COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

THE SHARE MARKET. A fair business • was dono yesterday. Sales •■■of' Wellington Gas, £5 10s. paid, at £12 55.; Now Zealand Shipping,-at £i; Westport-Stock-ton Coal, at Bs. 9d.; and Leyland-O'Brien limber, at £1 2s. Gd., were reported. Bank of New Zealand shares were on sale at £8 Us. National Bank, buyers .£5 Is. 6d., sellers £5 2s. 9d.; Natioual Mortgage, bnyers £2 155., Boilers, .£2 165.; New Zealand and Rivor Plate, buyers £1 135., sellers £1 13s. 9d.; Wellington Gas, .£lO paid, buyers ' 15a.; National Insurance, 'sellers .£1 Bs. Gd.; Gear Meat, buyers .£2 10s.; Wellington Meat Export, £2 12s. 6d. paid, sellers ,£3 Is. 6d.; Now Zealand Shipping, - buyers 17s. Gd., sellers £7 2s. Gd.; Wellington Woollen, sellers £3;. Wostport-Stockton .Coal, buyers Bs. Gd., sellers Bs. 9d.; Kauri Timber, 15s. paid, buyers 14s. Gd.; LeylandO'Brien Timber, eellere M 2s. 9d.; New Zealand Drugs, buyers £2 Bs.; New , Zealand ' Paper Mills, Boilers w6l-25.; Taranaki Petroleum, buyers 7s.' 6d., sellers Bs. 6d.; Ward and Co., brewery shares, sellers £i' 175.. 6d. . . THE MINING MARKET. Sales of Talisman at £2 Gs., Waihi lGs., , Tairua Broken Hills at Is. 7d., were reported, The quotations were as under:— • Buyers. Sellers. Sales. £ s. d. >e s. d. .£ s. d. Wnihi G'd Junction 1 5 9 1 G G — Talisman ... ... 2 G 0 2 6 6 2 6 0 Saxon „. ... 0 1 9 0 1 11 — , Waitangi ... ... 0 2 10 0 3 0 — Waihi 8 1G 0 8 17 D 8 1G 0 N.Z. Crown ... 0 i 2 0 4 5 — Tairua Broken Hills — — 0 17 Big Rivet 113 0 117 0 .... — :■ GOLD HOARDING. . • Some of tho European banks added very largely to their gold roservo last year. The Bank of Franco increased its stock by ..£33,000,000, nnd in the first week of January gained .£1,188,000, making its total stock of tho metal on January 7 i£U0,717,000, which is probably tho greatest quantity of gold ever held by any ono institution in the world's history. In addition to gold, a sum of ,£35,320,000 was held in silver, and tho note circulation of the Bank, of Fraace was then JJ209.224.000. Tho Bank of Germany held £19,007,000 in coin and bullion, an increase for the year of .£13,798,000. The Swiss National Bank added .£1,680,000, tho National Bank of Belgium, .£926,000. Other increases were: Netherlands Bank .£775,000, Bank of Sweden Austro-Hungarian Bank ■£3,411.000, Bank ■• of Norway £45,000, Bank of Russia the total gold holding of this institution at the close of tho year being ' The Bank of Spain shows an in- .; ■ crease of £153,000, and the New York Associated Bwiks an increase of £15,902,000.. Tho ■aggregate figures of tho several institutions at • the close of 1908 .or in tho first week of January ■this year wore as under.— Coin and Bullion. • .£.• ■. Bank of England ... ... ... .. 31,172,000 Bank of France 110,717,000 Bank of Italy ... 42,143,000. Bank of Germany ... 49,007,000 Swiss National Bank ... ' 4,699,000 ' Bank of Belgium ... 6,350,000 '■: -Netherlands Bank ... ... ;.. 8,425,000 ' Bank of Denmark ... 3,884,000 Bank of Sweden 4,313,000 Austro-Hungarian Bank ...' ... 49,249,000 'Bank o£ Norway .... 1,747,000 Bank of Russia 107,893,000 Bank of Spain ... ... . 15,805,000 New York Banks ... ... '... ... 54,326,000 .- . £519,760,000 The -Bank of Spain held £32,423,000 in silver, and'tho Bank of .France £35,320,000. In the ■figures, given above a certain small proportion would be silvers ■' ■ , .'■''." : MANAWATU RAILWAY COMPANY. The balance-sheet of tho Wellington and Mauawatu Railway Company is to hand \ for ■ the year ■ ended February 28, and this is tho ; last of such documents to be'., issued. The directors, in' their rs- " port; "state:—"The. gross earnings of the,-rail-way from March Tjo December 6,1903 (at which -dato t.he Government took possession) was £128,242 3s. 2d. Land was sold during the year ■to tho value of-J511,772 10s., nnd the pnjy land ..now held by the 'company is seventeen 1 -' sections i;on Thprndon Qvmy, Wellington. T.he"Govern"ment, in accordance with tho Wellingtoixiuid Manawatu Railvray Purchase Act, paid the balance of purchase money (£415,000) in London, on February 27, and has also paid for all stores. ' The directors havo'now brought the affairs of. tho company, stage al; which.it is necessary"for them , to demit office." The balance-sheet shows assets amounting to. £513,187 95., of which £450,400 Bs. Id. is in cash. The liabilities, apart from shareholders' capital, nro sundry creditors £6263 Bs. 4d., nnd esticost or liquidation £2000. A first distribution is to be mado as soon as possible after the appointment of a liquidator, and it is not, unlikely that the first dividend will be £2 10s. per share, nnd as there aro 97,742 shares on the Wellington Register, and most of those ■shares rire held in . New Zealand, a som of about £250,000 should be set free for invest- ■ ment, and this should prove very helpful just now. If the assets realiro tho values at which they are appraised in the balance-sheet there should be sufficient to pay a dividend of Bs. or 9s. more.' Tho directors and manager (Mr. Hannay) of the Manawatu Railway Company have achieved a wonderful success both in the management of the railway and in the sale of 'the concern to the Government. FAILURES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. Last year, for the seventh time since the Deed of Arrangements Act in 1887, the number of failures . has exceeded 10,000, tho pre-vious-occasions being in ISS3, 1892, 1893, 1834, 1904, and 1905. Last year's business failures stalled 10,664, which falls short by 358 when compared with 1893, when the record of 11,022 failures was registered. There is an increase of 590 over 1907, and is mado up in England End Wales. In Ireland the total was stationary at 503, and in Scotland the number actually fell from 1250 to 1220. The grocery and provision trades supplied the greatest number of failures, these registering 2239, the drapery, silk, and woollen trades accounted for 1257, the building and timber trados for 1197, and the wine, spirit, beor, and tobacco trades for 640. As to v/inding-up of public companies, there was a general rise amounting altogether to 242, ' the figures for last year being 2278, as compared . with 20SG in 1907. SHIPBUILDING IN 1908. That "Lloyds Register" should show a greatly decreased output in tho shipbuilding industry of tho world during 1908 was onlj to bo expected, jn tho United Kingdom the production was 523 ships, of 930,000 tons, as against 841 ships of 1,608,000 tons in 1907; in the < colonies it was 119 ships of ai-,200 tons, as igainst 97 ships of 46,400 tons; and in foreign uuntries it was 7G3 ships of 870,000 tons, as (igainst 650 ships of' 1,121,000 tons. The grand aggregate for the year was .1405 vessels of 1,833,000 tons, as compared with 17S8 vessels of 2,778,000/ tons. Tho ; only nations which recorded a larger tonnage' wero tho French and tho Anstro-Hungarian. The United States built 170,000 tons less and Germany 67,000 tons less. The total tonnage launched is the smallest sinco 1837, when'the figures wcro 1,332,000 tons. . In the United Kingdom,. Glasgow ■ was responsible for the largest output with 237,300 .tons, Newcastie-upon-Tyjie coming second with IiiG.OOO tons, and • Belfast third with 153,500 tons. During tho term under review the tonnage of all nationalities totally lost or broken up amounted to 794,000 tons, thus mak- . ing the net increase of the world's mercantile tonnage about 1,039,000 tons in 1008 This addition to the world's transport by sea facilities, in conjunction'with tho enormous shrinkage in the volume of trade, explains the want of employment for bo many vessels at the present time. The featuro ( of the year's shipbuilding operations is• the .increasing number of vessels constructed to carry oil in bulk, 19.such boats, with a total tonnage of So,7B'i tons, having been launched. Another tendency that is be- . coming more pronounced is that of the largo Eizo of individual vessels. During 1908, 10 steamers of 10,000 tons and over were launched, and 12 more arc under construction, as against an average of five vessels of this tonnage built in tho preceding four years. ARGENTINE'S WAR LOAN. . Some interesting developments havo occurred in connection with the proposed expenditure by Argentina on war material. It appears that the French firm of Schneider, of Creusot, tendered, amongst other gun makers, for the supoly of artillery to the South American republic, but the contract was given to Krnpp and Co., of Germany. When the French Government was subsequently approached in regard to the introduction of the £10,000,000 loan by Argentina, the latter was informed that, according to resolution, Franco only facilitates tho migration of capital abroad and permits the admission of a foreign loan when tho borrowing State offers a return in the shape of support to French iudustry. Such inducement being absent in tho caso of the Argentine transaction, permission has been refused for its introduction into the French money market. Furthermore, it is reported that the French Government will prohibit tho quotation of all fu-

tnro Argentine loans on tho Paris Bourse in case the orders for guns and ammunition, amounting to from X 3.000.000 to JC3.500.000 aro not given to the firm of Schneider, of Creusot, There is a good deal to bo said for this solicitude in regard to native industries, and it seems not unreasonable th.it France should refuse to lend money for tho purchaso from Germany of guns that could be manufactured equally as well in French workshops. It is a pity that the objects for which loans are floated are not more closely scrutinised by investors. In this manner a judicious restraint could be imposod upon the warlike proclivities of more nations than thoso in South America, thus leading to a reduction in the world's expenditure on armaments generally. The Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to JJI77G 15s. sd. FRUIT AND PRODUCE REPOETS. Lacry and Co., Ltd., Wellington, report wholesale prices ruling on the market: — Wheat, fowl is. Gd. to 4s. 9d., broken 3s. 3d. to 4s. 3d.; oats, 2s. Id. to 2s. Gd., dun oats 2s. Id. to 2s. 3d., seed oats 2s. 9d. to 2s. 10d., Algerian seed oats 2s. Gd.; maize, ss. to ss. 3d.; crushed malt, Bs. !)cl; fowl barley, 35.; horse beans,.4s. Bd., all at per bushel; ricomeal, £5 to £5 55.; flour, N.Z., .£ll 10s., Australian i£lo 15s. to Jill; bran, £i 15s. to £5; pearl barley, .£18; peas, partridge, 4s. 9d., prussian blue Gs., fowl peas 4s. 3d., split .£lB 10s.; bonedust, *26; superphosphates, .£5 to £5 55.; guano, ,£4 10s.; chaff (oatensheaf), ;£3 10s. to £i; oatmeal, £10 10s. to 155.; new potatoes, £3 to £i 10s.; onions, £S; molasses fodder, ,£5 10s.; bacon, factory, sides 7Jd., hams 71., rolls Bd.; prime bulk butter, Bd. to BJd. Poultry: Hens 35., ducks 4s. to 55.; turkeys, gobblers 11s. to 125., hens 9s. to 10s.; fresh eggs, Is. Gd. to Is. 7d. per dozen; cheese, 6d. to 6Jd. per lb., loaf 7(1. per lb.; Akaroa machine-dressed cocksfoot 9d., farmers' dressed sd. to Gd. per lb.; ryegrass, 3s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. per bushel; Italian ryegrass, 35.'6(1.-to 4s. bushel; white clover, 70s. to 755. per cwt; red clover, 655. cwt.; cow grass, 655. cwt.; alsike, 82s. 6d. cwt.; mustard, 40s. cwt.; trefoil, 375. Gd. cwt.; rape feed, 2Gs. cwt. • timothy, 325. Gd. cwt. ; swede and turnip seed, 60s. cwt. Messrs. Griffiths and Co., Ltd., report prices ruling at yesterday's fruit and produce market as follow:—Potatoes, choice 4s. to 4s. 9d., priino 3s. Gd. to 3s. 9d., inferior 2s. to 35.; onions, Gs. cwt., for locals; cabbages, Is. per sack; cauliflowers, choice 4s. to 4s. Gd., inferior Is. 6d. to 25.; peas, 6s. to Gs. Gd. half-sacks; beans, Is. 3d. to Is. Gd., iOlb. bags; tomatoes, choice Hutt 2s. 9d. to 3s. 3d., prime 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d.; lettuce, choice'ls. 6d. to 25., poor Gd. to 9d., banana cases; plums, choice dessert 4s. to 55., prime 3s. 6d. to 3s. 9d., cooking 2s. 9d. to Ss. 9d.; apricots, none forward; peache.s choice desserts 6s. half-cases, prime 4s. to 55., stewing 3s. to 3s. 9d.; apples, choice desserts Bs. to 95., prime Gs. to 75..; choice green cookers, 4s. Gd. to ss. Gd., ordinary 3s. 9d. to is. Gd.; nectarines, 3s. to 45.; pears, choico W.B.C. Bs. 401b.. casss, prime 7s. to 7s. 3d., others ss. to Gs. Gd.; eggs, fresh Is. 7d., Is. Bd.; lemons, Bs. case; S.A. grapes, 11s. to 12s. Gd. per case; marrows, Is. 6d. to 2s. sack; beetroot, 3s. sack; pumpkins, 3s. to 3s. 9(1. sack; celery, 9d. to Is. dozen. A large volume of business was done in the Fruit Exchange yesterday, and on the whole prices held out well throughout the sale, and bidding was quite spirited for many lines of fruit offered.

[ Tho New Zealand Farmers' Coop. Distributing Co., Ltd.. report as follow?:—Maize, is. 9d.; wheat, whole fowl, is. Gd.; barley, feed, 3s. 3d.: barley, Cape seed, 3s. Od.; oats, 2s. 2d. to 2s. 3d.;. seed oats, dims, spMroirbills, gartons, Algerians, 2s. M. per bushel; oats, crushed, 2s. fid.; hay, £3 10s.: straw, .£2 10s.; pollard, £7 iOs.; bran, £5; snerosine, £1 per ton; linseed oil cake (genuine), 14s. per cwt.; primo oatensheaf chaff, £3 10s. to. £3 15s. per ton, , potatoes, blight free, £i;' onions, New Globe, £B 10s. per.ton; butter, separator, 9d. to BJd.; dairy pats, Bd. to Bid. per lb.; eegs, fresh, ls.Sd. per doz.; honey, GO's 5d., U's sjd.; bacon, factory, sides 7Jd., rolls B\i\., hams Bd. per lb.; porkers, 70's to 90's id. to 41d., 90's to lOS's 4d.; baconers, 31d.: choppers, heavy, 3d. per lb.; beeswax, Is. 6d.; fungus, 4Jd.; walnuts, 5(1. per lb.; cabbage, Is.; cauliflower, 2s. 6d.; carrots, table, 2s. per sack; green peas, Bd. per peck; rhubarb, .Is. per dozen; french beans, 3s. per part sack; vegetable marrow, Is. 3d. per sack; peaches, 3s. 6d.; plums, 35.; nectarines. 4s. Gα.; : tomatoes, 2s. Gd. to 3s. per half-case; apples, dessert, 6s. 6d.; apples, cookers, is. to ss. pet. case. Poultry: Table roosters, 3s. to 3s. 6<1.; .cockerels, 3s. Cd. to 45.; table hen5,,.25.;.6d. (o 2s. 9d.; ducks, 3s. 6d. to ss. -•or w , " '■• 'I- 5 '"■• "■ ' LIVE STOCK SALES. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report on their fortnightly salo held at Dannevirko yesterday a's follows:—Our entry comprised about 4000 sheop* and 100 head of cattle. There, was a large and representative attendance of buyers, and a complete clearance was effected of all sheep and all lines of cattle.with two exceptions. Mr. W. H. Gaisford's annual draft of 1200 five-year ewes sold, at 125.; I and 5-year ewes, on account of other vendors, 9s. 6d. to 10s.; small 4 and 6-tooth ewes, 11s.; 2-tooth ewes, 10s. to Us. , 9d.; woolly rape lambs, 7s. lid.; store- shorn lambs, is. 3d. to ss. 2d.; onlls, 35.; cull ewes, ■ts. 6d. to ss. 2cL; fat ewes, 9s. Gd.; fat lambs, 10s. j small 2-tooth wethers, Ss. Bd.; 2-tooth Lincoln rams (poor sorts), to ono guinea; Siyear steers, 925. Gd.; fat cows, 655. to 705.; yearling steers, 3"s. Gd.; Jersey two-year heifers in calf, GOs.; others, 515.; small weaners, 11s. * Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report on their Levin sale as follows: —An oxtra heavy yarding of sheep, consisting chiefly of aged ewes, met a rather dragging sale at auction, but most lines wero subsequently quitted. Cattle sold well, all lines changing hands. Wo rjnote:—Fat and forward ewes, 10s.; forward wethers, 10s. 6d.; aged ewes, Gs. 9d.; small 2tooth owes, 11s. 9d.; cull lambs, 4s. Gd.; small lambs, 55.. Gd.; Eomnoy rams, £1 Is. to 1J guineas; aged do., 10s. Gd. Cattle: Bullocks, £b; fat cows, £i 35.; forward cows, 195.; store cows, £2 6s. to £2 10s.; aged cows, £1 ss. to £2; springing heifers, ,£4 25.; 3-year heifers, £3 12s. Gd.; bulls, to £2.; cows in milk, £5; empty heifers, £2 ss. Dalgoty and Co. report:—At our Peilding sale yesterday there was a fair entry of sheep nnd a good yarding of cattle. We , quote:— Cull lambs, ss. 6d.; mixed ago ewes, 9s. 9d. to 10s.; aged Eomnoy rams, 10s. to 1 guinea; 2 and 4-tooth Southdown rams, 205.; store cows, 30s. to £2 55.; forward cows, to £3; mixed weaners, to ISs,; cows in milk, to ,£0 os.; i and 5-year bullocks, £a 17s. Gd. to £b; 2}-year steers, to £3 10s. Messrs. Abraham nnd Williams, Ltd., report as follows: —At Levin on Friday we had a full yarding of both sheep and cattle. Prices were slightly easior owing to the continued spell of dry weather, but a fair demand existed, and a good clearance was made' at satisfactory prices, very few lots being turned out unsold. Tho following are our quotations:—Fat ewes, 10s. 3d. to 10s. lid.; 2-tooth ewes, 12s. 3d.; small 4-tooth ewes, 10s. Bd.; s.ra. ewes, 7s. 3d. to 7s. Gd.; aged ewes, ss. to ss. 2d. A good lino of 300 forward wethers made 12s. id.; smalt wethers, 9s. 3d.; woolly lambs, 9s. 9d.; forward shorn lambs, 9s. 3d.; cull lambs, 3s. 5d.; 2-shcar Eomney rams, 21s. to 285.; fufc and .forward ballocks, £G 7s. Gd.; fat cows, M to .£5 155.; 21-year steers, .C 3 11s.; 18-months to 2-year steers, £2 9s. Gd.; springing heifers, £b; forward cows, ,£2 ss. to £3 45.; storo cows, 255. to £2; weaners, 13s. to 175.; small weaners, Bs.; bulls, J22 10s. to .£3 10s.; 2-ycar empty heifers, 365. Gd. to ,£2 ss.

Tho Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., report-that at Feilding yesterday they had a heavy yarding of sheep and a small yarding of cattle. Sheep wore easier all round, and buyers were not keen to operate. They, however, placed the bulk of their entries, vendors in most cases being inclined to accept the lower rates. Quotations:—Sheep, cull ewes, 2s. 3d. to 35.; aged owes, Gs. 7d. to 75.; 2-tooth ewes (small), Bs. 7d.; 2-tooth ewes, lls. Gd. to 13s. 5d.; 4 and 5-year ewes, 9s. Gd. and 10s. Bd. to lls. 7d.; lambs, 75.; 2-tooth wethers, 10s. 7d. Cattle—Fat and forward cows, .£3; cows and calves. £2 lls.; bulls, 30s. At Apiti on Tuesday about 1500 sheep came forward, and nearly all found buyers either at auction or privately after tho salo. Quotations:— Sheep: Ram iambs, Gs. Gd.; mixed lambs, Gs., Gs. 2d., 7s. lOd., Bs.; cull lambs, 2s. 10d., 3s. 9d., 4s. 9d.j mixed aged ewes, 10s. 3d.; full-mouthed ewes, Bs.; 2-tooth ewes, 12s. Gd. to 13s. 3d.; -l-tooth ewes, 135.; 2-tooth wethers, 9s. Gd. to 10s. Cattle: 2year steers, £2 2s. to £2 ss. Gd.; yearling steers, 16s. to 305.; mixed weaners, Bs. to 12s. 6d.; forward cows, £3 4s. to .£3 ss.

Mr. Newton King's weekly auction report,, dated March 4, is as follows:—At Urenui on Monday there was a full yarding of cattle, but owing to the continued spoil , of dry weather not a great deal of business wa3 done. Yearling steers mado .£1 Gs. Gd. to .£2 Is. Gd.; 18-months steers, £2 ss. to £2 95.; 2J- to 3J-year forward steers, £i 3s. Gd.; 4-year bullocks, JCS 55.; storo cows, £1 13s. to .£2 35.; forward cows, ,£2 18s. to £3 25.; fat cows. £3 Bs.. to 135.; springing heifers, £3 to £3 155.; empty heifers, £1 Ms. to £1 17s. Gd.; bulls, £1 3s. Gd. to ss. At Bahotu on Tuesilay weaners made os. Gd. to 135.; yearling steers, 305.; 18-inonths steers, £2 ss. Gd.; yearling heifers, 235. Gd.; store cows, XI 9s. to .i.2; forward cows, .£3 2s. to £3 45.; fat cows, £3 lfis. Gd.; fat heifers, £3 195.; bulls, .SI 15s. to .£2 10s.: f.m. ewes, ss. Gd. At Stony Kiver on Wednesday weauers mode 10s. to 13s. Gd.; yearling heifers, .£1 65.; sloro cowa, £2 Gs.; forward cows, £2 13s. to Is.; fat cows.

.C 3 lGs. to £i 55.; heifers in calf, £2 7s. to £2 Us.; springing heifers, £3 15s. to .£1 las.; ■1-year bullocks. £$ Gs.; bulls, £1 7s. Gil. to £2 12s. At Waiwakaiho on Thursday weaners made 10s. Gd. to 12s. Gd.; IS-months heifers, ,£1 13s. Gd.; store cows, £1 12s. Gd. to £2 35.; fat cows, £3 lGs.; forward cows, £2 12s. Gd.; springing cow's, £5 10s. to £6 55.; springing Jersey heifors, £6; 2-year steers, £3 25.; bulls, .£1 Ss. to £2 Us. WOOL, SKIN, AND HIDE SALES. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report as follows:—Wo held our monthly wool, skin, and Judo sales at Palnierston North on Friday, and had an average catalogue- to offer buyers. Bidding for woof and skins was fairly spirited and, whilst bidding for hides was not animated, still prices compare favourably with lato rates. The whole of our offering was sold with tho exception of one lot of wool and ono lot o£ calfskins. We quote:—Wool (bales), crossbred, sd. to s|d. per lb.; lambs, sd. to Gd.; locks and pieces, 2!d. to id.; dead, to 5Jd. Wool (bags), crossbred* fine, GJd.; crossbred, medium, sd. to 53d.; inferior crossbred, and black and dead, 4d. to 4fd.; lambs, did., 5d., to 6Jd.; pieces, 3Jd.; crutchings, 2Jd. to 3d.; locks, .21(1. to 23d.; skin pieces, Id. Skins: Lambs, sd. to Gd.; crossbred, fine wool, SJd. to Gd.; crossbred, dead and damaged, 2jd. to 4J<l.; quarter wools, 4Jd. to 5Jd.; crossbred, at per piece, Gs. 2d., average weight lGlb. Pelts, Is. Bd., 2s. 4d., 2s. lid.; lambs, Is. 3d., 2s. 3d., 35., 3s. 2d. Hides: Calf, 3Jlb. average, s>jd. per lb.; sJlb. average, from GUI. to 7}d. per lb.; yearlings, 4?, d.; ox. heavy, 6d., to G|d.; medium, to S^d.; light, to 5Jd.; cow, heavy, sjd. to Gd.; medium, sid. to sjd.; light, sd. to 51(1.; heifers, 5Jd. to sj>d.; steers, 4-Jd.; bulls, *4Jd.; stags, 4Jd. to sfd. Sundries: Tallow, tins, IBs. per cwt.; casks, 225. per cwt.; rough fat, 12s. Gd. per cwt.; horse hair, Is. 3Jd.; cow tails, Is. 2d. per dozen. LONDON MABKETS.' Dalgety and Co., Limited, report having received the following cable messages from their London house, under dato of March 4:— Frozen meat—Tho market is weak, but prices are not quotably changed, except for North Island prime crossbred lamb, which is occasionally Jd. per lb. lower. Tallow—More demand exists at unchanged prices. Hides —Prices are unchanged. Leather and basils—Prices are easier. MINING NEWS. TALISMAN CONSOLIDATED. Tho following telegram, dated March 5, lias been received irom tho Talisman Consolidated by the Wellington Stock, Exchange:—Number 12 level south, progress 40ft., reef 4ft. wide, values law; reduced water in shaft 13ft. WAIHI GOLD MINING COMPANY. [BY. TELEGUAPH—I'IIESS ASSOCIATION.) j Auckland, March 5. During the four weeks ended February 20 the Wai hi Gold Mining Co. treated 31,423 tons of ore for a return valued at ,£73,135. STOCK EXCHANGE. (DI TELEGRAPH—I'IIESS ASSOCIATION.) ,* ' Dunedin, March s*. The following Stock Exchange sales wore reported to-day:—Waihi Grand Junction, £1 Gs.; National Bank, £b 35.; Standard Insurance, £1 25.; Waihi, £8 lGs.; Stock Exchange Proprietary, £2 10s. DREDGING. (BI TEtEORtPiI—I'KESS ASSOCIATION , .) Dunedin, March 5. Dredging returns: Mystery Flat, 4Soz. 21 dwts.; Chicago, 3Goz.; Waikaia, 340z. 7dwts.; Masterton, 220z. 3dwts.; Central Chaiitou, 170z.; Kura, 15oz. Gdwts.; Charlton Creek, 150z.; South Waikaia, 9oz. sdwts.