure from Canterbury has come forward pretty freely, but prices continue unchanged, and prime cure, cloth packed, does not realize more than Bd. to 9d. per lb. Large quantities of inferior old stock have been disposed of at auction, at prices that mill interfere with the regular demand. Cheese.—Stocks of Canterbury cheese have become low, without materially affecting values, and 7d. to 71d. per lb. may be taken as the present current value. Flour. —During the month Southern flour has shown a weakening tendency, and sales have been made at £ll to £lllos per ton for sacks in baker’s lots. Holders of best brands of Canterbury and Oamaru mills quote £l2los to £l3, but stocks down South being large,-with occasional parcels forced at auction, we hardly think these prices can be sustained unless some exceptional demand should occur. Grain. —Oats during the month have maintained a steady value, and the demand being good, parcels move off readily at from 4s to 4s 7d per bushel for prime feeding sorts. Maize has been in fair demand, and being low in stock has been readily quitted at 6s 3d to 0s 9d per bushel Chickwheat in full supply at 3s 8d to 3s 9d per bushel. Potatoes.—Several shipments from the coast have been received, and prices have gone down from last month’s rate. Sales have been made at 80s per ton, which may be taken as presentvalue. Timber. —The demand for sawn timber continues active, but stocks appear to be accumulating to an extent that may lead to lower quotations. Holders now quote for builder’s lots—pine boards and scantling, lls 9d to 12s Gd per 100 ft ; kauri, 14s Gd to 15s 0d ; totara, IBs to 17s per 100 ft.

BY TELEGRAPH. AUCKLAND SHARE MARKET. (from our own correspondent.) AUCKLAND. Thursday. Mr. Alexander Saunders reports:—Buyers : Bank of New Zealand, £24 cum div ; Colonial Bank, 52s ; National Bank, 755; Kurunui, 15a: Corby, 48s; Golden Point, ss; Alburnia, 48s; Thames, 30s. Sellers: South British, 735. DUNEDIN, Thursday. Messrs. Wright, Stephenson, and Co, in their grain report state that millers aro operating cautiously, and late quotations are barely sustained. They quote extra prime milling samples at 4s 0(1 per bushel: good, 4s to 4s 3d; ordinary, 3s 9d; oats are in brisk demand at 3s 5d to 3s 6d per bushel for prime milling, and 3s 4d for good feed barley; prime malting is wanted, but there is almost none offering, it is saleable at from 5s to 5s Od per bushel for prime malting samples, and 4s Gd for good quality. Mr. J. M. Bradshaw reports ;—Bank of New Zealand, £24 6s; National Bank, £3 IGs; Colonial Bank, £2 lls Gd; National Insurance, £1 10s, cum. div.; Union Insurance, 15s; Standard Insurance, £l3 ; Shipping Company, £3 15s; Mosglel Factory, £3 7s; Gnthrio and Larnach’s factories. £2 10s.

The following are the duties collected at the Customs yesterday:— & s. d. £ s. d. . a 10 o Goods by weight 2 12 1 . 8 9 8 Ad valorem .. 1C 11 0 Cigars .. . 14 19 8 . 12 19 0 Sugar .. . 51 9 0 Total .. £151 11 2 The following are the amounts of Customs' duties received at the port of Wellington for the four weeks ending the 10th of April £ s. d. £ s. d. 4524 IS 11 Goods by wgt. 1040 1 1 565 11 2 Ad valorem .. 4564 14 9 1402 19 9 Other duties.. 382 14 10 552 5 11 Light dues, Beer . 919 8 9 shipping, &c. 493 0 7 Tea .. 880 12 9 38 14 6 Total . .£17,055 2 0 Sugar.. 1077 19 0 ig is the amount of Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington during the month Sugarand mo1146 12 0 7 14 10 lasse* .. 1673 . 8 10 Goods by 1542 8 0 weight .. 1285 1 2 454 10 7 Ad valorem 43442 15 4 Ale and beer. Other duties 1056 1 0 (bottled) . 043 0 3 Do (in wood) 257 10 0 Tea . 833 11 0 25 7 0 Total £18.783 7 0 The amount collected for the corresponding month of 1877 was £15,678 Os. The 'following is the amount of Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington for the quarter ending 31st March last Coffee, cocoa 10833 17 10 &c. .. 270 3 9 tiliery 7 14 10 Do (roasted) 0 7 1 Sugar and mo972 8 8 lasses .. 5307 1 3 4078 2 0 Opium .. 10 0 Do alieenwash 32 4 0 Goods by 1494 4 3 weight .. 3142 19 5 Ad valorem 19139 17 10 &c. (bottled) 1G31 15 0 Other dutjes , 2409 15 1 Do do (in 370 10 0 Tea .. 2833 12 0 Total £52,751 8 9

f hip. Dates of Sailing. Bales and Pkgs. Lbs. Value. Schiehallion .. Nov. 23,1S77 2,648 801,598 £ 53,128 Orari .. Dec. 8, „ 3.967 1,292,090 07,177 Jan. 4, 1878 5,204 3,795,002 101,113 IVairoa Jan. 0, ,, 4,047 1,004,459 88,305 Jan. 20, ,, 4,239 1,457,655 1,432,985 82,139 St. Leonards .. Feb. 10, „ 4,196 81,824 Hurunui Mar. 2, ,, 4,151 1.312.700 74,505 29,002 9,757,701 548,251