COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2003, 10 March 1914, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

■ • 'IK VESTMENT SHAEEB." '■' A sale: of Union Steam, .ordinary, at 245. 6d. was the only transaction recorded in investment 6har<>3 yesterday. The quotations were as follow:— . , ■ ~.''. ■ Buycre. Sellcre. Bank New ZealandffcrigUts) .4 17 6 t, 19 ■ 0 iSaiiounl. : ).raii.i. ..,:...- ..<- .• ' - ■■.■5 g-' U Equitable Building ........'. 8 17" 6 N.Z. and. Eiver Plate — ill Wellington iiivcaiuiciit „; —' .uii „ Cliristchnrch Gas '..: ."... 614 0 — Well. Gag- (£10) ..- 16 00' ' — Union Steam (ordinary)... — 1 4 S Union Steam (pref.) 10 0 — Kaiapoi-'Woollen (ord.) ... 5 3 0 — Lcyland-O'Urien 1 .3 ,9 „ _ 0. M. Banks. Ltd l'2'O .'■■'.•;— ' Wnrd 011U Co Si 1 — W.F.C.A.' (£1) - 16 0

INSURANCE AGAINST IIUJIPS. Tho largo number of policies which' Lloyds underwriters have lately issund to coyer tliarisk of mumps is , nuitc'remarkable. Tho demand continues and urcmiiims have very materially stiffened;' Tho first rush to insure azainst this disacrpcablo malady occurred on 'the eve of .the new year, when underwriters: charged amoderatc premium of lCe.aa a. total Bum whereby 'they undertook to pay 1 compensation of £10 for each week'.of the' following three months during which'- the insured victim might bo disabled by mumps. It was soon discpyored that.thosb useful policies: were being ireued .at less' than cost price, and tho premium wae raised from EOs. , to 255. for £5 • indemnity, also limited to three months. The latest rates' ehow a. further increaee up to 063. Jot tho eamo protection. It Bhould be mentioned that in. cases whero tho assured havo already suffered from mumps underwriters ■have been content-to reduce their premiums by one-half for all.the above-named policies.; Tho present • heavy, increaeo in tho rote has been brought about not by the increased demand so much as the extended number of cases of the complaint which havo already been receiving compensation under the earlier policies. It it known that at least 160 oases of mumps have occurred at L'oyd's within ■ thrco weeks, and a large numher of insuranco claims ito course of settlement. Keuently one- or two of tho biggest firms at Lloyd's, employing a large number of clorka, havo lmd the' whole of their staffs insured in tho "Room" against the risks of mumps.

; EXPORTS OF PRODUCE. The values of tho principal products exported from Now Zealand during January, compared with the figures [or tho corresponding month la6t year, ehow as under:— . Jan. u l9l4. Jan., 1913. 2»tter 300J61 423,525 ■Ohdi-0 • 558.8/7 516.187 Beef ~; ; «,592 i 2] ;6 ■ Slutton—Uarcas=€3 .... 144/08 122 c6S Jtutton—Legs and pieces 851 llf J k&mb •;-. '. 201.390 133,810Wheat 35 66 •' Oats 3,1t8 5007 Potatoes.... 141 510 Jk'nip •■■• 55,155.: 29,174 - ]!abbite. etc. 685 67 "J-!?w ; . 5.630 2,074 Kauri t'uin ■ 35.516 25,384 Grain and pulso ...... 2,121 t36 Hops , 3,338 . 254 Nmes 23,884 8,213 SklUa 45,841 74,674 Tallow -. ;... 47.E03 34,873 Timber 33,409 . 28,681 Wool ..: :. 1,128,430 1,583,<;42 Rold ..„.. -. :........ 125,958 124,903 . ■ 2,796,836 2,826,257

WESTPOBT-STOCKTON COAL CO. The report of tho WcstDort-Stookton Coal Company, Ltd., .for tile year ended December 31 last, etates that the development if the new mino ha 3 been much delayed, and considerable locs sustained by strikes covering a period of practically thrco months. Fortunately the old mine is still capable of yielding a, supply of good coal for two yean? at least. A full complement of men Js again at work, and thero appears a -prospect of industrial rest for a considerable time. The amount to tlio credit of profit and loss is JE63CO 18s. 2d.. of which, tho directors recommend'that £4364 ss. 3d. Bhould bo written off, and £19J6 12s. lid. carried forward. Tho profit and loss account ehowG that tho profit on ooal amounted u> £49,565 35., and there was brought forward an amount of £1032 18s. 3d., ma kins «. total of £50,39 a Is. 3d. Expenses (i.b.-orbctl £4426 ss. 3d., interest £3.522 J*;.: insurance, £968 Is. Id.; railage and harbour dues, £13,754 17a. 6d.; freights. £17.998 13s. 2d.; rOS-.-I.lty and rates. £3527 3s. Id., leaving the profit at £6300 18s. 2d.

fj'ustoms duty collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £2219 19s. HIGH COMMieSIOSEB'S CABLE. Tho Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce hae received tho following cablegram from the High. Coinitiisetoner for New Zealand, dated London, March 7. (Note—Quotations, unless otherwise specified, are average market prices on spot):—

Mutton.—The market is steady, with an improved demand, partly owiiig- to tho Argentine shipments for last month bcinst less than half those of Februarys of last year. North Island, per lb.. 4Jd. for litrhtweiglit, to as In'ch as IJd. There is a .dull sale for hcavv carcasuns of mutton at IJd. per lb. Lamb'.—The market 16 quiet, wit! , no alteration in pncc3. Other than Cantcrhur.v. 8 5-lGd. per lb. for very beat quality to as high, as 6 J-Bd. Jieef.—The mariiet is dull, and tliere is very little business doinu on account of the lareo eupplicc of American' chilled licef. New Zealand hinds, cer lb.. ■lid.: fores, Id.; chilled hind.!, <ljd.; forcg, IJA. liutter.-The market Is (iiiiet, with email business (loins. Danish, in fair demand, per.cwt., IM?. to 120=.: Now Zealand, market elo\v and prlcca easier, 114s. to HOe.; Australian, market steady and quiet, 110?. to 114.=.; Argentine, market steady and quiet, JlC.i. to Jl'is.i Siberian, in cood domnm! tor now sisoson'e inukc. to 112?. ChOße?.—'l'liii m.ivkot. i.< uuioi. ami iiricen are tl.'slitly weaker for Now Zealand.

Buyers arc cautio'.is on account of the largo shipments arriving- Prices arc nominal tor Canadian. .Canadian, little douij;, white, ptr civt., 695. lo 715,; coloured. 70s. to 725.; New Zealand, white, market slow, 60s. to 645.; eolourer'l. in fair dcsiand, t&>. 6d. ta COs. 6d.; Aujtmiiad. while. 625, to 635.; coloured, 635. to 64;;. Estimatert Cii Tin. tlian cheepo stoek= at uondan. Liverpocil, and Bristol, on March 3 were: S*,pM boxesagainat 157,000. at the sfttno tims Ifl.sl year. Ifcw Zcnland and Aa«tralian sloefee at London and Bristol wc'ixm 35,700 cr;ttcs, a.iainst , 26.800 at tho samn timi; Inst 3'ear.

Hemp.— Tha market is ihitl ;mi! Ital. ansS lioldcr« would like to- realisr:. The market is overstocked and sleiiTCsjijd, >;<.«• % f , Sb . land: Good .fuir.'on spoS.. Ncr ton. .-f.15 , a.s,; fair. £22 10s.; April Iα Juno shipmttrts. good fair, £25 15=.; fair. £ZZ lfe lot- a?i Bositioafi. Manila: The ontimt from llaj»ifci- for the week \ron "O.Ma bate;.

Hops.—Tho market is firmer, atid prices have slightly advanced lev all gfadea. English, about tho avefatf*. lffis. pef cwt.j Oalifornian. 110s. Wool.—Tho market, is stronp in tone, owinc to the business <vlaeh lias been done LONDON vftjOL SALES, By TeleErapli—Press ausociation— Copyvlgtt to.ntfon, .Mafcll 8. At. llio wool folcs ih»rc was good competitiou. For . crossbre-te prices were !inchanged. Jlerinos w<tc m sellers' favour. Tlio following prices were realk-es! for tho fleeco portions el ttie cH-ps named;— '■nikoransi," top price- 124,. avcTapc lljtl; "Kra," 13i"d. and 12jd.; "Wajnaa," and 11 3Ed.: "Para," 13d, .and ll|d.; "Br«ncfton,," 13d. and 121 d.; "Titi," 15« d. and 12W.; "Motuotaria," 16d. and mi,

FEOZES jIICM. . tendon, ~3fa«li 8, llie Incorporatetl Soe,i-ei.y or -Nteat liaijoft. crs'- Smlthflcld" marltet aaota.tj.ofls for the undermontionod ola«cs of freztn nwiit arc based on actual sale? of riot tess than oe« hundred carcasses of mutton oi lamb-, or twenty-live quflrters of &>«■{■ of fflir averOEe auality> The aii.otatisDs are not for , selected linos,'-but for BflJoels feiiiv repreaontative of tbo bull? <>f the ebimninta now on the market. Tho prices which follow arc on tho <vrar«,sro a fafthlßß o<jt lb. more .'than tho values at *Ufi. this difference representing the a/reranc cost, in expense, handlins. eenv«jE,uce. aadpellins , ■'■ . Feb., 35. 'ila.f. 7. Mntton— ' . d. •/ d a Cantorbury. lieht * • Canterbury, medium-,....- " . * Canterbury, heavy ..,:, .* ' ■ • • Southland ...'.....-..■.., .'.. *' - * >■ North Island,: best- .-:..«: 4} . ■%' ■ North Island, ordinary... «3-8 - 42.8 AiKtralian, '.light .'... 35 5546 Australian, heavy ;... •'iS. 3j ■ River Plate, -liffW * •".' Eiyer'Plate.'heavy 4J ■ 4J New'.Zealand bwea .....I 4 :: Australian β-wes • 313-lS ' J5 Eiver Plate ewea „.,.,. • ■ .* ■ Lamb- ■ ■'■•;• Hanterbury, llEht * * Canterbury, mediam * <• Canterbury, heavy ■ • • Southland. :'::;. :.-:.;■» *■■■■ North Island, sslScKd ... S-5-1S •; 6 5-15 'North Island, ordinary ... 6' 6 ■ Australian, fet Si . 5-3 Australian, fair .-,...._. U iiAnstralieh, inferior ' 55--16 5946 Diver. Plate, first 6.5 5j Eivcr Plate,'second 5J S}'. Beef-. -, ■!' . ' ■

New Zealand, oi.fores.... 4 • t.-, - Now Zealand, ox hinSs..* 4J ' ?}- : Australian, ox fores '41-16 '41.-16 Auetralian, ox.hinds ... 43-B 4%.8 Kiver'Plat«, ox fores ..,. * * . Pivcr Vntc. oi tlinri?. .... 4« *> Kiver Plato,-chiltefl tores- 4-" 3-! . Kiver Plate,.ohillwt hi.Sne Sh ' <j *Nono offeflng, . : RABBIT'S. . The market is dull afid -pricee are un> cliangcd. -.-'... ■ • '• HIDES AND IKAMGES.'. ." LdHdiin, Ifofcli 8V At tho hides sale- tltore was Ipood. de^ raand.. Queenlarid realised 9i<i,, Kaw South Wales 9 -3-Bd. Leather and basils are firm, eiid prices unchanged. . ■ WHEAT ASfD 'flOUtt, L.anaMl, March "S, ■ The wheat market is guiet. BBy«?s'ar« not disposed to operiite. thoufiji Efilters have reduced prices: 3!is.' TJa.'is asfed. for •Australian January-February, and 365, 9a\ for Dooember; , ■■■'■ - -■. • ,- ■ .- ■■:•

'■ The'-nlieat.aiid flour afloat fp.r the-tipit-na Kinsdom totals fiisaiftera: for ti«s Continent, 2,016;0tK>; .-Vtlarttio s.hjjjmfiiits, 379,000; Pacific, nil. Tb;o tatal' ; *ft!'pm.eijts to "Europe during tlio we 5* 4rao'totea to 1.2C5.0G0 (iwartcrs, ifltttniJine from Australasia.

..PACIFIC PHOSPHATES 6O3jI'ANt. , (Itcc. March ft, 9.(5 P. 0..) iOridon, Jfarcli 5. ,, Tho Pacific Phosphates Compaßy ia "taaidg £100,000 6 per, Mint, cumulative second preference* £1 shares' ai pai , . . •