COMMERCIAL

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 89, 14 April 1892, Page 2

COMMERCIAL

Evening Star Office, Auckland, Thursday. Business has been rather quiob during the past few days, partly duo, no doubt, to several large mercantile houses being closod on account of the festival of the Passover. Thes.s. Duke of Sutherland arrived , early in the week with cargo for this port, and stocks will be further replenished by the Mamari, which should roach port shortly. Money is reported to be rather tighter, and speculation in property has not been brisk, though country lands fire still eteadilyboing taken up. A suggestionis being considered in Victoria that the rates of bank interest on fixed deposits should be reduced. If that is carried out it is not improbable that some capital would come this way, as mutters in .Melbourne aro very unsettled at present. Now Zoalander3 who went over there during the depression are returning as opportunity offers, and those who arrive state that their friends who remained eagerly scan the papers from this colony to ccc if there is an opening for them hero. Such signs as these indicate returning prosperity, and when it is fully apparent there is little doubt that the " bone and sinew " that left the colony a few yoars ago will not bo long finding its way back again. On the Exchange business is still very dull, and mining stocks are almost totally Deflected. Useless mines are being wound up, as it is iound to be a matter of imposBibility to get in the calls. The Upper Thames appears to be attracting more attention, there being steady buyers of Crowm and Waihis, while business has also been done in Silvertons. At tho Thames itselt things are very quiet. The old Caledonian has boon purchased by tho Hazelbank Company, for which a good future is anticipate;!. The champion dividend-pay-ing mine, tho Waiotahi, is to the fore again with 2s 6d per share, but other mines seom to bo altogether out of the way of paying anything to shareholders. Bank Rates. — Exchange on London. Buying : Demand, J- per cent, discount ; 30 days, y por cent, discount ; 60 days, 3 per cent, discount; 90 days, 1£ por cent, discount. Selling : Demand, lg per cent, premium ; 30 days, 1J percent, premium ; 60 day?, g per cent, premium ; 90 days, f per cent, premium, tfixed deposits : Three months, 3 per cent. ; six months, 4 per cent.; twelvo month?, 5 por cent. Tea. — The shipments of tea from Foochow to the colonies amounted to 15,260,0001b at, latest date ; from Colombo up to the 21st of March, 3,000,0001b ; and frem Calcutta, 5,130,0001b.

Jcte.—The market in Calcutta is reported firmer. Hops.—Now Zealand hops sold recently in Sydney at Is 2d, and malt in bags at from 5s to 5a 6d.

Cann'kd Fkoit. —An inquiry has set in for canned fruit. (Jutting Packing Company's apricots are scarce, and cannot be HuppHed by that firm for at least a couple of months.

HoNEY is now coming in freely, and the market is fairly well supplied at present.

Starch.—The heavy salosin consequence of prolonged dry weather have somewhat depleted stock?. Tobacco.—Golden Eagle brand is coming more into notice. Supplies of Derby are now to hand and meet with ready sale.

Kerosene. —The market is still well stocked, though White Rose brand is in rather short supply. Large quantities of this brand should, however, be to hand shortly. Quotations are abnormally low. White Rose commands a shade better price. Candles.—Stocks of Price's of all kinds are rather short. There is a good demand at ordinary rates. So.\r.—Thero is a good demand for Hudson's extract of soap, although higher in price than the local article. Sunlight soap moots with ready sale. Coksbkoom. —The advanced price somewhat restricts eale3.

Cornflour. —In tho face of the present low quotations for maize, it is to be wondered at that some miller does not take up the manufacture of cornflour. There ehould be a large market, not only locally, bub alao in Australia. This industry has beer, tried on the other side, but was nob a Buccess, owing to the weavil. This doos not infest New Zeuland corn.

Ti.nnkd Plates. —Supplies are now coming in pretty freely at low rates. Pi ices at Homo have still a downward tendency.

ProzeV Meat.—Aboub 4,000 carcases will be shipped from here in the Duke of Sutherland. A trial consignment ot 30 deer from Motutapu forme part of tho cargo, also a few turtles. Flax.—Supplies are getting shorb, as millers decline to furnish good fibre at present rate?. Unfortunately, latest advice 3 both from London and New York indicate a declining , market.

Maize. —Arrivals from the East Coast and other parts have been heavy during the week. Thes.s. SVaiotahi brought 1,238 sacks, the Chelmsford 530, Clansman 178, and the cutter Gipsy 370 sacks. All the corn-threshing machines are engaged for some -weeks ahead on the Gisborne side, and ab Opotiki advices are to the efiect that cribe muat be emptied to make room for the new crop. Owing to the largo yield and email prices Borne growers have commenced to feed sheep with their maize, while others have notified their intention to fatten pigs. Last year 49,568 sacks of maize came to this port from Opotiki, Whakatane, and the East Coast, and it is utatod that the return this year will be even larger than the last harvest. Parcels of maize sold on the Auckland wharf this week «t Is Bd.

Wheat. —A decline of 3d per bushel has taken place, probably in consequence of London advices nob indicating any improvement in that market. As soon as bhe vessels now loading in tho South for Home hnvo completed their cargoes, ib is nob improbable that a still farther decline may occur. AtDuncdin the weather hassomewhab retarded threshing operations. Ib is aleo reported that in other parts of the country a larjie portion of the wheat crop has been damaged by rain. The Government statistics show an increase m the yield this year, chiefly in the South, where the return was hoavier than in the Northern districts, though results have perhaps averaged in favour of tho latter owing to tho splendid weather experienced during harvesting. Locally, largo quantities of wheat have been received from the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay districts, also from tho South. Far-' iners are aluo still delivering bheir wheat in largo quantities to the local mil's. Present quotations aro 3s 9d for prime new local wheat, and old Southern from 33 9d to 4s. Fowl wheat is now very plentiful and slow of sale, as maize is taking its place, owing to the low r.ite3 at present prevailing. Fowl wheat is now quoted at 3s 2d. Flodk. —Since the reduction in price flour is more difficult to sell. Evidently large sales had taken place prior to the

(iecUno. BiiaN and Sharps aro in good demand. I3riKAr>. —Following the reduction in the inico of tlour, some bakers have commenced to c eil broad at threepence for the 2)b loaf. This ia not, however, general ye t. BaIILEY. —Tho market is a shade firmer for Ltiia cereal, largo quantities of barley havin" been shipped Home. A small crop is reported in Victoria, which should prove an advantage to our farmers. U ois -The English market has a lower tendency and as there is not likely tv be

so many growers anxious for i mme diate sacs the market is much weaker £ dc ™ Riderably morein favour of buyora a moder ate business is passing but at the mo menb shippers are nob inclined to Parc hasa very freely at last week's fact they are nob obtainable this week The prevailing idea is that until good' bright) feed can be purchased ab lower prices no large purchases will be made, Prime milling, Is skl to Is 6d; best f eo <j la 5d to Is medium to good, l a 43 to 1« 41d (ex store, sacks extra, net, M per bushel extra, f.0.b., Dunedin), Fruit.—More fruit has been cooing to hand during the past few days, grO wer3 evidently preferring not to wait for higher rates. The news cabled from London that apples sent from this colony have been ruined by tho codlin moth should prove an additional incentive to crehardists to fight this pest. Greater care should be taken in selecting fruit for export, as it is unless to incur heavy costs unless a really good article is shipped. The low price—Sd per case—will, however.; be sufficient punishmenb for careless shippers. The unfortunate part of the affair will be brinc*im> discredit upon New Zealand fruit generally! Butter and Eggs.—The market for botli butter and eggs seems rather unsettled. The large supplies of firab-clasa butter now being regularly received from Taranaki, aifect this market considerably to the prejudice of local. At present many grocers ask Iβ for good dairy butter, while others are selling ab slightly lose rates. Under such circumstances a decline ia price may be expected. Eggs are none boo plentiful, but as the Lenten fast is now all but ended, prices will no doubt remain as at present..

Cheese.—Really good cheese is not very plentiful, and buyers are ready to pay a higher price for that from the factory. Dutch cheese ia selling steadily notwithstanding tho duty.

Bacon and Hams.—Good quality Caiv fcorbury meets with ready sale ab slightly better prices.

Potatoes.—Arrivals have boen pretty heavy during; the week. Oamaruasold as low as £2 103. Average quotations for potatoes are from £2 15s to £3 per ton. PRODUCE MARKETS. Mr R. Arthur reports the following prices at this week's snlos :—Potatoes, £2 10s to £3 ; onions, to per lb; garlic, Id ; pumpkins, 2s to 3s 6d per cwt. Grain : Maize, Is lOd to 2s ; oats, 2s to 2s 3d ; dun ditto, Is lOd to 2s ; bran, 4s ; sharps, 4s ; wheat, 3s Bel ; barley, 2s Gd to 3s 6d; chaff, £3 5s to i' 3 10s per ton ; honey, to 3Ad; cheese, Zhd to 4£d. Butter : Fresh, 9Jd"to 10id ; keg,Bdto9d ; eggs, Is to Is 2d. Bacon : First-claes Canterbury, 6d ; ham?, 8d to S.{d ; local, 6d ; hams, 7d. Fruit: Apples, |d to 2d ; pears, l£d to 2d ; passion fruit, 2.} dto 2.\d; lemons, Is to Is 7d per doz. Poultry: Young cockerels, Is 3d to Is 9d; table fowls, Is 5d to 2s ; ducks, Is 3d to Is 9d ; turkeys, 2s to Is ; geeso, 2s 8d to 3a; pigeons, lOd to Iβ each ; bantams, Is to Iβ 6d.

Air. Alex. Aitken reports that during the week large quantities of produce have been sold at satisfactory prices. Potatoes from £2 5s to £3 ; onions, £3 5s to £4 per per ton ; maize, Is lOd to 2s per bushel; wheat, 3s 8d to 4s; oats, 2s; dun, Is IOd; butter, prime fresh, lOd to seconds, 8d; keg, 8d to 9d; eggs, Is to Is Id per dozen ; cheese, 3|d to 4d ; factory, 4£d, Fruit :On Tuesday 1,600 bunches of bananaa were sold. Large bunches realised from 2s 6d to 3s 3d ; small, Is 6d to 2s 6d ; cocoai.uts, 6s 6d to 7s per sack. Apples: Reinette dv Canada, Id to lid ; Stone and Five Crown Pippin, choice. Id to 1J ; poor, to §d ; Ohinemuri, Id to ljd ; Cox Orange, 1 Jd; Adams', Ijd to 2d ; poor «nd [ hiedium parcels of all kinds, $d to |d. Pears : Choice Beurre Diel, l£d to 2£d ; ripe, up ~to ; poor lots, -Jd to ljd ; Winter Nelis, Id to Hd; poor lots, £d to jd; Napoleons, Id to ; passion fruit, 2£d to 3d ; lemons, Iβ 3d to Is lOd ; tomatoes, id to |d ; Cape gooseberries, 4£d to Bd;"figß, to 2d; peanut.?, lid. Poultry were in good supply. Table fowls brought Is 4d to Jβ lOd ; ordinary, 9d to Is 3d ; roosters, Is 7d to 2s 3d ; "ducks, lOd to 2s ; geese, 2s 3d to 3s ; turkey gobblers, 3s 3d to 5s 6d ; hens, Is 0d to os 9d. LIVE STOCK MARKETS. Messrs Hunter *nd Nolan's Report.— Horse feed, grain, seeds, etc. : The supply has been adequate, and demand steady. Maize, Is 8d per bushel on wharf; Is 9d to Is lOd ex store; oats, 2s to 2s 3d; chick wheat, 3s 6d; milling, 4s: Poverty Ray ryegrass, 6s 6d to 7k ; cocksfoot, 6s 6d to 7e per bushel ; bran, £4 per ton ; pressed hay, £3 to £4 per ton ; oaten chaff, £2 10e to_ £2 15s por ton. Horses : The demand has continued good, and rather more than the usual number have been brought forward, bnt found ready sale ab a slight advance in value. There were a large number of entries for disposal by auction at the Durham Yards on Friday. Competition was good for all the lots, and particularly so for chose of a good stamp in all classes. A shipment of light horses from Taranaki sold at from£sto£'lo 15s ; medium draught, £6 5s to £1412s 6d : heavy draught, £9 15s to £21; weeds, £1 10s to £3. Wool, hidos, skins, without alteration in value. We quote: —Stoub ox, 34d to 4|d ; cow and steer, Ifd to 2id; calfskins, 3d to- 43d per lb ; tallow, 14s to 18s per cwb; bones, £4 JOs to £5 per ton ; sheepskins, Is 3d to 2s 8d each ; pelts, 9d to Is Id ; lambskins, Is 9d to 2s 6d ; wool, fleeces, to per lb ; locks and pieces, 2£d to 4d per lb. Cattle : Storea were offered in less numbers than on the previous week, but other descriptions have been in adequate supply and without alteration in values. The Newmarket Yards were fairly filled on Tuesday. Competition was stoady, and the previous week's prices were obtained. The web weaoher affected the Pukekohe sale on Wednesday, but there was an average muster and good demand, and the previous week's Newmarket prices ruled. Some averages of fab steers were : £9 7s Bd, £8 ss, £7 14a 4d, £7 10s Bd, £7 8a 10d, £7 2s 6d, £7 Is Bd, £6 17a 6d ; cow?, £5 ss, £5 0s 6d, £4 12s 6d, £4 10s, £4 6s, £3 15s. Sheep were penned in moderate number at Newmarket on Tuesday, but the demand wasnot keen ; prices ranged from la 6d to 13 8d per 81b. Wethers sold ab from 13s to 17s each ; ewes, 9s 6d to- 13? bd ; lambs, 6s 9d to 10s 6d. Pigs were yarded in increased numbers, and sold at 2£d per lb live weight, prices ranging from 10s 6d to 29s each. WOOL, HIDES, SKINS. Etc. Messrs G. W. Binnkv and Sons report that at their sale of hides, skins, tallow, etc.. a large quantity waa offered and cleared. Hides : F.xbra, stoub ox realised from 4M to sid ; heavy, 3|d ; medium and steer, 2Jd to ; heavy cow, 2 : } dto 2£d ; medium, IJd to 2J'l; wet, l.?d ; calfskins, 3d to s£d ; kip, 2d to 3Jd ; stag. Id to lfd ; damaged, Id to IJd per lb. Skins : Local pelts, Is 7d to 2.« 3d ; lambs', Is 9d to 2s 6d ; country lots (pelts), Is 4d to Is 9d ; lambs', Is 5d to 2-s; small and dry, 3d to 9d each. Wool: Lambs', 6d to 6jd ; fleeces, 5Ad to 6 r l; locks and pieces, IJd to 3A~d per lb. Tallow : Best, 17e to 17s 6d ; medium, 15s to 16s 3d ; inferior, 13s-per cwb. Bones, £4 15s to £5 por ton.