COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1972, 31 January 1914, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT BHAREB, The business done in investment shares yesterday consisted of sale's of Auckland Gas at 2Ee.; Standard Insurance at J».; and Union Steam, ordinary, at 245. led. Tho quotations were as under:— Bujcrs Belldre £ s. d. £ 1. d Bank New Zealand 1118 6 — Bank N.Z. (rights) 5 3 6 - National Bank 6 5 6 6 6 3 N.Z. and River Plate 2 0 0 '—■■ Well. Trust and Loan ... — 7 5 0 Ohrlstehureh Gas ■ — 6 18 6 Wellington Gas (£10) - 1615 0 N.Z. Insurance ■ 5 15 0 — ' 5.8.. Insurance ..'.... 4 2 0 " — ; Gear Heat (£4) 13 12 6 — Gear Meat (£1) 3 8 0 — Union Hteam (pref.) 0 19 10 10 0 lloecicl Woollen ....! 3 10 fa — Well. Woollen (ord.) 410 — Taupiri Coal 1 1 i — Westport Coal ...,...: — 110 6 Westport-Stockton — 0 4 0 Mannine and Co 319 0 ' — N.Z. Con. Denial 1 1. B 12 6 Ward and Co 4 19 0 W.P.O.A. (£1) - 16 0 Bowron Bros. (£1) 0 4 3 — WELLINGTON WOOL SALES. As anticipated, tho Wellington wool Gales,, which were filed for. Wednesday of next weel;, have been postponed until Friday to meet the convenience of tho buyers, who will be at thr Napier sale on Monday. Tho catalogues have closed, and tho total to bu offered is 23,629 fljalej. whioh compares with previoue solee n.9 under:—Febrnary, 1914, 20,829 bales; February. 1913. 15,815 balesFebruary, 1912, 13,700 bales; February, 1911, 12,700 bales.. Tho ouantitios to lie offered by the sovoral brokers compared with last are given in the table appended :— Feb., 1914. Fob, 1913. Bales. Bales. Dalsety and Co 7000 5151 Levin and Co 4725 2*4) Murray. Roberts and Co. 3600 JIM N.Z. Loan and Mer.... 2600 2532 .Abraham and Williams 2100 ' 1840 United Farmers 600 368 W. and O.Tumbull end 00. 304 374 ' . 20,829 15,818 : The buyers will have Wednesday and Thursday to value the wool in the various lofts, and the ealo should show eomo measure of firmness. AUSTRALASIAN BANKINJ. The Melbourne "Argus" deals with the , Quarterly banking returns from four out of the six Australian States, together witn those for iNew Zealand. The ngurcs are lor the December quarter, 1913. As compared with the previous Quarter, uopoeite in the five fatates enow a not increase of £2,811,974, Victoria and Now Boulh Wales ehowing a, substantial increase, and South Australia .a alight increase, waile Tasmania and New Zealand show awreasea. A comparison of deposits (not including the Commonwealth bank) wuh "Uie previous auarter and the corresponding period ol ISiiS is aa follows:— ■ Dec. 31, 80pt.30, Dec. 31, " ■ 1912. 1913. 1911. Deposits- ,'." £ £ £ ■ Victoria 46,236,438 44,353,243. 45,761,107 N.H.W 66,446,434 64,691,666 t6.651.254 a. Australia... U,ZSS,I2i Ki.tib.tit U,vt/,ia> Tasmania ... 4,23fr,6J0 4,396,696. 4,278,564 (ÜB-,20t5- i ia4 114308,758 117,748,281 New Zealand 24.249,766 25,552,636 ■ 24,926,284

142,452,880 139,861,694 142,673,568 As compared with a year ago, tho above total for the five State shows a net increase of only £220,668. Victoria shows, a, decrease for tts year of '£475,331, but Now South Wales an increase at £234,860, and New Zealand un, inoreaao of £675,528. • Advaucce, etc., for tlio flrvo States show an increase of £2,891,016 during tho quarter, of which New Zcalaud accounts for £1,893,593, Victoria lor £437,160,. and New South Wales for £365,343. - Tho foUowinc is a, comparison of advances, etc., for tho five States with the previous Quaxtor and the corresßonding period of 1812:— • Dec.3l, Sept.3o, .Dec.3l, ■ .1912. '1913. '■ 1913. Advances, etc.— £ £ £ Victoria ,38,538,647 30.741.C42 36,178,202 . N.B/W '47,707,757 45,598,776 45.954,119 6. Australia... 8,522,962 7,934,192 8,083,989 Tasmania ..... 3,188,617, 3,197,839 3,302,962 97,957,983 92,621,849 93,519,272 New Zealand 25,742,2/2 23,6«,iC4 25,769,59/, . 123,700,255 116,397,855 U9,283,669 The comparison with a year aco ehovjs a, nut decrease of £4,441,386, incluaine a decrease of £2,360,445 in Victoria, and a decrease of £1.753.638 in Now South Wales. The not effect of the foreßolnir comparisons for the year is that ■ against sin increase of £220,688 in deposits there is a, decrease of £4,411,386 in advances in the five States, andi tho position is thus strengthened by ,£4,632,074 during tho year, bo fair tho, live States are concerned. Thcso figures do not include the Comnionwoalth Bank.

OU6TOUS REVENUE. Customs duties collected at the port of Welllntrton yesterday amounted to £2622 14s. Ud. BANE OF ENGLAND RETUENS. By Telozrapb—Proes Association—Copyright (Ilec, January 30, 8.5 p.m.) London, January SO. The Bank of England return issued for tho week ender Weduesday, January 28j is as under:— IBBtIE DEPJURTMEKI Hett'liino f61.0C6.000 Gov.dobi •■• i 11.015,000 Other eeouritloa ... „ T.434.(KX) Geld 42,617.000 01,066,000 f6I,C«8,000 Buntma DBPinnraOT. Frer.ri«t«r«' Govt. s«cnrf. capital 5U.K3.000 ties... ... Public d»- Other scourl- - . posits „. 9,624,000 ties 34.159.001 Other &*■ posits ... C 1.345.003 KltM .. 33.335,000 Best, 7-day • and ether blUa... „. 3.520,000 Coin- _ 1.01 D.OOO 479,M3,0ad 470.212,000' Tho leading Items ol the Bank of Enslaud return afford the followins compartioni— • . Shlswtilc lititiTetklitstyaar £ £ £ Bullion 12.617.000 40.886.000 55.507,(XM Heeem 1)3,884.000 82,126.000 27,076,000 Note circulation 28.501.000 23,1263,000 37.777.000 Public Dopooitj 0,824.00 10.174,000 16.483,000 Otber Deposits 51.845.01 X) «6.U65.000 40,585,000 Proportion of liabilities 55,38 57.43 47.53 GOTEENMBKT SECTJEITIEB. The following are the latest quotation* (or Government securities, with, a comparison ol those ruline laet week:—

■ . Variatien — ceapand Prioj, with . lilt Tra»k, e t. i, ' 25% Imperltl Consoli 76 0 0 IQ* hfrtnii ~K.8.W.1033Jan.-July 101 0 0 ill h & r ii ,N.S.V/.1030-6OMr..Sp 100 0 0 10? hghSJ U ~N.8.\V.-11.30-60 B8 0 0 -—_!f!l il ..JJ.S.W.ICMApI.-Oct 86 0 0 EOahiohar i .Vic.WaOJan.-July 101 0 0 aJS 34 ..Vic. IKU-β J.u.July 9J 0 0 Daohansca 54 ~Vle,-\!«9-10 (S 0 0 8 ~Vic.llft>l).«Jen.-July SI 0 0 ah hlchar U ~B,A. 1916 Ja n.July CO 0 0 Shah" ,3 ..8.A.W111 Jan.July 7110 0 lS Wghor i ..Q-riHSJU-aiJan-July 10l 0 0 Ms blshor *i »5 , 'S- 1M 9Miiy-NeT. 100 0 0 Uaohnnced H .N.Z. imii-WJun.-Julv [000. Jo, higher » ..N.a.lMlApril-Oct, El U 0 201 hi|hoc 84-W.A.1D16-!j6May-KeT 9» 0 0 209 1 gher 55 ~ltus. )t-JoJau.-.7uly Dl 0 0 io» hltfhor ■i ~TM . loi!o-JoJ»u.July bl 0 0 ffljs hlgCor

BANK BATES 01' INTEItEST. The Bank of Enffland rate me on February 8, 1912, reducod from 4 to 34 net cent., and on May 9 it wrb lurthtr reduced to 3 per cent. On Aumiet 29 It was raised to 4 Dcr cent., tind on Octobor 17 to 5 pur April 17, 1913. Ou "October 2, raised to 5 p«r cent., on January 8, 1914 it was reduced to 4} ner cent, on Januor? 22 to 1 per cent., and on January 29 to 3 Mr cent. Tlio Dank of Franco rate was r«dncc4 from 3* to 3 per cent, on January 23. I9ufl and continued at tho latter fleure nntU September 12, 1911. when it was rai?od to 25 per cent. On May 17, 1912, it was roduood to i por cent., on October 17 it Tra« raised to 31 per cent., and on October 30 to 4 por cont. On January 29, 1911, iha rato.waa reduood to 34 per oent, 'Die liaserloa iwujlt ol QtiniM; en Op,

to 5 per c«ut. end to 6 per ecnt. on November 14. On October 27, 19U. th* rate w u reduced to 5j per cent., and on January 62 it was further r-educod to .41. per cent

MAHKET HATES OF DISCOUNT. The' following are the m&ttM reU» for h«t thr»« months , biUs:-

liondan Paris BerHs aato. v&it. Tat«. per per ■ jj« r cent ctat. teat. This week ......... 2 5-16 - _ 'Laet week 21S-i6 Zi % Last year 43 3J 43 Short loans aro ouoted at 2 per cent., ae aiainst 2 3-8 per cent, last licel;, and 41 to. 5 per cent, last year.

COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. Wheat.—The demand is quiet. Sellers aro disposed to make concessionp, the tosult of. River plate. Canada, and Kupsia offerlne more freely, 'l'ticre ia little inQuiry for cargoes; 2500 toe© Australian, i'ebruary-March shipment eoid at 353. 6d. ■ Australian, on spot, rs nominally 365. 6d.; New. Zealand supplies are exhausted. Flour, meets with little aomand. FJsur on spot hoa fair Aueinces. Auatraltan January-February shipment, 255. to 25-s. 3d c.i.f. Oats are neglected. La Plata, FebruaryMarch shipment, Us. 4id. Beans aro in good supply, and in fair demand at 365. to J7e. 6d. on spot. Pcae aro firm. Salee of new crop New Zealand maples. Ua'rcfrAsTil abip-jnent, have been mado at 443. c.i.f. Bultteri—Largto supplies, espedaHy 6f >iew Zealand, have caused a slight dullness- in colonial, but a steady demand continues. Choicest Australian salted, Hos to 1125.: un'jaltod, 112s. to 1145., a few lots making life. Now Zealand Mhltea, Jl4s. to 1165.; uhsalted, U6u. td lite.; secondary Australian is selling well «t 106b. to W3s.'Danish, 1265. Cheese is ouiet, owins io larite arrivals from Now Zealand". White, 6te. to ihs.coloured, 665. to 66*. 6d. Bacon is dull. Sugar.-German beet. 83 tot cent, net titre, Id. higher at 9a.. 4d. per cwt.; first TDcrks- crnnulated f.0.8. Hamburg on. chanced at 11s. 5Jd. Bradford Tops—There is bettor inquiry and . inoro spirited cortuwtitioo. Sijctylours. 23d.; super eiitjft?, 27} d.; oommdn sixties, 26Jd.: fifty-sixes. 21*4. t fifties, 391 d- . 16d.; forties. 154.

THE METAL MARKETS, • Copper, on »jpot, 63. lower- at £65 per ton; threo months. 12s. 6&. hijiher at £66 2jj.'.6d.; electrolytic, 7s. 6d.. higher at £67 Tin, on r.iot, 655. Meher at £181 sa. nor ton; three months, 70s. higher at £182 10b. Srcltor. 3?l lfe. Ber ton. OANTEEBUEY GBAES , MAEKETV (By Ttles^raph.—Pt«3 Association.) ChrlsfcJturch, January 3ft. A row , linos 01 sew wheat from tne northern district have be«n offered, and a lino of about 900 bushels of Tuscan of Rood auality lies chattired hands at 3s. Bα., with 3d. rajlajy For another line 01 rather better wneat from the same district 33. M. was offejqtL but- 3s. «d. was wanted. That which has kn -cold ■will probably 150 to fill an order for fowl wheat, which ia very ecorco at present, aa :only milling whett is available. The demand for oats Is very aull no ono seomincly being inclined to buy even At the low prices rulinK. Feed quality, is only worth Is. .sd. to Is. .M., and milling lip to Is. 7d. at country stations. Therehas been .little dolnir in borlev yet, end largo buyers arc gtill holding off the market Bales hato, however, been made UDto 3e. 7d..at country stations. For thin br. outrof-condition samples thoro is practically no sals. Some business has been" done in now claff at £2 tte. at. country stations, tvnd- last season's chaff is now worth eractically no more.nnles's of primo Quality. No further bueiness is reijorted ■in potatoes. Koports of the damage done by the. h!i?hi in the Oamaru district, are stiil conflicting-, iiofc it is stated by a practical man who. knows tho district that, at the outside, probably not more than. 200 to 30S acTea only wii.l not be wortli diggine, A>, asainst this, however,,it hae to be-Remembered that tho Government estimate for thai area in potatoes is 6000. acres lafser than last year, and tho crops throosfhont Oiiiterbury aro on the whole cood. Last, season's crop was ranch beyond tho Dominion's requirements, eo the extra increase this season, even if tho average yield is somewhat less, should provide oafflcient for this year's supplies. There will probaHy bo littlo prospect of an tfeport trado with Aifstralia., oons-idcrints the sood Ben.eon which they havo had there.

. AUCKLAND WOOL- SALES. HIGH PBICES FOE LAIIBS , WOOL. (By ifeleiraph.— Presa Association.) Auckland, January 30. Over 11.4C0 bales wore prcseEttfl at the Bocond wool «Uo of tho Jsason, held today. ; On account of wool hold back from tho first Eale through the labour trou-bTK? the catalogue was exceptionally large, apd a cood clearance -woe effected of all lines at Eati'sfoetory prlcte, Tho feature of thosalo was tho exceptional pritC3 , icalkcd for lambs' wool, good sorts makiyg up to 11 jd. Per lb., and seedy from 6U. to 7»!per lb. Prices on ttio «li-o!e -rcc.ro very satisfactory, comparing favan.rably with any realised in New Zealand this -summer, if an exception be made in favour of certain lines which always command relatively high prices at Buncdin, OB ftc count of their suitability foT tke Antorlcan market nnd tho coaipetttiftn of local woollen manufacturers. Strong crossbredu : brought prices fully cauQl to those obtained in any other New Zealand centre. if not a shado biKhftr. -Cojmsarod with the first nalo of tho seaeon in November, fino' crossbreds sold- at a level. Btrons? croesbreds and three-qua-rter wools -wero Jd. to Id. por lb. hieher. ehabby coarso OTOEsbtred woolo from paT to 54. higher, bellie's and pieces sold from oar to $d. higher. Bitter complaints <rt« inade b? buyers as to the manner in which ths wool was put up. "I havo bad-'23 years' experience in New Zealand, tmi I hftvo nevor Eten a oollcction of noatfy 11,600 bales of wool put up witlt euch littlo rojjftrd for m&kinir it marketftblo." dori.ared Mr. TV. Hill, president of the Now Zealand Wool Buyers' A&'ooiation. To the bad Ret-tfn of tho wool is attributed tho comparative ab'sencc of Ameri'cyi comnetltion, An American buyer rcipitrlted. that a- good many faxmers had tho 'idcA that they could put anything into their boJct!, and the Americans would bay it- nil. Tlwro was no cround for such an assumption Americans would compete for all clasps th-at were well rrown and properly prepared for tho market, but" not'for anrtiirtg else. Accordlni:- to thcGO..-; converaa-nt with the cohditinn's it. could n-ct b« said that the removal of tho tariff awvinrt tho itatroduction of foreign rool ink) flv United States hnd any effefit o.ti sale-, Thoso who expected to see Imb tdtion from America ovenooited. amo-ni; other things, the fact' that whea tho terlff nax removed on December 1 the?o. were W.OOO.OCOIb. of totclm woiil in bond in the United States, eaaat to about six months' consumption usaer tho -eiiatinir condition's. '

WEST ATJSTBALIAK , ' LOAS. By TeleZTftph-ProSB Api'-tqt.inn-O-o.pyr^W ■ . • PcrtHi JAnnw-Jii the Western Au&tralian loan the Premier states that n!t arraiieemetitsi have been completed. Two- millions, at £98 10s.. is beinsr undersritjen. WHEAT 6TAOTIAEP. Perth. January- M. The wheat aten_dard for the year has been flied at ' siity-one pounds to- the bushel. ' . SILVER. London, Jinuarv 23. Bar, silver is eaoted at 26 9465. per ounce standard. ' YIOTOBIAN PSdMCE StAEKETS. Melbourne, January JO Wheat, is. 65d..t0 3s. 7d. Flour, £8 Ms. Oats. Iβ. 7jd. to Is. Hi- Bariey, i>. 3d. fjo 3s. 6d.; Cape, 2s. 2d. 60 Zs. 2id. Mawo, £4. Pollard, £4 15j. Potatoes, £3 to £3 ss. Onions, £6 16s. MONET. AND MARKETS. London, January 29, The reduction in tho Bank rate from 4 to 3 per cent, has caused great activity in all departments of tho Stock Eiehansc. Imperial Consols are at £76, an adxance of £1 7s. 6d. since Tuesday last. -Slan-y Australian Government stock;! have advanced by from Ste. to 4GS*