COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 465, 25 March 1909, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

THE SHARE MARKET. Thero was again a fair amount of business reported, and tho week promises to bo quite a record one. Sales of Wellington Investment at lis., Westport Coal. at. £6 45., and LeylandO'Brioh Timber,at £1 2s.'Gdw.wero reported. For National Bank shares there,were bids:of £5 35., sellers'wanting a shilling '■: more. Building Society shares were in better demand. . Squitable Building,' buyers £9 2s. 6d.; Welington Investment, buyers Us.; Wellington i'rust and Loan, buyers '£7, sellers £7 2s. Gd.; Wellington Deposit,. sellers 95.; Auckland Gas, buyers £13 17s. 6d.; Wellington Gas, £10 paid,, buyers £17; now issue, buyers 19s. premium; Gear Meat,'£l paid, buyers £2 10s.; Meat Export, £2 12s. Gd. paid, seUers £3 Is. 6d.; Now Zealand Shipping, buyers £G 195., sollers £7; Leyland-O'Bricn Timber, sollers £1 2s. Gd.; Now Zealand Paper Mills, buyers £1 Is. Gd., sellers £1 25.; Now Zealand Portland Cement, sellers £1 155.; Manning and Co., brewery shares, sellers £3 13s. THE MINING-MARKET.'■' Moro activity was shown in this markot, and6ales of:' Big River at £2 25., Talisman at £2 4s. Gd., and Waihi at £9 Is. 3d. and £9 Is. were reported. The quotations were as under:— "- Buyers. Sellers. Sales. * ■• £s. d. £s. d. £s. d. Talisman ... ... 2 3 9 2 4 0 2 4 G Waihi '.. 9 0 0 '9- 2VO ' 9 1 3 Big River ...>... 2 3 0 - 2 2 0 Blackwater 1 2 0 . — — Cons. Goldfields ... 013 6 — . i ■—. : v ; EMU BAY RAILWAY. Tho report of tho Emu Bay Railway Co. for;, the year ended December 31 shows that after ' providing £10,000 for debenture interest, £10,370 for "rent of lino and foreshore," and £2590 for depreciation, there was a net profit of ' £129 G. This, with the amount brought forward from tho previous. year, left: £1541-available, which the board decided to. carryforward. Tho. preference shareholders received £8750 in dividends for 1907, but no distribution will -bo made, on account of tho operations during 1908. The gross traffic receipts for the last three years wero:—l9oß, £57,056; 1907,. £65,657; and 1908, £60,169. Tho net profits were:-1908, £1296; 1907, £10,671; and 190G, £8190. The Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £2706 13s. ■\ ,IMP.ORT MARKETS/: . - ....; The new.trading month opened yesterday, and merchants report a fair business; retailors finding it necessary to sort'up lines which they have allowed to. run down. Values of import lines are', pTactically without change. Arrowroot—Doherty's J's and l's, 3Jd. to 4d. per lb. - bag 'BJd., square 7id.;■ Colman's and Keen's, square and bag, vjd.; Empire, 6d. Candles—Tiio New Zealand Candle Company's quotations, issued December 19, are :— Premier's stearino and five medal, 5Jd.; British sperm, Trench sperm, Universal wax, Excelsior paraffino, 6(1.; Apollo sperm and .Venus paraffine, 6Jd.; Venus coloured fluted, GJd.; piano, bedroom, and carriago sorts, packed in 'cardboard boxes, 7Jd.; less the usual trade discounts. Price's London sperm, 160z., 6Jd. ; 140z., 6Jd.; Burma, 160z., GJd. Cornflour is meeting with fair salo. B. and ¥~ 5Jd. to 5Jd.; Johnson's, Brown's, 3d.; Chicago, 2Jd. Dried Fruits—Currants, finest, provincials;, 3d. per lb.; cleaned Amalias, 3Jd.; lib. cartons, 3s. 6d. per doz. Sultanas, selected 3}d., choice 4d., golden 4Jd. to 5-id. per lb.;.lib. cartons, 4s. 6d. per dozen. Dates, bulk, 2Jd. per lb.; cartons, 3s. 6d. per dozen. Pigs, 12oz. glove boxes, ds. 3d. per dozen.. Pigs, lib. layers, ,4Jd.; 51b. naturals, sd.per lb. Seeded raisins are slightly lower, fancy lib. packets 45., choice 3s. 6d. per dozen. Muscatels,. Californian, s's boxes 6d., JO's Sid., 20's 4jd. per lb.; Malaga, sJ*s at lOd. per lb. : Mildura Sultanas.—lt is now definitely known that thero will be none of this fruit available for export, supplies being insufficient to meet . Uio Australian-demand. '--.

Lexias—The Mildura crop is now being gathered, and'is expected to bo very light. This does not affect the New Zealand market to any extent, as the trado here is mostlyj.in.seeded raisins. '' ■' ,

Kaisins.—As indicated somo weeks ago, tho reduced' prices for Californian seeded raisins advised by cable have now been confirmed by mail. Stocks purchased at the higher prices are rather large, and there is keen cutting in the retail trade. Holders aro making losses on this line. Canned fruit meets with slow sale at Bs. Gd. to 12s. Gd. Evaporated fruits, such as apples, apricots, and peaches, make from 7Jd. to Bd. per lb. Cocoa—A steady, hand-to-mouth business is doing. Van Houten's, l's, 35.. 2d.; f/s, 35.' ! 3d.; l's, 3s. 4d.per lb.; Bensdorp's, Is., 2s. lOd.j'i's, is. lid.; i's, -35.; Pry's,' Is. 4Jd.; Bahia, is. lOd. . -~ Condensed Milk.—Highlander, 55.; • Cowslip,. 4s. Gd.; Swiss Milkmaid, Gs. Gd. to 6s. lid.'per dozen. ........ „..".- ..,..,..«.,:...>, Canned Meats.—Sheep tongues, 10s. Gd. to lis. for l's; ox tongues, 2i's, 31s. to 315.; 3's, 31s. to BGs. per dozen; Gear's assorted, potted, 4s. 6d.; Bt. George's, ss. ...... Canned Tish.—The'Lenton demand continues,' and all classes of fish aro selling freely. Her-, rings in tomato sauce, l's, 7s. to 7s. Gd.; i's ,4s. Gd. to 55.; kippered herrings,' l's, -7s. Gd. to 7s. 9d:; i's,- 4s. Gd. ■to 55.; fresh herrings, l's, • Gs. to 6s. 6d.; lobster, C; and 8., Jib: tins,, 14s.' Sd. to. 155.; salmon, salad, medium reds, lib. tails, Bs. 6d. to 95.; lib. flats, 9s. to 9s. 6d.; •silver, Jib. flats, 55.; Golden Link, Sockaye, lib. talis, 10s. Gd.; lib. flats, lis.; Southern Cross,' Jib., Gs. 6d.; herringlets, in oil, Senator brand, Bs. to Bs. 6(1.; in tomato sauce, Bs. to Bs. Gd.; Jardines, Skipper, jib. tins, ss. to ss. 6d.; i's, 9s. 9d. to 10s.; "King i's, 45..9 d.' to '55.; i's, Bs. Gd.; ling, Smethurst brand, is making 555. to 565. per cwt.; codfish, in 21b. blocks and strips, is meeting with fair inquiry. Chemicals.—Cream of tartar, 95 per cent., 9d.. to 9Jd., 99 per cent. 9Sd. to 10(1.; tartaric ncicl,: Is. 3d., per lb.; soda crystals, £ti 10s.; bicarboii-' ■nte of soda, J!10 10s.; calcium carbide, .£ls to .BIG; bluestone, £32, 10s.; whiting, £i 15s. According to the "Glasgow Herald," trade pros-1 pects in chemical products have gradually improved, although business in the early part of January was restricted. Consumers have since been more disposed to bny owing to the growing impression that better times *re near at hand. Increasing demands can, however, be Teadily mot by a larger outpat, which was reduced last year. A satisfactory business has lately been put through in heavy chemicals on •home and export account, and tho tendency in this department is very steady. White powdered arsenic has been selling more freely at higher rates. Lead compounds have been firm, in sulphate of copper, in which a large business has been transacted. Manufacturers, although well booked ahead, have had to readjust their terms in.view of tho sharp fall in tho metal, the price in Liverpiol for prompt delivery being below .£2O per ton,' Tho demand for glycerine has been brisk and prices have been raised considerably. Tho value of crude material is very high in consequence of the scarcity, but the output has now been stimulated. Inquiries for refined glycerine, however, are still very keen and deliveries belated. Crude carbolic acid has been weaker with a dragging sale, and large supplies are in existence. Solvent naphtha has been' qnieter, but- creosote is very firm. Prussiatcs of potash' of soda attracted more demand, and are somewhat dearer.

Mustard.—Fair sales. Colman's D.S.F., J's, Is. 5Jd. to Is. Cd.; J's, Is. 3id. to Is. id.; Durham, 71b. tins, 7d. to 7Jd. Matches.—Plaids, 3s. Bd. to 3s. 9d. a gross; penny slides, Bs. 9d. to 9s. Gd.; safeties, small, foreign, 3s. to 3s. 3d.; Bryant and May's, email, is. Gd.; large, 7s. Gd. Nutmegs, Is. Gd. to Is. 9d. per lb. Peel.—Lemon peel is reported scarce, and further supplies from Messina will not reacn this market until June. For lemon 7's the quotation remains at s{d.; orange, Gd.; citron, Is. per lb. Pickles—Morton's hexagon 10a. 6d., round 12s. Gd. per dozen; Captain White's, 235. 6d.; Carton's H.P., i-pints, 12s. Gd.; pints, 225. Gd.; pure pickles, 9s. Gd. to 10s. Rice.—No. 1, lGs.; No. 2, 15s. per cwt. Salt.—Fine, 71b. bags, ss. Gd. to Gs. Gd.; cwt. bags, 3s. Gd. to 45.; coarse, in cwt. bags, 3s. to 3s. Gd. per cwt. Sauces—L. and P., J-pinta, Us. to 14s. Gd.; pints, 255. to 255. 6d.; Holbrook's, J-pints, 7s. Gd.; pints, 10s. .Cd. to 10s. 9d.; Gorton's, jpints, 7s. 6d.;- pints, 10s. to 10s. Gd.; Eaglo brand (N.Z.), i-pints, 2s. 9d. to 35.; pints, ss. 6d. to 6s. Starch—Colman's, lib. boxes, 5Sd. to 5Jd.; 511). packets, sd. to 5Jd.; New Zealand, lib. boxes, 38s. to 395. per cwt.; 51b. packets, 375. to 38s. per cwt. Tapioca.-Seed, Ids. Gd.; pearl, 15s. Gd. per cwt. Sugar.—The market is steady, with a good demand. 1A and No. 1, sG's, JGIG 155.; No. 2, •Elf. 55.; No. 3, .£ls ss. per ton. Vinegar—Midland Red Hock, quarts, Bs. Gd.; Champion, quarts, 9s. Gd.; Red Seal, qnarts, 45.; Midland concentrated, Boz. bottles, lis. Gd. per doz.; concentrated, sgal. casks, 9s. Gd. per. gallon; pure malt, 28gal. casks, 2s. 3d. per gallon. Tea—Mr. R. H. A. Gresson, speaking at tho annual meeting of tho Tea Traders' Association, in Calcutta a short time back, said that the question of tho issue of qualified bills of lading for shipments by tho lines to Australia, raised at tho. previous annual mcoting, had been fully .discussed with tho steamer agents and the port commissioners, and it was sati&.

factory to know that matters wero now working much moro smoothly. Tho committee had asked all agents to impress upon their managers tho necessity of exercising tho greatest care with their hoxesv- Mr. P. W. Howso said that ho had much less troublo with the steamer agents, who wero now willing that unsound packages should bo specified as such. They did not qualify overy package as formerly, but >rhon necessary made a. remark on tho bill of lading to the effect that so many packages nad been repaired and gunnied.

WELLINGTON MARKET REPORT. Messrs. Laery and Co., Ltd., Wellington, report wholesale prices ruling on tho market:— Wheat, fowl 4s. 7d. to 4s. 10d.; feed oats, 2s. Id. 1 to 2s. 4d., dun oats 2s. Id. to 2s. 3d., seed oats 2s. 9d. to 2s. 10d., imported algeriau seed oats 2s. Cd.; maize, ss. to ss. 3d.; crushed malt, Bs. 9d.; fowl barley, 35.; horso beans, 4s. Bd., all at por bushel; ricemeal, ,£5 to .£5 55.; flour, New Zealand £1110s., Australian .£ll 55.; bran, £4 15s. to £5; pearl barley, .£l6; peas, partridge 4s. 9d., Prussian blue Cs., fowl peas 4s. 3d., split £18 10s.; bonedust, £6; superphosphates, £5 to £5 55.; guano, £i 10s.; chaff, oatensheaf, £3 10s, to .£4; oatmeal, £10 to £10 £10s.; new potatoes,-£3 to £i 10s.; onions, £5 to £0; molasses fodder, £5 10s.; bacon, factory, sides 7}d., hams 7Jd., rolls Bd.; primo bulk butter, BJd. Poultry: Hens 35., ducks 4s. to 59.; turkerys, gobblers lis.' to 125., hens 9s. to 10s.; fresh eggs, Is. sd. to Is. 7d. per dozen;, cheese Gd. to 6Jd. per lb., loaf 7d. per lb.; Akaroa machine-dressed cocksfoot, Sd. to BJd., farmers', dressed Gd. to 7d. per lb.; ryegrass, 3s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. per bushel; Italian ryegrass, 3s. 6d. to 4s. bushel; whito clover 70s. to 755. cwt., red clover Gss. cwt.; cow grass, 655. cwt.; alsike, 82s. Gd. owt.; mustard, 40s. cwt.; trefoil, 375. 6d. cwt.; rape 265. cwt.; Timothy, 325. 6d. cwt.; Swede and turnip seed, 60s. cwt.;' danthonia, Is. 4d. lb.

. PROPERTY SALES. Messrs. J. H. Bethuno and Co. held a property auction at their rooms yesterday afternoon, when there was a good _ A freehold property in Walter Street, comprising land with a frontage! of 33 feet by a depth of 66 feet, - having six-roomed house, two-stalled stable, and washhouse thereon, i was sold at £545, the purchaser' being M. A. Thew. A property at Johnsonville, comprising 17 acres of land, with six ; roonied dwelling, was submitted, but not reaching tho reserve was passed in, and is now in the hands of the auctioneers for privato sale. A third property at ICarori was to have been offered, but was withdrawn before tho auction. Messrs. Hudson and Marriott, Ltd., report having held,a fairly successful sale of Levin town sections on Tuesday evening. The largo Century Hall was crowded when Mr. T. A. B. Hudson submitted the property known as the Railway Reserve to public auction. Tho Hlook was purchased recently by Mr. B. R. Gardener from tho W. and M. Railway Campony for the sum of £650. Mr. Gardener had it. surveyed and subdivided into forty-fivo sections. The bidding throughout. the sale was brisk, although the vendor's reserves were not reached in many cases. Eighteen sections wero quitted at prices varying from £1 to £4 10s. per foot, the sections disposed of realising £1651. There, are twenty-six sections unsold, and we hope to quit a good many during the'next day or two. Mr. Gardener presented Section 24 to tho borough for a library site.

SOUTH CANTEEBUEY GEAIN MARKET. Messrs. G. S. Meredith and Company report on the South Canterbury grain market, as follows :—Wheat: This week rain. fell in great quantity, and put a 6top to threshing operations. Most of the stook-threshed grain is now disposed of, and some of the threshing machines have pulled in. Large quantities of stook-threshed grain was found unfit for milling when sent forward, and, as rejections on account of the soft nature of the gTain were taking place, growers are now waiting for the grain to matnro in the stacks before threshing. The market is, however, a little easier. Quotations are about the same, but the demand is less. Kuling prices are:—Prime milling, 3s. Sd. to 3s. 10d.; sacks, Sid. at country stations, according to quality. A nice parcel of 2500 sacks of velvet was taken by a southern miller at 3s. IOJd. at a country station, less agents' brokerage. Oats aro not offering very freely, no doubt owing to the low prices ruling. Quotations are:—Sparrowbills, gartons, and Canadians,.ls. sid. to Is. Gd. f.o.b.si.; duns and Danish, Is. sd. to Is. 55d. f.o.b.s.i. Potatoes: The' demand for potatoes has increased this last week, and some big orders from 1 the North Island have been taken. . The potatoes are turning out in excellent condition, only Up-to-Dates and white early potatoes are ready. Derwents will not be on the market for another month. Quotations aro:—Prime table TJp-tb-Dates, £2 17s. Gd. to £3 f.o.b.s.i. Chaff is now offering freely, but there aro not many buyers. Auckland is offering £2 15s. f.0.b.5.i., March-April-May delivery, and contracts have been taken on at about this figure. ,The quality is good, but the price is too low to enable extensive business being done. Straw: Baled wheaten and oaten, 30s. to 325. Gd. f.o.b.

STOCK EXCHANGE. Cut tzleqeaph—pbiss association.} Dunedin, March 24. Stock Ejfchange sales :—Hartley and Riley, 265. 9d.; No Town Creek, lis. 3d.; Portland Cement, 345. 9d. ' GRAIN AND PRODUCE. tilt TEDiaiUM—rBBSB ASSOCIATION.) - Dunedin, March 24. Oats: The market remains on a par with last week. Offerings of tho new crop aro now heavier, but as yet no great quantity has been put on the market. Prime milling, Is. 5d.; good to best feed. Is. 4d; to Is. 45d. j inferior to medium, Is. 2d. to Is. 3Jd. per bushel, sacks extra." Wheat: Millers are ready buyers of primo lots at late values. To-day values are from 3s. lOd. to 3s. 11M. per bushel, on. trucks, according to quality and leng_th of fail. Fowl feed, 3s. 9d. to 3s. lid. , ' AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE MARKETS. (Bf TILEOUAPIt—I'RCS3 ASSICI I THIN—COI'TIIIGRT.) Sydney, March 24. ' Wheat, 4s. BM. to 4s. 9d. Flour, ill. OateAlgerian. 2s. 2d. : t0,.25. 4d.; white, 2s. 4d. to 2s. sd. Barley—Cape, 2s. Bd. to 2s. lid. Maize, 4s. 3d. Bran, £i 10s. Pollard, .£5. PotatoesTasmanians, £-i 10s. Onions—Victorian, .EG; New Zealand, .£5 ss. to £5 15s. Butter, 90s. Bacon, Bd. to BJd. Melbourne, March 24. Wheat, 4s. 7d. Flour, .£lO ss. Oats—Algerian la. lOd. to Is .lid.; milling, to 2s. 3d. Maizo, 4s. 3d. Bran, lljd. Pollard, is. Id. Potatoes, £2 10s. to £3 10s. Onions, ss. to £5 10s. Adelaide, March 24. Wheat, 4s. sd. to 4s. Gd. Flour, ,£lO ss. Bran, Hid. Pollard, Is. 2d. THE METAL MARKETS. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION— COFTEIGHT.) London, March 23. Copper—On spot, £56 55.; threo months, .£57 Gs. 3d.; electrolytic, ,£57. Tin—On Bpot, .£129 55.; threo months, .£l3O 17s. Gd. ■ Lead, £1Z Is. Gd. per ton. WHEAT. 181 TBt.SOBAPH—rBIS3 ASSOCIATION—COPYHIOnT.) London, March 23. Two cargoes of Australian wheat sold at 395. 9d. and 40s. 3d. per quarter respectively. SHARES AND DEBENTURES. (DI TELEdKArH—MISS ASSOCIATION-ttll'TKlGflTj London, March 23. The following are tho latest quotations for bank 6hares and debentures:—

„ , Buyers. Sellers. Bank. ,b 8 . d. £s. d. Australasia 101 10 0 — Union 61 10 0 — National il7 6 5 2 G New Zealand ... 910 0 10 0 0 New Zealand Loan and Mercantile-Agency G'o.'s debentures are quoted at £%. . LONDON WOOL SALES. Inr TBLKGBAFn—ruiss association—coptiuobt.) London, March 2,1 At the wool sales there was good competition and hardening prices. ■Messrs. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report having received tho following cablo message from their London house undor dato March 23:—"Wool sales continue firm, and latoly-recorded rates are fully maintained." Messrs. Murray, Roberts, and Co. havo received . tho following wool market cablegram from their London agents, Messrs. Sanderson, Murray, and Co., dated March 23:—Tho market shows a hardening tendency. Compared with our last cablegram merino shows par to 5 per cent, advance, and flno crossbred 5 per cent, advance. Compared with tho close of the January sales superior greasy merino shows no change; coarse crossbred par to 5 per cent, advance, and medium crossbred 5 to 7} per cent, advance.