London, December 28.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 330, 2 January 1889, Page 5

London, December 28.

A deputation, beaded by Sir William Armstrong, waited on Lord Salisbury to-day, and presented an address, in which the subscribers thereto stated they absolutely declined to initiate local defences of the Clyde forts, Mersey, Tees, and Tyne, submitting that this was a duty devolving on the Government. The necessity of taking urgent measures to place the defences on a proper basis was strongly urged ; and the address set forth that, in the opinion of the subscribers, the present defences were quite inadequate.

AUCKLAND PRODUCE MARKET. Farm and Dairy Produce.— Wholesale : Butter, prime fresh, 6d per lb ; cheese, Rood factory, 5d to 5Jd ; eggs, lOd; lard, in bladders, 5Jd to 6 jd ; bacon and hams, 6d to 8d ; Canterbury bacon in cloth, Btd; equal numbers, Bsd; hams.lOJd, in cloth.

Flour Makket.— Wholesale : FJour, beat roller, £15 10s ; second, £14 10s ; Southern flour, ifel2 to £12 15a; bran, £6; Southern do., £6 10s; local sharps, £5; Southern do., £5; cabin broad, £17 ; oatmeal (25' a), £20: oats, -4s to 4s 3d: maize. 4s 3d to 4a 6d; local potatoes (new), C8 5s por ton; pearl barley, £20 to £22 per top ; beans, 3a 3d; onions, 5s 6d to 6s 6d. All grain, chaff, oatmeal, etc., sold including sacks.

Kauri Gum. ~ The market is steady, and business is being done at the following quotations : — Fair to good ordinary, £33 : East Coast, £43 ; inferior lots, from £30. Supplies for December to date, 580 tons. Supplies for the year 1888, 8,415 tons ; exports for 1888, 8.341 tons.

Coal and Fibkwood Market. — Coal : Newcastle, at yard, 32s per ton; Bay o£ Islands, at mines, 13a. at yaids, 245; steam, 245; house, delivered, 30s; Waikato, at mines, Bs, 12s; at Auckland, 18s to 22a; Taupiri, at mine. Bs. 12s; at Auckland, steam, 17s 6d; household, delivered, 24s to 25b; Whangrarei, at mine. 9s 6d: yard, steam, 17s 6d; household, 235; delivered, 255 ; Miranda, at mines, 7s to 10s ; at Auckland, 17s to 20s. Firewood: Uncut, at wharf (cargo), 6s 6d to 8s 6d per ton ; delivered, 10s to 12s; cut, 14s to 16s.

Manures.— Bonedust: Sydney, £7 to £8, ac oording to quality ; boneflour, £8 to £8 10s Auckland, £8 ; Peruvian guano, £17 ; Long Island do., «4 103, bags included ; Fison's fertiliser, £7 to £14 ; superphosphate, first < quality, £7 103 to £8 ; second quality, £6 to £t \oa : Craigs lime, 35s to 40s per ton.

Building Matkrijuls.— Prices are as follow at present:— 'Timber— -Boards and scantling, 100 ft best, 12s 6d ; second-class, 8s; best planed, toneued and grooved, first-class,l4s6d; medium, lls 6d ; second-class, 9s 6d ; rusticated vrdather boards, first-class, 14s6d; medium, 12a; secondclass, 10s. New Zealand p» linns, sft (sap), 9s; (heart), lls 6d; ti-treo rails, £3 10s per 100; puriri posts, £6 10s to £7 10s; shingles. 13s per 1.000; - Hobort palings, sft, 17s; 6ft. 19s; Hobarfc rails, 80s, Belling quotations; Bricks at Avoudalo, 30s per 1,000; town yards. 38s, delivered 41s. Drain pipes, at works: Sa, drain tiles. 12in lengths, 50s per 1,000; 2A\n, 70s; 3ft, 90s; 4in, 130 a; 6in, 303 per 100: 3ijj socket pipes, 2ft lengths, 6d each : 4ini 7d ; ;6in, 9d ; 9in,