COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1791, 2 July 1913, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

' INVESTMENT BH.IItE3. ' ' There were, no transactions in investment chares 'yesterday. The quotations ; were oj under. , . .Buyers, Sellers. ' £ s. d. £ 6. d. . National Bank (old) ... 5 2 0 — •Metropolitan Building - — 12 8 0 N.Z. lioan, Iter, (prei.) 96 10 0 98 (TO N. 2. and Eiver Plato-.» 2 0 0 ' — Cliristchurcli Gas — 7 11 0 Well. Gas (pref.) - 10 0 N.Z. Insurance 5 4 0 5 '4 6 Christchurch. Meat. 15 -2. 6 — 'Gear Meat (£4) 12 6-0 ■■ — Gear Meat (£1) 3 "3 0 — N.Z. Shipping 16 0 0 — Taupiri Coal ~..i......-1 16 12 0 Westport Coal i : 1 7 .3' — WestporfStocKtoii 0 4 0 — Taringamutu Totara. 2 3 6 — Golden Bay Cement. '. — ■ 10 0 Sharland's' preference ... — 119 Ward and Co 5 2 0 — W.F.O.A. (£1). - 18 3 NORWICH UNION FIHE, INSURANCE. The report , ol 'tho 'Nonvich IJnion Fire Insurance Society, Ltd., for 1912, states that the Are. account shows that, after de.duction of reinsurances, the net premiums amounted to £1,155,064, and the net losses paid and outstanding to £615,960. After charging agents' commission and all expenses of' management,- there is a tradins surplus of £122,143, of which £23.969 is carried to profit and loss, leaving a . balance in tills- account of £i,215,308. : - The accident account shows that, after' deduction of reinsurances, the net premiums amounted to £385,£26. The net lorees paid and outstanding amounted to £226,380, and, after charging agents' commission and all expenses of management, there is'a trading surplus (if '£41,368," of which £26,186 is carried to.profit and loss, leaving a balance in this,account of.JE3lß,6l4,..consisting of premium-reserve and :provision for on',standing ;.cla,iip3, . Having,. regard', "ft tho .fact,-that »almoet all the principal British fire -offices' now transact' marine insurance business,- tho directors decided during the Ptv r J ; °tv !tt t n operations of tho society to this.branch of-insurance. • A smallamount of-JinswMs accepted prior ,to December 31 laet, which is oarried-to mispensc account, and will be included' in' tho returns for the current year.' ..There is transferred to profit and. loss Account from trading- profits sums in; addition to interSwiw » to ,.P roVld « ; - a -balance of £62,150, out of which an, interim:'dividend ol: 123. per share, less, income-tax. was paid in January la©t, and tho directors recommend that a further dividend of 16s per share; less income-tax, be paid on June 5, making 30s. por sharo for •tho year. ;.-Jflio assets of the society m ' m > . as compaxod with -for tho previous year. ■ WAR RIgKS AT LLOYD'S. Aitera;lengthy discussion, tho luternao "onal Maritime Committee, which is made - up,.of, the representatives of the underwriting all over the world, hafl; decided-that policicfl issued against nsks:.of .war, even- though they cover the enemy-s - goods, and are, therefore, not enforceable, shall be duly, honoured in- the event of a claim ensuing. This, of course* is only-what might'bo expected, having re : gard to the. very 'high, reputation enjoyed by underwriters for generations past in connection, with the settlement of claims while, In addition to this, the'underwriting community, would have suffered a distinct Joss had any other attitude been adopted in .Tegaid ' to this matter, for. there is never an international crisis but brings many thousands of pounds to the "P.oom" in the form of insurances against an outbreak of hostilities. Were there any suggestion that,in tho event of this country becoming involvfd in hostilities policce on the enemy's goods would not be met, there would be ■ a distinct falling off in the demand' for protection. Consequently, whilo-tho recent conference of underwriters wes undoubtedly actuated by tho highest motives in . deciding to refrain from taking advantage:of any legal enactments in tho settling of war claims, t-liey wero also acting in accordanco with their own best interost9. Precisely how much Lloyd's made out of tho recen-; Balkan crisis will never be known, but it must have been pomotWiig viiry hniiduon-.e indeed, and particularly in connection with -tho risk of Great Britain bocoining involved with lior Continental neighbours. On an averago these jolts in the diplomatic intercourse of oivili=ed nations occur at intervals of about '/nirtenr months, and wa

shall probably be well within the mark if we suggest that Lloyd's underwriters between) them take £15,000 in premiums on 6Uch occasions, and very rarely have to pay a claim in connection with this business. TRADE IN ALLEN STREET. Fruit.—Transhipments of Island oranges and bananas, ex Talune, c-ame to hand yesterday; tho oranges were, unfortunately, landed in somewhat bad condition, otherwise excollent prices would have been -obi tained. The Navua, from Fiji, has transshipped her cargo on the Maitai, which is due here on Friday. The shipment-con-sists of 45!) ease? bananas, no bunches, and is the smallest shipment- for months past, and the market will therefore rulo high.' The Sydney steamer, due to-day, is bringing a moderate shipment of mandarins, pineapple.;, lemons, and passion fruit. A good demand exists for choice cooliinff and dessert apples, but for Epps's seedling low prices havo to bo accepted. ,Moderate consignments of' pears, ex cool store, aro coming in, but the condition of the fruit is irregular. Vegetables.—Celery is in strong demand. Consignments of cauliflowers can be . recommended; cabbages have declined in value; carrots and parshnips have fair inquiry. Pumpkins are wanted, and marrows are bringing extremely high prices. . Potatoes.—Table potatoes aro in s'ood demand at £5 to £5 ICa. per ton, according to quality. Seed potatoes are moving off freely. Up-to-date, £5 10s. t-o £5 15e. per ton; Northern Star, £5 10a.; British Queen, and Gamekeeper, -£f> 10s.; Beauty of Hebron and Early Rose, £8 to £8 10a. Onions—The market is recciviryj heavy supplies from Victoria, and prices range' from £9 10s. to £10 10s. -per ton, according to sample. Flour is, in good demand. The ebuthcrn quotation is £9 per ton for tacks, less tho usual discount. Bran.—Supplies are plentiful, and the quotation is £5 to £5 ss. per ton. Pollard is in strong demand at £5 15s. to £7 per ton. 1 Maize.—Regular weekly shipments are coming from Australia, and realising Es. to ss. 2d. per bushel. ■ , Oatmeal.—Leading brands are offering at £15 per ton, in 251b. bags. Boiled Oats.—Thistle brand, in 4ilb. baes. 9s. 6rt. per dozen. • . Oats.-The market continues steady. Short feed, 23. Ud. to 3s. Id. per bushel; feod Algerian, 2s. 9d. to 2s. Ud.; seed Algerian, 3s. to 3s. 3d.; lieavy dun oats, 3s. to 5?. id.; discoloured and eoft, 2s. 6d. to 2s - . ,' , . , Hay.—Prime quality rye and clover, nandpreased, £5 10a. to"£s 15s. per ton. . Chuff.—Choice' samples aro scarce. Primo oaten eheaf chaff has good inquiry at £5 ss. to £5 10s. per ton, sacks in.. Fowls' Wh.eat.—A fair business is passing at ,-ls. 4d. to 4s. 6d.' ncr bushel. Eggß.—Fresh eggs have declined 2d., ana are now quoted at Is. Bd. per dozen; preserved, Is. 6d. Butter. —Prime milled, in bulk, ;s selling at Is. per lb., and good quality, at lid. Partridge Peas.—Good bright samples are quoted at 4s. 4d. to 4s. 6d. per bushel. Prussian blue peas are dull of sale at ss. 6d. to ss. 9d. Feed barley .hna slightly better inquiry at 3s. per bushel. . ' Cape barley is slow of we at 3a. 3d. Poultry.—Hens, 3s. to 4s. a pair; cockerels. 3s. 6d. to 55.; white ducks, 53. to 75.; Indian Runner dnckis, 4s. to 55.; turkey gobblers, lOd. to Is. per lb.; hens, Bd. to 9d., live weight. Customs duties oollected at the port of WellinTt-on yesterday amounted to 32350 14s. lid. OHKISTOSUECH GRAIN JIAHKET. ißy Teltgraph.—Press Association.) Cliristchurcli, July 1. The local grain trade remains at a standstill, merchants and millers not wanting to buy, tho former being sellers; and on the other hand growers are holding firmly, and making little or no offering. What little business there is to be done in oats can be moro cheaply effected in the south. Thero is very little doini in potatoes, end no fresh orders aro at present comine to hand from the north. Those who have orders in hand hive been offering up-to £3 103., 'and other buyors will nit -give moro than £3.55. at country stations, sacks extra. At these' prices there arc very few sellers, holders of largo lots. declining to tako less than £4 for potatoes in pit. Oatsheaf chaff is practically unsaleable, though very little is offering.