COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2135, 29 April 1914, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

, INVESTMENT SHAKES. The business done in investment shares yesterday consisted of sales of N.Z. and . River I'tote at 425. 6d. and Wellington Gas !£10) at £16 7s. 6d. The quotations were aa under:— Buyers. Bcllere. £ s. d. X 6. d. National Bank 5 7 6 - Union Bank 59 5 0 60 0 0 Equitable Building 9 0 0 — Metropolitan Building .... - 12 0 0 Well. Investment 0 10 9 0 11 1 Christchurch Gas 7 0 0 — - h % \ Well.. One (£10) 16 6 0 16 7.6 N.Z. Insurance " 6 10 6 2 6 Gear Meat (£4) 14 7 6 - Union Steam (ord.) — 15 6 Union Steam (prof.) ...... 10 6 — Kaiapoi Woollen ipref.) -- 6 5 0 Well. Woollen (pref.) ... 3 0 0 - Ltoylnnd-O'Brien — 1 3 J Manning and Co 4 16 — W.F.O.A. (£1) ~ 1 " 0 FROZEN HEAT EXPOKTS. During the twelve months ended March 51 last, the exports of mutton and Jamb comprieed 2,516,102 carcasses of mutton and 3,840,313 carcasses of Jainb, together equal to 6 376,615 carcasses, which, ia easily a record. The. exports lor each of the pust five years compare as under ••- ended Mutton Lamb Total March 31. carcasses, carcasses. carca6ses. 1910 1,687,469 3,356,702 5,044,171' 1911 . 2,107 782 3,839,922 • 5,947,704 1912 ".. 1,804,307 3,093.091 4,897.398 1913 .. 2.149,950 2,956,249 5,106,199 1914 2,516,302 3,860,313 6,376,615 It will bo noted that, in 1911. the total was large and there wog an immediate drop in the following year, fco that it is likely that there will be another drop during the- current year.

NOEDDEtTTSCHER LLOYD. Tho Nordneutseher Lloyd had a better year in 1913 than in the previous year, and the dividend is raised to 8 per cent, against 7 per cent, for 1912. The report states that although, from a trading point of view, the. year was a'favourable one, it was overshadowed by event 3 in connection with the pool policy, which affected tho future arrangements of the Korth American traffic. But in a mutual division of profits with the Hamburg-Amonka Lino a form was found in which the activity of tho two German Lines in tho North American, trade could be carried on in ' future. For a period of 15 years a contract has been concluded, which is based upon tho prinoip'.o of a similar participation of-both companies in the total rosulte of this busiuoa-. After this agreement had. been reached, the negotiations for the renewal of the Continental and Atlantic pools became much more simple, and there is reason to hope' that the nnal renewal of the former agreements will not meet with any insuperable difficulties. The main Australian Line, which, under tho oxieting contracts, has always been carried on at a. loss, is to be abandoned, as experience has ehown that in order to work it in a proper manner a considerable increase in the State assistance would be necessary, the sanction of which can hardly be expected. The connections with Gorman possessions in the South Sea, which have hitherto been carried on as branohes of the main service, will br. continued with the payment of r. subsidy. The company has also declared its readiness in return for a. proper compensation, to carry out the wishes of the Government in resard to the extension of the Singapore—New Guinea Line to the Sαmoan Islands. The new steamers contrantod. for include four careo steamers for the Australian trade of 11.000 to 11.5C0 tons, besides a number of other steamers. After providing for depreciation, profit, and ln«s account shows a credit balance of £813.599 (incliHintr £1070 brought forwa.rd), agoinpt ' £734 332 for the previous rear. In addition to tho dividend of 8 per cent., thn sum of £237,500 is carried \t> <-h<» renewal fund. Tho rfoer* capital is £6.?EO.<W. tp. serve- fund £57.500, Tenc-wals fund .€287,500. insurance Tcwrve £7300, and insnranrn fund £1.068.000. Tii» fleet stands at £7,363,800 against £7.855.700.

TRADE IN ALLEN STREET. Fruit.—The Aorangi from San Francisco and Karotonga arrived late on' Saturday afternoon, und. discharging operations commenced on Monday. Whilst the oranges by this steamer opened up in food order the bananas were found to run irom fair to good condition. Merchants appear to have- imported Mussina, leinourj in excess ot present requirements, ami large consignments intended for this market have been resold in Australia. Fine coloured dessert appiee are iu good demand and cooking varieties show a slight improvement. Pears are in heavy supply, and moderate prices arc ruling. The first shipment of persimmons from Auckland arrived this week, and sold at satisfactory rates. The first shipment of pineapples that comes to haud now will realise extreme rates, none having arrived by the Aorangi. High prices are now ruling for ripe tomatoce, and the market is extremely bare. Vegetables.— Farenips are in strong demand; cabbages arc making better money than last week; consignments of cauliflowers and French beans are recommended. The ueual demand esistd for ewedee and celery. ... Onions arc plentiful, and are quoted at £6 to £6 10s. for prime sample?. Pickling onions are extremely slow of sale, at fc. to 7s. per cwt. Potatoes.—The market continues firm. anil the price, ex store at Wellington, is £5 6s to £5 10s. for prime quality. Flour ie without alteration, and is ruling at £11 per ton for leading brands. Fowls' wheat has had a further advance, ami is now ruling at <!s. H. to 4s. Bd. per bushel. . , ~ Fowls' Barley.—There is only a small business doing in this line, at 2s. 9d. per bushel. Cape Barley—There is a small inquiry for seed at j≤. to 3s. Id. per bushel. Maize.—With the advent of cold weather there Iβ a. slightly improved demand at te. 9d. to 4.«. 10d. Bran.—Fair stocks are held, and the quotation is £4 Eβ. to £4 10s. per ton. Pollard is In excellent demand at £7 to .£7 ss. per ton. Pigmeal has good inquiry at £5 10a. per ton, and barley meal ftt £6. Oatmeal, in 251b. bags, is quoted at £12 per ton: in 71b. bags, £13 103.; and 2001b. vaekfi. £12 10s. Kollert Oals—Thistle brand in 4>lb. bags, and rrcamoata in 41b. bags are selling at 10s. per dozen. Ohaff.—Prime oatensheaf chaff lifla excellent demand at £4 10s. to £4 15s. per ten. packs in. Broken peas, suitable'for poultrv ami |)i"s are in strong demand at 3s. 6d. bit "bushel of 601b. bag*. Shell-grit for poultry in selling at £4 to £4 10s. per ton. Fre.Oi eggs will probably decline in value nwenHy. The current nnotation is S". 2d. to 2s. 3d. iicr dozen, with preserved at Is. Gd. to Is. 7d. Butter.—Prime milled, in bulk, is in excellent tit-maud at 11(1. to ll*tl. r>er lb.; with good duality at lOrt. Poultry.—Hi-ns; 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. per nair - heavy table birds ruling at 4?. to !s. 6d.; coclieTPls, 3«. 6(1. to sk. 6d.: pullets, it to 6=.: Indiin Tlunner niicto. 3s. to fid.- PoMii and Aylcsbiiry duc!i.=, Is. Sd. to 6'. 6(1.: turke.v gnhhlerf. 1?. to H. l<l. per lb. live weight; hens, 10d. to lid.

SOUTHEI'.X JUKKETS. (By Tclcgraph-Prosa Association.) Chrlstchurch, April '28. The heavy rain of the last few days will delo-y uny threshing: that, whs in progress until stoaks nrc dry nguin. The oilerius of grain continues to bo limited, utid wheat In, if anything, slightly easier. There is so little doing, however, that '.imcss there is a material cliuii-je it v.-auld be Ecmvely noticed. Oat? keep firm, ond for a Hire of very prime Bun;. Is. lCd. liso been paid at a handy station. Other varieties are polling at late rates. The only movement is in potatoes, which are steadily firroiiiE in value. Vripes asked bv growers in South Canterbury and .N'orth Otago <uo higher than those ruling here, with the result that «■ good deal of business lias been done by local merchants in filling orders for the North Island. It is reported that an order has been received for potatoes from South America, and v.as offered to-a Chrfctclmrali merchant, but he is unable to take it up. and it is probably being filled at Wellington. Prices now being had are £i 10s. to £5 12s. 6(1. at country stations for delivery darine the coming month, and it is stated that £4 has been paid for .Tune delivery.

FROZEN MEAT MARKET. lfcsSi's. Gilbert Anderson ond Co. (Messrs. Jfellsop, Kliott. and Co.. local scents), writing under date London, March a>, report as follows on the frozen meat ket:-Home-grown: Heavier supplies with a moderate demand. Beef: Scotcli tidea, 6Jd. to 7d.: English. 6.\d. to 63d.; Irish, Sj.d. to Hi. Mutton: Scotch. 7W. to Bd.: English, 63d. to 7>d.; ewes, 53d. to' 6jtl. Scoteh tecs. Old. to 9id.; English. 7Jd. to B<J.; Eniilish lamb, 10d. to Is. V«al, M.-.to 9d. Pert, 6id. to 7Jd. Frozen: Trade interfered with bv oevere weather; arrivals heavy, and tendency lower for all classes. Mutton: Pri-oes for New Zealand remain unaltered; South American, l-16d. lower. itest Keff Zealand, «lb. to 561b.. 43<t; 661b. to 641b., 45d.; 641b. to 721b.. ordiilnry New Zealand, 561b. to 641b.. 4 J-Bd.: ewes, 48Ui. to 641b., 4d. Aasinalian wethers, <01b. to 601b.. 33d.; second nuality, 351b. to 551b., 3 15-16 d.; ewee. 351b ' t.o 501b.. Jjd South American wethers, 5611). -to 721b., 4 l-16d.; ewes. 4blb. to 641b., 33d. Lamb: A poor demand for Canterbury; buyers content with hest North Island nt the lower , value. Canterbury, under 361b.. 6 3-»ti.; 361b. to 421b., 6Jd. ; 421b. to Mlb.. 6>d.: seconds, 6d.; best New Zealand. 285b. to «lb., 6!. d.: ordinary. 281b. to 42U)., 65-d.: Australian bwt. 231b. to 431b.. 58(1.; fair, up to 361b., 5?, d.; inferior, 5.3d,: South American, 281'b.. to 361b.. sii; 361b.'t0 IMb.. 5Jd- Beef: Chilled continues in nlentUul supply, and, with New Zeaiand htef jiow available, prices are weaker. New Zealand fores. 3Zd.; binds. 4?, d. Australian crops, 3 13-16 d.; hinds. <Jd. South American fores, 3Jd.; hindc", 4jd. Chiiied fores -33; i; hiuds, W. SILVEF.. By Telejrapli—Pr«3s Association—CoesTlEht Lertßon, Ajirii 27. Bar silver is quoted at 27 3-16(1. per ounce standard.