COMMERCIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1922, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

WESTPORT COAL COMPANY By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Nov. 8. The annual report of the Westport Coal Company reveals a profit of £48,441. The directors recommend a dividend of Is 3d per share for the half year ended September 30 and a bonus of Od per share from the insurance fund. WELLINGTON MEAT COMPANY. NO DIVIDEND DECLARED. Wellington, Nov. 8. The Meat Export Company’s balance-sheet for fifteen months shows an unprofitable year. The profit, including the balance brought forward, was £42,415, and The expenses £34,765. To enable £15,009 to be written off for . depreciation £Bll3 was taken from the reserve fund, leaving £763 to be carried forward. Consequently no dividend will be declared. A sum of £15,000 stands to the credit of the dividend equalisation account, but the directors preferred not to touch It. The alteration of the financial year, which brought three months of the slack season into the account, when the revenue is small, and the expenses still go on, partially accounts for the position.

WAIKATO MARKET. The Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Company. Limited, report:— Beef.—There is no alteration to report in the beef market; everywhere steadiness prevails. Multon.—The markets recently have been scmcwhnt bare of mutton, but no advance has been observed, values remaining steady. Store Cattle.—The store cattle market has been somewhat livelier lately and many good clearances have been effected. Forward bullocks are still in demand, also forward cows. Younger steers are somewhat easier, but empty heifers have again advneed in popularity and considerable briskness has been observed. Store Sheep.—There is almost an entire absence from the markets ef store sheep, although plenty of enquiry exists. Ewes with lambs at foot are still being eagerly inquired for. There is alsi a strong Inquiry for wethers off the shears and many good sales are recorded. Breeding ewes si ill maintain their prominence and nutside quotations indicate that this feeling is general. Dairy Cattle.—The yardings continue to decline. Good competition everywhere awaits animals close to profit. Pigs.—There is keen competition for all classes of fat pigs. Export buyers operating in every centre. Store pigs seem in some instances' a little easier, but values are quite in proportion to the finished article. We quote ns follows: Bullocks, heavy prime £8 to £9 ss. medium £7 to £7 15s, light £6 5s to £6 15s; cows, heavy £5 15s to £7. medium £4 to £5 ss, forward £2 7s fid to £3 ss; steers. 4-year forward £4 10s to £5 10s, 3-year £3 5s to £4; cows, stores £1 2s fid to £2: steers. 2-year best £2 10s to £3, 2-year medium £2 to £2 7s fid: heifers, empty 2-year Shorthorn £3 10s to £4 10s, empty 2-year Jersey cross £4 10s to £5 10s, empty 2-year Holst Pin £4 10s to £0: dairy heifers, best Shorthorn £8 10s to £ll. best Jersey £lO to £l2 10s; vearlings. Jersey heifer''. £7 to £9 10s, best Shorthorn heifers £2 5s to £4, medium afihorthorn heifers £2 to £2 15s, best Shorttora fit U £2 IDs; wethers,

prime woolly heavy 39s to 325, prime woolly medium 28s to 29a Cd, prime shorn heavy 27s to 295, prime shorn medium 25s fid to 26s 9d; owes, prime woolly 25s to 27s 6d, prime shorn 22s 6d to 26s ; store hoggets, best woolly 19s to £1 2s, medium woolly Ifis to 17s fid, best shorn 18s fid to £l, medium shorn 16sfid to 18s; pigs, heavy baconers £2 12s 6d to £3 ss, light baconers £2 2s to £2 10s, heavy porkers £2 to £2 7s 6d, light porkers 32s fid to 37s fid. good slips £1 5s to £1 10s, small slips 17s fid to £1 3s, wenners 12s fid to 16s fid: horses, heavy draughts £35 to £5O, medium draughts £3O to £37 10s, light draughts £2O to £2B. harness horses £lO to £l7, hacks £6 to £lO.