COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5353, 24 May 1878, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

’ No transactions of any moment have come under notice during the past mouth, business being' in most casesconfined to the usual trade requirements. The import trade, which according to all accounts has been very dull, seems to progress very, satisfactorily if one may judge from the gigantic' amount done. Orders have come in pretty freely from the outports, and stocks which to all appearances would seem out of proportion gradually diminish, and move oif at rates which, without yioldingvory satisfactory profits, at all events serve to strengthen the impression that the merchants and importers of Wellington are in n position to supply their customers at prices as low if not lower os could be done by the Melbourne and Sydney importing firms, who have heretofore managed to do the bulk of the trade that should naturally flow from this port/ ; At K. J. Duncan’s sale of the stock in the insolvent

estate of J. F. Margetta; on the 22nd May, the following prices were, realisedßonded goois: 12 casks Hennessy’s brandy, 9s Cd; I'eaak Thom and Cameron’s whisky, 4s Id; 20 cases Muller Freres’brandy, 18s 6d; 20 cases claret, Medoc, 12s 6d to 13s 6d; 40 cases claret, St. Julien, 14a; 32 casesganeva, 10s 6d; 5 cases geneva. 9s (id; 1 qr-cask Danville's whisky, ss; 6 qr-casks sherry, 4s to 4s 10J ; 21 cases champagne, 22s ; 6 cases champagne, 265; 13, cases schnapps, 12s; 25 crises schnapps. 10a; 1 case cigars, 495. per 1000: l ease cigars, 36b per 1000 ; 15 cases Bisquit Dubouche brandy, 19s; ,10 cases Champagne,"Vineyard brandy, 20s to 225; 3 qr : casks Danville’s whisky, 4s Id to 4s lid. Duty-paid goods : 23 casks Younger's alo, 5s 3d; 6 cases chairs; 34s to S7s; 6 cases cnracoa, 404: 2 cases maraschino, 33s ; 6 cases crown vestas, 4s Cd to 4s 9d per gross; 43 kegs Belgian nails, llin to 2in, 13s Cd per cwt; II cases diamond plaid vestas, 4s 6d per gross ; 7 cases sardines. 7a Od to 8s ; 10 cases Hobarton jams, 6s 4d to 6s (id per dozen, &c. The export of wool from .New Zealand, according to recent returns, for the December and March quarters, amounted to 51,595,2131b5, as against 45,702.4751bs for the corresponding quarters of last year, showing an increase of .5,893,7381b*. . Of this the total exported from Wellington was 9,5C8,89C1b5, as against 10,X2i,l811bs f the deficiency Being most probably due to a' direct shipment from Napier, which used heretofore to.ship from Wellington. .The total amount of exports of, all.description and from all ports for 1878 was 6,303,9911b5, against 5,459,1141bs for 1877, being’ah'increase of 844,8771b5. - < . ?

' Onr arrivals from London during the month have been the Chaaca, 033 tons, May 1, via Auckland ; Leucadia. 89C tons,. May 2 ; Canmore, 728 tons. May 4; Chamliere, 470 tons, via Nelson, May 18; Sophia B.Luhrs.COO tons, from' New York, May 18 ; the May, from Singapore, May 2and tine Anthons, 133 tons, from Melbourne, on Maylß. The Gainsborough sailed for San Francisco oh May 3, ami the Carnatic for London on May 19, with the following cargo: 605,2501b5, value £29,483; GO bales skins, 14 sacks hides, 1313 pkgs tallow, 587 cases preserved meats, 3 , tons shank bones, 5 cases shells, 170 pkgs paper, 10 bales rags, 345 blocks spelter, 1 ease and 2 bdls metal, 67 pkgs leather, 1 pci pictures, 3 eases sundries : the total value of cargo being £44,700., The Bialto is a full ship, and will sail the end of this week for Loudon ; and the Chaudiere and Chasca are on the berth loading, to sail in June. -

The following vessels were loading for this port or have sailed from London The Craigmullen 761 tons, sailed February 28 ; Plcione, 1001 tons, sailed March 5; Frith of Forth, 1030 tons, sailed March 20 ? Abcqna, sailed April 25. The Caitloch. 1203 tons, the Orari, and Craigie Lee were loading. The Whittington, 969 tons, sailed from Cardiff on March a, and the Star from New York on February 16.* Bates of freight to London.—Grease-wool, M per lb.; washed do, |d per lb.; undumped, id extra: tallow, in cases, 60s; in casks, 65a; and hides, 55s per ton.

Bank Kates.—Exchange for bills on London—On demand. 2 percent, premium; atSOdays.li percent doat 60 days, 1 per cent, do; at 80days, sper cent do! The banks’ buying rates arc—For bills at 00 days, 1 discount; 00 days, J discount: 30 days. par. Discount on local bills, .under 85 days, 7 per cent.: under 123 days, S per cent.; over 125 days, 0 per cent. Interest allowed on deposits lodged for 3 months, 4} per cent.: for 0 months, 5 na r cent ■ for 12 months, 5} per cent. ” The Sue* mail, with dates I-. urarrh i: a., »£ Welli,,St ° U **■ Ma/^Sn^su’d^ mai!, with London dates to days delivered in Wellington on May 9, two - *j p - ad duo. v - and porter (duty paid, bulk la per gallon, mottled Is 3d per gallon).—Beat brands of bottled ales are low in stock, and are worth 11s to 12s per dozen, with fair trade doing for the season. l Bottled st uts are in full supply, and favorite brands if in sound condition are selling at 10s fid to 11s 6d per dozen. Outside brands are in little request. For bulk ale there is only a limited demand, and first-class brands only are saleable, our local brewers keeping tha market fairly supplied with their; own brew. Marion’s and Bass’s No 4 are quoted at £9 5s to £9 los per hhd. Bags and wdolpacks (duty; 10 per cent). —Cornsacks are In full supply, with little doing, tho season being over. Holders are asking 10s to 10s 3d per dozen. Woclpacka in no demand at 3s Cd to 3s Od for Ini! size packs. Candles (duty. Id per lb). —Large stocks of sperm candles are in importers’ hands, and during the month a good demand has existed for outside ports. Several large lines having been shipped at 9}d per lb ; holders quote lOd to IOJd per lb for Price’s Belmonts ; foreign, 9}d to 9Jd per lb for trade parcels; and as the season advances they are likely to be firm at those figures. Messrs J. Kitchen and Sons report that they have made a start with their new candle works, and in a few days-will be able-to have a good supply of all qualities.. They quote pefcrolfnes, 9jd; stars, bedroom and carriage candles, ,1s per ib; soap, prices unaltered from lost month.. Cement (duty. Is per barrel).—Stocks of cement a* 0 rather in excess, and in'the winter season the dem; a iirt falls off considerably., I Holders are asking iy g 6d for beat brands. Coffee (duty, 3d per lb.)-Tho usual ' tra(le h doing at last month s paces, sales being limited to the sup. ply of OTdinary trade wants. We qr oto plantation at X4d to 14)d per lb in bond. / Cbicory (dnty 3d per lb)—Nr, demand for foreign growth. Colonial sella at 0d per lb, with limited demand. ■ . , i * Confectioney (duty 2d pr jr lb)— English confectionery meet, with little demaD' the wants of tho trade being now amply supplied f rom our local maunfactories. Kedlera make la -quoted at lOd to IOJd ; pastilles. Is Id to Is 2d per p,* ••• Flour (duty. per ton)—Stocks of Adolal le flour are becoming light, and holders arc firm In their quotation of Syi ios to £lB per ton. The prices of flour . u %• -nstrallan markets and down South appear ™“ 8 " actuating, and with a downward tendency, so ““*s ’unless some improved demand should spring up hardly probable that, with Oaraaru flour at £l2 P* ar ton, there can be much change In the value of Adelaide. ‘; Fruit (duty Id per lb).—Currants have been in fair demand during the month at rates varying from 4Jd to 4Jd per pound ; Eleme raisins In fair condition aro worth s}d to 6d per lb, with moderate business doing; Muscatels Is to ls2d per lb, flgs 7d to 8d per lb, sultanas 7d, Persian dates fid to 6d per lb; dried apples in little or no demand owing to the quantity of green fruit in tho market. Hop; (duty 3d per lb).—There are no English hops in importers’ hands.: Tasmanian and Nelson, 1877, are worth fid; and Nelson, 1878. are quoted at Is, with dull sale. ■ Malt (duty Is Od per lb).—Colonial malt appears to have entirely taken tho place of English, no Importations, of the latter haring been; received for some time past. , Colonial malt of best quality Is worth 7s per bushel. ... Metals (duty 10 per cent)—Corrugated Iron end fencing wire (duty 20s per ton)—Tho stock of galvanised Iron Is gradually becoming lower,owing to the increased demand for buildings in course of erection, but prices: do not improve, and Importers have to accept lower rates than desirable.: Braby’s Bun brand is. selling' at £2olos to £2710s per ton; Gospel Oak, £2oto £27; .Morewood's, £27, in trade lots, for, 26 gauge. Fencingwire is! dull at £l4 to £lB per ton for Nos, 0, 7. and 8:; sheet lead In moderate enquiry at £26 to £27: sheet sine.£34los per ton. , .pi)s (duty, 6d per gallon). —Stocks of kerosene are moderitcly ample, the shipment per Sophia E. Luhrs, which 'Consisted of 800 cases, having prevented a possible! scarcity! :r The Star Is now duo with 1500 cases, amlj the (-I. JI. Tucker and Alma, with about 1800 cases, may bo expected shortly after. Present qveiatibns are Is’lid to 2s per gallon d.p. Paint oils con,tlnnc in full i supply at As lOd to 3s Hd per gallon for .drums ;. colza ami castor, oils dull at 5s 3d to 5s Cd per gallon, t - ; ’ Oilmen’s stores (duty, 10 percent).—Ample stocks of every description coming under tills head, with fair .business doing, Prices rule low.; / , Kiue (duty, Id por lb).—Pull stocks qt ,£22 to £26 per'ton, according to sample Halt (free).—Muderatostocks of flna and coarse salt at tgOs to 90s per ton. 1 1 < ' . ■ , ."Spirits (duty, ;Jl2s per gal.) —The .usual , quantity of spirits have been quitted during the month, mainly for tho supply of current wants of the retail trade; wei hear of no particular lines changing hands on specula-: (ion; iStocks are heavy, and prices show no-profltoni importation in most cases., Henn easy’s and, MarteU’sl brandies’'^rd 1 the only Exception, low prices ol late]

'having checked importation; HeUnessyVisiiuot'dd at' Os 9d to 10a. fori quarters: .133 s 04' to M- 6d for/caio;; Otard'sanrt Carnet Fils, 7s Od to3s. per gall, and,2os to 'to 28s per'case.■Hum continues at low quotations;* it’eannot be quoted .higher than 3s 3d to 3s 10d per gall( lOr White's and Lemon Hart's. ‘ Geneva in little; demand at 13s0d toilßs Bd, according tojconteuls.j Whisky, Usury, stocks at fqtmer quotations.; t Bqoth’a old tom is in moderate demand at 15s per dozen. [ i 1 Sugar (duty, Id'per lb).—Australian Eoflnlng Company's are in fair;stock. but' complaints rare inade that the qualify of (ho dliretentraarics aro not so even as was the case formerly,’ nor is the mode /)f ■ lacking so suitable for this matkefl'.and prices atoj slightly under our.lastimonth's quotations;* No. "/, 1 ,tv.;,.€401,C.„ jßtt tqlOspeg ton ; o,v,£4Sl,j*ar ton; finished loof Is in (alf supply and demand at JJSI tb £S3 per ton, ! • r - !■<« i - f ;'=l'oa (duty, (id per lb);-tG'oas, ,! Usurll'trade doSSngj with.no change in ,values. * , ~ ;, .. v, . ! XolMcco..(duty, ?s M.per lb).-To'jaoCoes ,movo,o« at.iornier rates, and' tt, fair, amou’at o(. business U reported, _ Twists depressed,' owing to the ilnrge failures in -Melbourne reading'to the ; Iml •HffiiirtyM-MW’MI tntoitueinariwtj .ain at our(aft. quota! tiehs St, Andrew sis worthlf*, 6d perlu for wholesale !, o j Wjn'i.ri.j ’ V 1 S? 4 *?**.> which. still' rules ,low,, has euown signs i j( improvement: but' there, ll but little doing beyond , retail wants. Wo qUOfeU d per lb for exceptional! y prime cure.

Cheese.—Full- stocks of Canterbury at 7d to 7Jd per lb. • , ,'. - j - Hams and Bacon.—Tho'nevrcaro is coming forward, and holders ask Bjd to Od per lb for hams and bacon In trade lots. Much of the old stock Is now disappearing. , Flour,—Canterbury and Oamaru flour has remained steady at £l3 10s per ton daring the month, but latterly has shown symptoms of decline, lower rates being accepted by holders, and at auction £l2 per ton has been accepted for Oamaru mills guaranteed. Grain.—Oats continue to command last month’s quotations of 4s 2d to 4s 3d per bushel, at which rates a considerable quantity ha gone into consumption ; wheat for fowls’ feed is worth 3s Od to 4s; barley, 3s; malting do, 4s 9d to 5s per bushel; maize, scarce, and worth 5s Gd to 6s: pollard is.quoted at £7 10s per ton ; bran, In demand, at Is to Is 2d per bushel. Potatoes in full supply, at 65a to Css per ton. Timber.—Sawn timber continues in good demand, and is quoted for builden’ lots at—Pine boards and scantling. Its Od to 12s Cd per 100 feet; kauri, 14s Od to 15s Od; totara, 15s to 17s per 100 feet. Mr. George Thomas reports produce , prices as follows Flour, Adelaide; £l7 ,10s; colonial, £l2 103; oats, 4s to 4s 3d: bran. Is to Is 2d: wheat, 3s Od to 4s; pollard,'7s 0d: maize, 0s 6d; butter, Is; bacon, 7id; ,hams, 3jd; potatoes. £3 10s; cheese, 7d. BY TELEGRAPH. AUCKLAND SHAKE MARKET. , (FilOM OUR OWK, CORRESPONDENT.) AUCKLAND, -Thursday, • Mr. Alexander Saunders reports;—Buyers: National Bank, 70s; Colonial Bank, 52s 6d; Union, 18a; isankofNcw Zealand, £23 ss; New Zealand Insurance, 87s Od; Auckland Gas, £lO 10s : Sash and Door, £5 .7s 6d; Alburuia, sos i Moanataiari; 05s; Corby, 30s, ; 1 CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. - Wheat, 4s Od to ss; flour, £l2 to £l3; oats, 3s Cd to 4s; bran, £4; sharps, £5; cheese, 6£d; butter, OJd; hams and bacon Bd.in cloth; potatoes, £3. Markets dull. ; . SYDNEY, Thursday. ■ Henuossy’s case brandy is firm-and unchanged; Uounessy’s quarters, 0s 3d. Kerosene is unebauged. Rice, £24. The usual other quotations unchanged. DUNEDIN, Thursday. There lias been more inquiry for wheat during the last few. days, but there have been no transactions of Importance., Quotations range from 4s to 4s Cd : oats, 8s 4d to 3s 0d: barley, 5s to 5s 6d for good; very choice, os. Mr. Bradshaw reports:—Bank of New Zealand shares, £23155; Colonial Bank, £2 13s; National, £3 16s; Standard Insurance, 23a; National; 28s; South British, £3 15s; Mosgiel Factory, £3 7s: Shipping Company,' £3 15a; ’Guthrie and Lamach’s Factory, £2103.

Spirits .. Wine. .. ..107 0 0 Ale, bottled 15 0 .. 5 n 2 Goods, wght ... '12 14 0 Sugar .. - .. 153 B Ad valorem .. 21 19 3 Tea .. 40 10 0 Cigars ..' Tobacco .. 25 ... 10 10 0 Total /. :470 0 0 , ."Tlio following, are the Customs duties collected at the port o( Wellington during the four Weeks ending May 10 Spirits ■’ .. ’300S 0 0 Goods by wgt 052 - 2 0 Cigars, 281 10 0 Ad valorem.. 4473 0 3 Tobacco .. 1203 14 3 Other duties 520. S 7 Wiuo .. 329 (i 7 Light dues. Ucer.. ,530 8 0 Shipping,&c 1307 11 0 Tea .. . 500 7 0 Coffee .. 134 3 Sugar .. 2500 0 3 Total ...£16,61,3 12 5