COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1992, 24 February 1914, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. The sales of investment 6hares reported 3'cstcrday. were:—Union Stem at 245. 9d„ nnd Wellington Woollen preference at 6Ce. Tne quotations wero v as under:— ' Buyers. Sellers. £ s. d. £ s. d. Bank of New Zealand ... — 12 2 6 Bank N.Z. (rights! — ;i i I National Bank ' —■ '500 Equitable Building 8 15 0 — Metropolitan Building ... — 12 6 0 N.Z. and River Plate ... 2 2 0 — Well. Trust and Loan ..., 7 5 0 . — Auckland Gas 18 0 — Christchurch Gas 613 3 — Well. Gas (£10) 15 15 0 16 0 0 Well. Gas (preference) ... 0 19 9 — S.B. Insurance — 4 7 6 Gear Meat (£4) A 14 5 0 - Gear Meat (£1) 3 11 6 - Union Steam (ord.) 14 6 1 4 10 Union Steam (prcf.) 10 2 — Well. Woollen (ord.) 4 0 0 — Well. Woollen (prcf.) - 3 0 6 Wcßtport-Stockton — 0 4 0 feriimamutn Totara 2 5 6 — N.Z. Con. Dental —' 12 3 Ward and Co 5 0 0 — W.F.C.A. (£1) - 16 0 . MARINE LOSSES. During tho past twelve months fifteen well-found vessels (lying the British Flag Were either abandoned or lost at sea, Vfhcrcas in 1912 there were 25 such occurrences, while in previous years the total loss has been even higher. An unsatisfactory feature of 1913, from the point of view of underwriters, was the number of ecverc fires, which were accompanied in some cases by terrible loss of life. Tho Estonia, the Templcmore, and the Volturno were entirely lost as a result of outbreaks of this description, whilo in other cases «erioua disaster has ensued, although tho hull has been saved. In this connection the Turakina may be mentioned, the loss to underwriters in this instance having exceeded £350,000.

A I'EAK'S INVENTIONS. Last year 'approximately 30.CG0 applications for patents were lodged in the United Kingdom. This is practically the some as in 1912, and slightly in excess of 1911. During recent.years the lowest figures recorded were for 1908, when the number did not, reach 29.0C0, while the high watermark \\as touched in the succeeding year with applications approaching 31.CC0. Of last year's inventions, a, very prominent position is occupied by aeronautics, somo 600 inventions in this connection having been brought forward. Locomotion on terra, firma is still found in the foremost place, however, over 2000 applications having been filed for patents relating to railways and motor and other road vehicles. The internal combustion engine has likewise received a very great amount of attention, the trend.being still in the direction of perfecting' the ga6 rotary engine, which will no doubt ona day be an accomplished fact. Koinnnce is frequently associated with invention, and more than one fortune has been built upon a simple idea. The familiar Blakcy hoot protector is a case in point. However, there are no indications that any such siniDle invention of ISIS will nroduee so golden a harvest. Among the. uncomplicated inventions there i« to be noted this vear a paper wardrobe,-.consisting of an airtight bag made of' paper, in which wearing apparel may be enclosed. Since the early days when the camp-stool was invented many collapsible - articles

have been pnlcnted, nnd duciiis 15f!3 aev<?ra? devicis of this kind bare been in evidence. For instnnce.oa, collapsililn meat fa.f'ti lias apneared on the scene, in addition to a collapsible side-ear, whilo-the most (iceonimodatin? article of furn.itUEft, a Goli.o.naH»!o bedste.id. is not nu'ssins: from tlto list, The mo6t interesting inveution in tliiH direction is an automatic ooliopsible ladder, which, in the case of cmoreenoy at sea, provides a rapid, continuous, and safo means of transferrin? nassoneers nod crew from a- vessel to boate or rafts. This Is one of many devices for life-savinß which the Titantio disaster o-nd other catastrophes at sea have moved inventors to contrive An amusement device, -patent during last yca,r, which Is likely to be a foattiw of futnrff entertainment cs.hibit.ious, consists of a. hupe o.tishion, tho inflation and deflation of which causee aM undulating surface like the waves of tho sea.. Upon this surface vessels will ride, piviE-j* tho passengers n- good idea of the brin» ocean and probably also of mal de mcr. Another contrivance which produces er-eat excitement is a switchback railway, with, variations c.oni?islln» of apparent obetotiios which threaten the cars -ivith iutmiuent collisions, but arc Eafeiy elude.d. .Inventors have also turn-ad tlveir attention to mo.ny labour-saving devices. An ingenious invention is a workman's timerecording machine, with which is incorporated a thumb-print ■Arrangement that flnabies each workman to be identified. For naturalists there has tjsen inveßt<-4 a special bird-nasting box of such e nnt.u'-a that one raay observe-the hnI>M.S of birds without disturbing thorn. The numhttr of annlications for nat<hits ttistn Weimvn in IM3 anprooohes «o. Contrasted with ths 50.MC inventions of "mere md.n." this ap-' nears oxtremelv small, bot when ens reflects that a few years ssn«e onlv-abotit Is nnnlicitioiis from women wfero filed i* is evident that coniiderablc progrcEJ has been made. . WELLINGTON WOOL- SALES. The final wool 6ale of the crasont season Will bo held in the Concert Chajmber of the Town Hall on Tuesday aext at t p.m. A total, of about 6COO bales wiil be offcre4 as against 3076 at the corresponding tola of last year. LONDON WOOL. MARKET. Messrs. W. and G. TurpUull and Co., Ltd., havo received the following cable ntt-ssago from their London agents, under date February 21:—"Wool market very strong for all kinds. Expect Mareii sales considerably higher, but possibly e.oine leietion afterwards when bears cowre-d." ■ Customs duty collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £1610 13a. 7d. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CAfiliEflHAJt. Tho Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce has received tie following cablegram froin the High Commissioner for New* Zealand*, dated London, February 21. (Note: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are a-yerage market •oriccs on spot):— Mutton.—Although thisfe ' is more de-mand,-prices havo declined «:u acflfiiint at the large supplies coming, forward. North Island, 4Jd. per lb. for roed.ium weights. There is a better demand for light weights, which are quoted as high as 4Jd. per lb, Lamb.—The market 16 quiet. 'ITierc is no change in prices for best qtrality, but there is a limited demand for poorer grades, and prices have declined, Other than Canterbury, 6Jd. pel- lb. for best quality light Weights. Beef—The market is firm. Now Zealrmd hinds, 4Jd. per lb.; forcqr, 4d. Chilled hinds, 6Jd. per lb.; fol-es, 4Jd. Butter—The market is steady, with an improved demand for New Zealand. Danish market firmer, per cwt., 121s. to 1245.; Kew Zealand, 114s. to 1165.; Australian., market quiet but steady, 110s. to 1145.; Argentineand Siberian, market steady, Uoss.to lWs. Cheese.—Tho maTket ia steady a:ud prices are well maintained, with- a -fair demand for New Zealand. A wcall shipment of Australian cheese at Liverpool sold very freely et, per cwt., 645. to 665.; Canadian, market quiet, but firm, white, 695. to 7is.; coloured, 70s. to 725.; New Zealand white, 635. 6d. to 645. 6d.; coloured, 6Ss~ to 663, 6d,

Homp.—Manila: The market remains very dopressed, and prices have declined. Consumers oro holding off. Spot hemp is neglected. Tho average price for faircurrent in near positions is £i< is. pelton; in distant, positions, £27 10s. The'. output from Manila for th& week was 21,000 bales. ' New Zealand; Tlie market continues dull. Good, fair, per ton, £25 65.: fair, £23; these quotations -are nominal. February to April shipments, R&od fair, £25 15s. per ton; fair. £g3 ss. Sisal: The market is steady at previous quotations. Tow—The' market is steady with a, moderate demand. Second grade per ten, £i - third grade. £11 to £11 'ss. on spot. wool.—The market for tpps is active wit" * Bood demand; Ws low orosshreds, 153 d.; 40 s low oroesbreds, M,; «*s medium crossbrede, 163 d.; 50',; halfbrcds, 20d'.; Ss's quartcrbredo, 22Jd.; 60's merinos. 28d. - ■Hops.—The market is ijuiet bat steady, FROZEN .105 AT Telogrnph—Press Ass-idntinn-CewyriirhV , , London, February 21. Tho Incorporated Society of Moat Import crs Sralthhcld market oiiotetioirs far the undermentioned classes of fresen meat are based oh actual sales of not less than one hundred carcasses of mutton or iamb, or twenty-live quarters of beef of fair average auality. The auotattons are Hot for 6clcetod lines, but for noiccls fairly representative of the bulk of the -shipments now on the market. The prices which follow are on the avcratte a fetthinit per lb. more than the values ei shift, thiadifferenco representee ths average cast if expense, handltne, conveyance, and eclUhe tho meat:— Feb. 14. Feb. 21. Mutton— d, d. Canterbury, lisht » * Canterbury, medium '• * . Canterbury, heavy * » Southland * * North Island, best : 49-1$ 4J. North Mand, ordinary... 43-S 43-8 „ Australian, light Q 3J , .Australian, heavy 5k 35 Eiver Plate, light * . * . Itiver Plate, heavy 4J 4j New Zealand ewes .'. 4 4" Australian ewes 313-16 313-14 Hirer Plate ewes * • LambCanterbury, licht * * Canterbury, medium * *• Canterbury, heavy • * Soniiland * .* ' North loland, selected ... 5i 6 5 -l§ North Island, ordinary... 63-J6 6 Australian, best 59-lii 51M6 Australian, fair 5 9-15 5§ Australian, inferior 5J 59-16 River. Plate, first 52 65 River Plate, second 5J 5J BeefNew Zealand, ox fares.., 4 4 Now Zealand, ox hinds... 4J 45 Australian,'ox fores 41-16 41-16 Australian, ox hinds 4 544 43-B R'vcr I'lnte. ox hinds .... 4* 4} River Plate, chilled fareei 41-8 41-8 River Plate, chilled hintls 5 5J *Kone offering. RABBITS. . Tho rabbit market is flat, and prices are unchanged. WHEAT AND FLOUR. London, February 22. The wheat market is flrni with good demand for white qualities and moderate inquiry for La Plata. Prices nrc rather higher. Several Australian cargoes and : parcels sold at from 365. to 375. Tho wheat and flour afloat fortheTJuited Kingdom totals 3.345,000 quarters; for the Continent, 2,120.000: Atlantic shipment* 265,000; Pacific, 30,000. The tote! shipments to Europo during the seek amounted to 1,540,000 quarters, including 398,000 from Australasia. SHIP CANAL DIYIfiEND. Lonflon.) February S3. The Manchester Ship Gih.t.l is paying a dividend of 2J per cent., the Bret dividend since 1891. STOCK EXCHANGE RUMOURS. London, Febru-arT 22. The "Financial Times" states that "there are circumstantial rumours on the Htoek Exchange that Lever Bras, have 'declined to !ita.rt a margarine trfide j n Australia. [It will probably be found that there is a mistake in this cable mss-age. and the word "declined" ohoulfl rcAd "decided." The margarine trade is eijremely profitable, and Lever Bros, are !.n <v position to do a big businoss in luargaT-inc, as handle a considerable quantity of copra.] HUNGARIAN LOAN OVERSUBSCRIBED. (Kec. February 33, 10.40 p.m.) London, February 23. Applicants for the London portion of the Hungarian loan will rceesre only 28 per cent, of their applications. The Continin--lal portion of the loan also has been heavily oversubscribed.