COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 118, 19 May 1892, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Eveking Star Office, Auckland, Thursday. eaHaea at those that did eventuate were cSy satisfactory. There ha 9 been an Sk»o of large transactions, and inosb S are well stocked Daring the past ?intab remarkably low rates In order o dear che way for hii ultimate realmiiou This, of course, militates to a. cer, tain extent agalnat the transactions of disbributera, and may perhaps account for to dulnosa. It is pleasing to note that in the riby houses are again filling up; and at present desirable tenements are hard to obtain, while there is a slight tendency to advance rents. This may bo considered a good s«K". evidencing that a portion of the returning population is roaching Auckland. From the country districts comes "a*"*"*o*? intelligence'of progress. Farmere have had a good year, and consequently business in onteido places is somewhat brisker Cattle, sheep and horsos are fetching higher prices, and produce generally is celling at remunerative rates. So much hew land is being broken up that good plough horses are really scarce. All those may'"be considered as signs of returning prosperity, for with progress in the country districts, it is only a question of time for the towns to feel a beneficial result On bhe Stock Exchange business throughout the whole month has been unusually quiet, Transactions have taken place in Bank, Insurance, and _ Gas shares, but the volumne of business was by no means large. In mining matters everything is quiet. At the Thames the Saxon and Queen of Beauty mines have been amalgamated, and also the May Queen and Trenton. The returns from the various mines have not been by any means aatiafactory of late, and the frequent calls are making shareholders grumble. In the Upper Thrties district things have a decidedly brighter appearance. The Waihi Company had an excellent return for the month, and the shares have regained somo of the value they had lost. At this mine everything appears to point towards a good future. Shares in the Crown mine have also been inquired for, and the results of the new prdcees of treating the ores will bo watched with interest. A little business has also been done in Silverton, as tho mine bids fair to he a remunerative one. At Whangapoua attention is now centred upon the Owera mine, as tho battery is approaching completion, and shareholders are sanguine. The Kuaobunu field appears quiet, though the mines are working steadily. The Red Mercury Company has eecurad a battery, to which it is not unlikely tho Cassell process of extracting gold will be applied. Tho result will be awaited with interest, for if successful in saving the fine gold in the ore, mining operations on this field will receive renewed impetus. The gum trade has been very brisk during the past month, and the unusually high prices paid have resulted in very heavy supplies boing sent in.

Bank Rates. —Exchango on London :— Buying: Demand, £ per cenb. discount; 30 days, f per con til discount; 60 days, ij per cent, discount; SO days, 1J per cenc. discount. Soiling : Demand, 1| per ceni. promiurn ; SO days, 1J par cent, premium; 60 days, £ per cenb. premium ; 90 days, $ per cent, premium. Fixed deposits : Three months, 3 per cent.;six. months, 4 per cent; twelve months, 5 per cent. Dried Fkuits.-^A little : business has been done in dried fruits during the week, several linos having been placed at rather low prices. Currants sold at sd, raisins s^l, and dates ojd per ib. Ftgs.—The demand at present; is in excess of the supply, A lino waa acid this week at 7s per doz. Liquors.—Now bhat tho cold weather has commenced, less beer is consumed. So far, however, no extra demand is reported for spirits. Australian wines ara selling fairly well. Flax.—The market for flax has been weakening for tho lasfc month. Fibre that was worth £16 10s per ton ab .the beginning of tho month is about £1 less valueafc present. Superior fibre ha 3 also declined in value, being now quoted at about £17. There is little demand for flax of any quality ah prosent owing to an absence of orders from abroad.

Ttmbkk.—Trade continue.s'quieb, as little building is being done at present. An improved demand is reported for kauri timber at rocontsalos in Sydney, but ab prices that are nob remunerative. A large portion of the cargo of the barque Sardhana, which is loading in this nort for London, consists of kauri and kahikabea flitches. We notice that tenders have been called this month by the Railway Commissioners for the supply of 535 Australian hardwood piles, from 12ft to 45ft lengths, and also for 870,OOQfc of sawn iron bark timber,- to be delivered as wanted at the principal centres. It is to be regretted that amongst the excellent timbers grown in this colony, auch as totara and puriri, the necessity remains to go further afield for timber for railway requirements!.

Butter.—The market is decidedly firmer, | both frosh and pottod butter being scarce.' So scarce is ke°: butter that; bakers are paying as high ag"9d per 1b for second-class! Whab Taranaki butter comes to hand is readily sold at good prices. Regarding tho quality of-the New Zealand butter exported to tlie Home market, a, writer in the " Australian Trade Review" writes thab tests havo been made as to tlie comparative' keopii)g qufllitioa of colonial aud continental butter. The rosulD was decidedly in favour of the colonial, but the- first place was given to New Zealand. The wrifcor adds : " This is no doubt due to the fact thab very little if any faked butter comes from New Zealand, all the butter being shipped in original packages a8 received." ifealso mentions thai; New Zealand butter has a trifle more salt in ib than Victorian, neither has xt fche brittlene.«s of fcho lattor. 'The whito well-seasoned •-vood used for packing; New Zealand butter is also favourably referred bo. Egos.—The present high prices seem likely tc continue, aa cgg3 ure very scarce. Quantities of pickled egga are coming in, snd it would ba well if retailers would recognise them as &n article of commerce, instead ola low being worked off amongst frosh oggs. Bacon: and Hams.—A lot of new cure arrived from (.he South in the Manapouri. Lines hav'6 sold ao low as s.jd on the wharf c.i.f. Consignments h&ve been forwarded this season by sevoral now tirms of bacou curort. Whkat.—Durin^l.hepasb week there havo been better arrivals from the EaatCoasb and Waikato, and almost nothing from the Soudj. The market; continues firm for £ood samp'.os of whost. In the South nevem! vessels are still waiting for cargoes of wheat, owing to the enormous quantity of jtmn which comes alongside being rejejt-d by tha samplers as unfit for tin; voyage. Farmers, knowing that these vos«eU muab be loaded, are not threshing free-!..-, not beingqpparcntly eager to sell at prwenfc rases. Wo eindersband bhab in this I district i larger quantity of winter wheat is' boirj; [iliinle.J fchun hhs beon for many years »>«*-• Fcwl whett-is in excess of require3!C!itg, in cou'scniionco of tho largo rojecbe i;i 'he iputh,

'te'AX >s-d fctaXriFS. •- Nob-sibhsbanaing tmo :ulvav,io in p uxs, both bran anci sharps '■».iir..n -~.y c.tirct-, and in cjr-oJ demEd. -t h:i- friippired ilii; fierce Sydney'sMjS* lnior* !:a '■« 'jcm^l cu t iif-nrly -ait tho'surpSur. Isi'l.. by Southe:,. iaii<«.:«, honco thy Dreaoob ,8-->.rciiv. T

itoca.— Savor*] hrge eales are reporM-

h e avt Tfi E'~Arrival3 of maizo have nob been tH.?*" o*," 10 Past fortnight, and within taken ? W days an adv*nce in price has attorn,/1^" Thi3 i 3 mainl >' due to an attompfc mad() tQ CQrner what d . d arr . ve> a consignment of ono thousand sacks came to hand by the Waitai. It was supposed to be to,- transshipment to Sydney, but owing to the advance in price has been detained, anuu lilpi . obably be go]d herQ _ Saleß Qn hntl, i mr i.have baken Place at Is lOd per bushel, while holders ask 2s. ro', A tT' SM~ JFrom Dunedin wo leara by telegraph that the quantity of oats coming for- , j l 8 meagre, but the demand is fairly active n,)d prices firm, if anything higher toi both prime feed and milling. Sellers atejnot anxious to quit, savo ab an advance, i "hie milling, bright and stout, Is fid to Is OiKi; beat bright short feed. Is 5d to Is YET modiuni, Is 4£d to Is 5d ; inferior. Is la [ol a 4d ; best Danish, Is 5d to Is 6d ; i°T t.* rt&v'lan *> bright, fib for seed, Is 6d tolsSd; black oats, Is 4id to la 6d (ex stofe, sacks extra) net, gd per bushel extra f.oib. Dunedin. Jotatoes.— The markob is a little firmer, stocks not being quite bo heavy.