COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

■ INVESTMENT SHAEES. . ■ A'sale of Lcyland-O'Brien Timber ehares at 245. was reported yesterday. National Bank, buyers £5 10s.; Bank -of New Zealand, buyers £9 155.; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, buyers 6s. 9d.; Wellington Trust and Loan, buyers £7; sellers £7 3s. 6d.; Napier , Gas, £10 paid, sellers £24; Wellington Gas, £10 paid, buyers £17 10s.; £6 15s. paid,, buyeri £13 55., sellers £13 10s.; Gear Meat, £1 paid, buyers £2 135.; Now Zealand Shipping, buyers £7 155.; Wellington Woollen, ordinary, buyers £3 25.; Leyland-O'Brieu Timber, sellers £1 4s. 6d.; New Zealand Portland Cement, buyers £2 25.; Bharland'3, ordinary and preference, xhuyers £1 25.; Taranaki Petroleum, buyers Bs., sellers 9a. 3d;

' NEW ZEALAND INVESTMENT CO. The fourth annual balance-sheet of the New Zealand Investment, Mortgage, and Deposit Company, Ltd., covering the .period to March 31 last was circulated yesterday. Tho directors in their xoport state that "tho net profit on the year's business is £1332 17s. 2d.,-'to which must bo added the sum of £74 7s. 6d. brought forward from last year, making.: a total of £1407 4s. Bd. An interim dividend at tho rate of 5 per cent, per annum, amounting to £494 175., was declared and paid for tile half-year ended September 30, 1909. A further sum of £279 ss. has been written off preliminary expenses account, leaving a balance of £633 2s. Bd. to bo. dealt with. The directors recommend a further dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, per- annum which will absorb £502 13s. 9d., and that the balance .of £J3O Bs. lid. be carried forward. Tho company has now completed threo years and six months of its existence, and shareholders aro to bo congratulated on the fact that during - that time tho preliminary expenses account, which 1 stood at £768.25. 9d. at the, commencement of business, has been reduced to £100 and will finally disappear in next year's bal-ance-sheet." . .'

The principal items in the balance-sheet compare with those of last year as under:— 1910. 1909. Capital _ 20,107 . 19,623 Deposits „ 41,349 32,030 Mortgages : 58,959 54,085 Special Deposits 2.C04 — Cash in Bank ; 1,182 — Preliminary expenses : 379 100 Interest paid 1,065 1,479 Expenses '..' 710 .' 777 Gross income 3,607 3,483 ! Net profit. : 1,533 . 1,226 HEMP AND TOW KETUENS. The following is the return of tho hemp and tow. graded throughout* the Dominion during the month of March, 1910: —■ ■ m^ 6. .I I S ■ ' Port - .s 1 i ' § t 1 f 6l O, fcT U « O H Auckland .... 1 686 2735 533 45 — 33C6 Napier — 93, 16 — — — 114 Poxton 70 2226 IC6O 23 24 — 3403 Wellington ... 12 2648 1998 239 21.- 4918 Blenheim , — 60 — — — — .60 Picton B9 58 - — Iff- ■ Ly ttelton ...... — 69 15 — —' — 64 Dunediu — 121 514 — 635 Bluff / - 122 1058 93 1273 Totals ... 172 5988 7396 894 90 - 14,540* Percentages of total 1.18 41.18 50.86 6.14.61 . TOW. u $ 2 S , a ° o „• s I rl I Auckland ....' — 579 889 77 1545 Napier - 61 - - ei Poxton 361 302 241 - wl ■Wellington 627 451 408 143 1629 Blenheim — —.. — -■ _ Picton - 37 32 - 69 Lytteltoa 46 20 82 — . 148 Duiiediii — 18 75 — ox Bluff - 36 267 78 38i Total 1034 1507-1994 298 4833 Kemp.—The total number of bales of hemp graded was. 14.540. as against 9269 for the corresponding month of last year an increase of 6271 bales. ' r «: Uie aix .months ended Harch 21 the

number of bales of homp graded was 75,043, as against 48,781 for the corresponding poriod of last year, an increase of 26,252 bales. Worked out on a perocntago basis the quantity of each grade dealt with was as follows:— Fine. Good fair. Pair. Common.Bejected. 1.18 , 41.18 50.86 6.14 .61 Prices are still very unsatisfactory, good fair, boing now quoted at about £21 per ton, fair £20, common £19. The figures are f.o.b. Wellington. Tow.—During the montli 4833 bales were dealt with,' as against 4921 for the previous month, a decrease of 88. VICTORIAN WIIEAT HAEVEST. Intelligence received by the Minister for Industries and Commerce (Hon. T. Mackenzie) gives the complete actual roturns of the Victorian wheat harvest for 1909-10 as follow:—Area cut for erain, 2.097.162 acres, yield . 28,780,100 bushels, average per acre 13.72 bushels. The figures for the previous season were:—1,779.905 acres, yield 23,345,649 bushels, average 13.12 bushels. According to the returns about 984 per cent, of the bags used for the harvest were of the local noWj standard size, containing an average' of 3.09 bushels per bair. The old standard batr averaged 4.4 bushels. During the month of February 2,205.223 centals of wheat were exported from Victoria. NOTES. The- Queensland National Bank, Limited, has arranged to further reduce its debt to the Queensland Government by payins off two promissory-notes for £86,097 13s. 10d. each, due on Juno 30. 1915, and'the following year. Therefore, the next note will noi fall due till Juno 30, 1917. When the two notes mentioned above have been paid, the bank's debt to. the Government will stand at £430,488. so that inless than thirteen years the bank has paid oa £1,402,837,

From April 1 last year to February 22 this year tho India Council in London Bold drafts and telegraphic- transfers on India to tho amount of £20.855,657, and tho demand continued very strong at a oremium of l-16d. to ?,d. per rupee (Is. 4d.). German shipbuilding has been passins through bad times. T'uo Bremer Vullian Company last year showed a loss of £23,600; tho ; TecklenborK Company a loss of £13,860; the Eider' Shipyard has made a bad failure, and the Howaldt Worke at Kiel, has, not paid a dividend since 1904 However, as tlio German shipping com- ■ panies are now doing better, there may be better times ahead for their shipbuilding yards. Yesterday's Customs rtvenuo amounted to £1313 ss. 10d. FBUIT AND .PRODUCE EEPOKT. The New Zealand Fruit and Produce Company report that there is very little difference between this week's prices and last. If anything, there is a slightly hotter •■ demand for both vegetables and fruit. Quotations:—Potatoes, 'sa:~ to 6s cwt; onions, 3s. 9d. to 45., cwt.; swedes. 25.owt.; turnips, 3s. sack: cajrots, 3s. to ss. sack; parsnips, 4s. 6d. to 6s; sack; beet roots, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. sack; cabbage. 3s. to 55.-6 d. sack; cauliflower, ss. to 9s. Eack; seas, 9s. to 13s. 64. sack; marrows, Is. to 2s. sack; tomatoes. 3s. to ss. 6d. casebeans, F.,,35. 6d. to 6s. sack: beans, E.. 2s. to 3s. 6d. sack; , lettuce, Is. to 3s. case: cucumbers,. se. to 6s. case: apples (cooking), 2s. ,6d.- to 3s. 6d.; apples (dessert). ss. to 75.; peaches (cooking). 4s. to 55."; peaches (dessert), ss. 6d. to 65.: pears (cookimr) 5s to 65.; pears (dessert), 6s. to 95.; pears (half case), 65.; grapes. 7d. to Bd. per lb.: bananas (case). 7s. 3d. to 9s. 6d.; bananas (bunch), 3s. 6d. to 55.: oranges ' (Island). I 9s. to 10s. 6d.;' lemons (Messina), Us. 6d. ! (150); lemons (Sydney). ss. to 65.; pines. 7s. 9d. to 10s.; paseion fruit, 6s. to 7s. box: eggs. Is. Bd. to Is: 9d.; chaff, £4 to £5 10a.; ducks, 4s. 6d. to ss. pair; bran, 9s. per sack; wheat, 4s. to 4s. 2d. bushel; hens. 3s. to 3s. 6d. pair; peanuts (Japanese). 20s. 6d. sack. .

The Now Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Company, Ltd., report as follows:—Large cargoes of potatoes ha'vo lately arrived from south,-and the market is weak, whilo the position is maio worse by the great quantity of blighted tubere arriving, mostly from Blenheim. Such lines should not bo' sent to this market.' Eggs are very scarce .throughout tho district, and higher prices will doubtless rule. Clients . aro now advised to' send in preserved eggs, which are selling at Is. 4d. per dozen.' We have keen inquiries for dressed porkers, and wo could get 4d. per lb.. for good lines. Honey, beeswax, walnuts, and fungus , are wanted. Apples are still continuing to glut tho market, and nominal values, rule. Good crops throughout most outside distriots practically preclude shipping away into tho country. Tomatoes are in shorter supply, and the vnlue is rising.. , -.. Marrows should not bo sent in, as.;tuo.'-market is over-supplied. Potatoes: Medium, £4. 10s. to £5 10s.; others, £3 per ton. Onions: £4 to £4 10s. per ton. : Oa-bbage:', Choice , ,'3s. 6d. to 45.; ordinary, Is. tb'2s."per sack. Green peas: Bd. per, peck. Carrots: Hutt, .Bd., dozen. Turnips:. White, 4d." dozen. . Swedes: Is. 6d. to'.2s.'per sack. Vegetable marrows:'6d. per sack; market glutted. Pumpkins: 3s. to 3s. 9d. 6ack.-Lettuce: Choice, 2s. 6d.; fair, 6d. to Is.-per case. Spinach: Best, Is. 6d. to 2s. per case. French beans: 3s. 6d. per half-sack. Cucumbers: Outside grown, -7s. 6d. per- banana- case. Spring onions: 4d. to 6d. dozen bundles. Tomatoes: Bound, 4s. 6d. to 65.; Hutt, 3s. to 4s. 6d. per half-case. Apples: Cookers, large, 35.; small, 2s. to 2s; 6d. case; market glutted. Apples: Cox's Orange, 7s. 6d. to Bs. 6d.; aessert, well coloured, <s. 6d. to ss. ffl,;' others, 3s. 6d. to 4s. per case. Pears: Dessert, 75.; cookers, largo, 4s. 6d.; small, 3s. 6d. to 4s. per case. Rhubarb: 2s. 6d. dozen' bundles. Grapes: Best Hntti Is. 3d.; others, Bd. to 9d. per lb. Eadish: 4d. dozen bundles. Butter.: Best separator, > printod wrappers, 9d.,\ separator, bulk, Bld. t0.9d.; dairy,pats, ,8»d. to 9d. Cheeso: Best factory mediums,'6Jd. to 5Jd. perlb.; loaf, 6Jd.lb. Dressed pork: 70's to 90's, 83d.; 90's to lOD's, 3d;, baconers, 3d.; choppers, heavy, 2d. Eggs: Is. IOd.;. preserved, is. 4d. per dozen; scarce. Bacon: Fastory sides, 7d.; rolls, 7id.; hams, Bd. per lb. Honey: 60's, 4d. per lb. Beeswax: Is. 4d. to Is. 6d. per lb. Fungus: Keen demand at 5Jd. per lb. Walnuts: 5Sd. Tallow:; Tins. 225. cwt. Poultry: Cockerels, ss, 6d. for good birds; small, 3s. to 3s. 6d.; table roosters, 45.; tablo hens, 3s. 6d.; small, 2s. to 2s. 6d.; ducks, large, 55.; small, 3s. to 3s. 6d. per pair; turkey gobblers, 9d. per lb.; hens, Bd. per lb. livo weight. Maize: 4s. per bushel. Wheat: 4s. 2d. to 4s. 3d. per bushel. Barley: Feed, 3s. 3d. per bushel; Cape, 3s. 6d. per bushel. Horse beans: la. 6d. to 4s. 9d. bushel. Partridge peas: 4s. 6d. to Ss. per bushel. Prussian bluo peas: ss. Cd. per bushel.- Barley meal: Special quality, £5 10s. per ton. Sharps: £5 15s. per ton. Tollard: £5 10s. per ton.' Bran: £4 ss. to £4 10s. per ton. Chaff: Oaten sheaf, £4 15s. to £s'ss. per ton. Hay: Prime, , £3 15s. to £4 per ton. Straw: Wheatcn, £2 Its. per ton; oaten, £2 7s. 6d. per, ton. Linseed oil cake: Genuine, £18' per ton. Oats: Feed,