COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1761, 28 May 1913, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. ' The -cales reported yesterday were: Meat Export, 525. 6d. paid, at £3, and N.Z. Consolidated. Dental at 216-. 6d. The quotas tioiis vrefc as under:— Buyers. Sellers. £ s. d. £ 6 d. National Bank (new) 4 19 0 — Rational Bank (eld) — 5 3 0 N.Z. Loan and Mercantile 0 10 3 — Well. Trust and Loan ... 7 2 6 — Well. Deposit 0 5 0 — 1 N.Z. Insuranco 6 2 6 — | Gear Meat (j£l) 3 2 6 — Meat Export (525. 6d.) ... 2 19 6 — N.Z. Shipping 15 8 6 — Union Steam — 2 3 6 Well. Woollen (pref.) - 216 0 Westport Coal 16 3 16 9 Tarmsamutu Totara, 2 «J 3 — Golden Bay Cement — 10 3 Manning and Co 4 2 0' 4 4 0 N.Z. Con. Dental — ■ 13 0 Ward and Go 419 0. — W.F.O.A. (£1) - 18 6 CONDITIONS IN CANADA. The money market in Canada is feeling tho stringency, caused by tho Balkan war. Tho treat chartered -banks, whilst not being unduly sever© with their customers, have, flinco tlio of the year, gently but .firmly restrained them from embarking upon new enterprises in which there was the slightest element of risk. In the spring-timo the Canadian's mind gently turns to thoughts' of real estate, and great preparations were uiado for what was announced ag the greatest year that Canada hod over seen in tho real estate boom. Tho tightness of mouey, however, has put a very severe check unon thi3. The majority of dealers are forced to stay their hand, and every office is packed with tempting propositions to nut before the investor. Tho check put on tho real estate boom, unpleasant op it may seem for the moment to thcue interested in it, must eventually turn out. t-o bo of the greatest beuefit to the market in general, for it has Allowed time for things to- settle down, for investors to calmly consider valuations from a common-?on?« point of view, ami not be influenced by tho exciting rush of a. boom.

G.O.D. PARCEL-POST SERVICE. •The practical workiug of tho of tho C.O.J), parcel-post service, which is to bo instituted in the United States on July 1, will be wat-chcd with a great deal of interest everywhere. Under an order iei-ucd by the "United States Postmaster-Ceneral, t.iio sender af a mailable parcel on which the postage is fully prepaid may have the price of tho article and the charts thereon collected from the addressee on payment- of a fee of 10 cunt» in parcel-post stamps affixed, provided the amount to bo collected doea not exceed ICO dollars. Such «. parcel will bo insured against loss, without additional charge, in an amount equivalent to its actual value, but not to exceed GO dollars. Tho sender of a collect ou delivery (C.0.D.) parcel will be given a roceipt showing tho oJUce and date of mailing, the number of the parcel and the amount due him. A C.O.D. parcel will be accepted for mailing only at a moneyorder office, and when addressed io a money-order office. The postmaster at the mail ins office" will he held responsible for the postage required for the return of a parcel addressed to a non-money-order office. If a C.O.D. parcel is received at a non-money-order oifico, t/ho postmaster will notify the office of mailing of the amount of postage required for its return. The postmaster at the offico of mailing will ascertain from the Fonder whether ho dossires the parcel returned or delivered without collection of the charges. If tho render notifies him. in writing, that the parcel may be delivered without collecting tho charges, lie will attach tho ordor to tie office coupon and notify th« poutmaJtw.

at tho nflieo of a (hirers to that cfTcot. The C.0.1), tap must show tho amount, duo the (H-mlcr, MlO money-order foo necessary to make tho romitUukM?, and the tutaJ amount

to i>e collected. It should be Fccurely attached to the parrel, which should he numbered to correspond with tliy log, Miunite'l U.0.U., and the charges to lie collected plainly written thereon. UNITED STATES WOOL CLIP. 111 view of tho proposal for tile abolition of tho dutira on wool in tho United States, it is of interest to Jearn of the domestic wool clip of the country. This in 1912, oxchisivo of faulty wool, was estimated at 262,543.&Q1h.. a decrease of 14.5C4,sCoib. oti 1911. The ecoured equivalent is put down -at 106,566.G521b., a. decrease of 3,029,54311). from the previous year. The number of sheep returned en lit for rhearinK is siven at 33,481,000, a decrease of 1,280,000 on 1911. the total that year beins 39,761,W0. One of the Ftrongcst arguments of tho late Jttdsc Lawrence, who had «. leading hand in framing tho wool duties of t.ho Dinglcy Tariff, enacted in 1897. was that, with adcauato protection, United States sheep farmers wjitlo in-ow oil tlio wool that was required, that it wou'.'i five new lifo to the siicep-brcedinp industry, ami lie the incaiiiJ of cn'.n-ing a lice increase in the number or sfceeyi ltr-pt. Wn.it are tho actual facts? In 1833 the nunr. ei' of sheep returned by the Agricultural Bepartment as being depastured in the United States was 60.360,243: in 1902,42,184.122; n.nd in 1912, 38.481.000. Tho above points its own moral, t.hat, tho efforts which will be made 011 the part of those representing tlio wool-crowing internet of the United States oil the forthoominsr Bill, it is plo.iu to seo that United States manufacturers cannot do without Australasian merino and crossbred material. 1 THADE IN ALLEN STREET. Fruit.—The Aoranci readied port 011 Saturday last with shinraents of oranires and bananas from tho Cook Islands; the vessel also brought from San Francisco about 3D boxes of asparasus, packed one dozen in a crate. The consignment opened up in splendid condition, and was without doubt the finest asparasus ever seen in this part of tho world, and fairly satisfactory prices were obtained, llildura, lemons aro due on Friday by the Melbourne steamer. The market i's estremely hare of Sfesina. lemons, but further supplies are due next -.month. Moderate consignments of passion fruit and uincapnleii are arrivins by the Jlaungauui. due to-day. Owins to slightly warmer wrather stimulating consumption, prices for apples and pears show an advance on last week's rates.

Tomatoes—Tho built of the tomatoes coming in from the llutt district ; aro preen, and meet vrit-li very poor competition.

Vegetables— Cauliflowers have good inquiry; choice eelcry is in keen demand, and consignments are recommended. Parsnips, carrots, and cabbages aro selHncr at prices which leave a margin ol' prolU for tho grower. Pumpkins aro in rather

lioavy supply, and low rates have to be acccpted to quit. The usual seasonable demand is being experienced for beet, raddi«h, and lettuce.

Potatoes.—Good tabic potatoes are soiling at £5 10s. to £5 15s. per ten. seed potatoes are now offering: "Un-to-dato" at £5 15s. per ton; "Gamekeeper" £6 10s.; "Beauty of Hebron" and "J'nrl.v

liose," at £8 10s.; and "Breeze's Prolific, at £5 15s.

Onions—The bulk of the table .onions now offering aro from Victoria, and realise £9 ICg. per ton: New Zealand-grown arc ruling at £9. Pickling onions ar« in extremely poor demand. Flour continues at £9 per ton f.o.b. south, and £9 17s. 6d„ ex sloro Wellington, less tho usual discount.

Bran.—.Supplies arc plentiful, and tho ruling rate i's £5 to £5 ss. per ton.

Pollard.—Heavy importations continue from Australia, and the current quotation is £6 15i?. to £7 per ton. JEaize has moderate inouiry at ss. Id. to ss. 3d. per bushel.

Oatmeal.—Leading brands are quoted at £15 10s. to £16 ner ton, ex store Wellington. Oatina, in 4lfi. bass, is selling at 10s. 6d. per dozen, and "Thistle" brand at 10s. Oats.—The market ia steady. Short feed, 2s. lid. to 3s-. Id. per bushel; feed Algerian, 2s. 9d. to 2s. lid.; seed Algerian. 3s. to 3s. 3d.; heavy-dun oat-3. 3s. to 3s. 2d.; discoloured *oats, 2s. 7d. to 2s. 9d.

Hay.—Prime quality rye and clover, hand pressed, is sellin;: at £5 15s. to £6 per ton. Ohaff.—The southern market continues firm; prime quality, ex store Wellington, is quoted at £5 ss. to £5 Jfa. tier ton, sacks in. Fowls' Wheat.—Fair salc3 are being mado at 4s. 4d. to 43. Gd. per bushel. Eggs.—Fresh eggs are weaker, tho highest rate otbainablo just now is 2a. per dozen, with prospects of a further dccliuc in values; preserved eggs arc inquired for at Is. 4d. to Is. sd. Butter.—Primo milled, in bulk, i' 3 selling at 11M. to Is. per lb.: good quality, IG&d. Partridgo peas.—Good sample are selling at 43. ,sd. per bushel; broken peas, suitablo for poultry, at 3s. sd.

Prussian blue peas have fair inquiry at 6s. per bushel. Cape barley is dull of enle at 3s. 3d. por bushel; feed barley is in moderate demand at 3£.

Poultry—nens, 2s. 6d. to 45.; cockcrels. 3s. 6d. to white ducks, ss. to 75.; Indian runner ducks, 4s. to ss. per pair; turkey gobblers, lOd. to lid. per lb., live weight: hens, 7d. to Bd.

Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £2298 123. lid. THE GRAIN MARKET. IBy Telograph.—Press Association.) Chrlstcfiurch, May 27. The local grain market is exceptionally quiet. There i' 3 practically nothing offering from farmers, and merohantG report that it is difiicult to effect rales. The tono of tho market both for wheat and oats i* rather weaker, though there is no quotable change in prices. There is a little export business from the Dominion being done in oats, and according to the return ircucd by tho Agricultural Department. 820-1 bushels were shipped during the first half of May, and 8938 bushels during April. Only a few hundred bushels of wheat have been exported this season. The note to market is very dull, tUcre. being little inqui'ry. Few sales can be mado with the North Island. Tho best price Jiow being paid is £3 7?. 6d., and some buyers arc offering lc'-s*. but growers are now pitting their crows and refusing to aeccpt tho current rates. Some small shipments have been made to Australia from the south, 79 tons been sent away in April, and 74 tons during the first half of May. Offers from •Australia have been received locally at £4 10s. f.0.b., but, iti view of the fact that the potatoes have to bo examined in store and rebagged into now bags, this price is not sufficient to admit of business" behnr done upon tho prerent rat-op paid to grow- , ers. Oatsheaf chaff is rather £3 ss. at country stations now being tho j top price. Tho importation of pressed I chaff from Au«?rnlia into Auckland has tended to case tho demand from the norI them market.

WHEAT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, May 26. Official quotations:—South Australian. New South Wales, and Victorian, ill prompt delivery. 37h. 7£d.; on passage, 38s. 6d. Liverpool futures, 91 cents?; July, 892. (Ilec. May 27, 11,30 p.m.) London, May 27. The wheat market is Kteadyj lid. is asked Xor Victorian May eliipmcnt.