COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 811, 7 May 1910, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHAKES. • Sales of New Zealand Insurance at £3 16s. 6d., and Ward and Co. at £4 17s. 6d. wore recorded yesterday. National Bank, buyers £5 12s. 6d.; Equitable Building, buyers, £9 35.; Wellington Trust and Loau, buyers £7 2s. 6d., sellers £7 3s. 6d.; National. Mortgage, buyers £3; J?eildiug Gas, buyers £1, Os. 6d.; Gisborno Gas, buyers £2 lis.; Wellington Gas,- £10 paid, buyers £17 165., new issue, sellers £2 10s. premium; Ohrlstchurch Heat, buyers £11 125.; Gear Meat, £1 paid, buyers £2 135., sellers £2 14s. 6d.; Meat.Export, £5 paid, sellers £6, £4 paid, sellers £5, £2 12s! 6d. paid, buyers £2 135., sellers £2 155.; New Zealand Shipping, buyers £7 195.;. Wellington Woollen, preference, sellers £2 10s.; Hikurangi Coal, buyers 195.; Westport Ooal, buyers £6 Bs.; Loyland-O'Brien Timber, buyers £1 45.; Saarland's' ordinary and preference, sellers £1 2s. 3d,; Taranaki Petroleum, buyers 13s. 3d., sellers 14s. 3d.

.CONGRESS OF INVENTOES. An International Congress of Inventors la being convened to meet in Eochcstcr, Now Jersey, U.S.A., from June 13 to 19. The meeting has been organised by the International Inventors' Association, which calculates that there are from 200,000 to 250,000 inventors of all classes in the United Estates alone, so that the congress is not likely to fail from want of attendance. Tho congress will devote its attention chiefly to the regulation of the patent laws, with a view to fascilitating the exploitation of patents in 'the various conntries of the world. An historical museum of inventions, as shown by models, will also be on exhibition, and attention will be directed towards the assistance of • inventors without means to make known their ideas. DALGETY AND CO.. LTD. DIVIDEND OP 6 PEE CENT. Messrs. Dalgety and Companv, Limited, Wellington, yesterday received a cablegram from their London office intimating that an interim dividend of 3s. ner share, being at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, has been declared, and that same is payable to tho shareholders'on the colonial register and clsewhero on and after May 17. CUSTOMS EEVENUE. Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £2145 15s. 4d. WELLINGTON MAKKET EEPOET. Tho New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Company report as follows for the week:—The market for prime lines of potatoes is much firmer, and the market is barely supplied. No chaugo to report in onions. Vegetables of all kinds aro in short supply, with keen demand. Wo arc pleased to report a considerable improvement in values of cooking apples, sales realising up to Is. 3d. for good linos. Dessert apples are also iirmor, as also pears. Grapes continue in excellent demand at fair prices. Eggs are very scarce and we now recommend clients to send in preserved lines in any quantity. We have a demand for 100 prime porkers per week at the best prices obtainable in this city.. Oats are advancing, and wo are prepared to quote customers for their forward supplies. Wheat is firm. Pollard and bran show an advancing tendency. Maize at present prices is well worth stockine up for winter supplies. Potatoes, prime Up-to-Dates £5 10s. to £5 15b., others £3 to £4 10s. per ton; onions, £4 to £4 10a. per ton; garlic, 3d. per lb.; cabbage, choice ss. to 6s. 6d., ordinary 2s. 6d. to 4s. per sack; cauliflower, choice 10s. to 12s. 6d., others ss. fid. to Bs. por sack; green peas, Bd. per peok; oarroti, Unit, lfld. dot; turnips, white, Ed. doz~i

swedes, 2s. to 2s. 9d. Tier", sack; vegetable marrows, 2s. 6d. per sack;...pumpkins, 3s. sack; pie melons, 35.,,t0 4s; per .sack;.lettuce, choice 3s. 6d.,'fair '6d. to Is. 6d. per case; spinach, -best,"!?.'. t'o : 2s. Gtl. per case; .French beans, Bs. .6d. per half-sack; spring onions, 9d. per. doz.- bundles; . tomatoes, round 4s. 6<l. to 6s„ Hutt 3s. to 4s. 6d., others Is. 6d. to 2s. Cd. per half-case; apples, cookers, large 3s. to 4s. 6d., small 2s. 6d. case (market glutted); dessert, well coloured ss. 6d. to 6s. 6d.; others 3s. Cd. to 4s. per case; pears, dessert 6s. to-7s. 6d„ cookers, largo 4s. 6d., small 3s. 6d. to 4s. per case; rhubarb, 2s. 6d. per dozen bundles; grapes, best llutt Is. 3d., best Nelson Is. per lb.; butter, separator 10d., dairy 9d. to 9Jd. per lb.; cheese, best factory mediums 5Jd. to 5Jd: per lb., loaf 6Sd. to 7d. per lb.; dressed pork, 70's to 90's 4d. to 4Jd., 90's to ICO's 4d., baconcrs 3Jd. to 4d., choppers (heavy) 2d. to 23d.; eggs, 2s. 4d. to 2s. 5d.; preserved, Is. sd. per doz. (scarce); bacon, factory ' sides,- 7d., hams 83d. per lb.; honey, 4d. to 4id. per lb.; beeswax, Is. 4d. to Is. 6d. per lb.; fungus, keen demand, at sid. per lb.; walnuts, 55d. per. lb.; .tallow, tins, 245. cwt.; poultry: cockerels. ss. 6d. for good.birds; small, 3s. to 3s. 6d.; table roosters, 45.; table.hens, 3s. 6d.; small, 2s. to 2s. 6d.; ducks, large,. ss. to 65., small 3s. to 3s. 6d. per pair;- turkey gobblers, 9d. per lb.; hens, Bd. per lb. live weight; maize, 3s. 6d. to 3s. 9d. per bushel; wheat, 4s. 2d. to 4s. 3d. per bushel; barley, feed 3s. 3d., Capo 3s. 6d. per bushel; horse beans, 4s. 6d. to 4s. 9d, per bushel; partridge peas, ss. per bushel; Prussian blue peas, ss. 6d. per bushel; barley meal, special quality, £5 10s. per ton; sharps, £5 15s. per ton; pollard, £5 10s. per ton; bran, £4 10s. per ton; chaff, oaten.sheaf, £4 15s. to £5 ss. per ton; hay, prime, £3 15s. to £4 10a. per ton; straw, wheaten £2 10s. per ton, oaten £2 7s. 6d. per ton; linseed oil cake, genuine, £13 per ton; oats, feed, 2s. Bd. per bushel, seed, Sparrowbiils, Gartbns, Duns, 2s. 9d.; Algerians, 3s. 3d. per bushel; crushed, 2s. lCd. per bushel; machinedressed cocksfoot, 6Sd. to 7d. per lb.; farmers' dressed cocksfoot, sd. to 6d. per lb.; per. ryegrass, 4s. 6d. to ss. per bushel; Italian ryegrass, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 9d. per bushel. -,- -

FRUIT AND PRODUCE REPORT, i The New Zealand Fruit and Produce Co., » Ltd., report as follows Very little differi once has taken placc between this week's I prices and last. There is still a. good demand for both fruit and vegetables.- The ; following priccs aro a good indication of ' prices -ruling in our mart during the week Potatoes. ss. to 6s. cwt.: onions, 3s. 9d. to 4s. cwt.; swedes, :2s. cwt.; turnips, 4s. 6d. to 6s. sack; carrots, 3s. to ss. sack; parsnips, 4s. 6d. to 6s. sack; beetroot. 4s. to 6s. 6d. sack;/cabbage, ss. to 7s.v sack; cauliflower, Bs. t,o lis. 6d. sack: peas. 10s. 6d. to 16s. 6d. sack; marrows, Is. to 2s. sack; tomatoes, 3s. to ss. 6d. case; French beans, 7s. to 9s. sack;.broad beans. 3s. to 4s. 6d. sack; lettuce, 3s. to ss. 6d; ease; spinach, 3s. to 3s. 6d. case; apples, cooking 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d., dessert 6s. to 7s. 9d..; uassion fruit. 10s. bos; pears, cooking ss. to 65.,' dessert 6s. to 95., half-case 45.; bananas, 15s. to 18s. 6d. case, 6s. to 7s. 6d; bunch; oranges. Island, 9s. to 10s. 6d.; leinons, Messina, lis. 6d. (150); lemons, Sydney, 7s. 6d. to'Bs.; pines, 7s. 9d. to lis.; -grapes, 9d. to lOd. lb.; eggs, fresh 2s. to 2s. 2d. doz., preserved Is. 6a. doz.; chaff, £5 to £5 15s. ton; ducks, 4s. 6d. io ss. pair; bran, Bs. 6d. por rack; wheat, 4s. to 4a. 4d. bushel; hens, 3s. to 3s. 6d. pair: peanuts, Japanese, 20s. 6d. sack. . LONDON MARKETS. Messrs. Dalgety ..and Company, Limited, report having received the following cable message from their London house, under date May s:—Frozen meat: Priccs for mut- I ton, which is weak and in poor demand, ■ are from id. to gd. lower. The market for lamb is weak, but prices are not quotably I changed. The consumptive demand is ! good, but, as large Quantities are arriving : and afloat, a decline seems probable shortly. * Beef is in rather slow demand, with firm, prices. Very little business is being done forward. Tallow: Prices are 6d. lower; buyers are'holding off. Wool: The following further realisations of wool on account of our clients have been made in series:—o over M, 9id.; B and 0, BANK OF ENGLAND' RETURN. By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrighK licc." May '6, 9.45 p-m.) London, Hay 6. The Bank .of England return issued for the week ended Wednesday, May 4, is as under:— » ISSUE Department. Note Ibsuo— £56,321.000 Gov. debt ... £11,015,000 Othor securi- ' ' tioa ... 7,434,000 Gold w 37.872.000 N £56.321.0 M £56,321,000 . Department.• Proprietors' • ? Govt, socari- ' '. . . capital £14,553,000; ties... ' ;.. £13,810,000 1 Public do- Other,securiposits ... 10,325,000 tics...' . k . 30,683,000 Other do--posits '... 44,137,C00 Notes' ... 87 6SSOOO Best, 7-day: • - :' . and othor Coin ... . 1,013,000 bills 3,188,003 ' ■ £72.203,000 ' £72,203,000, The leading items of the Bank of Eng. land return afford the following comparison:— This weok. Last week. Last year £ £ Bullion 87,872,000 34.085,000 36,902,000 Resorve 28.701.000 26,3s. 1 ;,(XX) "7,6.0,5,000 Note circulation 28,633.000 *2«,2-36.000 29,217,000 Public Deposits 10.325,000 8.441,000 11,935.000 Othor Deposits 44,137,000 43.5U5.0U0 43,934.100 Proportion ol reserve to » liabilities ... 52.63 50.70 . 49.55 * GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. The following aro the la'test quotations for ; Government securities, with a comparison of those ruling last week*—

BANK BATES OF DISCOUNT. Tho Bank of England discount rate was raised on October 7 last from 25 to 3 per ccnt., on October 14 to 4 per cent., on October 21 to 5 per cent.; on December 9 was reduced to 45 per cent., on January 6 to 4 per cent., on January 20 to. 3J per cent and on February 10 to 3 per cent On March 17 it was raised to 4 per cent., at which ficui'o it still remains. . Tho Bank of Franco rate was reduced from 3J to 3 per cent, on January 23, 1908, and remains at the latter figure. The Imperial Bank of Germany, on September 20, advanced its rate of discount from 3} to 4 per cent., and on October 11 to 5 per cent., lowered same on January 21 to 41 per cent., 'and on February 10 to 4 per cent.

MARKET KATES OB' DISCOUNT. The following are the market rates for best ttaee months' bills:— Loudon Paris Berlin rate. rate. rate. per cent, per cent, per cent. May 5 3 3-16 21 . 3J Last week 3J 23 3 Last year 1} 1J 2 1-16 Short loans in London are I lower, at 3 per cent. ' COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. Wheat.—Tho markets are hardening slightly from the lowest, but buyers are indifferent, and are waiting for lower prices, the weekly shipment continuing to be above requirements. Australian lots, por sailer, January shipment, are being held for 365. 9d., February shipment for 365. 3d. Australian steamer parcel alloat have been sold at 375. There are fair supplies of Australian on spot with few buyers at 395. 6d. A . small parcel of Now Zealand, afloat per steamer, sold at 345., but buyers arc cautious, fearing the Quality. Barley.—There is a slow demand at sixpence to nincpenco decline. Oats.—There is littlo business doing. Cartons, on spot, are nominal at IBs. 6d. to 21s. 3d.; Sparrowbills. 18s. 3d. to 205.; La Plata, May-Juno shipment, 13s. 6d., Sugar.—The market is firm. German beet, Ms. 9d., llrst niark3 17s. Butter—Danish, 117s. to 118s. Colonial is very Hat, owing to increasing European supplies. Choicest Australian. 102s. to lC4s pi!ra«ic-inlly lC6s.; secondary, about 985., many brands arc of poor quality and indifferent flavour. New Zealand choicest is mini ltbE. io ltßs. Cheese—The market is dull. New Zealand, 68s. to 595. THE METAL MARKETS. Coppor.-On the spot, Bs. 6d. lower, at £55 12s. 6d.; three months',. 10s. lower, at £56 12s. 6d.; electrolytic, £58 per ton. Tin.—On the spot, 17s. Gd. lower; at £149 2s. 6d.; three months', 10s. lower, at £150 12s. 6d. per ton. -', « Load, 6a. 3d., lower, .at £12 6s. 3d. por ton*' Spelter,. £22 por ton, Iron, 2d. lower, at 50s, 2<L pox ton, '

LONDON WOOL SALES. By Telegraph—Press Association— CoDyrlEht London, May 5. The wool sales included: Kcnopai, top prico 12Jd., average, Hid.; Ilillersden, top prico 12id., average Hid. Later. At the wool sales there was keen competition. Prices were fully maintained. (Rec. May 6, 10.45 p.m.) , London, May 6. Sales of clips included: Gear, top price 13d., average price Hid.; Wor, top 121 d., average 113 d.; llakataremea, top 14d., averago 13Jd. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Limited, have received tho following; cablegram- from their Loudon house under dato May s:—Londot wool sales: Sales gain firmness as they progress. As compared with last sales' closing rates, prices arc higher about par to 5 per cent, for the following descriptions:—Scoured merino, medium, greasy merino, greasy crossbred lambs, scoured merino inferior; and about the same for crossbred scoured, greasy crossbred, and crossbred slipe. There is little American demand. BRADFORD MARKET. (Rec. May 6, 10.45 p.m.) By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright : London, May 6. The Bradford wool market is quiet; 40's, 15d.; common 60's, 27Jd.; super 60's, 28Jd.; 64's, 29id. . ; THE METAL. MARKETS.. "3y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, May 5. Copper.—On tho 6pot, £55 55.; three months', £56 10s.; electrolytic, £57.105. Tin—On tho spot, £148 12s. 6d.; three months', £150 2s. 6d. , Lead, £12 7s. 6d. NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association* 1 Dunedln, May 6. The directors of the National Insurance Company have declared an interim dividend of 9d. per share, payable on May 17. OTAGO FARMERS' FIRE INSURANCE. Dunedln, May 6. Tho annual meeting of the Otago Farmers' Union Mutual Fire Insurance Association was held to-day. The annual report states that the year's working showed a net profit of £346 4s. 4d. The position on March 31 was-.-Balance to credit, profit and loss, £877 ss. 7d.; total insurances, £135,019; reinsurances, £24,371; premium notes, £5062 17s. 2d. The report continues as follows:—The directors wish to protest against the unfair methods at present adopted by the Government Advances to Settlers Office in supplying. private information of borrowers' names and particulars of properties mortgaged to the State Fire Office, which endeavours to coerce farmers into insuring with the State office by stating ' that tho . Superintendent of Government Advances wishes' them to do The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and the retiring directors re-elected.

CANTERBURY GRAIN MARKET. Christchurch, May 6 . The only business that appears to be doing locally in wheat is in lines for export that can be procured at shippers' prices, but this is limited by tho fact that growers generally are not yet prepared to accept these lower values. The barque Jacques is loading a cargo of wheat at Lyttelton for an Ashburton firm, and it is reported. also that another vessel has been' chartered. There is nothing fresh to report in oats, as there are so few offer-

ing, and tbo prices- asked aro beyond values. For coastal shipment there is better inquiry .for potatoes, which aro not offering very freely. Buyers complain that samples cannot be relied upon, and export coastwise has been checked through rejections'. Blight has evidently done more damage to lato crops than was expected. NEW ZEALAND PAPER MILLS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! Dunedln, Hay 6.. The annaa! report of the New Zealand Paper Mills states that, after making full provision for all bad and doubtful debts and depreciation of plant, machinery, and stocks, the net profit for the year was £7605 ss. 3d., of which an interim dividend for the half-year ended September absorbed £3317 2s. 6d. Adding the balance from last year, £6637 Is. 4d. is available for distribution. The directors propose payment of a dividend at the rate of 7 per cent, for the half-year ended March 31, absorbing £3317 2s. 6d.; tho creation of a reserve fund of £2500; and to carry forward £819 18s. lOd. The directors state that experiments have been made with a view to improving the quality and output of manufactures, and it is hoped an increase in the latter will result during tho coming year. WOOL. SKIN, AND HIDES SALES. Reports of wool, skin, and hides sales will bo found on page ** of this issue. MINING. Mining news will bo found on page .}■ of this issue.

| Variations - Prica i with I „ Inst week. ' , £ b. d. ' * 2j% Imperial Consols 81 2 6 Unchanged i H N.S."\V.1933 Jan.-July 107 0 0 Unchanged 3$ „N.S.W.1918Aiftr.-Sop. 98 10 0 ' Unchanged 3 „ N.S.W • l r J<55 Aph-Oct. 8S 0 0 Unchanged i „ Vic. 1920 Jan.-July 103 10 0 UiichanKcft 3-5 „ Vic. 1941-6 Jao.-Juiy yy 0 0 Unchanged 3 „ Vic. 1929-49Jan.-July 36 10 0 Unchanged 3j „S,A. 1S16 Jan.-July 93 10 0 Unchanged 3 „S.A. 1J16Jan.-July b4 10 0 • Unchanged 4 „Q 1 (11915-21 Jau.-July 1C410 0 UnchaoL'sd 3i 97 0 0 Unchanged 3 „QTdlS22-47Jan.-July 86 7 6 12s. Cd. lower i „ N.Z. 1029 May-Nov. 106 10 0 Unchanged 3§ „N.Z. 1940 Jan.-July 9/10 0 "Unchanged A ,,N.Z.lWr»April.Oct. b7 30 U Unchanged l 5 " wA^SJi ay - Nov 0710 0 Unchanged 3 „ W.A.lOlo-ioMay-Nov B7 10 (l Unchanged 3j „ Tus. 1W0Jan.July 99 5 0 5s. higher 3 .. las. lOM-ffl Jan.-July SO 10 0 Unchanged