COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14244, 15 December 1909, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

The sharemarket was again quiet yesterday. In investment stocks South British Insurances roalisod 545, and more wero inquired for at tho same figure, with further sellers at 55s 3d. Dovonport Steams sold at 335, and Wilsons Portland Cements (ord.) at 445. In mining lines Waihis wore quoted, with buyers at £9 13s 6d, sellers at £9 16? 6d. Three sales wero recorded in Grand Junctions at 353, and more could have been disposed of at the same figure, but further sellers required 35s 3d. Talismans changed hands at from 41s 6d to 435, closing with buyers at 435, sellers at 43s 6d. In other lines Old Haurakis commanded most attention, selling at from 3s to 3s sd. Tho general distributing trade still keeps busy, and orders continue to come in freely from town and country. The volume of business put through qji forward account is also very satisfactory. Cocoa Beans: Price has eased a little, and is now quoted at favourable rates. Salmon: A good local inquiry exists

owing to the big shortage in pack; prices

have advanced considerably. Seeded Raisins: The prico has again advanced, and higher figures will rule tor later shipment. Canned Fruits are in good inquiry. Tho forward market is firm with a further advance anticipated. Almonds: Local stocks are practically exhausted, and prices havo advanced considerably.

Linseed Oil Is firm at last rates.

Carbide of Calcium: Prico quoted for forward delivery is favourable for buying; good business is going through. Tinplatos: Cables advise a rise in price; the market is firm with an upward tendency.

Hides: The market continues firm under strong competition from exporters, and aro inclined to be firmer.

Sheepskins: Market is very firm for pelts and lambskins, with good inquiry. Longwools are not coming forward in large numbers now.

Tallow: Market is firmer with good do mand.

Wool: In bags and dumps at the weekly sales all classes are selling very freely.

Potatoes: Tho Victoria brought 92 sacks from ,the South, and it is expected this will about finish old potatoes for this season. New potatoes are fairly plentiful, and will now keep the market going. Napier is offering potatoes for this market this week. Old are worth 6s. Now aro selling at 9s to 10s with a lower market in prospect. Onions: Tho Wimmora brought 612 bags from Australia. These wore nearly all Victorian Globes, and the quality is very good. The market in Australia is firm, and there seems a likelihood of an advance. Price is £12 10s.

Oats: Tho market in the South is still very firm. Any lots coming forward from the country aro quicklv picked up. Demand in Auckland is small, and but for this oats would advance here. Price is 2s 6d.

Chaff: The demand continues vory good. Supplies are coming in more freely, both locally and from tho South, but are being absorbed, and thero are no heavy stock 3 held. Price is £4 for local, £4 10s for Southern.

Fowl Wheat: Supplies are rather better, but Southern holders aro not at all anxious to quit, and price is still firm. There cannot bo much change until the new crop comes in. Price is 4s Bd.

Maize: Tho Aupouri brought 50 sacks, and the Ngatiawa 723 sacks from the coast, which will keep this market well supplied. There has been no change in price, which remains at 3s 6d ex store.

Bran: The domand is improving, and there, seems to bo every chance of higher prices ruling. At present this is worth £3 17s 6d.

Pollard: This is selling at £4 15s, and the position is practically unchangod. There is very littlo business doing. Stocks are ample. Fungus: The quantity coming forward is not very gwat. Dry parcels arc still selling at sd.

Flax: Deliveries for 13 days of December amounted to 1458 bales, equal to 291 tons, which shows a considerable increase on tho quantity that was received hero during tire same period of last year. The market is decidedly easier, and there is now less inclination on the part of London buyers to operate. Supplies of Manila are increasing, and sellers arc more anxious to contract for forward delivery. Fine, if procurable would bo worth about £28; good fair, about £23 10s; f.a.q., £22 10s; common, £20 10s.

Tow: Tho quantity sent in so far this month i 3 560 bales, equal to 70 tons. Thero is very litllo change to report in this. The averago prioo remains at about £4 103 to £5 for export purposes. , Covlon Tea: There was a much larger sale at Colombo on the 17th ult., 1,642,6781b being catalogued. Quality showed no improvement, but a very fair selection was offered. All grades were in strong demand, particular attention being given to medium brokens and common to medium leaf teas. Leaf tea for price was in strong demand, as also the common to medium teas of this grade, and were distinctly more difficult to procure, while all other leaf grades were firm at last week's rates. Common brokens wero steady, medium broken? with any appearance were firmer, while the better classes were dearer. One or two tippy teas were offered and fetched full prices. Dusts and fanniugs wero steady at last rates.

KAURI GUM. Tho arrivals for 13 days of December are 304 tons, which in comparison with last month shows a 1 falling off of 26 tons, as 330 tons arrived for the same poriod in November. A very large proportion of tho arrivals consists of chips and dust and low quality trum, but as ooth. these grades are selling fairly well stocks in the hands of brokers are not accumulating to any great extent. The market is very quiet, tho lines that are most difficult to dispose of being superior ordinary and East Coast. Most of the other grades are being moved off without any material alteration in price.

Palo Select: Very little offering and tho inquiry is slack.

Ordinary: Rescrapcd that is really well got up is salable Inferior parcels are not meeting with tho same amount of attention. Sorted superior three-quarter scraped ordinary is hanging fire somewhat. Lower prices would have to bo accepted to induce business. Unsorted parcels of superior ordinary are also difficult to quit. Medium ordinary is meeting with a fair demand. Clean washed nuts free from dust are selling. Washed nuts not so well washed and containing a proportion of chips and dust can only be placed at. a lower price. Chalk with heart in it is selling, but thero is no business doing in poor white swamp. East Coast: Stocks are still gradually increasing: although offered at a very much lower price no business has eventuated since our last report.

Black: There aro buyers of good rescraped, but it requires to bo well got up and fairly bold. Bold lumps, sound and wellcleaned, are also wanted. Thero is fair sale for sorted three-quarter scraped steel.' Mixed parcels of black are passed over unless at a tempting price. Medium blacks are wanted. Hard black nuts, free from dust, arc in request. The inquiry for poor black nuts mixed with white swampy nuts is very small. Bush Pale roscraped bush free from bled is salable. Bold bush well-cleaned and of good colour is asked for. Dark sorts and pickings are not wanted. Hard bled bush is moving off very slowly, and there is no inclination on the part of buyers to touch any green lots.

Chips and Dust: Bright chips and dust are salable, also good ordinary chips. There is very little competition for diggers' ordinary chips and dust at the present time. Black riddlings, black seeds, and coarse black dust continue to sell.

Flour: There has been no alteration in the price of flour, which remains at £12 10s per ton in sacks, less discount, for Auckland flour; £10 15s, f.0.b., less 2J per cent, in sacks, for Southern flour.

BAYSWATER ESTATE. The well-known Bayswater Estate will be offered for Bale to-day and to-morrow at the Chamber of Commerce by Messrs. Paul Hansen and Co., per Mr. Louis Lewis auctioneer. On each day the sale will commence at two p.m. The new "township has been laid out by Messrs. Wilson and Jackson, and the various road contracts are being carried out under their supervision, this being a guarantee that the road work ha* not only been well planned, but that it will be completed to the satisfaction of all. The estate to be offered has many points of unique advantage—its ' beautiful position, nearness to Auckland, the great number of water frontages, beautiful views in every direction, suitability for bathing, boating, and fishing, its splendid wharf, with terminus of a. tram line; no broken or hilly ground, regular and fast communication with Auckland by firstclass steamers, water and gas pipes laid throughout the estate. The first steamer for Bayswatcr is just about ready to be launched, and the fares have been fixed by the board of directors of the Takapuna Tramways Company as follows :—Twopence each way, but residents may buy tickets in curd* of 12 for Is 6d; children under 12 are to be carried at half-price, and children up to three years of ape free of charge. This sale will offer a unique opportunity to acquire a seaside home in a most beautiful district within easy reach of Queen-street, with all the advantages of a modern city, and yet away from the noise, dust and heat and all the other drawbacks of a densely-populated district. •