COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5449, 13 September 1878, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

The following aro the duties collected at the Cua. torn) yesterday

The following era tins Customs duties received at tills port for tlio mouth of August, 1878

We report a fair amount of trade in every department during the past month, with a steady increase ns compared with the same period In former years. Although stocks have been greatly, augumented, as will be seen by reference to the amount of Customs duties collected, it is satisfactory to notice the absence of any forced auction sales, which should indicate that the demand keeps pace with our supplies. Prices rule low owing to great competition, and show very little alteration from our last month’s report. Tho arrivals from London during the past month have been—the Abeona, 997 tons, on August 10; Zealandla. 1115 tons, on August 28. The Pioneer, 190 tons, with a full cargo of 220 tons flour, from Adelaide, reached this port on the Cth September. Tho Pleione, 1022 tons, sailed lor Melbourne on August 16 ; the Caitloch, 1254 tons, for Portland, on August 29 : tho Medea, 1065 tons, for Anger, on September 7—all iu ballast. The Chaudiero sailed for London with cargo on August 22, and the Chasca is cleared, and only waiting to ship additional hands. Tho following is tho summary of their respective cargoes:—Per Chaudlere : 1079 bales -wool, 54 pkga do/192 bales skins, Ido phormlum, 734 casks and cases tallow, 8 bales basils, 320 cases preserved meats, 24 pkgs sundries ; total value, £30,778. Per Chasca : 947 bales wool, 279 pkgs do, 101 bales skins, 1423c*sks and cose* tallow, 15 cases shells, 46 bales leather, 71 bags do, 6 bales glue pieces, 455 cases preserved meats, 163 pkgs paper, 2 bales rags, 8J- tons bones, hoofs, and boros, 10 packages sundries. ■ The following vessels were loading in London for Wellington, or had sailed :—Orari sailed May 30, St. Leonards Juno’27, RakaiaJuue 30, Antarcs July 18, Walroa July 16, Carina August 18. Hcrmione September?. The Otakl was loading. The Cragle Lea. from London via Freemantle, sailed from tho last port on August 29.—From New York: The Star; Southminster, 1218 tons. May 14; Olnstee, 650 tons, sailed dune 20 for Wellington. The Jessie Macdonald, from Foochow, sailed July 8. The May, from Hongkong, sailed September '5, and the St. Lonis, from Bordeaux, are expected. Rates of freight to London.—Grease wool, gd per lb: washed do, 3d per lb; undumped, |d extra; tallow, in cases, 60s ; iu casks, 05s ; and hides, 55s per ton.

Bank Rates.—Exchange for bills on London—On demand, 2 per cent premium ; at 30 days. 14 per cent do ; at 60 days, 1 per cent do : at 00 days, J per cent do. The banks’buying rates are—For bills at 00 days, . I discount; 60 days, £ discount; 30 days, par. Discount on local bills, under 05 days, 7 to 8 per cent; under 125 days, Bto 0 per cent; over 125 days, 10 per cent. Interest allowed on deposits lodged for 3 months, 4J per cent; for 6 months, 6 per cent; for 12 months, 5} per cent. The Suez mail was delivered in Wellington on the 22nd August. The Sain Francisco mail was delivered on the Slsfc August. * Ale and Porter (duty paid, bulk, Is per gallon; bottled. Is 3d per gallon).—The demand for bottled ales and stouts of tho better class has improved during the past month, and os most of the inferior brands with which this market has been overstocked for some time past have been gradually absorbed at low prices, with-no further shipments' coming forward, quotations for best brands have improved. We quote ales at Us fid to 12s fid per dez ; stouts, 10s 9d to 11s fid per doz, with good demand. Stocks moderate. English bulk ales are In moderate supply, and meet with fair inquiry at our la-fc quotations, the trade being comparatively unimportant owing to the great prejudice in favor of the colonial brew. Bags and Woolpacks (duty 10 per cent). —There has been no inquiry for cornsacks to any extent during the month. Sales of smaller lines.are reported at 9s 6d to 10s per doz. Stocks light. Woolpacks are coming more into notice as the season for their use approaches, and sales are made at 3s 9d for 101 b packs and 3s 3d for Blb packs. Fair stocks on hand, with

advices of large shipments to arrive. Candles (duty, Id per lb),— I his market is fully stocked with English and foreign made candles, which are difficult to move off except in retail lots. Quotations for foreign are nominally Did, but a lot of 1000 boxes of foreign make was offered at Dd, without a sale resulting. Price’s make have been quitted at Ojd per ib, but market quotations remain at lOd to 10id. Cement (duty, Is per barrel).—Overstocked, with no present demand, and no transactions to report. Holders quote 16s for best brands of Portland. Coffee (duty, 3d per ib). —Fair trade, and good local demand. Quotations for plantation, Is 2d to Is 2jd (in bond), stocks being ample for all our wants.

Qhlcory (duty, 3d per lb). —Vey little stock in first hands, but prices remain at last month’s rate, with little trade doing. Confectionery (duty, 2d per -lb). —Keiller’s pastilles are selling at lOd to IOJd, but the demand for other sorts of English confectionery has become absolutely, nil, and our local and coast trade is now mainly supplied from Messrs. Griffiths’ raanufacto-y. Flour (duty, 20s per ton). —Adelaide flour had become rather tow In stock towards the end of last month, bub showed no improvement In value, owing t • the low quotations for .Southern flour, since then the Pioneer has landed 320 tons, for which holders are quoting £l7 per ton. Advices from Adelaide state that their market is firm, add the trade generally short of stock. Prices here rule from £l2 to £l3los per ton for fine best. Fruits (duty. Id per lb). —Dried fruits are in fair supply, with usual demand, whichjimproves with the disappearance of green fruit. Currants are worth 4jd to 4£d: Elerae raisins, 54d; sultanas, Cd to muscatels, lid to Is; figs, 7d per lb; dried apples, fid per lb; bottled fruits, owing to increase of Customs duty, are quoted at 12s 3d to 12s fid per doz. Hops (duty,3d per lb).—Sales of Kent hops have been made at Is fid per lb, but there is practically no demand, as the brewers mostly import their own stocks. Nelson hops are lower, and in little demand, at 10|d to Is per lb. Tasmanian, Is Ojd per lb. •Malt (duty. Is fid per bushel).—No English malt imported. Metals (duty, 10 per cent.; corrugated iron and fencing wire, 20s per ton). —Galvanised iron continues in active demand, but owing to large Importations prices do not Improve. We quote best brands of 26 gauge at £25 to £2G per ton ; 24 gauge. £24 10s per ton for ordinary lengths, Sft and 9ft being 20s extra. Fencing wire is neglected, and meets with no enquiry; best annealed wire is quoted at £l4 to £l6 per ton, for Nos. 6,-7, and 8. Sheet lead and sheet zinc are saleable at £25 to £32 per ton, with fair trade doing. Oils (duty, fid per gallon!—Tne s ock of kerosene oil below the test is gradually disappearing and being

taken into consumption in spite of the brand “ dangerous” attached to it. Guaranteed qualities are sell ng at 2s 2d to 2s 3d for diamond and other similar brands, while 2s G<l ii quoted for “Light of the Age,” wh ch stands n test of 130 deg. Several ships are advised as on the way from New York with large parcels for this port. The Star. 2030 cases: Southminster, 3100 cases; Olnsfcee, 2000 cases. Faint oils

continue in active demand, but quotations remain low, at 4s to 4s Id for raw, and 4s 2d to 4s 3d for boiled, in drums. Colza and Castor oils unaltered. Oilmen’s Stores (duty, 10 per cent.) —A considerable business has been done in oilmen's stores at satisfactory prices.

Rice (duty, £d per lb).—Best clean dressed rice is selling at £26 to £2B per ton, there being very little of the better quality in stock. Ordinary, quality is quoted at £23 per ton. Fair stocks. Salt (free). —Coarse salt remains at 75s to 80s, and fine at 80s to 90s per ton. Stocks moderately heavy. Spirits (duty, 12s per gallon).—Kartell's and Hennessy’s brandies, bntu bulk and case, maintain their preeminence in this market, and remain at last month's rates, with little or no change. We quote 10s to IDs 3d for quarters; 335.t0 31s per dozen for case. Stocks are rather low, and other brands at a lower figure are brought more into notice In consequence. Rum 4s overstocked, at 3s Cd to 3s lOd for Lemon Hart's and White’s, 10 per cent. o.p. Whiskies move off slowly at last month's rates, Dunville’s being 6s fid to 6s 9d for bulk, and l7s to 17s fid for case; Lome whisky is quoted at 10s to 19s 6d. and meets with moderate demand ; Kinaltan’s, 20s to 21s per dozen. Geneva, old tom, Ac., unaltered.

Sugar (duty, Id. per lb).—Owing to the strong competition now existing between several of our importing firms, the prico of Australian sugars has been lowered 20s. per ton on last month’s quotations. The present rates are : No. 2 W., £45 ; 1.C., £43; and C.. £4l to £4110». per ton, duty paid. Stocks are kept up to requirements by tho regular supplies per steamer. . •

Tea (duty. Gd. per lb). —A moderate but satisfactory trade has been done in'the new season’s teas at fair paying uktes, and stock’s of old teas have become lighter. The Jesslo McDonald will be due shortly, and has 10,000 packages of new teas for W, and G. Turnbull and Co.

Tobacco (duty, ‘is. Cd: per lb).—Prices for favorite brands of tobacco have been weaker, owing to large stocks on hand, but a fair amount of business has been doing during the month. Quotations for St. Andrew’s twist, in quarters. Is. 4d. to Is. 4id. ; cases. Is. sd. to If. (id.: Black Swan, Is. 3d. to Is. 4>1.; cases. Is. Id. to Is. sd. ; Venus, Is. sd. to la. (id. pet lb. ; Venus tens, Is 5Ad ; Over the Water tens. Is 21 per lb. There is no inquiry for 'outside brands. Cigars, 'fair trade doing, but limited to current wants of the letallers. . . * Wines (duty, 4s per {gallon ; sparkling do, Os per gallon)—The usual trade {demand for ports and sherries has been found during the month, and fair prices for the better qualifies have been obtained. Light wines and champagne have been dull. COLONIAL PRODUCE. Butter.—Good samples of keg butter have been in-, qulred for during the mOnth. mostly for local supply, and the stock of really good cure being low, prices have improved. Wo quote prime at lOd to lid per lb; inferior cure from OJ to Bd. Cheese.—The market continues to be overstocked witli Southern make, and prices show no change. Good Canterbury and Akaroa cheese is selling at-fijd to 7d per lb, with moderate demand. Bacon and Hams.—The demand has been dull, with no change in 'quotations. Stocks in dealers’ hands ample. - . Flour.— I There is ho Improvement In the quotation for Southern dour, and during the month the tendency has been decidedly drooping. Quotations are nominally £ll 5s per ton for sacks of best brands of Canterbury and Oamaru mills, but lower rates would be accepted for wholesale parcels. Stocks in importers'hands are ample, and from all appearances the stocks down South are fur In excess of our probable consumption, so thatgo fares present appearances go there Is not much probability of improved prices. Grain'.—Oats have come in freely, and stocks being fairly ample, prices are not so Arm as they were at the beginning of the month ; good milling sorts cannot be quoted higher than 4a Od for parcels, while ordinary feeding sorts are comparatively neglected at 4a 4d to 4s Cd per bushel. Maize dull at 4« Od to 4s lOd. Wheat, for fowl's feed, 4s Id to 4s 3d; milling do, 5a 8d to 6s Cd per bushel. Barley, 4s to -ts Id. Bran in demand at Xs Oil to Is Bd. Bollard, £0 10i to £7 per ton. Potatoes.—Potatoes are in: full supply, and during the month have been quitted at 72s Od to 80s per ton for trade lots from the coast. Timber.—Sawn timber is heavy In stock, but the demand for building purposes apparently keeps pace with the supply, as prices remain firm at our quotations—Pino boards and scantling, 11s; tot*ra, 14a to 15s; kauri, 15s to 10s per 100 feet, for building lots. BY IJSLBOJtAPH. AUCKLAND SHARE MARKET. (FROM OUR OWN COIIRESFONDBNT.) „ „ AUCKLAND, Thursday. Mr. Alexander Saunders reports:—Buyers: Colonial Bank, 08s : National Bank, 78»; Bank of New Zealand, £24 6s; National Insurance, 27s ; New Zealand Insurance, 80s; Auckland Gas Company, £lO 0s; Now Zealand Shipping, 85a; Cosby, 15s* Albumin, 40s. Sellers: South British, 725: Colonial. 0s 3d. . (PER PRESS AfIEXOV.) Mr. Dinner's weekly quotations are os follows: Flour, £ll 10s; bran and sharps, £8; milling wheat, ! 4s 3d to 4s 0d; heavy oats are enquired for at 4s Od to 4s Od: light do, 4s 3d to 4s 4jd; maize, 4s; oatmeal, £22; pearl baHey, £24; potatoes, £0 to £010s; butter. Is to is 2d; cheese, 7Jd to 8d; bacon (cloth),‘Sid; do (bare), 7d to Bd. ,

e s. a. Spirit*.. 807 12 8 Wine .. .. 24 2 Tobacco .. 41 8 9 Tea 2 15 0 Sugar ... 81 18 0 Cettee .. .. 14 0 0

£ a. d. AIo (bottled) . 9 12 u Ale (bulk) . 5 0 0 Ad valorem . 7 1 9 Total ,&m ii 1

£ H. U. HuiriU .. ii'J’t 2 1 1 Cigars .. 515 i 7 Tobacco ... iw is 1 Wluo.. .. Ml 10 7 I5ccr .. .. 800 0 0 Tea .. .. 1012 5 0 Coif co .. 03 18 3 §ugar.. .. 2033 13 X

£ 9. d. .Weight ..nos 15 3 Ad valorem .. 7700 2 9 Other duties.. 1U5 0 9 Light dues, shipping, Ac. 992 17 0 Total £22.210 12 1