COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2721, 16 March 1916, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

MINING NEWS

INVESTMENT; SHARES. .Thero were no transactions recorded In . investment market yesterday. The (juofcations wcro as under:— Buyers. Rollers. Xt £ s. d. £ e. d. •National Bank 5 10 5 2 0 Bank N.Z.- (£6 13s. 4d.) ... 16 10 0 16 14 0 (Jisborne Gaa \ u & Napier Gas (£5) — « JO 0 Well. Gas (£lO - 15 15 0 National Insurance 2 9 3 — Standard Insurance 115 3 — Union Steam (ord.) 17 6 18 0 Union Steam (pref.) 113 Kauri Timber (155.) 0 14 9 — «./.. Consul. Dental 10 3 • — N.Z. Drug 2 4 9 N. 6. Pupc- lulls o lo v — FBOZEN HEAT THADE. A comprehensive review of the frozen meat trade for 1915, by Messrs. \V. Weddel and Co., of St v Helen's Place, London, 13.0., states that 1915 was altogether an abnormal year, not so. in respect of the volumo ot importations, or the range of prices, or tho opening upiof new markets and sources of snpply, as tho fact that practically the whole .trade was takon out of commercial hands and put under official control. Tho Continent played a much more important part than usual in tho year's trade, as the quantities directed to Franco and Italy were estimated to have amounted tO~"over 150,000 tons, against an estimatod total ol 26,210 tons in 1914. In France tho increased consumption by tho army wan met to a large extent by the introduction of entirely new supplies of frozen meat, with the result that valuen of French home-grown meat rose but littla above normal, while in England the ini-port-ation of meat being barely maintained, and tho home supplies snowing no great expansion, tho increased army consumption naturally brought about an im-

' ■ 'f advance in values. On the whole, therefore, comparing 1915 - with 1914, tlit. civil population in France was in a better position than tlfat of the United King, dom, through being permitted to use British ships to suppi*Mcnt their home eupply by importing frozen meat for the army from Australia, South and North America,, Canada, Madagascar, Brazil, eto Taking ICO as indicating the average of top quotations recorded for twelve leading descriptions of frozen meat, for {Tie past lea years, the index figure for J915 was 161.18, as compared with 122.61 for 15*4,103.56 for 1913, 96.65 for 3.912, and 86.26 for 1911, Wholesale values have risen by 86 per cent, within five years, and two-thirds of that advance has taken place since August, 1914. Stated otherwise, the averag'o prices current oil kimtthfield Market in 1915 show on increase of over 40 per cent, since tho outbreak of war. The world's export outvat of froien and chilled beef, mutton, end lamb in 1915 is estimated at 882,658 tons, compared with 800,413 tons in' 1914 and 767,311 tons in 1913.

With regard to prosjwsts for the', trooc, it is stated that, ail the -markets existing when the -war broks 'ait lemaia tnta«t, And it is almost certain that additional Markets are being created by' the -war in France, Belgium, and Italy. There is good reason to expect a high level of values when normal conditions again prevail. . LONDON "WOOL SALES. By Telegraph-Press' Association-Copyright (Reo. Uarch 16, 0.20 a.m.) ' , Londotii Maroh, 14. : .At the wool saloe there wiis a, large offflring of New Zealand crossbreds. Competition Was move general and prioes firmer. The ats ? Sor m crinos were maintained. ; TUe following were the prices realised for the fleece portions of -.the clips 'named — price 19; d„ average price IBJd.; Pamkau, top 19id. t average 18Jd.

Messrs. Dalgety and Company, Limited, Wellington, report as follows :-"Referring to the cablegram received from our London office on Tuesday, we have to advise that they have further reported that 1 medium and faulty merinos are 10 per cent.

_Oustoms duty collected at the pori of Wellington yesterday amounted to £1698 13s. sd.

WELLINGTON SHARE MARKET. The depression, in the mining market continues and again yesterday, there was no business to report. Tho quotations were as follow:— Buyers. : • Sellers. , r __ £ s. d. £ a. d. Morray Creek 2 5 0 — Success Dredge — 1 !0 6 Waihi 1.15 0 — STOOK EXCHANGE.. By Telegraph-Press Association. Auckland, March 15.Sales on 'Changei-Talisnmn, 14s. 6d.; Grand Junction, 19s. 3d,; Waipa Coal, 18s.; Auckland Trams (ord.), 21s. ROSS GOLDFIELDS, LTD, i The mine superintendent of the Ross Goldfields reports as follows 'on tho work at the mine for the past week-.-The cast drivo was advanced 33 feet, making a total progress of 113 feel from No. 19 north drlvr, The blue wash passed through was of medium sue and of low-grade value. The brown terrace bottom again dipped, and is now under the soll&r boards. 19 north drive at 100 ■ feet north No. 3 test rise was started, and is now up 10 feet The blue wash encountered was fairly rough,, and prospects showed. tallies rang* ing from 2s. down to fine colours of gold per truck. . Blocking is proceeding around «'•. 14 south drivb, and the removal of the pillars between Nos. ? and 11 north drives. .