COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1742, 6 May 1913, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. There were no transactions in investment, shares yesterday. Tho quotations wore as under:— Unycrc. Seller. 6 . £ p. d. £ p. d. National Bank — & 1 0 N.Z. Loan and Mercantile 0 10 3 Wellington Investment ... 0 10 6 Christchurrh Gas 7 8 0 N.Z. Insurance 5 0 0 S3. Insurance 3 12 n Gear Meat (£4) 12 5 ft Gear Meat (£1) 3 2 6 Mosgiel Woollen — 3 12 0 Well. Woollen ford.) ~ 3 14 0 Wettport Coal — 17 9 Tnringamntu Totara — 2 5 0 PETROL VERSUS PARAFFIN. As tho outcome of exhaustive experiments extending over a considerable period at lias now been found no??ible (eays a Home paper) to petrol and paraffin in tho same machine for purposes of power production. The pystcm which appears to give the hcot results is that which proIi 03 (? r tl7 ° starting of the engine, whether of a motor or some other vehicle is immaterial, by mean* of petrol, and then, i <F ' m ecliani?jn has become heated to phut off tho supply and turn on paraffin. Thus, the two .fluids arc used in tlm ca?e as complements of one another, and while this state of affairs exists they wilt prove of mutual assistance. It is possible, however, that hereafter their relative petitions may undergo some alteration, for determined efforts may be made to device means whereby paraffin sha-11, by reason of its cheapness, supersede petrol for the purpose of producing energy. If the efforts which are being made in this connection can bo brought to a successful issue a struggle will be witnessed between • m U j° f^ n v PS oil which will be unrivalled in i<* intensity. It is sufficient to refer to the contingency as a- possiblo future dovclopment. Ae> matters staud, tho adaptation of paraffin to tho requirements of tho motor trade is a great advance upon the few alternatives which havo Juthorto. existed to tho uso of petrol, and has opened up a new era to various forms of commercial enterprise, but particularly regards the taxi-cab industry. The point now is that, having discovered a cheaper fuel for motor-cabs than has hitherto been available, steps .will bo taken to still .further reduce tho costs in this connection, and whatever progress i? made will benefit not only the world's taxi-cab companies, but motor-car manufacturers also, who. will find an increased sale for their vehicles so long as working expenses can be guaranteed at a moderate level. As regards the world's taxi-cab compa-nies, it is to be feared, however, that anything which tends to improve the position of these undertakings will lead to the formation of fresh enterprises with a view to contesting tho market, aud it is the general opinion of experts that the introduction of a new class of taxi-cab is imminent, which will eclipse all existing vehicles of .this description as regards appearance, economy in running and durability, these factors being added to tho advantages arising out of the use of a cheaper class of fuel.

ARGENTINE SHIPMENTS. The Department of Agriculture, Industries, aid Commerce lias received the following cablegram from Buenos Astcs, dated May 2:—The following shipments of produce wcro dispatched from the Argontino to tho United Kingdom during April, 1913 (compared with April, 1912):— , , 1913. 1912. Frozen beef, quarters 170,C00 133,CC0 Chilled beef, quarters 294,CC0 166,000 Frozen mutton, carcasses ... 162,CC0 152.C00 Frozen lamb, carcasses 1C9.000 37.CC0 Butter, cwt 9,815 2,829 N.Z. IMPORTS. ■ " le merchandise imported into Now /oalaml during the yenr March 31 last was, according to the "New Zealand Trade Review," £21,309,688, and specie amounting to £650,140 was a'=o imtho tot ' al £21,959,828, asainst £20,495.336 in 1912, The imports into the several ports for the past two years compare as under:— 1912-13. 1911-12. Auckland 6,455,621 5,753,236 Wellington 5.565,452 5.335.C03 Other N.I. ports 1,290,153 1,212,572 13,311,226 12.3C0.811 Lyttelton i 3,193,009 3.027,071 Dunodin 2,830,634 2,655,696 Other S.I. ports 1,522,179 1,396,857 7,550,822 7,080,624 Specie to all ports ... 650,140 720,819 Parccls post 447,640 393,082. 21,959,828 20,495,336 'The Increase for tho year is £1,535.171. or about 73 por cent., and of this £1,010,415 i-i to be credited to the North lelanci and £470,198 to tho South. Tho increase oliowit by Auckland alone totals £702,385, eaual to nearly half of the total increase for tho Dominion. TARINGAMUTU TOTARA COMPANY. The directors of the Ta.ringa.mutu Totara Sawmills. Ltd., have declared a dividend for the half-year ended April 30 of 2s. per share, payable on June 1.

Customs datieg collcctcd .it tho port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £5312 9s. 2d. DAIRY PRODUCE. JTft=>srs. TV. AVcdcle! and Co., Ltd., in their dairy producc circular dated London, March. 20, report as under:— Butter.—Thi3 week the demand tor Australasian butter has been quieter than last owing to the approaching holidays, but prices have been, on the whole, well maintained. Prices of Victorian "choicest" salted aro 110s. to 1125., aud for tmsalted 112s. to 1145., with an occasional 1163. for a fancy narccl. New South "V\ r olos prices a-to practically tho same. Queensland "choiccst" salted is *<-elliiis at 103s. to 110s., end unsQltcd 110s. to 112* i. Secondary qualities of all varieties' continue •rather auiet, prices beinc in buyer®' far"Strictly choicest" New Zealand salted p and unsn.lted are making the eimo price, viz., 120s. per cwt. Ordinary first prades are ouoted at lies., but the quality of these is reported to be unsatisfactory. The demand for foreign butters in Br'itl*u. markets is ouiet. and the Copenhagen ofncml ciuotation bavin? been reduced bv I kTouer, now stands at Ills., instead of 116<?., as it. was at this dato last -year. Ciieese.—This market continues to show very little fluctuation in prices, and tho demand remains rood and steady. Prices of Onnadian , aro 625. and 655. per cwt.. f/ 1 h evf * Zealand is 61s. for coloured and 61s. 6d. for white. The Ayrshire has liroueht 1341 crates of Australian chce?o from Queensland which will bo ou the market <iJUr the holidays They are peeked two 70-pound cheese 'or four iO-pound in a cro.te. A good demand 1 ?. "J 100 * 0 ') Prices will probably be eliffhtly below those of New Zealand. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLEGRAM. The Department of Agriculture, Indue*, trie-, and Commerco has received the following cablegram from the High Commie•sioner for New Zealand, dated London, May 3. (Quotations, unless otherwise sneci- • fied, are average market prices on spot)*— Mutton.—Tho market is quiet, with a. tendency m favour of buyers. Cauterburv •4 3-Bd. per lb.; North Island, <Jd. ' Lamb.—Tho market is steady, and holdera are Arm. Small shipments are expected during the nest two weeks. Canterbury 62d. per lb.; other than Canterbury, 6Jd. Beef.—The market is weajc and inactive. Supplies of American chilled beef are 'likel ly to increase. New Zealand hinds, 33d per lb.; fores, 3Jd. Butter.—The market is weaker ai\d ten. dency downward, except for choirest. Supplies oro increasing. Choicest New Zealand, per cwt., life.; Danish, 1175.; Argentine; IOJs.; Australian, 107ej.: Siberian, lC?s. Che?-:e— The market is steady, with a,very (rood demflid for finest. New Zealand white, per cwt.. 58s. 6d.: coloured, 575. 6d. Hemp.—The market is quiet but rather steadier. Lower prices are encouraging moro business. New Zealand, good fair,per ton, £31; fair, £28; all positions, fair current Manila. £33; forward elilpment. May to July, £34. Wool—The market, is steady and nrices arc well maintained. Holders are firm. FROZEN MEAT. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, May 4. The Incorporated Society of Meat Importers' Smithfleld market quotations for tho undermentioned cloeecs of frozen meat are based on actual sales uf not less than one hundred- carcaascs of mutton or lamb, or twenty-Dvo quarters of beef of fair average quality. Tho quotations are not for selected lines, but for parccls fairly representative of the bulk of tlm shipments now Dn tho market. The prices v.hich follow are on tho average a farthing per lb. moro than tho values ex ship, this differenca representing the avcrago cost in expense, handling, conveyance, and selliuK the meat:— April 26. May 3. Mutton— d. d. Canterbury, light 413-16 43 Canterbury, medium 4 7-16 4 3-8 Canterbury, heavy <I,\ Southland * • North Island, best 4 5-16 41 North Island, ordinary . 4 3-16 4 1-16 Australian, light 3a 33 Australian, heavy " • liivcr Plate, light 4A • ltivcr Plate, heavy 3j 313-16 New Zealand ewes 313-16 313-16 Australian ewes 33 311-16 ltivcr Plate ewes 3 11-16 3J L<imb— Canterbury, light 65 7 Canterbury, medium 6} 6.1 So u thin n d • « North Island, ordinary .. 6 7-16 6,": North Island. ecJccted ... 6i"; 63 Australian, be.-t 6 j; Australian, fair 5Z 5^ Australiin, inferior ' • (liver Plate, llret 6 (, ltiver Plato, scuoud 5A 61

r.ccf— New Zealand, nx fores ... -33-B Xew Zealand. ox hinds ... 4MG 3} AiJbtralinn, ox fores J3-8 Australian. ox hinds ft lliver Plate, frozen foros 3$ Kiver Plato, frozen hinds 3a River IMato, chilled fores 3 13-16 33 lliver Plate, ohjlled hinds 5 Q •Xone offering, Rabbits.—The market te weak, and tlic busiueiKi doLDff U insignificant. LONDON WOOL SALES. London, May 4. At the wool sale? a small selection of merinos worn offprcd. Competition was active, and prices well maintained. The following priees \vc,ro realised for the fleece portions of the clip:' named"Ari," top price 10' d.. average IOJd.; "Aclaud." l'Ul. nnd 12(1.: "Panikau," 12d. and lHd.; "Piripiri." 12d. to 10M. To date, 126,457 bales liavo been catalogued and 111,221 eold. Mcastc. Dalgcty and Co., Ltd., Welliugton, have received cabled advice from their London office, under date May 2, quoting Bradford tops, as follows:—33'.:, 16d.; <o's, 16.U1.; 44's, 16$ d.; 46's, 17fd.; 53's, 2Ud.; 55V, 233 d.: £B's. 265.; Cfl'a, common, 29d.; GO's,super, 29Jd.; 64';?, 30Jd.: 70'.=, 31/, d. LONDON MAIiKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, May 4. Copra—Tho market is weak. South Sea, in baps, May-June shipment, £27 per ton. Cotton—May-June shipments of American middling cotton arc clearing at 6.41 d. per lb. Aluminium is ruling 1 at £89 to £90. Wheat is steady, and the market is active. WHEAT AND FLOUE. London, May 4. Shipments of wheat and flour afloat lor Europe on May 3, compared with a year ago, wore:— Mar 3. May 4. 1913. 1912. Quarters. Quarters. United Kingdom 3.565.000 4,2-SO.CCO Continent 3,&35,CC0 3,005,000 7,400,C00 7,255,C00 The wheat shipped from the Atlantic and PaciOc Coasts of North America during the past week and for tho corresponding week of last year is estimated by "Brad* street's" to be:— Atlantic Coast 244,0C0 248,000 Pacific Coast — — 244,000 248,CCD The total shipments to Europe from all exporting countries during tho week amounted to 1.160,000 quarters, including 85.000 quartern from Australasia-, as against 1,420,000 quarters, including 70,000 from. Australasia for tlie corresponding period of last year. .