Despite the holidays, some pri vote business has been put through, at rather steady prices. Much of it was speculative, but there is suficient evidence of, a genuine demand to maintain hopes that things will be brighter in the New Year. The: river ports, in particular, are showing a healthy eagerness to acquire stocks, whilst the north is not. far behind. Considering that work only covered two or three days, deliveries have been very good. The state of the market as: a. whole is very similar- to that at this time last year, which suggests the distinct poastbility of advances,. if only the rival political parties will do no worse than talk or throw inkpots at one! another in Parliament.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.