COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2525, 28 July 1915, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

■ INVESTMENT SHAKES. . In the. investment-, market 'yesterday there were sales of Bank of New Zealand (old) at £10;15s„ and Union Bank at £54 155.. The quotations were as follow:— Buyers.. Sellers. £ s. d. £ B. d " Well. Trust. Loam Ltd. - '7,80 Well. Gas (£10) - • 17 0 0 South • British Insurance 415 0 • — Christchurch Meat —' 16 6 0 Gear Moat (£4) — ► 17 0 0 -Gear .Kent (£1) - ' . '. 410 0 Union Steam (ord.) ....... —. . 1 .3 9 Union Steam (pref.) — 10 7. .Westport Ccnl .— 1,11 6 AVestport-Stoekton 0 5 0 ■ — Leyknd-O'Brien; ........... 12 0 — Hit- Brus.' 00. -" .276 Golden Bay Cement ...... — 11 9 Sharland , (ord.)' : i 2 3 — Sharland (p'rcf.) .1 23. — Customs duty collected in the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £2188 3s. ■ VIEOL IN PUBLIC HEALTH WORK. . Presiding at the annual general meeting of Virol, Ltd., held on June 4 last, Mr, B, S. Straus (chairman) stated that the sales in the last quarter of 1 the financial year established a record in the trade of the company as compared with the corresponding period. of any previous year. The business done 'with hospitals', consumptive sanatoria, and public institutions had

(shown remarkable developments, tlicre boiug, apart from the large number of hospitals , that obtained their supplies through trade channels, over 1100 of inose institutions on tho books as regular eusomers. In connection with the movement for the promotion of infant welfare, to which so much attention has been devoted in Tecent years, both by the Government and tho public health authorities, lie was pleased, to find that,. virol was playing an important part. It had been "widely adopted in tho infant consultations baby clinics that are now established in all parts of the country. The value of this movement had always been recognised by social reformers, and its importance could hardly be over-estimated in the present appalling wastage to them-to know that those responsible for this work so fully appreciated tho ideal combination, of food constituents in virol. Its special value to adults in cases of nervous breakdown, and in convalescence was a.lso generally acknowledged. lie was pleased, to report that they were supplying virol to lied Cross societies and military hospitals, though on this department of their business they did not look for profit. ■ The special facilities afforded by the virol research laboratories under tile direction of 1 Br. Edward Burnet had been highly appreciated. A- largo number of public bodies, hospitals, and medical practitioners had availed themselves of these model laboratories, the admirable equipment of which had been highly commended by all, tho members of tho profession who had visited them. The accounts showed a gross profit of £72,'428 6s. lOd. After deducting debenture interest the net profit'including the amount brought forward was £23.013 19s. Id. Tho directors' recommended tho payment of a dividend at tho raite of 12 per cent, for tho year, being the third year in succession at that rate, the placing of £SCOO to reserve fund, bringing that account up to £27,500 and the carrying forward of £10,013 <3. Id. He was pleased to fay the record rate of increase of the last few months of the financial year had continued up to date. The report and accounts were unanimously adopted. SO OTHERJT MARKETS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) , • Christchurchi July 27. The local grain and produce markets are very quiet, and the small amount of business that is passing is between merchants, there being practically nothing doing with growers. There is no change to note in prices, though the tone of the meirkets generally is weaker. There is only a small amount of business 1 doing in potatoes, stores at Oliristchurch and Lyttelton. holding heavier stocks than has been the case at this' time of year for a verjr long time past. This is due to heavy buying' oil the forks, tho 'dearth of North Island ■ orders, and the slow shipment to Australia. The crop in the Dominion was also probably larger than was estimated. . BUTTER AND CHEESE. Messrs. A. S. Peterson and Company, Ltd., Wellington, have been advised by cablegram - froni their London principals, Messrs. J. and J. Lonsdale and Co.. Ltd., as follows:—Butter: Tho market is firm, and choicest is exceedingly scarce. Cheese: Canadian, is quoted at 745. Ail upward tendency is now probable. LONDON WOOL SALES. Messrs. - Dalgety and Company, Limited,, have received the following cablegram from their London office, unaer date July 24:—The fifth series of wool sales closed firm for best wools, but other sorts were irregular. Compared with closing rates of last sales s.uper and good scoured merinos showed an advance of 15 per cent., and average sorts 10 per cent., but faulty and wasty were unchanged. There is no demand for wools for carbonising purposes. Good lambs' wool was .on a par with last 6alc's rates, but short and faulty 6 per cent, lower; and shabby 7k per cent, Fine' scoured 'and slipe showed a decline of 7i per cent, to 10 per cent., and. coa.rso ■10 to 15 per cent. Wool ex the following vessels was held over:—Athenic, Delphic, Corinthic, Matatua, Tainui, Miltiodes, Benalla; 143,M0 bales wero sold to the Homo trade; - 15,000 to the Continent,; 6000 to America: 59,000 not offered; 13,200 withdrawn from sale. ' ; Messrs. Levin and. Co., Ltd., have received cable advice from their London agents that the wool sales liave closed. : Crossbred generally showing a decline , of 12 per cent, on opening rates j best merino advanced 5 per cent.; lower grade merino unchanged. ' The following clips.liavo beensold on their account:—FC/N, Nelson, 163 d.; F. Blenheim, 173 d.; WTB, Nelson, 16Jd.; FEN/K, Nelson, 143 d.; KE/SB, Nelson, 13it1.; JLA, Nelson, 153 d.; WBW, Wanganui, 15d.; MAIIAHATJ, Wanganui, Hid.; ItA/M, Nelson, 13Jd. ' ■ . WOOL SHIPMENTS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copy right London, July 26. Wool shipments which havo arrived include:—Australia, 51,562 bales; New. Zealand, 54,517 bales; Cape, 14,266 bales. Held, 72,000 bales; available, 192,345 bales. . » WHEAT. .' London, July 26. Wheat.—The market is firm. There are fefr offers. METAL MAEKETS. • London, July 26. Copper.—On the. spot, • £71 15s. to £72; three months, £72 17s. 6d, to £73 2s. 6d.; electrolytic, £88 to '£90. Tin—On the spot, £161 15s. to £162 55.; three months, £159 15s. to £160 ss. Spelter, £102' and £85. Silver, 221 d. per ounce standard. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report having conducted a most successful clearing sale on behalf of Mr. J. 0. Jefferson, Atea, on Monday. The dairy cows, which were low to, condition, sold remarkably well, mailing up to £13'155„ the whole herd averaging £6 17s. 6d.; three-year-old heifers made from £5 to £7 10s.; two-year-olds, from £4 to £6.