COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2498, 26 June 1915, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

INVESTMENT SHARES. Thero were no transactions in investment shares yesterday. The quotations were as under:— Buyers. bellevs. £ s. d. £ s. d Bank N.Z. (£3 6s. Bd.) ... - • 11 5 0 Bank N.Z. (£6 13s.' 4d.)... - 17 3 6 Well. Gas (£10) 0 - 17 0 Well. Gas (prof.) 019 9 . .- N.Z. Insurance *7 6 8 0 Gear M<*at (£1) 4 fl 0 — 1 Well. Woollen <ord.) 414 0 . — ' Well. Woollen .(prcf.) 3 *7 6 — , Leyland-O'Brien 115 — N.Z. Druff 2 6 6 - Golden Bay Cement —1 ;2 0 Customs duty . collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £13,913 ss. 2d. WOOL, SKIN, AND HIDE SALES. The fortniffhUy sales of wool, skins, and bides -were held by the' various brokers yesterday:— The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile : Agency Co., Ltd., report:—Large catalogues were offered, except wool, which is being held for speci-ed crutcbing'sale on July 9. Bidding was keen. Sheepskins were very Arm at a slight advance for best sorts, whilst others were at the level of , last sales. Hides-were keenly competed for at about one-eighth of e, penny advance on ox, and one-eighth to. quarter on cows. Tallow, in sympathy with Home market; is Blow of sale, at 235. 6d. to 245. 6d. for pood mixed lots, in shipping condition. ;Tins and odd packages of fat at 15s. to 21s. 6d. per cwt.: ' v , • Messrs. Levin and Co., Ltd., report:—All wool is being held for the sale on July 9. The sheepskins market was 4 firm. Good skins advanced another farthing; other descriptions "are unchanged. Thero was good competition for hides, and an advance on all good butchers' .ox, 3-8 of a penny, cow 3d. Calfskins advanced id., yearlings were unchanged. . . Messrs.. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report haying offered a-big catalogue of all classes of produce to a large attendance •of buyers. Competition Was keen for everything offered. Only bag wool was offered, , and' this sold at late prices. Skins were firm at last quotations: Hides formed a large entry, the biggest portion of whichever©:hides from meat works, and they were in keen demand, one line realising/up to lid. per lb. Heavy and medium ox were l-Bd. to Id. higher, whilst | cows were id. higher. Tallow was weaker, in sympathy with the London market. 1 -Messrs.'. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., Ltd., •report as-follows:—At the fortnightly sale of skins and hides held yesterday a full muster of buyers-was present, and bidding was spirited'. —We quote wool on a par with the rates ruling at the last sales. Sheepskins showed an advance of Id. per lb., and hidoa a decided difference in sellers' favour. In sympathy with the London market tallow showed a further decline., ,

Successful saleo were also held by the United Farmers' Co-op. Association and the Wnirarapa Farmers' Co-op. Association. The range of prices was as under:— Sheepskins: Fine crossbred, llsd. to 113 d.; medium to coarse crossbred, lid. to UJd.: short to half-wools, 6Jri. to 10d.; dead and damaged crossbred, Sid. to 10d.; inferior and badlv damaged, 49d. to 7Jd.; lambs, lOd. to llid.; damp, salted, and green, ss. Bd. to 10s. lOd.; oelts, 3d. to 4?d.; lamhs, 7s. Bd. Hides: Ox. heavy, 601b. up. lOgd. to lid.; ox, medium, 501b. to 591b., lOJd. to 103 d.; ox, light, 491b. and nndor, Bd. cow. heavy. 551b. and over. 9d. to 9Rd.; cow, medium, 421b. to 541b., 97, d. to 9Fid.; cow, light, under 421b„ 9d. to 9Sd.; cut, slippy, and. inferior, Bd. to 9d.; bull, stag, 5 l-Bd. to 9d.; yearlings, 161b. to 241b.. 7Jd.. to 9*d.; cal, superior, up to 161b;. lOd. to lOid.; calf, medium to, gool, 9Jd.-to 10d.; calf, damaged. 4d. to Bid. Tallow: In casks, 21s. 3d to 245. 3d.; in tins, 20s. 6d. to 235. Sundries: Rabbitskins, Is. to 25.'3d.: horsehair, ls.'3d. to Is. 6d.: cowtails. Is. ; pieces, 3d.; opossum 6kinE, Is. to 2s. 3d. ...... SOUTHERN MARKETS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, Juno 25. The wheat market keeps firm, and there is a fair inquiry. There have been few more offers of wheat by growers, but the prices asked. are generally much about market level. There is nothing fresh to report in oats, as the local supply is too short to allow of any outside business of any extent being

done. There has been a good demand. lor seed purpo6e«. Oateheaf chaff is arm and scarce, and cannot bo purchased under £7 at country stations. The potato market is in an unsettled state at present, owing to export to Australia being prohibited, unless by permission of the Minister of Customs. In tho meantime merchants are applying for permits to enable them to fill contracts they have made with Australian buyers. North Island buyers are all holding off the market in the hope that the nrohibition of ciport will result in lower prices. It is difficult to say whet is the market value, tho nominal quotation being £5 10s. at country stations. A BIG COAL CONTRACT. Westport, June 25. The Westport-Stockton Company, who are | now producing coal from their new field, have secured a contract from the Government for tho supply of 60,000 tons of coal, this being a very considerable increase on last year's supply. It is regarded ns hopeful for the district that the company should now be in a position to accept this contract besides meeting the demands from other sources. NATIONAL BANK. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. June 25. 10.45 p.m.) London, June 25. The balance-sheet of the National Bank of New Zealand for the year ended March 31 shows a profit of £193,080. A sum of J820.0C0 has been written off premiees' account, the _ bonus to the staff absorbs £3500; a dividend of 12 per £ont. and a. bonus of 1 per cent. i 6 declared; £20.000 is added to the reserve fund, £4000 to the officers. pension fund, and the balance of £43,080 is tarried forward. The general manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, Limited, has received a cable message from his London board advising that the annual meeting of the bank will be held in London on July 6, when it is proposed to declare a, dividend of 6 per cent, for the half-year, and bonus to shareholders of 1 per cent, on paid-up capital (£750,000), equalling 13 per cent, for the year ended March 31 last. The sum of £20,000 h«6 been added to tho reserve fund, which will then stand at £685.000 and £48.080 carried forward. The directors have further allocated £20.000 in reduction of bank premises account and £4000 to tho officers' pension and gratuity funde. WOOL MARKET. Messrs. Johnston and Co., Ltd., are in receipt of cabled advico from their London agents, forecasting a rise of 5 per cent, in the wool market. SHEEPSKINS SALES. Messrs. Murray, Roberts, and Co., Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London friends, Messrs. Sanderson, Murray, and Co., under dated June 24:— "Sheepskins, merino full-woollcd, halfpenny to penny higher; crosshred full-woollcd, penny higher; all short-woolled unchanged." Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., Ltd., report having received the following cable message from their London agents, under date of June 24;—" Combing sheepskins, one ponny advance; other sorts unchanged." VICTORIAN PRODUCE MARKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright Melbourne, June 25. Wheat, 7s. lid.; flour, £17; oats. Gartone, ss. sd. to ss. 6d., Japanese 4s. 7d., Chilian ss. ljd. to ss. 3d.; maize £e. 2Jd. to ss. 3d., Java ss. Id.; bran. £10 55.; pollard, £11 55.; potatoes, £8 to £9; onions, £7 10s. to £8. BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) London, June 24. The Bank of England return issued for the week ended Wednesday, June 23, is as under:—

Issue Depabtment. Koto Issue £71,408,G00 Gov. debt ... £11,015,(WO Other securities W34.000 ' ' Gold ... ... 53,019,000 £71, <68,000 £71,468,000 Banking Department. Proprietors' Gov. securicapital £«,553,000 ties £51,043,000 Public do- Other securiposits' ... 09,578,000 ties 136,395,000 Other de-. , posits ... 109,563,000 J\otes "38,338,000 Best, 7-day and other bills ... 3,220,000 Coin U4O.COQ £•226.514.000 £226,914,000 The leading 'items ol the Bank of England return afford tie following comparison This week Last week Last-year £ £ £ Bullion 53,019,000 55.368.000 38.303,000 I Ifeserve ... 39.178,000 42.033,000 20,675,000 Koto Circulation 33,130,000 82.1147.000 28,703,000 Public Deposits 99.578,000 113,042,000 18,074.000 Other Deposits 109.563.000 101,759,000 11,916.000 Proportion of reserve to liabilities 18.87 19.56 47.10 GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. The following are the latest quotations for Colonial Government securities in comparison with those ruling last week:— Variation ctori, compared aocu pdce witu last week. £ s. d. 2*% Imperial Consols 65 0 7 28/1 lower 4 ~N .S. V .1933Jan.-,July 95 17 6 1-2/6 higher 34 .ii.S.V.igaO-EOllr.-Sp 06 5 0 c s lowei 3$ uK-S.'SV. Early Curr S3 10 0 Unchanged 3 : V N.B. W. tO-2j Apl.*Oct 7o 0 0 12/6 lower 4 „ Vic. 1920 Jan.-July 55 15 0 15s lower Si „Vic. 19-21-6 Jan.-July 91 7 6 2,6 higher 3 Vic. l'>29-49Jan.-July 76 0 0 2/6 lower 34 „S,A. 1916 Jnu.-July 85 5 0 ss.lower 3 ~S.A. 1916 Jan.-July 70 0 0 Unchanged 4 „QTdl9ls-'2J Jau.-July 95 5 0 Unchanged 34 tl Q'rdl922-47Jan.-July 1)1 10 0 5s higher 3 ~QTd 1922-47Jau.-July 71 10 0 35s lowdr 4 „N.i 5.1929 May-Kov. 95 2 6 2/6 lower 34 ~N.Z. l!)12-40Jan.-July 91 5 0 Unchanged 3 „N.Z. KM April-Oct. 76 5 0 Unchanged 35 „V.A.1916-35Ma.y-Nov 67 10 0 Unchanged 3 „W.A, 191. r >-35May-Nov E2 0 0 Unchanged 34 ~l'as. Ki'iOJan.-July £5 5 0 Unchanged „ Tas. 1920-40 Jau.-July 76 2 6 7,6 k-.vcr MOXEY MARKET. The Bank of England discount rate was on January 2, 1914, reduced from 5 to 41 per cent., on January 22 it was reduced to 4 per cent., and oil January 28 3 per cent. Ou July JO the rate was raised to 4 per ennt. and on January 28 3 per cent., and on August 1 it was further advanced to 10 per cent. On August 6 the rate was reduced to £ per cent., on August 1 it was furtier reduced to 5 per cent., at which rato it now stands. The Bank of France rate is 5 per cent., as against 4 per cent, last year. OPEN MAKKET KATES The open market discount rat-e for three months' bills is 41-8 per cent., as com* pared with 11 per cent, last week and 2 7-16 per cent, last year. Short loans axe quoted at 12 per cent., as against 13-8 por cent. last week,— and 23 per cent, last year. COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. Wheat.—The market is Etoadier owing to unfavourable reports of the American winter crop. Indian wheat is 6d. dearer. Flour.—The market is dull; buyers are reserved. Oats.—Market nuiet. New Zealand. 375.; Bahia Bla.n«i, June-July .shipments, 255. 6d. Peas and beans are steady. . Prices unchanged. Butter.—The market is steady. Prices: Australian, 1365. to 405.; exceptionally good, 1425. Cheoso.—The market is quiet, and prices aro steady. Bradford Tops.—The market is quieter, and the following arc the current quotations: Sixty-fours, 44d.; super sixties, 43Jd.; common sixties, 42»d.; fifty-sixes, 36d.; fifties. 33d.; forty-sixes, 26d.; forties, 26d. Apples and Pears.—The Clan MacArtlmr'B apple 6 were in very variable condition; some excellent and others very ripe and wasty. They sold at 4s. to 14s. per case. Many of the pears were worthless, and some were condemned. THE METAL MARKETS. . Silver.—Bar silver is quoted at 23 3-16 d. per ounce standard. Oopper.—On the spot, £80 15s. to £81 por ton; at three months, £82 to £82 ss. Electrolytic, £94 to £95. Tin.—On the spot, £168 ss. to £168 15s. per ton; at three months, £166 ss. to £166 15s. Lead—Soft foreign, £23 to £23 ICe. per ton. Spelter.—Ordinary brand 6, cash £95 per ton; forward, £80. Pig-iron.—Middlesbro' No. 3, 665. Id. Exhibitors at the Palmers'ton Show should remember that the benefits from their display will be but transient unless tho wider publicity obtainable from newspaper advertising is taken advantage of. By photographing; the exhibit, and leprcducing in "The Dominion," or having rame fully described by a reporter, not onlv will" those who attend the show be reminded of what they saw during their visit, but others who were linable to be present will be readied, and business prob. ably result. Special arrangements have been made to meet advertisers' wants in this respect. A representative will be in attendance at the paper stall just inside tho ontrance gates, where "The Dominion" will be on sale, or messages sent bo 22 Princess Street, Palmerston, will receive prompt attention.—Advt. Every prudent man carries "NAZOT," in his'vest pocket. Nothing so good for preventing and relieving coughs and Jjldai ffi doass< ..