COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 746, 19 February 1910, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

.. INVESTMENT SHAKES. Yesterday.'sales -were .'made of National a i ale ? 3s ' 6| 1., and : Bank ofNow Zealand at £9 i3s..fid; The quotations were wiohanged.- National. Bank, buyers io Is. ,6a.; New Zealand and ltiver Plata S* 6d-i Wellington Investment, buyers lis.; Feilding Gas. buyers £1 Is. 6d.; Wellington Gas, ,£6 165.. paid,..sellers: £l3' m i'r "hristchnrqh- Meat, buyers £11 ss. i. w- » at > & , po s- £ ? Paid, buyers . £o 18b.; : Ncvr Zealand Sliippinc, buvora £7 Os ;; Wellington Woollen, tayers £3 Is Hikurangi Ooali'buyero £1; Westport Coal, buyers £6; Westport-Stockton Coal, buyers' 7s. 6d., sellprs Bs.; Le.vland-O'Brien Timber, buyers £1 3f. 3d.; l'aranalii Potroleum, sellers 9b.- 3d.;, Ward and .Co., buyers- £4 £4 19s ' and.; Tombs; buyers • loan issues... : . The Auckland City loan of' £343,000 at ; 4 per-cent., -with .a cuiTency of 21 years, and issued at £101,105., haa been over-sub' scribed. Thovloan was--in', tho hands of the Bank ;of Now Zealand, and it. is obvious that the utmost carc was taken to make, the.issue a. success. The Now South Wales 3* per cent, loan for £2,750;0CQ closed on, Thursday, and, judging by the "stag" quotations, the issue is not expected to. be much of a success. On February 14 it was quoted at a premium of 10s. per cent., later the : price dropped to, 7s. (3d., and then to 2s. 6d. It mil, probably, be found when the results axe known that the public has not taken up much, of the issue. OUB IMPOSTS MOM BRITAIN.. •• The following is a return of!tho principal lines of goods of British manufacture exported to New Zealand during the month of December, 1909, also for-the year ended 30th-'December, 1909, with the figures-for--1908 shown for;the purposes of comparison ; Compiled from the .'Board -of.'.Trade ■ re-1 tur,ns;— • . . . , .Month Twelvemonths ending. ... ending. > Dec. 30. , Dec. 30. ~ ~ 1908.- 1909. , 1900. 1909. ' - ' £ £ £ ' £ Beor and ale ... 1,120 . 3,175 37,897 35,231 Spirits 20,970- 20,511 239,473 - 224,094 Iron and.J'steel and manufactures ' thereof, 86,163.' 87,7831,019,169 827,627 Copper, wrought. and manufac- • ■ . tured . 2,350 ' 4,246 • 41,210' ,28,163 Cutlery' 2,480 4,088 38,321 '*32,214 ,Jlardwaro / ...... ,9,409 8,198 134,265 96,626 Cotton • piece , . goods of all kinds . 65,050 72,905 629,063 657,251 Woollen and - worsted manu- . facturcs ...... 59,011 52,641 409,165 354,773 Haberdashery ' and Millinery 7413 • 7,530 • 80,696.-. 63,708 Jute. • Manufactures :... 4,567 4,403 39,106 37,839 Linen " piece > • ' . . goods of . all ' *, ; kinds 11,481 9,033 99.701 87,903 Apparel 55,869 57,752 477,405 467,049 Boots and shoes 13,897 10,197 184,508 160,623 Saddlery and ■ harness ...' 3,394 4,202. . 40,343 38,044 China and earthenware' 7,008 7,789 ► 111,452 '.92,101 Writing • and . ' » printing paper 8,955 10,386 125,687 115,778 Cement ........... . 3,906 2,451. -42,517 -.27,063 Stationery other than paper ... 3,255 . 4,837 66,886 58,720 BOOM IN RUBBEU. Tho London Stock Exchange is enjoying all the sensation of a boom, and on this occasion it is rubber that is . providing tho oxciiemont. Tho public, it is reported, is investing heavily, and some stock-jobbers have made large profits.- This.boom was inevitable,: but , it is probable that-like otticr booms it will be carried too far, and -will-bo followed, by. a collapse. Tho past year was a'phenomenal one for rubber and "rubber shares. Th« price of thoraw.articlo was maintained at an • exceptionally high figure, and on tho markets, both of Mincing- Laue and the Stock Exchange, values have appreciated-without a .serious check to' an extent almost unprecedented. It is but a few years .since rubber planting as an investment took hold <of. the imaglna* tion of produce morchonto in {Mincing Lane, A fow yeara ago tiiaro itas co mb-

ber share market, but the constant fluctuations in the Bupply of tho commodity, and the opportunities,afforded to tea planting companies, havo been a factor in tlio establishment of rubber growing in tho tropical, eastern area, and in many cases both tea and rubber are grown together on tho same estates, often in combination with tapioca, coconuts, s and other by* products. In Malaya tin forms another useful adjunct to rubber. *But tho fino profits obtained from rubber, owing to»tho cheapness of its collection and curing, have in many - cases ousted tea, and have also caused many thousands of.. acres of jungle to come under cultivation. In thepast threo, years plantation rubber/growing has made rapid strides, and in 1909 no fewer than -97 additional • companies wore floated, with a capital- <?f nearly £10,000,000, of which something hko £7,C00,CG0. has been issued. The popularity of rubber shares is said to bo largely due to tho wonderful dividends paid, also to 'the splitting of £1 shares into 2s. shares, and of £100 stock into £1 and £10 shares by some of the older companies.

Customs re.venuo collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to > £1319 lis. Id. •

• WELLINGTON MARKET REPORT Messrs. Laery and Go., Ltd., Wellington, /eport wholesale prices ruling on the market:—Wheat, fowl 4a. sd. to 4s. Bd.; feed oats; 2s.'2d. to 2s. 6d.; dun oats, 2s. •Id. to 2s. 6ri.; seed oats, 2s. 4d. to 2s. : Bd.; algerian oats. 25.-4 d. to 2s. 6d.;. maizo, 3s. lid. to 4s. Id.; crushed malt, 75.; fowl barIcy, 23/4 d. to 2s. 6d.;'Capo , barley seed, 2a. 6d. to'2s. 9d. ; flour, New "Zealand £11. 08. to £U'los., Australian £11 15s.' to. £12; bran, £4. to £4 10s.; pearl barley, 155.; peas, Prussian blue,. ss. 3d. to ss, 6d.; fowl, peas, 45.; split, £17 10s.; bonedust, £5 155.;. 6Uperpnoßphates, £5. to £5 55.; pollard, £5 6s. to £5 10s.; basio slag, £4 10s.; chaff (oatensheaf), £4 to £4 10s.; oatmeal, ' £11 <to £11 •• 10s;; potatoes, table, 1 £3; 'to £6 ton; onions, ss. cwt.; molasses fodder, £5; bacon (factory), sides 62d., hams Bd., rolls 7*d.j butter, prime bulk, 9d. Poultry: ■ Hens, 35.; ducks, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d. per pair; tur« keys, gobblers, 18s.. to .205., hens 10s. to 145.; fresh eggs', Is.'6d. to-Is. Bd." dozen; cheese, 6d. to 6£d. per lb., loaf 7d. to 7Jd.; Akaroa-machine-dressed cocksfoot, od. to 7d. per lb;; farmers' dressed cocksfoot,,4d. to sd. 'per lb.; ryegrass, 35."-6 d. to 4s. fid. per bushel; Italian ryegrass, 3a, -. 6d., to 4s. Jd. per bushel; .white 'clover,-. 70s.'-to 755. per cwt. : •

WELLINGTON IIAEKET EEPORT. ' The New Zealand Farmers'. Co-operative Distributing • Company reports as follows Nectarines; and grapes are in short supply. 'whild • tomatoes . continue to glut , the market. ■ Good lines - of well coloured' dessert apples are' sought, alter, also tive peaches. Potatoes are coming in, very badly diseased, and . lines showing Inc blight are practically unsaleable, •while clean well'graded potatoes are keenly sought after at good prices. >ggs are in groat demand, but a decline may be looked for.' We. have this year- largely extended • our fruit trade, but still have tho: capacity for a,greater increase, and we hopo.present suppliors who are satisfied, with our efforts i on their behalf, will show appreciation by advocating neighbours to ship our way.'to the'benefit of. themselves, the company.and the general protection of the industry. Potatoes, best Hutt £8 to £9, medium £4 10s;.to £5, others ; £4 per toil;.cabbage, choice 3s. 6d. to .45., ordinary 2s. 6d.por . sackgreenvpeas, 8d; ' per peck; carrots, Hiitt,. 9d; dozen;. turnips, white,- 4d. dozen; 'swedes, 2s.' to 2s. 6d. .per sack; vegetable; marrows, Is. to Is. 3d; per sa-ck; lettuce, choice'2s.,.'fair 6,d. 'to 18. : spinach, best, 2b.-per case; French beans, choice Hutt. Id., other lots Jd. to 3d. per lb.; cucumbers, hothouse Is. to 2s. dozen, outside grown ■ 2s. 6d. per banana • case; broad bcanfl, Id. per lb.; spring onions, Bd. to 9dr dozen bundles; radish, 4d. dozen bundles; tomatoes, Hutt...ls.-to'-ls. 6d., Nelson 9d. per -half-case—market 1 glutted, rhubarb, 9d.' dozen (bundles; apples, cooltcrs (largo) 3b. 64.; small 2a. 6d. to 3s. case; . apples, OoxsiOronso 75.,-de6Bert (well coloured) 65., others 45.. ; 6d. per. case; pears; dessert_7s.; cookers (large) Is:, email 3s. per case; Cape gooseberries. 51d, to 6d. lb.; peaches, choice dessert 4s 6d. : ,' medium 3s; 2s. to j 9 . haU-taso'.- pluina, Blue Diamonds is.; Oans Is.' 6d„ Burbanlis 35., Victoria 2s.

6d., greengage 75., Satsuma 2s. 6d., Wixen 35., Pond's Seedlings 25., 6d. per half-caso; blackberries,- Id. per lb.; raspberries, ss. 6d. per bucket; nectarines, choice 5b., medium 3s. 6c., small 3s. per half-case ;f grapes, best Hutt Nelson Bd.' pcr lb.;< poultry,' cockerels 6s. 6d. for good tyirds,* small 3s. 6d., tablo roosters'-45., table hens* 3s. 6d„ amalL'2s. 6d.,t0 35.; ducks, largo 65.,) small 3s. 6d. to 4s. per pair; turkey gob-; lors 9d; per lb., hens Bd, per lb live weight; o butter, best separator (printed wrappers))* BJd. to 9d., separator (bulk) 81d., dairy pats* Bd. to Bjd.; choose, best factory old 6d., "now 5Jd. to sid. per lb., loaf 6id. lb.;' dressed pork, 70's to.9o's 3jd. to 3|<iL t 90*s to 100'b 3d., baconers 3d., choppers* (heavv) 2d.—our weekly pork sales - held:' each Friday during summer; eggs, Is. 7<L i to Is. Ed. per dozen—good demand; bacon, factory sides 6Jd., rolls 71d., hams 7d. per, lb.; honey, demand is-weak now jam fruits , available, 60's 4d. per lb.; beeswax, strong: inquiry, consignments would realise high values; fungus, keen demand at' s£d. per lb.; walnuts, scarce, early lots would realise hightvalues; tallow, tins22s. cwt.; maize,4s. 4s. to 4s. 3d. bushel; wheat, :4s. lQd. per bushel; barley, feed 3s. 3d. per bushel, Cape 3s. per bushel; horse beans,, 45.. per bushel; partridge peas, 4s. 6d. to ss. per bushel; Prussian blue peas, ss. 6d. per bushel, barley meal, special quality, £5 155., per ton; sharps, £6 per ton; bran, £4.105.: . per ton; chaff, prime oaten sheaf, £4 per ton; hay/ prime, £3.155. to .£4 per ton; straw, wheaten £2 ss. per ton, oaten £2 2s. ■ i 6d. per ton; linseed oil cake, genuine £13 per ton;" oats, feed 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d: per bußhel,, seed, gartons, duns 2s. Bd. per bushel, crushod 2s. 7d. per bushel; machinedressed cocksfoot, B*d. per lb.; farmers' dressed cocksfoot,, Old. per lb.; per.ryei era's, 4s. 6d. to sa. per bushel; Italian ryegrass, 4b. 3d. to 4s. 9d. per busheL

LONDON MARKETS. Messrs. Dalgety ' and Co., Ltd., report having "received tho following cable me+ sages from thcir London house, under da'o. February 17.—Frozen' meat: 1 The beef and mutton markets are lirm, t without auy. change, in prices, whilst prices for lamb are ruling fed. to Id.,higher. Tallow:.3?<x mutton, : any change in prices is in favour of sellers, and other descriptions aro 6a. to 9d. higher. Wool: The market is firm, especially for crossbred wools of, medium and-coarse quality. At next sales wo expect that: if any change in prices takes place it will bo in favour of sellers.. The quantity which will be( available is uncertain—it. will' probably, be below. 150,000 'bales. - ■ •.*' ■'CANTERBURY GBAIN-MAEKET. (By Teiegrapn.—Presa Association.! '' 'f ; Cliristchurch\ February 18. Wheat has been offered freely during tho week, and • millers have been operating largely in fair average quality lota., lhe bulk of the offerings is tuscan, and even the best of what has been threshed since the rain, shows a percentage of slightly sprouted grains. The range.of prices for fair 'average milling wheat is 3s. 7d. to 3s. 9d., and mopt of tho-purchases have been made at '3s. 8d„ at many , thousands of bushels changed hands during the week. A line of 1000 bushels of pearl of good quality has made 3s. lOd.; 3COO bushels of tuscan were sola at 3*. 7d; to 3s. 9d.; 1400 bushels at 3s. 7d., and 1000 bushels of weathered 'at 3d. at country stations. . Oats are still very scarce, and. any that offer find buyers at quotations. Gartons,' aggregating 4500 bushels, have changed hands at,ls. Ha., and lother lots of "A" .grado at Is. 85d., at country stations. Prime malting barley is firmer in consecuence of its scarcity. The • top price paid to a grower is reported, to be 4s. 6d. at station and 1100 bushels made ,Is. 2d. • .Second sales ol large lines have been made duriun the week at . Is. 91d. and 4s. 10»d. on truclss. - Christchnrch partridge peas are firm at 4s. to 4s. 3d. Owing to, the appearanoo of blight sinco the lato rams early crops >of potatoes axe, now being dug, and the ciubtations are £3 15a. to £4 at country stations. The onion cron is also being lifted as the season has' been an early one, especially for the spring, sown 'crop.. They are selling at £3 at country stations. Cocksfoot is still coming forward, and sell, ing at late rates. Much of the seed is now said to bo light, and contains, a percentage of "fog." '