COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2126, 18 April 1914, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

INVESTMENT SHARES. A sale- of Wellington Gas(£lo).at £16. 7e. 6a. w-as the" only transaction, recorded in investment shares yesterday. Tho Quotations were .as. follow:— •'■''" Buyers. Sellers. £ s. d. £e. d. Baik'X.Z.' (£6'. 'l3a. 1d.)... 16 5 0 - Bank...N'.Z. (£3 6s. 8d.)... 9.15 0 ; - '-National Bank 5 6 0 — Well. Trust and Loan ... 7' 7 0 . . — Chrlstchurch Gas ,:■ -- -710 Palmeraton Gas 915 0 10 10 0 ■Wellington Gas (£10)- ...... 16. 6 0 —• National'■ Insurance 2 11 6 - Standard Insurance' 112 0 —• N.Z. Shipping - 16 5 0 Union Steam (ord.) — 15 3 Union Steam fprcf.) 10 2- — Kaiapoi Woollen (ord.) ... 5 4 0 - Well. Woollen (ord.) 4 16 ■ -". . Well. Woollen (pref.) S 0 0 -- • Leyland-O'Briek • 12 6 13 6 Golden. Bay Cement 0 17 9 — Ward and Co '■ — 5 10 W.F.0.A..(£5) -.:.,., - 615 0 ' ritODTJCE EXPORTS. The values''of tho principal products exported from New' Zoalan-J during the fii'6t half 'of last month, compared with the filturcs for the, ■ corresponding period of last year, show os under:— ' ' '•' 'March. 1914. Morch, 1913. ■£ £ - ■Butter ...;.... 244,850 62.W9 • ' Cheese 346,660 26,976 'Beef ::..: ..:.... 27,547 3,537 ■ Mutton, carcasses ... • 204,177 57,171 Mutton, logs &.pieces 3,363 .' ISO lamb' .-. 126,765 45,705 Wheat ■. :... 18 S3 OAte 215 711 ' PotatOß3 151 3GB ■

Hemp ' 4,685 47.021 Tow '-.' 130 0,683 : . Kauri gum 9,207 20.5J5 ' Grain .and pulso '. GJO 2,673 Hops .......:;■..... ' - ■ 4 218. . HidVg 14,51-1 14.5C5 ■ '.SkifiS •■-. :. .-.;.. 47,013 •• 25;971 ■ Tallow.- .'. 45.441 19,411; ■ Timber'. ..:.. .'... 23,421 M,« 9 • Wool ■ .......;■ ..1,C94,79? 859,735 Gold.. 43,814 " 105,443' ■ ■ • ' 2,'!07,412 1,322,689 GERSfAK-ATTSTBAHAN ■.S.S.. COMPANY.' The. Gormen-Australian B.S. Company's report, for 1913-elates that business on, all linos has- been.brisk, although, in connection with tho .outward.'traffic freight reductions had.ti'"l)6 "granted, especially In regard to some bulE-shipments. Homeward frelghWxcinaintd rather .unebansed, biit towards the close of tho year the de-. cllning tendency of the market made itself very much felt. At. present r,»tes were'not far from the lowest' rates.of former years. Tho Increase of available bottoms had considerably contributed to 'thie' decline. 'But owing to tho present numerous new. constructions ■ being mostly intended to provide for tho requirements of tho line owners, this further increase. was unlikely to oxercise any considerable influence upon tho 'development of the general freight market. ' The fleet increased by five eteau. ers, three of which have a carrying capacity of about 12,000' tons. The oldest steamer, the Mieseon,- , was Bold. Tho avcraeo age of the steamers is 5.31 year's. Fctf delivery in 19144915,' there ere nino eteainers, viz., four at' , tho Neptun yards, three ct tho FleflflbOrg Shipbuilding Company's yards, and 6ne each- at the yards of the Tocklenboi'g Company,: and the Bremer Vulktui. ■ Tho number of 'oteamers will thus bo increased to 60, with a carrying capacity of over.. 500.000 tons. Ono steamer was. damaged, and a flro broko out on another. The/trade profits for 1913 amount to; 9,495,619 marts (in. 1912 9,161,782 marks), to which'arc to bo. added profits from interest ai)4'participations to the amount- of 39,463 marks. Tho gross proflte amounted t0.8588.316.mark5, <is against-8,106,387 marks 12-months ago. ■ Tho sum' of 6,060.657 tnerko (in 1912,5.764,259 inftrks)-wa3.written off Tho net profits • anlbunt :to 2,927,660 ma.rks (2,343,128 marks), out of which it is proposed • to: pay again a dividend .'of 14. por cent:, in-which this 1 year tho 4,CoO,oOo,marks additional shares-will.parUcipalc. The re-' port:gobs on'tq-state tfeat in Australia Uio cost of -.wages ia likely to increase) rather th«Ji to - become.-reduced,- and as a respito of.a.'inStinb'onEiderahle cmist'at.ion, labour is scarce. In. tho Dutch Indies, tho dispatch, of. .steamers suffered increasingly from'-the insufficient facilities of the, ports. The Government, however, has started imS roving the harbours, but the new harbour ues leviea in connection ' with these harbour constructions appear-to exceed tho desired- limit for developing commerce. -At Sydnej , —thanks to the- obliging action of tho local-harbour authorities—a new quay Iβ under-construction for the company. Its completion is to be looked for during the current .year. ■ The company contemplates using the' Panama Canal for its line from Australia to Boston and' New York.. Since, owing to the alteration ' of the American Customs tariff, wool is admitted duty free, and there is also a demand for frozen meat in tho United States, this lino is likc•ly to show, an improved development.. As regards the new business year, the Tcport remarks that the . full effect of the decline in the -freight market ■ affects the company, just a« littlo as it had been pos r . sible for the company to take special advantage of the'high ratesof the boom. On tho other hand, it was. to be expected that part'of tho. trade expense, .especially oil account'of coals; w.ould bb reduced.

COMPANY- REGISTERED. This week's "Mercantile Gazette." TeMortk the registration, of the following Wellington, company:—Wellington Bedstead Co., Ltd.. registered ea a. private company. April §. Offioe:. 41 Hopper 'Street, Wellington. Capital: £1000. divided into ICOO shares, of £1 each; Subscribers: ■Wellington—P. Drown, 590; Emma C. Brown, 10.• Objects: To acquire, and take over as a, goiriß. conceru the business of a bedstead tnaniifao Uirer. lately carried on by Frank Brown, under tho style of "The TVellinst-oH Bcdjtead Co., Tjf-d.. and to enter iirki ou agreement dated April 8, M 4.

Customs duty collected af. the port, of TFollineton yesterday amounted to ' £1767 lie. Id." - ' ■ . BANK OF ENGLAND RETURNS. By TeleeraDh-Press AificisLtion-Copyrifilit (Rcc. April 1", 8.30 p.m.) London, April 17. Tho Bank of England return issued for the- week ended Wednesday, April 15, is aa under:—' IBSSE DEPARTMENT N»t« luue £53.056.« M .'GoY-debS ... £11,015,030 ' ■ •■ Cther uourltioa ... .. 7.434.1)00 Geld 34.fi07.0M . £ji3,05e I '«W £53.053.000 BIXKLNC DEPiKTJfEXr. rr»pr'l«l«ri' ' Cuvt. seouvicapital ■ £14.053.000 .ties.;. ... £11,151,000 FuMic d»- ■ Ctber seouriresits ...10,235,000 ties 11,081,000 Other 6*-. ' posits ■ ... 41.861X00 , X»t«s ... 24.03J.00D Best. 7-day sod ether bills... 3.H3.00e C«in ... . _. 1,631,000 iTd.795,000 X 78,705,030 The leading items of the Bank of Emlaud return afford the following coinpariion:— ... Tliis w «»t Last Tt««k List y«ar £ £ £ Bullion • ... 34.607,000 34,418.000 3G.<SWWO Re.crv. ... ... -i 5.663.000 25.001i.000 •JT.MO.OOO Nett circulation ja.031.000 2n.J7-2.IiUJ ■28.415.O I JO Public Dppo'siij 13.233.001) in.C3l.oCfl 10.811.M0 Other Depo£il3 lliS6l.oiKJ 1i,335.000 12.330.000 Prop'ortion of; ies«tv»' l> lliUiUlHi J1.89 IU.3J .17.33

. B.VNK EATBSOt , IS'I'KIIEST. The llanlc of Knittnnil Wlc vrfl!>. nn February 3, 1912, redin-cd trmn 4 lo Jj per ceut.. <ind on Jlnv 9 it w«ur farlftsc reiliK'ei! to 3 per cont. On Aiiespl.- 2') II van ritHi'A to '1 per cent., nml on OcUiber 17 In 5 pmcent. It wfle reduced to Hi pr;r c;orit. nti April 17, 1913. On October t »». ii «*.» ralecd to 5 per cent-., on .Jnn;i;iry B, 19H, 22 to 4 pur cent., and o.« Jansiiify 23 to 3 n«r cent.' ■

Tho Bauk ot -France ra{o fid-i. ii'fhJT'J from ii' to 3 per cent, cu ■.Inmiary V«, 1908, and coutinned n-t Uln-'. !:il!«l- llcari! 1I«H) September 12, 1911 i.wlicii it wiib - wired to JJpcr cent. Oil May- I?.' 1915, 1!. ivnoc rnduped to 5 per cent., ois Onlohor 17 It nfifl' raised to ol por ccnl.. end «ii O«l<ibftr SO to 4 per cunt. ■ Ou JiinHaJS' *is. 1514, Uio rate was reduced to M iw-r cc»t.

The'lmperial Bonk of-Qcrtxuuty on Ot'tober 24, 1312, ivdvonocri its rate of discount to s;pcr ccbt.,'and t-o6 per <'«nt. oft NiiVbiiibcr.H. On Octobor.2? i9l3.Uiorii.l.rt.«n-3 reduced to's} per cent., on. <Jonii«H'y iK. 1914, it-was reduced-U) 4j for tent., and onFebruarj 5 .to A pcr'fleiit.

MARKET'RATES'OP DISCOUNT. Tho followlnc "-re t.Tw nidrKct rM«e for teat three months' bills:-- . London Tnfls Skrlin mtc mti>, l-nto, . per ner', por ci>Bt cent, tout'.riiis week 2 2V 51 J Lust week- li Si . S.VB Last year 31-5-JS 53 IJ-β' Short 100.113 arc qnowd ot H ?>'f <•*'>*-. no ojainst U iicr cent, last weeli, uild 3* per ccut. lust'ycur. ■ . ; COLONIAL-AKD OTHER' MOpUOK, Wheat is -neglected: 365. is offered for South Australian on spot. Australian,'on spot, is ■ quoted at Jte. 3d,; Now tolfturt, uono offering. ■ Flour is niiiet. - Aust*aU-4n, ei store., m quoted at 265. 6d. . . . ■ Barley is dull <ind tinclia-fflged. Oats nro slow of sale, and rather easier. Lα Plata-, April-May shipment., : 145,-M, Peas and beans β-re quiet, ojid itachanged. ... Butter.—Cbntinenia-i is easier. Pamsli, 114s. to 117s-. Colonial is 6t<radj-. Olvoiccat Australian, salted 1.0&. to M4s.. unraltcd 106s. t-o 1083.; New Ztnlonfi. eallqd W6s. to 108«., unsalted 116s. to. 118 a.

Cheese—The . majkot is firm. Ncir 2«aland, white 605., onlonred, tie.; Australian, white 58;., coloured 64?. Bacon.—Australian Wiltshiree, 645. to 663.: Cumberland*, 60s. to 625. Sugar.—German boeS, £8 p?r cant, net tltre. 9s. oid. -per cwt..: first eraimlat«d,.f.o.h. Hamburg, 11s. gjd. Bra.af6.rd- Tbps.-lThft fflartot is' ''quiet, end prices arc uuehanged. ■ THE METAL.SIAEEEI-S. Copper, on -spot* 295.- lower, at £U ife. 6d. per , ton: thxoo montlis, 2!s. 3d. lower, at £64 16s. 3d. Tin.—On spot. 60s. lower, at £164 15s. per ton: three months, {te.-'losrcft-'at £1$ jfe,

Lead, soft foreign, Is.-M: higher, <vt -£iS P< Pis-iron.-Jliddlesbrou.g.h Mo'. 3, Sid. lower, at Ms. 9-ld. per ton. Spelter, 2s. 61 higher, et £il lis.'ii. per ton.- . , ■ • . ■ ■■ ■ ■ ■ '■■...' ' bakk'of .At«Tajiu. : By Telcsrapb-Press AesScSatibti-04pyrieit l,ondan, April !6 The Bank of Australia's ropeft s.liows tljat the profits for. the year totalled £IJS,S36. A preference divid*nrjS ot 7 per cent..'Andan ordinary 1. per cent, dividend have tiee-a declared! -The'ro'has.-liecit carried-to-re-eervo £50,000, to tho officers' provident fnad £2000,-and.forward £25.ftJi. , Tho tr-lnefor-ahlc- deposits -total £Sn,9i, oSftcr neposlts £4,943,87 U. cash, investments i:2iil,24J. 6iid bills £4,558,778. ...

VICTORIAN'PRODUCE MAEKBtS. Melbourne. April 57 WTicat/3s. 9d. to 3s. 9id,;"fltmr, £?; brm and' pollard, £5;-bat-ley, ,fii}gUs& radltinir. Js. 3d. to 4a.;. Caps, 2s. to 2s 4d.; oats., Algerian, Is. Bd. to Iβ. IM.>. inaize, £3 1C&: Duu peas, 3s. sd.'to'3s. 6iJ.; potatoes, £4 15s. to £5; onions. £5 to £6 ss.

Variation . . M t(<Q3)iat«d 'hlCfi. : . . _ _ Ji-F-L TS'C«k . _' . 1 £ t, d. -i?o Imperial Cons*!* ' 73 0| jor imvnr i. ..:-:.s.\v.in3a,Tan...iuiy; mi o o u»ith4n*xi Ji „N.S.W.l!)Jl).a>MtvSj> ( 10!) 0 o! .Tj|j.;hfll3gcA 3i ..N.S.W.-HCO-GO I 0 0 j Uu»ti<in4«il 3 ,jN.S.\V. 192jApl.'OcLi U 0 i'licl-muH '4 „ Vic. 192U Jan.-July l j.0.1 0 O! Um:ham!4d 34 „Vic. Itol-ti Jau.-Julyi (ty 0 0| UucVian^ 3j „VIc,-lWLM9 ' iD 0 0 i«m:hnHUcd 3 ,, Vic. i9v!9-49,fan.-July 8l AO UtinhitH-fictf Di ,;9,A. lOlfiJnu.-July {« 0 0 UwTh«n«*tf 3 101G Jnu.-July , 75 '00 Vn«ltuntt*rt 4-'„QTdlDl3-2l»Jah.'«Iuly IW w Q Ihwhimgori ill „QTdl<J2:M7Jdu.«July V'7 0 0 TJiichrmtfftri S" ',.QTd ft} 0 ti v UnohiM>K^ : J 4 „N.Z.1O20 i\lay-N«v. l('rt 0 0 8j „N.Z. r.)l'2-J0Jan.-,luly 0-;', 0'0 Unoin'oni^j 8 „N.Z. I WO April-Oot. -ft* 0-0 ' f-NishinjiVflrt 3i• „\V.A.1915-B6 May-Nor W. 0 (J. 3; ,,W.A,l!?l.>35.\Jay.N'*v W 0 1) Ui?c!i«aiinf 33 ,,1'as. 30x0Jaii.-July PS 0' *) y „TaB.llhiU-10 JHn,.JuJy ; is t) 6' Bnohmw.id