COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1090, 31 March 1911, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. Investment shares keep very firm Tcetorday there were sales of Gear meat £1 paid at 705., Wellington Woollen, prefer, ence. at 605., and Wilson's Portland Cement, prefcrewe, at 425. stl. The buying and selling quotations are as under:— Burerx Sellers £ a. d, £ s. d. National Bank — ' 6)6 Wellington Investment ... 0 11 (I 0 11 6 Well. Trust and Loan ... 7 15 0 — Chnstchurch Gas 9 15 0 — . Feilding Gas 119 12 6 Wellington Oas (£7) 14 0 0 near Seat (£4) — 14 5 0 Gear Meat (£1) 3 10 0 - Meat Export (£5) 6 8 0. — Meat Export (£4) 5 4 0 - •• Meat Export (525. fid.) ... 3 2 0 - Union Steam l 18 9 — Kaiapoi Woollen 5 5 0 5 10 0 Well. Woollen (pref.) 3 0 0 3 2 6 Taupiri Coal 1, 1 6 - Leyland-O'Bricn — 17 0 Manning and Co. — 4 12 0 N.Z. Con. Dental 12 6 — ■ N.Z. Drug 2 9 D N.Z. Paper Mills — 14 0 Taranaki Petroleum — 0 14 0 Taringamutu Totara 2 7 9 — [ Ward and Co - 5 0 6

AMERICAS MEAT TRUST. A correspondent writing to the "Sydney Morning herald" identities the representatives ol' the Beef Trust, and makes tho following remarks-.—"As the presence of tlie three representatives of the so-called American meat trust is creating considerable interest, and owing to their mottest demeanour since their arrival, courting no notoriety, it might he as well now to describe tho personnel. The parly consists of Messrs. Kaufmanu, Burnett, and Malkaw, who come from Kansas City, and .who have, heen exploiting Australia for the past' 12 months. Mr. Kiuifmann was accompanied by his wire and child, and resided in an apartment house in North Sydney, some of the party explored tho Gulf districts of Northern Australia, where Mr. Kaufnuvnn contracted malaria fever, and had to come to Sydney, and returned to America about six months ago. "Various rumours from time to time have crept out about their movements, not the least interesting of which was that the ilovril Company and Kidman had sold the Swift-Armour . combine an immense tract with ,'locks in the northern part of Australia, and there was a, suspicion that they had bought a gold brick; so Mr. Kaufmann made au exploration of the country, with the result that his health is broken down. "Too much cheap thunder is sought to be acquired b.v politicians'-remark;! aoont the visit of these cattle-men. The Hon. Mr. Trefle hit their weak point on the head when he pointed out- that they could not get control or rebates on tho refrigerating cars, as the railways arc owned by the Government." AUSTRALIAN WOOL. The annual review of the Australian wool trade for the season 1910-11, compiled by Goldsborough, Mort and Co.. Ltd.. states that the twelve months ended February 28 must be added to the list of good y-jars with which the Commonwealth lias been favoured, The period under notico has been remarkable for the expansion in tho Australian sales, the quantity of locallymarketed wools reaching a- total of 1,671,159.bales—an increase of 142,690.ba1es on the previous year's figures. Another marked feature of the sales has been the comparative absence of competition from America-, purchases on account of that country being on a. much smaller scale, and on a lower basis of values than in the 19C9-1910 season, hence many marks of superior merino and crossbred wools that had formerly been regarded as the special prerogative of America found their way into new chan. nels at, of course, a lower range of values. The review concludes by stating that the outlook at present is most propitious, and ■a - good lambing is assured, as well as plenty of feed to see the winter through. NOTES. As a. result of its trading operations during the, twclvo months ended October ol last, the Imperial Tobacco Company (of Great Britain and Ireland), Limited gained a net profit of no less than £2.402.619. The total is an increase of JE2O9.CCO on the figures for the immediately antecedent year. Management expenses, interest, etc., absorbsd £272,659, and, in addition to normal depreciation, £150,000 was wnt-.-jii off freehold and leasehold properties. sZ;ii,100 being transferred to general reserves, leaving a balance of £1,750.415. The amount brought into the accounts from the previous term was £88.72'!, so that there was available for distribution a sum of £1,819,139. The B deferred ordinary shareholders '.receive 10 per cent, per annum, whilst the bonus to customers has been raised from 10 to 15 per cent., the total distribution being thus'2s per cent, per annum. After payment of these allocations there remained a balance of £22/,507 to bo carried forward, that amount including tho customers' bonus for the latter half of tho period reviewed. The general reserve fund of the company now stands at £2,0C0,CC0. The British South Africa Company, whoso report and accounts for the year ended March 31, 1910, wci'o issued in London last month, is, under its charter, both an administrative and a commercial body, and its accounts conseaucntly differ from those of an ordinary trading concern. The report contains much information as to the development of Southern Rhodesia and Northern Rhodesia. In Southern Rhodesia tho farming industry continues to make substantial progress, the principal crop being still the mealie, though systematic efforts are being made to establish tho cultivation of other crops, and the general outlook of- the tobacco industry in particular is described as most hopeful, northern Rhodesia is a cattle-exporting country, while cotton is being grown, sales being made in Liverpool at prices ranging from 81d:to 13Jd. per lb. Steps are being taken to develop the rubber resources of tho country. The premier industry of Rhodesia, is, however, mining, and the output during 1910 included gold to tho,value of £2.568.193. besides 217,635dz.-silver'; 745 tons lead, 180,l'£8 tons coal, -and .44.002 --tana - chroma irou. The accounts of the company show that liabilities, including share capital £6.261.611, premium ou shares .-?4,241,129. debentures and debenture stock £2,162,029. and other items amount to a total of £13.918,204. T'no assets consist largely of expenditure undcri taken in tho administration of the company's territory, represented partly by public works and interests in railway and other companies. Tho rubber exports from Para in 1910 amounted to 37.737.655 kilogrammes, showing a falling-olj of 1,935,353 -kilos 3S' compared with 1909, but pn increase of 51,168 kilos as compared-with 1508. Last year tho Mother Country imported 2,201,296,440 eggs, of the value of £7,296,145, or of the average value of a little over ?d. an egg. The values have advanced, as ten years ago she imported eggs at the average of id. Russia last year supplied half tho number imported, and then followed Denmark with nearly 20 per centEngland got none from-Australia. The official records, show that last year 30 aviators lost their lives in the pursuit of their craft. This is the ' largest number of fatalities ever recorded. We learn that the Glasgow Assurance Corporation is now issuing a policv against' aviation risks. The benefits given under its policy aro:£250 in the c\'ent of' death other thau by aerial accident, £125 in the event of death bv aerial accident. £150 for loss of both hands or both feet or sight of both eyes, £ICO for loss of one hand or one foot or eight, of one eye. The compensation for ridn-fatal injuries applies both to aerial and other accidents. The premium to insure the whole of the above benefits is £6 6s. per quarter: and double, half. or. quarter benefit mav be secured at proportionate rales. The company also undertakes the insurance of aeroplanes,' monoplanes. Biplanes,' etc., against fire, theft, and damage; claims by third parties in respect to damage to petsons or property; and the insurance of aviators and their machines while engaged in races, competitions, etc. During 1910, British imports of wheat again broke all previous records, previous largest imports in ISO 9 being exceeded by nearly 1,750,000 nuarters. The actual figures are that last year the Mother Country imported 24,551,949 quarters of wheat, against 22,832,792 nuarters in 1909, and 21.263,943 quarters' in 1903. The average declared valuo last - year was 355. 6d. per quarter, against 395, Bu. in 1909, and 365. in 1308. As it result of this drop in value, the country paid but £44,160,834 for its wheat last year, which .was £1,111,297 less than was paid tor 1,719,167 lower quarters in 1909. Taking home sales (3,027,377 ouarters) imported wheat (24,651,549 ouarters), and imported flour, as wheat (3,198,819 quarters), tno total breadstuff supply of tne United Kingdom in 1910 was 30,(i8,143 quarters, against 28,912,385 quarters in 1909, and 28,592,285 quarters in 1908. A report on the work of the Paris Mint in 1910 states that tho number of pieces struck was 62,729,638, representing a sum of 173,230,566 iranes, of which 169,357,465 francs was in French money. The turnover of the Berliner Kassenvcrein, which serves as a stock-clearing house for the Berlin Bourse, amounted to £3,130,000,000 in 1910, breaking all previous records. The Sheffield manufacturers' of DOnknives report that the business of sunnl.ving largo quantities of cheap knives direct to advertising firms for free distribution has become an important branch of the trade. Judging by the. extent, of the orders, and the low prices at. which the goods must be supplied,' the buyers must make a practice of giving tho knives away in lavish fashiqn to their customers. This new demand has brought into the market a cheap and inferior type of knife, the blades of which are fitted into a pair of stamped steel scales, supplied from Germany for r, copper or two. In some cases a stamped steel case is used, with a loose spring inserted in it. The manufacture of such an article calls for little or no skilled labour, and it can bo produced at a trifling cost. A great proportion of the "Coronation" knives supplied by obscure firms arc being made in this manner, and some of these knives find their way into the retail shops. Such knives are without the usual brass lining between the steel blade and the steel scale, which acts as a preservative of tho parts by preventing rust. Where this lining is. absent the joint quickly becomes unworkable. As all these goods are stamped with tho name of tho place of their origin, their presence on the. market is calculated to lessen the significance generally associated with the legend "made in Sheffield" when applied to cutlory. Customs duties collected at the nort of Wellington yesterday amounted to £1559 13s. 6d. WHEAT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, March 29. Wheat.—An Australian cargo sold at 345. 3Jd. The American visible supply of whoftt is estimated at 64,736,000 bushels. THE METAL MARKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright Coppcr.-On the spot, £54 155.; three months. £55 7s. 6d.; olectrolyir. £57 2s. 6d. Tin—For forward delivery, £185 15s. By Telegraph—Press.Association-Copyright (lice. March 30, 10.50 p.m.) London, March 30. Coppev.-On spot. £54 12s. 6d.; three I months. £55 35.. 9d. Tin.-On spot, £183; three months, £IE6 ss. i Lead.-£l2 IBs. 94.

LONDON VT6Zb SALES. By Telegraph—Press Assoeia-.-.5j-CoDyricht London, March 29. At tho wool sale?, competition w-.ia very animated. Prices were in sellers' favour. lire following prices for clips wore rc.il-iped-.—"WD," top price lCii.. average 93d.; "Afoawhango." top price 13d.. average 93d.; "Mount Bute," ton price 16! d„ average, 15d. (Rcc. March 30, 10.25 n.m.) London, March 30. Tbe following are the prices realised for (.he flcero portions of the clips named- at the wool sabs. A large selection of New Zealand crossbreds was offeree 1 ., Bradford manufacturers heme the chief purchaser?. Toaroa, ton price, lid.: average price, lOJcl; 8.V., l'ljd. and lOgd.; Klderslie, 15*3. and 113 d. TALLOW. By Telegraon—Press Association-Copyright London, March 29. At the tallow sales 1271 casks were offered, and 574 sold. Prices realised:—Mutton, fine, 555. 6d;; beef, line, 31s. 6d.; medium, 355.