COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 4

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVE3TMENT SHARES. Tho sales recorded in investment shares yesterday wero Ghristchurch Gas at £6 17s. 6d.<and Standard Insurance at £1 12s. 3d. The quotations wero as under:— Buyers. Hellers. £b. d. -£8. d. Bank New Zealand - 10 17 6 National Bank 5 7 0 5 8 0 Wellington Investment ... - 011 9 Ohrietohuirch- Gas ......... 615 0 — Gear' Meat (£4)'; 13 3 0 . • - Goar Meat (£1) 3 9 0 — Union iS.tcam (Ord.) ; 14 3 — Union Steam (prof.) 0 19 3 — Well. Woollen (ord.) - 4 10 Golden Bay Cement ...... — 019 0 N.Z. Con.' Dental .'. 10 9 - W.F.O.A. - (£1) ;....;:.. -' " 160 ■ THE NEW ZEALAND LOAN. The' prospectus of the New Zealand loan issued early iu October. came to hand by the last mail from which it. is [fathered that the amount of the,loan was £3,500,0 M at 4 per cent, in- ten years convertible debentures repayable at par on August 1, .1923. .The issue price was £98 10s., and 'it was stated that applicants undertaking to convert their allotments as soon- as they are fully paid into New Zealand Government 4 per cent, inscribed' stock, 1943-63, .woudd receive preferential treatment. It was further stated that- the entire proceeds of the issue would be utilised for the : redemption of debentures previously issued. in London- and maturing in 1913 and 1514. '

• ''• 'BTjrLDETO BHIPS ABEOAD. .'.' In .the annual loport 'of the New Zealand Shipping Company it is stated that an' order for a, cargo steamer has been placed with e. Olydesido firm, and. for another, with- the' Societe' dee Ateliers et Chanticrs,' of' Dunkirk. Inquiries' show, says the "Financial Times," that, as in other instances of a similar kind,' the order went to the Continental firm simply becausethey could promise earlier delivery —to the extent of three or four months— than British builders. So far. as. price is concerned, that of the French company compared favourably with British figures.' ,This,.vthe first' ship for tho New Zealand Shipping. Company to be constructed outof Great- Britain, is due for delivery In the early part of next year. The vessel (says the "Shipping Gazette") will be propelled by twin-sorew reciprocating engines. Sho is of tho same type as the company's 'existing. steamer Kaikoura', und Is being-constructed under the'supe-Tvisioii of i the Board'of .Trade, and to take tho highest" class at Lloyd's. "In, the past most of the New Zealand Shipping Com-, pany's - vessels have been built either by - Messrs. .Hawthorn, .Leslie,, and'.Co.,or at Dumbarton. The piecing of this' • order with a French company'is. we understand, not to be taken as an indication that the company will in.-future build vessels on the Continent.,." They have, as a matter of fact,.no desire to send work across' the Channel, and when It becomes necessary, •further to augment their fleet they • will undoubtedly give the contract to a British yard, if normal delivery' can be guaranteed. The placing of, this order for a French-built ship serves to show that owners are tired, of the. vexatious delay in delivering new tonnage which has been largely brought about by, the strikes and poor y time-keeping in- British shipyards. ' ARGENTINE "MEAT,' ' Messrs. James Nelson and Son, ' well known in connection • with the Argentine frozen meat industry, • did', not pay tho half-year's dividend due on the six per cent, first preference shares due on October 1, owing ,to the » adverse conditions which have prevailod during, the past six months. ,"'As.is : well known a state ol war exists-between.. the English-interests- connected with, this industry, and.;.certain :Amefican, 'firms who, are endeavouring to. obtain control of the trade. The bitter-ness-of, the struggle may be gathered from the fact that a concern, of the standing of Messrs. James Nelson and Sons, with two issues of preference shares and an emission- of ordinary capital, to say nothing of a considerable. amount of debenture 6tock, has found it necessary' to suspend dividend.'payments on ■■ its first preference capital; ; Out of the profits of .1912, not only were the preference, dividends met, but 6 per cent, was, paid-.on..the ordinary capital and". a •substantial .'Surplus', was carried forward. ■ ' .

.; '■ : ; - TBADE IN ALLEN STREET.. , Normal conditions now : rule at the Fruit Exchange in Allen Street, and busi-' ness 'hGs been' brisk during the week. New potatoes'are "in good supply, and values ,«jle at 7s. to 7s. 6d. per cwt. . Old potatoes axe slow of eale, and prices rango from £3 to £5- per ton, according to quality;, potatoes in-bad condition have to be" quitted at best prices obtainable. • ■Onione.—The WillochM/B consignment from San Francisco was landed in fair to medium condition, and prices rule from 9s. to-Us."-6d. per.cwt., according to conditlon;_j. :"■'.. ..; '• , •■ • '' ■ ''~'■ ' i Flour.—Stocks that haTe been' held up in the harbour having beer, delivered, values have declined, the Wellington prices now being '£11 per-'ton, ex store. Fowls' ■ wheat is in good demand, and ie ruling at 4s. 3d. to 4s. lOd. per bushel, according to sample. ■ • ■ . ■■' Maize is dull of sale at 4s;-9d. to 66. per bushel.:. .-.' ." i Brail.—Full stocks are held, and the ourrent quotation';!* £4 lOsr'to £s?per ion. ..- | Pollard.—Stocks are on the light side, and iitheji-market is ruling at £6.105. ner ■ ton."'''" '•' ' ■ Oatmeal.—Further. supplies are expected from the south on Friday: ..Rolled Oats.—Thistle brand, in,-4£lb. bags, and crcamoata, are'6ellihg'at 10s.> 6d.-per. "dozen. :' .'.■■••: v. '"> . ''.'". , Chaff.—The market has declined considerably, and the price, now. is £5 ICa. to £6. per. ton, sack's .in. ... _ . • ' *Fresh eggs have declined in value, and aTe now selling at Is. per dozen. I Butter—Prime "milled, in bulk, is auotcd at ,9d. to ,-10 d; per lb. , . . f Prussian blue peas are exceedingly dull of sale at ss, '6d.' a" bushel.' . Partridge peas have very little inquiry, at 4s. 6d. to 4s. 9d. per bushel. Poultry aliens, 3a., 6d. to 4s. 6d. a pair; heavy tahle birds, up to 65.; cockerels. 4s. 6d. to ss. 6d.; Indian Bunner ducks, se. to Bs. 6d.; Pekin and Aylesbury, 6s. to 75.; turkey gobblers, Is. per lb. live' weight; hens, 9d. to lOd.

Vegetables.—Now. .that ■ regular steamer communication with Nolson has 'been reestablished;: supplies of green peas-are coining -.to''hand. Carrots'are- in ehort edipply,'and-high rates are'ruling. . Cauliflowers have declined in value, and cabbages are a drug on the market. Ehubarb is realising • extreme rates, owinpf to the absence of supplies from" Canterbury. Fruit.—Nearly the. whole of the,fruit ex , WJllochraj has , passed into 'the J hands of retailers,' and'.'the bulk of.'the'snipments intended; for "ChristchuTch and Dunedin have been sold in the local market, thus showing that.'Wellington 'as an excellent distributing.centre.. Kcgular weekly shipments of fruit may now be exsected from Australia. On Friday Tasmanion apples and ileldura lemons came to-hand. Customs dutios collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £4516 15s. 7d. ! '. . -. ~- i CANTERBURY MARKETS. CBy Tdceraph.—Prces Association.) Chrlstchurch, November 18. The Btrike has put 'an end to all business in the local grain and produce line. Bo far as tho shipping trade is concerned, only - coastwise trade from Canterbury is being done from Timaru and by small river Bteamcr from Kai&poi. Tinder the circumstances, there is nothing changing hands beyond what is required for local consumption, 'Buch as potatoes, oatshcaf chaff, and fowl wheat. Potatoes are dull of sale, and arc normally worth only £1 to £1 5«. per ton, at country stations.

FROZEN MEAT. Messrs. Gilbert Anderson and 00. (Meßsrs. MeUsop, Eliott, and Co., local agents), writing under date London, October 10, report as follows:— Home supplies have,been light, and not of good quality, but' Dutch continue to be snipped in liberal auantitics. . Prices enow no change from last week, viz.:— Beef: Scotch, 6Jd. to 7d.; English, 5Jd. to 5 5-Bd.; Irish, sjd. to 6d.; Canadian, SJd. to 6d. Mutton: Scotch, 7Jd. to ! Bd.; English, 65d. to 7Jd.; Dutch, s}d. to 6Jd. English ewes, sd. to SJd. Tegs: Scotch, Tjd. to' BJd.; English, 7d. to 71*.; Dutch. sjd. to 6Jd. Lamb: Scotch hill, 6Jd. to 7Jd.; Dutch, 6d. to 7d. Teal, 6d. to 9d. Pork, 7d. to Bd, Frozen.—The course of trade has shown littlo variation. The call for New Zealand lambs, of which there are etill-plenty. is very poor, and prices have again fallen. Australian new season lambs have made -their first appearance, and fetch up to sjd. The quantity is. small, however, tho bulk arriving in November and following months. Tho mutton markot femains unchanged, witjh the exception of Neve Zealand ewes, which show a decline of a sixteenth by reason of good supplies of Australian. Colder weather has stimulated tho demand for beef,' chilled being considerably firmer. Large quantities of beef are - being shipped to tho States. - ~ Smithfleld Prices. Mutton- u/48lb. 18-56. 56-64 64-72. d. d. d. d. Canterbury 43 43 43 4} Wellington ....,:... ■ 43 4 7-16-.4J 4 7-16-414 5-16 Ordinary New ...!■... Zealand 4) 43-8 41-8 41 'Pwes--,.4W4, 3 13-IM. .'AttslroJian sheen,

30-50, 3Jd. ; 60-70, 3J. South Amorican, 56-72, 4 7-16(1. Lamb— Under 36.' 36-42. 42-501b. it. d. ' d. . Canterbury 5 9-16 5} 5 Wellington 57-16 51-16 4J Ord. New Zealand 5 5-16 4i 43 BeefNow Zealand, fores, 31d.; hinds, 4Jd. Australian, crops, 3Jd.; hinds, 41d. South American, foros, 3}d.j hinde, 41d. Chilled beef—South American, fores, 3 3 Bd.; binds, 5 i-M. LONDON WOOL SAXES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, November 17. Tho arrival for tho next scries of London, wool sales total 143,270 boles. There have been forwarded' to manufacturing centres 40,500 bales, and 140,000 bales will bo available for the sales, SYDNEY SALES. Sydney, November 18. Tho wool sales have resumed. Competition is active at last week's rates. WHEAT. (Rec. November 18, 10.50 p.m.) London, November • 18. The wheat market is firm, Australian showing fully 3d. advance, while -Russian aadi La Plata is 6d. higher. An- Australian cargo sold at 355. 6d., and another at 355. ■3d.; 5200 tons, Westralia,n, January shipJment, sold at from 355. lid. to 355. 4Jd. felling 7000 tons of December wheat after *ss. had been Tefused on- Saturday. SILVER. . . London, November 17. Bar silver is quoted at 27J .per ounce standard. * THE VINTAGE. (Roc. November 18, 10.50 p.m.) London, November 18. Qilbey's report on the vintage states that rain and insects have damaged the vintage in every country, except Italy; the harvest.in France is only two-thirds of the 1912 yield, while it has been a disappointing year in Germany.