COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1626, 18 December 1912, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

INVESTMENT SHARES. No business was done in investment share* yesterday, and it is not likely that there will bo any trading for the rest of tho week. The Stock Exchange will olofo on Saturday, December 21, and reopen on Monday, January 6. Yesterday's quotations were as under:— Buyers. Sellers. £ e. d. £ s. d. National Bank G 17 0 — Weil, dan (£10) 1610 0 — Well. Gas (pref.) 0 19 6 - Standard Insurance ...... — 1 12 3 Meat Export (525. fid.) ... — 2 18 6 N.Z. Shinninir 14 0 0 — Kn-i.apoi Woollen — 6 5 0 Well. Woollen (ord.) 3 15-0 — Taringamutu Tota-ra 2 4 6 — G-oldeii Bay Cement — 10 9 N.Z. Drug — 2 10 0 DALGETI" AND CO. The report of Mcests. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., for the year to June 30 last state? that after providing for bad and doubtful debts, interest on debenture stock and debentures up to June 30, dividend on preference- shares, and payment of income-tax, there remains to the credit of profit and loss account.-including the balance brought, forward, £274,155. In May last an interim dividend we.n paid at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum, for the half-year ending December 31, leaving a balance arailablo of £234,155, which the directors recommend rdiould be appropriated us follows: —£40,000 in payment, of :i dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum, free of income tax, for the half-year, making, with the above payment. 8 por cent, for the year; JCCO.CCO to tho rosorve fund, thereby raising it to £500,000; £40,000 ix) writing down cost of preaiitcs; £10,000 to the staff bcnavolon^

fa=Kl, and .C 54.155 carried forward. The season 19U-12 was, on thn whnb, mi anxious OUS far t!w.-e ill pastoral and nrrnciiltura! bujiinsEn throughout Australia. I'ko present, year open-ad dry, and too conditionn 'developed with unusual rapidity into a drought of great int-eiiFitv, whereby the l-'.mbin;; become a. partial failure, mid some millioiin of grown shaao were lost, I:-ct ropioi;:i rains foil towards t.'ns close ol .lima, v.-liich wore followed by fiu-tlier faJlis and mild tempera tu res thi-ouiTliont, July. Tlic threatened disaster was thus averted., ond oiy.-e more the prospecta Kenerally are hopeful, except in West Australia, wh.y.-e tho drought continues without sensible abatemciu throughout tile TJppor Jlurchison. Oascoyno, and Asli-bui-ton district!--. 'J'lw new woo! clip is now estimated to fall «hort of the last by some 20CKD—5EO.0C0 bale?, bui tho loss to the country may bo neutralised to some extent by better prices. The value of fat stock is abnormally high, and is likely to continue so uint.il the losrai caused by the drought have to i-onio extent.been repaired. Wheat, on the whole, promises well, hut rain is needed at tha moment in Now Sont.li Wales and South Australia. In West Australia, last, year the crop was a failure, but this year, there is promise of a- good harvest. The dairying prospcols throughout tho Commonwealth aro good, bui; further rains arc needed. New. Zealand has been favoured with a good seaeon on the whole.

TRADE IN ALLEN STREET. Fruit—The Ifoiiowai reached port yesterday with transhipments of pineapples, bananas, and lumicra-s ex Ta.lunc.at Auckland, from the Cook Islands. Excellent prices were obtained for tho bananas; the pineapples were only in fair condition, and sold at low rates. Tho Na-vua, from Fiji, via Auckland, is duo to-morrow afternoon with supplies of bananas, which must carry retailers over tho holidays; for this reason keen competition is anticipated. About 320 crates of strawberries reached the market yesterday from the Auckland district, nnd sold at moderate prices. Supplies of Californian orangca are now within small compass; fair supplies of Cal.ifornian apples are available, but a- largo proportion is of (second quality. Plu'ms a.re coming in more freely from the Auckland dfe'frict, aud peaches from the Hawke's Bay district. Larger supplies of tomatoes are reaching the market, mainly Nelson grown, and prices have cased slightly. TT.-e Ulimaroa, duo from Sydney to-day, will land about 1000 cases- in Wellington, consisting mostly of cherries. Poultry—Holders are strongly urged to market their birds this week. The current tjuotations are: Hens, ss. to 4s. 6d. a pair; cockerels, Is. to 65.; stags (old roosters), 3s. 6d. to <s. Cd.; ducks, good whitcfgathered birds, ss. to fa.; Indian Kunncr ducks, 4s. to 4s. 6d.; gerivo, 7s. to Bs.; turkey gobblers, llil. to Is. per lb. live weight, hens 9d. to ltd. Vegetables.—Abundant supplies of green peas arc coming forward, and fair prices aro being obtained. Cauliflowers have declined in value, hut cabbages ore selling well. Carrots .and parsnips are in excellent d'emand mid consignments are recommended for the Christinas trade. Potatoes.—The market has cased considerably, aud good samples are now quoted at £7 to £8 par ton. Onions.—Owing to Californian shipments to Auckland being diverted to this market, it is- well supplied. Flour is without alteration at £8 10s. to £8 15s. ner ton. f.o.b. couth, less the usual tra.de discounts. Pollard.—A fair business is being done at £6 ss. to £6 ICs. per ton. Bran is -in poor demand, and sales arc being made at £a to £5 fs. per ton. Maizo is in fair demand at 4s. Bd. to ss. per bushel. Oatmeal is extremely slow 'of sale at £13 to .£1.3 10s. per ton. Rolled oats, in 41b. hags, are nuoted at ?s. ner dozen, and oatina at 2s. 6d. Oats are "dull of sale. Short feed and Dun oa-ts, 2s. 9d. to ?s. lid. per bushel; Algerian, 2s. lCd. to 35.; seed Algerian. 3s. 3d. Hay.—There h very little bui-dness doing; good quality is quoted at £5 per ton, and medium quality is extremely didl at £3 15s. . Cha.ff.—Only light supplies are held by merchants; tho current cuotat-ion is £5 ss. per ton, sacks in. Fowls' wheat.—The mo.rket has cased slightly, and tho nrice now is 4s. 2d. to 4s. 3d. per bushel for good whole wheat. Fresh osgs fmd ready sale at Is. 2d. per dozen. Butter—Prime milled, in bulk, is quoted at iCd. per lb.: good quality. 9d. Margarine, in 281b. tin--. Scottish ffia-nu-fo.-t-ure, Ed. to SJd. per lb. Cheese.—The. market in weaker; best factory, medium size, is quoted at G3d. per 11).: loaf. 7Sd. Eicemcal is slow of sale at £5 15e. per ton. Split peas.—New Zealand, 175.; English, 19s. Partridge pons moot with fair, demand at 3s. 9d. to 4s. 3d. per bushel. Whole linseed is quoted at 17s. to ICs-. per cwt. J-.inreed nuts, 1J&. (A. re.r cwt. Crushed linseed cake, 14s. peir cwt. Oi'storrn duties collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £6205 63. Id.

.TARANAKI OIL WELLS. (By Telegraph-—Press Association.! ' ■ How Plymouth, December 7. .'The Taranalti Oil 'Wells, Ltd.. lias received an inqtiry from a South African firm for samplec, and a ouetation for JSCO tons per annum of crude petroleum for hot with Diesel -engines. The company is unable to entertain t.ho question, since tile refinery will in a few months—be able to deal with all the oil produced. The directors hone to start the new well to-day with the rotary plant. A largo quantity of plant has just arrived for the refinery. CANTERBURY PRODUCE MAIiKET. :. Chrlstchurch, December 17. The principal business naming in wheat has bteii" between merchants, but even that is limited, as there are few buyers, Holders are, however, firm in their idea.; of values, and what Mies have taken place are on a- larger basis of values than that lately ruling. Much of the wheat that- Is Ptill held is of poor finality, and unfit for mi!!ir.?,i and it is only grain in prime condition that commands full market rates. Nothing is doing? in oats, and stocks arc said to be low. It ;a exnected that some ratting of early oata will be done next week. The grass seed crop should bo a heavy ono this season if the present favourablo weather continues. ■ STBATFOItD HIDE .SALES. Stratford, December 17. At tho hide salts here to-day record prices were obtained for first-class lines. Butchers' hides realised from 9Jd. to ICd.; ordinary lines, 9d. to 9jd.; ox hides, 9d. to 10>d.; calfe&ins (sound), Is. to Is. 3d.; and damaged calf, up to Is. Old. per lb.

MAT MARKET. . ' Jfeprs. Oilbert, Andereon and Co. (M«sre. Mellsop, Eliott and Co., local . agente) report under cl-ato Loudon, November B:—' The market liar, again been well supplied with Home and Continental meat of all classes. Irish sides of beef con be purchased as low as 4Jd., sheep 43d., lambs 5Jd.; those last two prices are as low as tho best frozen sheep and lambs, and except that the forimar are acknowledged by all to be very scarce they would be much lower in price. Ilome-grown: Scotch beef, 61d. to 7Jd.; English, sd. to 6d.; Irish, 42d. to 6Jd.; English and Scotch mutton, 5Jd. to 7*d.; Irish arSl Dutch, 4?d. to sid.; English and Scotch tegs. s}d. to 7gcl.; owes, flid. to lid.; English and Scotch lamb, (id. to Bd.; Irish and Dutch, s'd. to 6Jd.; pork, 7d.,t0 Bd.; veal, 7f,d. to Ed. Chilled beef: Supplies meet with poor demand, and prices remain, fores 23d., hinds 3£d. Frozen beef: Forcrinartors arc up Id., New Zealand, Australian, and Plato all 2gd.; New Zealand hinds remain 3 3-Bd., but Australian and Plato have, fallen Jd.—3Jd. and 3-1(1. respectively. Prbzen miuit.ton: The firmer tendency has materialised in higher prices. Oajiterburju, 4Cd. to 4?d.; best North Islands and Southlands, 4 7-i6d.; ordinary. 4 5-16 d.; owes, 3Zd.; Australian sheep, 4d.; Plate, 3 15-IM. Frozen lambs: The position remains unchanged; supplies are ample for tho poor demand. Canterbury, tinder 36 and 36 to 42, s|d.; best North. Islands and Southlands, 5 5-16 d. to 5 3-Bd.; ordinary, sid.

ADVICE OP MONTHLY FROZEN MEAT ■SHIPMENTS. ' Frozen Chilled Mutton. Lamb. beef.' beef. Sept. 1911 407,700 127,355 185,106 206,153 Sopt. 1912 307,400 81,024 178,400 155,500 SHIPMENTS DOTING OCTOBER, 1912 (To Date). Now Zealand 43,000 17,000, 4,000 — Australia 111,650 121,950 121,760 — Rivor Plato 255,000 45,000 165,250 175.C00 414,650 183,950 291,000 AN EASIER OPENING. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. Sydnoy, December 17. , The wool pales opened easier. Good sorts were Jd. and mediums sd. below last'salcs. SILVEK. London, December 16. Bar silver is quoted at 29Jd. per ounce standard.