COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1995, 28 February 1914, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

~ .INVESTMENT SHARES. The soles/of investment shareo recorded yesterday,...were TJnion Steam (preference) ut 20s. 3d., aiid Westport Coal- (cum rights) 'at.,30-s.:Jd... The quotations were is follow Buyers. Sellers, ii e. d. £ b. d. . Bank' 'Ue<r; Zealand — - 12 2 0 National, Bank '. — 5 8 0 Metropolitan :Building ... — 12 6 0 Well;.. Trust and Loan ... 7 5 0 — Ohristflhurcli Gas 613 0 • Well, (ins l£10) 15 18 6 16 2 6 W.Z., Instiranco 514 0 — (War; Meat (£4) 14 0 0 — - MoSfciel .Woollen — 3 12 6 Well.<-Woollen (oril.) 4 0 0 WeStjratt" Coal — 111 0 Wo.jtport-Stockton . -- 0 4 0 Golden Bay Cement 017 0 . 018 0 Manning and" Co. ..., 4 0 0 — N.Z. Con. Isental — 12 3 Ward and Co 5 0 0 — W.p;o.A'...(£ir -■ t.6 0

" THE" AITiAKTIO TRADE. A .cftble'; message published on Thursday etfttod that tho Norddeutachcr-Llovd Company had -arranged with tho HamburgAmerika Liiiio a, fifteen years' agreement regarding the North Atlantic trade, and had .also..renewed tho Continental pool for five, years..--.lt was also stated that the Kaiser's intervention was mainly responsible .'for, the settlement. The dispute between tho two- Gertna.ll coitapnuie; originated with tho Hambiirg-Amorika. I.inc. and tho a,ppearanco of the Imperator in the StoUt Atlantic trade.' There were differ' cnc.s reshecttufe the Far Eaetetn .mn)l contracts, which had .always .been'allotted to Iho Kcr<!'J?uttclicr Mavl, Ac. aii'Uijfr

nicnt. existed in. the Xortli Atlantic trade by''which the. of the steerage traffle yroro pooled among all tho line 3 participating, British un»l foreign, and .it appear* thutr tho Hambiirg-Aracrjkfl/ considered that ju'view of the possibilities of -tho Imperatar the (torapauy'a sliaro of the pooled traffic should bo increased. Thertfbrddeutschor maintained that the. quota should be proportioned, not-*afccordinfr'-to of 'the ahipV but?'ac.oord* ing.to' the actual' number;of-passengers carried.-'• Failing to obtain, ifc object : by negotiation the Jlaniburg-Aincrika. reduced sharply' tho stecvage rates to the United States in tho middle of December, and tho- Norddcutschcr Lloyd immediately followed suit. .The quarrel between the two GeTmau companies eventually -Affccted. all the other companies,. 'and', great' preptaxa* tions were mado • for a. prolonged tussel. The -agreement now arrived at' pute on end to all this. ■ - f

TKADB IN ALLEN.-STREET, ; Yesterday's shipment of Islaifd "bananag was small when compared with, lost month's shipment; also, tho condition was not so good, 'quite a fair - quantity vbeing ; overripe. Australian, shipments were ajso small tliie> week, consisting 01. pineapples, passion friiit, grapes, and , watermelons, all of which arrived in good order. .' Supplies of both stone and- pip fruit are well maintained, with tomatoes in much heavier supply at lower , rates than piloted .' last week... Vegetables are in .fair average supply,, values for all. lines. having"' hardened during the week. Potatoes show- g. distinct riso for choico samples, but'onions, which are in good supply, are lower. Freeh eggSare arriving in largc- QHantitics on; a, dull market. Yesterday's approximate values are ; Peaches.—Choice dessert, 35., 4s. 3d. per half-ease:-.others, Is. 6d„ 2a'6d. half-caso.

■ Pears.—William' Bon Chretien. feV 7a.' per case; 'Fertility, is. ss. case: .Duchess. .45.. 45., 9d. case; Bishop Thumb', - ss. 6d.,. 6s. case; Vicar of • Winkfteld, 4s. 9d„ ss.'3d. case; Bergaraot, 3s. 6d., 45.-case. Appleis.—Cox's Orange .Pippin. ss. 6d.; 6s. 6(1. per case; Jonathan, 4s. 6d., 5e.. cnee; Gr.'i.var.slcin. 55.--'case: ."Worcester- Per-main,-:55., -Sa'-(d. casei-'Pcarlet'-Pcrmain, 45., 55.-'6 d. rose: -Jfunro's- Favourite. 45., 4s. 6d. ease; Alfriston, 4a 3d., .'te. 9d. case; Northern Spr. ,4a;'«ase. , Other Fruits.—Apricot,-65..; 7s. per half-case:-grapes.' local; 1 6d.' to-le. ;2d.. per-lb:; passion fi'uit; 65..--7 d. per -..quarter-case; bananas,.-65., 8s: 6d. per,ca«e; rock melons, 7eJ;,; 8s. :-'case;. greengages, '4s. 6d., 6s. 3d. Dor-half-case; nectarines,* 45.,, ,4e.,, 6d.'; per half-case: oranges,' 16s. -.permease;' lemons, lis.: 6d., -12s.- per case;. Australian grapes, 55.,'75: 6d; per case: pineapples, 45.-per-caEo; Queen pinea fe..--6s:-3d.' por.'..case;" watermelons, 6d.. to 25. each; piemelonsl'6s.i ;?s. per. sack; blackberries. 2id. to 3d. per lb.; Cape .-'gooseberries',' '. sd. per' lb-; plums, choice dessert, 35., 4s. per. half-case; others, Ig. '6d„ &.'6d.. per halfoase: ' ■'• Tomatoes — Choice .'round, te:. ss. per halfcase; choice.rough,. 35.,- 4s. -per half-case; others, ,Is., 2s- 3d.- per half-case. Vegetables.—Cabbages, choice 45.,-,55. 6d„ others.2s... 3s:'per sack; cauliflower..choice 4s. 6d„ (a., others ,25., 3s.' 6d. per tack; carrots, 65.. Bs. 6d. per sack; turnips, 2s. 6d., 3s. 9d. per 6ack; 'beetroot, 45., 4a< 6d. per sack; .parsnips, 75., Bs.;iser sock,: greeri peaa, 7a. 6d., 123. 6d. .per pack; French, beans,..2s;, 3s. part sack; pumpkins.--75., -Ba.- per sack; vegetable marrows. 2s. 6d'.. 3«. swede turnips. 2s. 9d., 3s. 6d. per sack; broadbcanis, 2s. pn-rt pick; garlic,: 2d. per lb.; celery, to 2s. 6d. per;dozen! eschallots, ljd.,per lb.;'.pickling onions, Udi. per lb.; lettuce, 25.,' 3s. per case; cucumbers, ,3s. per case; rhubarb, 2s. to-3?.'9d. per dozen.

Potatoes.—Choice . samiples, ss. lid.; 6s. 6d. per Sack; .others,- 4s'..Me.. 6il. per sack. '

Onions. ls, t Bs. per eack.. , Fresh eggs,' is. 4d. per doien. .. ; ' "• CUSTOMS EEVfiNUE. ''"". I ' ■'•:■' Customs duties- collected' at 'the port;.bl U'elliDgfon yesterday' amounted- to £4811 lie. Id. -

SOTJTHEEN MAKKE'TS. ■ (Br Tcleeraph.—Prasi AsßociaUpU .- Chrlstchuroh, February, 27. There is not much business doing v iii groiin. Wheat -is*selling,'but tho offerings aro; not' very larce' dt- present, and sellers are ■ generally asking: -3s, 6d. , tor main . lor which-, buyers' aro offering id; to . 2d. -.less.. A few lots, of oats .are cPming;,-.forward, but the' 'dcmtiiid-' is tibt .active,..,'a.iid'..tho prices- offering-, do liot t6mpt ; s6llerß.;-*.At ■present there i6.'littlo : business': beihS- :dOne potatoes-;-,'and there'is not much' 'desiVe to do„ forward business either ,'on' the pait of sellers or buyers. For -immediate delivery £2 15s. is offered, and, for forward delivery, £2-ss.'at. country stations.'Onions are easier, and £4 per ten is . all .that ia offered; - /,

BANK OP ENGLAND 'B®njßXS.' ' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrifht , (Rec. I'ebniary, 2",-iT:.s.ii.p.m;) London, February 27. Tho Bank of England return issued for tho week ended Wednesday, February 25 is as -under:—

■ Issue Defjuitmrkt -Note lISIH £59,785,G00 Gov.flsbii ..» i 11,015,000 Other 60curi- . .• - ties . ' 7,431,000 - Gold ... , ... 41.336.000 £50.765,000 £59.765,000 Bixking Department. Proprietors' Govt, foouri- ' . . capital £14,553,000 ties £11,253,000 Public de- Other Btcuri-, , nosits ...20,637.000 tics... . ... 37.086,000. Otberdoposits ... 43.438.C0Q Kotai 31,575,000 . Best, 7-day . .. - ■, ' / and othor • bills.:. , 3.556.0P0 . Coin .., „. . 1,370,000 £8-2.184,000 ' -'*82.181,000 The leading Itemsof thsßankof Enslaud return afford-, tie following comparison:— . - . This weak last wsek Lists-ear Bullion .„ ... <r.335.'060 «i«5-.000 .36.6J5.000 Reserve ..." -' ... 82,845,000 3-3.690.0t*) Sg,4sffl». Kote circulation 28,210,000 58.078,000 37.708.(100 Public Deposits 20.637.0U) 17,225,000 23,518.000 Other Deposits 4J.438.0U0 45,958,000 41.667.000: Propoi'tion of , reserve to 0 , liabilities / .51.41 52.06 . .. 43.61 .... ' (■ GOVERNMENT SECU.KltfliiS.: The fallowing are tbi.-latest .quotations for Government securities, with "d"com-' parison of those rulint' last week:—

BANK KATES. OF INTEBEST. The- Bank of . England : rato was,' on February 8, 1912, reduced from 4 to 3J pir cent., and on ilay 9'it was further reduced to. 3 per cent. On August 29 it was raised to 4 per cent., and on Octo'oer 17 to 5 per cent. It was reduced to 4J. per cent, on April 17, 1913. On October 2, 1913, it /raH raised to 5 per. cent.,, on, January 8, 1914, it \va3 reduced to 45 per cent, on January 22 to 4 per cent., and on January .29 to i lier cent. ~

The Bank of Franco rate was rcduced from 35 to 3 per cent: ah .January. 2J, 1903, and continued at tho litter figure until September i 2, 1911 . when it .was raised to 31 per cent. On .May" 17;, 1912, it .was reduced to 3 per. cent., on October 17 it wasraised to 3$ per ccnt., and on October 30 to 4 per cent. ' Oil January 29, 1914, tho rate was reduced to 3j per ccnt.

The-Imperial Bank of Germany on October 24, 1912, advanced-its rate of discount to 5. per cent., olid to 6, per cent, on-Novem-ber-14. On • October 27.-1913, the rate wes reduced to '51 per-cent., on January 22. 1914, it was reduced to, 4J. per cent., and on February 5 to 4 per cent. I

, MARKET UATES OF DISOOTOT/' ' The. following are tho market Urates .for. best three months' bills:— - L'dndon - Paris ' • Berlin ' rate. rate. . rate... per ' per per' •' ' cent. ccnt. cent. ... This wcelt ...'2-146 , 25' • 31 i; Last. weok V...2J-- ~23-S-.. 3 : ! Last year,' !4 13-16 33 . S3-8 , Short loans are quoted :at .12 per cent.l against 1. 3-8 .pdr ceiit. la«t- wcelc. and 43 per cent, laat year. .

COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. ... . Wheat.—The.-active Continental demand has been principally for centering purpoiica, but there irj a good con'suiiiplive demand from British millers in view, of the shortago in Argentina aiid India, and tho probability that tho Russian crop will bo inferior in quality. Australian cargoes nro firm, at an, advance of id. per quarter. Several cargoes have been sola at 365. 6d. to 363. 9d. ; also .12,000 tons at t-ho latter price.. Australian on spot in nominally, at 395. New'Zealmid is exhausted.

Flour.—A good business'- is doing in . Australian patents, Jlnrch-April shipments, at 255. 6d, ...

Oats.—Old stocks-, are exhausted, , and Olero is no bilsiuteJ dolbg iu the nfcW crop. Bourn. nre : ns*lccted.- f.a."<-j.-.2\ew; Ziiahnd offering at 555. 6d. cs <itoro.,\vith. no-buyers. Peas are firm, «ud 'i3<>,has been pnlu fgr Now Zealand . maples,. March-April' iSln> mcnt,'• - ... - - -

Butter is...Arm, , with ft- st<<a.t!y i. temaWl for/ colonial. - Cbbico A-ust'ralicnV. iSalteHj 1125.. to' 1146:;..uflsaltcd., ;114s. ■ 116?!;: ceptional lo'te. '-liisi; Sew. Zealand, 'saltM, llM..'to 1165.;-uns-alte'd; --119s. to 1 1.205.' .'Cheese ia. (irm.: ■ Nest. 55?aIaml; wJtit:e,:K3 . coloured, He. ,

•.'Biiigar.-r.perman lv?e't-,-. per . cf'iit. net titny, Id." tower' «t 9b; .44. j>ct 'ewt,; fijst marks •aimtiiltf, '-U4. lower-at lis. lid-r--' -• ' Bradford-Tops.'—The-'mtoket is o«f ivc, and there is 6tronp; denidnfl - fof.. fiiity-fourj, Id.-, -h,fr.hei-' "at. 2Sf}d. : ;: super Bixties, -unchanged : <tt Mid.; «omiii«n, sixties;, 27id.;' flfty r 'SiMs, W,. hfeher a-t Sd •fifties, id; higher «t SO.Jd.; forty^aixes,-5-d. Meter at-17Jd.';'forties,- Jd. Wgter-44' IM.

, , . .THE METAL MARKETS.' ' ' Oopperl—Tiireo monthij 10s. lowct. at'£64 125.-6 d. per t-on; erwtfftlyUc, £6? Ss. •.Tin.-jO»'-6pot, £S !Ss.-tower at £i'74;per ton; flttee .montbl.- f6*ss. lower .'at £176; • Eig-iron.—Middlesbojo' No. -3,-9 d, lower at 80s. 4d.-per ton.- • • ' Lead, .soft foreign,.£l3. 15s. per ion. Spelter, Ss.-. higher fit £21 1.35. ton. ', .. . ' /..LONDOK. IiABKETS.' . .' Messrs.- Dalgety, ft-11d. G9.Bi.finy, Limited, have ' beon fl-avaaed by .■cabletfrfini from theiT ' London office, dated FeVsrtiarv 26. as follows:—Froien meat: -Matlcet-vSry qiiiet and prices unchanged,, eicept mutton, heavy and .secondary .qualities,'-which are Id, per.Jb. lower. . Tailed;',Mutt«mr-SfarS«t firm. Beef: Good.colour .mixed A/or beef, prices' unchanged,.-good c-frio'ur m'utton - par to. 3d. per, owt. lower. '.Bee-f; Market neglected., ... ' :', '

. -"AKTWEEP'.WOOL SALES. By Telegra-ph—Press. ~- •... '' ■ ..' ioiifloii, Feljniar-5'- 26, The .Antwerp.wool sales,, have "opened. There "ia a. ( large ■' a-ttendfincp': and bjis.k competition,, with a .general - 'advance. Special fine sorts are. reajisin(r: fancy nrlOes Compared with ...January sales. •• Prices for merinos roso'.bjl- : frotn S per cent. 'te-. 7' pw ceiit. -for -fine '.erosttrltt "by -10 pcT ,Ceßt„ and for ordinaries up. to; 1Z per. cSht.' wSI® 3 'Of' Jjo- • Plata, .wool -wfa offered,-and; 2007 «aM.'. . •

' : BASK OP ACSTRALASJA. '• .. London, February,26., ji — v-H- Austfal.oflia. a dividend of 14 . per cehtr,-aad a, bbtfuS of Iw/Wi- 4 eatried- to- .reserve «0.000,. to,, premisea-acco-oitt.' £Zo,boo, • a-n'il forward £30,168. ' ' , ! -TICTOEIAiN rEODT CE •Melbourne, Febtulrv 27.."' : 1 Wneat,: 35.., 10d.; iiayr, ■£$■ 10S;;. bran and pollard,:£s;. bariey,,,mnlting, Ettfjish, %. M. ,t0;55. ; 6d.; Cape..-?s. to.2s. «4-.t oats, Algerian, Is;. 6d, to le, 4054.; raitizc.' -ss. 9d.; potatoes,-£2 155.: to £4 v 6. ; ori|oil2, £7,. "

; ''v. ; MINING NEWS. WELLIKGTON SH\RE MAHKET Tho 6aJes .of mmmg. recorded fves-,wero;-rNew.B'iß.:o:ker;«,t £j (second call), end Tabsman at -6d. fewend caff-, Tho qnotationa were as follow ' ' ; •••'•, . / Buyers. :.Bdlen. .J. - - £«. d.. £ s.d. Blackwater. — r 0' 6 Con." Goldflelds o'tt i '• — New Big Eivcr a-0 o'' g j-.( Pwgrefti oi4 ! 6 Koss ..lleco'nstructed 0. '3 4 '-' L. - Saxon ■00- 9J ' — Talisman. a-Si9 Waihi . .t.,- 2-li' 3 :j is'.o Waihi'.'Gtund Junction J.V<- ( Watchman. ' ......V..p' 2'- B — :•• STOCK-EXCHANGE. •

. (By.. ''' . Auckland, I'oliruary S7. The fonwiwr-'Falf/i. wern 'made-'on' tfte Autkianti Stock Exchange yesterday;— "' Wathi,-'£2 lis. 6d; ' ' ■ . Grand Junction,-£166. 3d,. £I'fi3., Saioti, 10} d.. .-' .„ ..'7 ~, Taupiri Ooal. is. $d. ■' ' ; Neiy Zealand Insfir'an<>!v is'-'sis. ' palo rcported:^-Wilsbn.fe, Cemsiit £1 fts. 6u. ' v * ■ ' 1 * - Duhedin, .Febhjary -27.' - ■stock/Exohango • ..!, . waihi-Grdnd'.'Jtinotioa.'fl 6s.'3d.' eale -rcportedj—Hef-e.ules.'-1J5..,-: •, ,' '

BETCE'S'S!. . ." ' By Telegr^'pli—Pros's'.'AtaoeiKtiOn—Copyrigljl m V-'' Molfcourno, .February 27. 1 vAirrFebruary 1:8 !incl.Jiaive):sh«w that. 26,327 tons, Pf ore was; treated-; end'-yielfli-.d 36,775 ounces , of sliver and 69S ounce 3 of

. . : BROKEN HILIi SOTITB. : (800. Fobruary .2"i 9.30 p in.) " it +ii_ i,.if -, SSflncy, February 27; Trm W-cetmg of the' BrokenlliU South Mining Company, a dividend of--Bs. per share wag. decldxedi ■ tVft.fi th® previous dividend of -« s . per shore, the' if flAoscI 1111 stributC(l :'th«" half'jtiar

waihi misiso Compact. ■- ■ rr-, .•- . London, Vebruaty 26,.

... Variation • • —' , ' compaVed .- • - Pried*' " ' with ; ' -• MftBt Tfe*k; • ' S £\ i d, ! • / '• ' 2$% Imperial Consols 15 15 0 30a lowor * 4 ',.>i.S,'\V.1933Jan'.-.Tu1y 103 0 0 Unchanged-;.N.S.\V.lU30-50Mr.-Sp - &0.10 0 Uirchanfled 1 94 „N.S»\V.-lf30-&0 . 8s 0 0 ..Unchanged 3 „N.S.W.lQ25Apl.-Oct &8 0 0 Unchanged 4 „ Vic; 1920 Jan.-July 103. 0 0 ' 3j „Vic. 19-21-G Jan.-July fti.O' 0 Un6ai.rig0d". 84 ■ „Vic,-I929"19 ' 83 0 0 Unchanged 3 Vie. 10-20-49 Jan.-July 8r 0 0 Uncbaftijed 3 J „$U. lOlG.Jan.-Jnly Dj .O O .Unchanged 3 ,.S.A. li)16 Jan.-July \ 75 10 0 Unchanged 4 ..QTdlOlu-SlJan.-Julj lOl 0 -0. -.Uncharted 3i „Q'rdl922-i?Jan.'Juiy 96 0.0 Unchanged 3 „QTdl02-.M7Jan.-JuIy . 81 0 0 Unchanged4 102 0 0 3§ „N.Z. JI)12-i0Jau.nJilIy. 93.0 "0 3 11J20 ApriJ-Ocfc. 83 0 0 Unchanged 36 „NN'«A.1015-35 May-lsov 03 0-0 nblMngotl •' 3 ..W.A,-1915.35May-Sov "87 0 0 Unchanged 3h ,/1'as, llriOJan.-July . «2. .0.0. -'.UnctiangM 3 ..'l'as.llftJO-iOJan..July fc2 0 0 ..Unchanged