COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2334, 16 December 1914, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

INVESTMENT SHARES. There were no transactions in investment shares yesterday. The quotations were aa under:— Buyers. Sellers. <T3anlt N.Z. (old) -'' '119 'o Union Bank — 53 0 0 Jlcat Export (£2 12e. 6d.) 2 14 0 - Union Steam (ord.) - 12 0 Westport — 1 10 6 .WestpDrtrStovkton. — 0 5 0 Tarinsamutu — Z 3 0 Manning and Co 4 2 0 — ' Word and Co 5 1 U *Kx dividend. Oustoms duly collected at the port ol Wellington yesterday amounted 1.0 .EoOsa ■ iS. 14, ' " " '

CANTERBURY MARKETS. (Br TdeEiash.—Prese Association.) Christchurch, December 15. There is no movement of any kind In grain, oate being very Kaice. There if a. little inquiry for oaten 6heai chaff, and prices have firmed. High and drying winds have done away with much of the benefit of the late rains, and-unless there is more rain before lons crops Eenorefly will be light. This is especially, tho caep with those in the lighter lands in Eonth Canterbury, where there has tacen moro rnin than further north. The. crops are looking well. Oatahoaf chaff is now quot.ed at £4 to £4 ss. at country stations; old potatoes aro dull of sale at £2 os. to £2 10«. at country stations. SOUTHERN MARKETS. Duncciin, December '15. The price of bran has .been advanced £1 per ton,. making it £7, Js., and that of pollard by 10s. per ton, making it £7 10s. Fcaxl barley has been' reduced by £1 per ton, the price now ■ being £16 per • ton wholesale and £16 10s. mail.. LONDON WOOL ■ SALES. : ' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, December 14. At tho wool salca prices were unchanged. Faulties wera slow of sale. Prices realised :-Stea,mplaihs, lljd.. lOid.: Belmoio, K'Bd.;.T<ibiatons, lid., 9 5-Bd.; Yanga, 12a., 103 d.; Waxenda, 71d., 6 3-Bd.; Burenda, 14d., 12 3-Bd.; Wellshot, Hid., lUhd. "ADELAIDE WOOL BALES. Adolaicie, December 16. At tho wool Ealcs demand was keen for better sorts at a shade lower. Inferiors were -unchanged. The buyers included a French firm. EXPLOITATION OP MERINOS. London, December 14. Mr. T. A. Goghlan, AgonVGcneral for New South Wales, has elicited a. statement that the Board of Trade permits tho exploitation of merinos in the United States if the Bradford conditioning hou6o guarantees they cire unsuitable for military purposes. Three weeks must elapEo between. production of tho guarantee and Lho issue of tho Board of Trade's erport license. SULPHIDE CORPORATION. London, December 14. ' Tho Sulphide Corporation shows a credit balance of £247,912. BREWKRS' EXHIBITION. London, December 14. The judges at the Brewers' Exhibition report: The colonial wines collectively were of high merit, eome of good etylo and Fine quality, especially the white light wine, some of which was very attractive. Sparkling wines aro making steady progress. If wines such as were placed before us are well and wisely circulated the public would discover their good qualities, and they would eventually become as popular as some well-known European growths.

LONDON MARKETS. ' London, December 14: Wheat.—The market is firm. Prices are 3d. dearer. . Copper—On the 6pot, £58 ss. to £58 10s.; three months, £58 ICe. to £58 15e.; electrolytic, on spot, £61 ss.;.three months, '£61 Tin.-On spot, £149 15s. to £150 56.; three months, £149 to £149 10s. Lead, £19 ss. to £19 7s. 6d. Spelter, £28 to £28 7e. 6d. GEAR MEAT COMPANY HAEKETS BECOMING. NORMAL. . The annual meeting of the Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Company was held in the company's office, Lambton Quay, last night. Mr. W. H. Mill ward, chairman of directors, presided, and there was an attendance of about thirty shareholders. • The report and balance-sheet (already published) were befoTe tho meeting. In moving their adoption tho chairman, said: "I have pleaeure in congratulating you on the satisfactory result of the operations included therein. The accounts have •been dealt with on the usual lines and do not, I think call for special comment. On. tho whole the year was a difficult one. For a part of the time the local prices v/ere above the parity of London figures, but when the war broko out values roso rapidly and consignments uneold and on the sea benefited materially, largely owing to' short shipments. The British Government have now got tho position, so far as Army requirements are concerned, well in hand, and the mutton and wool markets: particularly are adjusting themselves to more normal conditions. Lamb and other articles of diet which are likely to bo considered in the nature of luxuries have met a more or less restricted demand. You can readily seo. that tho position in the near future will require the exercise of caution, , ■Oβ the final disposal of purchases is practically two months later than drafting date hero. The charges in connection with the handling of goods, other than meat and dairy produce, have been iocrea/9ed, especially ocean freights and marine insurance. The premium to -cover itax risks has varied within the limits wisely fixed by the British Government scheme. I hope that at an. early date the-terrible conflict will be concluded by the complete defeat of tho enemies, who have brought about euch trouble, devastation and ruin to so many. "It will give you all pleasure to knowthat tho out-turn of the company's products has been of the customary lilgh standard and , expressions of. eatisfaction The additions and improvements foreshadowed in my last si«ech have been completed, and are- now in full working order. In view of the probable dry season and tho possible derangement of shipping due to various causes, the increased facilities will* doubtless be exceedingly useful to the farming community in particular. The plant and properties have boon maintained in the usual first-class condition characteristic of the company. The slaughtering operations dating the last twelve months constituted another .record. It is with. extreme, regret that the directors record tho death of their late esteemed colleague, Jtr. J..K; Illatr, who has for many years been a. most useful member of the board. A minute of appreciation of his past services hay been, placed on record and transmitted to his relatives. The vacancy has been filled by tho appointment of Mr. W. S. liefton Moorhouse, who is well known to you. I , cannot cloeo without expressing the board's appreciation of the servicea vendered by che head office and London staffs, heads of departments,, buyers, and employees generally, to all of whom iht oompany is indebted for-most loyal and efficient work." ' ■ The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and Mr. David Anderson and the, Hon H. D. Bell, K. 0., retiring directors, were re-elected. Messrs. K. T. Badham and E. W. Hunt were re-eleofced auditors.