COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1839, 27 August 1913, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. A sale of Wairarapa Farmers' £0 shares at £6 17e. 6d. was the- only transaction, 'recorded in investment shares yesterday. Tho quotations were as under:— Buyers. Sellers. d. £8.4 National Bank ' 5 6 0 — N.Z. Loan and Mercantile 010 4 * — Well. Trust and Loan ... 7 16 7 2 6 Wellington Gas (£10) 15 16 U — National Insurance 2 6 6 — , Meat Export (525. 6d.) ...... 3 0 6 — N.Z. Shipping —. 16 0 0 Union Steam 2 4 3 2 4 9 Well. Woollen (ord.) 3 16 0 \ - Well. Woollen (prcf.) ... 2 16 6 - Wastport Coal 18 0 — Leylnnd-o'Br.ien — 14 6 Ward and Co. 4 19 0 5 1 0 WORLD'S MEAT SUPPLIES. According to a. report of the British Boaird of Agriculture there is a ehrinkage in tho world's moat supplies, and Great Britain is practically relying upon Australia and Argentina for increased cjuantd'fcies. 'Jtihe position is made worso by tho fact that the United States is fast reverting from the position of a food-exportiiig country to that of an importer of foodstuif 3, and that to a considerable extent. In a Onsutar report giving the trade figured of the United States for 1912 a- concrete example of -the position ia l'ound in the statistics relating to wheat. From these it appears that during t*iie years ended June 30, 1902-11, exports of wheat products dropped from over 234,700,000 to 69,3C0,0C0 busnels, whiilD imports increased from 120,000 to over 1,100,000 bushels, the total production of the country declining by more than 113,3C(/,000 bushels. Similarly, figures relating to meat and dairy produce show onormaus decreases in exports and steady increases in imports. A few of tho figures relating to imports of food(••tuffs are as follow:—Live eattlc from .94,000 in 1902 to 180,000 in 1911, macaroni from 28,000,C001b. weight in 1903 to over 114,CC0,0ClHb. in 1911, an increase of over. £170,C00 worth' of sardines, etc., cured herring from 42,C00,CC01b. to 79,000,0'JC1b. weight, butter from imdor 500.0C01!). weight to over 1,CC0,0001b., cheese from 17,000,CC01b. weight to nearly 46,GC0,0C01b., and mackerel from 53,500,0001b. weight in 1905 to over 3o,QOO,OCOib. in 1911.

These figures clearly prove, states Ihe report, that the United States is now not in a position to feed itself, and that its power to feed the world has passed from it. The reasons l'or thia change a ; rc manifold. The innreasine population of .tho States, the rush from the country to the towns increasing the number of consumer*! and .decreasing that of producers, the increasing value of land, making it moro profitable, to use it for other tha.n agricultural purposes, closer settlement, and majiy other factors have contributed to it. PANAMA CANAL. ' A British Consular report dealing with the probable effect of the Panama Canal upon American tra<le saya:—"The approaching . Opening of the Panama Oanal j= an event which naturally excites great interest, and it is hoped that the landslides iu the Oulebra Out, which haVe recently been of a somewhat alarming character, may not, necessitate a postponement of the date Hied. As to the oil'ect, of the opening of tile canal 011 trade routes opinions wiry greatly. Speaking generally, it is thuught that the trade between Europe and the host will not he affected to any Very great extenl, and that tho trade between European porta ami Australia will continue more or less upon tho present lines. Hut upon American trade it must have u very largo result. Independently of the value of the canal from a strategic point of view, its opening will enable the Atlantic ports- to do an immense trade with the Pacific Ooast of North and South Amorica, and will bring Australia a.ud New '/calami muoh nearer to Now York. To what extent United States shipping will avail itr-elf of theso faeilitiui is a question which can only be answered iu the future, but advantage will, without doubt, be taken by European lines of the new means of access to the we-tern shores of Central and South • America. Another result will probably be t.he lowering of tlio trans-continental freight rates, which, in the absence of competition, are abnormally high. In considering the cffect upon trade with South America, of the opening of the Canal, it must, not be forgotten that all tho eastern coawt, and probably ;is far round 011 the Pacific «« Valparaiso, can bo effectively served without usiac tho canal at ailV-

Tli-ADK IX ALLEN STKEET. Fruit— Traiisliipments of Island omncee, bananas, and kuineras, ex Navua from the Cook IdlancLt, were landed yesterday, and as the market is bare of nupplies prieesi will inJo hiifh. The Sydney steamer due to-day is brinffing modera.te sliipments of sweet oranges, passion- fruit, pineapples, Seville oranges, and lemons. On Friday last about 2CO boxes of pears ca.mo to hand from Tasmania, and realised wii.isfactory piice»s. • A small shipment of apples was also received from Tasmania. Kegulur shipments of apples are coming in from the itot-ueka district. A smull sliipment of applet ami pears from San Francisco, per Tahiti, 10 duo about the middle of next month. Vegetables.—lncreased supplies of rimIxarb are coming from the Lower Ilut.t, and vailues have declined slig-btly. Cauliflowers ami cabbages have im'rca«sed in -value. Pumpkins and marrows are in short supply. A good demand exists for parsnips, carrots, and celery. Potatoea.--The southern market shows a further decline. Good table potatoes are now quoted at £3 10s. to £3 15s. per ton. Heavy supplies of seed potatoes are available. Up-to-Date, £4 per ton; Northern Star, £4; Gamekeeper, £4 ICr\ : Beauty of Hebron and Early Hose. £7. Onions.—A shipment of Japanese oniions arrived in excellent condition and are selling at satisfactory prices. Very few Victoriangrown are coming in now, and what little New Zealand onions axe offering arc only of medium quality. Flour is without alteration. The Quotation is £9 per ton, f.o.b. south, less tho usual discount. Bran lvn-s fair inquiry at £4 15s. per ton. Pollard is quoted at £6 10s. per ton. Maize.—Very little incjiury, at 4s. lid. to ss-. per bushel. K-olled cat-?, in 4£lb. bags, Thistle brand, l(k per doz-ou. Oatmeal—Leading bran do are quoted at £14 to £14 10s. per torn, ex store. Wellington. Oats.—The market is weak. Short feed, ?;<. 9d. to 2?. lid. per bushel; feed Algerian, ut. 7d. to 2s. ICd.; seed Algerian, 2s. lid. tr> 3s. Id.; heavy Dun 35.; discoloured hikl foft, very little demand, at sd. to 2s. 6d. Ifay.—Tland-preesed rye and clover, in lirrhfc supply, and is quoted at £5 10s. to £5 15s. per ton. Chaff, is in fair demand; oatenrhcaf, prime quality, £5 to £5 ss. per ton, sacks in good quality, £4 lfe. Ksgs.—A good demand exists for fresh egg« at Is. per dozen. - Butter.—Prime milled in bulk is ruling at Is. per lb.; good quality at lid. Partridge pens are rather slew of sale, at 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. per biifhel. Prussian bltvj peas are dull of sale, at to ss. 6d. per bushel. Feed Bnrlev.—Vt\ry little bus-mess doing at 3s. to 3?. Id. per bushel. Gape barley is extremely dull of sale at 59. 3d. per bushel. Poultrv.—TTf-ns, 3s. 6d. to 6s. .per pair fcr pood table birds; cockerels. 45. 6d. to 65.; Pekin ducks. 7s. to ft*.: Hnnners, f-r. 6d. to 6s. 6d.: turkov gobblf.rg; Is. per lb. live weight; lions, ICd. per lb. CUSTOMS REVENUE. Customs duties collected at tlio port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £<6EO 14s. lid. WHEAT AND POTATOES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

Christchurch, Ausust 26. A small inquiry ior wntat still continues, but liolaoiw oi in fciioro cannot ecu ttu the prices offered. A lew nn'js lia\o been- suomitted by growers, out they arc mostly of iiuerior quality. Very nttle is doing in potatoes, ivua the prices now olt'ored are Jbl Vs. bd. and £1 10s. at country stations. Two or threo tsmuil snipmeats nave been made to Sydney, Due a:s tne loaraec tiicie ieil iuzi wcok another per ton for Taiimaman potatoes, uiere tloeu not appear to be mucn prcspcct 01 suucccsfiu buiiinois being dons from here, even at ttiD low prices at wdiieii potatoes tun be puronasea. Tasmania 11 potatoes are now quoted at £6 to £6 Its. per ton as against £t to £.7 rCs. thei week before, and as New Zealand white-likiiuicti varieties will rj-aliee at least £2 per ton less there will bo no profit left after about £4 per ,tcn has been- paid in expense*;'. FROZEN MEAT.' Messivi. Gilbert and Co. (il&srn}. Melisop, Eliott, and Go., local agents), writin-i; under aato l/onacn, dyiy 18, iepc.ro as 1 Ciiowu Lambs have showji a- lujrther decline, bueti'orts are bein? mado by the moro rodpon«iblo agents to stop the rot and firm up puices. 1/cndon trade, however, lias not fjTuitiy aisi'ziioil, compiainijij of customers leaving town fcr au earlier holiday than u.vuiil. 'llhe lower raiig-o ofnow ruling sliould crcato tho demand for lamb which tho previous excessive prices curtailed, Home-grown Beef.—Scotch, 7d. to 73d.; English, 61d>. to Irish, 6d. to 6id.; Canadi«<n, 6id. to 6d. Jlutton—Scotoh, Bd. to Bid.; Knglieli, 6Jd. to 7id.; Dutch. 6id. to.7id. Lamb—Scotch, BJd. to ICd.; Enplieh, 8d! to 9id.; Dutch, 7d. to 9d. Veal. 6£d. to Bd. Pork, 6i{d. to 7*d. Chilled JJeel'.—Pores, 31-d.; hind 3, 51d. Frozen Ueef. —Now Zealand fores, 3Jd.; hinds, 4Jd.; Austmlian cropi-, 3id.; hinds, 3£d.; South American forev?. 3 l-16d.; liinds, 4 id. Frozen Mutton—Thero is a weaker tendency, more in -sympathy with iambs than through heavy ?wpplies. Caniterburv, <8-56, 4§d.; 56-64, 43-8.; 64-72, 4id. Best N'ortih Island, 56*64. 43d.; ordinary, 4-Jd.; New Zea'laud owes, 33d.; Australian wethers, 36-50, 32d.; owes, 3 5-16 d.; Plato wethers, 56-72, 4'd.5 owed, 3 11-16 d. Frozen Lambs.—Medium grades show ■prospects of early im-provomouit. Canterbury, u-36, '5 11-16 d.; 36-42 , sid.; 42-50, Aid.; beet North Island. 28-42, 5 5-lGd.; Southland and ordinary, 28-42, 5.1 d,' SILVEE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, August 25. Bar silver i 9 quoted «at 27 9-16 d. per ounce standard.