COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1743, 7 May 1913, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. . There were no transactions in investment shares yesterday. The Quotations were as under:— „ , > Uuycre. Sellers. £ s. d. £ s. d. Equitable Building ■ — 9 10 0 Well. Investment 0 10 0 — N.Z. Loan and Mercantile 0 10 3 — Well.' Trust and Loan ... 7 1 0 — Christchurch Gas 7 8 0 — N.Z. Insurance 5 0 0 — S.B. Insurance 3 12 0 — Gear. Meat (£4) 12 5 0 — Gear Meat (£1) J 2 6 M«at Export (525. 6d.) 2 IB 0 N.Z. Shipping 15 7 6 15 15 0 Jtosciel Woollen — 3 12 0 Jliluirangi Coal 0 12 0 — Westport Coal lIS 11 « Taringamutu Totara, ... 2 3 0 2 5 0 Manning and Co 319 0 ~~ Ward and Co 4 19 0 - W.F.O.A. (£5) 7JO W.F.O.A. (£1) - 1 9 0 CALOICII CARBIDE. Last year the export of calcium carbide from Switzerland amounted in value to £218,000. There has' been an increase in the demand for calcium carbide for uso ill the manufacture.of calcium cyanamide. and for the autogenous welding of metals with tho aid of acetylene produced from carbide. On the other hand, there has besn little if any increase in the demand in connection with acetylene gas lighting. The factory at Martisrncy has been busy throughout the winter in the manufacture of the cyanamide, which is being used more and more as an artificial manure, especially in Germany. In the spring of last year Germany imported about lZ.oco tons of cyanamide for agricultural purposes, and there is some probability of its being, also used in the manufacture of ammonia, which it yields when treated with superheated steam under pressure. Tho utilisation of calcium carbide in the production of these other materials has placed the industry in a much stronger position than it was. formerly, when the only demand was for the purpose of acetylene lighting.

GISBORN'E GAS COMPANY. The report of the directors of the 61sbornc Gas Company for tho. year ended March 31 last states that: "The sales of gas for the past year show an increase of 12 per cent. An interim dividend was paid oil September 20, 1912, amounting to £1857, and the balance now (after authorised appropriations) is £5689 6s. 9d„ out of which your directors t recommend tho payment of a further dividend of is. oer share upon 24.760 6hares, amounting to £1857, the setting apart of £114 ss. for depreciation, leaving a balance of £3718 Is. 9d. to carry forward. The freehold property of the company, bought 31 years ago, still stands in the books at its original cost. In order to cope with the larEO increase of husii.css, both actual and anticipated demands for extension being constant, your directors find it will be very neccssary to provide mure capital. ,A proposal for this will be made at the annual meeting. TRADE IN ALLEN STREET. Fruit.—The Na.vuo. is due to-morrow afternoon with the usual monthly shipment of bananas from Fiji. Shipments of Island oranges are due this week, ex Talunc. at Auckland. Messina, oranges are now on the market, and arc meeting with a poor demand. Messina lemons aro in excellent demand, and only light stociK are held b.v 'merchants. ■ Owing to the extremely cold and wet wether experienced recently, the demand for- pears has fallen away, and prices ore fully 40 ner cent, below what they were. Apples, both cooking and dessert. have fair inuuiry. Tomatoes.—Only moderate supplies *of tomatoes are coming forward. Thero is a good demand for bett. quality, but for green tomatoes low prices have to bo accepted to quit. Vegetables.—A good demand exists for choico cauliflowers: eabbaECs aro steady: red cabbages are in over-supply. Tho usual demand exists for carrots and narsnips. Choico colery. is wanted, and consignments are recommended. Potatoes aro in excellent demand at £6 to £6 ss. per ton. Onion6—Frimo tablo onions aro in short supply, and tho market is firmer, with the quotation ruling at £7 10s. per ton. Victorian pickling onions aro selling at lid. per lb. Flour is ruling at £9 His. per ton f.o.b. south, but millers are not booking orders for forward delivery. Tho price ex Ftorc is £9 17s. 6d., less tho usual discount. Pollard i-3 in very cood demand at £7 ss. to £7 10s. per ton. Bran is in heavy supply, and is ruling at £5 to £5 5J per ton. Maize is exceedingly scarce, and is now Quoted at ss. t-o ss. 3d. ner bushel. Oatmeal is rulins at £15 per toil f.o.b. south, and £16 ex store Wellington, for leading brands. Holled oats in HI), br.e.? are piloted at 9s. 6d. per dozen, and oatina. at 10:>. Oats.—The markei extremely Arm. Short feed oats-are quoted at 3s. to 3s. 2d. ner bushel: feed Algorian at 2s. 9d. to 2s. lid.: seed Algerian, 3s. to Js. 3d.; heavy dun oats, 2s. lid. to 3s. Id. Hay.—Tho market, is steady. Prime quality rye jind clover is ciiiotod at £5 to £5 10s. per ton. Chalf.—Owing to tho advance in oats the chaff market is firmer: the present quotalion is £5 2s. 6d. to £5 55., ex store. Fowls' Wheat.—The market is very strong, tho current value being 4s. 4d. to 4a. sd. per bushel. Eggs.—Owing to the extreme price* ruling the demand has decreased, tho present prices are 2s. 3d. to 2s. 4d. for fresh, and Is. 4d. to Is. sd. lor preserved. Butter.—Prime milled in bulk is rulim: at Ujd. per lb.; second quality, IOJd. Partridge peas aro considerably firmer since the opening of the season, the present quotation is 4s. sd. per bushe! for primo samples; broken peas, suitable for poultry, 3s. sd. Prussian bluo peas ore quoted at 6s. a bushel. Cape barley is s'ow at 3s. 3d. per bushel with feed barley at 3s. Id. Poultry.—liens/ is. to 3a.' 6rl. per paircockerels. 4s. to 55.: ducklings. 4s. to 5». 6d.: large white ducks. 5«. In 6?. Turkey gobblers, lCd. per lb.; hens, 9d., livo-wcieh't. CuMom? duties collected at !hr port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £5335 St. 44.

COMPANY DIVIDKXL). (By Telegraph.—l'ress Association.> Dlinodin, Hay 6. The directors of tlic National Insurance Company liave declared an interim dividend of Is. per share. CAXTEIiUUKI* OJiAIN JIAIIKET. Clii'istchurch, ila.y 6. Good demand exists lor short-berried wheat, especially liearl. which is much firmer in price, while tnscan is dull of sale. I''or prime lines of pearl 3s. 9d. to 3?. lOd. is now being offered at country stalious, hunters heinc worth 3s. Gid. to 3s. 7Ad. For tuscan sales are difficult to effect at 3s. 6d„ some buyers only offering 3s. 5Jd. Very little hunters anil pearl is offerins. and hence prices are firmer. Tile "cllinc market for oats is very quiet, and merchants arc finding difliculty in effecting sales for their stocks. On the other hand. trrower« aro holding firmly, and decline to accept prices bciov.what they have lately ber.it rcrcivint:. "A' Grade Gartons are worth up to 2s. 3d., and "])" Grade and other varieties of oats up to 2s. at country stations. Oatsheaf chaff li Uroi at 62a. ba. and 6bs. at country stations! Potatoes are offering freely, as growers must now either sell or pit their crops. Sorao buyers aro offering £4, but others only £3 15s. The futuro of tills market is somewhat uncertain, and a great deal deponds upon whether Australia will want supplies or not. Onions aro now selling at £5 per ton. LONDON WOOL SALES. 3y Telccraah—Press Association—Copyrlclii London, Hay 5. At the wool sales there was a. largo selection of crossbreds. Prices were fully maintained. There was keen competition. (Itee. May 6, 11.55 p.tn.) London, May 6. At tho wool sales the following prices have been realised for the fleece portions of the clips named:-"Kreewa," top, 1 ■*u-. avcrago 12 l-Bd.; "Jloeraki," 13Jd. and 11 7-Bd.; "Waiau," 12d. and IOJd.; "Ruatongata," 12d. and 10 3-Sd.; "I'ungatauwa," lid. und 10J. . Messrs. Dalgety and Company, Ltd., Wellington, have received cabled advice .front their London office, under date May. 2, quoting Bradford tops aa follow:—36's, 16d.: <o's, 16} d.; «4's, 16id.; 46's, 17jd.; 50's, 21id.; 56'®, 231 d.; 58's, 26d.: M's, common, 29d.: 60's, super, 29Jd.; 64'g 30Jd.; 70's 315 d. WHEAT. By TelczriiDh—Press Association—Copyrifftt (Rec. May 6,' 11.55 p.m.) London, May 6. The wheat market is miict; 395. is asked for Australian January shipments. SILVER. London, May 5. Bar silver is quoted at 27gd. per ounce standard.