COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 194, 15 August 1907, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

''Auckland Star" , Office, Aueust 13, 1907.

During the past week the ' volume of business passing through, the wholesale distributing; houses has. been well maintained, although the unfavourable weather experienced during the month: has had a deterrent effect on retail trade, as well as affecting the wholesale orders. There is a good demand for/all general lines, and buyers-are securing - larger stocks of those goods from which the duty is to be removed, as a larger consumption is anticipated in consequence.

The Zealandia arrived from Sydney with general cargo and transhipments. The Victoria, from the South, included In her cargo transhipments eS Papanui from London. The Drajton. Grange has left to discharge the remainder of her cargo at Southern ports. The Manapouri sailed for Suva, and connects there with the Canadian mail steamer. The Rakaia having completed loading a valuable cargo, sailed for London. Expected arrivals include the Katuna, from New York, Star of Scotland, Bucentaur, and Wakanui. Advices with regard to steamers bringing down fruit from Patras indicate that the first vessel wi'l be doe at Sydney early in November. Canned fruit: Quotations are to hand for the new pact of Australian apricots. In view of the firm state of the market, the prices are satisfactorily low. Seeded raistus: The market is very firm, and stocks are light. An advance is to be locked for shortly. Currants: An advance on opening quotations has been advised, #but this is "regarded as speculative, the local market remaining steady. Sardines: These are very mucll firmer. There is a brisk demand, and higher prices are being realised. Stocks are 'meanwhile very light. Sago and tapioca: These lines are again stronger this week. Nutmegs: Prices are advancing. Dates: A steady sale continue* ''land stocks are sufficient for the demand. Almonds: Quotations for the Sicily fruit are slightly higher. Jo*dans remain firm. Cream of tartar: Another advance shows that the market is still on the up grade. Salmon: Owing to short catches of Alaska there is a possibi'ity that higher nrices will be asked for the new pack. Malaga muscatels: The opening quotations for the new crop are easier than last season's figures. A further advance has taken place in the Califoruian fruit. Canary seed: The market remains very firm. Mutton birds: A steady demand continues for this line. FungnsT Supplies continue moderate, the wet weather baring no doubt checked the process of drying.

Advice by circular from Singapore is to the effect that supplies of cloves are smal l , present quotations for mace likely to be malntainsd, while the lan;e quantity of pineapples coming in are expected to keep prices low for some time to come. With regard to tapioca, the circular states that the trade seems to be getting accustomed to the advanced prices, and these floes not seem much likellhnod of any material dfcline at present. The second crop of b!a-k pepper Is estimated at about last year's quantity. The new crop of white pepper Is estimated at 15 per cent short of last year's.

Although a fair amount of business has been transacted on th? Stock Exchange during the past week, still values of mining shares were, generally speaking, easier. Waihl sh.irce were, however, an exception, and advanced to 178/. at which price frequent snles were made. Waihi Grand Junction fhires a!si finned slightly during tlie week, late sales being at ii). Crown shares, on the other hand, eased in price, small lines being quitted at 7/i and 7/. with further buyers at 6/10. Talisman Consolidated shares a'so pnr:l--e'pated in the weakening tone of the market, falling from 49/ to 44/0. after which there was a recovery to 4V6 ye-terday. Tairua. Broken Hill shares have firmed in price during the week, and still show an upward tendency, sales being made from 5/7 to 3/0. Golden Belts, after declining a few pence, also recovered a little. 'Walotahi shares remain steady at from 11/ to 11/6, which figure would seem about low water mark at pfesent. Other Thames stocks were easier. Kuranui-Caiedonians sold as low as Od, although there is no fear of calls In that company. Kurantti shares made a jump to 1/1 toward 3 the end of last week, and there seemed eacer buyers, but the demand subsequently fell off, and the price dropped back again to Sd and'SJd sates. New .aionowai share.", after being wanted at Sd, are now easier, and other Thames- lines of low-priced stocks seem to be neglected. Investment stocks, on the other hand, have had steady inquiry, bnt prices show little alteration. South British. Insurance buyers have advanced their offers a little during the last day or two. while other insurance stocks have been in steady request at late rates. Bank shares had but little inquiry. Coal shares generally have been in demand, but few sales took place at the prices offered. Gas shares generally were neglected, and Aucklands sold at 237/, ex div. Kanr! Timber shares have been wanted, and contributing issue sold frequently at from 7/10 to 7/11. L.OB. Timber were in demand at 45/6. The demand for Auckland Tramway shares continnes steady, ordinary issue selling frequently at 24/3 to 24/4. Inquiry set in this week for Grey and Menzies - shares at 7/3. but sales did not eventuate. Other lines were unaltered. Potatoes. —Arrivals of potatoes were light this week, only 2300 sacks coming to hand. The market in consequence has improved slightly, values all round showing an advance of 5/ per ton. This Is entirely accounted for by the bare state of the market as those in Tasmania and Australia show no improvement upon the conditions prevailing for some weeks past. The Wanaka, from the South, brought a few Dertvents. The Ennerdale is also due on Friday morning, and will briiig further lines of prime Oamara potatoes, which should readily command a higher price than Tasmanians. The quotation for Tasmania potatoes is £4 10/ to £5 per ton, and for prime Oamaru £d 5/. Distributors much prefer to get clean locally grown potatoes at this time of .the year, rather than Tasmanians. which now cause considerable waste as the result of frequent handling in transhipment.

Maize.—Very heavy arrivals of maize came to hand this week, the schooner Kaeo bringing 030 While further shipments were received by tte Paeroa and Mangapapa from Whafcatane, the Clansman from Tanranga, and the Waiotahi from Opotikl, bringing a further UOO sacks. As three of the vessels had been bar bound the Eiiiizs arrived to o. bsre nmrkst- ** liilG tn.6 price shows no change, sUll indicaUons point to lower fibres having been taken to clear lines which were hanging fire, the excess of arrivals having fully filled buyers requirements. Reports from the Coast indicate that in some districts the heavy drain upon the new maize has already diminished stocks considerably, and it now seems pretty certain that in tfie principal maize growing centres, the crop on the whole has been light.

Oats.—The delay In the arrival of the Beucentaur, through the accident at Fiji, considerably disorganised the oat market this week, as she has on board heavy lines of Canadian- grain, which had been sold for distribution from the ship's side. In consequence of these supplies not coming to hand when expected, the local market is very bare, and prices are a shade firmer. Southern quotations show no change. Tasmanlan oats are now being offered on this market, but tbe quotation so far is rather above the figure at which it will pay merchants to do business.' The Manitoba midsummer crop bulletin shows that the area under oats is 1,156,000 acres, and the crop is in good condition.

Agricultural Seeds.—A very good demand continues for Algerian seed oats, and when this month is further advanced, farmers will be ready for spring sowing. Already stocks are being reduced into- small compass, and to land here further lines of redeaned Algerian seed from Melbourne would cost fully the present selling price locally. When all the stocks held in Auckland are cleared prices for fresh Importations must advance 2d per boshel. The Jessie Craig is now on her way across from Melbourne with heavy shipments of Algerian oats, but most of the cargo is for feeding purposes. These oats could, however, be rccleaned here, and would no d.oubt find ready outlet for seed purposes.

Seed Wheat.—A little late aemand still continues for seed wheat, the price re maining firm at 5/9 per bushel.

—Milling Wheat.—The position of the market is unaltered, millers holding off buying as long as possible fit the high prices asked, while holders decline to make any concession.

Flour.—The price of flour advanced 5/ per ton tilts week.

Fowl Wheat.—Stocks are now very low, and an advance in price is not unlikely. Grass Seeds.—A fair business is reported, but it is yet early for the larger orders to be sent In.

Chaff.—Stocks of compressed are somewhat light, but arrivals of further snpplies by sailers from. Melbourne are expected for the next two months, as considerable quantities are to come over. Hie present quota-

&<m for compressed chaff £0 .7/6, ex store. Local chaff of prime quality; is 1 practically unprocurable. Blenheim chaff J is still coming forward, and sells freely at £6 10/ per ton. The superior quality of the Blenheim chaff readily accounts for its .quick sate a*t the high figures. Further-shipments are due next Friday at Onehunga from Picton. For delivery from ship's side, and to stations along the line, sales are made at 2/6 less.

Onions.—Local onions now, poor inquality showing considerable growth,, which makes them difficult" to deal with. A few prime lots sent in were worth 5/6 to 6/ per cwt. Victorian onions show no change, beting still worth 6/6 per cwt. [

Manures.—A good inquiry is reported for classes of manure. The market has been practically cleared of basic slag, ]Hja the price has advanced to £4 to £4 5/ per ton. Jiaiuit. is moving off freely, and meets with good demand, stocks of Calcutta being very short now. Japanese superphosphates is now being loaded at Kobe for this market, and heavy~ shipments should reach here about the 20th of September. Forward, business is being done for delivery from Ship's side at £4 7/6 per ton. MESSRS. G. W. BINNEY AND SONS' REPORT. • On Tuesday we submitted and cleared large catalogues of hides, skins, tallow, etc. Hides- —Light ox and cow easier, others firm. Ox, extra stout, 6Jd to TJd; stout, 6d to 6Jd; medium, s}d to ojd; light, 43d to s£d; cow best lines 4?d, good 4id to 4gd; stags', 3Jd to 3sd; calfskins, 6d to 6id per lb. ' Sheepskins.—Market firm. Extra large, to II; large, 5/6 to 6/3; medium, 4/6 to 5/3; small, 3/6 to 4/ each. Tallow.—Market firmer for the better classes. Best mixed, to 28/; good, 25/ to 26/6; medium, 23/ to 24/6; inferior, 20/ to 22/6 per cwt. Rough fat, ljd per lb. Cow tails, 1/8 per dozen. Bones, £4 15/. MB. C. B. KINGSWELT> AND CO.'S REPORT. . On Tuesday we cleared a large catalogue of hides, skins, tallow, etc. Hides.—Market firm for all well flayed, conditioned, and of good substance; cut and scored sell at low figures. 'We quote: Extra stont 7id to 3d, stout 63d to 7d, medium s*d to 53d. sheety 5d to 5Jd; cow. good 4}d to sd, wet 4d to 4id; kip, 3d to 5Jd; calf. 6d to 6*d; stag, 3Xd to 33d; damaged, hides, 2d to 3Jdr cut and scored, $d to Id per lb less. Sfce-epskins. —Butchers' large 6/9 to 7/3, for good lines 5/9 to 6/, email 3/6 to 4/, damaged 1/4 to 2/6 each. Tails.—l/S per dozen. Horsehair.—Tail 1/6 to 1/S, mane 9d to; 10d per lb. Tallow.—Cask's, good 27/ to 2S/, seconds 23/ to 24/6 per cwt: rough fat 13d per lb. Bones. —Dry £4 13/ per ton. KAURI GUM MARKET. Auckland, Thursday, August 15, 190 T. Black gums do not appear to be selHng so readily as formerly, but all other grades meet with steady demand at late rates. Supplies for August to date total 311 tons. The Rakaia took away 362 tons of of which 333 tons was for New York. LONDON CABLE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 8.08 a.m.) LONDON, August 14. Silver. 2/Si. Copper: On spot, £7S; three months, £74 5/. Tin, £16S 10/; three months, £163. Lead, £20 5/. Imports, 15.402 tons; Australian, 2,620 tons; exports, 4230 tons. At the tallow -sales, 1825 casts were offered, and 1200 sold. Prices were unchanged. AUCKLAND PRODUCE MARKETS. Farm and Dairy Produce. —Butter, factory, lid per It), farmers' separator or dairy butter, 7d per lb; fresh eggs, 1/ per dozen wholesale; cheese, faxmers' from 3d to 6*d per lb, factory, 6jd to 7d. Grain.—Oats, B srade, 3/5, ex store: Algerian seed oats, 3/9; Southern milling wheat, 4/S to 4/9; f.0.b., sacks extra; fowl wheat 4/5, ex store (sacks in); Tuscan seed vrheat 5/0; maize, 3/4, for wholesale lines on :lie trjiarf. Potatoes. — Tasmanian, £4 15/ to £0 per ton, ex store; Oamaru, £5 5/; seed potatoes, Up-to-date, £6 per ton; Beauty of Hebron and Eariy Rose, £7, and Northern Star, £3 10/. Flour. £11 10/ per ton (less discount); wheatmeal. £11 10/ per ton (less discount); sharps, £5 12/6 per ton; bran, £4 17/6, wholesale. , ■■ . Chaff. —Local, £5 to £5 15/, ex store; Blenheim, £6 10/. Onions. — Victorian onions, 6/6 per cwt. ex store. Coal and Firewood Markets.—Newcastle coal, at yard, 27/ per toil, delivered 32/; Westport, 30/; Taupiri, best household, ton 29/, discount 1/ for cash; half tons 15/, discount 6d; quarter tons 7/9, discount 3d; delivered, 12 sacks to the ton—tons, 2S/, for cash; picked steam, 12 sacks to the ton— tons 26/, discount 1/ for cash; half tons 13/6, discount 6d for cash; quarter tons 7/3, discount 3d for cash. Firewood: Uncut, at wharf, 7/ to 9/ per ton; delivered, 12/ uncut, cut 13/ to 16/.