COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1755, 21 May 1913, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

WOKLD'S lI.ON 01) K PIiODUCTIOX. To the order of the Imperial Parliament there was recently ii'sued a White Paper containint; statistics of the production and consumption of iron ore mid pi tr iron, ami the production of steel in the United Kincdom and the principal foreign countries in recent years, with additionally the itu-norl-s fliid exports of certain elates or iron mid .steel manufactures. II elates that the combined onlniit- or iron ore in ti l( i ten principal countries dealt with exceeded in !'!10 139 million lon-, -mr] if (lie output ■if liic minor cmtnines be added it. f= probable !l"il the world's total prodn-liin durinjr that year was about lli million toiij. Complete statistics iro not ret avail-

INVESTMENT SHAKES. A sale of Wellington G,is shares (£lO paid), at £16. and Westnort Coal, at 27=. 9d., were the only transitions recorded yesterday. The quotations were as under-—

able for 1911, but the provisional figures siiow that the world's total output is unlikely to ronoh more than 120.0C0.C00 t-ons, the United Kingdom's production figures, however, showing n slight .increaee. Tlio toial world'? supply of manganese oro in 1910 was about, 1,930.000 tons, whereas the availablo figures for 1911 show an output of about 1,654,000 1 mm. or a decrease of 266.0C0 tons. Statistics from Spain, France,, Greece, and Turkey have, however, not yet come to hand, but it seems doubtful if even with these additional futures the 1911 return will equal that of the previous year.

WOKIjD'S COAIj output. The total known csnl production ot the world ill 1911, according to tile coal tables published l).v the Board of Trade, was about 1.050,090,000 ton?, of which the United Kingdom produced more tlinii oucfourtli, and the United States more than two-fifths. Thi? excludes brown coal or lienitn. „ . . , The outputs of the five principal conlnrodnciilK countries were:—

\s an exporting country, the United Kingdom still stands at tho head of tho list, with a not export of 87,040,000 tons, the nearest- rivals bcinc: Germany, with 24.727.000 ton?, and tho United States with 17.603.CC0 tons

TRADE IX ALLEN STREET. Fruit—The Aorangi is <lue to-day with shipments of Island oranses and bSnanae. Tory little fruit is coming from New South Waief, the Willochra is bringing loss than ICO eases, consisting mainly of passion fruit and pineapples. Good supplies of Now Zealand-grown rears and apples mo available, • and the market shows a tendency to firm, owine no doubt to tho improved weather. Quinces are nearly over for the seaman, only very light shipments coming to hand now. Tomatoes.—Supplies from tho Hutt district have fallen off considerably. A good demand exists for choice coloured fruit, whilst green tomatoes are dull of sale. Vegetables.—Cauliflowers aro in excellent demand, and consignments are recommended. Cabbages eliow a slight, improvement on last week's rates. Parsnips and carrots are realising satisfactory prices. Harrows and pumpkins are in fair demand. Olioico celery is bringing comparatively high prices. Potatoes.—The market, has cased ss. per ton, in the south, and "WelliiiKton prices now Title at £5 15s. to £6 per ton.

Onions.—Supplies of Victorian are flue on Friday. New Zealand-crown of fair duality are selling at £9 ner ton; Victoriancrown pickling oniona are extremely dull of sale at Id. to lid. ner lb.

Flour is without alteration at £9 ner ton, f.o.b. south, and £9 17s. 6(1., ex store, Wellington, less the usual discount,

Bran.—Supplies continue heavy, and the current quotation is £5 to £5 ss. per ton.

Pollard.—Owing to importations from Australia, the New Zealand millei'6 have lowered their quotations by 10s. per ton, and botli New Zealand and Australian sorts ore quoted at, £6 15s. to £7 per ton.

Maize is in fair demand at 5a Id. to ss. 3d. per bushel.

Oatmeal.—heading brands nre quoted at £15 10s. to £16 per ton. ex store, Wellington.

Oatina.. in 41b. bags, is selling at 10s. 6d, per dozen.

Oats.—The market is without change. Short feed, 3s. to 3s. 2d. per bushel; feed Algerian. 2s. 9d. to 2?. lid.; seed Algerian, 3s. to 3s. 3d.; heavy Dun oats, 2s. lid. to 3s. Id.; discoloured oats, 2s. 7d. to 2s. 9d.

Hay.—Prime quality rye and clover, hand pressed, is selling at £5 10s. to £6 per ton,

Chaff.—The Marlborough quotations havo advanced considerably; prime quality, ex store, Wellington, is selling at £5 ss. to £5 10s. per ton, sacks in.

Fowls' wheat has "-ood inquiry at 4s. 4d, to <•. 6d. per bushel.

Eggs.—Fresh eggs are in fair demand at 2s. 2d. per dozen; preserved, Is. <d. to Is. sd.

Butter.—Prime milled, in bulk, is reaJisins U}d. to Is. per lb.; good quality, IOJd.

Partridge Peas.—Good samples are selling at <!s. "(i. to <s. sd. per buiviiel; broken peas, suitable for poultry. 3s. sd. per. bushel.

Prussian Bluo peo.e have moderate domaud at 6s. per bralicl.

Capo barley is sla-v of sole at 3s. 3d. per bushel, and feed barley at is. Id.

Poultry .—Mens, 2s. 6d. to 45.; cockerels. 3s. 6d. to 5=.; white ducks. ss. to 75.; Indian Runner ducks, <s. to fs. per pair; turkey gobblers, lCd. to lid. ner lb„ live weight; hens, 7d. to Bd.

CUSTOMS REVENUE. Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £2358 12s. 3d. , GRAIN AND PHODOCE. ■ . (By Telograpii.—Press Association.; Chrlstchurch, May 20. All sections of the grain and produce trado report that business is very quiet, there being little offering and grain growers holding firmly; but in view of the demand being for Dominion requirements only, there is apparently no immediate prospect of an improvement in prices that will induce holders to sell. There is no change from late quotations, wheat, especially short-berried, being firm, and there is a fair demand for oata. The potato market is dull at present. Buyers are only offering £3 lCs. to £3 12s. 6d., and there are very few sellers, even at £3 155., while some growers ore asking £4. The bulk of the crop now being dug is therefore going into pit. Merchants report a lack of fresh orders, and their business, is confined at present to filling those they have in hand. The onion crop in growers' hands is now in small compass, and tho price lias firmed to £7 per ton. The season is likely to be over somewhat earlier than usual, as tho good prices ruling have caused growers to sell freely. WHEAT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, May 19. Official quotations for wheat:—South Australian. New South Wales, and Victoria, for prompt delivery, 375. 7}d.; on passage, 38s. 6d. Liverpool futures, 91 cents; July, (Hoc. May 20, 10.25 p.m.) London, May 20. On tho wheat market the demand for cargoes is restricted; 38s. 6(1. has been bid, and 395. is asked.

Huyers. f-ollorp. £ s. d. £ s d. National Bank (now) .... 4 19 0 — Metropolitan liuildinK .... -- 12 10 0 N./,. Loan and Mercantile 0 10 3 — Well. Trust- and Loan ... 7 2 6 — Christchurch Gas 7 7 0 7 10 0 Wellington Gas (£10) 15 17 6 16 2 6 National Insurance — 2 5 0 N./j. Insurance 5 0 0 Gear Meat (£1) 3 2 6 - Meat Export 153s. 6d.) 2 19 0 — Union Steam (new) — 2 3 3 Union Steam (old) 2 3 6 2 4 0 Mosciel Woollen — 3 12 0 Well. Woollen (prcf.) — 2 16 6 Westport Coal 17 6 TarinEamntu Totara 2 4 0 2 5 0 Golden Day Cement — 10 3 Mnnninc and Co 4 2 0 -- Ward and Co 4 1 Q 0 W.F.C.A. (£5' 7 0 0 -

Tons. United Ht-at-cs 443.025.CC0 United Kingdom 27J.899.CC0 fiermany Franco 38.023, CCO Belgium 22,683,000 The ecal production of the principal parts of the Empire wae:— Tons. British India 12,716,000 Australia 10.550,000 New Zealand 2,065,000 Canada 10,C82,COO South Africa. 6,780,CCO.