COMMERCIAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 82, 6 December 1913, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

__ <►_ : WELLINGTON WOOL SALES. [Pee Press Association. I Wllingon, December 5. The local wool sales started to-day. There was an aggregate catalogue of 10,000 bales offered, or 1150 less than &\ the corresponding sale last year. The opening prices were about on a par with those of the Napier sales held this week, but at the opening of the sale the prices were Id to lid per lb below those ruling at the Wellington sales of December last. The condition of the wool this year was not quite so good as that of the wool offered last year. Bidding on the whole was exceptionally keen, but it was obvious at the outset that farmers' idea.s of values were above the actual market prices. American buying was practically a negligible quantity, but the Continent was well represented,followed by Bradford, and the local mills,who bought well. N.Z.L. AND; M.A. CO. Wellington, December 5. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. lias received a cable fi;om its London office advising that the Company will,hold its annual meeting, in London on December 18. After writing off bad debts and the customary replacements, also writing £20,000 off the premises account, providing a further £5,000' towards the staff benevolent fund, and carrying £20,000 to reserve from profits,, making a total reserve of £276,878, the directors recommend-the pajment of a dividend of 5 per cent, per/ annum on cumulative preference shares.(half of which i was paid in July.last), a.dividend of I 5 per cent*, on ordinary shares, and instealments of call under the. scheme, and that £14,238 8s be carried foiv ward.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Limited, have received the following cablegram from their London house under date 3rd instant: "Wheat.—Sold an Australian cargo at; 36s 4£d c.i.f. ' Very little demand owing to favorable crop reports. Argentina market not likely to improve at present.

Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile

The. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., Stratford branch, report as follows: — On Wednesday, 25th November, we held our monthly sale in our Te Wera yards, when Ave yarded 100 head of cattle and two horses, disposing of 82 head, prices being as follows:—Yearlihg steers 50s to 645, empty heifers 655, 70s 6d, 78s to.Bos, store cows 695, 70s, up to 80s, dairy cows in nvilk 122 s 6d, springing heifers 110 s to 1255, bulls o4s to 85s. On Friday, 28th November, we held a cleaving sale.on account of,Mr E. S. Barton on the Tariki Road. Thero was a large attendance, most of the sundries and young cattle offered being very keenly cdmpeted for. Prices as follows:—"Sandmv" woolpress £lO 10s, scoop 555, 9-coulter F.F. drill £32, disc harrows £B, single furrow ploughs £4 and £5,155, saddle £3 Is, Price's stumping jack £5 15s, tip dray £6 ss, aged mare £l6, aged gelding £26, 5 year gelding £23 10s, line pf 18 months steers in good condition 71s 6d, smaller stuff 53s 6d, 15 mouths heifers 575, 2 year empty heifers £3 6s to £4 6s, Holstoin bull sgns., empty cows 82s to 117 s, cows in milk Via to 110 s, weaker calves 275. ' ' '"

On Tuesday, 2nd irist., we held our usual fortnightly Stratford sale, when we yarded 442 head of cattle, selling 200 head, prices being as follows: — 15 month steers 53s to 66s 6d, mixed yearling cattle 47s to 56s 6d, 15 month heifers 55s up to 71s 6d for good colored heifers, 2 year empty heifers 75s to 80s 6d„ 2 year steers OOs to 04s, 3 year steers lis, store cows 40s to OOs, forward cows 100 s up to 119 s Od, bulls 132 s and 1365.

During the week we have disposed of stock privately at the following rates:—ls to 18 month steers up to 71s 6d. 15 months colored heifers 73s 6d to 81s 6d, 2 year steers up to 955, forward cows in demand up to 105 s, store cows 60s up to OOs, 2-tooth wethers ('mixed) lis 6d up to Its 3d, 2 and 4 tooth wethers lis 6(1 to 13s 93, ewes and lambs 20s to 245.