COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 87, 5 January 1918, Page 11

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Every effort is being: pul forward in England to markot basic slag. All the available material is being ground, and tho production far exceeds pre-war figures. It is estimated that tho output for 1917-18 will bo 500,000 tons, compared with 400.0C0 tons of previous years. The demand, however, oxceeds .tho supply, and it is proposed to grind accumulations oflowergrade slags not hithorto utilised. Customs duty collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £4598 19s. lOd. MOTTJEKA'S EXPORTS. Tho annual return of exports of prodluoe, oattle, tote., from the Jlotueka Wharf for tho year ondcel December 31, 1917, is as follows (the ioturn for 1916 is given in parentheses) :-Wool. 1085 bales (779); hops, 312 bales |8M); hemp, 219 bales (447); tow, 34 bales (70; sheepskins, 67 bales (88); do., 125 bundlos (131); fruit, 227,382 bushels (214,767); ct?gs, 2905 cases (3111); butter, 2091 boxes (1359); honey, 89 boxes (97); beeswax, Z boxos (5): cream; 61 cans (354); poultry, 205 coops (lf.V: tallow, 24 casks (26); horsehair, 1 bale (P; whitehait. 3 4-gallon tins (14); marble. 63 blocks cases, etc. (65); sheep, 647 (1969); pigs, 59 («); cattle, 99 (1); horses. 4 (0): potatoes, 901 sacks (700); oats, 0 (39 sacks); pens, 78 sacks (109); graßs seed, 5 sacks (6); swedes, 108 wiclns (197); enrrols. 3 sacks (0); melons, 165 , sacks (363); ivalnnt". 6 sacks (13); bacon, 10 sacks (11)- chaff, .1348 sacks (118); barloy, 605 sacks (7741; maize, 10 Books (5); -whect. 0 (91 sack*): jp.eetables, 93 sacks (186); hides. 338 (432); fresh fish, 99 crates (no record).

SOUTHERN '■GRAIN MARKETS. By Telegraph—Press . Association. Ghrlstchurch, January 4. A small shipment of Australian wheat arrived recently, but it will not buUico for moro than a fortnight's supply, and will uot go far in 'relieving the acute shortago of bran and pollard. So far tiiero'is no great scarcity ot liour. Nc further supply cf Australian whoat is expected in Cantorbiwy for a lew weeks, and it is doubtful if it may then arrive. Some now season's -wheat is expeotwt to bo available in a fortnight's time, but owing to tho lato wet weather it Is doubtful if itJ will bo fit for milling for a few weeks.

Applications have boen scut in by local brokers for 1 tho right to handlo the now Boasou's wheat crop on behalf of tho Government, but no appointments havo yet boon raada. Tho late raine have prevented the thrashing out of stook from being carried on, though there is a fair quantity of oats awaiting to be, dealt with. A few sales of now oats have been made. Algerians have been mostly on offer, nB a. largo area, was sown in this variety for green feed, and, not being required, waß kept for harvesting. It is therefore likely that Algerians will bo more plentiful this season in Canterbury than whito oats. Light Algerians havo been bought at 2s. 9d., heavier at 35., and good B grade Oartons at 35., at country stations. There is st-ill a little business doing in old oatsheaf chaif at £5, country stations, new oatsheaf chaff has been bought at ;E4 to £4 2s. 61 for immediate delivery, and £3 10s. at country -stations for forwatd dellvory. There is a fair amount of forward purchasing of cocksfoot seed being done at 9Jd. to 10d., arid one line was purchased at ll*d. A few samples of ryegrass 6eed have been offered, but no'sales are yet reported. It 'is stated that Italian ryegrass 1 socd ■will bo fairly plentiful. The wet weather on Banks Peninsula has delayed tho cocksfoot harvest.

, LONDON QUOTATIONS,. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. (Rcc. January 4, 9 p.m.) London, January 3. Bank of Australasia, £-114 155.; Bank of New South Wales. £35 155.; National Bank of New Zealand, £102 6a„ oi dividend; Bank of New Zealand, £79 Us. 6d.; New Zealand Loan aud Mercantile Agency Co., £69, £68 10b., ex dividend. ! THE METAL MARKETS. (Iteo. January 4, 11.45 p.m.) London, January 3. Copper.—£l2l per ton; electrolytic, .£123. Lead-Spot, £29 10s. per ton; three months, £27 10s. . Spelter.—Spot, £54 per ton; three souths, Tin.-Spot, £272 ss. per ton; threo months, £263 sb. Bar Silver,—43Jd. por oz. "iandard. PRICE OP TURPENTINE. i. (Reo. January 4, 9 p.m.) London, January 3. turpentine, is quoted at 1265. per cwt. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE MARKET. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Melbourne, January 4. Barley. Ohovalier and malting, 4s. 9cl. to 55,; Cape, 3s. .3d, to 3s. 3d.; Algerian, milling, 2s. Bid. to 2s. id.;.lced, 2s. 4&d. to 2s. M. Potatoes, £9 to £10 per ton Onions, £6 to £B 10s. per ton.