COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 985, 28 November 1910, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

' . INVESTMENT SHARES. Tho business in,:'investment shares' on 'Saturday included New Zealand Insurance at £4'35., ■ Leylaud-O'Brien Timber at £1 6s. 6d., and'Taringamutu Totara, at.£2 3s. 6d. Tho quotations were-as under:— . ■■'•.' Buyers. Sellers. Rales. ■ '' ■ £s. d. £ s-d. £ s.d, National 8ank,.:.... 516 0 517 6 - Bank N.Z ■. 10 8 0.- — N.Z. Loan and Her- . cantilo 010 0 - - Well. Investment... olt 0 — — Well. Trust and " ' ' Loan :.. ? 10 0 Feilding Gas - 12 0 - Well. Gas (now) ... - ' 210 ,0 - National Insurance 114 0 — — SZ, Insurance ...... 4 3 0 — 4 3 0 N.Z. Shipping 10 16 0' - —' Union Kteam 116 9 - - Westprirt Stockton . — 0 7 9 - Lcyland-O'.Bricn ... — 16 9 16 6 Jlanning and Co. & 2 6 — — Miramar,- Ltd. , - 0 2 6 - N.Z. Con. Dental'... 1 2 3 - - Taranaki Petroleum 0 8 6 010 0 - TaringamutnTotara 2 3 0 - 2 3 6 Ward and .Co 5 4 0 — —

INSURANCE BROKERS' ASSOCIATION. Such an association exists in New South Wales, and the first annual report, states that tho membership numbered 37 insurance brokers registered by tho Piro and Accident Underwriters' associations, which must bo considered extremely satisfactory, and since the inauguration one new member has been admitted.' Several important nues'cions concerning tlio interests ot inRuranw brokerß have been taken up by

the committee through deputations to tho, underwriters' associations, and much, detail work and time have becu uiven by the committee to bring about good results. The committees of both Fire and Accident Underwriters' associations received tho representatives of ■ the association on very favourable terms and congratulated the brokers on tho formation'of the in'stitution. Tho formation of tho association terest among tho insurance companies, and the managers have expressed their willingness 1 to assist in tho endeavour to establish a better state of affairs in connection with the insurance brokers'- profession. Tho insurance "brokers in Adelaide and Brisbane are now on tho eve of forminE similar organisations in their respective States. V'"'TALLOW. :' On more than one occasion recently the London tallow'sales wero postponed, owintto shortage of supplies. The demand. appears -to bo exceptionally strong, and values discloso a. great 'improvement. Compared with a year ago, the different grades of tallow: eltow as under :— V ' .'• 1910. . 1909. '■•.•■ £ s.d. '•'• £ s. d. Mutton, fine 47 10 0 36 15 0 • Mutton, medium 39 10 0 32 10 0 Beef, nno ....>.... 39 15 0 3110 0 Boot, medium ... 58 0 0 32 0 0 Fine mutton tallow is £4 ■ 15s. per ton ihgher than a year' ago, medium mutton is £7 higher, fine beef £5 ss. higher, and medium beef f.6 higher'.. These l advances h'aye talten plaoe is spite of! a substantial" increase for the first nino months of this year. The, total imports of tallow and stearinc into the United Kingdom during tho first nine months of the last throe years compare.as under:— "'■ ■ ■ 1908. *..■•' 1909. 1910. From—.' • 'cwt. •' cwt. cwt. . Australia 377,751 495U85 856,929 New Zealand ... '329,564 404,762 " 447,730 Franco 27.501 28,816 37,314 Ttaited Slates'3Bo,B49 2«.5«2. 38.635, Argentina .352,541 . 545,«6 525,611 Other countries 174,508 - 232,790 288,837 .' '■'■'■■'■■ : 1,642,717 1,752,521 1,993,256 .He-exports ._ 806,521 833,577 1,002,021 .•Net imports ..". 836,196 918,944 991,235 Australian. and New Zealand supplies this year to September 30 enow an increase of '400,712 cwt.; but the increase in total im- , ports into the United Kingdom is only 240,735cwt., while net imports, after deducting rc-exportß, show an increase of-only 72,2910wt. The point of. interest in the above table is the very - pronounced decrease in tho shipmonts from tho United States, the decline beinn from 243,542cwt. to 38,635cwt. . There will, in all probability, bb ,aa increase from the States in the immediate future, as it is evident there is .. a substantial expansion of live stock, «but in any case the United States may be eliminated as a formidable, ■ competitor in the tallow market. "■•■■■' .[■:' ■ . CUSTOMS.' . ■ ■ Customs revenue , collected at tho oort ofY Wellington on Saturday amounted to £1419 -'.Ms .Bd., the collection for the week bding £13,994 17s. 7d. Compared with the corresponding dates of last year, the receipts, for the past eight weeks show as under:— : -■- .'' 1910. . 1909. . "'■■■..■ £ ~ £ October 8' 21,318 20,074 October 15 „... 10,021 7.520 \- October 22' .....;.....;-. 20,092 ■ 15,526 ■ October 29 .V. 9.647 ■ 12,3« ■ November 5 22,534- ' 16,977 November 12 8,581 6,252 ■ November 19 '....„;;.;.. 17,570 - - 15,058 < November 26 13,995 10,021 : . "■■' ■ 123,758 103,573 ' The beer "duty for the past week totalled £299 18s., as'against £417 Is. for the corresing week .of last year. ' ■-'./■ .'r. FEIIiDING MAHKET EEPOKT. Messrs. A. H. Atkinson and Co., Ltd M of Feilding, report as follows:-Thetf. Vas a considerable yardins of pies at Friday's market, and alarge.entry of poultry, over 200 birds being sold under tho hammer. ■The demand for pigs was not keen, except for finished porkers of medium , weight and gbod-stores. .Well-bred wcaners,madeup to 13s. 6d. For poultry there ie keen demand,, and any sort of birds meot with α-rcady. eale. Sood roosters made up to 6s: 6d.. per pair. We could have sold another 100 birds easily at. Quotations. New potatoes were not forward as expected, and we had plenty of inouiry. Old are now neglected. Other !■ produce lines were ■scarce..- Quotations:—Pigs, weancrß, 9e:l 105., 10s. 6d., Us., 12s. to 13s. 6d.; slips, 123. 6d.to 135.; light stores. 12s. 6d.,' 15s. to 175.: light p'orkei?,'. Ms: to 225: 6d.; medium, weight, to 30a. 6d:; empty sows, 255./-Pony, 3Cs. Poultry, at per pair: Hens, 3s.' 6d., 3a. 9d.,-! 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. (average price. 45.-. 3d.);'<cockefels., 3s. 6d.--tq., 55.; , chioks.: half grown, 2s. 3d. to 3s. Sd.;" roosters,ls".; 4e. 6d., 55., 6s. 3d. to 6s. 6d.: ducks. 45.. 45.: 3d., 4s. 6d.; ducklings. Is.; turkey hens (light), Us.; qosliGKf, 55.; geese. 4s. 6d., 4s. 9d., 6s; -Gig harness, £3 2s. 6d. Grain, at per bushel: Maiso, 4s. 6d.';,\wheat, 4s. 6d. to 55.; oat 3; 3s. to 3s. 9d.; chick wheat, 13s. per sack; wheat meal, lls.-arid bran, 7g'.- 6d. per 1501b. sacks. 'Table potatoes (old),. 19s; to 225. 6d. per sack. Lemons, 43;. case. Factory bacon, side, 7d.; name, Sd. :• - ' . - - . *.".

■■■ BANK OF ENGLAND EETORN. By Telegraph—Press Association—GoPTriek'i ...-..■■ • ■ ■London, November. 24. ; : -tfhe Bank of England return issued for the weekended Wednesday, November' 23, is as under:— , IBSDE DEPARTMENT. Note Issue.» £52.633.000 Gov.debt ...-£11,015,00) ■ Other Becuri- ' -.-■■ ■ ■ . tics ..-. ... 7,134,000 ■'•...• Gold ... 34.181,000 ! . ... i 53.633.000 . ■ £ 52,633,000 . BiXIOKG DEPUITHEST. Proprietors' ■: ■ :l Goyt. Becuri- - ■' ' ' capital £14,553,000 ties £14,6«,000 Public do- . Other eecuri-.. . - posii; ... 11,261,000 ties 27,510,000 Other 06- ' '>- . ■ . posits ... 39,008,000 Notes ..; 24,450,C00 Beßt,74ay .and other Coin... .„ 1,403,C00 bills'... ... 3,2 M,00!) : '.'. ■ . 'i 65.043.000 ' ' i65.012.C00 The leading items of tho Bxnh-ot Eni;. land return aßord the lollowine com. parUoa:— . , This week. lisstweeli. Last year .■■-£ ■ i -.:' •' £ . Bullion ... ;:. : 31,164,000 36.585.000' 35,210,000 Reserve ... .. : . a5.86i,00U 24,891,000 a3,EU2.C00. Noto ciroulltlon 28,153,000 ' a3,Si!3,OW 28,48»,«)0 Public Deposits 11,861.000' IO.OVB.UOU 6,930.(;00 OtherDeposlta-. 50.000.0U0 37,433,000 40,«0.0U0 Troportiou ot " ' .. liabilities ... 51.47 8.36 55.93 ;' aoVEENMBNT SEODKITIKS. The (ollowine are the latest quota tiom [or Qovemincnt securities, with a comp&risou of those rulinc last neck;— /'

BANK KATES OF INTEREST. ■The Bank of England discount rato was reduced on January 20 last Irom 41 per cent, to 3J per cent., and on February 10 to 3 per cent. On March 17 it was raisedto 4 per cent., on Juno 2 it was reduced to 3* per cent., and on Juno 9 to i per cent' On September 29 it was raised to 1 per cent., ami'on October 20 to 5 per cent., at which fate it now stands. 1 The Bank of Franco rato was reduced and remains at the latter figure. Tho Imperial Bank of Germany on January 21 last lowered its rato from 5 ncr cent., and on February 10 to 4 per cent On September 26, the rato was raised to 5 per cent. • .

. KAEKET BATES OF DISCOUNT. . Tho followine mo tho market rates for best three months' bills:— London Pari3 Berlin rate. rate. rato. percent, percent, percent. This week ...;'..... 4i 23 43 Last week 45-16 25 43 Last year 3J 23 43 Short loans are quoted at — per cent., as against 43 per cent, last week, and 41 per cent, last .year. . COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. . Wheat—Tho markets arc quiet, but thero is now a firmer tone in consequence of unfavourable crop reports from the Argentine. Chicago December wheat shipments' are quoted at 933 cents to 91J ccnle per bushel. Thero is a moderate inquiry for carßoes, 375. per quarter being asked for Australian parcels off the coast: 365. 9d. for January-February shipments, 365. 9d. for New South Wales steamer careooe afloat, and 365. for narcels of JanuaryFebruary shipment. There is but a small demand foe Australian on the spot,

,Flour.-Tho Hour market is firm, there being rather more inquiry for patent brands, spot prices being 265. 3d.'per Sack ' Eutter.-'-'fhero t3 an improving demand for nil colonial-made butters. The market is hardening, in view of tlio small Quantity that is expected to arrive during next week. Danish is quoted at 118s. per cwt.; choicest Australian salted, 108s., and unsalted, llCs.; Now 'Zealand salted, 110b., and unsalted 112s. Secondary qualities of colonial makes are now selling better, at 102s. to 1045.; stored butters at S4s. to 100s. . . \ ■ Cheese.—The cheese market is firm. For New 'Zealand' there is intiuiry at 55b. to SCs. per cwt. Sugar.—German beet sugar, f.o.b. Hamburp:, is quoted at 11s. 3d. per cwt for first marks. Kauri' Gum.—At the kauri gnm sales 528 cases were'offered, ami 146 sold. Prices \vere unchanged. Good three-quarter-scraped brought' l?os. ' ■ Glycerine, has advanced 100s. a ton—a record. The. advance is due to increased quantities of explosives being required for the construction of the Panama Canal and other undertaking. Bradford Tops.—Tho tops ouotations remain unchanged for the week at—Sirtyfours, 28d. per lb.; super sixties, 27id.: common sixties, 261 d.; fifty-sixes, 22M.; fifties, 19Jd.;-forty-sixes. 16d.; forties, 14d. The market is steady, but there is a hardening tendency, with respect to merinos for delivery in tho New Year.

: ' MAEKETS: Copper—Spot, £57 15s. ser ' ton; and three months, £58 13s. 9d. per ton. Tin.—Spot, ,£l6B 15s. per ton; three months, £168 17s. 6d. Silver.—Bar silver is ouoted at 25 5-16 d. per ounce etandard. LONDON WOOL SALES. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. '.• ' London, November 25. j At the wool sales, "Waib.ua," clip brought top "price—lOJd.;'-average price, IOJd. There was a, strong competition for good free wools, but short and faulty woro neglected. Messrs. MuTray, Roberts, and Co., Ltd., have received tho following wool market cablegram ■ from their. London agents, Messrs. Sanderson, Murray and Co., dated November 25:—Merino, best description, market firm., Compared with last London sales' closing ratra merino medium de- • clined 5 per cent., merino inferior, and faulty 5 per cent, to 10 per cent. ~.-,■ RUBBER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyi'iffht, (Rec. November 27, 5.5 p.m.) ■: ' ■ , v. London,. November 26. ." Fine hard Para rubber is quoted at 6s. 4}d. por lb. .. ■ 1 .- ■ FROZEN MEAT. (Rec. November 27, 5.5 p.m.)

;• ' London, November 26. Tho Frozen .Meat Trade Association's Smithfleld market quotations for the undermentioned classes of frozen . meat are based on actual sales of not less than one hundred carcasses 'of mutton or lamb, and- twenty-fivo quarters of beef of fair average quality. The quotations a-ro uot for selected lines, but for parcels fairly representative of the bulk of the ship, ments now on tho market. The prices which follow .aro on an average a. farthing'per lb. more than the value ex ship, this difference representing an average cost in expenses, handling, conveyance, and selling the meat:— ' : ■-- N0v.19. N0v.26. Mutton-.; ; d. 6. Canterbury, light 43 IB Canterbury, medium ...... 43 4i Canterbury, heavy : — -—, Southland- 4J . 4i North Island,- best 43 43 ■•'•■ North Island, ordinary... 41-16 41-16 Australian, light 3.3-16 5 3-16 Australian, .heavy JJ 3A . ■ Kiver Plato, light ......... 3i 3* Eiver Plate, heavy ......... 3J 3J fjamb— ' . Canterbury, light 53 ' 55 '• . Canterbury, medium ...... 53 ■ 53 . Canterbury, heavy .'. 5J 5} Southland 53 5J ■■ North Island, selected ... 53 53 : North'lsland, ordinary ...' 58 . Sj) . ■' Australian, best .'...'.'..' 55 51, : Australian, fair- ...::.....:..■ 6J- ■ H Austrliau, inferior ; 5 45 Kiver Plate - • . - , > tfeef- ' : ■"■■.. . New Zealand, ox fores... 25 2S .New.'Zealand, ox hinds... 3i 38 ■Australian, ox >fores...'... 23 23 Australian, ox hinds '... 3 3-16 3 3-16 Kiver Plato, ox fores 23 28 -. Eiver Plate, ox hinds ... 38 38 Rabbite Mo in moderate demand, and prices are unchanged. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, ; have received the following cablegram from' their London house,- under .date November 25:— Frozen Meat': 'Mv.ttou market'steady; lamb unchanged. .The.-m>irket for beef has advanced. ■■ '.

• Variations . _ coinpaied Trice. with ;' _, ■ last waok, £ t. a. ■ . ■ • 2i% Imperial Consols 78 17 6 2s.6d. higher i ,,N.S.W.lS33Jan.-Jnly 1Q6 0 0 lOe.bUUcv 3i ,,N.S.\V.1918alar.-Sop. 97 17 6 2s.Bd. lower I ,',K.B.W.M35A.I>1.-Oct. 85 10 6 Ss.6d.lower i „ Vic. 1920 Jan.-July 103 10 0 . £b. lower Sj,, Vic. lBil-6 Jan. July 07 17 6 K.6C1. lliBher 3 ..VicMB-iSWan.-July B5 10 0 2 20s. hiehor 3j ,,B,A. lSWJan.-July .83 5 0 os. lower 8 ,,S.A. lSlCJan.-July 83 10 O Unchanged i ..QTdlOlo-aiJan.-July 103 10 0 * 20b. higher 3j Q'l'dllKWOJan.-Jnly 9710 0 10s. lower 3 ,,QTdlD2M7Jan.-July 3110 0 Dnchtmged i ,,N.Z.192QMny-Nor. 103 ■? 6 Unchanied3i ,,N.S5.10i0J&n.-July % 0 U Usehanjod 3 ,,N.Z.lM5April-Oct. 83 7 6 Unchantod bJ,,\V.A.1920-10May-Nov 86 0 0 Unchongod 3 ,,W.A,W15.36May-Nov 80 10 0 Unchanecd 34,,Xa». 19<OJim.-0uly 89 0 0 Unchaneod 3 ,,lM,iaKH0Jcn.-Jnly 86 0 0 Pnehtosod