COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1737, 30 April 1913, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

' INVESTMENT SHAUEK. Sales of investment shares registered ve---Icrday were New Zealand Loan and' Mercantile ill. 10s. 3d., and Wellington (ins Ltd., paid, at £16, this latter sale being under' 0 " Tho flUota <'°'te wero as Huyens. Hollers. N.Z. Loan and Mercantile 0 10 3 L' 1 ' Well. Investment o 10 6 _ Feilding Gas . _ inn Well. Gas (£10) 15 17 6 16 2 6 Well. Has (pref.) 10 0 — H.ll. Insurance ill ( _ Gear Meal, (£4) 12 5 (I _ dear Heat (£1) 3 2 0 — Kuiapni Woollen (ord.) .. — c i « llossiel Woollen - j ,S J Wcstport Coal 17 0 1 7 9 Taringaiimlu Tutara — 1 t n MaIIII nig and Co 4 2 6 "... Ward and Co 4 18 0 5 0 6 HIiIT.U.VK MK.VI' KtJPI'I.IKS, The United Kingdom now draw* from abroad more than one-third of its meat supplies. Last year the imports uvereea were slightly less than in 1911, and it is thought that the total will not materially increase in the immediate future. Th'o grounds for this supposition include the expansion of tho demand from countries such as Switzerland and Italy, which are now beginning to take fairly large quantities' of frozen meat. 111 the circumstances tlie possibilities of home-grown incut in the United Kingdom are naturally engaging increased attention. If the estimates of tho leading trading firni3 may bo accanlfld, jjia jivnhMiility kpphie tQ bo that

contraction rather Mum expansion in prodilution may In 1911 the homegrown meat marketed in Loudon represented -about 1,121,170 Jons, whih-t Just year there was a deeiinc of 13,070 ton*, to 1.100.100 tor.i'. The latter total comprised 797,850 tons of beef and 310,259 tons of mutton and Jamb, whereas the importations* were 416,• 457 tons and 251,485 ton.* respectively, *<> that local production coutillcd 62.39 per cent., and foreign meat 37.61 per cent, of the toUil coibuinption. A significant. feature of the trads tho gradual movement in the United States towards! the disappearing point as. a supplier of the meat requirements of the people of the Hritish Js-Ics. Already the contributions from that country and Canada have readied tho negligible. stage, for (hiring 1911 the meat forwarded from North America amounted to only 888 tone, tho whole ofe which was chillcd beef.

IjKVKR IIIIOTJIKIiS. LTD. Although the cost, of materials used by the company continued to rule high in the ra>U. year. Lever brothers. Ltd.. tire big soap manufacturers, arc able to record a further substantial advance in profits. The report for ISI2 c'l'.ows that the net profit was JMD.7CO higher, at X6JB.CC3. The amount applied to depreciation account is £56,800, as ag.rinst £57,700 twelve mouths' ago, while tho allowances for repairs, renewals, etc., ar.d insurance are about the '-aisc as last year, at £«4,5C0. The prosperity sharing with employees, including dividend on co-partnership certificates, takes £40,1C0, as against £59.900. Owing to tho issue in June liist or £50.K0 "A" preference shares, and in November of £507,5C0 "C" preference sliarcvi, the dividends on the preference and preferred shares absorb £453.500, or £50,(00 more than for 1911. and the balance remaining is £154,600, as against £154,900. The dividend on the ordinary chares is unchanged at 15 per cent., leaving £45C0, as compared with £49-0, to bo carried to reserve. Tho reserve fund amounts to JE434.1H; depreciation account, £447,362; ■ insurance reserve. £63,707. HEAT MARKET. Messrs. Gilbc,rU Atndcrlnnl and Co. (Messrs. Mellsop, Eliott and Co., agents) reportr, under dato London, March 20, as follows:— Better weather, light deliveries of Homegrown, and advice of only smalt shipments of frozen, meat from oil quarters have helped to cliecli the fall In prices. There is an indication that, prices have touched bottom. Mow that the season has started with Easter, Rood trade'may be expected. Home-grown—Supplies ' continue light, and the liigh prices are diverting trade to frozen meat. Beef: Scotch, 6Jd. to 7d.; English, 6ld. to 63d.; Irish, 6d. to 6 3-Sd. Mutton: Scotch, 7Jd. to Bd.: English. 63d. to 73d. Te.Jfi:',Scotch, Bid. to 9d.; English, 7id. to B}d. Lamb: English, lid. to Is. Id. No others ,on the market. Pork, 7Jd. to Bd. Chillcc! Ecef.—A fair demand, and slightly smaller supplies. Fores, 3td.; hinds, 5 3-16 d. Frozen Beef.—New Zealand fores 3 5-16(1., hinds 33d.; Australian, 3Ad. and 3Jd.; Plate 3 l-16d. and 3f;d. Frozen Mutton —Good inquiries nnd indications cf a rise. Canterbury, 48 to 55(1, 43d.; 56 to 64, 4i(1.; 64 to 72, 4d. Bret North Islands, 4Jd.: ordinary, 4 l-16d.; ewes, 3£d. fi)T liKlr;s, 3Jd. for- heavies; Australian sheep, 3(i to 50, 33d.: ewes, 3 9-16 d.; heavy Plate withers, 3 15-16 d.: owes, 38d. Frozen Lamb.—Quotations are practically unaltered; higher prices ore anticipated. Canterbury, II to 36, 6 3-8(1.; 42 to 50, 6Sd.; beat North Islands, 6 l-16d.; ordinary, 52d.; Australian, best, 5 3-16 d.; fair, 5 3-Bd. TRADE IN ALLEN STEEET. - I'ruit.—A largo, portion of the Moama's shipment of bananas was landed in bad condition: for good sound fruit high rates were realised. Owing to heavy supplies, the pricea of oranges' were on the low side. Shipments from Australia are increasing slightly; by the strainer due from Sydney io-day, passion fruit, piucapnles, and crapes aro cominfr forward. About SCO boxes of Messina lemons arrived by last weed's. steamer, and the condition of the fruiii waa excellent. This will ' probably be tho last shipment for the season. Choice d-sssert pears are In good demand, and tho best varieties of coloured dessert apples are realising fair prices. Cooking apples aro somewhat easier. Vegetables.—Cauliflowers arc realising excellent ratos, and coneignments arc recommended. The market is a trifle easier for cabbages. Choice samples, however, aro bringing payable rates. Bed cabbage ineeta with moderate inquiry; supplies of carrots and parr-nips are fuily equal to the requirements of the market, Tomatois—Owing to lighter consignments from tho Ilutt -the market has advanced, and choice quality has good inquiry. Potatoo3.—A good demand exists for prime table potatoes at £6 to £6 ss. pelton. Onions.—Table varieties aTc in oxcellcnt demand r.t £7 per ton; pickling onions aro selling a,l. ljd. per lb. V Flour Is selling at £9 p«r ton, f.o.b. south, lec3 the usual discount, tho ci storo prico being £9 17s. 6d. Pollard meets with good inquiry at £7 ss. to £J ICiy. per ton. Bran is in heavy supply, ar.d is quoted at £5 t-o £5 E»5. per ton. Maize,—With tho -advent of cold weather the demand has imnroved, and the current quotation is 4s. lid. to ss, per bushel. Oatmeal continues at £14 per ton, f.o.b. south, £15 ex <?tore, Wellington. Rolled oatg iin 41b. bags are quoted at 9s. 6d. por dozen, and oa-tina at 10s. Oats—The market continues firm. Short feed oaU are realisincr 2s. lid. to 3s. a bushel; feed Algerian. 2s. lCd. to 2s. lid.; seed Algerian, Zd. to 3q. 3d.; and Dun oats 2s. 10d.- to 3s. t Hay.—The market is firm; prime quality is quoted at £4 10s. to £5 per ton. Chaff.—The market has advanced, tho quotation now bcins' £5 2s. 6d. to £5 £s. per ton, sacks in. Fowli,' Wheat.—Tho market is firm, pood whole -wheat beinp quoted at 4s. sd. a bushel. Eses.—Fresh have apain advanced, and are now quoted at 2<s. sd. per dozen, with preserved at to. 4d. to is. sd. • Buttcr.-Prirne milled, in bulk, is in short supply, and is selling at 103 d. ricr lb., with eood quality at 92d. Partridge peas are slow of sale at 3s. 9d. to 4s. a bushel ;■ broken neas, suitable lor poultry, aro at 3s. 6d.

Prussian Blue peas are in moderate demand at >js. per bushel. Capo bariey is quoted at fc. Id. to 3s. 3d. per bushei; and feed barley, at 3s. Id. Poultry.—Hells, 2s. 6d, to 3s. per nail'; cockerels, 4s. to 55.; ducklings, 4s. to 4s. 6d.; turkey gobblers, lOd. per lb., live weight ; hens, 9d. Customs duties collected at the port of WellinKtor, yesterday amounted to £2502 Is. Bd. CANTERBURY GRAIN MARKET. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) • Christchurch, April 29. The local market .is generally very auiet.: There is isonie wheat offering, but it is mostly Tuscan, for which there is no particular demand, and there is no chango in prices. Oats are very firm, and few aro coming forward. There is a firm tone in the chaff market, and nr.iees have advanced in sympathy with oats. A shipment has been made to Auckland—tho first for the season—and this has enabled merchants to. fill a number of orders which they had in hand. It is now quoted at 625. fid. to 6S&. at country stations. Potatoes are still £4 per ton, but are not selline very freqly at this price for immediate delivery. LONDON WOOL SALES. By Telograuh—Press Assoifiation-Oopyrigil. London, April 28. At the wool sales there was a strops market. Competition was maintained, and prices were firm at opening rates. ■ Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., have 'received the following cable advice from London,, under date April 28:—"Tho pales continue with Rood competition end a.firm market. As compared with tho closing rates of last series, coarse crossbred rules at from na,r to 5 per cent, advance. All other descriptions aro unchanged." (Bsc. April 30, 0.15 a.m.) London, April 29. The following prices were realised for the fleece portions of the clips named:— "Marainanga." and "Otcnatata." top prico 12d., average Hid.; "Ncauoukeluv," top price 13d., average 11 3-Bd. WHEAT. (Itec. April 29, 10.30 p.m.) London, April 29. The wheal, market is firm, chiefly owint: to the fact that the situation in tho I3al_U;ins is considered less reassuring. © Australian cargoes are quoted at 395. 3d. and 38s. 9(1.: 38s. 6d. is ariied for Australian cargoes loading and 39t. for Australian sailers, February shipment. The oflicial quofatioim are: Prompt dclivcrv. 38s. on passage, 365. 6d. tu 395. 3d. SILVER. ~ London, .April 28. liar silver is quoted at 28 l-16d. per ouuee standard.