COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 86, 4 January 1918, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

LOWER CUSTOMS RETURNS. A big shrinkage of over £150,000 (as compared With the, proviouß year) is disclosed in the returns of Customj duty collected at the fort of Wellington during 1917. The quarterly returns (or the past two years compare as follow (shillings and pence omitted):— 1916, 1917. First quarter 286,637 283,693 , .beoond quarter 281,869 228,215 Third quarter 321,243 249,135 Fourth quarter 304,545 276,537 ' Totals 1,194,296 1,037,551 The returns for the month of December, 3917, are £83,698, as compared with £88,074 for , the same month in 1516. duty collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £5553 4s. 3d. MOTUEKA'S EXPORT, During 1917 Hotueka exported 227,382 bushels of fruit, as against 244,767 bushels in 1916. Other exports lor 1917 were 1085 mnV 5 " w ° ol, 312 1)11163 h °P 3 ' 219 bale 3 hemp. 2905 cases eggs, 2091 boxe* butter, 901 sacks potatoes, 1348 sacks, chaff, etc. ■ HIGH COHJfISSIONEK'S MARKET REPORT. . Certain words in the above-mentioned cablegram, dated London, December 29 have been repeated, with the result that it is now found necessary to make the loUowiug correction:— ■ Meat,—Home-killed mutton and beef selling at maiimum prices. Home-killed beef maximum price' has advanced to 12! d! owing to the scarcity of all descriptions of meat. Small supplies of New Zealand lamb released for Christmas trade by order of the Government. Argentine beef smfill supplies of chilled; hindquarters Ilia-, foreauarters 9J. Argentine frozen ox beef, first quality in fair supply; hinds lljd, fores 9 jd.. Following maximum wholesale prices hare been fixed for imported offal, beef livers, tongues, tails, hearts, kidneys, bonoleas beef, 9d„ lld„ 10d„ Hid-, llid- 12Jd. per lb. respectively. Sheep kidneyß, hearts, lamb hearts, Is. 9d„ 3s. 9d., 3s. 3d, Tier dozen. Sheep's tongues, lambd' tongues, sweetbreads, 10d„ lid., 15d. per lb.

FROZEN MEAT MARKET. Messrs. Gilbert Anderson and Co. (Messrs. Mellsop, Eliott and Co., Palmoraton North, local agents), report on the frozen meat markot, under dote London., October 5, .Releasee of Government-controlled colonial lambs reached the lowest figure on record so far, viz., 30,000 for the week.' Traders are now dealing in Home-grown meat to make up for the shortage. Supplies ofJßritish meat during the week have been sufficient for the domand, and much moro mutton and lamb is to he Been than of late. Beef has been rather short', but of better quality. According to the Board'of Trade returns, the retail prices of moat in this country on September 1, compared with September i, Jyl6, show on increase ajl round'of about 25 per cent. iMarket Prices for Weeks ending Oct. 5, Oct. 6, Sept. 28, 1917. 1916. 1917. Home-grown— Beef, sides 12 -121- 81-10} 114-13 Mutton,. wethers '... 13 10 -13 13 Mutton, owes 11.1-13 81-10 lZj-13 Tegs 13. 115-13) 13 1 Lambs 13 10i-13j 13 Veal '.... 10J-12. 1 , 101-12J 11 -13 Pork Hi 124-11 MJ FrozenMutton— N.Z. & Aus. wethers 32 8J 8? N.K. & Ans. ewes 8J 8 6J S.A. -wethers 11} BJ-7J 11} Lamb— N.Z. and Aue 10 9} 10 S. American 115 9 -81. 11l 8. American (Gov-ernment-controlled) 10 — 10 Pork, U.6.A None 9J-U None ChilledArgentine, oi fores 9J 73 9 Argentine, os hinds 114 91 11

AMEBICAN WHEAT SUPPLY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Keo. January 3, 7.60 p.m.) Chicago, January 2. Tho visible supply of wheat East of tho Eocky Mountains, is 23,481,000 bushels.— Aus.-K.Z. Oablo Asßn. AUSTRALIAN PIiODUOE MARKET. (liec. January 3, 9.45 p.m.) By Telegraph—Press. Association—Copyright Oats, Algerian, 3s. to 3s. Bd. per bushel; Tasmanian, 3s. lOd. to 3a. lid.; maize, 55.; potatoes, Tasmanian, £6 to £6 10s. per ton; onions, £10 to £11.