COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1779, 18 June 1913, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHAREB. The sales of investment ehares recorded yesterday wero:—Ohristchuroh. Gas, at £7 10s.; Christchurch Meat, £! paid, at £3; Westport Coal, at 275.j Ward and Co., at £5 2b. 6d. The quotations were as under Buyors. Sellers. £ e. d. £ s. d. Notional Bank (old) — 5 3 0 National Bank (now) — 4 19 6 Well. Trust and Loon ... 7 4 0 — Napior Gas (£10) 16 0 0 — Napier Gm (£5) 8 0 0 — Well. Gm (£10) 16 0 0 - Standard Insuranco — 1 11 0 Christchurch Meat 15 2 0 — Union Steam — 2 2 0 Mosgicl Woollen — ! 12 0 Westport Coal 17 0 — Tanniri Goal 119 — Golden Bay Cement — 10 0 SharlMid'e preference .... — 12 6 WHEAT. The European harvests will soon bo TKirnercd, and forecasts of the crops are already coming through. The Russian crop prospects are reported satisfactory, with Indications of a fair average yield. Russia is an important factor in the production of cereals, tho output of which has expanded in the last decade, owing to the adoption of improved methods of cultivation, while primitive instrument l ) have hron supplanted with modern machinery. How great tho &aln has been in. tho latter respect may Ire gathered from the fact that during tho last fifteen years tho population has spent over £100,000,000 in tho purchaeo of improved farming iipplcmonts. At tho same time, the organisation of the Department of Agriculture has been extended, 'agricultural associations havo formed experimental nlots, and as tho result of all thoso efforts tho technical aspects of farming are visibly improving. The gain in the quantity and nualitv of the crops hns incroased the rental value of tho land, which even in respect to peaoants' communal lot-3 has ri6en 25 per cent, slnco 1890. Tile application of co-onorrv tivo effort to tho expansion of local farming has led to the formation of associations on these lines, and at the present timo 3700 of co-operative societies are registered, and more are bcin;r created daily. It is proposed to form "a central authority to unify tho activity of the local organisations, so as to ensure concerted action when necessary. As an illustration of the exceptional placo taken by Russia in tho world's production of ceroals, it may bo mentioned that she grows 61 per cent, of the rye, 25 per cent, of tho oats. 33 per cent, of tho barloy, and 22 per cent, of the wheat liarvmted all over the globe. Tho raw material of agricultural origin represents a value of £200,000,000, or 40 per cent, of tho total industrial production of tho Russdnn Umpire. WAIPA RAILWAY AND COLLIERIES, LTD. Tho Waipa Railway and Oollierics, Ltd., which is controlled from Wellington, ie steadily pushing on with the opening up of tho Waipa colliorios in t.lio Waikato. Tho formation of tho railway for six miles from Ngaruawahia to To Akatca, for which Messrs. Donald M'Lcan and Co. are tho contractors, is 1 nearly complotod, and most of tho earthwork has been done. The ra.ils and fastenings have been delivered, and are stacked at- Ngaruawahia. Tho greater proportion of the sleepers are alro at Ngaruawahia,. and aro being adzed preparatory to laying in position. A ballast ouAiry is baing opened up some three milea from and a iot«y cruohct

and oil engine are on the spot for the purpose of crushing ballast for tlio lino. The track will be of 651b. rails; the line is Ming constructed in accordance with the Public Works requirements as a branch line, so that Government rolling-6tock will be ablo to run right to the mine. There is a slight down grade from the mine to the Main Trunk railway at Ngaruawaliia, which will be in favour of the loaded trains. The plate-laying, the work of laying tho rails, and tho ballasting will bo etartod so soon cs tho bridge over the Waipa Elver at Ngaruawahia is ready fortraffic. Unfortunately, somo. littlo delay wna experienced in getting tho long hardwood piles for the bridge from Australia, but this has now been overcome. All tho piles have been driven, and the contractors are now engaged in erecting the superstructure. Tho formation of. tho mine incline has boon eomploted, and men aro opening out the outcrops at tho top of tho incline, and forming sito for tho brakelioupe, tub sidings, etc. Tho incline brake machinery has been completed, and lias bosn carted to tho mine. The ecToening plant and other mine machinory liavo been ordered, and it is expected that they will shortly bo delivoTod in Auckland. Tho team of coal is from eight to ten feet in thickness, the coal is clcar and liord, and is stated to stand tho weatlfir well.

TRADE IN ALLEN STREET. Fruit— The Tahiti, duo to-morrow from San Francisco and tho Cook Islands; is bringing furthor supplies o£ oranges and bananas, and these should meet with a good rale, provided they aro landed in good order and condition. Tho Moeraki, duo from Sydney to-day, is bringing a moderate consignment of pineapples, passion fruit, mandarines, and lemons. Slightly larger quantities of apples aro coming in tfrom the Motuekn district, the market continues steady, and further consignments aro rocommonded. Much lighter shipments have come from Canterbury, and the market has advanced on last week's quotations. ' i Vegetables.—Cauliflowers aro in 6trong domand, and arc realising satisfactory rates. Cabbages are slightly easier. Vegetable marrows have advanced in valuo since.last week. Carrots, parsnips, and pumpkins are in fair demand, whilet choice celery meot-s with keen competition. Potatoes.—The southern market liaii advanced ss. per ton; tho Wellington quotation for sound table potatoes is now £5 2s. 6d. to £5 lCs. per ton. For seed notatoos the quotations arc:—Up-to-Dato and Northern Star, £5 lite, to £5 15s. per ton; Gamekeeper, £6165.; Beauty of Hebron and Early Rose, £8 10s.; Early Vermont, £7 10s.

Onions.—Tho market is heavily supplied with Victorian, which are quoted at £9 10s. to £10 per ton. Flour.—Australian is offering at very low rates, but as yot very little has been imported into Now Zealand. Tho southern quotations are:-Sacke, £9 per ton; hundreds. £9 10s., with tho usual advances for the smaller sizes. Bran.—Supplies continue heavy. Tho current quotation is £5 ss. to £5 lto. per ton. Pollard has good inquiry at £6 15s. to £7 per ton. Maize —The bulk of the supplies is being drawn from Australia. The current value is ss. Id. to ss. 3d. per bushel. Oatmeal.—For leading brands, such as M'Gill's and Thistle, the quotation is £15 10s. per ton, in 251b. bags, ex Btore. . Bollc-d Oats.—Thistle brand, in 411b. bags, 10». per dozen; oatina, in 41b. bags, 10s. 6d. Oats.—The market is ertremely firm. Short feed, 2s. lid. to Js. Id. per bushel; feed Algerian, 2s. 9d. to 2s. lid.; seed Algerian, Js. to 3s. 2d.; heavy Dun oats, 3a. Id. to 3s. 2d.; disoolourcd and soft, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d. Hay.—Prime~ quality ryo and clover, hand-pressed, is selling at £5 ICtf. to £6 per ton. . Chaff.—Prime quality has good inquiry at £5 6«. to £5 103. per ton, sacks in. ex store. ... . . Fowls' wheat is in excellent demand, at 4s. 4d. to 4a 6d. per bushel. Eggs.-The market is very' unsteady, and a further dcclino is anticipated. To-day's nuotations are;-rFresh, Is. lOd. to 2s. per dozen; preserved, Is. 7d. to Is. Bd. Butter.—Prime milled, in bulk, is soiling at Is. per lb.; and ?ood quality at lid. Partridge Poas.—Primo samples OK) making 4s. 4d. to 4s. 6d. per bushel. Prussian blue peas are dull of solo at ss. 6d. to ss. 9d. per bushel. Feed barley has very littlo demand, at 3s. 3d. per bushel; whilo Capo barley is selling at 3s. Poultry.—Hons, 3s. to 45.; cockerels, 3s. 6d. to 55.; white ducks, 50. to 75.; Indian Runner ducks, 4s. to ss. per pair; turkey gobblers, lOd. to lid. per lb. livo weight; lions, 7d. to Bd.

Omtoma duties collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £2526 19s. 3d. CANTERBURY GRAIN MARKET. (By Toloßraph.—Press Association.) ' Chrlstchurch, Juno 17. There is no change to note in the tone of tlie local grain market. Business io extremely quiet, there being practically no offerings, and at the ra-mo tinio no particular inquiry.,. In view of thoir being only a restricted outlet, there is no disposition on the part of buyers tio advance prices. Whether there will bo cheaper freights later on to the United Kingdom remains to bo seen, but, from Australia. Ws. per ton i« being asked for parcels of wheat, and 31s. 6d. for charters are nt present tho local and Home priccß of wheat now shipping. Businos® is being done from Australia by steamer. There is still a Arming tendency in tho market for potatoes, and £3 10a. Is now being offered at country stations. It' is reported that even higher prices have been paid, but merohants generally fay that they cannot do busin«*s with the northern market on tho abovo basis. SILVER. By TeleirraDli—Press Association—flooyriithl London, June 15. Bar silver is quoted at 27 5-16 d. per ounce standard. WHEAT. Official wheat quotations:—South Australian, New South Wales, and Victorian,' 375. 6d.; on passage, South Australian and New South Walos, 3te.; Victorian, 3Bp. 6d. Liverpool futuiw, 90i coats; July. SSI