COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5734, 15 August 1879, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

The following are the duties collected at the Customs yesterday : J £ s. d. £b. d. Spirits .. 134 1 4 Weight .. 6 5 2 Wine. .. 6 8 OAd valorem .. 440 0 7 Tobacco .. 22 15 O Other duties.. 2 8 0 Tea .. .. 2718 8 Coffee.. .. 14 0 0 _ „ Ale (nottied).. 13 11 3 Total .. £607 3 7 The amount of Customs’ duties received at this port for tho four weeks ending August 7 was as under : Spirits .. 3319 3 8 Goods by Cigars.. .. 133 10 3 weight .. 113® 610 Tobacco .. 1302 10 0 Ad valorem.. 0268 0 0 Wine.. .. 303 1 2 Other duties.. 907 16 8 Beer .. .. 871 19 3 Light dues. Tea .. .. 602 17 9 shipping, &c, 403 19 0 Coffee.. .. 80 10 3 „ ’ ’ Sugar.. .. 703 13 8 Total £16,228 9 6 The past month has exhibited no improvement in trade, and a feeling of dullness, distrust, and depression seems to overhang every department. Stocks are heavy, and difficult to move except in small parcels, and buyers in all cases restrict their purchases to their absolute wants. The stock of brandy in bond is 1051 quarter-casks and 10,562 cases, against 516 quarters and 8651 cases in the corresponding quarter last year; and other imports are mostly in similar proportion. Prices are necessarily kept down below a fair margin of profit, from the anxiety of many holders to realise, and, in fact, it is most difficult to give reliable quotations in face of the present money pressure. The news that the new loan of five millions will be floated without difficulty has tended to inspire a little confidence^ but in the meantime traders will have their hands full before abetter state of things can supervene. There have been a number of small failures since our last report, but we are glad to say that no further large ones have occurred, and probably the doubtful ones may be able to tide over the present crisis. The arrivals during the past month from Loudon are the Beemab, 959 tons, August 2nd ; Loch Cree, 791 tons, August 9th, with cargo and passengers. Tho City of Madras, 999 tons, sailed for Portland, Oregon, on July 26 th. The Chaudiere and Pareora are on the berth loading for London ; the former to sail about the end of August. The following are the vessels sailed or loading from London for Wellington—Waimea, 848 tons, sailed May 15 ; Haloioue, 842 tons, sailed May 18 ; Kakaia, 1022 tons, sailed May 31; St. Leonards, 1054 tons, sailed June 9 ; lone, 520 tons, sailed June 28 ; Wairoa, 1115 tons, sailed July 23. The Zealandia 1115 tons, Hermione 1160 tons, and Opawa, with general cargo and Government immigrants, were loading. The following ships have sailed from New York for this port—The Ned White and the Amelia Ross ; and from Boston —the Atlanta and Hawkshope. The May sailed from Singapore for Wellington on June 2, and the Alexa from Hongkong on July 30, with teas and East India produce. The Suez mail was delivered on July 24, and the San Francisco mail on August 1. Kates of Freight to London.—Grease wool, gd. per,lb.; washed do, fd. per lb.; undumped, Jj.il. extra; tallow, in oases, 505.; in casks, 555.; and hides, 555. per ton. Bank Bates. —Exchange for bills on London—On demand, 2 per cent, premium; at 30 days, 11 per cent, do ;at 60 days, 1 per cent, do ; at 90 days, 4 per cent. do. The banks’ buying rates are —For bills at 90 days, 1 discount ;60 days, discount; 30 days, par. Discount on local bills, under 95 days, 8 per cent. ; under 125 days, 9 per cent. Interest allowed on fixed deposits for three mouths, 5 percent.; for six months, 6 per cent.; for 12 months, 6J per cent. These are minimum rates.

Messrs. Charles Powuall and Co. report Tho state of the money market during the last month remains unchanged, the demand for investment on mortgage being very large, with scarcely any supply offering. With the successful placing of the new loan upon the London market, which is likely to be subscribed far in excess of the £5,000,000 required, more confidence will be shown, and no doubt a larger circulation created. Lower rates of interest may then be expected than those now ranging from 10 to 12 per cent. Ale and Porter (duty paid—bottled, Is. 3d. per gallon ; bulk, Is. per gallon).—Stocks of bottled beer are beginning to accumulate in importers’ hands, and prices are easier, but holders find it difficult to effect sales to anything beyond mere retail demand. Bass’ ale, bottled by Griffin, is quoted at lls. 6d. to 12s. per dozen ; Tennent’s, 10s. 9d. to lls. ; Ind Coope’s, lls.; Bull Dog brand, lls. 9d. to 12s. per dozen for quarts, and Bs. to Bs. 6d. for pints. Bulk ale in full supply at £9 per hhd. for Marian’s, Bass’, and Allsopp’s. Bags (duty, 10 per cent.) ; woolpacks (duty, 2s. 6d. per dozen). —There has been no demand for oornsacks during the. month, and no sales reported. Holders are quoting Bs. to Bs. 6d. per dozen for Dundee sacks. Woolpacks— season over. -Quotations from 2s, fid. to 3s. for full size packs. ' Caudles (duty, Id. per lb.).— Foreign candles are largely held at Bd. to BLI. per lb.; but although a fair trade demand may be reported, the rates obtained must be unsatisfactory to importers, and may be attributed to the keen competition of the local manufacturers, Messrs. Kitchen and Sons, who report a good trade doing in their colonial-make at last month’s quotations. Price’s Belmonts are becoming low in stock, and are quoted at 9Jd. to 9f d. per lb. Cement (duty. Is. per barrel). —Several large shipments of cement have been received from Dunedin at 16s. to 16s. fid. per barrel ; otherwise, stocks having become low, prices would have reached a more payable rate. Large quantities will be required during the coming season for the various works now in progress or contemplated, and unless larger shipments are on the way than we have received advices of, prices must improve. Coffee (duty, 3d. per lb.). —There is no change in the value of plantation sorts, which remain at Is. 2d. per lb., in bond, with the usual trade demand.

Chicory (duty, 3d. per lb.). —Colonial-grown chicory is rather low in stock, and enquired for, but there is no variation from our last quotations. Foroigt) grown meets with no demand.

Confectionery (duty 2d. per lb.). —The demand for Keillor’s, or in fact any foreign make, is only, trifling, as the trade is now in the hands of our local manufacturers. Keillor’s assorted confectionery is quoted at 9|d. to lOd. per lb.; other brands nominal. Mr. S. S. Griffiths has added recently further improvements to his machinery, and reports a constantly increasing demand for his goods. Flour (free). —Adelaide flour remains at £l4 to £ls per ton, according to parcel, and as stocks are only moderate prices remain unaltered in spite of the low quotations for the Southern mills. We are given to understand that owing to the improved quality of the wheat grown at Blenheim and Rangitikei the necessity for the use of Adelaide flour by the bakers in their trade has to a considerable extent been obviated.

Fruits (duty, Id. per lb.). —Stocks of currants continue heavy, and quotations difficult at 3Jd. to 3Jd. per lb., sales being strictly retail. Eletne raisins are also fully stocked at 5Jd. to d. per lb. ; Sultanas, sfd. to fid.; Muscatels, lid. to Is. 2d. per lb., according to condition ; figs, Bd. to 81d.; dried apples, sd. to 5Jd. per lb. Green fruits have fallen off in the supply during the past month, and fair prices have been obtained for shipping parcels. Apples, 12s. to 15s. per case ; oranges, 10s. to 12s. ; lemons, 14s. per case. Hops (duty, 3d. per lb.). —The brewers are the only holders of hops, there being none in importers’ hands. Kents are nominally Ifld. to lid. per lb.; Bavarians, Bd. to 9d.; Nelson growth, 9d. per lb.; stocks light, and litttle trade doing. Malt (duty. Is. fid. per bushel). —There is no stock of English malt in first hands just now. A small shipment was placed at 10s. per bushel a short time back, and since then no sales are reported, with the exception of 5 tanks sold by auction with all faults, at 3s. 6d., 45., and 4s. fid. per bushel; tanks, 705.; colonial malt is quoted at 7s. to 7s. fid. per bushel. Metals (duty, 10 per cent.); corrugated iron (duty, 20s. per ton) ; fencing wire (free). —A large amount of building is still going forward in the city, hut owing to the large stocks on hand galvanised iron has not improved in value since our last report. We quote for Gospel Oak and Morewood’s brands, £23 10s. per ton for 26 guage, and £22 to £22 10s. for 24 guage. Fencing wire is unquotable, in consequence of the large stocks and lessened demand. Holders are asking £l2 to £l4 per ton for Nos. 6,7, and 8, but few sales are reported. Sheet zinc meets with fair inquiry at £2B to £3O per ton. Sheet lead dull at £22 per ton.

Oilmen’s Stores (duty, various). —The trade is fully supplied with all articles coming under this head, and stocks are beginning to be unnecessarily large. Prices in most cases are lower than suits the wants of importers. Oils (duty, fid. per gallon).—Heavy stocks of kerosene, with falling rates, and ns large parcels are advised on the way, prices are not likely to improve with the passing season.

We quote high test oils, le. Bd. to 2s. per gallon ; Downer’s, 2s. Premium Safety, Niagara, Evening Star, Vulcan, and Austral brands, Is. lOd. to 2s. per gallon ; Light of the Age, Is. Bd. The Ned White has 1800 cases for this port ; the Amelia P-oss, 1875 cases ; and the Atlanta, 2500 cases, for Wellington, all shortly due ; and the Hawkshope, loading at Boston, would probably bring 2000 cases. The stock in bond on July 31 was 9105 cases. Castor oil in drums is in moderate demand at 4s. 9d. to 55,; colza, 4s. 9tl. per gallon. Paint oils continue in full supply at 4s. to 4s. 2d. per gallon for raw and boiled linseed in drums ; casks ruling 2d. to 3d. per gallon.lower. Kice (duty, Jd. per lb.) —Flue dressed rice is selling at £25 10s. per ton ; middling and inferior, £2O to £23 per ton. Market fully supplied. Salt (free). —Ample stocks of both'fine and coarse salt at 755. to 90s. per ton. Spririts (duty, 12s. per gallon).—The spirit trade of the past month has been fairly good, considering the dull times, but sales have in all eases been confined to mere trade supplies, and prices remain with little alteration from last month’s rates. Hennessy’a brandy is in better supply for cases, and worth 345. to 345. 6cl. per case ; bulk do, 9s. 6d. to '9s. 9d. per gallon for quarters. Martell’s brandy is beginning to take its old lead in this market, and is more inquired for at 335. per case, and 9s. 6d. to 10s. per gallon. Several outside brands are also coming more into notice than formerly, B.P. rum is dull of sale, and stocks in hand are heavy. Prices remain at last month’s rates, 3s. 6d. per gallon for 10 per cent, 0.p., and 3s. 9d. for 30 per cent, 0.p., for White’s or Lemon Hart’s brand. Geneva, moderate trade doing at 16s. for 4gal. cases. Whiskies are in improved demand, but stocks being ample prices remain unchanged. We quote ss. to 9s. per gallon for bulk, and 14s. to 21s. for case, according to brand. Danville’s Irish whisky is quoted at 17s. 6d. per dozen, and is in only moderate supply. Old Tom meets with dull sale at 13s. per dozen for Burnett's, and 14s. 6d. for Booths’. Stocks in bond of all kinds of spirits are extensive, and can yield but a scant profit to the importers after store rent is deducted.

Sugar (duty, £d. per lb.) —During the latter portion of this month our market has been entirely bare of every description of white sugars, but as supplies are just due prices have not been affected ; the only result being to cause an improved inquiry for crushed loaf. Present quotations are : —IW., £42 per ton; 10., £4O; G., £35 per ton ; ordinary yellow Mauritius, £33 to £35 per ton ; crushed loaf, £42 to £43 per ton. Tea (duty, 4d. per lb.) —Since our last report several shipments of the new season’s teas have been received, via Sydney, ex s.s. Killarnev, and the samples are in nowise inferior to those of the previous season. The May, with a full cargo of teas for this port, may bo shortly expected. Tobacco (duty, 2s. 6d. per lb.; cigars, duty, ss. per lb.) —The usual trade has been done in Twist tobacco during the month, with little, if any, change in prices. Best brands remain at Is. 3d. to Is. sd. for Twist, and Is. 2d. to Is. 4d. per lb. for Tens. Ormond Swiss cigars are selling at 375. per 1000 ; Havannahs, ‘£l2 to £2l per 1000. Stocks in bond, though heavy, show a slight reduction on last year, being 173 j;-tierce3 and 367 pkgs, as against 179 and 542 pkgs in July, 1878. Wines (duty 4s. per gal.; sparkling wine 4s. per gal.)—Heavy stocks with only a moderate trade doing in the better class wines. COLONIAL PRODUCE. Butter.—The supply of keg batter is now nearly absorbed for local consumption, there being little or no outside demand, and the price is to a certain extent controlled by the price of fresh butter. Prime salt butter is worth lid. to 12d. per lb,, but the qualities vary so much that quotations are difficult, and sales as low as 3d. per lb. have been made ; prime quality cure will always command a fair value now that the demand arising from our increased population has become steady. Bacon and Hams.—The new cure from Canterbury has come forward very sparingly, and at times this market is bare of good samples, which are worth from to 9d. per lb. SigOheese.—Stocks of Canterbury cheese have been very light during the month, and prices are firm at 7£d. to Bd. per lb. Flour.—-Southern flour has advanced in price during the month 20s. per ton, owing to the rise in Canterbury and Oamaru, but we hear of no sales to any extent beyond the ordinary requirements of the retail trade, and as stocks continue heavy it is improbable that any further advance can be sustained. Holders quote £ll to £ll 10s. per ton, for best brands in trade lots.

Grain.—Oats continue low, and parcels from the South are quoted at 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d. per bushel; a shipment of 1000 bags was sold by auction on the 14th instant, by Messrs. Laery, Campbell and Co,, at 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. per bushel. Maize is worth 4s. to 4s 3d ; bran, dull at 9d. to lOd. per bushel ; pollard, £5 10s. to £6 per ton ; fowl feed, none in stock. Potatoes.—The season being far advanced, buyers are chary of large parcels of old potatoes, and a shipment would not now realise more than 80s. to 85s. Holders are quoting 100 s. to 110 s. per ton for small lots. Timber.—Very little trade is doing in sawn timber, and prices are lower. Small cargoes of assorted boards and scantling would not realise more than Bs. to fls. per 100 ft. Tallow.—Best mutton tallow is quoted at £27 to £2B per ton ; mixed, £22 to £24 per ton.

Hides.—Few offering. Salted hides are selling at 3d. to 3Jd. per lb. Cattle.—Fat cattle are in good supply at 255. to 30s. per lOOlhs. Stores plentiful at £3 to £7 per head. Fat sheep are quoted at 1)1. to 2d. per lb. BY JELEBBAPB. AUCKLAND, Friday. Mr. George Binney reports:—Canterbury flour, £l2; Adelaide flour, £l4 10s: oats, 2s Od to 2s 9d and 3s Od; bran, 6s 2d; pollard, £6 10s; Sydney, £3los; potatoes, £O. bags included: Californian maize, 4s; cheese, 8d; butter, lOd to lid; hams aud bacon, 9Jd.

CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. The Canterbury Com Exchange report for the week that there has been an average business Wheat has advanced since last week, and there is a strong demand both ter export and local use; the supply is limited —Seed wheat, in clean condition, 4s 5d to 4s Od ; milling, 4s to 4s 4d; chick wheat. 3s Od to 3s 7d; the market is firm at these rates. Oats are i u demand—Prime milling, 2s 8d to 2s 9d : feed, 2s 6d to 2s 7d. For malting barley the demand is in excess of the supply—First-class is worth 5s Od to Os ; medium, 4s 6d to 5s 6d ; feed, 2s Od to 3s 6d. Potatoes are in increased demand, and the market has an upward tendency—Blue Derwents, £3 10s to £3 IBs Od ; kidneys, very short supply, prime lots ate worth £9 to £lO. The grass seed market is well supplied— First-class, 5s Od to 5s 9d ; farmers’ cleaned, 4s 6d to 5s- Cheese, Od to 6}d ; butter, 8d to 9d,