COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1928, 10 December 1913, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

£19,577,173 £16,417,701 There is an increase this year of £1,159,472, which is very satisfactory. QUEENSLAND INSURANCE CO. Tho report of the Queensland Insurance Company for the year ended September 30 states that the revenue account shows that the year's operations havo resulted in a profit of £49.454 15s. 2d., to which has to be added the credit balance brought forward from last year, £7004 fe. Bd., making a total sum of £K,459 Is. 10d., out of which the directors transferred the sum of JEIO.OCO to reserve for unearned premiums, and £2COO to officers' provident fund, leaving £44,459 Is. lOd. available for distribution. The dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, absorbs £12.500 a. bonus of 3s. 4d. accounts for onother £25,CC0. Icavinir £6959 Is. lOd. to be carried forward. The fullest, provision has been made for all known and outstanding liabilities. CUSTOMS REVENUE. Customs duties collected, at the port ol Wellington yesterday amounted to £3501 Bs. Bd. SOUTHERN GRAIN PROSPECTS. ' IBy Telegraph.—Press Association.) Chrlstchurch, December 9. The estimated areas under crop for tho 1913-14 season show that there are decreases in the three cereal crops, wheat being only 166,778 acres, as against 189.353 last year, oats 361,141 aercs aEiilnst 386.786, and barley 32.022 acres against 37.486. Publication of these figures havo firmed the tone of the wheat market, as a 30-bushcl yield will only produce a, SCO.COO-bushel crop of wheat, which is a million bushels below requirements. It Is difficult to say, however, what ouantity of old wheat there will be carried forward. There is a Rood demand for wheat, both milling and fowl wheat, and up to 4s. has been paid at a country station for pearl, which is vory scarco. There Is some inquiry for oats for the North Island, and chaff is also in demand. The estimated area planted in potatoes is 37,931 ncreo against 23,450 acres last year, but the area la.st year must havo been considerably under tho estimate. The cheapness of seed has no doubt caused farmers to plant more freely this year. Fine weather is now required for the grain crops, as the damp, muggy jvea'l'oi' is paid to bo developing rust, especially in oat crops.

LONDON MARRETS. Jfef-srs. Dalgcty and Company, Limited, Wellington, have received the following cablegram from their London office dated December 6 as folows:—Wool: The market is weak and irregular, and . prices are easier except, for fine wools. The sales will close on December 9. Frozen meat: Beef—Prime ox fores, 4d.: hinds, 4Jd. Lamb —Canterbury, heavy 5d.. lieht 5 1-Sd ; North Island, heavy sd.,light, Sgrl. MuttonNorth Island, heavy end light. sd. The nuotations are nominal. There, is o eood demand for frozen meat, and a continuation of the high prices is expected for some time. Tallow: Mixed fair to good, 3d. to 6d. per c.wt. lower: other descriptions. 3d. per owt. lower. There is a limited demand at the decline. LONDON WOOL SALES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrieht London, December 8. Good wools are steady, shabby merinos very irregular, crossbreds unchanged. WIIEAT. (Roc. DcCQmber 9, 11.15 p.m.) London, December 9. The wheat market is slow,'but prices arc firni on account of the receipt of unfavourable reports of the weather in the Argentine. COPPER STOCKS. (Rgc. December 9, 11.15 p.m.) London, December 9. American copper stocks total 47,929,0W1b. SILVER. " , London, December 8. Bar silver is quoted at 27 l-16d. per ounce standard.