COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 849, 22 June 1910, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHAKES, . Bales of South British Insurance at £3 •Bs. 9d. and Wellington Opera House at £7 16s. 6d. were., recorded yesterday. National Bank, buyers £6; Metropolitan Building, buyers £12; Wellington Investment, buyers lis. 3d.; Wellington Trust and Loan, buyers £7 75.; Wellington Deposit, buyers Bs. 3d.; National Mortgage, buyers £3 46. 6d., sellers £3 65.; Feilding Gas, buyers £1 Is., sellers, £1 2s. 6d.; Gisborne Gas, buyers £2 lis. 6d.; Napier Gas, buyers £12 55., sellers £12 10s.; Palmcrston North Gas, buyers £7 155.; Wellington Gas, £10 paid, buyers £18 55.; £6 15s. paid, buyers £13 Bs.; National Insurance, buyers. £1 95.; South British Insurance, buyers £3 2s. 6d.; Standard Insurance, buyers £1 45.; Gear Meat, £4 paid, buyers £10; £1 paid, buyers £2 135.; Meat Export, buyers £6, £5 and £2 17s. 6d. for the respective issues. New Zealand Shipping, buyers £8 2s. 6d.; Mosgiel Woollen, buyers £3 Is.; Wellington Woollen, S reference, buyers £2 95., sellers £2 10s.; ikurangi Coal, buyers £1; Taupiri Coal, buyers 19s. 9d.; Westport Coal, buyers £6 10s„ sellers £6 145.; Leyland-O'Bricn Timber, buyers £1 55.; Manning and Co., buyers £4; New Zealand Drug, buyers £2 95.; Taranaki Petroleum, sellers 13s. 6d.; Tarlngamutu Sawmills, buyers £1 7«.; .Ward and Co., buyers £4 18s. 6d. WHITE STAB LINE. The Oceanic Steam Navigation Companv, Ltd. (White Star Line), is the most profi'tiblo concern of the Morgan shipping combine, and the report of this company for 19D9 states that the accounts show a profit on the year's working of £614,054, which, with interest on investments and transfer fees amounting to £6290, makes a total of £620,344. After deducting debenture and general interest, directors' fees, income ■tax, etc., and writing off £336,933 for depreciation on fleet, wharves, and furniture, there remains a balance of £144.522. To this must be added the balance brought forward from 1908 of £36.204, making a total at the credit of profit and loss account of £180,726. Durinc the year a dividend at the rale of 10 per cent, per annum and a bonus of a similar amount, leaving a balance of £30,726 to be carried forward. Tin.- report slates that the company has acquired a half ."hare with tho Shaw, So.vill, mid Albion Company, Ltd.. in the s.s. liang-itir:-., also u prtrt share In that company':; s.s. I'akchn,' both of which vessels are intruded for the New Zealand service. The Australian and New Zealand branches of tho company's business have, during tho year under review shown encouraging results. LLOYD'S AND THE LATE KINO. A large number of Lloyd's underwriters are financially affected by tho death of King Edward. Probably tho heaviest disbursements for insurance on the King's life fall upon tho leading life offices, but

it is noticeable that the demand has increased of late for Lloyd's contingency policies, covering a national calamity, especially tor short periods. For many years insurances of this character have proved a, useful and valuable security to the assured, who can generally negotiate the business without difficulty, provided that -a oonu-fl.de interest can be established. Definitions of interest may be described as innumerable, from loss of trade ur gatemoney to an indemnity against publications becoming obsolete with tho deceaso of a monarch. The first public announcement of tno King's illness brought an unusually large number or orders for Insurance from West End tradesmen and others, who anticipated an exceptionally brilliant season. At first twenty guineas per cent, was offered for cover against the termination of the reign of King Edward within one month. But as tho day advanced and alarm was created by the later bulletins, the premiums rose before the close of business on the memorable Friday to seventy guineas per cent, for the same risk. Theso *policies,_ of course, became claims. OUR IMFOETS FROM BRITAIN. The following is a return of the principal lines of goods of British manufacture exported to New Zealand during thu month of April, .1910; also for the four months ending April 30, with the figures for 1909 shown for tho purposes of comparison, compiled from the Board of Trade returns :— Month ending Four months April ending 30. April 30. 1909. 1910. 1909. 1910. £ £ £■ £ Beer and alo ■ 2.008 1,203 11,204 11,023 Spirits 18,300 27,612 67,831 72,240 Iron and steel., ■ and manufactures thereof .... 52,938 89,027 249,370 319,823 Copper, wrought and manufactured 1,244 2,052 11,271 8,798 Cutlery ' 1,685 2,651 7,231 9,879 Hardware : 7,249.- 9,792 31,352 35,318 Cotton piece goods of all kinds 19,568 38.441174,740 196,817 Woollen and ■ worsted manufactures 10,632 16,145 101,313 113,735 Haberdashery and / millinery 1,248 1,927 18,878 18,986 Jute manufactures 1,194 2,185 10,201 10,497 Linen piece goods . ■.. of-all kinds ...... 2,935 6,584 26,640 32,397 Apparel 9,393 17,234 152,899 167,830 Boots and shoes ... 6,000 7,313 60,535 59,568 Saddlery and harness ..;.....- 1,913 2.53S 8,689 10,596 China and. earthernware 3,823 6,603 26,621 28,364 Writing and prints . ing papei .....; 6,868 11,949 35,06h 40,389 Cement. 2,543 2,314 9,879 7,025 Stationery other than paper ...... 2,584 2,865 12,359 12,235 CUSTOMS REVENUE. ■ 'Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to £1627 os. 7di TRADE IN ALLEN STREET. Pollard is in .exceedingly short supply, but, fresh shipments are expected to .reach here to-day, per Ulimaroa. Bran is in better supply, but Botwithstanding an advance of 2s. 6d. per ton has been recorded during tho past week. Flour.—Moderate shipments continue to come forward from Australia each week, but the market .there- has advanced 2s. 6d. per ton. New; Zealand flour iB without alteration. Oats.-Owing to short delivery, tho southern ■ market has advanced, A grade sparrowbills being now quoted- at 2s. Id., and B g-rado 2s. Old., f.o.b. south. ' Wheat—A fair business is passing at 3s. ■Cd. to 3s. Bd. per bushel, on spot, according to quality. . ' Butter—Primo bulk is in short supply, and easily commands lOd, to 10* d. per lb. i Eggs have 'declined .another 3d. per dozen, and are now quoted at Is. 6d. for fresh, and Is. 2d. for preserved. Poultry—As' no game: is available this season, there is-an increased demand for poultry of all descriptions, except geese. Consignments are recommended. Fruit—The Navua, from Fiji, brought over a small shipment of 200 cases for this market, and this is being transhipped at Auckland, ■'and will reach .hero by tho Monowai. "The Mokola, direct from the Cook Islands, landed 3000., cases oranges and bananas. The bananas* sold at from 10s. to 15s. per case, and oranges from ss. 6d. to Bs. 6d. These aro exceedingly nigh-prices, and should prove very satisfactory to the natives. Tho, Ulimaroa. from Sydney, is bringing 1000 cases, consisting mainly of passion fruit, mandarines, and lemons.. Seville Oranges—The first of theso came to hand last week, and realised satisfactory rates. , Tomatoes and ■ cucumbers meet with keen competition and, consignments are recommended. Vegetables aro without alteration in value, and the market is well supplied with. most varieties. SILVER. Bj Teleer&nta—Press Association—Oonynnht London, June 20. Bar silver is quoted at 243 d. per ounce standard. GRAIN AND PRODUCE. (B? Teleeranh.—Press Association.! Chrlstchurch, Juno 21. Very little business is parsing in .wheat, and transactions are mostly confined to chicken wheat. Farmers holding wheat suitable for milling are. not inclined.-to accept prices current al present Oats are very dull, and there is practically no demand. Prices have declined in sympathy with values at the Bluff. Ryegrass has been 'inquired for- during tho past fow day 6, well defined Italian being in fair request. Cocksfoot is also inquired for, and the market for 131b. seed is firm at late quotations. The demand for potatoes is slackening off somewhat, but prices aro unchanged. MINING NEWS. WELLINGTON SHARE MARKET. A fair amount 1 of business was done in mining yesterday, Ross Goldfields again receiving special attention. Waihis were slightly firmer and changed hands at £7 15s. Talismans aro steady. To-day's sales were as under:— May Queen, 4s. Id., 4s. Id. (second call). New Sylvia, 3s. 7d. (second call); 3s. 7d. (third call). Waihi, £7 155., £7 15a., £7 16s. (second call). Waitangi. 2s. 6d. (first call). Ross Goldflelds, 19s. 6d., 19s. 6d. (first call); 19s. 6d.,. 19s. 7Jd., 19s. 9d., 205., 19s. 10|d. (second call); 19s. 10»d., 205., 205., 19s. IOJd. (third call). QUOTATIONS Buyers. Scllero. Sales. £s- d. £s. d. £s. d. Kuranui Caledon'n 0 16 0 18 — May Queen 040. 042 041 Maoriland 0 0 7 0 0 8 — Mountain King .... 0 011' . — — New Sylvia 0 3 7039 037 Old. Hauraki 0 4 4 0 4 6 — Saxon 0 I' 7 0 19 —. Tairua Broken Hills 0 13— — Tairua Golden Hills 0 2 9 - . — Talisman 211 9 212 3 — Waihi 714 6 716 0 715 0 Waihi Eeefs 0 4 8 0 410 — Waihi Extended .... — . 0- 210 — Waihi G'd Junction 110 9 111 3 — Waitangi 0 2 5 0 2 7 0 2 6 Watchman — 0 2 0 — Blackwater 111 0 112 0 Con. Goldfields - 110 - New Big River ...... 2 0 0 — — Progress 013 0 015 0 - Ross Goldflelds 019 10 10 0 01910J STOCK EXCHANGE. tßy Telegraph—Press Association.', Auckland, June 31. Business done on 'Change to-day:— Mount Zeehan (paid), Is. 2d. Ross., 19s. to 20s. 6d. Hauraki, 4s. 6d. Tairua Broken Hills, Is. 3d. Talisman, 525. 6d. Grand Junction, 31s. 6d. Wuiatara, 6d. New Zealand Insurance, 80s. Auckland Trams (ord.), 235. 6d. Milne Choyce (ord.), 255. The following business was done at the afternoon call:— Mav Queen, 4s. 2d. Occidental (con.), 2d. Old Hauraki. 4s. stt., 4s. 6d. Talisman Consolidated, 52h. 6d., 525, 9d. Waihi. £7 lis. National Insurance, 295. 9d. Dunodln, June 21. Waihi Grand Junction. £1 10s. 9d., £1 10s. 9d. Kales reported:Waihi Grand Junction. £1 10s. 9d. May Queen. 45.. 4s. 2d. Old Hauraki, 4s. sil. Kuranui Caledonian, Is. sd. Bank of New Zealand (ex div.), £10 Is. Dunedin Stock Exchango Proprietary, new issue, £2 17s. 6d. For Children's Hacking Cough at night, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is. CU., • 2s. Gd.—Advt.