COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 89, 8 January 1918, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS

INVESTMENT SHARES The Wellington Stock Exchange reopened yesterday, and the following quotations for investment shares were recorded:— V Buyers. Sellers. „ . £8. d. £s. d. National Bank 5 2 6 — Bank N.Z. (old) 12 1 6 — Bank N.Z. (new) 17 0 0 - National Mortgage 317 6 — Well. Investment — 011 0 Well. Deposit o'6 4 — Christohurch Gas (£5).., — 6 10 Well. Gas (£10) - 13 0 0 S.B. Insurance ! 5 14 0 — Auckland Trams (ord.) ...10C 110 Well. Woollen (ord.) ... 610 0 — Waipa Colliery — 018 0 Taringamutu Totara .... — ISO Well. Opera H'se. (pref.) — 5 0 0 W.F.O.A. (£5) 6 6 0 - Customs duty collected at the port of i Wellington yesterday amounted to £2984 4s. Id. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRIES, AND COMMERCE. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S MARKET REPORT. The Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce, Jias received the following cablegram, dated London January 5, 1918, from the High Commissioner for New Zealand. (Note—Quotations, unless otherwise 'specified, are average market prices on 6potj:— .. Meat—Demand i 8 in excess of supply for all descriptions of meat, all selling at maximum prices. Owing to continued small supplies of home-killed mutton and beef, the Food Ministry have placed a" quantity of Australian mutton and New Zealand lainb at tho market to be sold in poorer districts, wholesale price in each oase Hid. Argentine beef, small supplies, nominal quotations. Argentine chilled beef, hinds, lljd.; fores, 9Jd.

Butter.—No supplies _ available of any description, no quotations. By order of the Government importation'is prohibited of Irish oreamery except under licence. Cheese—Cheese, is very -.scarce, with the exception of good supplies of Dutch, all selling at Government--prices. N Itemp—Manila and New Zealand mcrkets firm! but little doing. . Manila "output two weeks ending December 29. i'.POO bales. . ~ .Wheat and Oats.-Jlarket f|iuet, but steady.

All? RAID INSURANCE. In reply to a question regarding State insurance agaiußt air raid damage, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made the following statement in the House of Commons:—"A scheme has been prepared for giving owners of property not exceeding £500 in value compensation for damage done by air raids and bombardment with, out payment of any premium. Owners of property exceeding £500 in value would be compensated up to £500 without payment of premium, provided that all value in excess of £600 was insured under the Government insurance scheme. The new scheme would talto effect as from September 1. It would be' administered by a committee, and would be worked In close connection with the Government insurance scheme, which was under tha superintendence of the Board of Trade. In no circumstances will a refund of premium be made in respcct of any insurance that may have been effected with the Government." DEMAND FOR LEATHER. The magnitude of recent transactions in leather and footwear has been a cause for wonder, and strength has replaced the late yielding tendency in this quarter. With the purchase this month of more than 9,000,000 pairs of army shoes for the American Government and 1,500,000 pairs' for Russia, about £10,400,000 has been involved altogether, and tho total runs beyond £14,000,000 when tho sales of leather to Great Britain arc included. Never before in the history of the trade has so much busihcsB i been crowded into so short. a space of time, and It is said that the Russian Commission here is- negotiating for 5,000,000 pairs of shoes for civilian use, and also for further large supplies of 'leather. But Dot all of the noteworthy revival of activity has been ■duo to governmental buying, for regular domestic demands, both in leather and in footwear.' have broadened appreciably, though in leather it is observed that attempts to advance prices materially causa most buyers to withdraw.

LONDON MARKETS. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. London, January 6. Copra—On the spot..£4s per ton. Rubber.—Para, 2s. 9id. per lb.; plantation, 2s. 63d.;' smoked, 2s. 63d. Hemp.—Pair business at Government The few Australian Bheep and lambs at Smithfield sold at -Hid. per lb. A few rabbits were received, and were eagerly competed for at Government rates. The Wheat Commission has raised prices 2s. per qualrter. Australian, c.i.f., 795. 6d;; ex quay; it is quoted at 83s. 6d. to 84s. 3d.