COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 274, 25 November 1897, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

-Rusiness on the whole during the month jKfood, bat it °*tfT££g?, others in some of the mimn S Owin" to the depression many of the Seepers are unable to meet their engagements, and, of course, this■ natrurally ?a& back on the merchant who has given all this xnerchant^eport that the Christmas sales so■ fai dus Lnth are very good and there has been auite a run this week on new fruits which Stohand, suchasfigs^raisms, currants, »tels, almonds and other such.seasonable "oods. The ilangatira brought a large nSnber of lines for |c Christmas trade and the Star of New Zealand and Waikato also have large cargoes of a sumkr nature on board. Heavy shipments per Au-sbergare expected to brought on ft by the Westalia, due to arrive next S. The new figs to hand from Smyrna are reported to be splendid samples. There is a good inquiry for cordials, dried and canned fruits, and De Carle's brand of Lit jelly extract, and powder for making SJJe fruit drinks, etc., is sought after by ' Usan' Houten's cocoa is reported in short supply. Kice is quoted at £23 per ton, and despite 'the rise it is moving freely. Tapioca and sago are also selling at advanced prices. Currants are almost unprocurable and they are firmer in price m sympathy with the Home market. Hops have also advanced. Consequent on the summer season kerosene and candles are weak and both are dull of sale. Arrangements have been made with the Mildura Fruit Syndicate to introduce thendried fruits into this market. The samples shown us were capital. A good deal of business has been done on 'Change in standard stocks during the month. National Banks are strong, there being buyers at 43s 6d. This week there has been a fall in Insurance and C4as shares, the drop in Insurance being due to the heavy losses sustained by offices on the London and Melbourne fires, to say nothing of other smaller losses. Mining stocks generally are quiet. A good number of Royal Oak have been bought for London at Is 10d and 2s, while there are further buyers at 2s Id, but holders are loath to part. The return from this mine for the month is a splendid one, less than 18 tons of ore being treated for a yield of 1,6990z sdwts of bullion, worth £2 10s per ounce, the total value being £4,262 5s Bd. A_ few transactions have taken place in Waihi, which remain very firm. This mine also has had another splendid crushing. New Zealand Talisman have been dealt in up to 12s 9d. Waihi-Silverton receded to 8s 6cl (sales), but there are now buyers at 9s. Buyers offer 20s for Crowns, while 39s is the best offer for Waitekauri. Woodstock are slightly weaker, there being sales at 19s. The Waitekauri Extended commence crushing shortly with their new battery. Machinery for the English owned Royal Standard mine at Wharekeraupunga and the Broken Hills at Tairua has arrived safely from London, so in course of time the three mines mentioned should be added to our bullion producers, to say nothing of the Komata Reefs, Alpha, Moanataiari, Mahara Royal, Puru Consolidated and several others.

During the month some high prices were given for kauri gum, but at the time of writing there is less disposition to buy. The Clan MacLeod takes 600 tons to New York, but there is no other boat to load here for that part until the New Year. Little gum is held. Now that the fine weather has come, and the fact of more men being out digging, large supplies may be expected. . Tobacco. —Derby still holds the market, "but there is small inquiry for Ascot and Venus. In light tobaccos Ruby Twist and Golden Eagle meet with favour. Queen of the Road is a new line of cigarette tobacco imported here. Milling Wheat.—Accounts of drought and cyclones in the adjacent colonies have hardened the markets, and this has had the effect of causing holders to ask for full prices without much busiuess as yet resulting. Fowl wheat is dull of sale. Bran and sharps are selling freely. Flour.—Fair sales and deliveries are reported. Oats. —There is inquiry for feed oats from Sydney. We quote 2s to 2s Id c.i.f. Maize.—The Waiotahi brought 755 bags of maize from Opotiki, and the Chelmsford 350 bags from Whakatane. The Aotea is due with a full cargo from Gisborne and coast ports. There is a good demand all round, some being anxious to buy to arrive. We quote 2s on wharf. Round seed maize is unprocurable, and farmers will be compelled to sow Horsetooth. Potatoes. —Old potatoes are hard to quit, but the market is bare. On the other hand, new are more plentiful, prime kidney being worth £7 per ton. Butter continues to be very plentiful, and all round is reported to be a drug in the market and difficult to quit. For keg there is no inquiry. Prices are lower this week.

Eggs are in good demand, but in shorter supply. They are quoted 8d wholesale and lOd retail. It is expected that there will be the usual rush of eggs in the market •with a view of obtaining better prices for the Christmas period.

Cheese. —The market is bare, being between the seasons. Farmers' make is coming in plentifully, and has a downward tendency. Bacon is unchanged in price, but prime hams are scarce, and in the South they are quoted as high as B£d to 9d. It is stated a demand has set in from Australia for hams.

Fruit.—The market is heavily stocked with Island fruit, two full cargoes coming to hand by the Upolu and Hauroto. Bananas and oranges brought high prices at auction, but pineapples sold at a loss to shippers. The market is glutted with this fruit. In local fruit, cherries, red currants and gooseberries are coming forward, while strawberries are in good supply and command the usual high prices. Lemons have brought good prices.