COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1425, 27 April 1912, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES There were no transactions in investment shares yesterday. The buying and selling quotations were as under:— Buyer* Sellers £ 6. d. £ 6- d National Bank — 6 2 6 N.X. and JJi\er Plate 2 0 0 — Well. tins (£10) — lfl 7 6 Well. Gas (£1) - 116 Standard hisuranco — 110 0 Union Steam 2 9 6 2 10 0 Tanpiri Coal 119 1 2. 6 Westport oal 17 9 18 6 Westport-Stoeliton 0 2 4 0 3 0 Leyjand-O'lirien — 18 9 Taringamutu Totura — 2 & 6 O. M. Bank*?, Ltd — 10 0 Donaghy Hope aud Twine 116 12 0 Golden Bay Cement . — 1 4 6 Sharlaud's ordinary — 15 0 INDIAN WOOLLEN INDUSTRY. According to the Calcutta Intelligence Director the woollen industry of India is progressing. A great deal of the wool used in the mills comes from Australia, and certainly all the higher-class articles are manufactured solely from Australian wool. Of the five mills in India, two produce 82 per cent, of the total outturn. The two referred to weave cloth for the use of the army and police, and articles

of superior quality generally. The bettergrade articles in these, as in the other mills, are made of pure Australian wool, with a slight admixture of Indian wool, proportionate to the quality. The quantity of woollen goods annually imported into India is, of course, very much greater thau the local production. For instance, tnc production of 1910 was approximately only £314,686, while the imports equalled £1,953,091. There are in various places in India factories for the weaving of carpets and rugs, of which the greater portion is exported. The industry, although individually small, is in the aggregate extensive. The weaving is mostly done on hand looms. The quantity exported to all countries during 1910 was valued at £163,663. GERMAN SHIPPING COMPANIES. The results of the workings of the two large German shipping companies trading to Australia arc now to hand. The profits of the Norddeutscher-Lloyd Company for 1911, according to an announcement made in Bremen on March 11, amounted in round figures to £2,075,000, against £1,905,000 foe the previous year. Losses were incurred in the North American passenger service, but the state of freights to South America and Australia virtually made the profit, with the' result that the directors felt able to propose a dividend of 5 per cent, at the general meeting of shareholders on April 3. General expenses accounted for £1,035,000, including £75,000 for extra depreciation of seafaring vessels. In 1910 the general expenses were set down at £1,020,CC0. ' j The insurance fund was increased last year by £78,0C0, the reserve fund by £20,C00, the renewal fund by £45,C00, and the extra, reserve fund by £13,750, making a total of about £150,0G0, against about £100,000 in 1910 for the reserve funds. The financial position of the company has been considerably strengthened, the amount due to creditors being reduced from £1,620,0CQ to £975,000. The German-Australian Steamship Company, of Hamburg, haj* also experienced a more favourable year, it being intended t-o pay 11 pe»r cent., as contrasted with 9 per cent, in 1910. After deducting interest on loans and general expenses, the accounts show a surplus of £319,000, ap against £147.000 in 1910. The sum of £222,000 has been devoted to depreciation, as compared with £147,000, and the balance allows of the rate of distribution already mentioned. The Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £1746 14s. lOd. WHOLESALE' PRODUCE PRICES., Messrs. Laery and Co., Ltd., Wellington, report wholesale prices as under:—Oats, Algerian 3s. 4d. to 3s. 7d. per bushel; oats, dun 2s. lid. to 3s. per bushsl; oats. *hort 2s. 9d. to 3s. per bushel; wheat (fowls), 4s. 2d. to 43. 3d. per bushel; maize, 5s 3d. to ss. 6d. per bushel; barley, Cape 3s. lOd. to 4s. per bushel; fowls' barley, 3s. Bd.; malt, 7s. 9d. per bushel; peas, partridge, 4s. 3d. per bushel; ppas, Prussian blue 7s. per bushel; linseed nuts, 13s. per cwt.; crushed linked ,cake, 13s, fid. per c-wt.; whole linseed, IPs. per cwt.; pollard, £7 ss. to £7 10s. per ton; bran. £5 15s. to £6 per ton; flour, Atlas £9 lis. 6d. per ton; oatmeal, £14 per ton; chaff, oatensheaf £5 per ton (sacks in); baled straw, £2 10s. to £3 per ton; superphosphates, -£4 10*. to £5 per ton: basic slag. £3 lis. to £4 per ton; rolled oats (4's), Bs. 6d. per dozen; rolled oats (20's), 375. 6d. per dozen; potatoes. £4 ICs. to £5 per'ton; onions (prime!, £8 10s. to £9, medium 1 quality £4 to £6 per ton; cheese, medium size, old, 6Jd. per lb.; cheese, loaf, 7jtl. per lb.; fresh eggs, Is. lid. per doz.; preserved. Is. i 3d. to Is. 4d. per doz.; butter, prime milled i Is.; bacon, Swan brand, rolls 101 d. lb.; < hums, Swan brand, 9}il. per lb.; shoulder, Swan brand, Bd. per lb.; honev, bulk 4d. 1 per lb.; lard, bulk, 8(1. per lb.; liens, 2s. i 6<l. to ss. per pair; roosters, young, 3s. to i 4s. per pair; ducks, 4s. to ss. per pair; turkey gobblers, 9d. per lb. dead weight; i turkeys, hens, Sd. per lb., dead weight. 1

PALMERSTON HIDE SALES. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd. (Palmerston branch) report having held their monthly sale yesterday. There was only a fair attendance of buyers. Prices were oqual to later rates. Bidding was not spirited, but we were successful in quitting all lots. Wool-Crossbred, medium, 6id. to 63d.; lambs, 73d. to 7Jd.; dead, 63d.; black, 6d.; locks and pieces, 3Jd. to 43d.; crossbred, lambs and pioces, 6jd. to 7d. Skins-Crossbred, fine, 6}d. to 63d.; crossbred, medium, 6d, to 6!d.; woolly pclts, 41d.; quarter-wools, 32d. to Sid.; dead, 4d. to 5d.; dead and damaged, 3d.; pelt", 33d. Butchers' skins, at per piece: Crossbred. Is. 9d., 2s. 9d., 2s. led., 3s. 2d., is 3d 3s. lid., 4s. 2d., 4s. 4d„ 4s. 6d„ to 7s. 6d. each; lambs, Is. 2d., Is. 4d„ Is. Bd.. to 3=. 5<1.; crossbred, inferior, 2s. 2d. to 2s. 4d?dead skins, 2s. 5d.; rnlt?d, crossbred, 3s! Id.. 3s. 2d.; lambs, Is. 4d.; pelts. 2s. Id. Calfskins, sound, 9id. to 9id. per lb.: cut calfskins, 7d.; yearlings, s)d. to 7«I. Hides: Os. light. 1110 heavies offered), 6,' d. to 7Jd.: e.ows, medium weights, 5Jd. to 6id.: cut. 3d. to 53d.; slippy. 3Jd.; heifer's and steers, 6Jd.; hulls, 5 3-Bd. Sundries—'Tallow, in tins, £23 per ton; casks, £26 ss. per ton; rough fat-. 18s. per cwt. Horsehair to is. 9;d. per lb.

CANTERBURY PRODUCE. (By Telegraph--Press Association.) Christcliurcli, April 26. The local wheat market is verv firm, tho position being accentuated by the fact that growers have, to a large extent, erased offering since the rise in prices took place. There, is a goou demand for milling and shipping Qualities, and any sound-condi-tioned lots meet with a ready Eale. Up to 3s. 7d. at handy stations has been paid for Hunters and Tuscan, and up to 3s. 7»d. for pearl. The oats market is also firm! with a fair quantity on offer. Inquiries al-e again coming to hand from Australia, for oats, and also chaff, but the prices offered are not sufficiently high to enable Dusiness to be done. The highest price being paid for chaff is 555„ but it is somewhat difficult to get supplies of good chaff at this figure. There is not much doing in barley, as most of the good lines have now changed hands, and there is little demand for second and inferior quality. The potato market has further advanced 10s. per ton,, and £4 10s. is now being given at country stations. There is not a large quatity offering at present The crop in the Oaruaru district is reported to be turning out in good condition, and without signs of blight. Tor onions £7 10s. is now being given. The export trade with Sydney has caused the market to firm rapidly. BRAN AND POLLARD. Dunedin, April 26. An active demand for bran has set in from Australia, and contracts have bo'ii entered into by some local millers with the Commonwealth to well into May. Prices rule from £4 ss. to £4 9s. 6d. per ton, f.o.b. Pollard is extremely scarce, and the demand appears to be in excess of tho sunply. Dunedin, April 26. Mr. J.. K. Scott-, secretary of tho Dairy Association, has received tho following cablegram from London:— "Butter.—New Zealand, salted, 110s.: nilmalted, 114s. The imrket closes steady. "Cheese—New Zealand, white, 70s.;'coloured. 71s. Dealers in New Zealand and Canadian cheese are endeavouring to 'bear' the market. Weddell's are opposing, mid look for improvcir,?ut in the near future." UNION COMPANY'S SHARES. Chrisichurch, April 26. At the noon call on 'Change to-day a sale of 100 Union Slce.ni Ship Company's shares was reported, the price being £2 10s. LONDON MARKETS. Messrs. Dalgety o.nd Company, Limited, Wellington, have been advised by cable from their London office, under date April 25, in regard to the following markets:— Sheepskins—Merino combing skins, prices are unchanged; clothing, one-eighth higher, crossbred combing skins id. higher. Clothing: Any change is in sellers' favour. Frozen Meat.- Vile market is steady and pricc- unchanged, owing to the small supply. bnt the demand has fallen off considerably. Tallow.-Prime mutton is 6d. to 9d. per I'wl. higher sine our cablegram, l'ciccs for other desei'nitious arc at times 6d. per i'wl. higher., Tile New Zeniand Loin and Mercantile Agency Cmunatiy. Limited, have received the following i-oblcgrnm from tinier London house, under date April 25, 1912:— Sheepskins.—l'or merino sheepskins, the mn.rliot Is Arm. with upward tendency. Crosubred combine chwpokJns iuc itl tj oLliora par to ft id, aaarex t

11ANK OF ENGLAND RETURIV. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Ifecoivud April 2G, 9.10 p.m.) London, April 2G. 'i'lio Dank of England return issued for the week eudcl Wolnesday, April '21, is us under Issue Depmitheni Kota Uau«£511,565,000 Gov. dobt ... in.015,003 Other Be curi ties 7,(31,000 GoU 3U.1C6.000 £50,555,000 i. r i(j.oss,tco BiNKING DEPARTMENT. Proprietors' Govt, sccurlcnpital £»,553.000 tios £13,155,000 Public do- Oilier Bccurijjosita ... 18.595,000 ties 35.834,000 Other deposits ... <1,868,000 Notsi 27,915,C00 Rest, 7-day mid othor l>iha - ... 3,551,C00 Coin - „ 1,361,000 £r3,258,03J £78,265,000 The leading items of the Bank or England return afford the following comparison This week Lasivrosk. Last year £ £ £ Bullion 35.10i.033 36,130.000 36.051.000 Reserve 2<J,299,U0J 27,638.000 27,618,000 Note circulation BB.IMU.IM] 23,02'j,00j 'JS.UI'J.COO Public Doposits 18,596,000 18.U70.00J 17.9-23.000 Other Deposits 41,883,003 11,669,000 40.885.000 Proportion of roservo to liabilities... 48.12 46.80 46,gj GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. The following are the late«t qnotatlom for QoTernment cecuritiea. with a comparison of those ruling last week:— Variation* — compared • Pries, with last woek. 2j% Imperial Consols I 78 *6 0 i lis hioliei--4 „N.S.W. 1933 Jan.-July* 105 10 0 1 UnclianKecl 34 „N.S.\V.l9lßMar.-Sop.' n 3 10 0 3 . SB 0 oi tfnchSed n"r S m , 10J 00 | Unchanged 0 "v 1 , 9 i ',V 1 an '" J , u y ■ !,!i iO , 0 Unchanged 5t "i ?' infr''lt""V," 1 * i SJ Jul 0 ; Unchanged h "§"MS}M aU "'J U 5 ' i 97 0 0| Unchanged 4 ',vm o}-S 1 !" Ju, , y S lO °l Unchanged 3l M.nV;»n an '" J r U ! 12 0 I Unchanged 3 "nM',li?».^ nn- i u y ' u? °i Uuclianged 1 "vl m!' l "v Jull ' X' 0 °! Uuchauged at " v y ! I"' 2 W 0 i Unchanged . iSW uly ! D ' 0 0' Unchanged s* "w A °S- fc I WlO u Unchanged "w'^lm°'.-^ ny "* N , ov l 1111 11 Unchanged ar'lL S? 0 '' Ia , y ",- Vov i 'f5 0 0 Unchanged ii „ las. J MOJan.-July 16 0 0 Unchanged ■■■'■"s-10-M Jan.-July! 15 0 0 Unchanged

BANK RATES OF DISCOUNT. The Bank oE England rato was, on December 1, 1910, lowered from 5 to 41 per cent.; on Jauuary 27 it was lowered to 4 per cent., on February 16 to 35 per cent., and on March 9 to 3 per cent. On September 21 it was advanced to 4 per cent., and on February 8 it was rcduced to 31 m-t cent. * The Bank of France rate was reduced trom 3S to 3 per osnt. on January 23, 1908 and continued at the latter figure until September 21, 1911, when it was raised to 3J per cent. it '"!. 0 „^ ni f ,cria 'r °' Gsrmany rcduced its rate from 5 to 4J per cent, on February 6, and on February 19 the rate was further reduced to 4 per cent. On Septumber 19. the >- a t e w53 ra j sct i to 5 per cent. MARKET RATES OF DISCOUNT. The following are tho market rates tor best three months' bills:— London Paris Berlin rato. rate. rate, per cent, per cent, per cent. This weelt 3 5-16 2J IX Last week 3 7-16 3 3S Last year 2 9-16 2j 3 Short loans are quoted at 23 per cent, as compared with 3J per cent, last week, and 2J per cent, last year. COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. Wheat. r Thc markets are firm. Buyers are resting. Holders ore asking full lato Prices on account of the bad reports of the winter wheat in the United States. Tile chief feature of'the recent activity was the French demand for early arriving car?o oes v ill 01 ' 0 , i a a trade for parcels at 39s to 40s. 3d., according to position. Ausoil spot, is in small supply, and V'oro, is a retail demand at 425. 6d to «3.. 6d.; New Zealand is scarce at 41s". to Flour is steady with a good trade. Oats.—Cartons, "A" grade 235. 9d„ "B" grade 235. 3d., La Plata, Jlay-Junc shipments, IBs. Peas are quiet. New Zealand, 365. to 38s. C ? J ? 3 . fl r£ - • dull. New Zealand, ex store/ - 375. 6d. to 38s. Sd.i new crop, 355„ c.i:f. Butter is very dull. The demand for colonial is limited. Choicest Australian, 104s. to ICGs.; secondary, 98s. to 1025.; choicest. New Zealand, 108s„ a few making 110s : Danish, 117s. to 120s. Cheeso is dull. New Zealand, white, 695. to 705.; coloured, 70s. to 71s. Sheonskins—At the sales 3474 were offered. There was a good attendance, and spirited competition, and prnetically all sold. Merino combings were firm and unchanged, crossbred comhings a farthing dearer, clothings par to a. farthing dearer. Sugar.—Oerman beet, 88 per cent, net titi'c. Id. lower, at 13s. 7d. per cwt.; firstmark. granulated, f.o.b. Hamburg, Id. hlghor, a,t 16s lOd Bradford Tons.—Tho /market is steady a.nd firm for all counts, with slightly more business doing.

THE METAL MAKKETS. Copper.—On spot, unchanged, at £70 ss. tier ton: throe mouths'. 20s. lower, at £70 2s. 6d.; electrolytic. £74 ss. Tin.—Oil spot, £6 htehor. at £204 ner ton; throe months'. £5 lCs. hinher, at £200 ss. Tjo.kl.—Soft foreicii. £16 12s. (nl. per ton. .PMron, 4d. liiprlirr, at 545. 2d. per ton. Spelter. 7s. 6d. higher, at £25 17s. 6d. per ton. Silver—Bar silver is quoted at 27 13-16 d. per ouncc standard.