COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 278, 23 November 1893, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star Office, Auckland, Thursday

FO-iiTIOS appear to have overshadowed business during the past week, bhe characters and chances of the various-candidates being more canvassed and discussed tiian trade orders. Under such circumstances it ia nob to be wondered at thab little business has been transacbod. Orders for the Christmas season should, however, come to hand as soon a3 the 25th has been reached, ihough ib is nbt likely that people will fairly settle down to business until the general elections have taken place. Ibis pleasing bo not. a slight improvemenb in the kauri gum market. During the pasb week supplies have nob been quite so heavy, and stocks in stores are running down. Under those circumstances, prices show a tendency to advance. At a cime like the oreseub, when every candidate for political honours is asked if he is in favour of stopping Austrians from flooding tho gumfielda, ib is* interesting to leurn bhac thi. woek 40 of these gentlemen have reburned to Auckland, having decided to givo up gumdigging and proceed to Napier and Gisborne in order bo look for work of another kind. The liax market is unfortunately etill in ah unsatisfactory condition, there being no signs at present of an improvemenb in bhe prices oilered for dressed tibre. No change of importance is reported in bhe timber market. Wool is now beginning to come in freely, and the four-masted barque Morven is now being loaded for London. Accounts generally from the country diatricbs are sabiafactory as far as the season's clip is concerned. Ac recenb wool sales in Melbourne greasy realised 9#d and scoured Is Bid. Conf_.gnmer.bs of raw sugar arrived from the Fiji mills by the s.s. Poherua, and the 8.8. Richmond brought a full, cargo of fruit and island produce from Tahiti and Rarotonga, which included nearly 3,000 cases of oranges, 600 bunches cf bananas, and 220 cases of pine apples. Owing to the gunial weather, local fruit is now coming in pretty free'y, the eeaspp being apparently a forward one. Smfll fruits, such as strawberries, currants, and "gooseberries, are plenbilul, while cherries and unripa plums are also being sent in. During the week a Union was formed by bho fruitgrowers of the Auckland province to look after the interest of thab important industry. As an outcome of th_ conference ib is nob unlikely thab another attempt will bo made to open up a market in London for Now Zealand fruit. Probably when the Vancouver line is extended to Auckland, something might be done in the way of shipping lemons to Canada. Distressing accounts continue to bo received regarding the depression prevailing in adjacent colonies, and albhouKhn_.at.ers 'a>*e by no moans brisk in Now Zealand, still, by comparison with loss favoured counbries, we have plenby of reason bo be satisfied thab business is no worse, while tho prospects for the future are really encouraging. Tho desire to settle on tho land continues to grow, and a petition is gv©h now being sent to the Government, asking that an estate for salo in bhe Waikato should be purchased, cub up, and disposed of to persons who are already waiting bo obtain sections.' Tho portions of the Cheviot Estate oilered lor sale this week also elicited excellent offers, so that the desire to go on tho land is evidently as keen in bhe South as in tho ftorbn. This is undoubtedly a healthy inciicabiou of future prosperity. On the Exchange more timo is now devoted to electoneeiing than business, consequently the transactions reported ara nob numerous. The feaburo of tho week has been the declaration of another dividend ot one shilling per share by the directors of the Waihi G.M. Company. Tho advance noted in Hazelbank shares lasb week has been mainbainod, bub Norfolk., after reaching Is 6d, fell to lid por share, notwithstanding thab 1 901b of picked stone was obtained from the new Und in bhe Missouri tunnel. In investing sbocks, Bank of New Zealand sharos have declined 2a during the week, holders of old issue being willing to accept 78s. Several stocks are regularly inquired for, but no transactions ure reported. BANK HATES. Exchange on London. Buying—Discount. Skllinu—Premium. On demand £7 0 •» '-"f/o 30 days $7_ „ H"L „ 60 days f/ 0 „ TL „ 90 days I*7= »• * /* ' Rate of Intehkst Allote;* on Fixku Deposits in New Zealani*. Fixed for 3 raoi-bhs, 37. per annum. ■ „ 6 „ J7. „ 12 „ 57c

.-:;3AWtoX.— The Cutting Packing Company report, tho *lasl_a output this season ■to bo 600,000 oases, and as stocks are in ebyong hands bhore is nob much likelihood of a concession in price, neither are rates expected bo advance. Columbia Kivoi* pack is now entirely oub of first hands. Canned Friths. — The tamo Company reporb a firm market for canned apricots and peaches, while an advance is expected in dried apples. Although tho output of prunes has been the largest ever known in California, the price is maintained. Driicd Fruit,,— New season's currants and Valeneias are bein^ offered at extremely low prices. Figs aro still unprocurable, while no now season Spanish muscatels have yeb come bo haud. California muscatels are however, on the market. The state of ;business in Sydney may be judged from the fact thab new currants sold recently at S|d to,3|d, notwithstanding that, a great '.deal of the fruib cost aboub 4d, special Patras fruit at 4|d, and choice Vostizza at s|d, new elemes at i_d, new sultanas ab 4£d, new figs ab 6a 3d, dabes tyd, and anarter caske of dried apples ab 4.1. ' LiQ-OBS.— Lime juice, Australian wines, 'and summer cordials meeb with ready sale. ' I_i.ce continues firm. No. 1 Japan cannob be bought- in Sydnoy under £17 per Ginger is scarce and worth 9_*d bo lOd for bleached in Sydney. 011-S.—Cocoanub ia worth £30 in Sydney 'and linseed oil is reported scarce on that .market. Wheat.—Very little wheat arrived during the past week, men's minds being apparently more occupied with polibics than business. Added bo bhis, cable advices from London are nob ab all reassuring ; the prices denobe a sickly market, and are too low bo encourage exporb from bhis colony. Excellenb accounb9 are received concerning the pro-pects of tho Queensland aud New South Walo3 wheab crop. Want ot rain in <ho northerr, districts of Victoria has reduced tho estimated output of wheat, oub a fair exportable surplus is anticipated, as the Malleo ground ia expected to give a Zood v'leld thw season. From all parts of New Zealand satisfactory reports are received regarding the prospects of tho wheat crop, tho weather so far having been Exceptionally favourable. Our own and Southern ma kets continue quiet, and millers still buy only small lines to meeb present demands. Crushed wheab meets with steady sale, and fowlwheat is in better demand. ,_,_,. Bran and Sharps.—Demand for local manufacture is checked by heavy arrivals from tho South. Flour —Sales aro nob heavy. Maize—Arrivals this week totalled 672 sacks. The markeb is very dull, sales on the wharf taking place ab 2s 7d. BcTTKR and Eggs. - Plenty of butter of all grades i" on bho market. Kegs aro hard to sell. Eggs are reported somewhat eearcer. GiUSI.SK.r-Business in cheef-e has slightly - ilC^roved. Export to London has com-1

menced and local factories are busy working stock for this and Home demand, Prices are firm ab from 4|d be 5d for besb new. Dairy dualities are" selling-at 4d bo 4id. Bacon and Hams.—Tho usual summer demand has now seb in, and deliveries are heavy and will continue so for some weeks to come. Quotations remain unaltered. The stocks in curers' hands through bhe Soabh are oxbr2mely light. Potatoes.—The whole demand has now ta be meb by the local crop. Shepherds are sold out. having commanded good prices from Wellington. Throughout bhe South bhe demand for kidneys is sbrong. Prime kidneys are worth £16 to £18 per ton ; inferior sorts, £12 to £14. Oats.—Temporarily the demand is slack. Southern advices show holders unwilling to recede. Stocks are lighb and resumpbion of ordering may firm prices a point *, 2s 2-kJ ci.f. is presenb value.