FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16424, 18 January 1919, Page 7

FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

(Bt Our Cninai

[BCI.IL EDITOE.,

Business in most departments of wholesale trade ■ has been quiet, particularly in regard to foodstuffs. Merchants- and retailers are well stocked in many linae, and the uncertainty as to prices to which we have referred before, still operates to restrict forward buying. At the same time, a period must come when, no matter how uncertain the future course of the markets may bo, stocks will have to be replenished. The end of the inter-colonial shipping trouble in Australia is hailed with satisfaction by importers, who are now looking forward to receiving some of the long delayed consignments which have been awaiting transhipment in Melbourne and Sydney. I'ho possibility of labour troublee_ in connexion with coastal and inter-colonial shipping has been much discussed during the week. The irregularity of the ferry service, and consequently of the mail service between thj North and South Island is a cause of serious annoyance and inconvenience, but the stand taken by the Union Company is generally supported by business men, and it is hoped tJint the influence of the wiser liead3 in the Seamen's Union will be the means of enabling the regular running of the service to be resumed. The second annual report of the Eclipse Petrol Economiser System Co., Ltd., to be presented to the shareholders in Christchurch next week, indicates a very favourable state of affairs. The directors state that the offer of an English firm to form a syndicate for the purchase of the British and Continental rights, had resulted in the formation of the Godward Carburettor Company (London) Limited, which was registered on April 3rd, 1917. The sales of the New Zealand and South African patent rights had also been effected, while arrangements had been m ade for the disposal of the patent rights of the Federated Malay States and Dutch East Indies on the same terms as tho Indian rights. In regard to the American and Canadian rights, the position was still an open one. Messrs Godward and Armstrong, the company's representatives in America, had had to concentrate their attention on standardising the carburettor to deal with the severe tests required by the U.S.A. Government representatives, including the problem of wealing with low-grade oils. This had necessitated the designing by Mr Godward ot an improved carburettor to deal with low-grade benzine, and this improved generator had been tested locally with very satisfactory results. _ No definite information in regard to the disposal of the American rights had been received. The directors had, however, decided to avail themselves of an offer recently received from their London agents to open up negotiations for the sale in England of the North and South American continental rights,_ and these negotiation© were now being carried on by cable. Sales of the various patent' rights effected .to date aro summarised as follows:— Australian, for £5,000 cash, and royalty of 20s per motor car, and 10s for motor cycles, plus 25 per cent, paid up shares in the company to be formed in Australia; Lidiaur— £■2,500 cash, and royalty of 20s per motor car, and 10s for motor cycles or other form of internal combustion engines; British and Continental, for 40 per cent, paid-up shares in the Godward Carburettor Co. (London) Ltd., and royalty of 12s 6d por carburettor, with a minimum output of 10,000 carburettors for the first peace year; New Zealand rights, for £3,000 cash, and royalty of 15s per carburettor for motor cars, and 7s 6d on other internal combustion engines; South African rights, for £2,500 cash, and loyalty of 12s 6d per carburettor for motor cars, and 7s 6d per carburettor on motor cycles and oil engines, and a royalty of 10s per house lighted with this system. . Referring to the trade prospects, and to the necessary readjustment of markets for practically all classes of goods, the commercial editor of a leading Australian paper says"Tho freeing of many articles J™" 1 Government control, cessation of war orders, and increased production for oidinary trado purposes, together with labour and freight problems, all give rise to which the shrewdest operator hesitates, to gauge. There is no doubt that the general opinion favours recced prices as the pruicipk of supply ana demand becomes more pee to ■assts -sAr rfcsvs IlijMi reduction in flight. ndentor who lately s ?'rd £\»3J e p".S" optUoiatio ibSfdfS I. U «i««•»V*l ■ sra&TSiVVpSaS S ! SSl' buSr > »kS IS t» so I*l ! xk t«T» ; artss arcttK.">s sM profit, which only represent about 8 P e * of his turnover.- . In J September, atanenquiry held before the irwas shown that any margin-:fixed by the Government at, less than 20.9 the overhead expenses of conducting tlw business deprived the grocer of -at least part oi the living wage . that .the, State lawj»y» necessary for the «^ te , nc V f ®™ p Unless the margin* fixed,shows more Own 20.9 per cent.'on returns for the grocer, there is no net; profit for him in handling the goods, and-at that rate he is drawing wages only, 'without recompense for risks he takee when he buys or speculates in stock. • Tie interests of two great cocoa and chelate firms— Cadbury Brothers and J. S. Fl7 and Sons—are to be combined.There> will be no fusion of the businesses, but a holding concern will be created which will acquire Cadbury's ordinary capital and Fiys deferred ordinary capital. The issued amount in the case of Fry is £200,000, of whwh £100,000 ia "A" deferred and £100,000 B deferred, and in the case of Cadbury. £901,350. All this is privately held, and the dividends declared, except that on the "A* deferred, which' ia fixed, are not made publio. - Only the preference securities are-on the Market. The amalgamation, the "Financial Times comments, is therefore really more in the nature of a working arrangement trade purposes than a financial ..operation, but it is significant' of tKe trend of the times*"

GROCERIES, Eto. Rice has advanced £2 per ton. The upward movement of this commodity beara out th» opinion espreesed recently ui thie column. Sago and tapioca have advanced a - little on last week's quotation, and are firmly ■ Held. Linseed oil snows an increased cost of Is 6d per gallon. . New season's figa nave just been landeo a price which is higher by 4d to 5d per lb than last season's." Advice has also been received that no further supplies will bo available until nert eeaaon. Queensland pineapple is juoted at 8a 9d f.o.b. Brisbane. Salt is declining in price. Best fine Australian has been quoted during tho week at £8 10a, and coaree at £7, both f.o.b. Adelaide. The steamer Kaiapoi is on the coast with a large quantity of Melbourne cargo on board, and merchants are to learn if she has brought any tobacco, plug tobaccos, as was the case last week, being practically unobtainable. . The Kaiapoi'e includes' some lemon r-nd crange peel, which has been off the market for some months. The cold, unseasonable weather ia said to be interfering with the sale of salmon and other canned fish, though it is at least possible that the high price of these comestibles may also be a factor in restricting the usual summer demand for them. Advice has been received from a Colombo firm by the latest mail that the first buying for Russia for many months had begun the previous week, when one firm operated largely in gusts and fannings, and was continuing to buy very etrongly. Prices for thone grades had consequently advanced 6 to 8 cnts. Other Russian buyers were expected in the market shortly for other grades, and their buying alone would probably be sufficient to put prices up considerably. It was also expected that large quantities of tea would be required by the Allied Governments early in the year, when, under all the circumstances, a very high level of prices be anticipated. As a matter of fact, cable advice received during the week notified advances in ten- grades, varying from fiveeighths o{ a penny to a penny per lb. A loading firm of bag-makers in Canada reported a few weeks ago that they were six months behind in executing orders owing to the enormous demand. 2?o advance in prioee is looked far.

DOMINION'S TRADE AND MARKETS.

GENBRAL ME ECH ANDISB.

Soda ash was quoted yesterday at £21 lOs 1 per ton, f.o/b., Auckland, and English bicarb, soda in bags at £21. _ , , Private cables received in Sydney a fortnight ago eta tod that dedicated cocoanut had advanced, to what extent was not eta-ted. This is apparently another rise on the top of the advance of £20 per ton which we announced at the beginning of last month. Beat brands in half-pound containers wore being cleared in Sydney at 7s. At the commencement of the 1918 season an embargo was placed on the export 01 various lines of Californian evaporated fruits, a3 they were required for military requirements. Kow that the armistice has been signed, small quantities of various grades have been released, and. quotations are ohco again in circidation. Howevor, as it is generally a recognised fact that there are good stocks of dried fruits in hand, it is not anticipated that very big fialea will be made, but at the same time prunes, which were entirely commandeered, and are quoted, should command a ready sale. export .-estrictions now being released, it is hoped that the fruit trade from California will once again aseume a steady running. j -■•-Quotations have been made for the season s pack of Ta-smanian canned fruits, and compare very favourably with last year s quotas tions. ' Tho demand for tho fruit. has boon gradually increasing, as the quality is good and uniform from season to season. Last season the demand was very much. in excess of the supply. The Government's control of the manufacture and sale of tobacco in Great Britain was to cease last Saturday. HARDWARE. Trade conditions show little change ing the past week. There has been little movement as far as prices are concerned, values being well maintained. Tneio is no doubt that a false anticipation of a general decline in prices is restricting business. In the meantime cabled advices report heavy shipments on the water, amongst other linos being wire, wire nails, horse nails, and pipe. The local markets have been bare of these commodities for some time, and in t view of tfie anticipated demand there is little likelihood of a fall in prices as far ae such goods are concerned. The sensational advance in the price of lead last December caused some consternar tion amongst parties interested. It appears now that the British authorities had been keeping lead down but on the conclusion of the armistice had allowed the prioe to rise to the parity of other countries. White lead is very high at present, and it is impossible to say whether the top of the market has yet been reached. It is reported that the British manufacturers are commencing the output of galvanised sheet iron this month. American quotes show a hardening tendency. Latest advices report a further advance on British lockfoundry. Linseed oil is likely to advance owing to the heavy demands for homo consumption in Britain together with the fact that the Indian crops are reported to bo poor. A shortage of resin is said to be probable, "owing to the war and tho difficulty of collecting in the United States." Ifc is quoted in the vicinity of £40 per ton, c.i.f., New Zealand ports.

"No decrease in the price of fencing wire and general hardware is anticipated for twelve months." .This was the statement mads this week by a business man in Auckland to a "Herald" representative. Before the war, he continued, fencing wire was imported from Great Britain and America in almost equal quantities, but aa soon as England became engaged in hostilities, export was prohibited by the Government, and America secured the trade. Since tho signing of the armistice, no English quotations had come to hand, but he did not anticipate any reduction in prices. On the contrary, recent advice had shown that the market in spelter, a compound used in the manufacture of galvanised wire, had lately recovered, with the result that prices had stiffened. In conclusion, he remarked that, as the prices of hardware had taken four years to reach their 'present level, he expected them to take an equal time to fall to normal rates. Even then,_ ho considered, labour and transport conditions would prevent them from ever tho pre-war standard. There is a very general belief that wo shall not, for a long time, if ever again, experience pre-war prices. But the Aucklander's belief that it will take four years for'hardware prices to "fall to notmal rates" is not supported by competent opinion in Christchurch, which anticipates that withm a year prices may begin to fall. Much depends upon, circumstances which have not yet fully developed. A letter dated November 30th, received, in Australia from a large American firm of arms and ammunition makers stated that it did not appear that any Government contracts on which work had been started, and materials partly processed, would be cancelled, on the contrary, the indications were that activities in Government work would W continued for some time. Labour and material costs remained at high levels, with no prospects of a change, which,would justify a reduction in prices of products. The letter concluded, "It is evidently the policy of'the Government to bring about readjustment from war-time conditions to those of peace gradually and wit]tas little disturbance as passible. Movements to lower prico levels will not be radical or. abrupt." COTTON TRADE OUTLOOK. Inquiries made by the Manchester correspondent of the London "Daily Telegraph" on November 21st on the subject of textile valuo in the coming spring and the prospects i of a sufficiency of cotton revealed a considerable amount of indecision. The diversity of views in Lancashire was reflected in the markets of the world. Cotton cloth was selling in India at prices below those ruling in England. Merchants there wore seeking to secure the cancellation _of contracts whioh were in course, of completion, and at the same time _ India merchants were inquiring for goods in the British market. "Dutch manufacturers who spin Tyarns are making inquiry for prices in view of the possibility that shipments will be possible at an early date, and at the same time other users are sending orders for the re-sale of yanis, which are held here on their account awaiting the issue of export licenses. There is fairly general agreement in Manchester that prices of textile fabrics will have to .come down, but no one imagines that values can be seriously affected so far as early spring goods are concerned. American cotton shipments are being increased substantially, but no one here anticipates that there will be sufficient shipping available to permit of all tho spinning and weaving mills being worked to full capacity even if demobilisation proceeded at a sufficiently quick rate to provide the man-power. It is not now eo much a question of how much cotton there is in the world, but of how much of it Lancashire' mills will got. It is admitted that food must come before cotton, and, thia being the case, Lancashire mills may have to be rationed for many months to come. Meanwhile, it is obvious that a world demand for piece goods must spring /up. eventually, and opinion in Manchester trade circles inclined to" the view that this is only held back by the expectation of lower level of values. Lancashire machine-making, plant is to bo placed at once at the disposal of the French and Belgian textile' firms whose machinery has been carried off by the enemv. It has already been arranged that until the mills of these firms have been restored 50 per cent, of the Lancashire plant will be allocated to this work."

the meat contract. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, January 14.Sir Thomas Mackenzie, speaking at a meeting of the Cold Storage and Ice Asso- : ciation, said there was an impression that the Dominions were exploiting the consumers in the Mother Country in connexion with food prices. This was unjustified. New Zealand's meat contract fixed the iaroo price as in 1916 in order to enable meat to be re--1 tailed at considerably below the present prices, which were Is to 2a per lb for nrutton and Is 7d for lamb. The British autborities explain that they paid sometimes la Id i for American meat. It was rever New Zea- ! land's intention to sell tier meat at a ■ low • price in order that bijj prices UHght ho paid to America. MELBOURNE MARKETS. MELBOURNE, January 17. Barley—Chevalier 5s 6d to 5a lOd, Cape 3s ■MH to 4s. Oats— Algerian, milling 4a 7d to •' 4s 8d feed 4e 5d to 4s 6d. Potatoes—£lo iSstoilfV Onions—£9 10s to £io. AUSTRALIAN WHEAT POOL. MELBOURNE, January 17. Mr Watt states that the Government will tmiw euarantee for the incoming wheat nest week. It will involve an expendi- : ture of £14,000,000. 1 big AND rpi .fAimers Durham and Ayrshire, which arrive witn.n the n«t lew load a record shipment of batter tiie ; Stai"). In

order to cope with the amount of produce, i additional cold storage has been provider!, > and with the shipment of this produce, ample 1 room will be left for the storage of meat dtir- « ing the season. The shipment "will be made i bj- the Auckland Farmers' Freezing: Company. Ltd., and space has been granted them on < the two vessels for 205.550 boxes of butter, ami 7500 crates of cheese, which is held in • cold storage in Auckland to the order of the Imperial Government. The butter is valued at the Government price 3, and amounts to £915,000, while the cheese is worth £56,000. EXPORT OF TIMBER. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) HOKITIKA, January 17. Regulations restricting the export of timber are causing great concern locally, where the sawmilling industry js said to be> imperilled. Strong representations are being made to the Government on the matter by local bodies and others. It is suggested that the Coast 6houH be exempt from the operation of the regulations. N.Z. AND RIVER PLATE COMPANY. (I*RESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)" AUCKLAND, January 17. Advice has _ been received that the annual meeting in London of tho New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Company, adopted a recommendation for a dividend of approximately Is per share, payable in this Dominion on January 21st. HEMP. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 17. The Department of Agriculture has received the following cablegram, dated January 10th, from the Hijjh Commissioner: —Tho War Office notifies that, owing to a decline in market values in the Philippine Islands, and also the reduced transport charges, the Government issue prices of all grades of Manilla hemp have been revised. The new prices aro:—-J .£3O, K £79, L £78, M £70, and others in proportion. These apply to allocations dated on or before November 15th. The Hemp Controller states that it was not considered necessary at tho same time to alter tho maximum price of New Zealand, St. Helena, and Sisal, which is influenced by Manilla prices, as it is proposed to cancel the maximum prices order relating to these in the near future. NEW COMPANY. According to the "Mercantile Gazette," the following new company has been registered: Geraldine Co-op. Dairy Co., Ltd. Regd. January 9th. Office: Geraldine. Capital: £3000 into 3000 shares of £1 each. Subscribers: S. Gale 50, W. T. Turner, H. S. Smith, "D. Wilkinson, and A. Cruickshank 20 shares each, W. F. Hawke 24, A. W. Hudson 10, and M. Campbell 12 shares. Objects: To manufacture and cell butter, cheese, preserved and dried milk, ham, bacon, pork, eta. WOOL SEASON. WELLINGTON VALUATIONS. Since November 6th last to date Government valuers in the Wellington district (which includes Wellington, Blenheim, Picton, Nelson, Wanganui, and Waitara) have dealt with nearly 65,000 bales of the 1918-19 clip. Taking the average value at £23 per bale, this will mean a pay-out already on greasy "wool alono of £1,479,357. In addition, about one thousand bales of slipe wool have been valued throughout . the Wellington district. This time last year, however, there were 32,405 more bales of greasy wool valued. The position is disclosed in the following table of quantities of greasy wool so disposed of: — S<jason Season 1918-19. 1917-18. Bales. Bales. Blenheim and Picton .. 6,881 8,249 •• !i si ■%ss? :v. jSS ' Totals ... 64,319 96,722 Shearing has been much delayed this sear Bon—firet, on account of bad weather, and next to a considerable extent by reason ot tho general disorganisation of industry by the influenza. Valuations of slipe wool have been retarded by the same causes. The wool coming into stcrre thxa season » not up to last year's condition, mainly owing to the very oold and wet winter, from which sheep have suffered a good deal. There is a tender character in much of the wool. CANTERBURY MARKETS. Friday evening. The °-ood night's rain that has fallen will do an immense amount of_ goodJo growing crops of all kind*, but the surface eoil is so dry that even more would be welcome. The harvest is not yet general bo that tho rain •will cause little _ dolay, and al srrain crops' that are still in the unripe triage should be improved by better filling of the grain. , , , There has been some forward selling of oata by merchants, but only an odd lot has been purchased from growers on rubbed out sample. The early cut Algerian oats are. naturally light, having been grown on the drier land, and one sample has been sold at 4s 6d on trucks. An offer of 4s lOd for G-artons was not accepted but it ia reported that a sale was effected at 5o at a country station. No sales of new oatsheaf chaff are vet reported. It is too early yet to say definitely how the market will open in Canterbury, but £4 .10s to £5 is mentioned as the probable prices. . , The barley crop ia smaller _ in area, than last year, but the yield will bo larger, giving a total about equal to the average of the past four .years, any shortage being ■ made *up by importation from Australia. It is expected that the market will open ' at about last ■ season's prices. The market for grass seed has not yet opened properly, only small lots of perennial and Italian having been on offer. The former is likely to be a short crop. With a quantity-of last season's seed on hand and a promising crop, white clover is 1 pected to be much lower in price , than 'ast year. The red clover crop is likely to oe smaller. , Some offers for potatoes for forward de- ' lively aro now being made,, but the mar- ' ket has not yet settled down to anythingi L like a definite figure, and there ia as much ' as £2 per ton difference in the prices men--1 tioned. Last night's rain should db a con--1 Biddable amount of good to the crop, which ' eo far is looking very healthy. The following are the prices paid to fsr--1 mere at country free of _ commission, ' tacks extra, except where otherwise stated: ) Old milling wheat according to Government ' price, South Island. 6s Oid, f.0.b.; North ' Island, 4d additional. . ; Oate (nominal) —Best Algerians, feed 4« 6d > to 4s 9d, seed 4s 9d to ss; best Gartens, ' 5s to 5a 3d, feed 4s 6d to 4s 9d; Duns and > Danish. 6s. i Barley (nominal). i Flour—£ls 10s per ton; 1001b bags, £18 ■ 5«; 50lb bags, £16 10s; ,251b bags,,£l6 IBs. t Bran—Shipping £6 10s, local £5 15s per • ton. 1 Pollard—£7 10s per ton. L Oatmeal—2slb bags £30 per ion, 71b bag* • £84 10s per ton. _ ... . » Old Oatsheaf Chaff.—(Nominal) heavy, t bright, £6 to £7, medium £5 to £5 10a; in- > ferior, £A to £4 10s > Italian Ryegrass—Stripped seed 4s. • DAIRY PRODUCE. Supplies of dairy produce are normal, sad prioeo unchanged ,exoept for eggs, whioh , are a penny per dozen dearer. The -wholesale prices axe: Butter—Factory Is 6d net, farmers eepa- ! rator Is 2d, daily Is ld._ ! Cheese—Factory 10d, dairy 9d. loaf OJd. : Bacon-Sides Is 2d, rolls Is 4d, hams Is _ _ * Eggß—Hen eggs Is 3d per dozen. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. > Supplies of vegetables are short, especially cabbages cauliflowers, and turnips, all of which crops have bean affected by aphis. Local potatoes are now coming on the market mote freely, and pnoes havo eased. Very few are now coming from the Worth. Stone fruits are coming in in larger supply, but prices remain fairly high. Toma- • toes still maintain their high pnces iu con- - sequence of there being no outdoor grown t yet on the market. Snipments of summer • fruit are expected from Australia next » week, with the resumption of the xnter- ' colonial service. The delayed shipment oi 3 "Frisco apples by the Makura is fdso • expected to arrive, and the Moana (which t ia due at Wellington to-morrow) will bring - a supply of bananas from the Islands, and - probably 'Frisco oranges and lemons, so 1 that the market will be fairly well sup- • plied with oversea fruit. He wholesale r average prices on the week were:— 1 Apples, dessert, 20s per case, to 16s peats 6s to Ba, apricots, first grade 7d to'3d per lb second grade 4d to 5Jd, black currants sid to 7d, cherries 2s, berries Sd to grapes, local, 2s 6d to , 2s 9d, Central Otago Is 6d to la 9d peachw, > first grade 7d to lOd, second grade 4d to sd, ) pluma 5d to 6jd, tojnatoes la to Is -«<1» ■walnuts lid to Is. Kidney beans 7}d per lb, cucumbers lOd to Is cabbages 4s Gd to 7s 6d per dozen, cauliflowers 2s 6d to 6s, lettuce 6d to 9d, , carrots 9d to Is 3d per dozen bundles, } radishes 8d to lOd, rhubarb 2s 3d to fid, spring onions Is to 1b Gd, tumipft -3 to 2s " 3d. green peas Is per peck, new potatoes lid to 3d per lb, Northern Id to l-d onions local lis to 12s per cwt., Victorian 18s.

TIMARU. (SPECIAL TO "TH* raES3.") TIMARU, January 17. k T*"™ ia nothing dsing »

firSt is delaying ripening. . cuttinK Oats —During the coming 'reek, cutting earlier crops will become general o i en tiful, Rvegrass does not appear to be a few lines are bound to oe savea, but %£ not to available for a few week*. dunedin. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") DUNEDIN, January 17. There is * good enquiry f° r olt ? °\~T descriptions, but local stocks are l" supply. have met a ready sale at P Tlced 1 ,,;,,'1" {. ave a hardening on late rates. M»Ue» b«« been operating -for any suitable lines. Prim* milling is quoted at 5s 9d toj* 104 good to best feed 5s 6d to 5s Bd, medium to_ good 5s 3d to 5s 6d per bush<>l l«ack» «*£"£• Xo milling lines of wheat are oßenng. The few lots of fowl wheat coming torward find a ready sale at £««irfactory pnce6. The new crop of potatoes i* offerm? freelr. Good local grown lines are m n °' The, Auckland-grown tubers vary con«derablv. Best local grown are saleable at ■2\i per lb, Auckland from Id to . -d. "The chaff market is almost bare, aad all consignments have been clewed on ar rival Bright heavy oaten sheaf continues in better demand than m«lmui although the latter quality has been receivin<» more attention in vieW ,°* IfebSr" Bupplice. Best oaten sheaf is ouog it £8 5a to £S 10s, choico to £8 12s ba, medium to good £7 to £8, light coloured £3 10s to £6 15s per ton (bags extra). SOUTHLAND. (special to "the press.") INVERCARGILL, Januarv 17. Oats—The market is firm, there being barely sufficient .oats in store to carry °™r untU the new crop is harvested. Any grad would readily command 5s on trucks. .£? crops, although very backward, are progressing favourably, and given fine weather should yield fairly well. Chaff-Tho northern markets .being over stocked, it ia difficult to oS even at £9 10s, sacks in, ex-wharf. owing to the promise of large BuppUes r °® k so borough, the forward market is weak, so ssTuk. -1 <*•* -as» •&% than rise in vahie xn Southlan on quality is worth from £6 to A 6 lus, trucks at coimtry eidings. in ..Srfi. ; sft'sra? SSL""*!™? ~ as, at.-® x&'&Jrsru: good, heavy Kcd jlast reason ) less selling f at. jromfa 6d b Pota^J* m^c Sa"d°lJdOMtob^i being offered, in Bnwl q aud 4 d per lb, ss &«. <w Hemp—Th? mar* . Chalmers, is taking Suevic, loading at B tores. Ship--200 tons from the moto fre . ping opportunity 88 P that the surplus quent, and it - wa y to the Home stocks will soon fi«d station. BLENHEIM. (SPECIAL TO "THE "*»»"> V BLENHEIM, January 17. . v- * fresh, to flxid. to -13®* There ia k™® the- fitaute of the week's that £5 per market. 7* offered for chaff, ton in the etook lfl , . £ ne condition. r**v» ssi K. topA good deal 01 night, and without & S&sr m. b »s £ the condition of the pastures on the high country, where ihere>>W been some m r Ulity among tie larAba on account of the lack of feed caused by dry weather. AUCKLAND. (SPECIAL TO, "THE PRESS.") AUCKLAND, January 17. Potatoes —Heavier supplies axe coming in, and the market has become irregular. The under crop is amatter than usmd, but the yield is very heavy, and growers are j their output at once. There u.no in the South, as steamer communicaW at present, and the large quantity coming in haß decidedly weakewxl the market. Best quality are selling at lis, while lower grades are selling down %riona-The usual feature at Ais toe of the year is in evidence. G^wers^ rushing their onione into the market oeiore W Sit, moist. The quality 3 right, and'it only requires a haa keeps very_ firm in tie aw.flight. The ha-a &>ll been sold to arrive. inJ . Maize—The present quotation is 7e 10d to 8s on the wharf, in wholesale l^es. rSoff—Tha market is well supplied with ctifi? but the quaUty i> getting Several of th» consignments very xiregulM. indifierent, to hand lately naye uwu ■» . New Ans .gSLTi.ltaSaTU«irti« «• 1posaL CHEISTCHUBCH STOCK exchange. latest QUOTATIONS. Buyer*. Sellers. i £ a. d. £». d. BANKS— Commercial of Australia ... _ u per oent., cum- pref.) 6 9 0 — New Zealand (fl fe 8d paid) •• •• 15 5-° — "sffl 011 -.. .. - »T0 SHIPPING— Huddart-Parkor i.« 117 0 — FROZEN MEAT— N.Z. Refrigerating i.* 2 6 6 — CJOAL— "Weatport-Stockton 088 090 WOOLLENS— Kaiapoi >.< m — 710 0 GAS— , _ . Christchurch ww 513 6 — BREWERIES— Crown (cum. dir.) -...18$ — MISCELLANEOUS— Cant. Farmers' Co-op. (Timeru) .. .. — 216 0 N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. — 2 4 0 YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS ON OTHER EXCHANGES. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.) AUCKLAND. galea:—New Zealand Insurance, £11; Auckland, Gas Company, 19a 2d. MINING. ( NEVIS GOLDFIELP. The "Cromwell - Argus" haa reliable information that another claim on the Nevis goldfield, in addition to Gtaham and party, is winning eome remarkable returns. Soper who have a claim at the head of the Nevis, are said to be on very rich gold, nuggets of large size being obtained. Thia goes to prove the oft-repeated contention that the. Nevis is, and will continue to be, one of the I greatest gold-producing centres for many I years, aa far as the water supply will per- ' mit, all the available water being held by the parties now at work. With water available, mamiy other areas might be profitably developed. As it is, all the claims oa this field are doing well.