The piece goods market has been very dull during the past week, partly for seasonal reasons, and is in the same condition as most other markets at present, The only business reported was in a few white cords and sundry lots of ondine for completing assortments some instances Manchester is. lacking extended deliveries for former purchases, on account of the recent strike, and dealers having bought more cheaply than to-day's replacement prices are agreeing to this." The general estimate of cargo covered for spring requirements is about 50 per cent, of the quantity ordered lost year, in many lines no new business having been possible this year, owing to stocks on hand. Clearances are extremely poor with little inquiry from outports. about 5 mace, Kivkiang had 9 tittle business " but Hankow, and Changsha were very quiet and the demand from Chinkiang was also slack, The local market was interest. ed at lower levels but the general tone revealed quite a change from the previous week. Velvets were in Jand out but Venetians were all on the easier side. As regards white shirtings the market continued very uninteresting and easily influenced by the quantities on offer.
Deliveries have shown a slight improvement, the centres chiefly, interested being Kiukiang, Tientsin and the local district, Weakness on the local Cotton Exchange is given as the excuse for the decline in dyed goods, but a reaction is not unusual at this time of the ye
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.