COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 40, 16 February 1905, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star Office, Thursday, February 16, 1903. ■-■•" . , cHlUouiet, but somewhat better Trade 13 s «" k qule T u c Bougainville has than i a , + h a cargo of kerosene, and deli- «^ ex wharf at 6/3, terlS' 11 ,. aot"innch demand at this seabat^'h, p year The Fazllka has aniveu eoa , ° the week, bringing ornsacks, cas- <? snrln ninPODPles and other Eastern pro- ■** Ol! ' Hse of & P«- lb- »n boiled con- * uce, „ wus UUt i-onimuuted on in last •fctioiiMj " ~ j due t0 the advance ffeet ' S Jr and there is a rumour of a<lin S S In to, owtag to the same cause. U T nouud chunks of pineapples are hot/ Half nSe There is a great scarcity of •Tμ vestas owing to the manufacturers at -ton being unable to cope with the ff fborders National caudles are slightmsh °ir Mason's jars are selling, bat * M /n,;nd is poor, as fruit is dear this fte demand is P lQq^eA for, 6ea f S fre unprocurable. Advices dated 23rd DQC are unpi reg arfl to Ceylon teas. jMoffi Ire in demand at id to Id fl i), hicher Quality is Improving, anil fSV ,nve wKhout doubt seen the- lowest. f e nf tla remains without alteration, and . »,,,plv cheap, but the tendency is topiU \f a firmer market. Official estimate rfttOS is «7 millions, of which Australia 0 P vnected to take 23, Ametica IC, Russia S Europe 5, China 3, India 1, Africa 1, ?'J£ Iβ millions available for the United CTntflom As far as the dried fruit mari.t i<; concerned London advices state that rtocS of eumuits there at the end of the *::. totalled S2SS tons, as compared with nOSI at the close of 1903. Dates were Ported easier in price, and alao sultanas. t P drii4 and chemicals the following snnffpslire reported from London: Shellac, fSlonal drop, from 280/ at the end of neeember to 100/ and 10a/ in January, nntnine was reported easier, and also tar?.r add but citiic acid firmed, as did also mmm santon-Ine, saltpetre, and bromides, the latter being now expected to advance to tlieir old level. Locally prices for flax are reported to ... at present about on a parity with LduZα and New York quotations. This is due tr» temporary difficulty in securing supplies TMiilred within a given peilod. Advice hv mall from London states regarding >../. hpmD- "Tiie present month (January) has hppn the slowest experienced in this article Iα" some considerable time past, transactions being few and far between. On the Se values have remained fairly firm. We latest sales comprise good fair, for Cuary-March shipment, at £31 5/, and {air for the same position at £29 to 5/ Lg With anything like a fair demand nr'c'ea should move up readily, especially when it is borne in mind that New Zealand fibre is comparatively the cheapest article in the market."

The kauri gum market shows signs of iiEDrovement, as supplies coming in are not In* vy, and the export for the pa,t few week's was large enough to considerably reduce the stocks that had accumulated locally. Although so far prices have not been'affected, export in excess of supnlles mnst in due time have a beneficial effect aud if continued should result iv a revival in tilie gam industry, which is bad1, needed. The supplies for February to date total 409 tons, and from mail to mall 639 tons; while the export amounted to US6 tons, of which 631 went to New York direct In the Perl.

Timber mills are now well supplied with, logs for some mouths ahead. A slackness la the demand for local building purposes Iβ reported, which points to a less number of dwellings being erected in the suburbs. At Ute same time there are comparatively few desirable houses empty, so there 13 no evidence yet that building has been orerdone. Probably .the advance In the rates of interest to 6 per eeuT. may have tended to check building. The fact thnt the million' loan for China at 5 per cent, was over-subscribed to the extent of thirty millions this week would seem to point to there being a good deal of loose money awaiting investment in London, some of which may yet find its way to this colony, as a per cent, should be safer in a British colony on mortgage than invested on loan hi China at the present juncture. Although the local demand for timber is not so good tt3 It was, still the mills are kept bus;.supplying flitches for Australia, added to which inquiry has been made again this ,week for timber for London.

Several fluctuations took place this week in the price of various mining stocks. New Moanatuiaai shares advanced from 2/6 to 3/2, but so far the reason has not been apparent. AMrarsia shares also tinned slightly, but. Hay Queen Exteudeds fell from 1/G to 1/1, although the reports from the mine were much the same as usual. The New Eclipse mine had an excellent return of £1001 from 148 touu of ore, but the effect, as far as the market was concerned, wns to cause shares to sell at 1/9. whereas before they were worth 1/10 to 1/11. Waiotalii shares also fell during the week to 15/ and 15/0, but yesterday advaned frcom buyers at 15/ in the morning and sellers at 17/0 to sales as high as 19/3 at the late call, after which sellers were willing to accept 19/, but tho test offer was 18/. Probably the fact that gas had interfered with the sinking of the winze on the gold had something to do. with the decline, and when ventilation was secured hopes of further picked stone bei'rig met with downwards caused tho advance. Talisman Consolidated shares had steady buyers at 9/ to 9/3, with sales up to 9/6, and Waihl shares changed hands at 137/. At Coromandel Royal Oak shares firmed sugntly, und a little inquiry set in for Old Haurakis at low prices. In standard lines few sales were reported durlnij the past week. Buyers of Bank of New Zealand toes advanced to 113/, but latterly no seira quoted. Insurance stocks showed no mange. Thames Gas firmed slightly, and royere of Colonial Sugar shares advanced tneir offers to £38 10/, but there were no sellers.

tJI? 4 ? 4008 have been sent In during the past week in quantities far in excess of requireS,\ a H the result was a fall In prices SL the giut ln the m ">-ket. Prime 3, ai l e " ow I noted nt £S per ton, and Zml f m £ l This was the llatural on* S t° n 6 Wgh prices ruiin S aal ™S th e tlontin WeekS, Wblch caused - ln ad(3i - to ho % sual Waik ato supplies, potatoes o £al! iangarei - ancl Warkwwth. UntW^ a c|i y ' some i" , the P° ttt toea sent h> to h«,,il ere of P° or quality, and had SJT at auctiou vcrj low prices, on thh Wt are IM " r offerln X Potatoes swat aeal tn rt r °Vu Ct ' the soason has a South. UCtß ' eXce Pting seed grown In the tolanTta^y ooo sncks of malze came It comtn" b y t ho e A Pa + St week - the t" 115 «* ****** from m ?u c , a 'T aud also h * tbe Pfoportinu oftL n 1" Island ' A od ps sent on tn w m lze rece ived this week however a Uttl* » i lngton ' The P rice Is - fiffo, and'anSnta n ™'V han " was a week to o f>(inirem e nts aie at present <3°ite equal S? i« S 'e";n s h eo c m e D c k : et J n the *™ nrmiS!aced totiha%,- ot orders having been «nslaerab v i v th "I ,I ™"' , cleai - *mt stocks * w * «ot altered n<, r? h - Locn!l - v - Prices l ent fairly 2 rhe mark et is at present. " ueat is scarce and dear at pre-sSSTnsJS^-rl^ß feelln f the wheat S e *?een"advance l " m with the wine ttoPmii prlces ln London. At oper »t P , """fs are not eager to w nt thnl cwwithere -ither is so dne at pre- ? 9 the bu;r e 0 7 S th eTe, I «aeon De to hope xet harvested in wheat wlu be even » the new C roD g i?nt C( " lditlon - Sam P ,e3 wheat wilji n P ot r e n b l en sent U P- but ° n the market ■ tt &jv "Wy^a- and are tiuoted f^Vforward"" 1 ? Bo p**™ chaff is now ;,ro fl rth «4 10/ at A' e + *i he market, being ; G fass Seea<= t c f tatio ». sacks In. J. or grass seeds~f n ' q n > s ai-e bein »' Sffor-bwta f°r surface sowing, as the » lie C M ' hV ever ' be allowed a f B»od bnrn nS o Posslble - so as to ensure ? f aot Weather Klini ° n a , S the P«sent spell

itpiiii tnls "let d eggS Mc -™altered in price

AUCKLAND PRODUCE MARKET

Farm and Dairy Produce.—Butter- Feotory lOd to 3ld lb; farmers' separator or flali-y butter, 7d; second quality, Gd; frosU eggs. 1/ per dozen, wholesale; cheese SSSSSf-ifiJ lU%T' """r-*™ mr n °r U / 1 ' n Market.—FJour, local, wholesale, h ss discouiQt ); wheatmeal, £10 5/, 2001b £5 5/, oatmeal, £10 10/ per

f °f ain -—Oats: B grade, 2/1, c.i.f • Smith W at ',, i ?/ 11 ex store - sacks included; boutheru milling wheat, 3/8, f.0.b., sacks

Onions—Local, 9/ to 10/ per cwt to | i otatoes—New potatoes, £7 to £8 per

Chaff—Local, £4 io/, ex ra n. .-,, 01 " . ailC! Firewood MarKets.—Newcastle WoLf 26/ per ton ' Slivered 31/: Westport. 80/; Taupiri, best household, delivered, 12 sacks to the ton—tons. 27/, discount 1/ for cash; half tons. 14/6 discount 6.1; quarter tons, 7/3, discount "ad for cash; hundredweights, 1/9, no discount". I lcked steam, 12 sacks to the ton—tons 24/, discount 1/ for cash; half tons, 12/e discount 6d for cash; quarter tons, 6/9 discount, 3d for cash; Union Colliery 23/ per ton delivered, half ton, la/, quarter tan. G/3 cash; steam coa', 21/ ton, 11/ half ton, and 5/9 quarter ton. Firewood: Uncut at wharf, cargo 7/ to 9/ per ton; delivered, w, uncut, cut 13/ to 16/ Uniss Seeds.—English red clover, 10d lb; English cowgrass, 101b; colonial cowgrass, I fm : p s Ud lb; whlte clover - VU> tiefoil 6d lb; sheep's mustard, 6d lb; broad leaf bssex rape, 4d lb; Timothy, 6d lbin?n es L a '\ 1 ', 1/7 lb; Poa PMtensls," 101 lb; Poa Trivlalis. .1/7 lb; meadow foxtail, 2/ lb; meadow fescue, 10d lb; Chewing s fescue, 5d lb; tall fescue, s*d lb; AgroßUe Vulgaris (red top), lid lb; Paepaluin Dilltatum, 1/7 lb; Danthonia (semi annularis), liuest dressed, 1/7 lb- Mlcrolaena (meadow vice grass), 1/9 lb; turnips Aberdoens (yellow fleshed), white stone or stubble, 1/ lb. Cocksfoot: Farme-s' machine dressed, 9/3 per busJiel; extra machine dressed, 10/6 per bushel. Eyef T r a aSS i; ■ p^ure - p »verty Bay and Hawkes Bay, 7/9 per bushel; Canterburr T?i?R dressed ' e/S per bushel; Italian, double machine dressed, 5/3 per bushel. Prairie grass, 5/3 per bushel. landing Material. —Boards and scaat- «/«• " uc^ l " e3 sed, 100 ft best, 16/6; medium, ld/6; 2nd class. 10/6; best planed, tongued and grooved, Ist class. 18/0; medium 15/«----second class, 12/6: njaticaiea weatherboards, Ist clasft, 18/ C; medium, 15/6; 2nd el-jss, 12/«; undressed boards, iin thick, best, lii/ 6; medium, 11/6; 2nd class. »/; rough liuiuj; boards, yiu, second class, 7/; lining boards, planed, tongued and grooved, best, IS/6; medium, 15/6; 2nd elnss, 12/6 (speciSed lengths, flooring linlug, and weather boards, 1/6 extra); boat boards, specially selected, 18/6 for jin, 17/6 for Siji; kauri palings, Bft san, 8/; heart, n/; tl-tree rail, £3 10/ per 100: puriri posts, 1/ to 1/6 each; shingles 15/ per 3000; Ilobart palings, sft, 11/; 6ft 19/; rails 80/; dry pressed bricks, 62/6 per 1000----ordinary bricks, 60/ per 1000; fire brtaks 2iln, £S; aud Bin, £9 per 1000; fire clay 60/ per ton; hydraulic lime, 2/ per cwt bag; drain pipes, at works, 2in drain tiles, . 121u lengths, 50/ per 1000; 2iin, 70/; 3iu, 90/; 4in, 130/; 6in, £15 per lOO'O; 3in socket pipes, 2ft lengths, 7d each; 4in, 9d; 6iu 1/!iiu, 2/; 12in, 3/; loin, 4/6; ISm, 6/; 21in,'

SHEEP PAIR. The second day of the annual sheep fair took place at the Otahuhu Yard 3 to-day. Mr H. O. Nolan officiated as auctioneer, in addition to 7500 sheep and rams of all descriptions which were yarded, a novelty was presented in the shape of 20 half-bred Tunis rtirus, on account ol Alfred Hills. HIDES, SKINS, ETC. MESSRS G. W. BINNEI AND SONS' REPORT.

On Tuesday we again cleared a lar°-e catalogue oi hides, sheep skins, tallow, etc. Hides: In brisk demand. We qnote: Prime ox, 7d to 7i'd; extra stout, GJd to osd, stout, 5Jd to 6d; medium, 4gd to 43d - light. 4sd. Cow: Good lines in brisk demand at 4id; picked to 4gd; kips, 4*d to 4Jd; calf, ojd to si|d for well flayed Butchers , Pelts: Large salted, to 2/9: medium, 2/3 to 2/6'; small. 1/9 to 2/; lambs, 1/6 to 2A*; dry, full wool, to 6/; medium ■V to 4/ii; small, 1/6 to 2/6. Tallow: Shipment casks, 19/ Cto 20/; good, in broken casks and packages, IS/ to 10/; seconds, 14/ to 16/ per cwt. Rough fat. lid per lb. Bones, good dry, £5 per ton. Horns wanted. Prices average 10/ to 12/ per 100.

WELLINGTON MARKETS,

Messrs Levin and Co., Ltd., report.—We offered a considerable quantity of wool In fadges nud bags, and 2000 skins and 200 hides. As compared with the last fortnightly sale, skins in sympathy with the fall In wool showed a fall od coarse woolled skins of id to 3d; merino and half-bred of Jd. We quote: Merinos, 7d to 7Jd; hulfbreds, 7d to 7Jd; line crossbreds, 6Sd to <Sd; coarse crossbreds, (5Jd to 7d; dead skins, *Ud to Gd; lamb skins, 6Jd to 71dand green pelts to 2/ each. TMiere was good competition for hides at recent rates We qrote: Cows, light, 11/ to 13/; medium, 13/ to 15/; heavy, 15/ to 17/6; ox, light 17/6 to 20/; medium, 20/ to 24/; heavy 24/