COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2004, 11 March 1914, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHA-EEB. A sale of Meat Export (£4 paid) at £5 was tho only transaction in- invfi'etment shares yesterday. The quotations were ea under:— Buyera. Eellere. £ e. d, £ » d Bank New Zealand (righto) 4 17 6 S JI National Bank — S 8 0 Wellington Investment , ... — • 011 J Well. Trust and Loan... 7 6 fl — Well. C-aa (£10) 16 0 0 - Well. Gas (preference) ... 0 19 6 — . ■ N.Z. Insuranco 614 6 — Gear Meat (£4) U 5 0 - Meat Export (525. 6d.) ... 3 3 0 — Union Steam (ord.) 14 3. I 49 Union Steam (picf.) 10 1 — Kaiapoi Woollen (ord.) ... 5 3 0 — Kai-apoi Woollen (pref.)... 5 2 6' —' Moseiel Woollen ' — ' 312 {' Well. Woollen (ord.) 4 0 0. - Kauri Timher..(33s.) ....:.... 117 9 - Le'ylaiid-O'Brien 13 9 — Taringa-mutu Totara ... 2'5 6 --■ C. M. Banks, Ltd. ..:. 12 3 —' Ward and C 0.',.. , 50 0 ■ ■— . W.F.O.A. (£1) - -'160 ' ... BRITISH.TRADE... The trade.o£ tho United Kingdom in February, as compared with the figures- for the cori'cjpondinir month of tho throe previous rears, is.disclosed in the table appended-.— .... ...

Import*. Exports. February, 1914 '.- 62 055,552 41,261.797 February. 1915 .63.791.558 40,172.743 February, 1912 55.714,823 37.490,329 Februarj-, 1911 66,071,259 35,655,120 TJie returns for the two months compare to under:— . Two months. £ £ . }'}* . 150,073.799 89.ce7.963 J'W 134,967.713 85,618.442 1912 126.679,771 77.907,141 IS" 11«,764,6E0 73,383,951 ; '.WORLD'S GOLD RESERVES. Tho value of tho cold prodwrtion of the world lost-year was £93.000.000. ■ or rtishUy less than in the previous y«, r > and most, of the treat bonks of the world increased their holdinus of the metal lost r?n A , """P^'- 00 " made in tho anmml bullion letter of Samuel Montagu, and Co is as 10110-wd:—

1913. 1912. Great Britain 33.874.535 29.294 455 Austria-Hungary ... Si Mm SO.?f<TO . Jsteium 9.960.000 8 559CT0 s™mark 4.260.M0 4.3T5CC0 : 1*.695.r00 1M.293.fffl Oepniany 59.Pf17.M0 38.V4CC0 JfolUvnd i? p>4 pro 13 .wire Italy 48.585.CC0 46 019 CO , "'"•wny Wim 2.3.M.C<X) Russia 148.M6.C00 155.P41.0C0 """In 191W.W0 (TO ■c W 7. den , -,• 5.672.rC0 5.M3.0C0 Switzerland 5.813.U0 7.092.CC0 The greatest relative increase was that of Germany. The total of Great Britain is very small, but> the Bar banks outside, ot the Banli of Enpland have reserves. Much line been eaid of the necessity of the EiikHSU Ijanlte liaving resoi-ves of their own bo aa not to depend altogether upon tho iianl; of England, and it. has been known tnat for somo years such rwyrves havo been steadily aceuuiulatJniT. The omonnt, nowever. has Tievcr boon rtiteloscd. A hint (is to the additions to tIM-t amount made lost vear ib slvca by the "flankers' Macnzine, which, in TCTiewinK tho gold movements of 1913. drew attention to tho faet that, although 13 million™ sterling worth of cold was imiwrW into England, tho stock of coii.i ana bullion at the .'Bank of England was higher than the previous year-by only three millions. The oxnlflnntion. or the discrepancy is that a good deal of gold, which, in the ordinary way, would luivß /»onn into t.h'e Bauk of England, was kept-back by the joiut-stock , ■ and added to lAe sew«t nnd s^coiidajrj , reserves. . Tbn .irianrraal ]jas fcacn, aai is, ths' n^f.

cipal producer, lvut tho cat-pot ot 1513 was ■ less tlian in 1912, and waa the fiwt ect ■ book for a d«edi}e or more. Stat«m«itn furniahed by 'tho TfailSYtol Ohatsbtr a{ i Mines to the (Joreriiineiit Eeoiwinis Com- ■ mission, occordins ■to the suiiinisicy of ■ "Tho Times," ere to the effect that witn \ an fldcauato labour supply, a rate of crushins equal tp. absnt Sa",eCiO.«Cft tone ef ore per annum sjio.tiid bo isAinltivea for tho noit five yetos onij? by t.te TransTditl. After that time, .nwiSs: te the osiiaustiou of some of tho mines w]m=o lives ate coifltmrativcly short, the annual outsnt is liiic' ■ ly to decrease, and it i* ostimatfid that it' will fall to about 14JC0,CC3 toes of oft about i 17 years henre. Aft citinjalt' of sort : ha« necoscarily to • lie 6tibject to qualifications. Tlre.proTto ie ma-do that Hβ ; accurate comniitetion of the life of ttifl irnld-minin? Industry is tiossibta, owing to tho number of ifUtaoiTn f.wtors 'beariU!! unoii it. The hasis of calmrtatiou !;as hem ! found by applying to tI!D (rttv'cteloned yrounfl the nvewiec data «STWEe.d in fte ■ last thousand feet in oil fh« worfciiws thrnughoiit, the leneth of fiaeli mine. Ee^k-. , "Miinp , working co.stiS at a.n of 1S«. 7Jd. Tier ton, it Is esHyi'itcd that aXioivt. 550.0TK0 tons bto atvoShblo to'yfeM (»old above tho cost of Slit i>, in workine wrists Miild Wean -in addition to'the ouantitv of V\ret*at cftuld.be treated on a.payable bttsis. ; '.'EXPORTfI ©fPHODTJCE. Tho values of the principal pipflucta exported during- th« nrat hall oi. febriiary, compared with fhf> figures for tli« cosrespondips • -half at., test year, show es under ;•- TPab.. 19H, Feb., 19U. ■ ■ ■ ; ■f> £ ■ Butter 207,173 2C5;e70 ] ■ Cheese- :..-.-.... lt9;0&? . 28J,te 1 Beef 3»,5a 2W<Ss Mutton, carcases ,„ ■ 68.9 M 117,581 Mutton, less &-piwcs 14.1 S:«3 . Ixirab ; 90,570 111.291 . WJieat 32 & ' Oats ...- 127 S.|SO Potatoes • Si 4 331 ■HoujD *,609 52.058 Tow 3,569 s;?38 Kauri earn- ff1.457 «,3a? Grain and pulse 657 1(634 Hops ft» «3 Hides 12.JE6 11.8Z3 Skins 39.6-47 33.9.55. ' Tallow - 16,7$ 36,J« . Timber 1?,7<8 . IE,TCO Wool flS'MSfl 9JW77 Cold h - -66.C21 62,829

£1,531,039 £1,993,2-57 'TEABEIN AttEU ITBED'E. Fruit-.—Apples attd pears navo firmed, and values have im.prov«l- pn eccount of smaller consignmeflts totoing en the wket. Peaches of chotco- qHia!i.ty are now realisms 53. 6d. to 6s, 6d., but cooWns pcQobes a,re uncS.etDgcd. Koflterfaes. creengagos, end plum? *r© now tlao maiW*. A small ohipment of Ifland oranges wae received ex steamer at Atjckland, and these Should wll owitiff td the scarcity of Galifot-ntan oTan.sea> "Pie Sa-vua from Fiji' will land a mofe-ato eon3ignment of bananas on FridSS- and this should meet witih ready sale. The Sydney steamer, duo to*day, is b-rip-ging sojnft fruit, but details Of het Were not .available yesterday. Tomatoes <jrereaching tho motket frofi) tiio, Hiit-t district only, and prices <tio firtrifer, 'beca-us*; of smaller shipments. Choice ' tomatoes eold yesterday at. 4s, 24. 1o M, 6d- othet-s. at 2s. 6d. to 3?. Xd,.

V.cßetablos— Thp ma.rk-et continues' foirly steady for all doscriirt'ien-s-' of tegetahtei, but particularly for green peas, c«uB» flowers, and numpMois. Onions.—Very few Awklaßd-grbTfn- oßionS are reaching the iparfe(j f as these ean-wst-compete with Can'fefbuty-gfew-a, which ha.ve declined,■ the cu-went qiieiHtion tieJii* £6 155...t0 £7-' los, ner ifin; piclSlinß onions , aro in lair d*mand nt }fl. to Hd. per IVj. .

Potetots.—The market -shows sipjfl o-5 weakening the onotfttian ijo.w bring £4 SS; to' £5. per. ton tor , good fmallty. Flour shown no, ehange, all -bramJfi b*'-ntr ouoted at £10 ICS. per tin, 01 Stoje, W«l* lington. ' .. ~ Fowls' wheat is in .-good demand fit is. M. to in. Bd. por buphel for p.finf« whole. Jfaino is dull.of ealc at 4s, 9d. to 4S. Ida. pov bu^lifll. JBran.—Tlie s?Tfth.Wil quottttiotie hq-ye , - foVmcd.Bliaihtlv. the price -bsitig- £A 6s. to £4 10s. per ton. . Pollard.—Thn tiiice has advance} both hero and in the qiwratioss now beine £6 15s. tt ■■■£!■ IDs.. jibr- ton.

Oatm«»].—Tho.«mnt*t.j#h jiw*. is;—ln -351b,' ■bags £12'p°r tJon, JCfilfj, -Baofe.'SU 16«.; attd 71b. bass JEIJ'ICS. . . .. Tt/ili^O.ito.—TliipH* liritnd. irt 4JS1 1 !- haes. nnd Creamota, in. 41b. ttass. aro selli-ni: at lOp. .per dozen baas. Chuff.—A Bood 'dmiifln!? exists for rtriipfl quality, oatensheal chaff is £i 10s. to-- £5 pe>- tnn, ex store. ■ ~ -.' Fresh firm at Is. Sd, pel? dp-ran-. with p*i I*?. 5d,.

Butter.—A irood df-rtand Exists fnr ptln?-" mili'-d. in bulk. M '94d. to lOct. per Ib.r eood qimlit.v, Bd. to Sd. Poultry.—Hens, "ti:. M. io- 3s. 6rt. per flair''. cockerels. 3s. to Sβ.: Rood ($. 6a. to 65.; Indian Jtuinrei- dncke. 4b, in St. TiiTkev ttobhi='B s to, pet Tb, live' weighty ■hens. 10d. to lid. - ' ' - Prntrfan W"p fWa are- slow of sale at 65. 6rl. per buphe-l. Broken peas fpr tfoultty feeding nare in eood demand at Sβ. 6d. to S3. 9a. per bnshcl. ' '■- Ciiftom.; duty cAll«st«d at the fiert. ff yestirdsy a.mo«nted to $'56i0 Kβ. 3d. ' SOTJTHSEJf JE'AR.KEiS. ; fßy Telegraph,—Press AstooSitJonJ Chrfstciiurdhj Jtarph Jβ. The weaker. toAe 0? tie EngUeh market end private advise o.f (i ptnpy per bush*l decline in Australia hoe sensed buyers In tho local market to ■ease off in theij- purchases of wheat* The demand if, itoiefore, not as free a's. it was list. wSBkPrices have, however.,, iiot. -weakened, and; thero is a fairly; la*ge ojunMti'ty en offisir. Oats are still slow ef safe and (ienie of tho lines offered aro 08! sColonr, the bwb of tho grain having, eipfaeeniiy Soijc into Eteck. The potato: market ie etS.JI ter.y dnll. There is no demand. 3?et. f-roni Auckland, the. market there at present being well supplied, a#d; bearing ifl mind last vear.'s ciperienco, there'is Jittlo te&oti do forward business at; the efmiv.«leit.t of tho prices now being asked at this-end hy growers. Tlmtc i* o jrooil demand for cocksfoot, and for clean. MS9 are very firm. .Tho b-oTk of *h<s f«ed offend is,' however, niea"hi ; iii 4nd ' inferior, <urd there , is a conHiii«!?aljle famio in values. Up to 4}d. has been, paid for specially Mod seed. ■ lington. FROZEN , - MSA*! .Messrs. Gilbert Anderson alid Co\ (Mesifs. Melloop, Eltott. apd C 0... .Ideal i&elite',. Writing under date LoSSoS, .Jtaiwry. 3i5, etai« a« follows regarding frozen, meet:— Home-grown.—l*a it;, supplies. .hav« come-to hand, but tho trade has- heea flow. The Dutch . mutton season AKα tteoflj , ended, and Scotch' tess are <iif«o English, mutton, is plectiful. Beef: Sc«t«h rfdes, 61d. to Hi.; Sfiglteh. 53d. to 6 i?d. Mutton:, .Scotch, 7d; to 73d,;. fintriish. -sjd, to-7}d.; Dutch, Bd. to Td,;, EpsSisSi Wes:, £}d. to 5Jd. Tfcss: SeoWh, Ed. to W■{ Knglieh, 7d. tb 'Hi.; DUtcli, 6jd. te '7|.d ;' EngUsh. 7d. to Ui. ; veal, Bs. to SJ.d.; pork, 6d. to 7M- ■ • ■ Frozen.r-Tho. past W£ck has shown the difticnlty in mainiAitthijk α-goofl demand stt extreme prices. Withjh a- w«t.k tisw-sea-son Jfew Zealand- lajnb-ft have fwAleli iH. por. 11>'., although, the o-rri-vejs afiioutft to only 27.C00 carcasecs. Ph.. th* ofater , iflnd ftt the lower level of values .the AtiSttaMaa twde is in full >?win£, iratton—From all. Sources the nrpportkn of heavy, grades at nuittxfn ie greater thmi usual, and as tho ttads foi- these, is. limited, lower prices ate accepted, tfe qr\M>. best New Zealniid rUcrp, 5641, (#(.>■ 8i.1%. iM.: ordinary Ke'w &6!. 4- lMßii.; owes; 45d. Australian wt-hirs, «0-6 D. 4d.; secondary, Z>ss, 4d.: ewes. 30-H\ Wfl.-i Pnfi'tJ) AwiOTioan-wethers. 4CJS. *H.i 56=72. 4 5-M. linrah.—New W»JHrer»<TO iflTrife CTi! b»in? ffM at-(M'. iv 61d-;>brtfinerv.'N'e* 7#ai/ind. 6?d.: /.'Vtw.ljiiM.- b?.»r.. 2.W2 i 11-16 d.: fair. «•«. «M.s iftfA-riVif. P s a.: American. BSd.; S5-J?.. 5.5*1 Thf?e OTo of poor nii.i'itr, biit the low price eh' surei a Teady enie. -

trolinn r.rons' 4rt'. iiii'flP. 4 5-i4d. Soiif* Aim-rinm fnrp". "d. r M*r!s.. * l tl. Pe™nj>yt vi"'".->"\' a' nWOTsr fiT «w»t to tT.s.A. >«-.f: A alow trade β-t forea, 4d.-, hinds, iiil LONDON WeOI, PM.tA.' Bγ TVloffT.-i-ph-Pr*?? Awin* , "*"" , Ldiid&h, March, 9. Mnrinos and fluo erossbfeds well maintained. Shabby end medium crossbrede aje irrcsular: Levin and Co., Lirt , ., liavo -rweifed advices from th«ir JUandfln ageii.to tha-t tbo followinET clipa Save, buen >?old on. tft.eir nccouut at the ailos nihv sarrent. I she prices named are the, av-efft-ge urieo r«alis«d for tho flcneo wool in each insfcitrcs, the mark, lornlit*. aß'.l vH-n' bctiiar sivon in that irderi-WUH&KTON. Wa.*'M 13d.: jrOKOA. AlfrprtlsTi. 1). U-Kd., \V"!-!S. OlnUi. 11 9-IM.; -pKItKLANDS,' MnitertiM). lUd.; VALDOH. KopuaMnira, JO 7-1&J-; W (in circloi. Poririit, It 5-Ect.; H ft pM\ Orcytown, 12td.; SH-S oimr lift. fIAKFIt, Mflttorton. Hid.; LH ovef PRW, Jfftstvvtoti, llid.i GLENTTir; Tawatoift, Ilia.: MAE, wangannl. H'.il.t W (X) A. A»,o.tfeiKi!at, 11Sd.; WJTARE, Panautaimi,' Ui-d. ' . McssTs. Murray. Jtoljfirts, and Co., ttd., have received tiic- Mlo-wi-flir #ablo"T4fii d.ited March 9, froin -their Ijoiidnii. McTiiE. jrciarsi Sandcnon. STiu'rojr, rtH.il Co.,''lA4.':— "iln.rket, t'ltane, o.pwil«j» rates (U'(> falhmuintainsd." (lie;. Mo.K-i! Iβ, M,S) p.nu> Ldfiiion, M-ftieJi 10. The following pri«.« ive-re rcatjecd for fleece portions of the dips named:—"Chesterhope," top 14Jd., flvwago Vi WiU; "IVcstlio" and "WaiiUKit," S3£.'l, ami iii ■ "D-ST." 15d. and ltd.; "Afcitio," 14d. and 12 3-Bd. Up to Friday. .er"4?,t66. bales catalogued, 48,011 had bfe.n sold.

freely. Tho competition is .keen for all classes of Wool. Prices, fls coißta-iod with Hie closing rates of last ferries «.to as fflt J.ow:»-JleriJio, "5 jier. cent, fine,in<jiimn, and coarse crosslsree, 10 pw tent. m>. Tito mwHet is wsry flrfli, onii the prospects arc oonsidorod 500 d ,." ;

Messrs. Levin asH. Co., Ltd., have received cable advice ftfltn. their Agents •in ts.tidon that tho followinir clipe lmye be«\ β-old ou tltcfr accojint- at ttio sales jiew current. Hie prices iianicd . being tlio average feaJissed for. tlio toco *'00l in ■each in-slouGc i—OTAUIRL Hiintervii-10, ild,PtiKBICOA. Kiitt-tcrvilte. .fl-Jd.- -'ACie/ovor ei>KJrM-O?tVBN, Hm»<*iT.ille, 11J4; fcir. Fciithembu., 12id.; QiTAfiUAa itastctW. 12W. :- .•• ■ ■' -. ■, .- SILVER. '""'.' London, ifateii'?■ Bar «lrer is (justed at M-'HMSd, wv ounce standard. COS-SOLS. LonihWi March i Consols arc quoted at JE7* 10s,' '' ' COPPER. (Itec March id, 11.2 ft p,ni.? \ Lonflon, MwcTf-in. Goppcr.— Ajnefkaii et*o.Ue, ti^stfXd. (Rec. jfeoh 10,-ri.aj p.m,) _ . . . . London, fl .^c^ l jo, The wheat market is- nuteV a.nd pdee? are steady.