FINANCE AND TRADE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4934, 25 January 1895, Page 3

FINANCE AND TRADE.

(Specially compiled for the Wairar'apa Daily Times). MOKKY. Tho weokly returns of tho Bank of England for tho week onding 17th January shows the total reservo to be £26,202,000 as compared with £25,160,000, being an advance of £1,012,000 for the week, Since the beginning of tho year to tho 17th inst, tho accretions to the reserve amount to £2,230,000' Money is exceptionally easy on tho London market, and three month's bills are discounted at 12s 6d per cent, a rate that has prevailed for some time past. Tho following table shows the position of the reserve for tho first week of the new year as compared with the corresponding period for the four previous years:

IiOYRKSMKNI STOCKS. British 2| per cent. (Goschen's) consols have risen 10s for the week, and are now quoted at lOif, an astonishingly high price even for giltedge, Colonial Government Stocks show an upward' tendency all round except the 4 per cent stocks of South Australia and Queensland, which shows a fall of |,nnd West Australia 4 per cent a decline of }. The followins; table shows the week's movements in 4 per cents.:—

Of the 3i per cent, four of the six denominations show an advance, New South Wales and Tasmania remaining as at last quotations. There is an apparent error in the price of the Victorian Stock, which is given at 100? or an advance of 6 during the week. This can hardly he correct, as that Colony's 4 per cents, aro quoted at 10U, or a point only in advance of the lower rated stock. There must be a mistake in transmission as was the case a fortnight ago with South Australian 4per cent, when the price was given as 102 instead of 106. The table below shows the movement in the 31 per cent, stocks for the week, the price of the Victorian is as telegraphed: -

This week's quotations show a fall of |d in second quality, New Zealand mutton ; the other class exhibits no variation. The quotations are as follows :

Jan. Jan. 10. 17. Ist quality mutton ... 4d U 2nd quality 3,{d 3Jd J fall Ist quality lamb ... ijd ljd ~ Frozen meat is likely to maintain a steady price for the next two months owing to the shortage of supplies of Argentina mutton on the market. Increased shipments from the Plate are not expected to arrive in London beforo April. WOOL. The first of the series of London wool sales opened on the 15th fast, with a good catalogue comprising 256,000 bales. There appears to be a conflict of opinion as to the tone of the market, private cables being at variance with the Press Association wire. Thus the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile cable says" the attendance of Homeandforeign buyers is normal, but there is a wantof confidence and little demand." The cablegram toMessrs Murray, Roberts and Co., states" average attendance of buyers and competition is limited." Both these private cables announce a decline in 1 values principally in faulty and inferior descriptions. The Press Association cable says prices were maintained and that the bidding was fair, buyers being chiefly from the Continent, We shall probably know the true state of tho market as soon as cable communication is restored.

WHEAT. The tone of the wheat market continues firm with an upward tendency. South Australian and Victorian wheat have advanced Gd per bushel during the past weok. NOTES. Five years ago the output of coal in Victoria was less than 2000 tons a year, while for the year 1894, according to the estimates of the Mining Department, it had reached 176,918 tons. During the year 1894, the gold received at the Melbourne Mint amounted to 1,061,523'45 oz,, and! the gold coin issued for the same period amountod to £4,166,874.

The imports at the port of Sydney for the 12 months ending 31at Dec, 1894, were valued at £13,840,499, and the exports for tho same period at £13,390,821, Compared with those of 1893, the imports show a falling off, of £815,178, and the exports a decline of £599,787. During 1894 there were 18 wrecks on the New South Wales coast, the list being made up of 7 ketches, 6 steamers.and 5 schooners The tonnage of the wrecked vessels was 4014 and their value £57,300. Of this amount tho steamer Colonist represented £30,000, and the steamer Gwydir £14,000. Ten livos were lost. During the previous year 15 Yes6elß ware loßt, representing 1964 tons, and valued at £37,310, and involving tho loss of 4 lives, The total number of sequestration orders made in New South Wales in 1894, was 1465, with liabilities amounting to £1,852,285, and assets valued at £995,935. The pickings of the legal profession out of this amounted, on taxed bills of cost, to £11,444 3s 3d. Percy Pen™.

(Received January 25,1.25 p.m.) London, January 24, The town of, Cuchan, in Persia, has again been destroyed by earthquake. Many were-killed, including one hundred women, who were cmbod to duth.

Amount of Proportion to Bute. Jieservc. Liabilities, £ p.c .Ian. 7, '91 15,531,000 -10 Jan. (i, '92 13.019.0UO 32 Jan, 4, "93 14,921,000 35 Jan. 3,'91 15,552,000 41 Jan. 3,'95 23,972,000 G3 A comnarision of the lending items of the Bank of England with those of tliu corresponding date last year is as follows :— Jan. 3, Jan. 3, MnveISM. 1S95. menu £ t. t Coin ami Imlll Increase on .. 21,850.000 33,090,000 8,240,000 Notes in circi ilallon Ji,743,000 !5,01S,000 170,000 Public l)qx«il Is . 0,37,000 0,503,000 301,000 Other Deposit s .. 31,153,000 3S,200,000 7,047,01)0 Gurernm't Securities 10,'87,00014,702,000 4,315,001) Oilier Sccuriti cs ..*J,3SI,0M24,0M,0W 6,858,000 Reserve ..

Jan, Jan. Else* 10. 17. Fallf AW Zealand .. lot) 10G.V '■* > T .S. Wales... . .. 108 108 — Victoria .. 101; 101J J* South Australia . .. 106! lOii It Queensland ... . .. 105? 105.', It West Australia . .. Ill 110? if

Jan. Jan. Hisc* 10. 17. Fallf New Zealand .. 100} 100} .it N.S. Wales ... . .. 100!. 1001 — Victoria ... 941 lOOi 6* South Australia . .. 100} 100} .it Queensland ... ... m 98 It Tasmania ... . .. 98!, 981 FROZEN MEAT