COMMERCIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 210, 13 December 1879, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

"*i ej.tenhy's Chi islchurdi Press says : The Customs duties collected at Chrietehurch on Wednesday, December 10th, 1879, -were as follows.—Spirits, £ll3 9s ; tobacco, £67 14s <>d ; cigars, £25 ; Vine, -£2-5 7e 6d-, suga-, L 5 17s 7d ; goods by weight, L 69 Os Id ; ad valorem:, L 5089 5; other duties, L 45 16s Id. Total, £S6O 17s 9d

liusiiiess/duriiig the past?week has shown a lit tie .more activity under the influence of tile niore.Eeaßoiiu.ble .wealher we. have lately, experienced." The sales made have extended over a wide range of goods, and buyei's se«n more disposed to operate,.although wi-il! most guarded in pui-chasiuii. At the .asle, vf the i-mijo of sugars by the ILishon, on jLhursday, the'-e was a capital attendance, and the prices realised were as follows,:—-White crystals, £36 to £3610s ; fine, £36 10s to £3*/' 10s ; finest, £3B to £3B 14s ; Snowdrops, £39 to £39 30*. The whole of the whites were sold allium-h the bidding, all through the sale draagea very much,'due no doubt to the presence in the market of another cargo. Ths brewers'crystals were untouched, and i>f the iw..'yellowa offered the iirat line was cleared at £3l 10s,.und the second passed at £558. 'ihe arrival of the Clara may very shortly be expected at Lyiteltoh fro in the Mauritius with sugars. Teas have seen a better business than wa.s anticipated. The inquiry ha« been chieny.for low and good at Is to Is 3d, and Is Od to 2s respectively. .Kerosene has been advanced another'penny, and Devoe's brilliant is now hekl for spot parcels at Is Hd. Boiled oil in casks hare been placed at 3s Sd. Vestas both IOOO's and 250 : s are wanted, and trans actions at the advanced prices can be noted. Castor oil has been selling freely during the trade lots at 4s 6d to se. English ' telegrams received privately lately announce vfui ther advances in all,kinds of iron. Holders of galvanized are how asking £2B to £3O, and are not pressing sales. Bar iron is still quoted at £l3 10s to £l4. Cement is scarce, and a 3 stocks are running low, full prices are asked Spirits show no alteration since our last ■report. There is little doing in brandy, and some holders are willing-to sell 50. cask kite at a very trilling advance on late rates. Low elaret-Sj in case, have been placed at 12s to 13s. The arrivals during the week have been the Lady Jocelyn and th? Hurunui, but as both of these vessels contained a large number of immigrants, the cargoes are not large, and many of the lines are wanted.

GRAIN AKD PUODUCE,

The weather during the past few days has changed in a'mannerjniost agreeable to farmers and we ti-ust that the 1 resent very seasonable waiiut-h may continue. Prospects generally are vei-y good, and with dry warm weather it is but reasonable to exrect an excellent yield of all cereals. Transactions hare been confined to the usual retail charactar of this season of the year. A' few small parcels of wheat have changed hands at 4s 9d to 55., m-llers being the purchasers in nearly every - instance. Fowl's wheat is inquired for, but is not obtainable. A. fair-trade 'is' reported at £3 f.o.b. Oats are exceedingly dull, and every day they appear to get worse. The Deutschland isloading a cargo for Peru, and the Kishon 4000 sacks for Adelaide. These shipments should ease stocks, but in the face of present prospects, priees will not be .affected thereby. Traders offer Is 8d to Is lOd for feed samples and 2s for mining. Eai-ley is purely nominal there being no stocks, and no demand. Butter comes forward freely, and is offering ah 7d but buyers decline operation at this figure. Good old cheese is in fair request at 5£ to 6d New is offering, but is not fit for shipment. Curers report a good business in hams and bacon for Christmas orders at low rates.