FARM & COMMERCIAL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2337, 19 December 1914, Page 8

FARM & COMMERCIAL

v LIVE STOCK SALES.'■■-■••: ! Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report having held their weekly sale, in the' Levin yards on Friday/ A good yarding/of sheep and cattle came forward, but bidding'at auction was not animated, especially in regard to store sheep, and a, number" of lines were' passed at auotion. Pat' cheep and cattle sold well; as also did grown steers. Principal: sales, were as under:— Medium 2-tooth wethers, 16s. 4d.; fat wethers, 21s. 7d: to 235. 6d.; fat' ewes, - 18s. 7d. to 193. Bd.; fat bullocks, light, £9 155.; to £10 10s.; fat cows, £6 6s. to £7 13s. j vealcra, 255. to £2; store cows, £3.175. 611. to £4 65.; forward cows', £4 10s. to £4 155.; forward empty: heifers, £5 7e. 6d.: well-bred, 2-year steers,'£7/65.; well-bred 18-month steers, £5 Js.; speyed. 18-month heifers, £3 4s. 6a.: 15-month dairy heifers, £2 17s. 6d. to £3 Bs.; yearling steers, £2 55..6 d. to £2 10s.; heifore close to profit, £5 125..t0 £6; bulls, £4 15s. to £6 10s. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Masterton, report having held their weekly sale at Solway on Wednesday, when there was a large entry of stock.; Owing to the continued,spell of .dry weather, business was not brisk, prices not coming np to vendors', expectations, who. however, reduced their reserves'''and met the market. The following prices were realised:—Fat ewes, 18s. 7d.; forward ewes, 14s. 7d.; 2-tooth wethers. 12s. 6d. to 13s. 6d.; cull 2-tooths, 10s; 10d.; cull ewes, 6b.; forward bullocks, £7 lie.; store do., £6 14s. 6d.; fat and for. ward cows, £6 Is. to £6 165.; Btore • cows,' £4 18s.; cows and calvos, £5 75.; aged store cows, £3- 35.; 18-months empty dairy heifers, £2 lis. to £2 12s.

Hesssrs. Dalgety. and Ob.,' Ltd., Masterton,' report having held their weekly sale at Pahiatua on Tuesday. There was a fair yarding of stock, which met with animated competition, and we report practically a total clearance at the following p'rioes:—Fresh conditioned bullocks, £7 155.; .cows and calves, £4 25.; forward cows, £« 13s;; yearling heifers, .£2 ,55.; yearling steers, £2 4s. ' ■'

Messrs V Abraham and. Williams, Ltd., report on their',Pongaroa.sale of December. 17 as, follows:—We offered a good: yarding of cattle and a fair yarding of eheep. No eheep'were sold, but a?gdod'clearance was made in the cattle at. satisfactory, values: '■. Quotations:—2l-year steers,' £6: 3s;; 2-year '■Bteers v ,.:£6-,,1«.; 15-month; ; Shorthorn steers. £4,: 13s!Y'.cows and calves; £4. 13s.;,"empty cbw.s,!.£3, : £3 12«„ and £5 25.:,6 d.; empty. 2-year' heifers, £3, £4,"and £5, according to condition; heifers in calf j £3 12s;; misod yearlings,'■£2,7s. to £21175. 6d. A brood mare,; offered on , behalf ;-. of Mr. W. H. Mason, of Pakowhai. Tinui, for the Belgian Belief Fund, made £16, being bought by a largo number of local farmers at various .prices.

The Now' Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report:—At Pal-mers-ton North sale on Thursday we had a fair yarding of both ■ sheep and cattle. There was a good competition, for all lines with the execution of yearling cattle, whioh were dulj.i "We sold a'pen of prime, heavy hogeets on acoonnt of Mr. Robt. Tanner, at 225.; shorn ewes' with lambs, ell count ed, 8e.,,9d., 10s. 4d., lis. 2d.; fat ewes, 225.; fat wethers, 235.;. small yearling steers, £2, £2'..ft45.; yearling heifers, 345. 1 twoyear empty heifers, £3 ,75.; store cows, £3 le.-3d.; 'fat cowb; £6 12s. 6d.. .£6 155.,;'£8 105.,.£8 125.v6d.; springing hellers, £5 ss. ' ■ Our next week : will bo held. on Wednesday, instead of Thursday. ■'■'

; COMMERCIAL ITEMS - ' I SHAREC ". There were' no transactions in investment shares yesterday. The Quotations were fle follow :— ■•■■''•■■■- Buyers. Sellers. ■ ' ■ £s. d. £ s.d National Bank 5 4 0 7Bank N.Z.' (new), : 15 4 0 - Union" Bank 62 0 0 i — N.Z. and R, Plate 119 0 2 0 0 Christohnrch Gas (£5) ... 7 5 6 , — Wellington Gas (£10) 16 0 0 — South British .., ..450 .— Standard Insurance ...... 114 0 — Meat 'Export (£2 12s. 6d.) 2 14 0 - •Union': Steam (ord.) — 116 •Union Steam (pref.) 019 9 ' rWestport 19 9 110 3 Leyland O'Brien 110 — TarinrramutU - — 2 3 0 N.Z. Drug 2 3 0 - Sharland (ord.) 1 0 6 — Sharknd (pref.) 10 6 — •Ex di'V. ; • Customs duty collected at tho port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £2335 6s.'W; ..- ■,' ' ' ; SOTJTHKRN (By Telegraph.—Press...Associatlon.lil • ; Chrlstohurch, December" is. The Prime Minister's application for the loan of-a quantity of wheat from Australia,, until Canadian shipments arrive appears likely to be granted. This will save several weeks' time, as the principal shipment from Canada is not due to arrive till February.' _ .-•" •— - Only local'busineiß- is doing in. grain,! there being some speculative inquiry, .transactions, that have,taken place being entirely "between merchants. As there - is no oats offering from the country, oat- . sheaf chaff is in demand, and tho price has advanced to £4 ss. to £4 10s. at country stations for prime, bright samples. The oat harvest has already commenced in the northern (Jistriots, end eeveral paddocks ore now in stook. The potato market is practically closed for the season. ' The old crop has lasted out well, which was for-tunate,-in view of the fact that the early orops. were in many cases cut down by. frosts.---i..-.- : ..':.-:.-.. . .:-..:■.: ,• ;.-. r - ;-.-.:.■■ N.Z. RIVER PLATE COMPANY. ■ '.' Auckland, Deoember.U. ~ - At, the enrinal: meeting of' the New,' Zea> land and' River Plate Co., London; on January 5, the directors will recommend a dividend of 10 per cent, for the year, the interim dividend paid to be deducted therefrom. The balance of £25,000 will be paid to the reserve fund ■ end ■ £10,739 will be carried forward. The approximate amount of the net profit is £70,739. . , -DUNEDIN WOOL SALB. . ":>'■ 'Dunedin, December 18. The first wool sale of -Che season will be held on December 23. The number of bales to be. offered Is' 13,300, as compared with 4722' at the first sole last year.' The largo increase this year, is mainly dne to the pTospect of high prices, and.farmers are consequently,rushing the wool on the'market. , . ,::-'-: '■~., .;-. Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., Ltd., report having received ,the following cablegram from their London agents, under date of December 16:—VCrossbreds are easier, buyers expecting lower prices. Merinos very depressed, and lower prices oipected.' . ORIENT STEAM COMPANY. DIVIDEND OF 5 PER CENT. London, Decembor 17. The Orient Steam Navigation. Company shows a profit of £260,788. A dividend of 5 por cent, is declared. There has been placed to tho credit of the repair and renewal account a sum of £25,000, to the general Teserve account £75,000, to the underwriting fund £57,910, and carried forward £86,911. .- . ■

'•'' '"'SHEEPSKIN SALES; London, ■ December 17. At tho sheepskins sales 3000 bales wore offered. A considerable quantity was not landed in time for the auction. Competition was somewhat irregular for.merinos, but crossbreds were in good demand, and practically, all were sold. Compared with October rates, Australian merino combings averaged a penny lower, clothing crossbred combings a halfpenny lower, New Zealand fine medium combing olothing, e. farthing lower, while prices for coarse were unchanged. The next sale wiH be on January. 28. The. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, .have received the following cablegram- from their London house; under date December 17:— "Sheepskins..— Crossbreds,. a farthing lower.".;-':, ■ "■ • '. -.'.-'■ Messrs; Murray, Roberts and Co.,' Ltd., have, received ' a' cablegram • from • their London "friends, Messrs. .Sanderson, ray'"and Co., nnder date 17th-inst., as follows:—"Sheepskins—Merino declined' Id. Ser lb.;''crossbred declined farthing- to alfpenny.per lb." VIOTORIAN PRODUCE MARKET. Melbourne, Decembor 18. Wheat, 6s. 9d. Flour. £14. Bran, £9 15s. Pollard, £10 6s. Barley, ss. to 65.; Cape, 4s. 6d. Oats, Algerian, 4s. to 4s. Id.: feed, 4s. 3d. Maize, 4s. 9d. Potatoes, £6 9s. to £9 10s. Onions, £11 10s. . -

BANK OFENGLAND RETURN. . 3y Telegraph—Frees Association—Copyright London, December 17. The Bank of England return is issued' for the week ended "Wednesday, December 16, is as under:—■ HaitlllM £60.483.000 Gtv.dsbt ... «1,015,000 Other ieourl- • • • • ttoj' ... '-. T. 434.000 ■ ' Stint ' ... ... 71,03<i000 ' ' .. ■ £ 90.433,000. BiMKINO DEPiSTHBsi tfftMnt Govt, iiourl- ■ capital £14,663.000 ties... ... 311,969,000 ooslts ...43,168,000 ti«i ...116,483,000 Other dtposits ~,182,736.000 Hctll ~. Si.BH.KH Itest.T-dar udithtr .„'«*» bi11!.,. ... 5.266,000 C«in ... „ 431,000 £183.723,000 . £183,703,000 The leading items of the Bank of England- return afford'• tie following oomperi-. son:— XMi.wmlc I*»iTr«»lt It«b* year B«lH«n ... .„ 71,984,000 70.034.000 34.244,000 BM»rr«... • ... 65.278.C00 64.151.000 M.075.000 Not«lBsno ... 35,582,000 .35.751.000 38,796.008 rnblloDspOJlts 43.168.0C0 46.002.0C0 8,028.000 Other D»pojiti 12-2,736.000 120,904.000 37.464,000 Proportion of r«s«rv« t« UabillttH 33.31 - 32.64 65.10 MONEY MABKBT. . The Bank of England discount rate was on January 2, 1914, reduced from 6 to «i per cent., on January 23 it was reduced to 4 per cent., ajid on January 29 to 3 per cent. On July 30 the rate was raised to 4 per cent., on July 31 it WH6 raised to 8 per cent., and on August lit was further advanced to 10 per cent. On August 6 the rate was reduced to 6 per cent., on August 7 it was further reduced to 6 per cent., at which rate it now stands. '.The' Bank of France rote is 7 per cent., as against 7 per cent, last week, ana 4 per cent last year. ' : ' •-.-.. OPEN MARKET BATES. The open market discount rate for three months' bills is 21 per cent., as compared with 2 3-16 per cent, last week, end 4J per cent, last year. Short loans are quoted" at 13 per cent., os against 1? per 'cent, 'last week, .and 41 per cent, last year.- . .'>■•- •; COLONIAL AND OTHER.'PRODUCE.,:

: Sugar-Prices unchanged. •Butter-Market very 'firm. • In stock 77,000. cases, including 16,000 from New Zealand. . Australian 'shipments arrived • this' week are clearing well.- Choicest Austro-, lian 1345. to 1365.; unsalted. occasionally, 1385.; secondaries, 128s. to 1325. New Zea-. land butter, 1385.; unsalted, occasionally, Cneose-:The market is firm. New Zealand realised 765. to 775. METAL MARKETS. ' Copper—On spot, £57 10s. to £57 155.: three months, £57 15s. to £58. Electrolytic £61 ss. to'£6l 15s. Tin-On spot. £148 .to £148.10fl.; throe months, £146 10s. to £147. Pig-iron. 535. sd. Lead, £19. Spolter, £27 10s. to £27 15s. -■■:■ ' "• Silver—Bar silver is quoted at 221 a. per ounce standard. ■ : WOOL. SKINS. AND HIDEB SALES.'. ' r The fortnightly sale of wool, skins, hides, tallow, and sundries was held in Wellington yesterday by the various brokers, whose reports are apponded:— ■■, Messrs, Dalgety and. Company, Limited, disposed of a large catalogue (larger than usual, owing to the wool. sale' intervening and obliging them to postpone the sale for a. week) to a good attendance of buyers, and contrary to expectations, skins sold ■at an advance on ..la6t, sale rates.. With prices easier for 'wool,' it was not expected that .those would' advance,' but'the hide market is very firm, and a rise in values was not unexpected from.; that ; quarter. Keen competition !was the.order.of the sale, and the firm advi6e'all'those clients'who can do 60, to forward 1 consignments- as: quickly as. possible, and eo secure the good rotnrns while they are'available. . , ■,; Messrs.'- Abraham, and. Williams, Ltd.:— We offered.o large catalogue of all classes of produce. Competition was very keen for everything, offered, Bag wool ruled at late prices, whilst skins were higher by a halfpenny per lb. for all sound full wools. Hides also advanced a full halfpenny per lb., np to 9Jd, being paid for heavy ox and light cow. Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co., Ltd., offered 4000 sheepskins, 350 hides, and-' a quantity of wool in:-bnga-'.ahd fadges, ;.also. the usual offering.-.of-tallow.;-\-Priceßr were firm for wool, while : both': sheepskins arid' hides showed an advance on last sales' prices.- Tallow was . firm at last sale's rates. • ■ The .United Farmers' Co-operative. Association,' Ltd., and the Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association, Ltd;,'also' report' successful sales, ' ' Messrs: Levin - and Company, Limited,"report that all bale wool was held for .their, sale. on. January. 26,. oriy bag wool, being offered, There was a. very'strong demand for sheepskins. Prices advanced a half penny all round. Hides were strong at a ho.lfpenny advance, and calfskins were firm. The .range of values was as under:— Sheepskins.—Half bred, 9}d.. to 93d;; : fine crossbred,: Bd. to 93d.; medium-coarse orossbred. Bid. to 9d.: short to. half-wools, sd. to 7d.; dead and damaged crossbred,' sd. to 73d.; inferior and bndly damaged, 2'd. to Hi.; lambß, 6d. to Bid-;- damp, salted, and green, ss. to : 6s. 5d.;. pelts, Is. .10d., to 23. 4d.; lombs, salted. 2s 7d., to 3s. 4d. Hidos.-Ox heavy, 601b. up. 9 3-Bd. to 9Hd.; ox medium. 501b. to-591b., 9 l-Bd. to 9 3-Bd.; ox. light, 491h. and under, 9 l-Bd. to. ;9Jd.';cow, heavy, 551 b.i and over, 91d.: cow, mcdinsn, 421b. to 541b.. 9d. to 9 3-Bd.; cow, lieht, under 421b., 9d. to 9Jd-: cnt, slippy, and inferior, 4d. to B*d.; bull stag, 4d. to 7d.; yeorlines, 9d. ia 10 3-Bd.; calf, sunerior, 12d. to 13 l-Bd.: calf, medium to good u lOd. to 11 7-Bd.: calf, damocred, 3d. to, lid. Tallow.—ln casks, 17s. 6d. to 225.; in tins, 10s. to, 19s. 6d. Sundries.—Horsehair, Is. lOd. to Is. IOJd.; cow tails, ls.Bd.

]'■'■:,■■: MINING. NEWS . ' WELLINGTON '• SHARE MA RK ET. : The mining market, was ouiet yesterday, and.there were no tmnsactiona The quotations wero as follow:— • : • • - Buyers. Sellers. .-'■'■ £ s.d.'. £ s.d. Montexum* ;, • 0 19 6. — New Sylvia ..„.,. — 00 8 Talisman „ — 17 0 Waihi — 118 3 Rrflnd Junction ...; —• 13 6 Waitangi .-. 0 0 6 — STOOK EXCHANGE. (3y Telegraph—Prew Association.) . Auckland, December 18. . Sales:— Talisman, 265. 6d. Northern Steam (paid), 14s. STOCK EXCHANGE. . The following sale was made on the Stock Exchange to-day:— Union Steam, ordinary, £1 Is. 2d.' The following sales were reported:—Electric, 2s. 9d.; Westport Coal, £I.los. ' WAini'REEFS GIGANTIC. ''-; ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of, the Waihi Reefs Gigantic Consolidation' was held mt. th« registered . office, Wellington, on Thursday, there being present in person and renrcnented by proxy thirty-eight shareholders. Mr. S. Adams, managing director, occupied the chair. In moving the adoption of the report :and'bnlance-«hect, the chairman gave a lengthy, account of the company's affairs from the date of • its successful flotation -nn to tho present period. A contract for sinking an,additional JfO feet of the shaft had been successfully carried out, and further contracts had b"en let for driving north find south-east from a chamber at the bottom of the. shaft. The country being ■ nassedi. thmurrh .was shovrjnv most promising indications, and the manager Was very hopeful of *t.r.lk<Tiir paynhle stone nt, anv time, the drive being, olmndy in 178ft;.from,tho shaft: arid in Hnlendid mineralised country. The"..Government had arivuiired to'assist the financßßof the mmnnny bv grontin'g a, loan of £2500. payable by instalments, thus ishowing, the confidonce felt in the undertaking. The-retiring directors. Messrs. V. H. Kemball .and F. E. Pcthorick. wero reelected. Mr. H. Ivory was also re-elected auditor for the ensuing year. Wo have a great demand for more butter, and must therefore appeal" to the farmers for further support of more cream. Bv supplying us you will have a perfectly free hand to come or go as you please, because we can only hope to increase our business by results. We claim we can show you the very best results, so if you desiro a change, rail your cream to St. John's Station, c.o. Wanganui Fresh Food and Ico Coy.—Advt. Study your comfort and convenience this Summer by fitting up vonr Bathroom ,iu tho best manner; In this respect let A. 'J. Partem bo your guide. Perfect plumbin" and up-to-date equipment at economy prices are assured you. Write for particulars now, I'll send them by return.. A. J. Parton, Plumber, Carterton, -Advt. - ... ... -'