COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5497, 8 November 1878, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

The following are the duties collected at the Customs yesterday:— Spirits .. .. 78 U 6 Weight .. 15 0 0 Wine .. .. 57 0 0 Ad valorem .. 19 5 4 Tobacco .. 103 9 0 Other duties .. 6 8 0 Tea .. ~ 65 7 6 1 ■■■■» Sugar .. .. 23 0 0 Total .. £303 11 1 Tho Customs duties received at this port for the month of October were as under 1878. 1877*

£21942 4 8 £15779 17 6

There his been a general complaint of dulness daring the post month, bu . orders have come in pretty freely from the outports. and although pi fees are kept down to a low margin. O'ring to the large amount of competition existing In both the wh lesale and the retail trade, we report a more than average amount of business done* The Import trade continues to exhibit a marked and progressive increase according to the Customs return of dalles, which, for October, 1878. amounted to nearly £22,000, as against £15,779 17s 6d for the same period of 1877, and £10,704 for 1876. Stocks of every description In importers' bands are rather larger than d esirable, and prices show few fluctuations, the tendency being generally in favor of buyers, who now find this market fully capable of supplying their want*. Current trade bills are fairly well met, and but few speculative tendencies have manifested themselves among our trading community. Pownall and co report considerable demand for money for mortgage Investment during the last month, with only a limit d supply. Current rates of interest now range from 9to 10 per cent. Our arrivals from London have been the Antares, 821 tons, and the Walroa. 1100 tons, both on October 17, with cargo and passengers for this port. The Zealand!* and Rakaia are on the berth loading for London. The follow! g vessels have sailed from London, or were loading for this port Jessie Readman, 1261 tons, sailed August 10 : Corlna. 820 tons, sailed August 20; Alex*, 424 tons, sailed August 22 ; Hermlone, 1121 tons, sailed September 7 ; Otaki, 1041 tons, soiled September 9; Feraglen, sailed September 30 : Llmpio, 2'6 tons (In ballast), s-tiled July 18. The Pleiades. 907 tons, and the Duke of Athol were loading. From New York, the Soutbminster, 1248 tons, and Olnsteo, 550 tons, are daily expected, and the Aberdeen was loading by lasi advices. The May sailed from Hongkong on September 5 with Eastern produce. and is now about due. Rates of freight to London.—Grease wool, Jd per lb: washed do. |d per lb ; undamped, Jd extra; tallow, in cases. 60s ; in casks, 65a ; and hides, 55* 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 90 days. 4 per cent do. The banka' buying rates are —For bills at 90 days, 1 discount; 60 days, 4 discount; 30 days, par. Discount on local bills, under 95 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, 41 per cent; for 6 months. 5 per cent; for 12 months, 54 per cent. The present are the existing current rates, but there is a very strong tendency to an increase, both in the rate allowed for deposits and the Interest charged on advances. The San Francisco mall was delivered iu Wellington on the 25tb Oc ober. The Sues mail was delivered on the 17th October. Ale and Porter (duty paid; bulk, Is per gallon ; bottled. Is 3d). —There has been a good demand for Bass’s ale during the month at 11s 6d to 12s per dozen; and other favorite brands are quoted at similar rates, with only moderate inquiry; stocks moderate. This market is fairly supplied with bottled s outs, with only a 1 railed demand, prices for favorite brands ranging from 10s 9d to 11s 6d per dozen. Bulk ale: ■Moderate stocks at £9 5s to £9 10s per hhd for Bass's and Marxian’s: other brands £9 per hhd. Bags and Woolpacks (duty, 10 per cent).—There has been little or nothing doing in cornsacks. Stocks are moderate at 9s 8d to 10s per dozen. A good demand exists for woolpacks with the advance of the season, and the outstatlons are generally supplied. Prices for full size lOlb-pac-ss are 3s 7d to 3s 3d, and for 81b do BT2d to 3» 3d. Candles (duty, Id per lb).—Full stocks of imported candles are in importers’ hands, and trade Is dull. Price’s Belmonts are selling at 9|d to lOd, and foreign 9d to 9|d per lb. Messrs. Kitchen and Sons report an increased output of their colonial-made petrolines; but owing to the large shipments of foreign candles to the Australian and New Zealand marko a. which have been sold at a serious loss to the Importers, they have reduced their price to BJd per lb. Cement (duty. Is per barrel).—Market entirely overstocked with this article, for which there is no Inquiry, owing to the contractors being fully sup died. A sale of 700 casks of Knight, Bevan, and Siutge's and White's cement, ex Craig e Lea and Abeona, very slightly damaged, was made at 7s per barrel, and we doubt if more than 10s to lls would be obtained for a perfect sample; 1000 casks- have been shipped coastwise, bat otherwise no sales are reported Coffee (duty, 3d per lb).—There is no change In the value of good plantation coffee, nlth the customary trade demand; prices range from Is 2d to la 3d, in bond. Chicory (duty, 3d per lb).—Light stocks of foreign chicory, which meets with little inquiry, (be dealers preferring the colonial-grown, which is worth from 6d to 7d per lb. Confectionery (duty, 2d per lb).—There is a moderate sale for Keiller's make at lOd to IOJd per lb, but the bulk of this trade Is gradually going into the hands of the local manufacturers, who find the demand for their make continually increasing. Flour (duty. 20* per ten).—Stocks of Adelaide flour In importers' hands have become low, nor do we hear of any shipments to arrive. Quotations for retail lots are £l7 to £l7 10a per ton. The price in the Adelaide marfeet continues low, owing to accumulated stocks of wheat on hind, and as their harvest 'is Just on, with the promise of a good > ield.it is not unlikely that we may see lower rates before the season is over, unless some new market should open up. Fruit (duty. Id per lb.)—The market is well supplied with dried fruits of every description, for which a good demand exists, although prices are deemed unsatisfactory.- and remain as low as our last month's rates. Currants are worth 4|d per lb; Elomo, fijd to s|d Sultanas, 6d to 6jd: figs, 7d; dried apples, 0d per lb. Hops (duty, 3d per lb.)—No Kent hops in merchants’ hands, os tho brewers mostly import -heir own stocks. Nelson hops are dull at 10jd to lljd per lb; Tasmanian hops. Is to Is Id per lb. with little doing. Malt (duty, Is fid per bushel).—There is very little English malt now imported, the bulk of that used by tho brewers being of New Zealand growth, which Is quoted at 8s to 8s Sd per bushel for Blenheim growth Metals (duty, 10 per cent; corrugated Iron and fencing wire 20s per ton).—An active demand has existed during tho month for corrugated iron, and as there appears to be no likelihood of a decrease la the amount of new buildings going up. there will be no difficulty in moving off tho present stocks, heavy as they may now appear. Price* for Morewood and Gospel Oak brands, for 26 gauge, ordinary lengths are quoted at£2o to £27 per ton; other brands £24 to £25 per ton; 24 gauge rans 40s to 60s per ton lower* as the building regulations of the city prohibit the use of iron of a loss thickness than 24 gauge for wal's, it is coming more into demand. Fencing wire Is In better demand, best brands being quoted at £l3 10s to £ls per ton for Nos. 0,7, ana 8. Sheet lead meets with Improved sale at £26 per ton ; sheet zinc at £3310s per ton. '

Oils (duty, Cd per gallon).—Stocks of kerosene are lighter, and much of the oil that was reported to he below the flashing point has been worked off. Ordinary brands are quoted at Is lOd to Is lid per gallon* oils over the test, 2s 3d to 2s 9d per gallon, Light of tho Ago ranking highest. 5500 cases are just due per Southmlnster and Olnsfcee, from New York. Helled and raw linseed are In flair demand at 4s to 4s Id per gallon.for raw, «nd 4s 2d to 4s 3d for boiled oil. in drums; if In cask, from Sd to 4d per gallon less. Colza meets with enquiry at 5s 6d to 5s 8d per gallon; casto', 5s 3d to 5s 6d per gallon, for drums. Oilmen's Stores (duty 10 per cent.)—although the stocks of articles coming under this head are far from being In excess, and with an improving demand, prices, owing to the great competition in the trade, are kept far below a fair average profit. Sardines quarters ss, halves 8s Cd per dozen; *almon, os* V, D* Land jams, 7s fid ; lobsters, 0s fid ; pickles, 8s fid to 0s fid: Lea and Perrin’s sauce, 12s Od per doz., &o Rice (duty Jd per lb.) -There Is no alteration in the value of this.grain, which meets with the ordinary trade demand. Best dressed Patna is worth £26 to £27 per ton; ordinary quality, £22 to £2B per ton Salt (free).—Fair stocks on hand, at 80s to 85s ner ton for fine, and 75s per ton for coarse salt. * Spirits (duty 12s per gallon).—Brandies exhibit no change In value; MtrfceU't and Benneasy's are w-rth 10s to 10s 3d per gallon for Quarters and 83s to Us for case, with the usual. tradedemand *wo hear of no considerable lines changing hands the trade being as a rule confined to the suddlv of thn retail trade. Denis Hounlo's and one or Iwo other brands are coming more into favor In this market, and threaten to dislodge the two old favorites from

their position. A new brand, which has been recently imported from Bordeaux by Messrs. Ladd and Co,, called the Associated Cultivators’ Tiger brand, which is much esteemed In the Indian market, is said t»be a first class brandy, and likely to suit the taste of the public. Rum is overstocked, and moves off slowly; 3s 6d for Lemon Hart’s and White’s 10 per cent, 0.p., and 4s to 4a 2d for3o percent, o.p. Whisky is lu moderate demand. Best brands unaltered from lost month. Duaville’s, 6s 6d to 5s 9d for bulk, and 17s 6d for case; Lome, 10s to 10s Od; Klnahan's, 20s to 21s per dozen. Geneva is dull at 13s to 18s per cose, according to contents. Booth’s old tom Is dull at 14sfid to I 6» per dozen. Sugar (duty Id per lb)—The usual trade has been done during the month, and stocks are kept as low as possible, having in view the coming change In the duty. Prices remain exceedingly low by comparison with the cost in Australia. Importers are quoting No. 2 W. £44 10s to £43 per ton; I.O#, £43; C., £4l to £4llos per ton duty paid. Teas (duty 6d per lb )—The new season e teas have been taken freely by the trade, and importers have been doing a fair amount of business at prices which leave a fair margin of profit. B«st congous, in half* chests, Is 6d to Is 7d: medium do. Is Id to Is 2d. in bond: box teas of late shipments, 18s fid to 19s, duty ** Tobacco (duty, 2s Od per lb.)—Recent importations have overstocked the market, but a fair amount of business has been done at a reduction on our last month's rates We quote St. Andrew’s twist. Is 3d tols3|d per lb, in quarters, eases Is 4d to Is 6a; Black Swan, Is 2d to Is 3d: Venm tens, Is 6d ; Ovor-the-Water tens, IS Ijd per lb ; other brands nominal. Cigars (duty, 6s per lb.)—Cigars move off at fur rates, with moderate trade doing. Ormond Swiss are worth 80s per 1000; others, 20» per 1000; manlllai, 60s to 80s, Wine (duty, 4s per gallon)-Usual trade doing In ports and sherries. As the season advances tho demand for Australian and light wines shows signs of improvement, but quotations are nominal. COLONIAL PRODUCE. Butter.—There has been but little demand for keg butter, except for local wants, and very little has been shipped to the outports during the month. Prices : are lower, and prime care is now quoted at 9d per lb, the pi ice falling with the increasing production of fresh butter. Cheese.—Really good Canterbury cheese is worth 8d per lb, but there is a large quantity of inferior in the market, which is selling at any price from 4d to 7d. Stocks on hand are heavy. Bacon and Hams.—Fair trade doing in cloth-packed ; bams and bacon, which are selling at Sid and 9jd per 1 lb for prime Canterbury cure. Flour.—We report no improvement in the price of Canterbury and Oamara floor, whloh shows a slight decline on our last month's rates, best brands being quoted at £lolos to £ll per too for trade parcels. Grain.—Oats hare remained firm at 4s Qd per bushel during the month for best milling sorts; ordinary feeding grain selling at 4a fid per bushel: fair stocks on dealers’ hands. Fowls* feed wheat is worth 4s 3d. Maize is in moderate supply at 6s; barley, 4s; Blenheim malt, 8s : bran. Is 4d to Is fid per bushel; pollard, £7 to £7 10s per ton; lucerne, hay-pressed, has been sold at aactlon at £6lss per ton. Potatoes.—Old potatoes have been quoted at 52s fid per ton ; new, 2d to 2Jd per lb. Timber.—Sawn timber continues in active demand at unaltered rates. We quote pine boards and scantling at Us fid; to tar a, 14s fid; kauri, 15s fid per 100 ft for cargoes. C&t le.—There Is a good demand for fat cattle at 25s to 27s fid per lOOIbs; sheep, 8s to Us, after shearing ; store cattle are In good demand at £6 to £3 per head.

George Thomas reports:—Flour (Adelaide), £l7; colonial, £ll to £ll 10s; bran.ls 6-1: oafs, 4s 3d to 4s 4d; hams, 9d; bacon, Sd; cheese, 74d; pollard, £7 6s; maize, 6s; potatoes, £4: butter, lOd.

Spirits .. [£4493 0 11 £3000 S 4 Cigars .. 297 13 5 163 13 0 Tobacco.. 1462 13 7 1674 18 0 Wine .. 719 6 2 432 10 0 Beer 903 6 3 451 14 8 Tea 052 0 0 1083 11 6 Coffee .. 90 4 6 83 14 8 Sugar .. 2018 2 0 1566 11 4 Goods by weight 2189 6 3 1400 6 0 Ad valorem ,. 6564 13 3 3909 13 10 Other duties .. 1480 9 9 605 18 4 Light dues. Shipping, &c *. 766 2 S , 420 IS 0