COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 59, 10 March 1910, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star Office, Thursday, 10th March. 1210. There has been no special activity in ! business during the past week, and town i and country orders coming forward are normal. Dried Fruits.—The season's demand is well spread over the various lines. Latest advices from 'Frisco show that the market for prunes there is very firm, and higher prices are likely to be cabled through at any moment. Seeded raisins remain firm, ami good business is being: done at present rates. ('ream of Tartar.— Indications seem to point to an advance in this line before long. Currants are now being quoted higher. Salmon.— demand is now at its best, and the end of the season will find stocks well reduced. Canned Mullet.—The demand is increasing for this line, and some good parcels have changed hands. Almonds.—The market is quiet for both Sicily and Jordan, with the former a fraction easier. Castor oil has advanced slightly. Tapioca seed and pearl are both considerably higher. Mice has firmed. Sugar has advanced 10/ per ton during the week. Fungus.—Supplies have fallen off somewhat. Price remains unchanged. A considerable quantity of kauri gnm has been changing hands latterly, but in most cases (lie business done has resulted from concessions made in prices to meet the views of the buyers. The supplies of gum sent in for the month to date total ■r-i\ tons, as compared with IRS tons for a similar period in February. During the past week thousands upon thousands of Old Hauraki shares have changed hands daily up.- tie Exchange until purchasers are «ii:i-->rliul 'tardily demanding prompt delivery of transfers, accompanied by scciip. As many as 30,000 shares changed hands one day. With such heavy sales, ii naturally followed that prices showed a decline, ranging from 4/3 to 3/3, then up to 3/8, .and back again to 3/8. One day there was a hurry to get out of Kapanga shares, owing to a slight break In the machinery, which has since been repaired. Fairly free sales have been made since last report of N.Z. Crown shares at from .V to 5/3. and Sylvias advanced from 4,1 to "0 In consequence of a steady buyer. Waiotahi shares also rose from 4/ to 4/fi. again illustrating the fact that these shares ■are always safe buying at the former figure. May Queens sold from 4 2 to 4,-. and Monownis sold from 1/10 to 2/. Waihi shares sold at £0 IS/ and £0 17/ ex ill v. The return this month was a good one. An excellent yield was also reported from the Talisman Consolidated mine of £10.182 for the month, but the shares remained steady at 50/ to 50 <;. Frequent transactions took place In Waihi (.rand Junction shares at prices ranging from "•_>,'<> to Rfi.'fi. with later sales at 3-1/0. Southern mining shares also had attention. 22 "3 to 22."i being paid for Consolidated Goldtields, and l.Vtt for Progress Mines. Investment stocks had steady demand, but comparatively few transactions. Kauri Timber, contributing issue, sold from 16/11 to 17.11. and Auckland Gas as high as 330 . Transactions also took place in South British Insurance at 57. N.Z. Insurance 77/0, Devonport Ferry 31/6. and Auckland Trams, ordinary issue, a'r 23. Maize.— (if maize since last report were close on 700 sacks. These consignment arrived to a very weak market, the quotation still standing at 3/ for wholesale lines on the wharf, and the tendency is towards a further decline in price, as such hot weather causes poultry-keepers to' prefer wheat for feeding purposes. The iower price ruling for fowl wheat at the! present time also causes a better demand for that .--rain. Consignments of maize are advised on the way from Gisbome, and on the F-ist Coast it is known that a very considerable quantity of maize is still In growers' hands. It is quite certain, therefore, that there Is more than sufficient old maize to rry on with until the new crop is ready for the market next May. Fowl Wheat.—The local market is now well supplied with few! wheat, and offerings from the South are fairly extensive, an evidence that considerable damage wins done by the rain during the harvest in the Sooth. Farmers seem more inclined to sell than to hold their fowl wheat. A good proportion of the wheat offered Is grain that, has sprouted. Heavy shipments of fowl wheat are expected by the W__ak,a this week and the following steamers. The price ex store has eased buck to -I' for wholesale parcels, and to arrive, ex Wanaka, 3/10 is the quotation. Milling Wheat.- The market for milling wheat has shown no change. A feeling is growing that, even allowing for the damage done during harvesting. there Is ample wheat for the requirements of the Dominion. Oats. — A particularly firm market for oats Is reported, and holders at present are inclined to demand higher prices. What little business is being done is only for immediate delivery. Forward business cannot be entertained at the present rates, as farmers are of opinion that oats are going tn be good property to hold this year. The quotalion ex store is 2/5 to 2/fi. Stocks are very low locally .lust now. The Wanaka is due at the end of this week, and brings a fair quantity of oats. B grade are being soldfor delivery" ex that steamer at 2/4, and f.a.q oats at -73. Bran and Sharps have declined in price this week, as stocks are fairly heavy. The former is quoted at £3 17/0 per ton, and sharps at £4. Stocks are fairly heavy, and. as this is good growing weather, the demand for the country districts has decreased considerably. But for the export of bran from the South to West of England ports, there is no doubt that bran must still fnrther have declined In price. Onions.—This line is very weak, as offerings from the South are on an excessive scale, and prices are the lowest that have ruled for onions for some years past. The quality of the Southern onions Is excellent, and, as they are quite tit for shipment, speculative lots are being sent to Canada and San Francisco. The prices obtainable there, however, leave very little margin for the shippers, who have to compel, with Victoria, where there bas also been an abundant crop this season. As far as local growers are concerned, they are storing the onions at present, hoping that better prices will rule later on. The quotations this week are £4 to £1 10/ ex store. Chaff.—Owing to the showery weather recently, cutting chaff has been delayed in this district- therefore stocks are now in small compass. Southern quotations for i chaff are now too high for this market. A small quantity is. however, still imported from Blenheim. The quality of the local chaff just now is re-ally good. The quotations rule from £3 15/ to £4 per ton, sacks In, ex rail. j Agricultural Seeds.Oood business Is be- ' ing done in grass seeds, orders coming in freely at the present time from all over the provincial district. The recent rains have caught some farmers with the felled bush still unburned. and. in-many places, it is now doubtful whether It will be possible to have a clearing fire this season. This, of course, means a loss of a year's grass in such cases. Manures.— demand for special grass manures Is reported brisk, also for bone dust. A shipment of bonedust arrived from Sydney at Helensville. ad-vantage being taken of the cheap freights offering by vessels coming across to load timber in the Kaipara. As the present steamer freight from Sydney to Auckland is about. 5/ per ton more than from Calcutta to this port, it is considered likely that in future a good deal of the bonedust from Australia will be brought by sailing vessels to Helensville and from there distributed by rail.

WEEKLY MARKETS. Farm and Dairy Produce.—Butter, factory, l/o*tl per lb; fresh eggs, 1/ per dozen wholesale; cheese, farmers', from "id to 6_d per lb; factory, 6Jd to 7d; bacon, sides, SJd. rolls !>.d; hams. .d. I<Tr>ur. — £12 10/ per ton (less discounts); whcarmeal, £12 10/ per ton (less discounts); sharps, £4, bran. £ 3 17/6 per ton; oatmeal. £1." per ton for 25's, wholesale. Grain.—Oats, 2/5 ex store; new southern milling wheat. 4/. f.0.b.. sacks extra: fowl wheat. 4/, ex store, sacks In; maize, 3/ for wholesale lines on the wharf. Chaff.—Local, new, £3 15/ per ton, station. Potatoes. £(i to £6 10/ per ton. Onions, £4 to £4 10/ per ton. Timber.Ordinary building timber, undressed, up to 2-tft long, gin to lin or more in thickness, and from Sin to 13in wide, first-eln-s 20/. medium 17/, second-class 12/ per 100 ft; undTessed boards, up to 24ft lon., not exceeding 12in wide and .in thick, 17/. 15/, 9/; rough heart palings, oft x 6in x Jin, 28/ per 100 palings; rough heart palinrs. Oft x Bin x .In, 31/ per 100 palings; rough lining boards, 9in x gin. 8/6; wide boards, 6d per 100 ft superfleial, extra for every inch in width over 121n and up to 18in; over l&tn up to 24in, 9d; over 24in to 30m, 1/: 30in to 42in, 1/6; over 42hL, by axrangemeut; rough -heart, IT/6 per lOOft superficial; super, planing, 1/ per 100 ft extra.; planed both sides, 1/6 per 100 ft extra; three and tour sides,. £/ ditto, __«-_-

ing boarr's: Planed, tongned and grooved, 22/6, 19/6, 14/ C. Lining boards: Planed, tongued, grooved, beaded or V-jotated, 23/, IS/, 14/. Feather-edge weatherboards, plaited and &hot: Out of ljln material, face measurement, 21/, IS/, 13/; out of Uin material, face measurement, 20/, 17/, 12/. Rusticated and special weatherboarding, 22/6, 19/6, 14/6. Ordinary building totara, scantling. 15/: boards. iJin to 121n, 16/; second-class totara, scantling, 11/6, boards 12/: clean heart of totara for joinery, scantling, 22/: rough heart of totara scantling, 16/; rough heart of totara scantling, 6 _ 2 and under. 14/; heart trratai scantling, 18/6: rough heart matal, scantling. 13/: ordinary building rimu, boards, heart rimu, scantling. 13/; heart rimu (framing and bridge quality), scantling, 17/; clean. 15/6: second-clays rimu, boards, 12/; rough heart rimu (dressing qnality), scantling, 30/. HIDES. SKINS, ETC MESSRS G. W. BINNEY AND SONS' REPORT. On Tuesday, we submitted very large catalogues of hides, skins, tallow, etc. Hides: The market is inclined to be easier. Ox. stout. 7.d to 8d; medium, 6Jd to 7id; light, „Jd to 6}d; cows, best lines. 6gd to fi-Jd: good, 6+d to 6Jd; seconds, old to 6d; stags. ;tjd to 4Dd; kips, &id to 6d; calfskins, best, Sid to 9d; good, (id to 7d: seconds, 5d to 3*d; cut ami damaged hides, 3d to .'S_d per lb. Sheepskins: Butchers- extra large to 9/; large, 6/ to 7/6: medium, .1/ to ">/»: small, •V to 4/6: dry skins, large, to 3/; medium. 3/ to 4/3: small. a/ to L'/t); dam-aged, Od to V: liimlwkitis, best to 3/6, good 1/9 to 2/9; pelts, Ih»si 3/, good 1/6 to 2/3: dan_iged, 6d to 1/3 each. Tallow: Market renin the same. Best mixed to 26,': good. 22/6 tn 24/6; medium, 20/ to 22/: Inferior. 15/ to 18/ per cwt. Rough fat, Hd to lsd per lb. Cow tails. 1 S per dozen. Bones, £4 17/6 per ton. WAIKATO STOCK SALES. The Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company report: — At Ohonpo on the Sti inst. we had a yarding of 761 head of cattle and 410 twotooth sheep. Fresh-conditioned three-year-old steers made from £> 2/ to £v> 14'; 21-year-old steers, £4 5/ to £4 12/6: two-year steers, £3 10/ tn £3 17': IS-months steers. £3 to £3 7-': really good steer calves, up to 35/: fair calves. 27/6 to 30/; two-ve_ir-old heifers in calf. £3 10' to £3 176; IS-months-nld heifers in calf, £2 15/ to £3 5/: choice springing cows. £6 .V: backward springers, £4; fresh-conditioned cows, £3 5-' to £3 15/; store cows, £2 10/ to £2 15.'; small twotooth ewes. 12/; two-tooth store wethers, 10/ to in..-,. At Cambridge on Monday. 7th insrr.. we had a yarding of 312 bead of cattle, a few hundred sheep, and 50 pigs. Being an off day we bad only a small attendance. Sheep were not required. Weil-fattened cows made £5 If)'; small fat steers. £7 .V; forward-conditioned cows. £3 3' to £3 15.: IS-months steers. £3 2': springing cows and heifers, £4 5/ to £7: really good steer calves, up to 35': fair calves, 22/ -to 29/; small sorts. 14,'; weaner pigs, 6/ to 0/6; slips, 16/ to 18/9. JOHNSONVII.I.E STOCK SALE. (By Telegranh.—Own Correspondent.) .TOnNSONVILLE. this day. Messrs Ahraham and William.. Ltd . report nn their .Tohnsonville sale as follows:— We offered a heavy yarding of fine bullocks and sheep, which sold at late rates. Best bullocks, £8 5/ to £8 12/0: lighter. £8 to £8 2/6: light. £7 I.V. equal to 2D.' per cwt- Sound heavy wethers, 14/fl to 14/8 and 14/11: prime wethers. 14,1: prime ewes. 12 5: medium ewes 11/6 to 11/9. Lambs. t) 3 to 0 9. woolly toil to 11 'I*.