COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 459, 18 March 1909, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

WELLINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE. The Exohange /was closed yesterday; for holi-: day on account of' its 'Wing St, Patrick's Day,' The Customs revenue colleotod at Wellington yesterday amounted to J53912 4s. 2d. IMPORT MARKETS. .

Merchants. report, a fair business. It is not pretended- that trade is as active as it was, . but it is as good as can be expected. There is ample evidence that people are economising, • and merchants and retailers are rather encouraging thisthan otherwise. . I. Arrowroot—Doherty's i's and I's, 3id.'-to id. per lb. Blue—lteckitt's bag SJd., ■. square 7k1.; Colman's and Keen's, square and ibag, 7Jd.;'Em- ' . pire; Cd. i Candles—The New Zealand Candle Company's quotations, issued December 19, are:— Premier's stearine and five medal, sjd.; British , sperm, French sperm, Universal'wax, Excelsior paraffino, Gd.; Apollo sperm and Venus parafline, G}d.; Veiius (coloured fluted, Gjd.; piano, bedroom, and carriago sorts, packed in oardboard boxes, 74(1.; less the''uiuiil'trade (lis-' counts. Price's London sporm, 160z., CJd.; lloz., CJd.; Burma, • 160z., CJd. Cornflour is meeting with fair sale. - :B. and P., 5Jd. to 5-id.; Johnson's, 2}d.; Brown's, 3d.; Chicago, 2Jd. Dried Fruits—A restricted trade is passing the demand being affected by the largo supplies of fresh fruit. Currants—Latest information from London respeoting tho market for currants stated that there was ;'an underlying feeling that a great deal of the business going,through was being, done at needlessst'loss to.-' holders,v,when' the.firmness of- tho Greek .miirket was 1 , taken into:,' consideration,. coupled. witfr-' the excellent' quality of] the fruit. ' Stocks at Homo were being steadjly drawn upon, however, and there wero no signs of any . niaterial-i shipments .'in the immediate'future, so that those who refused to sell at current values would probably obtain improved prices diroctly the cheap lots were cleared out, as the demand, although good,'indicated that no section of the trade was buying for more than immediate requirements/ Sultanosr-Selected.'-Sld. r choice," •td: ; ,golden, 4]d. to sid. per lb. . Dates, in bulk. 2}d. per lb.; in carton, 3s. 6(1. per dozen. Figs, 12oz. glove-boxes. 3s, 3d.; 111b. layers,. 4Jd.- por lb.; 51b. naturals, sd. per lb. ■ Seeded raisins, fancy lib packets, 4s. per (lozep; choice, 3s. Cd. per dozen. ITiiscatels, Californiaa," 5 s," fid.V 10's, 5Jd.; 20, ,41d._ per lb. ' Canned fruits meat.with slow sala at Bs. Gd. to 12s. Cd; , Evaporated fruits, snch as apples, apricots, and peaohes, make from, 7Jd. to Bd. per lb. Cocoa—A steady, hand-to-mouth business is doing. Van Houton's, l's, 3s. 2d.;"i'si 3s. 3d.; i's, 3s. <id. : per lb.; Bensdorp's, Is. 25.>10d.;, }'s, 2s. lid.; , i's, 35.; Fry's, Is,: 41d.Bahia, 2s. lOd. '.

Almonds—The British Vice-Consul at Bushire' (in a report on tho Persian almond crop) stated that thero was a fall in tho 'exports from that centre of 6400cwt., including 2500cwt. les3 to the United Kingdom. There were large stocks on hand in tho interior, both'of 1507 and 1008 crops, the;foriner quoted in Chiraz at 9J to 10J krans (3s.' ; 9d. to 4s. Id.) .per' Shiraz man of 7.381b., and the latter to 10 to ll krans (3s. lid. to 4s. 2d.), both of which were waiting for better London prices. An ! ndvanco from Palermo stated that after the period of absolute inactivity which followed tno earthquake, a rapid advance had taken place. Reports from abroad showed that while Sicily had been shut out from the rest of the world, foreign buyers had been'frantically trying to lay in stocks of almonds, and to replace the contracts which they had made with Messina houses, and that their hasty, demand had driven tip prices in all producing . countries,' bnt moro especially in Bari. As soon as telegrams rsached Sicily the demand from abroad also bcc»me most urgent, and as. the general market was already very, stroig, especially, among growers and holders in the'interior, prices had advanced rapidly, but business had been disorganised by irregular telegraphic communication. Mildura' Sultanas-Reports from Australia are to the effect that the crop is lighter than was expected, and that there is no likelihood of any of the fruit being available,for export. ■ Canned Tisli—The Lenten demand continues, and all classes offish are selling finely. Herrinl"! in tomato sauce, l's, 7s. to 7s. Gd.; Js 4s. Gd. to 55.; kippered herrings, Is, is. 6(1. to 7s. 9d.; i's. 4s. Gil. to 55.; fresh herrings, Is, Gs. to Gs. Gd.; lobster, C. and 8., 41b. tins, 14s. 6d. to 155.; salmon, salad, medium reels, lib. talis, Bs. 6d. to 9s.rilb. flats, 3s. to 9s. Gil.; silver, lib.' flats, 55.; Golden Link, Sockaye,-llb. tails 10s."Gd.; lib. flats, lis.; Southern Cross, llb'Gs. 6d.; herringlets, in oil, Senator brand, Bs. to Bs. *6d.; in tomato sauce, Bs., to Bs. Bil.j sardines. Skipper, ilb.' tins, 9, , - t s ' 9s. ,9(1. to .10s.; King Edward, Js. 4s. 9d. to i J3 'Condensikl Milk.-Highlander, 55.; Cowslip, 4s. Gd.; Swiss Milkmaid, Gs. Gd. to Gs. 11(1. per Heats.-Sheep tongues, 10s. Gd. to lis. for l's; ox tongues, 2J's, 31s. to 345.; 3 to ■363. per dozen; Gear s assorted, potted, 4s. btt.; St. George's, ss. • . , Mustard.—Fair sales. Colinan « D.&.1 is, •Is. 51(1. to, ; ls. Gd.; i's,: Is. 3lu. to Is. 4d.; Durham," 7lb. tins, 7d. to 71d.. Matches.—Plaids, 3s. Bd. to 3s. 9d.< across; penny slides, Bs. 9d. to 9s. Gd.; safeties, stna , foreign, 3s. to 3s. 3d.; Bryant and May s,-small, 4s. Gd.; large, 7s. Gd. ' ; • Nutmegs, Is. 6d. to Is. 9d. per lb. Peel—Lemon peel is reported scarce, anil further supplies from Messina will not renrn this market until June. For lemon 7 s the quotation remains'at sid.; orange, Gd. j citron, Is., per lb. 1 . , Pickles—Morton's' hexagon . 10s. Gd.. round 12s. Gd. per dozen; Captain- White's, 235. Gel.; Carton's H.P., 5-pints, 125.. 6d.; pints, 225. Gd.; pure pickles,;9s. Gd: 'to 10s. ■" Rice.—No. 1, IGs.; No. 2, 15s. per cwt. Salt.—Fine, 71b. bags, ss. 6d. to Gs. 6d.; cwt. bags, 3s. Gd. to 45.; coarse, in cwt. bags, 3j. to 3s. Gd. per cwt. ' Sauces—L. and P., 1-pints, 14s. ;to 14s. 6d.; pints, 255. to 255. Gd.;. Holbrook's,' J-pints, 7s. Gd.; pints, 10s. Gd. to 10s. 9(1.; Carton's, 1pints. 7s. Gd.; pints, 10s. to 10s. Gd.; Eagle brand (N.Z.), J-pinfe, 2s. ; Dd:'to.'3?.;;pints,',s' 6d. to Gs. ■»

Starch. —Colman's, lib."- bdxe.v 'McK'to 'S^d.; 51b. packets,' sd. to s]d.; New Zealand, lib. boxes, 38s. to 395. per cwt.; 51b. packets, 375. to 395. per cwt. Tapioca. —Seed, lis. 6d.; pearl, 15s. 6d. per cwt- N . ... , ~. Sngar.—Theimftrkct 'is scady, with, a. good demand. 1A and No. 1, sG's, .CIC 155.; No. 2, jClfi 55.; No. 3. -Clo ss. per ton. Vinegar.—Midland Tied Hock, quart's, Bs. 6(1.; Chamninn, quarts, 9s. Gd.; Red Seal, quarts, 1 45.; Midland concentrated, Soz. bottles, 11s. Cd. per doz.; concentrated, sgal. casks, Ps. Gd.'per gallon; pure malt, 28gal. casks, 2s. 9(1. per gallon. ■ Chemicals—Cream of tartar.-95 per cent., 9d. • to 9.M., 99 per .cent. 9.[d. to 10d.;. tartaric acid, • Is. 3d. per lb.; sod;i crystals, .C 5 10s.; bicarbonate of soda, .£lO 10s.; calcium'carbide, -GIG- to £16; bluestone, ,€32 10s.; . whiting, M 15s. . . Tea;— Ceylon advices continue to report a firm market. In'their annual'l'eview, Messrs. M'Meekin and Co. stated that Java teas had. made more progress within the year than any other growth. The total exports from Java, for the year ended June 30 last amounted to 82,742,0001b., against 24930.0001b. for the previous twelve months. The quality also'showed improvement, and an increased consumption was experienced on the large markets ,viz:— Great Britain, Ireland, Holland. - Russia, Persia;' trad-Australia. The trade in- those through London has made little progress on the average of recent.'years, but they are so cheaply laid down at the outsorts that they no'V form a considerable proportion of'the trading in certain centres, thus seriously restricting the possibilities of business'in other erowths. ' It is shown in the statistics that the British'homo' consumption showed an increase of nearly'so per cent. in .five years. The reports ■ of-mar-mellously cheap 'labour, unusually rich soil, heavy yields, and consequent low . costs of production have attracted attention to tho desirability of the island as a field for investment in tea-growing, and names .hitherto identified with tea-productions \ in ; British'" dependencies only are now becoming associated with Java production. This may be. in individual self-defence, but any largo : development 'in that island cannot, fail to affect prejudicially India and Ceylon, and may lead to a recurrence of the outcry for protection for a British industry, formerly so frequently raised against China tea. WELLINGTON MARKET REPORT... , Laery and Co., Ltd., Wellington, report wholesale prices ruling on the market;— Wheat, fowl is. 7d. to is. lOd.; oats, 2s. Id. to 2s. 6(1., dun oats 2s. Id. to 2s. 3d., seed oats'2s. 9d. to 2s. 10d., imported Algerian seed oats 2s. 6d.; mair.e, ss. to ss. 3d.; crushed malt, Ss. 9(1.; fowl barley, 35.; -horse beans. 4s. • Bd., - all at per bushel; ricemcal, ,£5 to .£5 55.; (lour, N.Z. ill 10s., Australian Jill; bran, £4 15s. to <65; pearl barley, <618; peas, partridge 4s 9d., prussiau blue 65., fowl peas 4s. 3d., split .£lB 10s.; bonedust, <66; superphosphates, £5 to £5 55.; guano, £4 10s.; chaff (oatensheaf), <63 10s, to £4; oatmeal, ,610 10s. to jEIO 155.; new potatoes, <63 to £4 10s.; onions,. .£5 .to? <60; molasses fodder, <65 10s.; bacon,"fact,oryj side 3 t 7id., hams- 7}d.; rolls Bd.; primo bulk'butter, BJd. Poultry: Hens 3s„ ducks 4s. to 55.; turkeys, gobblors lis. to 125., hens 9s. to 10s.; fresh eggs, Is. sd.'to Is. 6d. per dozen; cheese, 6d. to 6Jd. per lb.'; loaf, 7d. per lb.; Akaroa machine-dressed cocks-

foot fld.,' farmers' dressed fid. to 7d. per lb. j ryegrass, 3s. 3(1. to Is. Cd. por bushel; Italian ryegrass, 3s. Cd. to 4s. bushel; white clover, 70s. to 755. cwt.; red clover, Cos. cwt.; cow grass, Cos. cwt.; alsike, 82s. Gd. cwt); mustard, 10s. cwt,; trefoil, 375. Gd. cwt.; rape seed, 2Gs. cwt.; timothy, 325. Gd. cwt.; swede and turnip seed, GOs.'ctvt.; dantho'lia, Is. 4d. lb.

SOUTH CANTERBURY GRAIN MARKET. Messrs. G. S. Meredith and Co., Waimate, report on the grain market in South Canterbury'as follows: Wheat—The local market for wheat during tho last week has remained firm. Sales have been made of mixed lines at 3s. Sd. to 3s. 10d., sacks extra, on trucks, country; stations, according to quality and proportion of velvet lines contained. Tho latter is particularly scarce. Farmers have a strong opinion of the market, and, having stacked their wheat, are now' asking'is!, and show no anxiety if they cannot get tho money they ask.' Oats are not offering in large quantities, possibly owing to the very low prices ruling. Growers, say that they cannot lose much. Prices are:— Sparron'bills, gartous, and Canadians, Is. 3d. to Is. 31d. on trucks; duns and Danish, Is. 2d. to Is. 2iid. on trucks. Barley—Malting barley, 2s. lOd." to 3s. 3d; feed .barley, 2s. 3d. to 2s. Cel., at country stations. Fowlwheat has changed hands at 3s. Bd. to 3s lOd. f.o.b. sacks in. Chaff—ln sympathy with oats. Oatensheaf chaff has dpcliued, and is selling at.£2 15s. to ,C 2 17s. Cd. f.0.b.5.i., according to quality. Potatoes show a little decline, but good sound tubors are scarce, -Prices aro:—Prime Up-to-Dates, £2 15s. to .£2 17s. Cd.; f.o.b.s.i. StrawBaled wheaten and oaten, 30s. to 325. Cd., f.o.b.

. , ' GRAIN MARKET . (BY TKLEOBAI'U—MESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, March 17. Oats.—A large number of samples of new season's grain are coming forward, 1 but there •is little demand for export, or local use. Quotations:—Prime milling, Is. lid. to Is. 51d.; good 'to best feed,i Is.'id.- to Is. .4Jd.; inferior to medium',-Is. 3d.'to Is. 3Jd. per bushel, sacks extra. , AVheat— New. season's samples aro arriving in.' fair numbers, and are rapidly sold at 3s. 9d. to 3s. lOd. a bushel on trucks at country estations. Quotations:—Fowl wheat, 4s. to 4s. .•ljd. .for whole, 3s. to 3s. 9d. for damaged, sacks extra. LONDON WOOL SALES. PRICES FULLY MAINTAINED. (BY TELEGEAra—rKESS ASSOCIATION.) London, March 18. At the wool auctions there was good sale and competition. Prices were fully maintained. The following aro the average prices realised for the ileeco portions of tho clips named:— W.D.' Did., Titi Did., Hiku 10>d.

Dalgetjr and- Company, Limited, report having received • the fpllowing cable message from their London house, under.date of March IG: — "Wool sales .continue firm,'and lately reported rates are .fully .mnint lined. The third series are to'open',on May 4,'.' and are limited to 150,000 bales net" near arrivals, provided: that quantity. be reachcd before the eighth , day prior to the opening of the sales.- No wools arriving after that date will be admitted." Tho New Zealand' Loan and Mercantilo have received ths following cablegram from their London house, under yesterday's dale:—Wool: Third series has been arranged to commence May 4; list to be closed eight clear days; limit, 150,000 bales. As compared with last soles' closing rates, prices are higher about 5 per cent, for crossbred scoured, scoured merjno, and .crossbred sli£a; about 5 per cent, to 7J per cent, for greasy merino; about par to 5 per cent, for merino lambs and coarso greasy crossbred; about 10 per cent, for crossbred lambs; and about 7i to 10 per cent, for medium ami fine greasy crossbrcd. The tone of tho market is firm. Messrs. Levin and Co., Ltd., have received a cable from their agents in London advising them of tho following sales of wool at the sales now on. Tho prices mentioned represent the average realised for the' fleece portion of tho clips sold:—John Kebbell, Ohau, Bjjd.; J. 11. Cameron, Masterton, 7 11-lGd.; Abbott' Bros., Pahautanui, 7 13-lGd,; Est. J. Groves, Masterton, 9d.; James Miller, Masterton, 7|d.; O. R. Robinson, Foxton, Bd.; C. Wagland, Masterton, Sid.; G. F. F. Hutton, Featherston, Sd.; F. Moore, Wanganui/ b'd.; J. -A. M'Dougall, Piriuoft, 8 11-lGd.; Mitchell Bros., Longburn, 8ld.; W. Hume, Featherston, 95(1.; F. Shaw, Masterton, 9id ; ; F. C. Death, Wanganui, 7d.; S. W, Peel, Wanganui, 7 5-lGd.; Sutton Bros., Nelson, 7Jd.; John Batty, Blenheim, Bd.; P. Morrin, Blenheim,' BJd.; Duigan Bros., Wanganui, 7Jd. Messrs., Murray, Roberts and Co. have received cabled advice from their London agents, Messrs. Sanderson, Murray and Co., dated March 16, that tl'.o third scries of wool sales, commencing on May 4, have been limited to 150,000 bales. '

, . THE METAL MARKETS, (nv Titr.EGium—runs!) association—corrnroHT.l London, March 16. Copper—On spot, .£s'. IBs.; three months, <£55 12h._ 6(1.; electrolytic. .£56. Tin—On spot, JE12.0 2s. Gd.; three months, •-£l3O 12s. 6d. BANK SHARES. liiy TtLiiciurn—ntEss associatu>:i—coi'YitiaiiT.) ' London, March 10. . The following aro tho latest quotations for bank shares:— • Buyers. Sellers. Bank. . . £s. d. . £s. d. Australasia 105 0 0 '107 0 0 Union ... 62 0 0 — Nation ll ...■ 4 17 6 5 2 6 New Zealand ... ... ... 910 0 10 0 0 \ r ' . ADVANCE IN WHEAT. (ni TELEGRAPH—PItJJSS ASSOCIATIOS—COPTIironT.) London, March IG. Wheat has advanced sixpenco per" quarter. Thirteen thousand livo hundred quarters of Australian January-February shipment sold at 395. 9d., and a cargo at 393.

AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE REPORTS, (lit TEr.EtillArH— I'BESa association—copyhiuiit.) • * , : 't 1 Sydney, March 17. The breadstnfis market is firm. AVheat— Buyers oifer is. GJd. and sellers want -Is. 7d. Plour has advanced to .£lO 10s. Oats, while, 2s. sd. to 2s. fid.; Algerian, 2s. 3d. to 2s. 4d. Baricy—Cape, 2s. 9d. to 3s. Alaize, 4s. Bran, <C 4 10s. Pollard, <£'5. .Potatoes —Tasmanian, J!5 10s. Onions—Victorian, £7; New Zealand, .Ifl 10s. to £7. Butter, &6s. Bacon, Bid. to 9Jd. Melbourne, March 17. Wheat, is. s}d. to 4s. (id. Hour, .XlO. OatsAlgerian, Is. 10(1. to 2s. Barley—English, good, is.; Capo, 2s. 7d. Maize, -Is. 3d. Bran, lljd. Pollard, Is. Id. Potatoes, 10s. to £'i 10s. Onions, ,£6 ss. - • .. Adelaide, March 17. Wheat market firm. Sellers want 4s. -l.'.d. Flour, <C 9 15s. Bran, Is. Pollard, Is. 3d.

. . ; ..GISBORNE SHEEP EXPORT. (DI.TELEOIUPII—FRES3 ASSOCIATION—COPrRIGUT.) Gisborne, March 17. Tho export of sheep to Canterbury luis, been very brisk lately, 17,300 having been exported. This year's export of frozen meat is going to be a record one. The Gisborne Sheepfariners' Company's output is 90,000 ahead of the same period last year.