COMMERCIAL.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16416, 9 January 1919, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

AUSTRALIAN SUGAR CROP. (By Cable.—Press Aseoci»»»a.—' CopyrighU MELBOURNE, January 6. The estimated deficiency in tie sugar crop owing to cyclonic disturbances, is W J™* The Government h* 3 purchased 10,000 tons from Mauritius and Java. PAYMENT FOR BUTTER. MELBOURNE, January 8. A cablegram has been received stating that BritaTnifroady to pay °Vm. purchase of last season s gutter. This amouM will bo distributed fit Y THE MORATORIUM. SIR FRANCIS BELL'S VIEWS. The suggestion that the restrictions imposed by the Mortgages Extension Act, 1914, should not be allowed to remain any longer than is absolutely necessary, in order that borrowers may be given no unfair ad\antago, was referred to Sir Irancis Bell, At-torney-General, states the Auckland lieiaid." The operation of the Act has been continued from year to. year, and the opinion has been expressed locally .that, Instead of the restriction being removed gradually, the best way would be to give a few months notice td all affected. oir Francis stated that the Act provided that, for a period not exceeding six months the war ceases, a mortgagee cannot call up his money without the leave of the Supreme Court, and as far as He knew the Government had no intention of altering this. At any rat© he would eay that the matter had not been considered by the Government. He remarked that the people who were complaining that they could not oall up tt '® xr money were those who would not tako the matter to the Supreme Court, as the} were entitled to under the Act. _He was of the opinion that the period which the Goveniment would fix when giving notice of its intention to remove the restrictions at tne Act would be sufficient for the protection of mortgagors. HIGH PRICES FOR PRINTING PAPER. The following table shows the prices paper had reached at the end of the year just closed. A comparison is aleo made between the prices ruling in the years 1916 and 1914. The table covers a lines only, but it reveals a state of things that a few years ago would have been regarded as impossible: Year Year Year 1914 1916 1918 Per ton. £ £ £ News Printing .. ..11 45 49 Machine Finish White Printing .. .. 26 82 98 Super Calendered to ins Litho Printings .. 24 8- 105 Bank (Cheap Letter Pad Quality) .. 27 91 112 M.G. Litho .. -24 84 102 Tub-Sized Banks and ■ -Bonds ... EC 112 224 Cream Wove Writing .» 39 jjj* Strawboards .. .v 12 20 50 BIG PROPERTY SALE. . A big property deal was completed in Invercargill oil Monday (says th© News )> when Mr James King disposed of his sheep Btation, known as Blackmount, in the Takitimo district, to Mr James _McLean, formerly owner of Burwood Station, which he sold about twelve months ago. _ Blackmount consist® of 60,000 acres, including 2500 freehold, and the figure at which it changed hands is between £40,000 &nd £50,000. With the property went 18,000 sheep. BURNSIDE MARKET. (press association telegram.} DUNEDIN, January 3. At Burnside to-day there was a large yarding of fat cattle, comprising a fair proportion of good quality. Owing to the number forward being in excess of requirements, bidding was erratic. Good beef sold at late rates, but a reduction *n price had to bo accepted for other' sorts. Best heavy bullocks, £22 10a to £25; good, £18 to £20; medium, £15 15s to £16 10s; light, £13 10s to £14 10s: best cows and heifers, to ±16 Gs; good, £13 to £14 10b; light, £9 10s to £12/ There was a small yarding of fat sheep, mostly of good, usefur quality. At the opening the market was very firm at pnc<» showing, an advance of about 3s, compared with the last sale, but later competition was less keen, ■ and prices ■ fell. Is 6d on opening rates. Best shorn wethers, 44s to 47s 6d; extra, 51s 6d; good, 40a to 435; medium, 84s to 365; beet shorn lineß, 88a to 425; extra, to 455; medium to good, 30s to 345; wethers in wool, 62s to 565. Fat Lambs—The quality was.tmly moderate, but included in the entry were some very good ones! The maTketfor best, quality was very firm at late r&t&s, but medium sorts were lower by Is than, late rates. Best, 28s 6d to 81s 6d; extra, to 36s 6d; medium, 24.1 to 265;. light, 20s to 225. / • Pigs—There was a good yarding oE fats, and a smaller entry for stores. The demand for fats of all descriptions, was very keen, and "prices ruled"on a very high level. Stores sold well also,, at priocs considerably in advance of late, rates, TEMUKA STOCK SALE. The fortnightly, stock sale was held at the Temuka yards on Tuesday, when the following prices, were realised:—Fat cows, ±o to £15 7s-6d; fat steers, £11 5s to £18; fat heifers, £8 16s to £19 10e; veaJers, 26s to 60s;-fat ewes, 27s 6d to 355; fat wethers, "27s to 37s 6d; fat lambs, ,295. Store cattle, made £3 10s to £13 ; dairy cattle, £6 7s 6d to £16. Weaner pigs, 6s to 24s 6d, stores, 29s to 435; baconers,. 67s 6d to. aos. CHRISTCHURCH STOCK EXCHANGE. LATEST QUOTATIONS. ' Buyers. Sellers. £ s. d. £ s. d. DEBENTURES— N.Z. Refrigerating, 6 per cent. UM 0 0 Whitcombe and Tombs. " . cj per cent. •• 100 0 0 •— BANKS- • _ Australasia •• •• 2 2 ' , Commercial .. •• 1 0 6 n National •• •• - —■ A 610 0 New South Wales • • 37 0 0 New Zealand (fully pd.) 17 18 0 — ' Union •• 59 0 0 - INSURANCENew Zealand .. 11 0 0 Standard .. •• — 37 0 SHIPPINGHuddart Parker •• • . — . 119 0 Huddart Parker (6 per oent., cum. pref.) 10 9 — Union •• ..109 FROZEN MEAT— N.Z. Refrigerating .. 2 6 6 — COAL- , ««,'«■ "Westport-Stockton .. 08 0 — BREWERIES— Manning .. •• 8 0 0 Ward .. •• 415 0 — TIMBER — , ,•_ > Kauri Timber •• — 17b MISCELLANEOUS— Auckland Tramways .. — l 0 6 Burns Philp •• ~~ 1 17 6 N.Z. Consolidated Dental 16 0 .— . Sharland and Co. •• 11® 9 Sharland and Co. (pref.) 110 0 MINING. CONSOLIDATED GOLDFIELDS, LTD. The crushing returns of the Consolidated Goldfields for December are as fo'lowa:— Progress—Crushed 600 tons, value £1418; working expenses. £1167, capital £-95, development £192. ■ . - Black water—Crushed 2113 tons, valuo £4222; working expenses £2976, capital £571, i development £215.