COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

HThe following! la the Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington during the four weeks ending November ZO

The following is the Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington for the corresponding month of 1877

The {allowing are the duties collected at the Customs yesterday:—

Wo report a dull state of trade during the past month, with few alterations in quotations for imported goods, prices remaining comparatively stationary, and sales in every case being restricted to the supply of the wants of the retail trade. There is a general complaint that money is scarce, but owing in a great measure to the caution that has been shown by importers in their dealings, current trade bills are tolerably well met, and as a rule, although business may bo dull, it is comparatively healthy. To tho low price of wool in the Home market may be attributed a portion of the present depression, but it is not improbable that tho frequent land sales and the extravagant prices that land has been fetehing at nominally long terms, but at really cash prices, as the interest is added to the bills, may be the real causes of the present slackness of general trade. Wo notice there has been a fallingoff in tho Customs receipts for the month of November to the extent of nearly £3600 as compared with the last year's receipts, but this is duo probably to tho arrival during that month of the May's cargo and several English ships, which swelled the amount, and which this year will go into December’s account. Nevertheless trade is not so flourishing as wc might have hoped for. The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company held their first sale of wool, tallow, hides, &c., yesterday, and tho attendance of the mercantile community was sufficiently numerous to show that this is a stop in the right direction, and wo hope to cso these sales continued. Owing to the depression of wool in the London market the biddings did not in most cases reach the reserve, and the bulk of the wool was withdrawn. Tho following prices were realised Greasy crossbred wool—Band H, 2bales, 7d; B, 3 bales, B\d; J. 1 bale, B*d; M, 1 bale, 8d; O, 11 bales, B|d; 8 lots sheepskins at 5d to s&d per lb; 60 bides, salted, 2sd to 3d; 7 casks tallow, 29s to 30s per cwt. Our arrivals from London have been the Jessie Headman, on November 20; tho Olusteo, from New York, November 23; the May. from Foochow, on December 1.

The following ships are expectedLlmpio, 2CO tons, sailed July 18 ; Corina, 820 tons, August 20; Alexa, 429 tons, August 22; Hermione, 1121 tons, September 7; Ofcaki, 1041 tons, September 11; Plako; Fernglen, 818 tom, October 12; Pleiades, 907 tons, September 20; Duke of Athol, October 20; and the Yau Diemen, 1050 tons, and Loch Fergus were to follow.

The Aberdeen, Albert, and Bonito, from New York, and the Helen A. Holmes, the first of a regular line of traders, belonging to the Peabody line, was laid on from Boston to Wellington. The Eealandia and Rakaia arc loading at the wharf for London, with the bulk of their freghtago of wool, &c., on board, and the St, Leonards and Wairoa are to follow.

The San Francisco mail was delivered in Wellington on the 22nd November. The Suez mail was delivered on the 14th November.

Rates of freight to London.—Grease wool, gd per lb; washed do, ?d per lb ; undumped, 2(1 extra; tallow, in cases, (50s ; in casks, 05s ; and Hides, 55s per ton. Bank Rates.—Exchange for bills ou Loudon—On demand, 2 per cent premium ; at 30 days, 1J per cent 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, J discount; 30 days, par. Discount on local bills, under 05 days, 7 to 8 pet cent, under 125 days, Bto 9 per cent; over 125 days, 10 per cent. Interest allowed on deposits lodged for 3 months, 4$ per cent; for 0 months, 5 per cent; for 12 months, 5 \ per ceat. Tho present are the existing current rates, but there is a very strong'tendcncy to an increase, both in the rate allowed for deposits and tho interest charged on advances. Alo and Porter (duty paid; bulk Is per gallon, bottled Is 3d do).—Stocks of bottled beer continue moderate, and in some cases are in short supply, but prices remain stationary for best brands. Bass’s ale is scarce, and bulldog brand, bottled by Griffin, is in demand at 12s per dozen for quarts and 8s for pints. Bottled stouts aro unaltered in value. Guinness’s, bottled by Griffin, is low in stock and inquired for at 11s Od to lls 9d per dozen, d.p< Bulk ale remains at last month’s quotations. Stocks moderate. Bass’s and Marrlan's are quoted at £0 5s to £9 10s per hhd. Bags (duty, 10 per cent.) and Woolpacks (duty. 2s Od per dozen). —There is little doing in cornsacks, which come in free after January Ist, but as stocks in importers’ hands are almost nil, prices will not be affected by endeavors to force sales. We quote 9s 6d to 9s 8d per dozen as present value. Woolpacks will be only slightly affected by the change in duty from 10 per cent, to 2s 6d per dozen. They aro quoted at 3s 7d to 3s Sd for 101 b packs. Candles (duty, Id per lb).—Stocks of candles are heavy, and quotations show no improvement. We quote 9|d to lOd per lb for Price’s Belmonts; foreign, 9d per lb. Messrs. Kitchen and Sons report an improved demand for their candles, and in order to successfully combat the importations of foreign manufacture they have further reduced their prices. Petrolines are now quoted at Bsd per lb, and Star brand 7;]d per lb. Cement (duty. Is per barrel.)—Stocks of cement are still in excess of the demand, and although prices are nominally los to 10s per barrel, few except retail sales are effected at that figure. There are some 2SOO casks on the way, and the want of storage room must cause a still farther reduction in valuo

Coffee (duty, 3d per lb.)—Moderate trade doing in plantation coffee at Is 2d to Is 3d per lb in bond. Chicory (duty, 3d per lb.) —Foreign chicory meets with little favor, as the colonial grown is preferred at Od to 7d per lb. Confectionery (duty, 2d per lb.)—Fair trade doing in Kclller’s make at lOd to lOld per lb. Tho colonial manufacture is in good demand at Od to 7d per lb., and naturally interferes considerably with the sale of imported goods, which are increasing in favor with the retail dealers.

Flour (duty, 20s per ton.)—Stocks of Adelaide flour are large, and importers are pushing off the stocks on hand, before the new tariff comes in free of duty. Quotations for best brands of Adelaide are £lO to £lO 10s per ton. Fruit (duty, Id per lb.)—Dried fruits of every description aro in full supply, and quotations remain low. Currants are worth 4Jd to 44d por lb ; Eleme raisins, 5.W to old; muscatels, Is; sultanas, 6d to ejd; figs, 7£d to 8d; and dried apples Od per lb; and as the season for green fruits is now fairly on, the demand for imported fruits has slackened considerably. Hops (duty, Sd per lb).—There is no stock of English hops In importers’ hands just now, but advices are to hand of several shipments of New Kents, and as tho price in England is lower than has been tho case for some years past, they are likely to interfere with the colonial grown. Holders quote Is 4d per lb, to arrive. Tasmanians aro quoted at Is; Nelsons at lOjd per lb. Malt (duty, Is Od per bushel).—No English malt in Importers’ hands, the colonUl having taken its place. Blenheim malt is quoted at 8s to 8s 3d per bashel.

Metals (duty, 10 per cent; corrugated iron and fencing wire, 20s per ton), —Corrugated iron continues in fair demand, [but we note no improvement in price, owing to the large stocks on hand and coming forward. Gospel Oak and Morewood's 26-gauge, ordinary lengths, are quoted at £26 per ton; other brands £24. 24-gauge is coming more into use, and Is worth 40s to 50s per ton lower. Fencing wire, owing to the coming alteration in tho duty, is neglected, ami cannot be quoted above £l3 to £ls por ton for Nos C, 7, and 8, which are the numbers most in demand. Sheet lead is dull at £2O. Sheet zinc, £33 per ton. Oils (duty, Cel per gallon).—Kerosene oil is in fair supply, although the loss of 3500 cases in the Southminster may occasion a temporary scarcity, which as yet is not felt. Diamond brand, without guarantee, is selling at Is 7d to ls7jrd; with guarantee, above the flashing point test, 2s 2d per gallon ; Light of the Age, 2s 4d to 2s 6d per gallon. Farther shipments to arrive are advised per Aberdeen, Albert, and Bonito. from Now York. Paint oils are in fair demand at 4s for raw and 4s 2d per gallon for boiled linseed, in drums. Colza and castor oils are unaltered. Oilmen’s stores (duty, 10 per cent, and various). — Stocks of oilmen's stores are heavy, but there is a moderate demand at rates that although low leave a small marglh of profit. Rice (duty, Jd per lb).—Full stocks at last month's rates.

Salt (free).—Quotations for coarse and fino salt remain at 75s and 80s per ton. Stocks ample. Spirits (duty, 12s per gallon,)—The usual amount of trade has been doing in spirits during the month, at prices that exhibit no change from our quotations for the last three months. Brandies of favorite brands, as kartell's and Hennessy’s, are quoted at 10s to 10s 3d por gallon for quarters, and 33s to 34s per cage, all transactions being restricted to the supply of current wants. Several outside branns are gradually rising In public estimation, notably Denis Mounie's, but quotations remain unaltered. Rum Is overstocked, and only moves nff In retail lots at 3s 5d to 3s 0d for Lemon Hart’s and White’s, 10 per cent op, and 4s to 4s Id for 30 per cent op. There has been little doing In whiskys, geneva, and old tom, which arc unaltered in value.

Sugar (duty. Id per lb.)—Stocks of sugar aro being kept down in view of the coming reduction in the tariff, which comes into operation on the first of January, when the duty will be £d per lb. Prices for Sydney Refinery Company's sugars during tho month have ruled at £45 10s per ton for X W; £43 10s for I C; No 3, £42 10s; No 2, £4O 10s per ton, dp. Crushed loaf is being pushed off at £4B to £49 per tou dp. Tea (duty, Cd per lb.)—The arrival of the May with a cargo of new season’s tea direetbas fully stocked the market for a time; but buyers are restricting their purchases until the new tariff comes into operation, when the duty will be reduced to 4d per lb. Wo quote best congou, in half-cheats, at 1s 4d to Is 8d per lb; medium. Is to Is 2d; boxes, 19a 6d to 225. duty paid, ' Tobacco (duty, 2s Cd per lb.)—Full stocks of tobacco in bond, with a fair trade doing at last month’s rates, St. Andrew’s twist, Is 3d to Is 34d for tierces; Is 4d to Is 4Jd for boxes ; Black Swan, Is 2d to Is 3d; Venus tens. Is 5d ; Over-the-Water tens, Is lid por lb, In bond.

Cigars (duty, 5s per lb).—Cigars aro in moderate demand, with no alteration in prices. Wioo (duty, 4s per gallon ; sparkling do, Cs per gallon).—There has been a dull trade during tho month in wines of all descriptions. Tho reduction in the duty on Australian wines may cause an increased consumption, but as a rule tho chief demand is for ports and sherries, and good samples generally command a fair average profit.

COLONIAL PRODUCE, Butter.—Kales of keg butter during the month have been entirely restricted to local wants, owing to the utter falling off of orders from tho out ports, and prices have come down to 8d per lb for best quality cure, with only a alack inquiry. Bacon and Hams.—There has been only a moderate business doing in cloth-packed Canterbury cure, which are worth 8d to Bjd per lb, but as stocks on hand are becoming low, we may look for improved quotations. Cheese.—Canterbury cheese has become low in stock, and prices show a tendency toadvanco. There is a good demand for best, at 8d to BJd per lb. Flour.—As was anticipated in our last month’s report, Southern flour has continued to show a drooping tendency, and quotations for best brands of Canterbury and Oaraam mills arc now only £lO to £lolos per ton. There are still largo stocks of both wheat and flour to find a market, and in tho face of the coming harvest we do not expect prices to show much improvement. Grain.—Oats have come forward in large quantities from the South during the past month, but owing to tho increased consumption prices have kept up beyond anticipation. Best milling oats aro still worth 4b 4d to 4s 6d, which is only a trifle below last month’s rate. Malzo is in f»ir demand at 4s fid to 5s per bushel; wheat for fowls In fair supply at 4s 3d; barley, 4s; Blenheim malt, 8s to 8s 3d ; bran. Is 4d to Is (id per bushel; pollard, £6los to £7 per ton. Potatoes.—No old potatoes offering. Now potatoes are selling at £5 to £9los per ton. Stocks low. Timber.—The increased activity noticeable in tho building trade has brought about an increased demand for sawn timber, and prices have improved as a consequence. Pino boards and scantling, in cargoes, aro worth lls Cd to 11a Od; totara, 14s Od to 14s fid: kauri. IGs Cd per 100 ft. Wool.—Cross-bred wool in grease has been sold for 7d to Bid; sheop skins, 5d to 53d; salted hides. 24d to 3d per lb. Tallow.—Mixed tal’ow is quoted at £3O to £3l per ton.

BY TELEGRAPH. AUCKLAND SHARE MARKET. (most oun own ooiuikspondenx.) „ .. , „ AUCKLAND, Thursday, Mr. Alexander Saunders reports Sales: Bank of New Zealand, £23 ss: Colonial, 525; Thames Gas, 28s; New Zealand Insurance, 81s, Sellers : Colonial Bank 52s Cd: National. 60s; South British, C7s ; Now Zealand Insurance, 82s Od; Alburnia, 28s; Kurunul Hill 8s; Beauty, Is.

Mr. G. Thomas reports:—Adelaide flour, £l7 to £l7 10s; colonial, £1010s; oats, 4s 6d; bran, Is; wheat, 4s ; hama, B£d to Od; bacon, 8d ; cheese, 8d; maize, 5s ; potatoes, ljd ; pollard, £G 5s ; butter, lOd.

& 8. a. Spirits .. .. 382 1 3 Wine .. .. 23 4 2 Tobacco .. 25 15 0 Cigars .. 39 8 2 Tea .. .. 4 0 0 Sugar .. .. '91 0 8

£ a. d. Weight .. 34 7 2 Ad valorem .. 11 12 3 Other duties . 20 15 0 Total .£002 9 8

£ S. a. Spirits . mi a 8 Cigars 567 7 3 Tobacco . 1505 3 Wine.. 18 3 Beer .. . 224 10 ID Tea .. . 423 ri Coffee* &c. . 112 18 0 Sugar.. . B72 3 7

£. 8. a. Weight .. 1007 0 (J Ad valorem 2234 10 Other duties 752 2 0 Light dues. shipping, See. 523]10 11 Total . £12,18-1 8 8

Spirit# (agars.. . Tobacco & B. .. zm \n .. *30 0 rl. 11 0 .. 1036 0 3 Wine.. .. 657 8 10 35eer .. Tea .. Coffee.. .. 617 14 .. 1278 10 0 .. 127 8 G Sugar.. .. 13 7

£ n. d* Weight .. 1880 18 11 A»l valorem .. 4119 9 20 Other duties.. 474 7 1 Light duo*, shipping, &c. 5D1 0 2 Total ... *18,015 W l'