COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 764, 12 March 1910, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

! investment' shares.

A good business was done in investment sharesyesterday. The sales recorded .'wore National Bank, £6 5a., Bank of, New Zealand, £9 13s. 6d.;' National- Mortgage, £3 Os. 9d.; Leyland-O'Brien Timber, £1 4s. 6d.; New. Zealand Drug, £2: 70.; Taranaki Petroleum, Bs.; Ward and Co., £5. Tiic quotations were: Bank of New Zealand, sellers,• £9 145.; Wellington Trust - and Loaq, buyers .£7. 2s.,..seller's £7.45.; Wellington Deposit,-sellers.'Bs. 6d.;> Feilding; Gas, sellers: £1,25.; Napier-Gas, £5 paid/, buyers, £l2;-2s. '6d.;' G«ar:,ileat, ; £l ; paid; buyers £2 13a.; Wellington Meat \ Export. £5 paid, buyers £6, £2 ;12s. ,6d. paid, nellers • £2' 16s v -fid.; New Zealand Shipping, buyers £7' 13s. 6d.; 1 Wellington Woollen, ordinary, buyers £3. 25.,: preference, sellers £2 Goal, sellers £6 2s. od.'; Leyland-0 Rrion Timber, buyers £1" 4s. seUors £1 ss. Sharlands preference, buytaranaki sellers fl B , 6d.; 'Whitcombe and Tombs, buyers £5.

| *; . -FEBRUARY HEIIP-AND TOW. .The 'Department'or Agriculture and Coinmerce: forwards Jbe following return, showing the quantity of hemp and tow graded during .-the • month. •. of - February. Hemp: rhe'total number ,of bales-graded was 14.516, aa against 8788 for the correspondins- ; month of last year,. ; an increase of t-3 bales. For. the six/months ended Feb- ... ;ry,2B the number df bales graded was do.ooo, as -against 44,142 for the correspondl£SQ> <!rio , tl ? f last ycar - or- an increase of 20.923. .Worked out-on a percentage basis' the cuantity of each grade dealt with was as follows:— >'\ Fine. G.: fair. , Fair. ■ Common. Reject. 2.08 46.12 • 43:73 6,11 . 1.20 During tho month of February there 'has been a still further decline in values, £22 being; now the maximum quotation for "good fair," iind £21 for "fair.'-' .The market, is still dropping,, with no /sign, of improvement. Tow: During the month 4921 bales were' dealt with, as -against 4184 for the previous month, an increase of 737." * Hemp.

- Good ComPort. Fine. fair. Fair. mon. Total. J Auckland — 403 2147 64V 3276 }' Napier — 302 ' — — 302 ie. Foxton :... 28 ; 2140 974 16 3261 y Wellington ... 102 3512 1707 202 5324 I. Blenheim 2 . 20 — — 22 Picton-- ..... 170 ,134 - 2 — 3C6 1 Lyttelton — 45 ■ 24 — 69 L " Dunedin — •. — .4771 _ 477 r Bluff t- 140 1017 122 . 1279 ~ Total ......... 302 6696 6348 997 14,516 ,y' Tow: . ;i First' Second Third .. Port.. • grade, grade, grade. Total. v Auckland , — 260. 720 1282 ' Napier • :5 •• 22 — 27 J Foxton 251 348 133 756 Wellington 887 660 339 1949 > Blenheim — 9 — 9 , Picton 65 45 —' no y Lyttelton 20 ~ — 46 66 !i Dunedin - 6 214 222 .. Bluff,. .— 53 373 500 * Total ;.... 1228 '1403 1825 4921 r . • , ■' 1 j' SHIPBUILDING IN 1909. i While'tho shipbuilding industry of the . United Kingdom/during 19C9 only showed a slight increase as regards output over the ' very poor figures of 1900, it is interesting > find that tho returns of foreign coun--3 tries in nearly every eaco record decreases - According to tho annual summary of ship- . building, compiled by "Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign' Shipping," this is especially noticeable in' the cases of France, Germany, and the United • StatC6. In France, the decreaso . in to-.nnge, excluding war vessels, was over 49 per' cent., in Germany nearly 40 per cent., and in tho United States over 31 per cent., whilo in tho United Kingdom thore was an advanco of 6.6 per cent, on the output for 1908. Tho total launched in the United • Kingdom, exclusive of. warships, was 526 vessels of 991,100 tons gross, while the warships launched amounted to 42 of 126200 tons displacement, so that-the total output was 568. vessels . of 1,117,300 tons. As regards mercantile tonnage, - this is an increase of 61,400 tons on 1900, - but it is' the lowest recorded for twelve years, wi'h tho exception of 1908. The total output of tho United. Kingdom, and other countries of mercantile vessels was 1C63 of 1,602,100 tons as, compared with 1405 vcswlb of. 1 883 300 I tons in 1908. Of the tonnage launcehd during 19C9 the; United Kingdom acquired ncr.rly 47 percent., and of the tota! morJtiiint tonnage output of the world nearly 62 per- cent, was launched in tho United ■ Kingdom. Although rather bettor than in 1908, tho United Kingdom has a lon* tray to maio up betoro It roacbaa tbo fieures ot

1906, when 886 vessels of 1,628,300 tons were launched. Customs rovenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £2914 7s. 6d. . WELLINGTON MAItKET REPORT, The New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative distributing Oompany, Ltd., report as follows Pears and apples meet ready sale at fair prices, and increased supplies are recommended, i'eaches are in lull sup- ' tyy, a ! l ' 01v - rates - Tomatoeß have firmed slightly, and we cxpect further rise in the near future. The market for marrows, cabbage, and beans istweaU, while other vegetables meet witiirready sale. Omons are offering in tho south at bedrock rates; in fact, tower thau has obtained ior ten years past. Ej>ks are in fair • demand. ' Butter. is inquired for at increased values. We could do with large shipments of • walnuts. As instance, the i value ot ji good name and faithful pack* ing, wo have for some months sold potatoes for a leading Hutt fari&cr at £2 10s. to £4. above ruling rate for ' ordinary quality. Prime lines of chaff are keenly inquired for, and supply "is not equal to the present demand. Poultry shows a slight improvement in values. We have this year largely extended our fruit trade, but still have the capacity for a greater increase, and. we "hope present suppliers, who are satisfied with our efforts 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 -tlia industry. Potatoes, best Hutt, special brand £8, medium £4 10s. to £5 10s., others £3 per ton; cabbage, choice 2s. 6d., ordinary Is. to Is. fid. per sack;, green peas, 6d. per.peck; carrots, Hutt, 6d. per doz.; tur-

nips, white, sd. per dos ; swedes, 2s. per vegetable marrows. Is. per sack; lettuce, choice Is. 6d., fair 6d. to Is. per . case; spinach, best, 2s. fid. per case; French beans, Is. per half-sack; cucumbers, outside grown, 2s..fid. per banana case; broad beans, ld. per lb.; spring onions, Bd. to 9d. per doz. bundles; tomatoes, Eutt Is. 6d. to 25., Nelson ,Is. fid. per half-case, market glutted; rhubarb, 9d. per doz. bundles; apples, cookers, large 4s. 6d- to 55., small 3s. fid. per case,' Cox's Urange 6s. 6a., dessert, well coloured 55'.,. otners 4s. per qase; pears, dessert 75.. cookers, large ss. 6d., small 4s. per. case; poaches, choice dessert 2s. 6d., medium 25., others Is. 6d. - per half-case; plums, Ponds seedlings, 4s. per half-case; grapes, best Hutt 15.,.. Nelson. Bd. par lb.: Cane gooseberries,-Sd. per lb.; radish, 4d. per aoz. bundles; butter, best soparator, printed wrappers 9d., separator, bulk BJ'd. to 9d., dairy pats • Old. to. 9d.; cheese," best factory mediums sid. to 5} jper lb., loaf 6id. per lb.; dressed pork,• 70's to.9o's 3id., 90s' to 100's 3d., baconers .3d., choppers (heavy) 2d, ; eggs, is. 6d. to Is. 7d. per rioz. (good demand); bacon, factory, sides gd.,-rolls 71d., hams 7d. per lb.; honey, 60s, 4d. per lb.; beeswax, is. fid. per lbfungus, keen demand at 5Jd. per lb.'*walnuts, Sid.; tallow, tins, 225. cwt.; onions, 1 Globes. £5-10s/per ton; poultry, cockerels ss. 6d. for good birds, small 3s. fid* 1 table roosters, 45.; table hens, 3s. fid. to ] 45.; small 23. 6d. to 35.; ducks, large fis., 5 small 3s. 6ato 4s. per pair; turkey gob- • biers; 9d. per lb.;' hens, Bd.'per- lb. live 1 weight; maize, 4s. per'bushel; wheat, 4s. ru of bushel; barley, feed 3s. per bushel, Uape 33. to. 3s. fid. per bushel; horse beans js.,per bushel ; partridge peas, Is. 6d. to ss. per -bushel; Prussian blue peas, ss. 6d. por bushel; barley meal; special quallty, £5 10a. per ton; sharps, £5 15s. per io P ' ICS ' Per ton i bran . £4 to 7S . ton! chaff ' primc oaten, sheaf, . to „4 10s. per ton; hay, nrimc, £3 ■ 15s to £4 por ton; Straw, wheatcn £2 ss. per ton, oa t en £2 2s. 6d. per ton;.linseed oil cake eonuine, £13 per ton; oats, feed 2s. t?.' . per 'bushel, seed, Gartons, Duns 2s. 9d. per i bushel, crushed 2s. 7d. per bushel; machine-dressed cocksfoot, 6>.d.' to 7d. per lb.; farmers' dressed cocksfoot, ? er i. i' : tP 0 ?- ■ WBrass, 4s. 6d. to 5s por bushel; Italian,ryegrass, 4s.'3d. to 4s. 9d. per bushel.. • • • ■ ■■ • "

, FItUIT' AND PRODUCE REPORT. The New' Zealand Fruit and Produce Co., P^ rt: r Dnr , lng - 1 th ? P aßt w « k the supplies of stone fruits show a decided decrease m Quantities, though not a relative ln , prl , c ? s - Apples (dessert and cooking) and also pears arc coming forward wore freclyv A good demand exists foi . prime coloured dessert apples, also for pi ime dessert pears. Grapes from Austral™ 1 ?? W i- a Pool' demand. Potatoes, dl £ R , a ,s<3 ?9 od sample, arc in urgent:.request. Onions rule.very cliean rrnn ni!j les i .with " i.hy.,exception of ffrccn peas.;.- The. following-prices, will indicate the state of our market i-Potatoes, ss. to 6s. 3d. cwt.i onions, 4s. to 4s. 6d. ! t bwc i ! c 6d ' cwt ' : turnips, 3s. sack: canots, 3s. to ss. sack; parsnips, 4s. 6d. to 1«' /„ b , cotroo V <"• sack; cabbage, is. od. to 6s. sack; cauliflower, 6s. to 9s saqk; peas, 7s. to 13s. saclt; marrows; Is. 6d. to 2s. Id. sack; tomatoes, Is. 3d. to 2s case; beans, French Is., to 2s. 6d. saok,broad „s. to 3s.- sack; lettuce, Is. to 3s. case; cucumbers, 35.:,t0 6s. 6d. case; apples, ~oolung 35.-6 d.; to.4s. 9d., dessert-ss. to Bs.; ln^ m A 2s. Cd. to 35.; pears,'cooji-&■.',S-J-0, 55.. dessert Bs. to 10s.; erapes;. (d. to Bd.,per lb.; blackberries, 13d. to 2d SSL «>•!'P<aeh«a.. cooking. 2s. to 3s;, desfn ?ci„ J f : ? ra ? ECB ' Californian 7s yj 10s., Island, 6a. to 7s. 6d.; bananas,'7s. 3d. to 9s. 6d, case, and 3s. 6d. to ss. bunch; '« mo , ns -,„ Me ssiEa, lis. 6d. (150); pines,. 7s! 9d. to • 10s. ;• eggs, Is. 6d. to Is. Ed. (good demand); chaff, f3lss, to £4 155.; ducks ss. to 6s. per pair; bran, 9s. per Backwheat, 4s. Bd. per bushel; hens, 4s. per pair; peanuts, Japanese, 20s. 6d. per sack

LONDON WOOL SALES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright , ; London, March 10. There is an animated Bale for wool. Merinos and fine crossbrcds-are in strong recjuest at .firm rates,, ■ (I!oc. 'Mai-oil 11, 8.35-p.m.) m ,' '■ ,■; ■ London, March. 10. The sales included the following clips Highest price. Average. St. Helens'. I4j 135 . '"tone ' 12} lci! LONDON-'MARKETS. , • Messrs.. Dalgety. and . Company, Limited, report having received the following cable messages from their London house, under date-March 11):—Frozen Meat: A good de; K? n<l »r exls f / s tor all-[descriptions.. Prices r? l+ Aow. Zealand, lamb, aro unchanged, but Australian lamb rules Jd. higher.. tcrbury mutton is lirm at last quotationsbut .New Zealand, North Island, and AUs' ™ ff i? r< L -Prices for bed nf>?i "i t Wool: Sales continue firm and lately-reported rates are. Jully main tamed Continental and Unglish buyers hn 1 principal . operators, American liuycis hardly . doing, anything. Decline is chiefly on crossbred wools,- greasy, me aium _ and -coarse* Qualities/ suitable for Amonca. 1 allow: 'Prices are par to 6d higher. The.advance is. chiotiy.pn low and ™T or >A-. al ,^ cs - Habbitskins: New Z ea . land rabbitskins are 5 per cent, higher' other descriptions 10 per cent, to is »; cent, higher. Furriers buying freely even' the lower qualities. 1270 bales were of fered and practically sold. . The New..Zealand Loan and Mercantile vl on Fn Uonwy-, limited, have Sled £'i? B j f Eranl from their Lou. don house under date March 9:—"TallowWo ouoto. present spot values for' the foY lowing descriptions :-Good mutton? 3° s .- Per cwt.; good beef, 340. Sd. per cwt •' mued, 335. 9d. per cwt ; market firm ' '

■ MANILA. MEAT, CONTRACT. JPhe Minister for Industries'and Com': meice has received advice of ii i>nnwi, * for the supply of 6,600,000 pounds offiwnn f bpof^aud „ 2 . tW00 P° u "ls of frozen thp v ? e f- Sta ' es forces at Manila for. close at""Sof^!' the t Direc?« ra r t may be „ obtainod director, Comraevce Division ■K turc ' Pubiic Mas

, TAEANAICI PETROLEUM COMPANY illy Telegraph.—Press Association.. ' m.' ~• . Now Plymouth, March 11' Tho directors ol tho I'aranaki Petroleum Company to-night cdnsidcrcd a S ,! quiry from London asking the «oJu! price of all rights and' properties ami E cided to cable terms subiert tn de " ■proval of the shareholder? th ° ap "

OANTEEBUEY. GEAIN MAEKET. (Dy TeiecraDh.—Press Association.) wi,.,t 1,.' ~ OllPlstchuroh, March 11. Wheat has been more difficult t« a; pose of during the past few days and' consequently, few sales have been made' nnr t^n C o ,i ?l?- r llaa be ™ reduced 10s' ® ' '"J 1 111I 11 " 1 'I" 8 18 no doubt haviiiir some effect on the market. A line of fore tt° ,^ 3Ca K n ' V hat was sooiired £ srnn h i, r , aln , s ' been sold at 3s 8d 3000 bushels (mixed) at 3s. .7U ' anri & busholß of weathered wheat at 3s 3d nt country stations. Oats are scarce ■ and i ™ ln Price, and few-sales aro takl™ Place. Gartons are selline at £ t s. 5d but mostly foot has made some recovery in nriei. 51 consequence of new buyers operating aid f™ a l°„ aEai \. bein S made up tS B, 4 jd

a BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigh*. (Rec. March 11, 8.35 p.m.) • London, March 10. The Bank of England return issued for the week ended . Wednesday, March 9 is as under:— i Issue Department. • Note Issue... £52,366.000 Gov. dobt ... i 11,015,003 5 Other securi--51 . tiea ... 7,434.000 [ , Gold * ... 33,917.000 | £52,380,033 £52.366,W0 Banking Department.Proprietors' Govt. 6ecttricapital i14,553,0G0 ties... ... £13 076 mn Public de- Other securiposits ... 8,372,000 ties... ... 29.122,0D0 Other deposits • ...42,437,000 Notes 2J 377 000 Best, 7-day ' ' and other - Coin... m 1,322,000 bills 3,435,000 £63,707,000 ' £68,797,000 The leading items of the Bank of England return afford the following comparison:— This week. Last week. Last year £ £ £ Bullion 33,917,000 34,720,000 37,502.000 Reserve ... ... 25,GiiD,Q00 2(5,136.000 "8.351.000 Note cu-culation 27,959,000 28,264,000 *8 672,000 Public Deposits 8,37.5,003 11/249.1)00 17,268 , .L00 Other Deposits 42,437,000 40,252,000 ' 39,876,000 Proportion of reservo to ; ■ liabilities ... ' 50.82 GQ.73 &0.64 GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. The followinu are tho latest quotations for Government securities, with a compari£on of thoso ruliiig last week:—

A BANK EATES OP DISCOUNT. The Bank of England discount rate, which' was raised on October 7 fi*om 2i ,io 3 per cent., on October 14 to 4 per cent., .and on October 21 to 5 per cent., was on December 9 reduced to 4J per cent., on January 6 to 4 per cent., on January 20 to 3i per cent., and on February . 10 to 3 per cent.

The Bank of Franco rate was reduced • from 3J to-3 per eeut. on January 23,19U8, and remains at the latter figure. The Imperial Bank ox Germany, on Septembcr Jju, auvanccu its rate 01 discount from 3$ to 4 per cent., and on October 11 to 5 per cent., lowered gamo ou January 21 to per cent., and on February 10 to 4 per cent. t MARKET BATES OF DISCOUNT. • The following show the market rates for best three months' bills:— 1 London Paris Berlin rate rate rate per per . per , r , „ cent. cent. cent. March 9 2i 3 La3t week 2 5-16 2,J 3 Last year 1J 23 oiioi t loans 111 London unchanged at 1J per cent. COLONIAL &ND OTHER PRODUCE. Wheat—The markets are depressed and thero is a general downward tendency, the weekly shipments are heavy, especially from Argentina, and excellent crop prospects arc- reported from India. There is little inquiry for cargocs; 38s. 9d. io asked for Victorian and South Australian, per steamers and sailers, I'ebruary-Ji'arch shipment; JSs. 3d. for New South Wales per sailer .February-March; 38s. 6d. for steamer parcels ailoat, and 375. 9d for steamer parcels March shipment. Small vi C - ~A us tralian 011 spot at 425. 6d. su PPlics exhausted. New wheat, March steamer shipment, is offcr--1 whloh is ls - to Is- 6d. abotc buyers ideas. market is anict. Sales, MarchApril shipment, ai 275., c.i.f. ■ ® ar ' oy . is neglected, Australian malting nominally 2os. to 30s. niP'lfnM 11 '?!! N S, W Zeala nd Gartons, IT, ?H t« i. M T ls --nf d ' : Sparrowbills, shipment Ms!' ifdV- La Hata ' Mlrc - U P ri ' «tS l ni er ti lo • ' s exceedingly strong Danish, 1345. to 1365.; choicest Australian, 1265. to 1275.; secondary, 122s - Sr'rw • V ?j' aD(i ' 126 s- to 1285.; the i?n,i ,8 r cle - a^i d --. Im P° r <"s are asking due o"Monday hICS 6hipnl<:nt -. is 61s m ' Ke * Z ° aland co! °U"d., _ at GU l B 4 a /"ld er ni. n be , et ' ld ' hi Sber lVfprf f 3 J- per cwt.j first-mark granunv.amb!S? ld ' lowcr at 16s. 3d. Bradford Tops.— 1 he market is firm a*nl ffr Thor . e is a strong demand. ior incnno counts. THE METAL JfAKEETS. firt C °sL er i Vt ot ' lis ~ 3d - Wer £59 17s. ft'ififlU : f t °°, ra ? nt!ls '' 13s - Sd - iow " Tinn„ =™i eC s?° y ." lc ' ss ' higher, at £63. n-jiL™ spot, 455. lower, at £147 12s. 6d. £149 7s 6d montbs '' 2s - 6d ' low er. at Lead, £13 ss. per ton. \ , . Pig-iron, Ms. 7d. per ton. ' Sselter 2s. 6d. uer ton.

. Variations'- ■ ~ .Pries compaied rrl<!9 with - 1 _ 'last-week. 1 2J% Imperial Consols 81 7 C 2s. 6d. lower 4 „N.S.\V.1933 Jan.-July 107 0 0 Unchanged 34 „N.S.\V.1918jiar.-Sop. 98 15 0 Unchanged 3 „N.S.W.1035 Apl.-Oct. 89 10 0 Unchanged 4. „ Vic. 19-20 Jan.-July ioj b (j Unchanged 3i ,,'Vic. 1M1-6 Jan.-July M'lO 0 Unchanged 3 „ Vic. 19-29-49Jan.-July 86 0 0 Unchanged 3a „ S,A. 1D1G Jan.-July 93 0 0 Unchanged 3 „ S.A. 1J1B Jan.-July M 10 0 Unchanged 4 „QTdl915-!M Jan.-July 104 0 0 Unchanged 35Q'l'd 19-2M0Jan.-July 98 10 0 2s. Cd. higher 3 „ Q 1 d l«'2'2-47Jan.-July . 36 0 0 Unchanged 4 • „N.Z. 1029 llay-Nov. 10# 10 0 Unchanged 3j „N.Z. 1910 Jan.-July 96 10 0 Unchanged 3 N.Z. 194.'. April-Occ. ■ 67 0 0 Unchained 3} „ W.A.1920-iU May-Nov W 0 0 Unchanged 3 „ W.A.1M5-S5 Uay-Nov b9 0 (I Unchanged ? 97 10 0 Unchanged 3 ■ ■■ las. 1920-40 J an.-J ulyi 86 5.0 '5s. lower I