COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1790, 1 July 1913, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. There were no transactions in investment shares yesterday. The quotations were as under :— Buyers. . Sellers. . £ 6. d. £ s. d. National Bank 5 2 0 5 3 6 Metropolitan Building ... — 12 8 0 N.Z. Loan, Jler. (103.) .... - 0 10 9 N.Z. Loan. Mer. fpref.) 96 10 0 93 0 0 N.Z. and Kiver Plato ... 2 0 0 — Christchurch Gas — 7 11 0 Wellington Gas (£10) 16 0 0 16 5 0 Christchurch Meat 15 1 6 — Gear Moat (£4) ...' 12 6 0 - Union Steam — « 4 0 Taupiri Coal 116 12 0 West-port Coal 17 3 — Ta-ringarantu Totara 2 3 6 — Golden Bay Cement — 10 0 Sharland's preferenco ... — 12 0 Ward a,ud Co 5 2 0 — W.F.C.A. (£5) - 7 5 0 W.F.C.A. (£1) - 18 3 The course of sales during the past month \va3 as under:— National Bank, £5 33., £5 2s. 6d. National Mortgage, £3 17a. 9d., £3 18s. 6d. N.Z. and Kiver Plate, 395. 9d. Wellington Trust and Loan, £7 ss. ■ Wellington, Deposit, ss. 6d. Christeliurch Has. £7 lis. 9d., £7 lCs., £7 10s„ £7 lis., £7 10s. 6(1. Napier Gas- (£10), £16. Napier Gas (£9), £14 12s. 6d. Napier Gas (£5), £8. Wellington Gas (£10), £16 2s. 6d. N.Z. Insurance, £5 3s. Standard Insurance, 30s. 3d. Christchurch Meat, £15 2s. 6d. Christchurch Meat (£2) £3. Gear Meat 1 (£4), £12 65., £12 65.. £12 65., £12 6a. Meat Export (£4). £4 18s. 6d. Union Steam, 425. 3d., 425. - 3d., 425. 3d., 425. 6d., 435., 435. 6d. Wellington Woollen, preference, s£e. 6d„ 555. Taupiri Coal, 2ts. 9d. Westport Goal, 275., 27?. iWcstport-Stockton, 36. 3d. , Taringamutu Totara, 435. Sharland's ordinary, 225. 6d; Sharland's prefei'ence,' 225. 6d. Ward and Co., £5 2s. W.F.C.A. (£5), £7 2s. 6d. LONDON WOOL SALES. The fourtli or July wool sales will begin in Ooleman. Street this evening, and there are indications that the 1 closing rates of the May sales will not be maintained. The Antwerp sales, which afford some iruide to the trend of the market, were concluded oil Saturday. Out' 0f'5795 bales offered only 2684, or less than half, were sold. Prom this, it may be inferred that there was a difforence of opinion between sellers and buyers, and the ideas of the former as to value were not supported by the buyers. But'theTo is strong evidence' of the probable downward tendency of values by the Bradford quotations. ' '.The' prices of tops at the May sales and those notf .current compare as under:— . !---' ; May. June. ' 'Tops— ' d.- d. - : Sixty-fours 305 292 t • Sixties, siiper 29? 291 - > Sixties, common- - 283 . 285 Fifty-sixes 24i 24 Fifties 22i 22 Forty-sixes. 175 17j Forties 16i 16 All counts except forty-sixes declined in value, a farthing per lb., but sixty-fours dropped thrco-farthings. The dearness of money for a, prolonged period has certainly had somo influence on the market, and another important factor is that tlio European and North American clips are now on the market. Manufacturers have at the moment plenty of wool in sight, but 'arc not tempted to purchase more than is needed for actual requirements, because of tho monetary stringency. A fall of. 5 per cent, or 7J per cent, in the price -of wool will not mean very mncli, in any case even at the reduced prices growers will be doing well. A.M.P. SOCIETY. , The annual ; bonus certificates for tho year ended December 31, 1912, aro' being received by tho members of the A.M.P. Society throughout tho world this morndng. No less than £929,526 in cash is the amount being distributed, and this'represents reversionary additions to tho policies amounting to about £1,640,000. Tho first-mentioned amount, plus £7444 paid as interim bonuses om policies that have bccomo claims arising during the year, is equal to £38 18s. per cent, on the participating assurance premiums received during tho year. Today is the forty-second anniversary of the establishment of the New. Zealand branch of the society. Last year the new policies issued in flie ordinary department were 3814, assuring £1,274,709, and producing a new - annual -premium revenue of £36,421. To this has to be added single premiums amounting to £7858, making the total new premdums £44,279. In the industrial department the total policies issued wero 6254, assuring £233,521, with an annual premium revenue of* £14,911. and this department had in force at the close of'the year 18,088 policies, assuring- £656,866, with- an annual incomc of £40,692. This is the result of eight years' work. The total new business in the two departments represents over 30s. per head of the whole population of tho Dominion. The total income of the two departments, including interest, now amounts to £679,460 per annum, a.nd the accumulated funds on the branch books to £5,122,091. CUSTOMS. The Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington, yesterday amounted to £1072 Is. 2d., the total for the month being £68,565 3s. 7d. The returns for oach of, the past six months, compared with the figures for tho corresponding periods of last year, shows as under:— 1913'. \ 1912. £ 6. d. , ' £ s. d. January 96,827 2 4 84,856 14 6 February 81,918 16 5 72,741 10 5 March 77,483 3 4 74,484 3 6 Apr-il 68.444 17 9 • 67,986 6 3 May 67,998 5 ■ 2 61,666 15 8 Juno 68.565 3 7 65,980 16 3 461,237 8 7 425,716 6 7 For the quarter ended yesterday, the collections totalled £205,008 6s. 6d„ as against £193,633 18s. 2d. for tho June quarter of last year. The beer duty for .the month amounted to £920 3s. 6d„ anil for the quarter to £2789 4s. Bd., as against- £777 2s. Bd. and £2985 17s. 9d., respectively, in the corresponding periods of last year. ■ HIGH' COMMISSIONER'S CABLEGRAM. Tho Department of Agriculture, Industries, ana Commerce has received the following cablegram High Commissioner for Now Zealand, dated Loudon 28. (Note: Quotations, unless othenviso specified, aro average market, prices, on spot) :— Mutton.—Tho market is firm. There is no chaugc in prices, except for ewes, which may be quoted l-16d. higher.- Canterbury, 4*d. per lb.; light-weight as. high as 43d.; North Island, 41d. per lb.; owes, 3 13-16 d. Lamb.—'Tho market is weak oil account of large'" shipments arriving. Competition amongst holders of lamb to clear their stocks has lowered values. Prices have declined, all gra-des id. per lb.; heavyweight 3-16 d. Canterbury twos, 6Jd. petlb.; heavy-weight fours, 5 5-16<1.; other than Canterbury, sfd. to 5Jd. per lb., according to weight. \ Beef.—Tho market is firm. New Zealand hinds, 4d. per lb.; fores. 3i)d. Supplies of American chilled beef are large, but a good demand continues on account of low prices, previously accepted. 'Hinds, 5Jd. per lb.; fores, 3Jd. Butter—The market is steady. There is a good demand fo" oh/"<«£t, but a'limited demand for low grade. There is no chango In prices except for New Zealand. Choicest New Zealand, per out-, Uss. Cheese—Tho market is firmer with. a good demand. New Zealand stocks aro practically cleared. New Zealand white, per cwt., 635. Ctl.; coloured, 61s. 6d.; Canadian. new make, white and coloured, 61s. to 625. llemp.—There has been considerable fluctuation in the hemp market this week. Now Zealand market advanced and closed firmer. New Zealand goad fair, per ton, £29 10s. tt) £30 (nominal); fair. £26 1C«. For-

wnrd shipment, about 10.=. more. Manila, per ton, .£3O. Forward rOiipmcnt-. £29 10s. The output from Manila for tho week \v;i* 15,000 bales. Wool.—^Tho market remains firm. Cocksfoot.—'Tho market is quiet; small business doing in Danish, at 425. 6d. per cwt. Buyers aro not keen to do business in cocksfoot seed, but arc. waiting reports on Continent and Aracxicau crop??. Grain.—The grain markets generally are quiet. LONDON WOOL MARKETS. Messrs. Dalgety and Conftpany, Limited, Wellington, have Tceeivcd cabled advice from their London office under date June 28 as follows:—"Wool: Market quiet. We do not expect any important change in prices a.t tho ensuing of wool sales, and tho tendency is slightly easier. We have a favourable opinion of tho position of the staple, and cxpect to see matters improve when the Balkan affairs and American tarilf nrc settled and the money market is easier. Bradford top quotations arc ns follow:—In parentheses ore the quotations at. the end of May:-35's, 16d. (l6dJ: Ws. 16Jd. (16} d.); M'e, 16£ d. (16£ d.); 46' c, 17irt. (17£ d.); 50's, 21d. (2Ud.); 56's, 23Jd. (233 d.); 58\=, 253 d. (26dJ; 60's common, 283 d. (Z9d.); CO'g super, 29d. (291 d.); 64*6, 30d, (20Jd.); 70's, 31s. (3ad.)." FROZEN MEAT. By Telcgrapli—Press Association—Copyright London, June 29. Tho Incorporated Society of Meat Importers' Smithfleld market quotations for tho undermentioned clasees of frozen meat aro based on actual sales of not less than one hundred carcneoes of mutton or lamb, or twenty-five quarters of beef of fair average quality. The quotations arc not for selected lines, but for parcels fairly representative of /tho bulk of the sliipracnts now on tho market. Tho prices which follow aro on the average a farthing per lb. more thwi tho values cx ship, this difference representing tho average cost in expense, handling, conveyance, and selJing the meat:— June 21. Juno 28. Mutton— d.. d. Canterbury, light 43 43 Canterbury, medium 4 3-8 4 3-8 Canterbury, heavy 41-16 41-16 Southland * * North leland, best. 4J 4i North Island, ordinary... 4J 4& Australian, light 3s 3 5-16 Au6tralian, heavy * • JUver Plato, light * * Kiver Plate, heavy 4 4 MG New Zealand 53 • 313-16 Australian cww 311-16 311-16 River Plato ewes * 31 .LambCanterbury, light 6 3-8 6J Canterbury, medium 53 5 3-8 Canterbury, hoavy 5j 5 5-16 Southland •» 53 North Inland, ordinary 513-16 511-16 North Island, selected ... 515-16 . 513-16 Australian, best * * Australian, fair *. * Australian, inferior * * River Plate, Arst * * River Plate, second * # BeefNew Zealand, ox fore? ... 3 3-16 33-16 New Zealand, ox hinds ... 33 4 Australian, ox fores 3fi 3ft Australian, ox hinds 3 9-16 3« River Plate, frozen fores 3.t 31 River Plate, frozen hind 6 3X 4 River Plate, chillcd fores Zh 3fl River Plate, chilled hinde 43 51 *Nono offering. WHEAT AND FLOUR.. London, Juno 29. The wheat market is quiet, but steady. The wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 3,425,C00 quarters; for tho Continent. 2.165,000; Atlantic shipments, 392,000; Pacific, nil. Tho total 'shipments to Europo during the week amounted to 1,115,000 ijuartcr3, including 6COO Australasian. FREE WOOL. (Rec, Juno 30, 7.10 p.m.) Melbourne, June 30. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., have received a cablegram from Washington advising them that it is considered certain that a Bill allowing wool to enter the United .States froo will becomo law in August. , NORTH BULLI COAL COMPANY, (Rec. June 30, 7.10 p.m.) Sydney, June 30. A new rich coal seam has been struck by the North Butli Company.