COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1957, 14 January 1914, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

I INVESTMENT SEAItES. Tho sales of investment shares recorded yesterday were ■ Bank of New Zealand, rights, £o, and Christchurch Gas, '£6 18s. 9d. The quotations were as follow:- - liuycrs Seliere £ «. tl. £ s. d. Bank Now Zealand 11 5 0 — Bank X.Z. (rights) ........... 4 19 6 .550 Kqiiitable Building 9 0 0 — X.Z. and Elver Plate 2 0 0 — Well. Trust aaid Loan ... 7 6 6 — Christchurch Gas 6 18 6 7 0 0 Falmerston North Gas ... 9 0 0 — Well. Gae (preference) ... — 10 0 National Insuranco — 211 G Chrietcliurch Meat 15 15 0 16 0 0 Well. Woollen (ord.) 4 0 0 Taupiri Coal 110 - Wc3tport Coal 1 10 0 — Leyland-O'Brioii — 13 6 C. It. Banks, Ltd. 110 13 6 Golden Bay Cement — 0 18' 0 N.Z. Con. Dcn'Jal 110 — Ward and Co 4 19 0 - AOETYLCELLULOSE. Celluloid, which is used for tho manufacture of a large number of practical artifice of daily use, for thn production of imitation silk, c«rUin kinds of rarnleh, etc., is obtained from nitrocellulose, which is a very explosive substance, beins n> leading factor in the manufacture of army powder. Ono of tho disagro«a,bio foature3 of celluloid article:!, however, is that they aro very liilUiinaiaule. Experiments to rendor celluloid incombuetiblo fl.ud hence sufo have fls yet led to no available- result from an industrial standpoint. Now attention is bcins; directed to the pla.stlc substancos that may bo obtained from celluloeo and which oro not nearly eo inflamma-blc as nitrocelhilofe. Thcso experiments have resulted in tho production of cellulose acetate, or aeetylccllulose ae it ia called, which is now boinit mado by tcvonil German factories. This soft, inonldnble substance posscsees a. inimlH" of iw...)if.|i! ( ,i!alii.i»v!. It huriii-i very slowly, producing n little flame, and melts. It can bo rendered totally liicoinliiHtiblo by mirturo with certain other Fiibstane&s. Aretylcijlluloso is waterproof, and flcl.l prr.of: it softer in heat, mm i may be bent and .stamped. When cold it may be sawn, bored, turned, milled polislicil, and glued. Miicd with olhor euTiotajicc3, it may bo uec4 for making Lai-

tatioue of iyovy, liorn, tortoi=c-shci! coral, etc. Tho cabins <.f dirigible; ar«.:.'llr.«av witn ncetykollulose. Artificial flowors'nre , '. m:ul(» to a. great estont of this material:-. Solutions of acetylccUulcso furnish splendid dualities of .varnish.' and thc-e var-nishi'S.fl.ro-usscd for rentfering- tho pianaj of aeroplanes impermeable, and for makins so-cnlltid over-clean lmeii. Ttiev also furnish insulating material for clo-ctr'c <-c.n-" amt3. the'well-clcaiietl'wire being dipped , in . special ucctylcclliilcse solutions, 'on'd tlicn allowed to dry at a somewhat, hign temperature. The coat veitiltin* is brilliant, ro'-eninlinsr enamel, and is nn weolleiit insulator. 'This meet icterra;tne arolicatioii cr acclykollnlose 'is iiu the inamilflctnre of inovine picture film'-'ana in view of the fires 'that have occurred r'erently in fil m factories tho dcTclomient of. this now manorial will be stimulated.; ■■ , TRADE IN AI.LEX STREET, nk" ; I-'ruit.-The Monomu is dsioiiDrc on Friday with traiiohipmenti of Viji bananas »x -Naviia. The Ulimarca,' due from Srdncy to-day, is brinslnjr a small suln'mfnt i of fruit coiisistitiu of pineapples, oherrUs,'! lemons, and pafiiion fruit; it is aJso prohaljlo that tho consiunmcnt wil' incl-iide ! watermelons, if eo thceo will reach o verv Kooil niarlspt. The season for blacl; ctifrants is almost over, awl those coining'■■! forward now aro soft a.tid p'lilpy. At'yc-' , torday's market poaches had a'rfiiiTit ail-, vance; apricots are in heatv supniy and only moderate prices aro fiStaisiaM'o. Tho .market is w0 , .! euppliod vrith Californian ftppJCi? and oranges. Vory feu- J-ii«|>berrles havo reached the' market from the Motu- 1 ' eka district; those' arriving, however,-s-oil roadily. A few Tasnsaniun clwrrieg oj-o due to arrive on Friday. Supplies of 'nectarines oro increasing. Vosetablcs-Frenc-h beens and crec-h peas oi'o in good demand, whilst cefobaeca are- niling low. A fair demand esiats for MMi'.illowere, carrots, paMnips, iiad turnips. l'rtatoaj contimie in heavy supply! 'nno-l the ouotation is 3s. to 4s. U. ser cwt aocordinsr to sample. ■ - - ■"■-■■ Omons.-Tho market ;s bcine suppliea from Australia,, and tho Auckland -.il>. trict, the current ouotation beinc 12s'- to l<rs. per cwt., accordinc to sample. Piclilinj onions are wanted. Flonr.-Lcoding brands are Belling at'£? ICe. per tan. f.0.b.. south, nnd €10 Ice-ci ! count WeJillßton '- ,ese to* customary.disFowJs , wheat.—A decline in tho mar!i«t price would occasion no surjirke; tho current quotation is 4s. 10d. to S« w hu-i"" for crime whole. ■ ".. ' :.-' !.'l' Jtaizc is slow of s-aJe at fe. 6d to W ltd. per bneucl. *£?,)* in 6hort supDlr; and is selUna a * £'; Us. to £o r>er ton. ■■ - "I rollard.-AH'millers are sh.irt of'stock" consoQuently the market has adTanccd to ±6 153. to £7 per ton. ex store. TvV.linKton. Oatmeal has dechned ICs. per ton. ana the leading brands are now quoted, ot £U per ton for 251b. boirs; for 71h. bans 30s. per too more is oe>l;ci. ■ . Rolled OatF.—Thistle brand in IJlb haca oiid Creamota in <lb. bass are-Quoted at 10s'. per dozen. . ■ ■■.- ■■ Chaff.—Supplies of old chaff o*e scarce. Jvew season's chaff is coming in more freely, flnd tho market rules at £5 to ■ £5 15s. per ton, tacks in. ■ ;■ •Fresh Errs.—Supplies arc quite equal to the demand, and. Iβ. Id. per dozen is the present price. Buttcr.-Prime milled, in hulk, is quoted at 9J.d. to lCd. per lb., Rood oualitv 9<< Prussian Blue ncas are dull of 'sale 'at ss. 6d. per bushel. ■ '■' PartridKC pca« have vory little inoiiiry, with the' Quotation at 4e. 6d. to 4s. 9ct a. bushel." Poultry.—Chickens. Is. to ls.'6d. a pair; hens. 2s. 6d. to I?. 6d.. with luwivy birds mo-lnnß 45.; Indian Bunfler ducte, 4s. 6il. to &i. M.; Pckin ducks. 6s. to Bs.: turkey (Tobbleri-, Is. psr-lb. Hvo weight; lieu;, 9d. to lid. LONDOX WOOL IMPOSTS. . ; ."iTf-|: Jfe-Grs. Balgety and Co., Ltd., have received a cablegram from their London of. flee, dated January 9, as followa:—Th-a Imports of wool for the year ending December 31, 1913, into the LDr.don icafkct have amounted to I.OM.CCO bales, of which -tho'Xollowing firms were the chief importers:— '• . - Bales. Dalßety and Co., Ltd '.. KUCO Sanderson, Murray and Co £0.«0 Bank of. Xcw , Zealand, Ltd 1?,(C0 Union Bank of Australia-. Ltd 44,100 James Jforriion and Co.. Ltd w.OMI N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd.' .: ..; ;... H.ceo X.Z. and Australian Land Co., Ltd. 32.C-CO Australian JlortEase, lianil and Finance Co., Ltd ' 29,000 EQUITABLE BUILDING SOCIETY. The report of the. directors of tlw Eguitablc Building and Investment Company for the year ended December 31 statco that tho profit and loss account bust's a credit of £11.648 15s. 2d. An. interim dividend of ss. has been paid, and £2SCfI Ua-3 boon carriod to the reserve fund, leaving a balance of £6148 15s. 2;1. to bs dralt witli. Tho directors recommend a further dividend of ss. per share, absorbing ,£3C(!3. carrying forward a. balance of £31*8 15s. 2d. jVlossrs. D. Anderson and D. M'Lcan aro thra xoltring dirctitorn, and. being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.

NEW SOUTH WALES MEAT TRADE. -■ By Teleuraph—Prcs3 Associa-tios—Copyi-iuhi

Sydney, Jcnuary S3. The Promier (Mr. liolman), at the eucKostion of tho Meat Board, intends to introduce legislation at tho iirst general session of the Assembly to govern ttbatr toirs and the export trade. . .

LONDON MINING QUOTATIONS;,;. \ London, January 12, '■■ Tcsterday's closiiif? Quotations were:— WaDii Goldmininjr. £2 10s. (buyer*), and £2 lZi. 6d.' (sellew): Grand Junction, £1 4s. 9d. and £1 5;. 9d.; Great Cobar Mlfl' , 4s. ii. and 4s. 6d. . :

SYDNEY WOOL SALES. :'■''■>& (Hec. January 13. UM p.m.) - ': ■ Sydnoy, January 13. ■ The wool calee opened with an .all.ronnd demand, croa-ibredi prtrticiiMtiug, Last week's advance was fully maintained.

VOIEAT. 'W .-,... (Eec. January 13, 11.45 p.m.) London, January 13. '-. The wheat market is firm, with little biddins.

1 CANTERBUBY GRAIN MABKETS.' .".'J, • (By Telezranh.—Press Association.! ■'■„• Chrtstohurch, January 13 ;: Businc« in tho local crain loarltet is still very nuiet, and is chiefly, confined to tho turnover of stocks of wheat in store to Buiallcr miilcrs who arc in want of supplies. Very little old graiti is on of-' fer, though, the recent advance- in price of wheat has brought more on the market than has been ottering for soras.tiiEe past. The new wheat crop, except in case*? where damage has been done by rust promises a very heavy yield. In the principal wheat-growing districts eomo exceptionally heavy and even crops arc to he seen, and it only needs fine -weather till after tho harvest to secure a return niucli above the average. The oats crop also promises well, and some Rood crops of barley will be harvested tliis eeason.. A sample of the New South Wa'.e.s wheat that has been imported into Auckland hasbeen shown in Christclmrch. It is oi beautiful quality, and for niilling purposes much superior' to the Now ZenlandKroivn srain. A further shipment is also expected to complete the order that was Kivcn by the Auckland miller. A wet. summer has been against the prospects of a pood potato crop, and yields are likely to bo disappointing. Cropo in and near town have been spoilt by Rrcan aphis at-t-ackinu and killinc the tops, and thas preventing further Krowth of inhere, α-nd it is said that the pest has even invaded the larfto fields. Somo business has already been done for forward delivery from £3 to £3 ICs. having been offered and accepted for delivery in March.