COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 739, 11 February 1910, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

■- ,;',"' fVINTESTMEKT.,SHAKES, .;. -Tosterday'< Nation'al''.Banit shares'changed' hands at £6 35.'.6 d:, dnd.WestportOdal.at' £6 ;6s. The'market was quiot.'' National Ean'f, buyers £6 3s.,'sellers,£6 3s. 6d.; NewZealand and River Plate,, buyers £1 15s. 6d.'; * Wellington'.Trust, and Loan, buyers £7 : 2s:; -Masterton Building, buyers £11;. Wellington. Gas, £6■ 15s.."paid; sellers ;,£l4;YWellington' Woollen, sellers £3 'Is.; Wostport-Stockton .Coal, buyers- 7s.' 6d., .sellers 7s. 9d.;; Leyland-O'Brien Timber, buyers £I.'3s. 3d.;. .Taranaki.. Petroleum, sellers, 95.. 6d.,\- ■':■:'■:,■'■;..:■.":: ;, '■"•.-.r " '■' " : MUTUAL ! LIFE,;iND ;piTIZENSV;.;; < The ordinary-branch new business, of the' Mutual Life' and .Citiz'ens'-Assurance Com-' pany, Ltd.; for last year exceeded £2,000,000.: Thiß; is the first time, in .the company's historythat the £2,000,000 mark in lordinary new. business .has been passed. The company has also, made-excellent '-progress during .tho '■ year, in-its .-industrial branch. I ';'/ MUTUAL LIFE:OF NEW ■', YOKE.: ' : 7. : According to.''cable ■ advices received by the :'■ Australian',, representative ' of . the abovo office;-the-assets of'the company, aro now, £115,014,000,'' all' increase of:.■ £5,690,157 during .'the -year. '.The reserve held for the- payment of .'-.deferred -: bonuses .and' general contingencies is £18,788,000,- ah increase of £1,160,792. The total income for 1909 was .'£17,718,000, an increase of £634,344. The now.' insurance'"'issued:-and .paid, for' was £21,501,000,V-.an" increase:,of £2,214.144. The payments; to- policy-holders- totalled £11,321,000, :an 'increase:- 0f'446,409. .'There has-been appropriated'for,: bonuses to be paid In 1910 the sum -of' £2,546,000, 1 an increase -of £258,324, as compared with the imount distributed in 1909. ' , ; .-."..

;.. :;iNBTniAKOB. AMALGAMATION."...'. Tt'ie .understood.that:- an ■ arrangement has' been arrived"at between the directors of the Colonial: Mutual'. Life ' Assurance Society arid' those . of. the: Standard Life Assurance, Limited, by which the Colonial' Mutual Life office' shall, acquire the business, of. the Standard bfUce.fi The terms upon which..' the fusion . will'' be.-; carried through are not available. The Colonial Mutual has been.long established in New Zealand,, and "is, 'as'its' namo "indicates, a 'mutual office, whereas the Standard is a proprietary'office. v ;.The,head office of the former is in Melbourne, and of the latter' in Sydney. The• .Colonial, Mutual.' does ,a. very ;'stoady : business,;and the last-' avail-able■balan.ce-sheet.'.whioa is'for the year 1908, ~showed;'that, the assurance -fund amounted to £3,073,570.. -The Mast report of-the - Standard. Life Association,. ( for .tho. year ended 'June ,30,'>1909, shows"that23,6so new'polioies. were.issued .in, the' industrial department,' amounting .to;. £759,531, .and In the ordinary'branch. 1092 :nblioies.'i as•miring £143,350, or 24,652'.p01icie5-.in:'-'all, assuring, £902,881. -The. premium income at' the close of tho year. was £29,002.in tho industrial.: and': £26,396 '.iri'tho '.ordinary branch, 0r.£55,398. in .a 11..' The' funds, at ;the;end, of > the 'year amounted to £50,7P2. .The Standard .is riot represented in Now Zealand. "..y-S:' ,":,).'..' .'j-.V ■.- '•■—,- .''.■■,'■ f' J

■;; WOOL■VkatOBTB.-'-'. o "The wool): eiports from : Australasia'' for .the': seven months-July;.l; 1909,: to > January'' ■31,'? , .'1910,'-'!''as,'. compiled"■''hy.i'.Hessr's.WDateetyahd'.'.Co.," ■ ag'undor;^ : " : ¥V . ; '•;—•::■"•,->':.'- •■'•'• J;- 1909-10. .''■ 1908-09.':" .''." .'■ •.'.'■' ■■'.-'.;;■;;'".'''■'■"..■ -. Bales.- ".'•Bales.-' ,'N.S."Wales ;..;....:.;„....; 558,574 650.708' ■■Victoria, ,•"•■ .........;; 390,900- - 319,490 i S. .Australia 145,223 ■:'.: 146.357 : ' Queensland ;.■;• v........:.;..-.'-166,686 '-.'' 153.771 •. W.vAustralia ..;.,;..:.....;. ■ 62,837 V .43.362 '•• „ ; Tasmania-,;.'...;. .....:.. . 15,527 -'•■' ■.-' l .UJl4'.:'; '^New^'Zealand^-iy:;;;:^ '-:".- "■-VV'-i-. -': -"". -'- ; ----'4':-.''.".' >■.-'"■ 1.636,423'":' : - 1.599,411." - .The above figures show a'-'net-'increase of 37,012, bales. .'Tronv New South Wales' :there .is a shortage of 92,134' bales, and this is, no doubt, due to the Newcastle coal strike, dolaying ( shipments; The estimated increase for the "season is 100,000 bales; and thiß is: likely .to; be.realised.- . ■: ■'■!■■■ ::'} ■>.;''-/;'v bank 'deposit v -Kates...'/; ■/' '■'.'' ; '/The' reduced, rates 'for deposits decided upon by-the -Associated Banksi came into force yesterday;-. The new and the old rates 'compare.as .under;—. >. : '-'--./'•!^V'■'■/■: ::■"■ -Now.- ; v Old;--deposits :for—- '.;■'■■-.'. ■'•- Per cent. Per cent. .;. '6 months. .'...;....-_._..■ 1J ' ■■■ 2 : ; : v, 12 months'- ;.........„..;.-;..: 3'--.i '■ '•"■' '-l\;'*k .' 24. month's.:' iv. ..:.......'.35,. ■'■':.''';;;■ . 4 ■■}■:- .; The: Bank 'of Australasia docs riot ,'ac'-' .cept doposits ,at six months/ ■.' ..'■. ■•■'

' !The. Independent Cablo Association ". of Australasia has been, registered 'with a capital: of. £10,000,. in. 80 ordinary shares, and 20"founders' shares, of; £100 each, to carry on: the ; business ■- of telegraphic agents.' '■.-•.',•-.-;;■'■'.■:'.'-'N'.'»;--V'.--'- : i ••

An Insurance Brokers'' Association has been formed in New South Wales, and is supported.by .the. leading'insurance brokers :of Sydney.' '.: \"' 'J *; .. - The country stock agents -of New South Wales.;are.-forming-a. co-operative .Company, with a capital of' £25,W)0. Tho 'object of tho \ company, ib : to - start. business -in Sydney, and atV Hbmebush ..yards. as ■' stock and: produce salesmen. •.'..,.." -

Tho .final report of the United Stateß of: the' Mint...for 1908 stated 'tho gold output in that - country, during - tho year, at 4,574,340 fine 0z.,, value £19,385,000, and'-that of 6ilver'. at; 52,440,800 firio ,oz;, value. £5,750,400.:;' As compared with 1907 the • gold output .increased £845,500, but tKo silver output decreased £835,200. These figures include Alaska. The'greatest goldproducing. State was Colorado, whilo tho. greatest' silver-producing State was Hon-' tana, with Colorado a close second.

.GOVERNMENT.; LIFE'; INSUKANOE.'.. '-,The Government ..Insurance;Recorder for January, -1910, which' reached' us yeste'rday ; Gtates:—"During 1909. tho Dominion passed through, a period ; ,of-..';financial Btrain, especially during' the earlier part'of the year; and' it .would 'have caused no surprise,; therefore, if our agency forccfound it impossible to equal the -results of tho previous year. ~> The condition' of things improved, however,.'during tho latter nart of the year,-- and tho new ;business. procured, .was considerably greater than for tho previous year, amounting to £795,000 (approximately), which is a. larger new business for twelve, months than has been scoured at -any time- during . tho last 24 years."' Customs rovcnue : collected at Wellington yesterday, amounted to £5611 45. : 4d. \. . .PRICES OF METALS, .''■'-' - ; -;''-': SLUMP Df. COPPER.. tV,-.. ' . By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. ' London, -February Copper.—On the, spot, is quoted at £58 15s. .per. ton—a fall of 165.,> 3d.; three months', £59 12s. 6d., 16s. 3d. lower; eleetro-lytio,'-£6l 155.,- 10s.". lower. Another burst of heavy liquidation in ' copper has been precipitated. by the demoralised condition of tho New York Stock Exchange .; £147 10s. per ton—a rise of 7s. Cd.;' three months', £148 17s. '6d-2s. 6d. higher; '■ I/ATEE . (Hoe. February 10; 11.35 p.m.) . London February 10. .: Copper—On tho spot,. £59: 55.; three months, £60 2s. 6d. per- ton. .'-.': ■ the spot, £148; three months, £149' 10b. per.ton. ' .;'- WHEAT. , . (Rcc. February 10, 11.35 p.m.) London, February 10. :.The Amorican'visible supsly of wheat is 53,002,000 bushels.

ATJBTBALIAN' PBODTJOE MABKETS. ■'< - ..-. (Bee. February 10, 11.35 p.m.) . ■'■.'-.' '''.'■ .' '-Sydney, February 10. Wheat; buyers 45." Id. to 4s. lid.;'- flour, £10 10s.; oats, algerian feeding, 25.: seeding, Zs. 2d.; Tartarian,-2s. lid.; barley, Oape, 3s. to 3a. 3d.; maize, 4s. Id. to 4s. 2d.; South African, ,3s. 10d..; bran,. £4 55.; pollard, £4 10s.;. potatoes, . Tasmanians, £5 to £7 10s.; onions, Globe, £5; Spanish, £6 10s.; butter, 100s.; cheese,.6d.; bacon,BJd. Melbourne, February 10. ■ ■ Wheat, 4s. Id.;, flour,; £10 55.; oats.:,feedirig 25.,. seeding 25..5(i. to 25." 75d.;.barley, English prime malting 4s. 3d., Oapc 2s. Bd.; maise, 3s. sd;;- bran, £4 12s.' 6d.; pollard, £5; potatoes, £3. 10s. to-£4.'55.; onions, £4 10s.' . . ■ ■-.';' '"■ . ' Adelaide, February 10. • Wheat, 4s. to 4s. Old.;, flour, £10; bran, 125 d.; pollard, 13Jd... . . TALLOW. .; "...• '..- ,"■'.,.•:. London, February 9. . At the tallow'sales'6o6 casks were offered and 499 sold, ■ Mutton; fine 375. per "cwt., medium 325. 6d.; beef, fine 365., medium 325. 6d. ..:..' . Tho New Zealand Loan and.Mercantile Agency' Company, Limited, have received the .following"cablegram > trom their, London house, under date February 9:— "Tallow: We,quote"present spot values for the following descriptions:—Good' .mutton, 345.'6 d.' per cwt.; good beef,'33s.:3d;; mixed, 325. ■ Market. quiet.". HIDES MAEKET.: ':■..•', (Eec. February. 10, 11.35 p.m.).. '". :: - ' '■/■." Melbourne,.February 10. In the hides market: there was a strong, demand, and prices were 1 higher for all classes.'-" " ■■■. : ' ■THIKD.DTJNEDrN WOOL: SALES.': •'■ (By Telegraph.—Press Association!,' ' ■■'.'.;■"•'"■■' Dunedln, February; 10. •The third wool salo of.the season'concluded; to-night, a'total of-3412 .bales being submitted.'..-Halfbreds were a little firmer than at: the previous. sale,' but merinos iwerc' irregular, and, prices were. a .shade' easier. 'Except for. a,few choice lots, the demand '■)■ was. '. chiefly .'.'.confined to'- fell.mongers', lots. .A large portion of wool was' heavy in: condition,, and some was tender and of'poor quality. Halfbred sold-up-to 131 d; per lb.; crossbred; up to 12d.';" halfbred ewe pieces,; : up "to: 12Jd.; merino,' to 13Jd. ;,. y ,'.:,;■:;;,...'•. '■'. : CO. '\j; ■■'■■■■ (By Telegraph.—Press Association.);. •- ! Naplor, February'. 10. ,' The" C.C. and' D." Company, London, today cabled the following report-on the frozen' meat market:—Mutton: Napieri'. Wellington, and North' Island,'3Jd. Lamb, sjd. beef-Hinds, 31d.; fores, 2|d. < ■■■>:/. 'WELLINGTON. V , .Old, Hauraki shares '.received most: at-, tention -yesterday, and prices, advanced from 6s. to'6s. '7d„ and dropped ..to, 65.. Id., closing at buyors 6s. sd; Talismans were weaifer.'" Waitangis . were -inclined to .firm-.' nossK and'there was a'.fair, amount, of business .-in-Consolidated Goldfields. The : day's "sales were ashihdcr:— .": .'-•"• '.' Now Zealand. Crown, 4s. 5d.-(first-call)."" Old, Hauraki, 65., ,6s. 6d., $s. 7d. .(first: call); 6s. 7d., 6s. 7d:, 6s. 6d. (second call); 65.\6d.,V65. 3dl, "65."1 d.- 65.-3d..(third call). - . Talisman; 51s. 4d., 50b.: 9d. '(first call); 495. (second call); 495.,' 495. (third call). •-.. i - : : . Waihi; : £9.18g. ; (first call).'. . 'Waihi Grand -Junction, 275. ,9d. (third, ca11)..v.;,".;.,-''\'-.•■'-'. ,•'.■:.•:. :.:-.': Waitarigi,"ls. 7d.,ls:'Bd; '(first call)." -'.: /Consolidated Goldfields, 18s. 17s. Ud. (first.call); ; lßs.,6d.'-(third'call).-,. .;.';, ■ : "-':.'■: ':;.- :'.'.VQTjpTAWONS.?'';.'•■ '.'' .:'.'■■'! ■■'■} : /- v- .. ■' :.' ! Buyers. Sellerß. Sales. ':'•'■■ ">■ ''-■-'":,'.£ s. d.. £ s.d. •" £ s;d. Kuraniii'Oaledon'n 0 1 5 :i:—'..•.: -v"' May Queen ...;........'— -'0 '4' 9; -..—'': Maoriland." ;;.;;...;. 0,0 6 0.0 8 — -N.Z. Grown-...........'0. 4 0, 0 4; 6-: 0.4 5 New.Sylvia':.:;....'.'..., 0 3 7:0 3.'9-''■■•■>—:■ Old Hauraki'........: 0 -6 50 .6 6 : 0/6 3 .' Saxon 1 - '...:;..'.:....'.:.;. 0. 1-7 ,019 - — "'■". .Tairua Broken Hills o'l '.0,,:. — .. . -.— Talisman -.;...........'2'B 9 2 9 3.'2'9, 0 'Waihi :.;:;.:::.:.::....:::. ■'-■.- ■'.;-.' "9,18 o: Waihi G'd Junct'n 1. 7 6: 18 0 :'.l ; 7 9 Waitangi: ...;.;.; ,01,8 - .0 11 01d:Kapahga i:.:..:.' 01 ■'2-' 0 1 4 ,-.: —-■ Con.,,.Goidfields. ..:.. 018 J- 0 18- 9. 018 6 progress''.'..v:.....i'...:'..vo.13: 6 ?0 14,6" : " — .-'. EoSs'Goldfields .:..:; :'•—:'." 0; 8'..5; — • .-"■

f^9?A KOE^ , v. ; ' '■.'■'•''. apli;^ceaVi.'Association.!. ' - , ■■"''■^'''■■ , f'"'!"'.";■■•'■';'.{.AlicKla'ndi 'February 10. 'fLTHe '/following'' business i was.'\dbne\.thiß morning:'—; ' •'■'■'■' : .' V. ;,"'•; ''■"■:'■ ...'•'.' ..' v.j'Kuranui• Oalb'doniani la. ,'7d.'' "■:.■•'. '■ - ' l :'MayV Queen,'ls. 9d„: 4b. Bd, ■ '•'■■ "Waibtahi; 4's. ;.6d.,'i45.v.75.' -?;::,:■ : Watchman, 2s. 2d. ' ■ .',.'•."..■ ':. Consolidated : Goldfields, 19s. : ; .Hauraki,.-65... 7d:<ttb* ; 6s.'Sdi>,,.V;.. >«.:■'■ -\ '. vKapanga i(bon.), f 16:'».2d;', v ..lb'.' 3dV . .('•■■■/' 51e'.; 48s:' 6d." ■■':■.'*.',. ■■",',i. r "'.-.:

New Waitaia, 7d....,,./ J. ■'■-~■ ~.. Northern. Goal, 13a.', 3d.: 1 ;- '. v '''A.'/.;: ."Tho following ,business was done at'the aftcrnon call to-day:— ' •-,Dhon's'.Consolldated (con.)|:sd: * ~.;;.,'.:' \,AlhurniaV(pald);;ls.; 8d! .;.;/;;fvi./ V v,.;/ . ...*: WPointK'RuEsell, . : ■:}•?<• : . '; 'Jfouht:Zeehan'(con.),' 3Jd.'. ','•" : "--': '. '■'::'•"'; Progress, 135.,6 d. ,; . : . ' , ." Hauraki Freehold, 6Jd.'." ■ .: ' -'.. ; Old Hauraki, 6s. 7d., 6s. 3d., 6s. 4d.„,65. 3d. ■' Kapanga (conO, Ib. 3d; -.' '.' .. V. Talisman, 48s.■ 9d., 495: 6d., 49s'. 9d. : ■'.'.•■ Waihi, £10 la. '"/" .;':.AVaiUi.',Grand .Junction, 28s. 6d. S.Crown.'V^a;'6d.,' 4s;:'.sd.i f ;4s'.::,'6d. ■~'■" Dutiodln, February 10. ; .Stock ■ Exchange-- sales:— ; -*.;'. ~■ .Kelson Orceki Is, prcm.:' .-■•' . -.'■.- ■: ■Old Hauraki, 6b. 6d. ... ■•■'■ .Consolidated GoldHelds,'lßs., IBs. /Tasmaniari Copper, 6s.'2d. ' Sales reported;—' ..;. 01d:Hauraki, 65.'6 d., 65.: 6d. National Insurance, 28s:" 3d.".' • Westport Coal : (ox .div.), £6 Is: