COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 736, 8 February 1910, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

' ' . INyESTMIiiNT SHAKES. Thero isVaVgoed demand for investment, shares, at-current pfices, but except a, few odd parcels'.of .Wellington Oas. shares none are' procurable, yesterday s sales consisted , of National Bank, at £6 3s„. and Taranaki Petroleum at 10s. Bank of Now Zealand, buyers £9 125.; National Bank,' sellers £6 45.; Wellin'iton Invests ment, buyers lis., sellers lis. 6d.; Wellington Trust and Loan,.buyers £7 25.; Wellington /Deposit, sollers Cfi.;) National Mortgage. buyers £-3; New Zealand and Hivcr Plate, buyers .£1 15s, 6d.; Wellington . Gas; £10 paid,•'sellers ' £17 155.,. £6 15s. paid, sellers £14, new is6tie, sellers £3 premium; Christchurch Meat, buyers. £11 7s. 6rt.; New Zealand Shipping, sellers £7 155.; Wellington* Woollen, buyers £3 -:2s. 3d., sellers £3 3s. 6d-i Westport Goal, sellers £5 65.,-cum

div.: Westport-Stockton, buyers 75., sellers 7s. 2d.; D.LO., preference, sellers £l-2s. 6d.; Kauri Timber, buyers 155., sellers 15s. 9d.; Lcyland-O'Bricn Timber, buyers £1 '3s. 3d.; New Zealand Consolidated Dental, sellers £1 3s. 6d.; New Zealand Portland Oomcnt, buyers £1 18s. 9d.; Sharland's preference, buyers £1 Is. 6d.; Taranaki Petroleum, buyers 9s. 6d., sellers 10s. 6d.; Wellington Opera House, sellers, £7-17s. 6d.; Whitcombe and Tombs, buyers' £4 17s. 6d. WESTPOET COAL COMPANY, The balance-sheet of tho Westport .Coal Company for the year ended December 31 shows that tho profits for the year, after providing for bad and doubtful debts, depreciation, and all charges, including cost, of tho Millerton fire, amount-to £30,414 145..2 d., to which must .be added the sum of £10,166 19s. 6d. brought forward from the previous year, making available a total of £40,561 13s. Bd. The dividend for the year, 7s. per share, and bonus of Is. 90..per share, together absorb £35,C00, leaving £5581 13s. Bd. to. bo carried forward. Tho profit an* loss account Bhows profit on . steamers, hulks,. depots, etc., £16,683 Bs. Id., profit on' coal account, after pro. Tiding-for debts, depreciation and cost of mine fire, £25,414 Bs. 6d. The cspcnscß of. management amounted to £4459 16s. 6d.-, rates and taxes,'£6os4 19s. 2d.; and contribution to accident, fund ■ under Coal. Mines Act, £1168 7s.' The assets of. the company include property, £317,085'45. 3d.-, sundry debtors, £80,945 6s. 3d.; bills receivable, £1066 ss. 2d.; investments, £30,275 12s. lOd.; sinking' fund, "£30,000; and cash, £30,394 ss. Ltd. ". ! :> .' RIVER PLATE , MEAT COMPANIES. The. River Plate meat companies are invariably held up as offering a model for similar concerns in New Zealand. We are assured - that the ' River Plate companies combine and regnlate shipments and fix prices,'and work their markets U> tho advantage .of the'producers. There is,' of course, very little truth in all this. Their combination, such as it is, is detrimental to the producers. Tho River Plate companies do not freeze on owners' , account, the farmers are thus compelled 'to hold' :their stock or. accept the prices offered by the companies. In New Zealand .farmers can ' havo-and do have'lots of 70,.'80, or

100 head of sheep and lambs frozen and shipped on their account, and sent to any aiwnt they: may desire. The multiplicity

of brands through thia , causes a great deal of trouble to the shipowners,- and often these small'parcels como into com* petition with large lines and break prices. New Zealand farmers would never tolerate what the Argentine farmers, have to put up . with. It is possible' for tho , Bivei Plate companies to have a buying combination, but it is apparent that they havo no . selling combine. In the 0.0. and D. Company's meat circnlar» dated December

10, sunder the head of South American mutton, there appears the following:— "The arrivals of this meat have-also been very lights only,amounting to. 115,151 carcasses, and there is the large - decrease in the total receipts for- the year of 431,074 carcasses. Under these* circiunstancca it is little surprising that not only has small attempt'been made to sustain prices, but' competition- amongst importers to .increase their output 'has had the natural result-of flowering values." < Thuß, . even when the conditions are extremely .favourable a selling combination is not entered into. . '

Customs revenue collectcd at Wellington yesterday amounted to £650 14s. Id.

WELLINGTON MARKET. REPOOT Messrs. Lacry and Co., Ltd., Wellington, • report wholesalo prices ruliiie on the, market:—Wheat, fowl. 4s. Bd. to 4s. 10a.; !j feed oats, 2s. 2d. to 2s. 6d.; dun oats, 2s. 4d. to 2s. fid.; seed, oats, 2s.'4d. to 2s. Set.; algerian' oats, 2s. 4d.- to '2s. 6d,; maize, .4s. Id. to 4s. 3d.;crushed malt, 75.; fowl barley, 2s.'4d. to 2s. 6d.; Cape barley seed,' 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d.; 'flour, New Zealand £11 55.: to £11 10s., Australian £12 ss. to £12 10s. i . bran,' £4 to £4 v los.; pearl barley, 155.; peas, Prussian blue, ss. 3d. to ss. fid.; fowl peas, .4s.;i split, £17 10s.; bonedust, £5 155.; superphosphates, £5 to £5 ■55.; pollard, £5 ss. to £5 10s.; basic'alas, :£4 10b.; chaff (oatensheaf), £3 15s. to £4 '55.; oatmeal, £11 to £11 10s.';/ potatoes, table, £6 to £7 ton; Victorian onions, 6b. to 7s. cwt.;: molasses;fodder,' £5; bacon, (factory), sides ,63d., hams 7id„ rolls. 71d.;' butter, prime -bulk, Bd. to , Poultry Hons,'3s.; ducks, 3s. 6d. to'4s. 6d. per j/air; turkeys, gobblers, 18s. to 205., liens 10s. to '145.; fresh eggs,: Is. 4d. to Is. 6d. dozen; cheese, 6d. to 6Jd. per lb., loaf 7d. to 7id.; Akaroa machine-dressed cocksfoot. • 6d. to -7d. per lb.; farmers' dressed, cocksfoot,. 4d. •'to sd. per lb.; ryegrass, 3s. 6d. to'4s. 6d. per bushel; Italian ryegrass, 35.. 6d." .to ; 4s. 6d. per bushel; white * clover, 70s. to 755. per cwt.; red clover, 755. per cs't.; .cow grass, 755. per cwt.; iilsik'c, 82s. 6d. cwt.;, mustard, 40s. cwt.; .rape '6eed, 265. cwt.; timothy, 325. 6d. cwt.; Swede .and turnip 6eed, 60s. to 60s. cwt.

PALMEESTON yMAEKET EEPOET. : Mr. Harry Palmer., .of Palmerston, reports > particularly bu6y ;maTket'sale, on .Sat-: iuraa.y. /Pigs stiU-And' a dragging!market, ■particularly big porkers, although weaners and' stores sold-more readily on Satlirday than they -have done for some w«ks. Big entries of poultry are coming forward, principally poor quality, liens, cocks, and half-grown cockerels. Prices consequently are only fair. Good table sorts find;ready buyers, and the demand is getting-, keener.' Our fruit entries for the week-have 1 been abnormally high, and we.'handled, over £000 cases of New Zea-land-grown fruits. On Saturday no fewer than 600. sold under' the harameT. Prices are about on a par with previous, quotations. - With the end of the plum* season in sight this particular fruit has hardened considerably. ..There,.is"-a .fair -demand for:produce. We quote;— Pigs: Wean.:' ers,-4s: 6di,--,55., ,7s. 6d., to; Bs. 6d;; good slips and-stores, 95., lis.', 13s. '9d., 155., to: 165.; porters;' 16?.- 6d.; 18sV -fid., to>2L-' Poultry s Prime cockerels, ■ 4k,• 4s. 6d„ to ss. 2d.; ducks, 4s. to 4s. 1 6d.; *inferior-- 'arid' half-gTown ducks and ; ducklings, 2s. 6di, 35., 3s. - 6d.' to 'Ss. 9d:; -hens, 2s; to . 2s. 6d.; pullets, young, :35.,.t0 45.; good.'forward,. 4s. to"-' 6s. '6d.;- chicks," etc., from :9d. 'to : 2s. 6d.;.hens and broods, -2s.'9d. to 45..6 d.; no geese 'or turkeys. , offering.: : :Fruit—. Plums, English and Japanese,: Is., Is: V 3d.,: Is - . 6d., 25., to 25..,6 d.; ;peaches,"3s., 4s;, ss„ to' 6s. 6d.;- nectarines,,'3s.: 6d„ 43. 6d., to 55..'6 d.; apples; Is. 6d...t0 4s. 6d.; pears, Is. 6d. to '4s. 6d.;V small cases cucumbers, 25.; tomatoes,, half-cases,•. Is.' 6d. to 25.; full size,. 2s. -to 45.-- fid.-; greengages, 3s. '6d. to' 4s. „6d.' case; apricots and raspberries- finished. Potatoes,. 4s. 6d. to ss„ inferior; 6s. to;7s.,'good; marrows. 4s. 6d. per sack;.cabbage,- 2s. 6d;; pollard, 9s. to 9s. 6d.; - oats, 10s.: .6d.;, barley, 10s.: to lis.;, rice pollard, _6s. ,v -6d.;, pig'-meal, 7s.' 6d.-, chaff,, 3s. to 55." 6d. ■ A* clearing sale, held on "of -Jlr; :• Ellis,was . well attended,. and.;good: prices were realised. '

WOOL, SKIN, AND HIDE,SALE,.. . Mr. Hugh lioixirts' reports' having ■ held his first, sale this year of wool, • skin,. and hides, and offered a catalogue comprising 100' bales and; 400 bags wool, 2250 skins, lis, salted: pelts; 6(Jt) hides ana calfskins, 125 .tins tallow, and 3 casks do. -to a largo at-' tendance ;of ■ -buyers. Competition waskeen,' and all fines' were cleared at satis-factory-prices. Quotations:—Wool: Fleece, good,''9ld. to Jjd,;. bag lots,; 83d.; medium, V3d. to BJd.; seedy, '/Id.; log stained,'7Jd.,-lambs,-best, ICid.; >medium, '83d., to 9Jd.; seedy and dingy, 73d. to Sid.; bag lines, Kid;; slightly seedy, 7id.; ■-seedy, ijd.; black, ;6jd.V- dead," .73d.'; inferior, Sid.■ earthy,'and'r.ongh,' 3Jd.; pieces, 6Jd. to 6ja.; bellies, good, 6Jd.; t0.7d.; bellies and pieces, i SJd. to'.6}d.; locks' : and pieces, 33d. to 6id. Skins:: Crossbred mediUm, 8d;; coarse, 7d.; second' quality, 6Jd;;' seedy, 6id.; dead,- 6id to 61d.Klambs, 4id; for damaged and 7id for good; damaged skills, 3Jd.- to 43d.; very inferior and badly kept; Ud, to 22d.; pelts, 3Jd. to. sid.; pelts, half dry, at each: inferior is; Id., good Is. lid. to 2s. 6d.; salted, ■pelts, l Is; 9d.'to Is'. 10d.; lambs, half dry, 2s. 4d." to. 2s. Ud. Hides: No prime ox, good • substance, offering; medium,- 63d.■ light, 63d.; cow, heavy, 63d. to 62d.; good abattoirs, light' cow,. 6Jd; to 6Jd.; cow, rough'; sid.; slippy, 4d.; horse, at each, 6s 6d. to 95.; yearlings, 6Jd. to 7Jd.; calf, medium, BJd. to 9gd;;. inferior and damaged, - 4Sd. to 7Jd.. Tallow. Casks. 235. 3d. 245. -6d.l ,to 255.; tins,-'23s.' per-cwt.; horsehair, Ib. lid.. .

, THE PEOZEN MEAT 3IABKET.' By Telegraph—Press Aasociatlon-rCoDyrichV London, February 6. The Frozen ■ Mea;t Trade Association's Sraithfield market quotations for tho un- ■ dermentioncd, classes of frozen meat .are based on actual-sales-of not less than-one hundred carcasses of muttou or' lamb, -or twenty-five quarters of; beef of . fair., average quality. The quotations are not for selected lines, but for parcels fairly representative of the bulk of the shipments now on tho market. ,Tho,prices which follow are on' an average a Earthing per lb. moro than the value ex ' ship,' this difference representing an average cost in expenses, handling, conveyance, and selling tho meat;—' ■ ' Jan, 29 Feb. 5 Mutton— d. s d. i Canterbury, light — ' — ; Canterbury, medium — -7 . Canterbury, heavy — —■ Southland' 32 3? : North Island, best 311-16 38 North Island, ordinary . — — v Australian, light 33-16 . ' 33-16 Australian, heavy 3A 3j\ -. River Plate,, light >3} 31 - River Plate, heavy ........... 3 7-16 ' 37-16 Lamb— Canterbury, light 41 — Canterbury, medium ......... 41 — ■ Canterbury, hoavy — ' — Southland 4 — North Island, selected ...... — — ■ North Island,-ordinary — — Australian, best. 33-16 33 . ■ Australian, fair 38 SJ Australian, inferior ......... 3 7-16 3 9-16 • River Plate — —

Beef— ' jNcw Zealand, ox fores .... 21 -21 l\ew Zeaiana, 'ox hiuas ..." ' Australian, ox tores H 'it Australian, ox liin<iu & o liiver mte, ox tores' 2 7-16- H 7-16 Kiver Plate, ox hinas H ii

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. The Commerce and Tourists Division of the Department of. Agriculture, Commerce, una Tourists has received the following cabled report from the iiijn Commissioner, dated February 6:— . The mutton market is weak. The average prlco of North Island mutton is aju. per Id. Australian, 3Jd. Kiyer Plate, ojd. The lamb market'in sfceahy, and u, fair business is doing. There is a better demand for lamb for forward delivery. Tne supply of this season's lamb falls short of tho demand. . The average prico of' Canterbury lamb is 5d.-.per lb. Australian (in largo supply), 3§d. The beef market'.is quiet;: there has been no change in prices. (Last • week's quotations: N.Z. hinds, 3id;; fores, 2gd.) •The butter market is very firm, but business is somewhat restricted on' account of the high prices ruling. The shipments of butter and cheese. per s.s. Turakina. and b.s. Opawa, arrived in good condition. The average price of choicest New Zealand butter is 1225. per cwti Australian 1205., Danish '1235., Siberian (now season's) 118s., Argentine 120s. The cheese market is firm, with a general and active demand. New Zealand | finest white cheese is averaging 595. per 1 cwt., and-coloured 58s. • / Tho hemp market iB flat; there is ly any demand at last quotations. The output of Manila for tho week was- 29,000 bales. (Prices cabled on January 29were: Spot—New Zealand, good fair, £27 10s., fair £26 10s.; Manila, !£26 10s.. Januaiy-MaTch shipment, good fair, £27, fair £26; Manila, £26.) * . LONDON'WOOL SALES. The New Zealand Loan and-Mercantile' Agency Company, Limited, have received the .following cablegram from their London house, under, date February <I:—."The sales closed, . Of the quantity of-, fcred at the Tecent scries 174,000 bales were sold, of which 83,000 were ta&n for - the Continent and 12,000 for America, 6000 bales being held. over. As oompared with last sales' closing rates, prices - are about 5 per'cent, to 7J per cent, higher for crossbred scoured, medium greasy crossbred, lambs, and' coarse and medium crossbrcd slips; about par to 5 per cent: hishcr for greasy and-scoured merina;' and about 7i per cent, to 10. per, cent.- higher for coarse greasy crossbred." AUCKLAND. GAS COMPANY. . . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.)-. Auckland, February. 7. The forty-eighth annual meeting -of the Auckland Gas Company was held to-day.' .Mr. J. H. Upton, chairman of directors, who presided, said the total receipts had, been £136,143 14s. Id., and the total expenditure £89,944 13s* 10d., leaving a surplus of receipts of £46,199 os. 3d., which' , was tho profit on the year's business. Tho 'directors recommend an increase of 6d. I per -share in tho dividend, making 9s. per share on the fully-paid-up shares and a i proportionate amount oh ths contributing shares, which together constitute the"nomI irial or share capital of. the company, and is 10 per cent, on "tho actual or paid-up capital. Tho dividend will absorb £34,208 15s. 7d.,'.leaving £10,491 18s. 9d. to be carried to net rovenue account. ' It had been, decided 'to reduce' the prico' of gas by 3d. per 1000 cubic'feet from . March '1 next, equal to a reduction of £6261 on present sales. . . , .