COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1805, 18 July 1913, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHAKES. Tho sales recorded yesterday were Wellington Woollen, ordinary, at £3 13b. 6d,, and Now Zealand Drug at £2 se. Tho quotations were as under:— Bu/era Sellers. £ «. d. £ a. d. National Bank 5 4 0 5 5. 0 Union Bank (rights) — 11 10 0 Metropolitan Building ... — 12 7 6 N.Z. Loan, Mercantile 0 10 4 — N.Z. and River Plato 2 0 0 — Well. Invostment OHIO 0 12 0 Well. Trust and Loan ... 7 1 0 — Well. Deposit 0 5 9 - Wellington Gas (£10) 16 3 9 — Cliristchurch Meat 15 2 6 — Gear Meat (£4) 12 7 6 - Gear Meat (£1) 3 4 0 _ Moat Export (52«. 6d.) 3 0 0 — Union Steam — 2 3 9 Kaiapoi Woollen (ord.) ... 5 2 6 — Taupiri Coal 110 — Wcstport Coal 17 6 Golden Bay Oement — 10 0 Manning and Co 4 2 6 4 5 0 Sbarland's preferenco ... — 119 WaTd and Co — '550 W.F.O.A. (£5) - 7 2 0 W.F.C.A. (£1) ...: - 10 3 ARTICLES IN COMMON USE. A return showing the consumption per head of population of articles in common use, but which may rightly bo classed as luxuries, presented to Parliament is of considerable interest. The consumption of spirits exhibits a substantial increase in 1912, and has been steadily increasing during the past three years. The quantity cleared for consumption and the consumption' per head of the- adult male population, including Maoris, for cacli of the past five years shows as under:— Duty Per head. Per head. }«ir. Gallons Gallons £ s. d 1908 751,605 2.45 1 19 2 1909 719,138 2.26 1 16 2 1910 767,620 2.37 1 18 0 1911 792.794 2.36 1 17 9 1912 863,797 2.51 2 0 2 The total amount of the spirit duty collected last year was £691,037, equal to £2 os. 2d. per head of the adult male population, as against £1 17s. 9d. in 1911, Tlie per capita consumption of spirits kecne very steady; during tho Jbh 21 vw the lowcet point reached was 2.17 irallona in 1836, and tho hlshest was last year, when

the consumption was 2.51 callous, the diffcTencc between the highest and lowest during the period is thus only .34 gallons. ■ The consumption of tobacco is also expanding, and 011 the eamo basis of comparison as abovo wo net tic following Duty Per head. Per head. Year. Lb. Lb, £ b, d. 1908 2,247,101 7.53 1 5 51 1909 2,278,035 7,17 1" 4 101 1910 2,295,777 7.10 1 4 10 1911 2,303,448 6,66 1 3 113 1912 2,406,097 7.C0 1 4 53 Although 1912 shows a substantial increase over 1911, tobacco is not being, consumed as heavily as in 1904 and 1905, when tho per capita consumption was 7.431b. and 7.391b. respectively. Cigarette emoking is tho fashion now. THE PAST WOOL SEASON. According to the Annual Review of the Wool Trade far the past season, issued by Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., the American demand during tie past season waa disappointing, but, considering that a change of Government was taking place and drastic revision was intended in tho general tariff, it was not surprising that buyers bought as lightly as possible. Ab in the preceding year, competition on German. account was particularly keen during the earlier months, when that country occupied firet position. France, which has enjoyed a year of splendid trade, has been a consistent and large buyer throughout the year. The East is becoming more and more to bo reckoned with as a competitor, and during the year under review Japan secured more wool than ever before, mostly good greasy fleece oj merino and also of crossbrod growth. Bradford is the world's centre for tho crossbred industry, and again secured by far the greatest, proportion of these wools, besides eecu'r.ins a good share of all merino combings, for which tpinners paid big money whett the wools were sound, and bulky. Scotland took the usual good nharo of the choicest merinos and comeback combinge, and all the extra super merino lambs she could lay her hands on, but they were very scarce indeed. LOJTDON WOOL SALES. Tho Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce has received the following cablegram from tho High Commissioner for Now Zealand, dated London, July 16, regarding the closing of the fourth series of colonial wool sales:—"The sales have closed.- Tho attendance throughout has been good. Competition for wools of good quality has been animated, but hesitating for inferior sorts. American buyers are holding bock on account of tariff uncertainties. They have taken 2000 halea out of 43,000 sold for export. In. consideration of all circumstances previously referred to, the sale is generally regarded as satisfactory. Estimated values Superior merinos, Is. Id. to Is. 2Jd. per lb.; medium, lOd.-to ls.j inferior, Bd. to 10d.; fine crosshreds. Is. to Is. 3d.; medium crossbreds, 9Jd. to llid.; ooarso crossbreds, 83d. to lljd. Forty thousand five hundred bales of Now Zealand wool, aro held over. Provided general conditions satisfactory, ajid the present consumption is maintained, tho prospects are favourable. LONDON GRAIN MARKETS. Tho New Zealand Loan andi Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London house, -under date July 16:—Wheat; Wo have sold an Australian parcel at £1 16s. lOfcd., c.i.f. The market is steady. There is very little demand, and the outlook is discouraging. Wo quote per quarter, c.i.f., New Zealand wheat, long-berried £1 15s. 6d„ short-berried £1 15s. Oats: We quote— Cartons, £1 2s. 6d.; Sparrowbills, £1 2s. There is a fair demand and the market ia ■steady. TALLOW SALES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyiight London, July 16. At tho tallow 6ales, 2323 casks woro offered, and 1720 sold. Prices realised:— Mutton, fine 38s. 3d., medium 345. 6d.; beef, fine 375. 6d., medium 34?. 6d. LINSEED OIL AND TURPENTINE. Raw Linseed Oil—Spot pipes are quoted at £25 per ton. Turpentine is quoted at 265. 9d. SILYER. Bar silver- is quoted at 27d. per ounce standard. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE MARKETS. (Kec, July 17, 9.5 p.m. _ Sydney, July 17. Wheat, 3s. 7Jd„ 3s. Bd. FJour, £8 15s. Oats, Algerian feeding, 2s. lOd.; milling, 35.; Sparrowbills, 2s. 10d„ 35.: Giants, 2s. lid.. 3e. Id. Barley, Capo malting, 3s. 3d. to 3a. 9d. Maize, 3s. 9d. to 3s. 104 Bran and pollard, £4 ss. < Potatoes, Tasma.nkuis, £7 10s. Onions, £7 10s. Butter, selected, 1125.; Kecondary, 108s. and 110s. Cheese, 7d. Bacon, BJd. , Adelalda, July 17. Wheat, 3s. Bd. to 3s. 81d. Flour, £8 to £8 ss. Oal6, Ze. Bran and pollard, Is. HIDES. " (Itec. July 17, 9.5 p.m. Melbourne, July 17. Hides.—Good supplies are on hand. Kip 9 and lights are unchanged: others are id. lower.