COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 599, 30 August 1909, Page 10

COMMERCIAL.

INVESTMENT SHAKES. Sales of Wellington Woollen at.£3 03. 6a , ., Lcy-land-O'Brion at 223., and Taranaki Petroleum wero.report)d on Saturday. Tho quotations were unchaniol Bank of New Zealand, buyers £9.45.; National Bank, buyers £5 95.. Bcllors'.-E5 125.; WellinGton Investment, sellers lla. 9d., Wellingtcn Trust and Loan, B«Ucra £7 2s. 6d.; N.Z. an! River Plate, buyers £1 Us. 6d., nollcrs £1 15a. 3d.; Foildinß Gas.'buyers £1 os. 9d.; I'almerstjn North Oas, Boilers £7 155.: National Insnrance, buyers £1 83. 6d.; Now Zealand Insurance, buyers £3 165.; South British Insurance, buyers £2 125.; Standard Insurance, buyers £1 3s. 3d.; New Zealand Shipping, buyers £7; Westport Coal, sellers £6. 11s. i Wostport-Stockton, sellers 75.; Loyland-O'Brien Timber, sellers £1 29. 3d.; Now Zealand Drugs, sellers £2 7s. 3d.; Taranaki Petroleum, sellers 11r. 6d.; Ward and Co., brewery shares, buyers £4 93. 6d., sellers £4 lls. ■" ■ .

THE IMPERIAL MINT. Tho annual report of tho Royal Hint for the year 1938 shows that tho work of the department was affected by the industrial depression that nucceeded. the great commercial activity of 1907. In all, 126,483,042 pieces.wero struck, as compared with 160,470,192 coins in 1907 . The value of the Imperial coins struck was £15,571,331, as against £23,198,378 in the previous yoar. Of the pold coin issued during the year all but £2,0C0,KO were sovereigns. The net profit shown by the Mint in 1908 was £560,728, an against £047,815 in 1907, and £499,048 in 1906. The. net profit on the silver coined was £594,291, and on tho bronze £89,608, against which must be sot the loss of £20,091 on worn silver and bronze coins withdrawn from circulation. The total 'number of silver coins issued durins tho year (excluding Maundy money) was 18,203,500, as .against 37,255,570 in 1907. Of these the number issued for circulation in tho United Kinsdom was 7,155,200, comprising 2,969.360 of the larger denominations (2s. 6d.. 25.). and 4.195,840 of the smaller (la., 6d.. 3d.), or 41.50 and.58.50 por cent, respectively. The issue of Imperial bronze coin in 19C8 reached the total of £155,580. a fnllins-off of £71.970 from the large issue of the previous year. Tho total weight, reached 360.2 tons, tho number of nieces was 46,675,2C0, of which 4.654.5C0 were farthings, and 75 per cent, of tho balanco were pennies.

•RAILWAYS IN AMERICA. In spite of the fact that 1908 was hardly a favourable year for commercial enterprise, there was n.n increase of 3900 miles in the lensth of railroads completed in the United -State.", matins the total : 532,0C0 miles. Passenger traffic showed a slight expansion, but the fnllingoff in the frcisht carried amounted to 200,000,000 tons. -alth-iuijh well above the record of years previous to 19C6. Oonsidenn.sr the heavy fallingof! in- freicht traffic, it is not nurprisini; that the carninira of the various lines durine ,tho year exhibit a decline when ■ takmi- in the aftrtreente. The total revenue of railroads operating 228 300 miles of line dropped by some £40,-' DC-O.CM. to £«2,000.CCn. -while net earnings Ml by £24,(100X00, to £K4,OCO.CM. Payments wore somewhat higher,, with the roenlt thn.t. the surplus for 1908 was, less by £25,000,000. The percentage of expenses to oarniDss worVud. out at 70.17 per cent, for 1908, as acainst 67.98 per cent. ■ in ' 1987. Interest. rates averaged 3.83 per cent., or , practically the same, but dividends'mode an average of only 3.50 per cent., as against 3.73 per cent. The' total yalno of. stock and bonds; representing approximately 'the cost of the road? V.nd: omiinment, stood af th* end' of 1908 nt. 53.447.000,000,- eoual to an obligation of JSIS.CCO rwr, mile of line. It vronld be interestinc to know how much "watered" Btock is included in the above figures.

' ■ FEILDING MARKET REPORT. Messrs. A. H. Atkinson and Co., Ltd., ofFcild-' ing report on Friday's market as follows:— There was a lareo yarding of both pigs and poultry, >nd a'keen all-round demand. Good well-bred lines of weancr piga were offered, and sold at up to 15s. Produce in. lame quantities was >bo -marketed, and potatoes, were'in considerably over-supply. Quotations:—Piss:—Weaners, 9e. 6d., l!s. 3d., lie. 6d., life. '3d., 13s. 3d., 14a. 153.; slips, 145. , 6d. to 185..'3d.: stores, 165.<d.' to. lJta. .3d.; porkers, 2fis. 6d., 30s. 6d., 325. 3d:, to !35.: empty sows, 265. to'29s.; to early profit, £2 69. 6d.. £3 65., to £3 195.: Poultry: Hens, Is. 6d., Is; 7d., Is. , 10d., to 25.; roosters, Is. lid., 25., 2s. 2d.,,t0 2s. 4d.; purebred. 2a. 5d.. 2s. lid., 3s. 6d., to 4s. 3d.; ducks;'2s. Id. to 2s. 6d.: eeese ?■•>; turkeys. 7s. to tin. ; quotations at per head. Produce: Potatoes, 6s. to 95.; eood sonnd s'c?d, 6s. per cwt.; onions, 3d.. per lb.; desftert ■apples. Bs.; carrots, 2s. 6d.; cauliflowers, 2s. 3d.; cabbage, la. 9d.; marrows, 2s. y.j onts, 2s. 3d.: wheat, 175.; pollard, 10s.; crushed barley, 95.; pig menl, 95.; bran, 65.; seconds rye. 6s. ,6d. per jack; heavy seed, 4s. 6d. per bushel.

• COLONIAL AND OTHER. PiIODUCEt , (I!y Teleerapb.—Preas.'Association.—Copyright.l | ! (Rec.> August 29, 5.5 p.m.)- . - . ' ! • London, August 28. ■ 1 Wheat.—The market is dull. Buyers are .in- ; active, though, holders are willing to ; accept;' reductions. .Australian afloat is quoted at'-41s'. jiL'-to (Sb:, and new crop at 38s. 3d. per quarter.'L ;L\nscedi oil .->at £27. .vsfev : 'Babbits.—The 1 itnarket is quiet; best Sydney3l. aro retailing at 14s. to 155.; "Victorians, at 13s. 6d::. ' . ' ■ v!Eabbitskins.—At the. Bales 2362 bundles jrero. and 2298 sold; best advanced from Jd. to .Id.; other qualities ; were fully up to late rates. .■■■",). .-j si -r\•' ' '.'Hemp.—Tho market is firm; but'prices are .un->. changed. Copra is quiet at about 7s. 6d. decline. . THE . METAL MARKETS. • . , . . ' Copper, spot, £59 6s. 3d.; 'three months', £60 ss. per ton. Tin.—Spot, £138 55.; three months', £139 ss. per ton. V. '•„.•! - v. . Silver.—Ear silver is quoted at 233 d. per ounco standard.' , : LONDON MARKETS.'' ' The New Zealand Loan und Mercantile.'Acency Company, Ltd., have' received the following cablegram from their London house under date August 28'"Frozen meat.—The market for mutton has slightly improved, and lamb- is steadier.; There is a fair inquiry for frozen'beef."