COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5473, 11 October 1878, Page 4

COMMERCIAL .

The following are the duties collected t& tome yesterdayj Cos-

The following are ilia C 7 , , Al at this port for the month®?' «wlom* duties received »...■% <inr»fornKnj« IQ7fl»

trad* of >' a fair amount of business In the Import IncreaJ' -he put month, with a steady and progressive from’ '• Prices remain to a great extent unaltered tost month's rates, and as stocks are heavy and » J .e quantities of goods* coming forward, wo may w.ok for tho continuance of low rates for some time to come, and buyers from tho other parts of tho colony will And this a good market for their Investments. Messrs. Pownal! and Co. repoit a good demand for mortgage Investments, with a moderate supply only of homo and foreign capital offering. Tho rate of interest has ranged from 8 to 9 per cent. Tho arrivals from London during the past four weeks have been—the Orari, 027 tons, September 1G ; St. Leonards, HOC tons, September 28; Or&lgio Lea, GlO tons, October 3 ; Itakaia. 1020 tons, October 8; tho Jessie McDonald, from China, September 17 ; tho Stir, 407 ton*, from New York, on September 20; and ■ the St. Louis, from Bordeaux, on October 2, with tho usual liumJwr of atsurners fr&m Australian and Now Zealand ports. Tho 0 ha sea sailed for London on tho 23rd September, with wool, tallow, &c; tho Abcona,

097 tons, for Portland, September 17 ; and the Whittington. 070 tons, for Callao, September 17. The following ships had sailed for this port by last advices, or were loading:—ln London: Wairoa, July 16; Antares, sailed July 18; Corlna, sailed August 18: Hermiono, sailed September 7; and the Llmpio. 206 tons, in ballast, sailed July 18. Tho Alexa (424 tons), Otakl, and Jessie Headman were loading. From New York the Southminstor (1248 tons) and Olensleo (550 tens) are about due; the May'sailed from Hongkong on Septembers, loaded with Eastern produce for this port. , ~ Rates of freight to London. —Grease wool, %a per lb: washed do, |d per lb; undamped, M extra; tallow, in cases, 60s ; in casks, 66s ; and hides, oos Pe iank Bates.—Exchange for bills on London—On demand, 2 percent premium ; at 30days, 1J per cent do; at 60 days, 1 per cent do ; at 90 days, J per cent do. The banks' buying rates are—For bills at 90 days, 1 discount; 00 days, } discount; 80 days, par. Discount on local bills, under 95 days, 7 to 8 per cent; under 125 days, Bto 9 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 13 months, 5J per ceat. „ ~, The San Francisco mall was delivered in Wellington on the 27th September. , . The Suez mail was delivered on tho 19th September, 8 days before due. „ Ale and Porter (duty paid, bulk, Is per gallon ; bottled. Is 3d.)—We report a good demand for the best brands of bottled ales during the month, and as our stocks are within bounds, prices remain firm at lls 6d to 12s Cd per dozen ; bottled stouts are worth 11s to 12s, and meet with good sale for well known marks. Inferior brands have to a great extent disappeared,.and consequently cease to influence prices. Bulk ale meets with inqutry'at £9 to £9los per hhd ; stocks moderately light. , . „ Bags and Woolpacks (duty, 10 per cent,)—Cornsacks have been neglected, and we hear of no transactions beyond mere retail sales. Importers quote 0s 0d to 10s per dozen. Woolpacks are coming Into notice with tho approach of the shearing season, and are selling at for JO-Jlb, 27 x 54, 3s 7d to 3s 8d; 81b, 27 x 42, 3s 2d, in station lines. Stocks on hand and to arrive are ample. * . , , Candles (duty, Id per lb.)—Stocks of foreign and English made sperm are largo, with a lessened demand, owing to tho local manufacture, which bids fair to take tho lead. Foreign make are quoted at 9d to OJd; Price’s, 9jd to 0| per lb. % Cement (duty, Is per barrel.)--Our market Is glutted with cement, and prices have gone down to a minimum, We heard of a sale of Goatling's make at 12s to 13s per barrel, and report a shipment of 700 barrels Knight, Bevau. and Sturge’s make, coastwise, at 16s per barrel. Holders quote 16s, but local sales are few and unimportant. Coffee (duty, 3d per lb.)—Usual trade demand, at Is 2d to Is 2jd per lb, in bond, for plantation. Chicory (duty, Sd per lb.) —Stocks of foreign light, with little inquiry. Confectionery (duty, 2d per lb.) —No change from last month’s report: stocks ample, with only mode, rate demand for English. Flour (duty, 20s per ton.) -Adelaide flour continues at a low quotation in consequence of the low figure at which our Southern flour is selling. Importers are quoting £lO 10s to £l7 per ton ; stocks light. Fruits (duty Id per lb.)—Large supplies of dried fruits are just to hand, and prices are slightly depressed. A good trade has been done during tho past month at payable quotations ; we quote currants, 4jd to 4sd; Elemo raisins, s£d to Od; sultanas, ! 7d ; muscatels, Js to Is 2d, according to condition ; dried apples, sid to Gd. Hops(duty 3d pcrlb.)—No English in stock. Nelson growth are worth lOJd per, lb, with little business doing. Malt (duty Is 6d per bushel.)—No English in stock, Metals (duty, 10 per cent.; corrugated iron and fencing wire, 20s per ton). —Stocks of corrugated Iron are much in excess of our present wants, and prices have receded. Best brands, i.e.. Gospel Oak and Morewood’s are selling at £26 to £2610$ per ton ; for £26 gauge: outside brands £24 per ton ; 24 gauge sells at 20s to 30s per ton lower. Fencing wire is overstocked and difficult fo place at fair remunerative prices. Quotations at £l4 to £ls 10sper ton. Other metals are without change. Oils (duty 6d per galloß.)—Stocks of kerosene oil. are moderately ample, more especially of the low test oils, which are difficult to sell at Is lOd to Is lid per gallon. . Light of the Ago brand, high test, meets with fair demand at 2s Cd to 2s 7d per gallon. Boiled and raw linseed oils are quoted at 4s 4d and 4s Id per gallon for drums ; colza, 5s Gd per gallon. Oilmen’s Stores (duty 10 per cent.)—During tho month our stocks of oilmen's stores Uave been much increased by recent arrivals, and although a largo and improving demand is felt, competition keeps down prices to a low rate of profit. Klee (doty Jd per lb).—Good clean Patna rice is low in stock, and worth £26 10s per ton.

Salt (free.)—Full stocks of both fine and coarse salt at 75s to 80s per ton. Spirits (duty, 12s per gallon.)—The spirit trade ha's been only of an average character, and unmarked V»y any fluctuations. There is a steady demand, but no speculative feeling in the trade. Everything is from hand to mouth, and prices may bo taken from our last month's report without any chance of error. Marteli’s and Honnessy’s brandies, bulk, 10s to 10s 3d per gallon; case, 33s to 345. Stocks moderate. Other brands are in little demand. Bum, 10 per ; cent. o.p. is quoted at 3s Cd to 3s lOd for Lemon Hart’s and White’s,, with ordinary sale. Danville's whisky, 5s 6d to 5s Dd per gallon for bulk, and 17s Cd for case ; Lome, 19s to 19s 6d ; Kinahan, 20s to 21s per dozen. Geneva, old tom, &c., unchanged. Sugir(duty. Id per lb.)—Sugars are still low as compared with the cost at the Australian refinery, owing to the existing competition among the importing firms. No. 2 wJxito, £44 10s to £45 ; IC, £43 ; C, £4l to £4llos per ton, duty paid. Stocks are kept-up to our monthly wants by regular supplies per steamer. Tea (duty, Cd per lb.)—The usual trade has been done in te «s during the month at prices that appear satisfactory to importers. The Jessie Macdonald brought 10,000 packages of the new season’s' teas on September 17, which will-supply our market for the meantime.

Tobacco (duly, 2s 6d per lb ; cigars, duty, ss,)—A good trade has been done in the better brands of tobacco and cigars, but we note no change iii prices. St. Andrew’s twist, in quarters, is worth 4d to Is 44d per lb; cases. Is 5d to Is Od ; Black ‘Swan, Is 3d to Is 4d; cases, Is 41 to Is sd; Vernas, Is 5d to Is Cd per lb: Venus tens. Is Cd; Over the Water tens. Is 2Jdperlb. other brands aoKiinal, and in moderate demand. Cigars unaltered. Wines (duty. 43 per gallon.)—Fair business doing in ports and sherries, the demand running upon a better class of wines than usually imported. Common low olsss wine-i are overstocked, and difficult to. move.

fa COLONIAL PRODUCE. Bullet—Prime salt butter has met with bettesr enquiry from the trade, and prices are firm at aoiadvauce on last month’s rates, owing to the. small quantity of really prime that comes into markaf; We quote lid to 13d per lb for retail lots. Inferior** sold at auction at prices ranging from 3d to 7d per lb. Cheese—Foil stocks, which move off ab.Zdpcrlb for current wants of the retailers. Bacon and Hams—O ood demand for Southern cared during the past month at 8d to 9d. Flour- -Canterbury and Oamaru flour has continued to rule low during the month, nor is there any sign of improvement. The large stock oa hand in tho South must find an outlet, and in the face of heavy harvests, all over the world and low prices in the adjacent colonies, the nearest market is the one most readily sought, and we may look for full supplies and low prices foir some time forward. Best brands are quoted at £ll per ton, but we hear of lower rates being accepted. Grain—Oats have been in full supply, and at present stocks are rather above tho average requiremeiiSs of the trade* Prices have ruled steadily durian the month, at 4s Cd to 4s 8d per bushel but are-»trifle lower,. Fowls’ feed is in fair supply at 4s CM;; bran. Is Cd to Is 7d: pollard, £7 per ton. Potatoes—Largo supplies of potatoes have come iii. from the coast, and the market is overstocked! We quote 753 to 80s per ton for cargoes. Timber—Sawn timber is In good* demand, and prices keep up. Pine boards and scantling are quoted at lls Cd; totara, 14s Cd; kauri, 15s Cd per 100 feet, for building lots. Cattle—First-claas fat cattle arq Selling at 25s to 27s Od per 100 lb. Sheep* Ss to IJs after shearing. Tallow-Mixed becl and mutton iia selling at £SI 10b to £32 per tea. George Thomas* Reports as follows Adelaide flour, £}?'• to £ll 10s; oats, 4s 9d; bran, la 7d: wheat. 4s . B an i 9, Od ; bacon, 8d; cheese, 7&A * maize, ai y g od. potatoes, £4; butiev, lid to I* 4 guaranteed quality. BY TELBQBAPH. AUCKLAND SHARE MARKET, from our own correspondent.) AUCKLAND, Thursday. Mr. Alexander Saunders reportsßuye.rs: Bank of New Zealand, £24 10s ; Sash and Dooc., £io ; Colo-, nlal Bank, 575; Union Insurance, 16s ; New Zealand Insurance, 85s; National Bank, 78a 4 ; National Insurance, 27s Cd. Sellers: Colonial Insurance, Ci ; South British Insurance, 72s 6d : New Zealand Insurance. 87s Gd ; Guthrie and Larnach, 60s; Loan and Mercantile, £3 7.16(1.

Spirit* .. .. t S. 05 10cV 9 Vina .. lit 10 10 Tobacco 5 2 G Cigars . 8 0 0 ?ea 50 9 G Coffee It 15 0 •Alo (bottled) .. TTlirt frtltmvtn S3 2 c

& 3. <1, Sugar .» 12 10 0 Weight .. 23 0 8 .. 109 1 G atlcs .. 00 a 2 * ~ Total .£650 5 11

& ti. d Spirit* .. 4273- & / fvlgaw .. aoaw Tobacco .. 1040 Y , 5 Wine .. .. m i 3 Jtcw K% & i 0 Tea .. ' AT. 0 Coffee Sugar-. We wwo*’ t‘S7 18 111 12 1101 15 0

September, 1578 £ a. a. might .. 1600 10 ft Ad valorem .. 5430 15 9 Other duties,. 995 0 3 LlghtducMhipplng dues, &o. 716 11 2 Total £17,m 13 C