COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1675, 15 February 1913, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

.INVESTMENT SHAKES. The sales reported yesterday were. National Bank at £6 Is., New Zealand Insurance £5 09. 6d. and £5, and Now Zealand Drug'at £2 9s. 9d. The quotations were as under:—

AUSTRALASIAN WOOL EXPORTS; 1 The exports of wool from the several States of Australasia for the seven months from July 1, 1912, to January, 31, 1913, as compiled by Messrs. Dalgety and Co., compare as under, with the figures for tho corresponding period of last year:—

Tho Australian- totals show a decrease of 112,432 bales,,while from, New Zealand there Is an increase of U ,465. Tho net decrease 1b thus 75,967 balos. - Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £1926. GRAIN MARKET. (By Telegraph.—Press AwocUtlon.) Chrlstchurch, February 14. There has been a fairly largo quantity of wheat offering during tho week, especially on Wednesday.' Tho quality of the grain Is reported. to bo much above tho average, being <vcry dry anil hard, though odd samples are rather thin. There has been good inquiry on the part of millers and a fair number of tales have been mode, principally at 3s. sd. for Hunters and Tuscan at country Btations. thin camples being worth not more than 3s. 4d. Vory little Pearl has yet been offered, and it has sold up to 3s. Sid. at country stations. .

Oats are being freely offorcd, but'only prime samples are commanding any attention!, as thoro is no outlet at present. Australian prices are boiow those ruling here,'and it is'stated that none may bo required for that quarter this year. Thero is goncral complaint of inferior quality of Duns offering, the colour being very light. "Micro is no change to report in quotations, which growers aro not showin? willingness to accent. Gnrtonn are quoted at Is. lOd. to Is. lid., and up to 2s. for AKradc at handy stations. Duns, Is. 6d. to Is. 10d., and Aluerlnns Is. 9d. to Is. lOd. Some buyers arc. only offering Is. 9d. for tho latter. There.is no change to.rcoort ,in barley, the outside price being etill 4s. for primo malting. A little business has been done in new oatsheaf chaff, which is quoted £2 ICa. lo £2 12a. 6d. at country station*.

A fow peas have oomo on the market, but prices ha.ve.not yet been fixed. Thcro is reported to be an improved inquiry for ryegrass, a demand having sot in from tho North' Maud fbr dressed seed, which is being quoted at 3s. to 3e. 6d.. f.o.b.

MARKET REPORT. Messrs. Gilbert Anderson and Co. Oleasra. Melleop, Ellott and Oo„ agents.) report, under date London, January 3:— Home-bred and Dutch mutton and lamb In Tory modorate supply, ami fetch high prices, thus creating a good demand for the best New Zealand', Australian lambs continue to arrive poor in quality and aro weaker 'in price. The shipments advised to date for December from Australia, New Zealand, and River Plato show an incrcaeo of 20,000 sheep and 6000 lambs over last year.' The high prices ruling provent good business being done. Home-grown.—Beef: Scotch, 6{d. to Yd.; English, 53<1. to 63d.; Irish, 5Jd. to 6Jd. Mutton: Scotch, 7d. to 73d.j English, 6d. to 7d.; Irish and Dutch, 5Jd. to 6Jd. ; Scotch tegs, Bd. to 9d.; English, 63d. to 7id.; owes, 6d. to 63d. Lamb: English new season's, lid. to Is.; Irish and Duteh, 6Jd. to 63d. Pork. 73d. to Bd. Veal, 9d. to lOd. Chilled Beef.—Large supplies and lower pricos; hinds. 4d.; foros, 3Jd. ' . ~ ' Frozen Beef.-New Zealand fores. Ma.; hinds, 33d. Australian, 3d. and 35d. Plate, 3d. and 3 lt-16d. , Frozen Mutton.-Now Zealand almost exhausted; North Islands, 43d.; Australian, 4 l-16d.; ewes, 4d.; Plate sheep, 4„o-8d. Frozen Lambs.-New Zealand, I<orlh Island, none; Canterbury, 28/42 6Jd. and 63d.; AusttWlan, best, 5Jd.; fair, sJd,i inferior, 6Jd.

BANK OF ENGLAND EETUBN.: By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Eec February 11, 8.50 p.m.) . . London, February 11. The Bank of England return issued for tho week ended Wednesday, February 12, is as undier:— .

. GOVERNMENT . SECURITIES. The following are tlio latest quotations for Government securities, with a comparison of those ruling last week:—

BANK RATES .OF INTEREST. Th« Bank of England i rato was, on February 8, 1912, reduced from 4 to 3j per cent., and on May S it was further reduced to 3 per cent. On August 29 it was raised to 4 per cent., and on Octobor 17 to 5 per cent. , The Bank of Franco rato was reduced from 31 to 3 per cent, on January 23, 1908.' and contlnuod at ,the latter figure until September 12, 1911,' when it was raised to 3i per cent. On May 17, 1912, it was reduced to 3-per cent., on Ootober 17 it wan raised to 3* per cent., and on October 30 to 4 per cent. ~ . — The Imperial Bank of Germany reduced its rate from. 6 to 44 per cent, on Juno 11, 1912; on Ootober 24 it was raised to 5 per cent.', and on November 14 it was further raised to 6. por cent. •

MARKET RATES OF DISCOUNT. The following are the market rates for best three months' bills:— , ' London '.. Paris Berlin ,■ i ' . ; rato,' rato, rate, / :: per per . per cent. cent.. . cent. This week .: 4J 3g 5 Last week 411-16 38 4J Last year : 36-16 23 -.33 Short loans are quotod at 43 per cent, an against 43 per cent, last week, and .3} per cent last year. .':,.,.

COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. Wheat is aulot, and buyers aro pausing after the recant acttrity. The market is firm, however, owing to drought in India, the renewal of the Turkish war, and unfavourable French crop reports. Australian 'per steamer, January shipment, 395. 6d, Australian, on spot, Is in small supply, and meets with a retail demand at 40s. 6d.; good Now Zealand longberry-is quoted at! 375. 6d. to 38s. 6d. ■ .

Flour is quiet, and unchanged. Oat 3 are quiet. Finest Gortons are quoted at 25s'. 6d. to 255. 9d„ ordinary 245. 6d. to 253.: La Plata, February-March shipment, 16s. Beans are firm. New Zealand, ex store, aro quoted at 44a. 6d. per quarter of 6041b. Peas are firm. Best Now Zealand Maples are at 40s. per quaTter of 5C41b., ex storo. Butter is rather firmer, but ythe higher S rices aro checking tho demand. Austrian, snlted, 1033. to lWs.; p. few' lots realising 112s ; uns-altod, 1123.- to 1135., with a few at 116s. i Now Zealand, 113s. to 1155.; Danish, is unchanged.

Cheese mcst3 with a dragging sale. New Zealand is quoted at 60s. Sugar—German beet, 88 per cent, net tltre. Id. higher, at 9s. 7d. per.cwt.; firstmark granulated, f.o.b. Hamburg, Id. higher, at lis. Bd.

Bradford Tops.-The market la firm, and thcro is a. good inquiry. Sixty-fours, 3d. higher, at 30J.d. per lb.; sum sixties, ?,d. higher, at 29Jd.; common sixties, Jd. higher, at eajd.; flfty-siies, ?,d. higher, at 245.; fifties, unchanged, at 22>,d.; fort7-Blxes. Jd. higher, at 171 d.; forties, id. higher; atl6Sd.

THE METAL MARKETS. ' Copper.-On spot,. 7s. 6d. higher, at £66 7s. 6d. per ton, ... Tin.-On spot. 455. higher, at £221 15a. per ton; three months', 3Ca. higher, at £219. ; Lead, 3s. 9d. lower, at £16 'lis. 3d. per ton. Pig-iron.—Middlesboro No. 3, 6d. lower, at 645. 3d. per ton. Spelter, 6s. lower, at £25 10s. per ton. VICTORIAN PRODUCE MARKET.-' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright • ■ Melbourne, February 14. Wheat,' 3s. 7id. to 3s. 7id. Flour, £8 10s. Bran, £5 ss. to £5 IDs. Pollard, £5 15s. Barley. English malting, 4«. 6d. to 45.. 7a.: Cope, 3s. 6d. to 3s. 7d. Oats, firm, good milling Algerians, 2s. 6id.; choice higher seed, S3. Bd.' to 2s. 9d.; toed, 25.-3d.'to 2s. 6>d. • Maize, 3s. 9d, Potatoes, £4 10s. to £5 ss.' Onions, £7 ; -

■ ■'.•■-■ '.' Buyers; Bellori. • £}.i.'. J3 ■». i. NationsBank -' ■ " i N.Z. and Biver Plato ..... — 2 0 .0 Well. Trust and Loan ... — .'"7-40 Gisborne Ga,3 ....:. I;! I — N.Z. Insurance 5 0 0 — N.Z; •: Shipping J5 6 0 Union Steam 2 7 6 2 8 3 Taupirl Ooal :•—■.■ 1.33 Wsstport-Stockton —. 0 4 0 Golden Bay Cement ...... — 10 3 N.Z. Con. Dental 10 6 — N.Z, Drug ...., 2 9 6 2 10 0

1912-13. 191M2. State. Bales. Bales. Victoria ...:... 369,659 134,692 New. South. .Wales 621,818 636,228 Queensland ;..... 179,129 > 203,434 South Australia 151,685 157,678 West Australia 61,460 • 63,160 Tasmania .,.; 13,582 14,513 1.397,273 1,609,705 New Zealand , 265,966 ' . 229,501 ;■'■";■";■..' • 1,663,239 . 1,739,206

Intra DEPAnrinwi Kots Inuo <E5i.H3.000 Gov.debb «. 411,015,000 Other eoourlti»s ..... « .7,434.000 Goli 86.094.000 £51,143,000 ■ v . £54,443,000 B1NBNS Depajitmest. Proprietors' Oovk. nmirlcapital £14.553.000 ties..: ... £13,035,000 Fubllodo- Othorsacuriposits ... 20,903,000 tins 87.695,000 Other da- . posits ... B0.66?.000 Kotsa ». 26.762,003 Befit, 7 r clay ■ ' .[ ■ and ot'nar biUa... ... 3.652,000 Cola... . .. 093,000 • ' £78,690,000 £73,690,000 The leading items of tho Bank of England''return afford th» following compaiison:— ". ■ • •■ • i !.,■;•■ ThlswMk Last week Last year Bullion ;./ ... 36,094,000 35.265,000 38,131.000 Reserve ... .... 27.760.('O9 20.673,000 29,074.000 Note circulation ' 27,681.000 23.65:0,000 27.705.WX) Public Deposits ' 20.903.000 18.2C6.000 18.767.000 Other Deposits 39.682,000 88.238.000- 39,630,000 Proportion of ' ■ reserve t» >'..■■ , liabilities.... . " 54.81 ' 47.03 61.24 •

,, . Variatian _ . compaiod \ • prlc«. with i last Tfc»k. S i. i. 2}% Imperial Consul 74 6 0 10s lower 4 „N.S.W.1938Jan.July 101'0 .0 Unchanged 3l „N.S.W.10:iO-EOMr.-Sp 97 0 0 • Unchanged 8J-..N.S.W.-1930-50 90 0 0 Unchanged 8 „N.S.W.l925Apl.-0ct 84 0 0 Unchanged 4 „Vio. 1920 Jan.July 100 0 0 Unchanged Si „Vio. 1921-6 Jan. July 98 2 0 Unchanged 34 ..Vlc-tSHSMB 1 03 0 0 20s lower 8 „Vio.l929-40J»n.July 78 0 0 Unchanged 8l „S,A.191GJan.July 91' 0 0 ' 40a lower" 8 „S.A. 1316 Jan. July 75 0 0 20a lower 4 „QTdl915-2( Jan. July 101 0 0 Unchanged 3'1 „ QTdl0J2-47Jan. July 94 0 0 Unchanged 3 78 0 0 20a lower 4 „K.Z. 1929 May-N«v. 100 0 0 Ga lower ' Si „N.Z. 1912-40Jan.July 01 0 0 Unchanged 8 '..N.Z. IKOApril-Oct. .60 0 0 Unchanged 35 „\V.A.1915-85.Slay-Nov 91, 0 0 Unchanced 3 „\V.A,191M5JIay-Nov M 0 0 Unchanged 3i „Tas. 1920Jan.July CO 0 0 Unchanged 3 „Taa.l9iO-10 Jan. July WOO Unchanged