COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 831, 1 June 1910, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHAKES.

shares yesterday, prices remaining unchanged. National Bank, buyers £5 175.; Metropolitan Permanent, buyers £11 155., sellers £12; Wellington Trust and Loan, buyers £7 45.; Wellington Deposit, buyers Os.; National Mortgage, buyers £3 35.; Wellington Gas, £6 153. paid, sellers £13 10s., new issue, sellers £2 10s. premium; Gear Meat. £4 paid, buyers £10 55., £1 paid, buyers £2 J4s.; Wellington Woollen, sellers £3 55.; Hikurangi Coal, buyers 19s. 6d:; Taupiri Coal, sellers 19s. 6d.; LeylandO'Brien Timber, buyers £1 4s. '9d., sellers £1 ss. 3d.; New Zealand Drugs, buyers £2 6s. 6d.; Taranaki Petroleum, buyers 11s.; Taronigamutu Totara Sawmills, buyers £1 45.; Ward and Ou.;-.'buyers £4 16s. 6d. - The course of' sales during itlie past National Bank, £5 155., £5 15s. Bank of New Zealand, £5 19s. , N.Z. Loan and Mercantile, 11s. 6u, 12b' Wellington Gas, £10 paid, £18. . New Zealand'lnsurance, £3 165.. 6d. iGear Meat,. , £l paid, £2 14s. .'.N.Z. Shipping, £8 ss. Union Steam. £1 12s. 9d. ■Wellington Woollen, £3 35., £3 3s. •Wostport Coal, £6 Bs. 6d.. £6 Bs. 6d., £6 Bs. ; D.I.C. preference, £1 2s. Leyland-O'B.rien, 245. 3d., 245. 3d., 245. 3d.; '245: 3d., 245. 3d., Ms. 3d., 245. .3d. Taranaki Petroleum, 145., 14s. 2d.. 14s. 3d., 148. 6d., 14s. 6d., 14s. 6d., 14s. 9d.. 145., Ms., 13s. 6d., 13s. 6d., 12s: ' Ward, and Co., £4 17s. 6d., £4 16s. 6d. COLONIAL MUTUAL LIFE. The anuual report of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society for 1909 states that, during the past_ year, the society entcredt' upon tlin businoss of industrial life assurance by opening departments for the transactiou of that clase of business in Victoria, Now South Wales, Queensland; and South, Australia. Writing of this the directors say:—"The new department met with instant success, and there is every indication thiit not only will a large profitable business be built up in that department, bnt that it will form a valuable feeder to the ordinary branch." To December 31, 1909, the industrial dc-. partment had issued 15,503 new policies, assuring £429,371, the business in force at the end of the year yielding an annual, income of £12,890. In addition, the society during 1909 issued 1557 combined life, accident, and invalidity assurance policies, assuring an additional £462,250. if death should take place as the result of accident, with corresponding other benefits for disablement. The annual income from the accident and invalidity portion of these policies amounted to £3783. The whole of this business has been reassured, so that no figures relating to it appear in the balance-sheet. The new business written in the ordinary branch consisted of 5087 policies for £1,101,060. as- against 4627 policies for £1.135,374 in 1908. the new annual premiums being £40.082 against £41.385, and the average amount of the policy £216 against £245. Claims have matured by death under 393 policies, amounting to £137,670, including bonuses against £152,603 paid in 1908. In addition £74,205 has been paid for endowments under 323 ordinary policies, against £74.376 in the preceding year. An ■ amount of .£53,020 was paid in respect of tontine policies. Tho revenue account shows that renewal premiums were £304.454, against £312,903 in tho preceding year, new premiums, etc., £48,893, and interest and rent £128,711, against £124,758 in 1908. Surrenders and advances redeemed by surrender were £34,027. Expenses increased, doubtloss as the result- of the opening of the industrial branch. The society has again written down its securities. In 1909 the investment fluctuation fund of £75,562 wae wiped out, and this year £50.000 is applied to bringing down the value of securities. After making this provision the funds of the society show an increase of £38,087, the total standing at £3,111.658 at the close of the year. Tho rato of interest yielded by tho funds was £4 ss. nor cent. .

NOTES. Tho profits of the Bank of New South Wales for the twelve months ended March 31 lust havo been the Greatest in its history, but then, the magnitude of tho .year's business has much surpassed anything iu its own previous record, or in the record of any other Australian bank. The one hundred and eighty-four dividends paid by the . Bank of New South Wales have absorbed tho sum of £10,CG0.0C0, while its not profits have exceeded .C11.500.0C0. These aro large sums, but spread over the 93 years of the bank's existence only uives an average ol X123.50U per annum. During the eight months to March 31 the quantity of. petroleum products shipped from America to foreign markets amounted to 969.0C0.000 gallons, as compared with 966,CC0,6C0 gallons for the corThe value of the products for the uast eight mouths was 4,000,000 dollars more than wns the case for the corresponding period of one year ago. Illuminatiujr oil exports have 'decreased, but in the other clii.ssci; of products gsiiiift arc recorded. 'I'llo upRTCKiit-c ore reserves u.t present developed by the mines of the Rand are valued by the latest estimate at £100,000,000. showing a profit on the basis of tho present working costb ol at least ■r,40,1C0,00i). CUSTOMS REVENUE. Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £3045 Bs. 6d. The total for tho month of May was £59,541 15s. lid., beer duty amounting to £1090 !Bs. 3d. These figures show an incrcaso 19C9, v.iiich wiTc:-Rcvcnui> £44,252 Is. lid., beer duty .£993 os. 9d. TRADE-IN ALLEN STREET. Pears.-Thcrc is a good demand for I choico dessert pears, and consignments are recommended. Apples aro without any alteration in Island Oranges.—For a lino of repacked from Auckland >7s. 6d. to Bs. 6d. was obtained. Further consignments via Auckland aro due on Friday of next week. Lemons.—New South Wales-crown are realising 7s. to Bs. per case. Mandarines and passion fruit meet with keen competition, and realise satisfactory, > rices. Vegetables.—Green pens aro iu strong demand, and realise extreme rates. For cabbages the market fluctuates from day to (lay,, according to the quantity offered for sale, and prices range from «s. to Cs. oo! , sack for prime Quality. Cauliflowers arc in exceedingly short supuly. and choice are worth 10s. to Us. for well-filled 'packs. Parsnips meet with fair inquiry at 4s. to 6s. per sack; swede turnips are in over supply, and arc : worth'ls. 6(1. to ;Fresh Eggs —The price 'quoted yesterday was Is. 9d. per dozen; preserved, Is. 3d. u> If. 4d. • ■ ' 1 Ruttcr.-The demand for prime bulk is fully equal to the supply; current values aro 95(1.-to IOJd. Cheese is without change, bringing 53d. to 6d. ■ Ilanis and bacon continue firm, and satisfactory sales are being, made. ' Honey.-There is a, probability that shipments'will bo sent to the London market as .the values there are very, satisfactory. Oats.—These have , declined one pennv per bushel since last week. Wheat.—The market is easier, and prices are 2d. per bushel lower. Maize—As usual at this time, of the year there is Rood business doing in this line. Pcas.--Thcro is tho usual season demand for Prussian blues. Pearl barley and cplH peas are in moderate reouost, without change in values. Chaff.— lleavy stocks are available locally, .with prices, unchanged. Potatocs.-ThcEe have advanced 15s. ner ton sinco last week, a::d are now nuoted at £7 per ton. . Onions.—Thcro lias been, as.. advance of ss. per ton, which will be very welcome to growers. The Fruit Exchange will be closed on Friday, tho King's Erithday. PAL3IERSTON MARKET REPORT. Mr. Harry Palmer, of Palmerston, reports a fair average entry of pigs. at hia last sale. The report adds:—The demand was keener than it has been for the past three weeks, every.lino selling at advanced prices. There is a good demand for porkers of good quality. We had an exceptionally big entry of poultry. There is a keen demand for good tablo birds and young laying hens and pullets. When ihc tiiuo of the year is taken into account, prices for both pigs and poultry, aro all in favour' of breeders. There is a general scarcity of prime table, potatoes, and .prices havo hardened considerably. All lines of .vegetables aro finding n, ready sale. Tho market is now nracticUlly bare of fruit being confined to Sturmer and Washington apples, and an occasional consignment of oranges. We quote:-Weauers, 4s. 9d.,. ss. 3d.. 7a. 6d., Bs., Bs. 3d.; slips, 10s., 125., 155.; stores, 14s. 9d., 163. 3d., 17s. 6d.,.-18s., £1- 25.; porkers, £1 3s. 6d.. £1 55.; baconers, £1 7s. 6d., £1 10s.. £1 128.; ducks, 3s. 9d., 45., 4s. 9d., 55.; turkey gobblers, 7s. 6d. to'los. each; turkey hens, 4s. 6d., ss. 6d., 65. each; young hens and pullets, 4s. 6d. to 6s. 6d.; mixed- sorts, 2°. 6d. to 3s. 6(1.; good cockerels, 4b. 6(1.' to ss.' 6n\; Inferior, ■ from 2s. 6d.; goese, 2s. ;6d. each; primo table mrtatocs, 12s.'per sack;'inferior do., ss. to Bs.; pig potatoes, 3s. to 3s. 6d.; cabbage, 3s; per sack; carrots, 35.; mangolds. 25.; pumpkins, 3s. to 45.; marrows, 25.; onions, £4 10s. to £5 IO9.; barley.. 11s., 12s. per sack; wheat, 17e. 6d.; barley meal, 10s. to 11s.; chaff, 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d.; bacon, 6d. lb. METALS. , . . By Telcrraoh-Prcsn Association-Copyrlcllt (Bcc. May 31, 10.10 p.m.) London, May 31. Copper.—Spot, £56 155.; three months, .357 13s: 9d.; electrolytic, £59 15s. Tin.-Spot. £149; threo,months, -£150 ss. Lead, £12 12s. 6d. . "' . • WHEAT AND FLOUR. By TelcEraoh—Press Aesociation—CoDyrleta ' : London, May 30. The wheat and flour afloat for tho United Kingdom totals 4,090,000 quarters; for the Continent, 1.820,000 quarters; Atlantic shipments, 245,000; Pacific. 30.000. Tho total shipments to Europo during tho' week amounted to 1,275,000 quarters, including 152.000 from Argentina. 475.000 from Rwh. 93.000 from India, and 60,000 from Australasia. . (Rec. May 31, 10.10 p.m.) London, May 31. Wheat is.dull and neglected. Australian January and February shipments are about 31s. 9d. to 325.