COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2723, 18 March 1916, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

LOCAL MARKET REPORTS. , Since last reporting the glut of tomatoes has cased considerably, and . -well packed,, good, firm fruit -is now-' realaiing very much better prices. W.lth tho heavilyincreased shipments of ■ apples and pears the market is very dull, with prices in the_ buyers' favour. Generally speaking, fruit is certainly tho cheapest, commodity at the present timo of' high ■ prices, occa* sioned by tho war, but tho ipublic' have not ; so far recognisod this fact. ' Owing to tho exceptionally dry season it is' safe . predict a'short Bupply :6f ffreen vegetables for tho coming winter, so that while prices aro normal for root, crops it is advisable to buy winter .'supplies. Potatoes and onions arc unchanged,' while fresh eggs' are decidedly firmer. . To-day's approximate value,9 are— ' American lemons, 225. to 38s. 6d. per casaj grapes, 6d. to Is. 3d. per lb., according l to sample- . Choice round tomatoes, 4s. 6d., ss. 6d. nolf-case; firm tomatoes, 3s. 6d:-to 53;'3i Half-case; ripe tomatoes, 2s. to 3s.'3d.- half, case. . ' Dessert, ipeara Winter 0010, Bs. 9d:,-' Marie po'use,' 65., fo. 9d.; Beurra Bosc, 3s. 5d 4s. 9d.; Beurro de Gapiamont, 45., 4s. 9d'• Dendcl do Elver; 4s„ 4s. 9d.; Conference',

45., 4s. 6d.; superfine, 45., 4s. 6d.; Williams, 65., Ts.; Beurre UlairgMui, 45., 4s. 6(1.; tlciuTo dc Amblis, 45., 55.; Bishop's llhumD, 3s. 9(1., 4s. 3d.; cooking pears, 4s. case. Persimmons, 2s. £<!., 3s. lialf-oase.

Dessert poaolics, 3s.' 6<1., 4s. 6d. half-caso, cooking poaches, 45., 4s. 6d. case.

Dessert apples lUbstone Pippins, 45., 55.; Oox's Orange, 4s. 9d., 65.: Jonathans, 3s. Gil., 45.; Charles Koss, 45., 4s. 3d.; Duke of Clarence, 45.; cooking apples, Alfrcston, 33. .6d., 4s. 3d. case; Jluiiroo's Favourite, 3s 6d., 4s. 6d,j Relnctto du Canada, 3s. 34 4s. ease. • Plums: 35., 3s. 6d. half-case. Vegetables.—Choicest cabbago?, 95., ISs 6d. sack; other cabbages, 35., 65.; choice cauliflower, Bs. 6d., 10s. 6d.; others, 2s. 6d., 45.; pumpkins, 65., &s. sack; marrows, 45., 6s. sack; Swedes, 45., 4s. 6d. ease; carrots, 55., 7s. sack; parsnips, 6s. 6d., Bs. sack; i tuTni'ps, 4s. r os. 6d. sack; French, beans, Is. 6d., 2s. part saek; green peas, 12s. 6d., 13s. 6d. sack; lettuce, 2s. fid. to 6s. 6d. case; ' spinach, 3s. to 4s. case; colcry, 2s. 6d., 3s. dozen; herbs, 2s. dozen; rhubarb, 45., 6s. do«en; cucumbers, 25., 3s. dump; potatoes, £7, £9 ton; onions. 4s. 9d., ss. bag; fresh eggs, Is. Bd., Is, 9d, dozen. HIDE AND ,SKIN SALE. Messrs. Dalgety and Company, Li'mited, report as follows:—Our usual fortnightly sale of wool oddments, skins, hides, and tallow took place yesterday, when wo sub* nutted a fcatist'aotory catalogue of all lines. " Bidding was not brisk, mainly owing to the lluctuations of the London m'arKet and the uncertainty over hido shipments, but we managed to dispose of the bulk of our offering at Quite satisfactory prices. Making a comparison with our salu a fortnight ago, we find sheepskinu just about on a par with tho prices then ruling. Hides sold better, and with an extra fillip to tho market we were able to dispose of ipassed-in lines from last gUJe at what we consider satisfactory prices, but the market is still depressed. Messrs. Levin an>d Co. report as follows regarding yesterday's sale:—Wool: Nothing was offered except a few odd fadges is being held for tho nest wile. •Sheepskins: For best crossbreds market fully up to la&fc sale. For short to halfwools market down id. Other class, firm. Hi'des: There was no sale of beet ox and cow, owing to buyers not bidding abovo the minimum rates fixed under the embargo. All these lots wero passed in. Othe.v linos were firm at slight advance. New Zealand Ljan and] Itercaaitilo Agency Company- report:— I The usual fortnightly sale was held yesterday. Buyers were In good attendance, and. bidding was spirited for bag.wool'and skins, of course at about the level of values established at last sale. There was a more general inquiry for hides, and prices were slightly higher than previous sale.

Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report as follows:—Wo had a good catalogue of all classes of produce. There was the usual attendance of buyers, and everything sold on a, ipar with last sale. Tanners were not prepared to pay moro than the minitaum fixed prices for hides over 451b., consequently ail hides of these weights wero withdrawn.

Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. xoport:—At the fortnightly sale of skins, 0t0.,' held yesterday, prices for skins were I on a par with those ruling the Eale which was held here on March 3. Hides were also on tho same basis. Tallow was 'isliglit'y caster.

l'jje United Farmers' Co-opcrativo tion, Ltd., and the Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association, Ltd., also send in a report giving the prices realised.

The range of prices realised is as fo] lows :-r

Sheepskins.—Halfbred, lid. to llid.; lino crossbred, llid. to lljd.; medium coarse crossbred, 9Jd. to 10} d.; 'short to half-wools, 6d. to 93d.; dead and damaged crossbred, 6d. to lOid.; inferior and badly damagecf. Id. to 6!d.; lambs. 71d. to lid.; damp, salted. and. green, 2s. to 9s. 3d.; pelts. Is. Id. to 6s. 9d.; lambs, salted, Is. 6d. to ss. Id.

Hides—Ox, heavy, 10d.; ox, medium, 10d.; 01, light, 9d. to 10d,; cow, heavy, 9d.; cow, medium, Bj|d.ito,9Jd.; oow, light, BRd. to 98d.; cut, slippy, and inferior, sd. to SJd.: bull stag, 7d. to BJd.; yearlings, 7jd. to 9 3-Bd.; calf, medium to good, 9d. to lid.; calf, damaged, 3d. to SJd; Tallow.—ln casks, 265. 91. to 28s. 3d.; .in tans, 19s. to 235. 9d.

Sundries.—Horsehair. lOd. to 18! d.: cow. tail*. Is.

Messrs. Murray, Roberta and Co. report :- 3 We offered a catalogue of 22C0 sheepskins £ and 600 hides at yesterday's sale, in addi ' tioa to the usual oddments of tallow, am i, wool. Prices for wool and sheepskin . maintained last sale's level. There wa ,■ keener competition for damaged hides a advanced prioes, but we have no chango t< J record from the position in regard U L hide) of 451b. and over, which, owing t< " the embargo on exportation, ate not al ' lowed to leave the country. The t-op pric* ! for ox being lOd.; cows, 9d., excopting it r the case.of light-weight hides, which occasionally 'sionally brought Jd. more. The bull j of the medium and heavy-weight hidei . were passed in at prices bid, as.owneri ' are not disposed at present to accep' | prices which are cleaTly considerably be 1 low the level of those ruling outside Nev ■ Zealand. Tallow showed a decline of fullj i .tl' per ton, due probabls. to the fact tha little or no shipping apace is available a' present .for export. The New Zealand Fanners' Co-oiperativ< Distributing Co.. Ltd., report having 'offeVec a oitaloguo of about 1000 skins. Compared with last sale, values were fairly steady ■ In the oase of first pelts tv rather fcfgAei demand was noticeable, and prices foi these were in favour of sellers. | BANK' OF ENGLAND'RETURN. , By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrighl i (Bee. Moroh 17, 9110 p.m.) London, Maroh 16. The Bank of England, return issued foi the week ended Wednesday, March 15, is j as under:— Issue Department. Note Issue £72,069,000 Gov. debt ... £11,015,000 1 ' Other securi- | ties ' 7.434.00 C I, ' Gold 54,220,00! 1 . £72,669,000 £72,669,00 C Banking Department. • > Proprietors' ' Gov. securicapital £14,553,000 ties £32,839,000 . Public de- Other securiposits ... 52,404,000 ties 02,433,000 Other deposits ... 05,276,000 Notes 89,757,000 Rest, 7-day i and other . . bills ■ ... 3,705,000 Coin 909.000 £165,938,000 £165,938,000 The leading items of the Bank of England return afford tie following comparison:— This week Lastweek Lastyear Bullion 54.220.000 55,096,000 58.028,000 BeEerve ... ,40.666.000 41.424,000 43.550.000 Note Circulation 32.012,000 33,104,000 34,065,(100 Public Deposits 5-J.404.0U0 . 52.175.000 70.050.000 Other Deposits 95,276.000 97,036,000 100.401,000 Proportiou of . , reserveto liabilities 27.53 27.76 25.58 GOVEENMENT SECURITIES. The following are the latest quotations for Colonial Government securities in comparison with thoso ruling Just week:— Variation Price. last week. £ s. d. . 25% Imperial Consols 57 5 0 2/6 higher 3J,, "War Loan 87 10 0 5s higher 4j „ War Loan 96 15 0 Unchanged 4 ~N.5.W.1933Jan.- July 84 0 0 Gs higher ~N.5.W.1930-50Mr.-Sp 95 5 0 5s higher 35 Earls' Curr 69 15 0 2/0 lower 3 ~N.B.\V. 1925Ap1.-Oct 69 15 0 3/61ower 4 Vic. 1920 Jan.-July 03 15 0 2/6 lower 35 „Vic. 1921-6 Jan.-July 63 5. 0 2/6 higher 3 „Vic.1929-49Jan.-July 62 10 0 20s higher - 5 „S,A. 1916 Jan.-July 73 17 6 Unchanged * ~B.A. 1916 Jan.-July 57 7 6 Unchanged * ~Q'l'dlols-24 Jan.-July 89 5 0 7/0 lower •4 „QTdl922-47Jan.-July 85 15 0 Ss lowor - „QTdlo22-47Jan.-July 62 5 0 5a lowor * "N.Z. 1929 May-Nov- 86 12 6 7/6 lowor .4 'N.Z. 3912-40Jau.Jiy 72 10 0 Unchanged „ "N.Z. 1920 April-Oct 62 17 6 Unchanged i '-W.A. 1015-35 M'y-N'v 74 10 0 30s lowor "W A, 1915-35 M'y-Nov 68 12 6 2/0 lower <>5 "Tns 1920 Jan-July 70 12 6 7/6 higher 3 "l'as 1920-40 Jan-July 05 0 0 Unchanged ■ MONEY MARKET. The Bank of England discount rate was on January 2, 1914, reduccd Irom 5 to 4J per cent., on January 22 it was reduced to' 4 pilr c«nt., and on January 23 3 per tent On July 30 the j-ato was raised to 4 per oent., and on July 31 it was raised to 3 per cent., and on August 1 It was further advanced to 10 per cent. On August 6 tbo rate was reduced to 6 per cent., on August 7 it was further reduced to 5 per cent., at which rate it now stands. The Bank of France rate is S per cent., as ogaiust 4 per cent, prior to the war. OPEN MARKET RATE. Tho open market discount rate for threo months' bills is 5 1-16 per cent.,' as compared with 5 1-16 per cent, last week and 2 3-6 per cent, last year. Short loans are unolcd at 4} per cent., as against 4J j>er cent, last week, and l'j per cent, last year. ■ COLONIAL AND OTHER PRODUCE. Wheat is dull and drooping; 665. 6d. is asked for Australian por steamer, MayJune shipment, and 655. 6d. per sailer now loading.' Flour, is steady and inactive. are.dull. Cahia Illanca on passago. Peas and beans aro neglectcd and unchanged. Butter is firm. Danish,' 180s. to 1845.; Australian has been- cleared. New Zealand is unchanged. Qheese.—The market is very strong as supplies are short. Now Zealand, 102s, to i.o4s. Sugar is Etoady and unohanged. Jlradford Tops.—The market is very slow but steadier in tone, 'Sixty-fours, .shim: sixties. 41id>i common sis ties. Mid,; J,

iifty-six&s, o'M.; fiftdos, 31Jd.; forty-gixOßi 23d.; forties, 265 A. METAL MARKETS. Ccpper, od Spot, £106 pur' ton; forward delivery, £100 155.; electrolytic, £135; forward delivery, £137. Tin, on spot, £195 per ton; forward do livery, £190 10s. Lead. s rt ft foreign, £35 to £35 ss. per ton. Spelter, on spot, £92 per toil; forward delivery, £80. Pig-iron, 88s. per ton. Silver.—Bar silver is quoted at 27Jd. per ounco standard. SOUTHERN MABKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association. ■ • Ghrtstctiurch, M&rcli 17. The wheat market, has been fairlv quiet during the week, and buyers, aro still indifferent about making purchases. A number of lines sold, principaily Tuscan, at 4r. t-o 4s. 2d..at country stations, ivitlx lower price for out-of-condition or secondclass milling wheat. Hunters o.n<l Pearl aro worth a littlo more, but Tuscan is chiefly ottering. The price of bran has been reduced to £3 10s., and pollard to £6 for shipping. Flour is reported to be selling at less than the published price of £13. The oats market is weaker. Gortons aro Quoted at 2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d., and Duns 2s. M. to 3s. 'at. country stations. The lower prices ara due to the weaker market in Southland.. There is very little sale for oatshcaf chaff, and there is no change in potatoes. LOXDON WOOL SALES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright -. (Rev. March 17, 9.10 p.m.) London, Mojc.li 16. At the wool sales there was a better demand for faulties, affd good competition for the best sorts, prices for- which were harder. The To Puru clip averaged 17d., tho top price being 18d, , YICTOKIAN PRODUCE MARKET. By Telegraph—Pre6s Association—Copyright Melbourne, March 17. Bran, £4 10s. • Pollard, £5. Barley, English, 4s. 3d.; Ohevalier, 4s. 9d.; Cape, 3s. 2d. to 3s. 3d. Oats, milling Algerians, 2s. 2&d. to 2s. 3d.; feci, 2s. to 2s. 2d. Potatoes, £10 to £13 15s. Onions, £3 10s. t-o £3 15s. Customs duty oollectei at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £6042 18s. lOd. MINING NEWS WAffll SHAKES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Eec. March 17, 9.10 p.m.) 'London, March 16. Waihi shares are quoted at;— Buyers, 3os. Id,; sellers, 345. 4d.