COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1548, 18 September 1912, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT. SHARES. '. .The sales reported-.yesterday,were Qear ■ Meat. £4 paid, at .£1?;..15fe. and , £I'. paid,, ait £3'4s. 6d.; The buying and selling quotations were.as under:—::;:-, ':..'• ■ Buyiprs. • B*)leri. .•'■■. : ■ ■ ■'. - . .' & «.' d. ' • £ «. d ; Bank New Zealand — ■' H 2 6 National Bank .....; J.J'J — '. Feildinfc Gas .":..■..■:.:.,....:.■.;.. 1 ° » ' . '"■ . Port 'Ohalrii«ts Gae •. -~ . ° -1? «. ChrisU-hurch Meat /...:... 15 7.6 , .. - ■Well. Woollen, ordinary... - 4 0 0 Westport Cpa.l : \ \ \ ' ~—. , Tarlngamiitu Totara , 2 5 9. . Z 6 4(lolden Bay Cement •; 1 0 \ 11° N.Z. Portland Cement ... -1.7 3 — Sharland's preference .-. — . 1 ■>. ! : . > , SUEZ CANAi IN. 1911,' j ~.-...' -.A white paper issued"- recently.-gives..-the returns of shipping, and tonnage .relating. .to the Suez Canal in. the years 1909, 1910, "at-ehows that : there was the net .tonnage-last' yca.r of-1.742.890 tons, as compared with 191 P, and an mcrease of 2,917,257 tons. as compared with.l9o9. The increase in the net tpnnago had the effect of increasing the gross receipts,. whichamouritJd in 1911 to. the highest sum. ever reach3d-homely,- UtfM.Wfrs.. as _agninst 156.436,5«fr5. in 1910. arid 1Z0,642,677fr5. in 1909, notwithstanding the reduction in the transit dues from 7.75 to which came into force on January 1. a\\.. '.., ;.• . ■• Tha number of vessels , wbnh. paeiee. thrniißhths canal was 4W9 in 1909, 4*33. in 910? and 4 969 mS 1911. of which.061.ir.,1909, 2778 in 1910, and. 3069 in 1911 earned the '•'There lias been an increase of. 1,292,537, tons last year as compared with 1910 in the tonnage of-British, .vessels, which amounted to 9,592,387 tons in 1909. 10,423,610 tone in 1910, and. 11.715,947, tone in 1911. Dur : in? the. oamo period th'o tonnage of German vessels, has increased from 2.381,681 tons in ISO 9, and' 2,563,749 tons in. 1910, to 2,790,963 tons in 1911. .. ■ ' The percentage of British- vessels and their net tonriaee increased in 1911 in. comparison with 1910, being 62.2 and 64 respectively, as against 61.3 and 62.9, in. 1910, and 60.4, and 62.3 in 1909. The percentage, of German vessels and their net tonnage was 13.4 and 15.2 respectively, ae compared with 14 and 15.5 in 1910, and 14.2 and 15.5 in 1909, while the percentage of net tonnage of the other maritime nations using the canal in'l9ll remained practically stationary as compared , with the preceding year. ■ . , , Of the 3846 merchant vessels and vessels in ballast of a net tonnage of 13,847,486 tons passing through the canal, 2872-snipe oU net tonnngc of 10,610,313 tons were British, heing 74.6 per cent, -of the whole number, and 76.6 per cent, of the tonnage; .whilst 377, or 9.8 per cent.,' were German vessels, whose tonnage was 1Q.5 per cunt, of the whole; Itollnnd,' France, Russia. Sivedi-n. Tiirh'y,- and Norway combined furnishing a- total of 15.6 per cent, of the vc.-isck, und 12.9 per cent, .of the tonnage of the oorryinc trade to the East through the cqniil. - - , The mean duration of passage for all vessels iiavigafin'j the canal was , 17 hours 1 mimlU' Jii compared 16 lidurs 54 minute'B in the previous yeur. The passage through the iniial of the lloyal yacht units journey, to -India, w 12 hours 30 minutes, and the return patfage occupied 12 hours only. The number of troops carried thiliugh ..-t}ie canal during the year was 98.555, as against 76.851 in 1910. being ' an increase-of 21,701. There was an increase of 21.563 Turkish. 799 German, 732 Frtnch, 379, Italian, and 133 liussia'n, agaiiKit.'a decrease of 659 British, 167 Austrian, and 95 Dutoh troops, as compared with 1910. The number of civilian .passengers amounted to 144,635 in 1911, as against WXIY in the preceding year, being'an increaEe of 16,464; while the number of pilgrims, emigrants, and convicts was 32,461 in 1911,, as 'nomn'arcd with 28,953'iti l? 10. or' an. Iricrw'fe of "351)8. Civil nnd .military '.tfassenger/ to the number of 275.691 were carried through the cnnal in 1911, as against 233,978 in the previous yea,r. ••..'■ The m<j3t important Item of merohaadlse nortito Mttti jroa ££4L

of which-a, total: of 1 1,091,223 tons passed tnrough in. the.• year, .96. per cent, of which originated from the United Kingdom. In the traffic'from-eouth to north tho tniantity.. of wheat ■ transported amounted to 1.644.0C0 tons, 58 per cent, of which wac- for tho United Kingdom.

; ; THRIFT AMONG HAILWAYMKX. With the object of encouraging thrift amongst its..employee*;'the North-Kastern -Railway Company many years ago established. at which deposits of Is. and upwards* arc received from nny person in the service, intrrcst at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum being allowed on accounts lip to £2CO and 2i per cent, on any excels over'£2oo. According to the fifty-second annual report, recently issued, it'apptara .thu bank ' continues to mako steady 'progress, and its exceptional ad-vantages'-aa. a ravings bank and medium for investment are beiils; more' and' more appreciated by the - company' employees. During the twelve months ended April 30, last, $55 ■ risw . ; accounts were opened and 661 closed, '..shoeing' a. not liricreaso of 294. The total number of depositors is now 12,022,-a's against 11,728 at the close of the previous year. The large Bum of £221.014 was dealt .with.during the year. JEIII.3CO ■having!, been deposited and £111,714 withdrawn, ■" whilst the ■total 'amount, inclusive of interest, now standing to the credit of the • depositors is no' less than .-£1,034,545. being an increase of £35,960 over the previous ■ year, arid representing an average amount of £85 Is. Id. for each depositor.

i ' -' NOTES. ■ ; From'authoritative American statistics it l's found that in 1910, tho last complete ,year from which universal statistics are available, tho total production of petroleum, amounted -to -327.472.Ct0 barrels, fc or ■13,753,859,000. gallons.. .The United- StStes .ou!tp-4f of 2t'9,556,000 ba.rs?ls constitutes nearly 70 per.cent, of the-world's total. .Russia was..'responsible. for .24J per. cent., and- Galicia, the next in importance, came a :loiik way after with 12,672.000 barrels, or less than 4 per cent..of the world's output. The Dutch East Indies held its own with 3.27 per cent., <md Rumania, recorded- an increase of 4 per cert, over 'the previous year, at 2.97 per cent,, of the world's 6uppHcs: Only two-other countries, succeeded ,in -producing 1 per cent, of the world's total—lndia, with 1.87 per cunt., and Mexico,-, rfith 1.02 per cent. The Indian production, at. 6,137,000 barrels/shews a decline of over 5M.0C0 barrels: but-Mexico recorded the' largest proportional increase of any producer, namely, 34 per cent., the total output being raised to 3,332,000 barrels. Last year's flguree willshow a big variation in these totals, as many new-centres have been developed; ,fcveu Australia is now playing her part. The commercial correspondent of the ."Mnancier". statoa that the. gathering, of tho. 1911.date harvest was accompanied by considerable drawbacks. Jn 'consequence ofi the cold 1910-11 winter, and the relatively ■ late summer the dates were slow in ripening; then.from' July to mid-Oc.to- . nor the prevalence .of" cholera made It doubtful whether the goods could be sent to foreign markets, and caused a scarcity of. labour generally for • industrial purposes. .The first shipments from London were mjUlo in early October, when freights Voro high.- Generally-speaking, the har■ve3t -has'- been poorer than in the pre-ceding-year in. point of-quality of the ■ flnor sorts,' liuti -■thirrt-cliiss goods : been -sold at a profit. The total Quantity oK dates exported ' from Bassora amounted to 40.000' tons in, boxes, and 25,000 .tons' iri:rack> and : .baskets. In. addition some 5d45 .tons were..-exported in Eussian ships, mostly' in cases.

According to a Berlin telegram of the ."Frankfurter- dated August 2, the, Gorman \South .s<so3 Company for Wireless Telegraphy has been formed with a 'capital. of £65,000. - The purpose for tfhieh the now company, has been formed -l's.to . establish ■ wirelaßS communication between the-IGernian'Sduth , Sea.'colonies, 'and.'|6 connect' them" at": Yap with . the cable of the German and • Netherlands Telegraph .Company. As a first, instalment four,large stations are-, to'.be erected, viz.. at fYari ;(Parolinc. Islands)/ Rahoul. (German: New Guinea.).' Nauru (Marshall Islands), ; arid at Samoa. The whole of the installations will.be carried out by the Telefurikeri Company.! ' :

■ 1 •'.'.•. WAIKAHAPA' FARMERS',CO-OP.-' iTlie'balance-sheet, of the Waii-araiia.'Fa.r-mare, ..qo-qperativp ■ Assoeintipn, ' Limited,' fprthe year ended July: 31 last-shows that tils.- profit on sales, and sundries • totalled £26,188 19s. flCd., the general which. include, etpaiiEes under .ill hsad-!. amounted to £12,950 os. 6d., leaving the net,-, profit for ths year at £13,238 19s. '.1. .This result is not. as', good as in tli« previous year; owing to having to nrovide for. loss byrfire at the Furniture. Factory, writing down the Jtasterton property.£6oo, extensive repairs to branch properties, which were 'all charged.out of this year's revenue, .and also penarsl ■ ' increase Un trade expense:.. Adding to 'the net profit £6409 19s. sd;, the amount brought, forward, tlie previous year, there is available £19,648 183. 9d;,: which.tlisdirec'torn recommend for distribution as follows:—To payment . of dividend-of 6 per cent.-and-bonus of 3 per cent, on paid-up capital, payment of. bonus of 3 per cent, to shareholders on their purchases; naymsnt-of bonus of. J per cent. .to employees on their salaries; ajid a bonus, to managers',ahd to' heads of such - .departments as haye contribnt-fl a. proportionate share of profits. Aftei , ;.v Hovrn-nent income ' tax and the honorarium to directors, there'will remain a> sum of £7056.t0 he carried forward to next year's profit arid loss account. Dunns, .the ye.iV tho ' following ■ buildings were erected:—The Md'ster.ton' front, with now Ilehting' plnnt. nsw and raili{iny aiding at Cartsrton, new gmmry at Ekotahuna, new. bulk store ■at Pahiatua, Il£«jd,e3 improVementa ,to Eomo. of the branch premises.' The mortgage on the : Wellington; r-yoperty-'.ipis'reduced by £4MO durinK the year. Tl;c paid-up capital is £89.899-10s.. reserve £30.764 17.?. id., deben■'yv< nrA qtci-'o.d in.tercst £25,416 13s. .«;.< flxcrt and frse dcimsits end- interest f 45.703 4s. 6d.,.bi11« : payable and sundry liabilities 3856'445. Jtd.. Bank .of Xev: Zcal'.in'l £2757 9s.'l(]d. -The assets inolude freehold, property £55,115 35.-7 d.. stocks on hand and afloat-..-eSOJIIJ 10a; 7d.. nlant ond live 'stoMi £4112 tie'. 3d.,- book debts and bills receivable #fttO7..s!>. 9d., cash iii'hand £1392 \ii. °i'.'.' "'lvances agaipst consignments £2030 l?s: 3d. . ! ... ...■■-.. '

■:>■■'. /TRADE-IN, AtiliEN, STEKKT. ■ 'Potatoes.'.— Owing to .'the high ttia\. ■arc'iftill' ruling. thc'consuniDtion liaij.fallen ■ off tremendously';- good ; tablc potatoes arc 'Selling'. at'.£B.to'£9; sai-ks i,n: seed potatoes ; are.'guoted:at'£s-ito £10 per ton, according ;tb ■: - : .. '.-.. " • ( .. . "

1 Onions.—Heavy shipments came forward iby the , Aoraogii but tho'. bulk, however, has 'already go.n<; into' consumption. .A good demand- exists- for prime quality at 16s. to 18s.\pef c\vt. -.. - .. • . ■ •. ■

Bran iV.in/nlentiful supply, and eelling at £5 15s. to £6 ; pe'r'tbn. .... . ...

: ; Pollard finds ready. sale at £6 16s. per |tbn..;' .-'... •..,■..'■ -.--.. •, ' ! Jfaize.—Very, little business is -doing in : maize. :•'•-Feed Sort?, are quoted at ! ss. 33. 'tb'ss. 6d." per bushel; S3edmaize, "Hickory King," 6s. to 6s. 6d. - :.-■ c . Oatmeal..l 3' dtill of sale, at £13 10s. to £tt peri ton - . : '' '.Boiled, oats, in 41b.-. bags, continue at 9s. per, dozen, with oatini at v ?s. 6d..' : . . .. ■ Oats meet with poor inquiry. Short feed and -Dun cats .are selling at 2s. 9d. to'3s. per.bushel;.seed Algerian, 3s. 3d. to 3s, 6d,; Bay is in poor demand,,at £5 to £5 IDs. per ton'for rye and clover. , .-.- Chaff is in heavy supply. Oaten sheaf. £4.15 a. to"£s per ton , ; medium , quality, £4; all sacks'in. ■■ ; ■ . • : , Fresh • eggs hare' good inquiry at lOid. per dozen. ■ ■'■ • . '• • ■ -. Butter.-Prime milled..in hulk, lid;-to ll»d.;, second quality," M: to-lCd. • Margarine, in 281b. tine.- Scottish manufacture, TO. .to 81d. per Id. " , Cheese.—Best factory, medium size, 7d. to-7Jd. per lb.; loaf,- 73d. Rice meal has fair inquiry at £5 155., and rice flour .is quoted at £6. Split'.peas are selling at47s. per. cwt. Prussian , bine • peas have moderate inquiry at,6s. 9d. to 7s. ■ • ■ Partridge peas-find ready Bale.at 4s. to 4s. 3d. per bushel.. ■ ■ ■ 1 Whole linseed is in fair demand, at 17s. 6d. to 18s. per cwt. ■ ' . , .Linseed nuts ore quoted at 133. 6d. per cwt. . . ■ • Crushed , linseed cake. 143. per cwt. Fruit—The Aorangi. from Ran Francisco, brought forward large consignments of Californian' apples, also bananas from Rarototfaa, whioh reached a keen market. The bulk of the Island, oranges, owing to the lateness of the season, came forward ih bad order, and low nrires hid to ho accepted. A good demand oxiats for sound Island ; orangos.'The Jfalti, due from Sydney to-day, is' bringing the ueual consignment of lemons,' passion fruit, mandarine, sweet oranges. Seville 1 oranges, pine applua. and' loquats. The 'market is well supplied with apples both New Zealand anil Tosmaniau;' ' A good demand exists for tomatoes and cnbirmuerii. . • Vegetables.—Spring' cabbages arc in crood demand, whilst'winter varieties nrc dull.of sale. Parsnip's lit extremely dull. Cauliflowers arc in .plentiful supply, and arp realising moderate prices. A good deinond ciHts for celery. : Customs-duties rollecled nt the -poi'l -ofWcllington yesterday amounted ■ to i<1843 9fS. 9d. ■ ', ! .- CANTERBURY DRAIN MARKET. ■ '(By Telegraph.—Pres9 Association.) . ChVlstchurch, September 17. . Whatever business'is passing in grain is between merchants, as there is notliing much offering from the country, farmers being now too busy with spring work. Very, little has yet' been done' towards threshing the grain held in stock since last harvest, which consists chiefly of oats. The Indralenia. which leaves for London next week, will take away from liyttslton about 20.CE0 sucks, chiefly 'oats. tiens. nnd a. ounntity of wheat. -.- Oatshenf chaff is dull, of -sale, at 50e. at country stations. In th« abianc* of order*, the potito marJjet it fluist, the nortlwra markets betas.

well supplied for the; time being, • endowing, to-the lntene-is of. the j-cason and the warm woathor, merchants are not in-, clined to keep any quantity on hand. The price .nominally i 3 £6 10s. to £6 15s:, at country stations.

liONDOX WOOL SALKS. Jfcssre. Dalgety and Company, Limited, have received the following cablegram from' their London oflicc, under date September 11: "The list or arrivals is dofed, and nil your wools have arrived in time. The new arrivals amounted to 170.C00 bales, of which 56.C00 bale? have been forwarded direct to manufacturers at, Home and abroad, and 29.000 bales carried forward from last -jilc, leaving IW.CCO bales available for sale. , . ■

By Telecniph—Press Association- Copyricht (Rc'c. September 16. 0.25 a.m.) London, September 17. For the forthcoming London wool sales 170,000 balos have arrived, of which 56,000 have been forwarded direct to the manufacturers, leaving . 143,000 hales, including a ouantity held over, available for the series. ■■ '■ ■ . ■ ' •

' '. . WHEAT. (Hec. September 18, 0.25. a.m.)

London, September 17. Wheat is firm with moderate inquiry.

SYDNEY PRODUCE MARKETS. Rcc. Soptember 17, 11.30 p.m.) Sydney, Septembber 17. In consequence of the arrival of Japanese and American consignments, onions have declined £2 a. ton.

MINING NEWS. • WELLINOTON SHARE MARKET. The mining share market was very quiet yesterday, and there were no transaction's at the morning' call.' At the afternoon sitting 3, sale.of. Talismans at 40s. 6d. was reported, and a. sale of Waihi at 365. 9d. •v>:as made on 'Change. ■■The buying and Selling prices were as under:— Buyer:. Selleri. £ s. d.'" "£■ s. d. Kuranui Caledonian ...;.. 0 13 016 Mountain King D 0 3 . — N(Z. Crown — 0 2 5 New Sylvia. 0 il 5 0 16 Talisman 2 0 3 .206 Waihi' .'. '......' : '1 16 3' ' 1 16'9 Waihi Grand Junction ... 1 2 9 '1 33 Waitangi '.... 0 0 10. .0 011 The Wellington Stock Exchange received the following telegram yesterday from, the New Sylvia, Company:—2slb. picked stone from stopc. STOCK EXCHANGE. ' . (By TelecrapU—Prese Association.) Auokland, September 17. Business done 'at' this morning's call:— New Sylvia, Is. 6d., Is. sd. Occidental. Is. 4d.. Saxon, 10d., 9Jd. • Grand Junction,.£l 3s. 3d. . Westpprt Coa.l, £1 Bs. 3d. Auckland. Gas (new),. £3 4s. ' New Zealand Portland. Cement, £1 7s. 6d.. The following business ' was done at the 3.15 p.m. call to-day:— . May Queen, lid. ■ ' .'' New Zealand Crown, 2s. 3d. Golden Cross, sd. , '.■ . . Talisman Consolidated, £2 os. 6d., £2. WoihV £1 lfc. 64.". '- Waihi Grand Junction, £1' 3s. '. • . Victoria, BW. . . Auckland Gas (new), £3 45.. . '.: /• '■'-.•- Dunedln, Sentember 17.'-' The, following Eolc.was' made .on the Stock Exchange to-da-y:— Saxon,'9d.~ . PEOTECTION. Recfton, September 17. The Consolidated Goldflclds have widened the grounds on which they, ask . for. protection as the Inspector'of JlirieVhas-con-demned the poppetheads. Progress Jlincs. ask .for protection on account of the main rare having been carried away: The Blahkwnter. Mines -.allege. the old ground of the labour dispute. . • '• ; ' - LONDON'jt'IiJIIfG'-.QUOTATIONS.;'. . . ' By Tdeeraph—Pre3s' A6sociation-Copyrleht.' London, September 16. .Yesterday's closing quotations Waihi Gold-inininit.' 355. (buyers), and 37b.. 6d. (sellers): .Grand Junction. 2Js. 9d. and 24a. 9d.; Talisman, 40s. and 4fe. 6d.