COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 697, 23 December 1909, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

■■"'.-■. INVESTMENT SHAKES.. . : . ■ A'sale of Taupiri Coal at 18s.' was the only transaction recorded yesterday. National Bank, buyers £5 19s. 6d.; Kanitab!e Building, buyers £9 25.*,6 d.; National Mortgage, sellers £3; Wellington Trust and Loan, buyers £7 45.; .Wellington Deposit, sellers Bs. 6d.; Feilding Gas, buyers £1 Is., sellers £1 Is. 9d.; Wellington Gas, £10 paid, 6ellers £18 2s. 6d.; £6.155. 'paid, I 'sellers £14 55.; South British, buyers" £2 13s. 6d.; WelliDßton Woollen, sellers £3 4s. 6d.j Taupiri Coal sellers 18s. 6d.; Westport-Stockton, ■ Ecllers 7s. 6d.; N.Z. Drags, buyers £2 65.; N.Z. Paper Mills, 1 buyers £1 25.; - Saarland's. preference, bnyers '20s. 6d.; Ward and Co., 'sellers -£4;. Wcllineton Opera' House, sellers £7 17s. 6d. > •

,' IMPERIAL'; COLD STORAGE. The Imperial Cold .Storage and Supply pany, Limited, is having, a very unfortunate experience.. The company. has . iuet lost its ■ soit against the .Crown, .which was based- on 'alleged breaches of contract in. respect to tho supply of meat to the-British troops during the Boer War. The company's report for-the ■■ year.-- ended March 31, 1909, has just, reached (New Zealand/and is lar from satisfactory. In 11907. a debit balance of £14C0 was carried forward, in tho following year, this was increased (to £31,000, and'the operations,of the.past year I resulted in a further expansion of this 'debit ito £55,000. The trading oporatioßs of the company -show a loss of £71, exclusive: of provision ;for debenture interest amounting lo £23,932, ; makinc tho net result of tho company's operations for the year, an addition of £24,004 to tho oxisting debit on tho profit and loss account. The realisation, of-,tho' ordinary .shares-in the ILa Plata Cold Storage Company, Ltd., yielded ia' profit of £11,212, but , the.'directors; recognising that the debentures and' shares in Wridrpd: undertakings stand in ■ the'" accounts at-, 0. figure difficult of realisation ;-at-' ihel-'present'- time, have decided to treat this 'profit ns''a ; reserve against- the rcalisation'.vpf .'these:, investments. •Working expenses, salaries, and waee3 have Been materially reduced, and economies in ether directions effected where possible. ■■ Sincri tho. closing of the accounts tho -directors have further rednced their remuneration, , and; ponding moro - profitable trading results, a further 'cener.il reduction, of 10 per cent, in salaries and'wages has been effected. ~ ; . •.. .

;..,. .CANADIAN-AUSTRALASIAN SERVICE. ■. i:_Accordihß to mail advices, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Sir, Richard .Cartwrisht, the Hon. Fiel''dins, and tho Hon. w. Paterson had been waited 'upon by a deputation which ursed the Government to grant a subsidy of a quarter of o .million dollars for, threo 'years in aid of ' a ;troposnd lino of freight 'stoamera'to ply.to • Now Zealand and Australian jjortu'frb'nT Montreal, Quebec, St. John, and .-It was pointed out'that the bulk of Canadian ejports '■to New Zealand and Australia at the presont ■time =had to go.;,via. New ~York,...and-,that ■ thefacilities aro not what they' shouW-i^v.-'-Theee , - exports total four millions per and ithe shipping. riiifj ■ threatens lb' ; .-put-.-'upi'itlio' i rates.. It is proposed to commence the sorvico' jrith chartered 'steamers. ;■ The ;■ argument . w&i advanced that such - a f'ih'ev of. 'steamers' '.wouldI tend to develop vinter-Imperial trade. .Sir'-Wil-ifnd Laurier. promised'.thafH "the proposition 1 would-receive the attention, of,'the" Cabinet at' .an early date. ■',' r* ' v/. " '

■>'■ ! ' -■■■-■■ 'i'Mw' V :c ('•-•■•'•. ■-■. '.■: .-:■■■ ■ :;. ~;'■ • ... lin?ORT,: MARKETS. .' /■ . ■.: j Merchants report'-a very, -fair Christmas- trade, ;espcoiully with 'thoj'.country districts.-' The. .'city and .-Eubnrban"lwofaeoh niodfrate, and .not' :-in .any way -up/.tb. tne':level s ef 'previous-years.' Quotations are ;imchangedj—; : -- .. ;-. ■". '-.;■.■ ■Arrowroot.—St. ' - Vincent, .'^Bd. ,1 .per lb. ' - •'. '■! ■ ; Candles.—Tho Now v < SJealand' I 'Candle ''-Com.pany's . nuotations . ■:stand : ,i*'aßV-"foI16ff;—Pr«J ,'mier stearine 'and ctllve'fiiuiedal,-.!;'.Sd.'-i-yßrl-' tish , sperm, -r.;, , French..,': ['-■:■ sperm;' :', 1 .-univ'er-' sal ; wax, Excol?ip.r;.L'Vparaoin,' 53d.;' ' Apollo' sperm and ; Venus: pafalSn,,"6d.j Venus, coloured fluted, 6£d.; piano;.-bedroom, ; und'carriage sorts' in cardboard boiesi-'7ld.'; Tles? .the 'usual trade discounts. Price's; London:,£perm; lioz: 63d.. lioz 6id.; Uurma; ■ 16o*i:«ld; : -''-*- :■■■/-» 'S>< ■■ ;.. '■- Cornflour.— passing..-B. and.P ■ 55d. to" sid.i Johiason's^Jid:';':'Brown's,,)3d,;' Chk cago, |ZJd.; ■?lvKtio.tQ&;h{; ! S.ipZr\i\?.SS> , -\".~,* ''■ . Ooooa.—A steady^;,hand..to-n)outli ; 'i J ;buiiho3s ' is ; doinf; Van.:Houten's'?.rs;i'.3s.' ; ;'2d.;oJ's, r '3s. 3d.'i's, 3s. 4d.: per. lb , . , ;.!Bo.nsd6rp's, li 'l'fc''2s.''lod.: 2s. lid.; }'s, 35.;- i i:ry's;; : la!>;4id,iVßahia|' 2s. ■•lCd:' ■v Condensed 4s. 6(1.; Swiss Milkmaid,';6s."i6,d. ! ',tp.-6s;'-lld. ,! 'por'-'doi!'en. . Canned Meats;— Sheep" to 1 11s'.' for. I's; ox, tongues','-'.2J's,.3ls. (to/-34s.:;"'3's, -Ws: 1 ;to 365. per dozen; Gear'.6''assorted,.Opotted.jXs.'.Cd;; St. George's, sb. .. ; ~.'.■;.■ . ; .■;'■',.'■.■.■.;■■.■"■'•;.'.",■.. Carbonate of Soda,; 9g.'6d: ;to, lOs.'v ■''.' ; - :.>'", . Orcam of,tartar,:9di tb'-Wd.' v: ,, :. 1 '■;'•;',■;■'>■;. ..Canned Fish.—Herring 'iu tomato ■sauce, Ts, 7s. to'-7e.'6d.';;i's, : -45'.."6d. : to--:5s.V kippered herrings, I's, 75.:6 d. .to ,75..-9 d.; 5'b,.45.-,6d: .to'ss.;' fresh herrings, I's.t 6s':. to 6s:".6d.;v,lob3ter,C.and B, jib. tins, 14s. 6d.t615g.j salmon,: salad, medium' reds, lib, tails, : Bs.;6d. v tb',9sl ;'vlib. flats;" 95.--to ,9s. ■6d.i silver, llb..,ttats,-.55.; Golden'.-Ijink.'Sockeyo, •llb.taUs, 10s. 6d.;Vllb. flats. 11s.; Southern, Cross! lib., 6s. 6d: Horringle'ts.jn .oil,;'Benator Brand, Bs,' .to Bs:.6d-; in tomaCb-ledocp,".Bs.vto:''Bs; ; 6d.;'6arMinea, Skipper* Jib. tins, , :ss; to-5s; V 6d. ; ; i's>9s.'9d'>to 10s.;. "King 'Edirard'/.Vj's; ! .4sV.'9d.jLtq-.55;;.-j's,. Bs/ i5,d.; ljug, , Smcthurst'.brand,'is 'makrng,sss. .to-665. , •per oivt. ' : •".:■'-< , . : r : :i';;'i"^v , -^v ; ;'.-'■■: Fruits.^-Thb : < demand vis ! :'-6t«idily.- ex- , '.fl'anding'with the'. , advent of ;warm'wpaihor,' , tho" .'quotations aro un4hange.d.'at'\B'S.'6d.".td.. ; l2s. 6d.'. ; ','■ Ohampagno.—ln ■•:■ w*itinß-'''.bii '-'the', , champagne' vintage, 1909,. under.' date.llhoims.v.October'W.-jdr. Charles Heidsieck -.'states'.'that ~;tho~. yintage commoncedbn.Sep tembe'r '28afld'continuo(lto Octo-" ber 12, during time rain fell. Tho vintage, therefore,, was gathered under most disastrous '■ circumstances,. with the result that tho qilality will, be unsatisfactory, and the Quantity small. .This;is all,the more to be regretted, aa tho last lear'a vintage had to be' classed as a, very' ordinary year. The -W's, as- anticipated, is giving great satisfaction;, the.,wine, has developed sufficient body, a pretty bouauet, and lnucn.llavcur. The 19u6"s is maturing splendidly; : Uried Fruits.—Thoro is a scarcity of nearly all lines, and quotations are more or less nominal. .-■-. Currants, finest provincials, 3d.; -Amalias, -3d. lb.; lib, cartons,. 3s. 6d. . per': dozen; sultanas, selected, 3sd.,' choice, 4d.,'.-"golden (in bulk) 4d., lib. cartons 4s; 6d. per. dozen; dates, in bulk, 2id., in cartons. 3s 6d. per dozen; figs, natural, in bags, 3d.; seeded raisins,. fancy lib. packages ;;4e., choice per dozen; muscatels, Malaga, 10d. : , >pcr lb.; prunes, 3d.' to 3Jd. . : :'■•■ '.- ' , ' A recent report written by an American ViceConsul at Valencia: gavo the following account of this season's muscatel grape crop in Spain: —Muscatel grapes in this region, now rapidly approaching maturity, present a healthy appearance, and. as they havo altogether escaped the dreaded heat waves-of early July, thero is a-prospect of a full- average'crop of excellent quality, estimated at 30.000 tons, against 26,100 tons actually harvested last season. ' The .outlook, is not at all en. couraging for growers and exporters: Farmers in the Denia district still havo some 1500 tone of old. raisins, 6alee of. which are difficult even at.the low, price's of eight to ten pesetas in bulk and unclassified. Raisin crops in the rest of Spain . and in other Mediterraneancountries, also promiso a full average yield in every case in excess of prospective requirements; •.■ ■ ■"■ : '.'-■''■ ■.-■■■. Evaporated Fruits.—Apricots, 7jd. to 8d • peaches, 7d.; pears, Bd.; apples, Bd. -.'." Gingor, preserved,. 7Jd. per lb. Infants' Food—tieave's, 9s. ..9d.; Allan'arid Hanbury'e Nos. 1 and 2, 175.; No. 3, 10s 6d ■ Bengor's, 175.; Eoblnson's patent groats and baj! ley, 7s. 6d. Neave's milk food, 6d;; NcstlpV milk food. 17s. 6d... .- .-■ '- , ; " cß " ea :Jam—New Zealand l's, 3s. 6d.'to. 45.'6 d.,' . Knifo iPolish.—Nbiy's,-4s. 6d.; Okcy's, 5a 3d Maizena.—Duryea's, 6jd. '• Mustard.—Coleman'e D.S.F., Vβ. Is. 5d tn-in fid-;-' I's,' la. "31d. to Is. 4d.; Durham, 71b. tins 7d. to 7Jd. *•■'■:''■■>".■ .'-,■ . '

•Matches.—Plaids,'3s. Bd. ; to 3a. 9a. a grosspenny .slides, Bs. 9d. to 9s. 6d.; safeties, small' foreign, 3s. to 3s. 6d.;,Bryant and May's, small' •45.'6 d.;. large,. Vβ. 6d; The Australian match In-" diistry ia;about to receive a largo addition in the new factory'of Bryant and May, Dell , and Co. Proprietary, Ltd., which has just been reEntered in Melbourne. ■•' The company's factorv is at.Kiohmond.i and is said'to be one of thn most up-to-date of its kind, and when in full swing will" employ many, hundreds of hands Tho official opening tool; place recently and work is expected to commence early in January.' The directors of tho new company aro Mr. J. M. Joshua, chairman, Messrs. II 1? Parsons, E. W. B.' Mackenzie, 0. li. ■ Eartholo mew, -F.,.:W.:..Philips .(Messrs.; Philips and Pike Sydney). ■ -■ v .. ' _ • ' ' ' ■ ■ : .' '.'-.Nuttncgs, Is. to Is. 2d. per It.. -... .-. : Pool.—New Zealand lemon, lid. to Ed ■ brnnee. 5d.-to-61d.;. Imported, lomon. 7's, 5Jd.; oranee 5Jd.; citron, Is. to Is. 2d. «»nge, ■:Picklcß.—Morton's hexagon. 10s. 6d., round !9o M. iV bt dozen; Captain Whlto's, 235. 6d.' Ga?' Sttlt.-Piae, 711).;bftg8, Sβ, M. to (s.'M, per owt.i

bags,-3s. 6d..t0-45.; coarse, in owt. bags, 3s. to ?s. Gd. per owt. ■■..'■ Bauecs.-L. and P., 1-pints. 14 3 . 'to 14b. 6d.; pints, 2js. to 255. 6d.;Holbrook'a, i-pints 7s 6d : pints, .10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d. : Oarton's, j-pints. 7s! 6d.; pints, 10s. 'to 10a. 6d.; Jiaglo brand (K Z) i-pints, 2s. 9d. to 35.; pints, ss. 6d. to 6s. ' Starch.-Colman's, lib. boxes, 5Jd. to 53d.; 51b packets. sd. to:6Jd.; Now-Zeamnd, lib. boxes 38a to 395. per owt.; 61b. packots, 37e. to 38s. per owt ' Stovo Poliah.-Nixey's, 2s. 6d.; Iteckitt's. 3s. pet dozen. w T Buga.r.-1A and N0..1, 56's, £17 10s.; No. 2, £17; No. .3, £16 per ton. . . Tapioca.—Pearl and llake, 15s. to 15s. 6d.j-seed, lss. to 14s. od. Vinegar.-Frenoh, 6s. 6d. to 75.. 6d.; Champion, Bs. 9d..t0 95. ;. Colonial, 4a. to 4s. 6d. Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £3141 6s. 3d.

WELLINGTON MAHKET REPORT. Messrs. Laery.and Co., Ltd., Wellington, report wholesale prices ruling on the market.Wheat, fowl, 4a. Bd. . to 4s. IOd.; feed .? /{ 2s ' ¥■ to 2s - 6d.; dun oats, 2s. 4d. to 2s. 6d.; seed oats, 2s. 4d. to 2s. Bd.; maizs,4s. to 4s. '&•'• crushed malt, 7a.; fowl barley, 2s. 4d. to 2s. on.; Cape barley, seed, 2a. 6d. to 2s. 9d ; dour ?'" Zealand £11 ss. to £11 iOs.. Australian £12 ss! to £12 10s.; bran, £3155. to £4; pearl barley. 15b. ; po f- s ." r,? rusßlan blue . ss. Jd! , to ss. 6d.; split. £1710s.; boncduet,£slss.: superphosphates £5 to £5 53.; pollard, £4 15s. to £5. IDs.,' basic Bias, £4 10s.; chaff. oaleu-ehcaf £3 ss. to •£3 155.; oatmeal, £11 to £li 10s.: potatoes, old table, £4 to £5; potatoes, new, £7 to £7 10s. per ton; Tictorian onions, 9s. owt; molasses fodder. £5; bacon, ■ factory, sides 73d.. hams BJd., rolls Bjd.; butter, prime ,bulk, Bd. Poultry: Hens. 3s. to 3s. 6d.; ducks, ss. to 'ss. 6d.; geese, 6s. to 83.; lurkeys gobblers, : 18s. ■- to' • 205.; hens. 10s. to Ka.; fresh eggs, Is. 'Id. to- Is. 2d. dozen; cheese, 53d; to 6d., per lb.; loaf, 7d. to 7id. per Ib.; Aliaroa' machine-dressed cocksfoot, 73d. to Bd.;-. farmers' dressed cocksfoot, sd. to 6d. per lb.;. ryegrass, 3a. 9d. to As. 6d. per bushelItalian ryejrass, 3s.' 6d. to 4s. 6d. bnshel, white clover, 70s. to 753. per cwt.; ■ red clover. 755. per cwt.; ,cow, grass, 755. cnt.; aliike 82s. 6d. ent : muatard. 405.. cwt.; rape seed, 265. cwt.; timothy. 323. 6d. cwt.; Sirede and turnip Beed, 50s. to 60s OWL . ' . ' DUNEDIN GRAIN MABKET. - .

.' IB> TeleErub-Preu Asaoclntloll.r' ' ' . ,'■ Dunedin. December 22. The oat market is in. a quiet state. Orders are not coming to hand freely, and offerings are light, so that any volume of business is at present out of the question. A fair local trade in small lines is- being done-at quotations:Prime milling, la.-9d. to'la. 10d.; good to beet .feed, Is. 7d. to Is. Bd.; inferior to medium, la. ;4d. to Is. ' iji. per . buahel (eaoks ■ extra). Wheat:-There is .a fair demand for all prime lots. offering, 'but, as. tho Quantity on offer is small, sales arc restricted. ,. Fowl wheat is in moderato supply, and has good demand'. Prime milling, 45. , 4d. to 4s. 5d.; medium to good, 4s. 2d. to 4s. 3d.; best whole fowl wheat, 3e. Ud. to 4s. Id.: medium to 3s. M. to 3a. 9d.; broken and damaged, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 3d. ricr bushel (saclis ■ extra). , ". BRITISH-NEW ZEALAND M. AND P. CO. . ' lUx Tolcffraph—Presa Aj|acla«toD.l. ■ ,:

Chrlstchurch, December 22. v The fifth annual report and balance-sheet (foir ton months ended.October"3o) of tho British-New Zealand Meat and Prodnco Company, to .bp presented at the annual meeting on January 5, .states that tho balance at credit of profit and loss account amounts to £3520 17s. lOd, which the directors consider very satisfactory, and recommend that it be dealt with as .folilows:—tn payment of dividend, at tho rato of 8 per "cent, per-annum, £1230"125.- -5d.; in paymenti,tff balance of preliminary .cxponaes, £1000; in reduction of patent rights :i of.svdefroster. ,£682 Os".' Sd.; carry forward".balahcei^, : £6oß ;55.; total, £3520 17s. 10d."' , Tho-Veppft"iaddß!,that i ,'tho steady and substantial growth'. 6f:'-*.hb company's business, .which has iricrca'Bed-.;duruig..-thc year under review more : than'-100-per- cent.," i3 : matter for-congratulation.;.'., ■■<..-;.•' : '.'■■■■'■ ' ':