COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Issue 1337, 15 January 1912, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES ■ There were soles on Saturday of Golden Bay Cement shares at 225. 10d., 235., 235. The buying and selling quotations were as unaer:— Buyers. Sellers £ s. i. £ s. d.

FOODSTUFF PRICES AND WAGES. This subject was recently discussed by Mr. It. JI. Hooker b-iforo the Koyal Statistical Society, when some interesting facts were elicited. It was shown, for instance, that wholesale prices had risen in the 'United Kingdom by about 15 per cent., in Germany and the United States by about 30 per cent., and by intermediate amounts in France and Canada. Wholesale food prices in 1910 had risen by only about 6 or 8 per cent., in the United Kingdom, and scarcely at all in France, while a rise between 20 to 30 per cent, war, shown in the other countries. The raw materials of industry had risen much more—namely, by 25 to 40 per cent.—in all countries. Mr. Hooker showed a great contrast between the United Kingdom and America, where food and materials had risen by practically the same amount; while in the United Kingdom foodstuffs had risen very much less, although they I'.ad attracted much more public attention. It appeared that, on the whole, since 1895 retail prices had risen by about as inuch a,s wholesale, though in the United States they appeared to have lagged behind. Comparisons of the course of prices with wages indicated that wages had not fallen behind prices, except in the last year or two. Considering the causes of the present high level of prices. Mr. Hooker pointed out' that the enormous output of gold since 1695 was sufficient to cause .1 rise of some 10 per cent, in the stocks .available for currency. He considered that we were now near the crest of one of those waves due to increased demand for materials, especially minerals, which periodically recur in prices, and are generally associated with industrial prosperity. Moreover, he said, tliq price of food had risen very greatly during the past three months owing to ths droughty summer in north-western Europe. The two former influences, superimposed, bad resulted in very high cost of materials. The two latter were temporary, and when they had passed awav prices would again be lower. l>ut the effect of the large output of gold would probably persist for some time, and prices might be expected to oscillate around an average that was not likely to. decrease at present. The relatively great advance of food prices in the United States was due to the inability of agriculture to keep pace with the expansion of population: in England, on the other hand, the diminished supplies from the United States had been fully covered by supplies drawn from other countries, notably Argentina,, hence the rise in food prices was relatively small in the United Kingdom. AMERICAN WIRE GAUGE CHANGES. The American Steel and Wire Company has issued a notice to the trade of a change in the nomenclature of wire gauges which has been carried out in accordance with a suggestion made by the Bureau of Standards in Washington to all wire nntnu-f-ailUTers. The wire gauge by which sizes were known previously in the company's publications, under the title of "American Steel and Wire Company';, Gauge," was the Washburn and Moeu gauge, which is used by practically nil American manufacturers although under different names. This gauge a number of Hie principal wire manufacturers and lending consumers have agreed to dosig. 'late in future as the "Steel Wire Gauge." In casci; where it may be necessary to distinguish it from the llritish standard wire gauge it may he called the "United States Steel Wire Gauge," for, while the name thus adopted has official sanction, yet it has no legal effect. The only wire gauge which has been recognised in Acts of Congress is the Hirmiiigham gaugeexactly which is not stated. The United States Treasury has used this gauge for years in connection with wire imports, and intends to continue to do so until the Tariff Acts are amended: but the standard will probably be abandoned eventually because it is radically defective and almost obsolete both in Great liritaiu. where it originated, and in the United States. In the case of copper and other wires, tho gauge universally recognised in the United States in the "American Wire, Qimjc," aha kno - ,Tn as ]

the Drown and Sharps gauge. Coniusion, it is alleged, with a fine disregard for facts, need not arise over the names Steel Wire flange, and American Wire Gang?, «inee the iiclds covered liy (he two are distinct and definite. That in as it may be. Jlere in Australasia the confusion is more than likely to arise. EQUITABLE BUILDING. The balance-sheet of the Equitable Buildins and Investment Company for 1911 shows that with the balance of £1657 ss. lOd. brought forward from the previous year the amount at credit of profit and los« is £10,180 17s. 4tl. The dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. p-.T annum ab-orhs £6000, the sum of £1500 has been carried to reserve fund, and the balance of AZoBO 17s. Id. is carried forward. The assets of th-- company include mortgages and interest £356,134 3s. Bd., freehold busincrH premises £10,030, deposit with National Bank £10,000. The reserve fund now Etauds at £61,500. ' CUSTOMS. The Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington on Saturday amounted to £3126 19s. 7d., the total for the week being £24,024 10s. 9d. The returns for each of the past eight weeks, compared with the figures for the corresponding periods of last year, show as under:— 1911-12. 1910-11. November 25 10,176 13,935 December 2 20,482 19,249 Docsmbcr 9 ..._ 9,870 12,959 December 16 ; 18.858 21,567 December 23 „. 15.579 13.923 December 30 12,636 11.936 January 6 - 15,434 8,143 January 13 24,024 24,294 127,059 126,096 The beer duty collected during the past week amounted to £205 45., as compared with £417 10s., in the corresponding week of last year. The name of the firm of Barr, Leary, and Williams, accountants and auditors, will, for the future, bo known as Williams, llimt, and Co. HIDE AND SKIN REPORT. - Messrs. Dalgety and Company's Palmcrston branch report:—At our monthly sale on Friday we offered a. large catalogue to a good attendance of buyers, aud all lots realised good prices, under keen competition. Wool: Locks and pieces, 4d. to 5Jd.; dead, 64d. to 72d.; flfcco and bellies, 6>d.; crossbred, 7id. to 7Jd.; lambs, 7sd.; good crossbred, to Bid. Sheepskins: Half to three-quarter-wools, ojd.; dead hoggets, sJtl.: lambs, 5d.; pelts,- 4d.: coarse crossbred, 6d.; medium crossbred, 6}d. to 63d.; fine wools, 63d.; coarse crossbred, at each, 6s. 3d.; medium crossbred, ss. 4d.; fine crossbred, ss. Id,; mixed crossbred, ss. 6d.; fine wools, ss. 6d.; salted pelts, 2s. 3d., 2s. 6d., to 2s. lCd. Lambs, salted, at each, 2s. 3d. to 2s. sd. Hides: Cows, best, 6'.d. to 63d.; ox, 63d., 63d. to 7M1.; lttifcra aiid steers, 6}d.; yearlings, Hit, Bid., to S3d.; yearlings, cut, sid.; dry cow%, at each, <s.; ox, cut, 6Jd. Calfskins: C<ilf, cut and slippy, 5d.; calf, cut, 7d.; calf, meaty, 9d.; calf, small, lOd. Sundries: Tallow, in tins, 245. 5d.; rough fat, 12s. 6d. to 145.; .horsehair, Is. 6d. to Is. Bd. FEILDING MAEKET REPOET. Messrs. A. H. Atkinson and Co., Ltd., of Feilding, sold on Friday a full yarding of pigs, values not quite reaching those made last week. Of poultry there was verylittle penned. A larsro quantity of fruit sold at full values. Quotations:—Slips and light stores, 10s. 6d., 165., 16s. 6d., 19s„ to 215.; light porkers, 265., 275., 285.; mediumweights, 335. 6d., 355., to 365. 6d.; potatoes, ss. to ss. 6d. cwt.; early gage plums, 3s. 6d. per case; cherries, 2s. 3d. to 3*.; apricots, 6s. to 6s. 6d.; peaches, ss. to 65.; rhubarb, 4d. per bundle; factory hams, 10ld. per lb.. NOETH OTAGO MAEKETS. fßi TeleeraDh.-Presß Association.! Oamaru, January 14. A good inquiry has bsen experienced for wheat during the week, but there is very little offering from the country, and business is restricted. Very little wheat remains in growers' hands, and those holding believe that they can got more moncy for it later on. Only a i'3w Fales have been made, the largest being 400 sacks of red chaff at 3s. 7d., less commission, at a country station. Another parcel of tho same variety sold at 3s. 6d. on the same terms, and a line of tuscan at 3s. Bd. ex store. A small lot of fowl feed was -foil at 3s. lOd. f.0.b., but 3s. 9£d. is now quoted Garton oats have been .-old at 2s. Bd. net at country stations. Potatoes liava dropped' in value, and 4s. per cwt. was tlio quotation to-day. ' FEUIT AND PEODUOE MAEKETS. Auckland, January 14. Business in the fruit and produce market has bsen very good during the past week. The market is well supplied with summer fruit, and a good demand exists for all lines. Owing to the largo supplies prices ar° very low for plums end peaches; good prices rule for grapes, apricots, nectarines, tomatoes, and apples. LONDON MAEKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopjrlehl (Eec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. Copra nnets with fair business. South Sea, in bags, £23 10s. to £24 ss. per ton. Cotton— January-February shipment, 5.21 d. per lb. Hemp is quiet. January-March shipments, £22 ss. per ton. Juts—January-February shipment, £201 ss. per ton. Eubber.—Fine hard Para rubbsr, 4s, s}d. per lb. METAL MAEKETS. (Eec. January 14, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 13. Lead—lmports, 13,677 tons; Australian, 3957 tons. Exports, 3C65 tons. Copper—On spot, £62 12s. 6d. per ton; thrco months, £63 7s. 6d. Tin.—On spot, £184 per ton; three months, £181 15s. MININO NEWS. WELLINGTON SHAEE MAEKET. On Saturday three sales were recorded as under:— Talisman, 51s. 6d. (first call), 525. (second call). Waihi, 525. 9d. (sscond call). The buying and selling quotations wero as under:— Buyers. SeUcrs. £ s if. £ s.d. HauraUi Rests 0 0 11 — May Queen . — 0 18 New Sylvia - - 0 1 10 Talisman 2 10 5 2 11 6 Waihi - 2 14 0 Waihi Grand Junction ... — 110 6 Waiotahi — 0 4 4 Waitangi - 0 2 6 Watchman — 0 2 3 The course of sales during the past week was as under:— Haurald Eeefs,. Is., Is. Saxon, 123 d. Talisman,. 4Bs. 6d„ 495. 9d., 505., 505., 50s„ 50s. 3d.. 50s. 9d., 515., 51s. 6d,, 52a. Victoria, lid., lid. Waihi, 525. 6d.. 51s. 9d. Waihi Grand Junction, 295. Waiotahi, ss. Hd. Waitangi, 2s. lOd. The Wellington Stock Exchange received the following telegram on Saturday from the Worksop Dredge:—"Return, 660z. lldwt. for ICO hours." STOCK EXCHANGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, January 13. Business at this morning's call included: Kuranui Caledonian, Is. 7d. and Is. 6d. New Sylvia, Is. 9d. Waiotahi, 4s. 6d. to 4s. Id. Crown, 2s. 9d. Golden Cross, 9d. Waihi, £2 13s. 3d. to £2 13s. Saxon. Is. 2d. Grand Junction, £1 10s. Taupiri Coal, £1 Is. Auckland Trams (ord.), £1 3s. 9d. South British Insurance, £3 Bs. 6d. Dunedin, January 13. Sales reported on the Stock Exchange to-day were:—Talisman, £2 lis., and Auckland Gas, £3 7s. 9d. DBEDGING. tßr Telecrarh.—rress Aseeeiatlon.l Dunedin, January 13. Dredging returns: Waikaka United (No. 1), 310z.; (No. 2), !30:'.. 12dwt.: Rising Sun, 420z. 13dwt.; O'rig, 7oz. 3dwt; Worksop, 660z. lldwt.; Now Trafalgar, 270z. lldwt.; Sandv Point. 14oz. 19d\vt. Rise mid Shin?. 17oz. *3dwt.; Koputai. 21oz. 18dwt.; Island Block, 350z. 12dwt.; Waikaia, 230z. 14dwt. TALISMAN. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (lice. January 15, 0.15 a.m.) London, January 14. Talisman shares: £2 7s. 6d„ £2 10s.

Bank New Zealand — 11 15 0 Equitable Building 10 5 0 — N.Z. and Eivsr Plate 2 10 — Well. Trust and Loan ... 7 12 6 — Weil. Investment 0 11 3 — Gisborno Gas — 3 0 0 Well. Gas (third issue) .. 1110 0 - National Insurance — 118 9 Meat Export (£4) ...< - 5 0 0 Meat Export (52s. 6d.) ... - 3 0 0 N.Z. Shipping - 1710 0 Well. Woollen (ord.) — 3 18 0 Well. Woollen (pref.) ... 2 18 6 3 2 6 Taupiri Coal 110 — Weslport Coal — 17 6 Taringamutu Totariv 2 5 0 2 7 0 C. 51. Hanks, Ltd ' - lot Golden Bay Cement 13 0 13 6 N.Z. Con. Dental - 12 9 N.Z. Paper Mills 10 0 - Hharland's preference .... — 14 6 Ward and Co — 5 12 6