COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1898, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star Office, Thursday.

Business lias been on the quiet side duri „ {,| ie past week, and the orders sent in for the first of the month are not calculated to create much activity amongst distributing houses. Trade with the goldiields is a l s o quiet. The Morayshire arrived here rg^tenlay to load for London, and the Pakelia is now due with shipments for this market- Amongst the scarce lines mentioned this week are Lee and Penin's ciiiuce and Allen and Hanbury's infants' Tliek&*ri gum market still shows little clian (rfi- 'l^e bulk of the gum now being sentTn is of poorer grade owing to the hob weather having enabled the men to work the swamps. Under these circumstances buyers are not inclined to pay the rates at present asked, more especially as the Alice is now loaded up, and there will not beany direct hoot for New York for some weeks to come. Holders of really good samples of gum, however, are firm in their demand for full prices. Supplies of gum so far have not been so large as they were for the same month last year. After having had a good run for about two years the briskness of the timber trade l,3<nnn to show signs of slackening. A crood amount of building is still going on in the city and sutairbs, but the demand for the local market is not equal to absorbing the stocks of medium class. Export to London of first-class timber has been so heavy that it is feared there is a danger of that market becoming overdone. The mills in the Kaiparaare still, however, very jjusy cutting for export. Large supplies of sawn timber are also being sent down from Waitakerei and Waikomiti. Thames stocks have had most attention on the Exchange this week, with frequent sales of May Queens and Moanataiaris. The latter have advanced from 8s Cd to 10s 6tl owing to important developments in the mine, the old Cambria reef having been cut it is stated, added to which the new battery will be started in a week or two. Upper Thames stocks have not had so much attention during the past week. Crowns have been offeree! at a slight concession on last week's rates. Woodstocks were asked for almost daily at 22s Gd. Talismans had steady inquiry at 11s and Grace Darlings at 2s,bu't few sales were reported. Buyers of Wailii Grand Junction advanced their price during the past week from 7s Gd to ]2s 6d, but holders have not quoted a selliiu' price lately. Inquiries were also made for Waihi-Silvertons at Ss, but no shares changed hands. Amongst cheaper stock .Imperials, "Wailii Consols, "VYaihi Exteiuletls, Ohinemuri anil May Queen Exteiicleds all had sales during the week. Rich hauls of specimens are being made hy tributers in the old vKapanga mine at Coromandel, and it is said the show at present is a very good one. Standard stocks have mostly had 'steady inquiry at satisfactory prices since last report. Amongst the- sales reported were New Zealand Accidents at 225, and River Plates at 15s. The half-yearly balance-sheet of the Taupiri Extended Coal Company presented to shareholders this week was a satisfactory one, showing a net profit of £1,828 15s sd, besides writingoff £788 16s 9d for depreciation. Added to the balance brought forward for the previous half-year, the total reached £2,587 13s 2d. A dividend ot Is per share was declared, and £1,387 13s 9d was carried forward to the new account.

Maize.—The market is now very weak, owing to the fact that the demand for the Sydney trade has suddenly ceased. Over 3,000 .sacks arrived this week by the Waiotahi, Terranora and Chelmsford, ot which 1,400 were senfc on to Sydney as consignments from the growers. The local market is, however, still overstocked, and has a downward tendency in consequence. Jtis estimated that while the Sydney demand was on, about 16,000 sacks were sent over to that market. This week lines on the wharf sold at 2s sd.

Oats are still very firm, Oatmeal has advanced £1 per ton this ■week in sympathy with tjte improved tone of the market for oats.

Potatoes. —Tliis market continues firm. Hobarts are worth £5, ami prime kidneys command a little more. Inferior quality potatoes are being offered at very low rates. The crop of potatoes in this district varies considerably,, this year. In some places it is very light, Wt> where the ground had been well worked the yield is better than was anticipated. Grass Seed.—There has been a lot of enquiry latterly for grass seed for surface Bowing over the large areas burned this summer. Cocksfoot has advanced in price, as large areas of seed have heen destroyed. At Akaroa about 0,000 bushels of cocksfoot were destroyed. The English market is also reported hare of cocksfoot, so that export Home might advance the price locally. Wheat.—Considerable quantities of milling wheat arrived from the South this week by the Hauroto and Flora. Holders of last season's wheat in the South are demanding rather high prices, but many sales have not been reported at an advance. The price of the new wheat has not yet been fixed, and millers, in consequence, are at present somewhat chary of purchasing at present. It is pleasing to be able to chronicle the fact that the wheat crop in and around Auckland has been secured in good condition, and as far as can yet be learned both quantity and Quality are satisfactory. Fowl Wheat is meeting with rather more inquiry. Bran.—The recent heavy arrivals of bran from the South have caused the local market to have a tendency towards lower prices.

Sharps are still selling freely. Flour: Fair sales and deliveries are re ported.

Butter and Eggs.—Prices show no altera tioa this week.

, Fruit.— Supplies of fruit are being sent in freely. From all districts the apple wop is reported to be a heavy one this year. Plums- are likely to be scarcer this season and seem likely to realise a fair average price. Fine looking samples of Japanese plums are on the market, but the public are beginning to realise that the older varieties are the better flavoured fruit, and it is not unusual for auctioneers t? receive orders for plums with the addition " not Japanese," which should serve j^a hint to growers only to plant what "aye proved as good varieties. Peaches still rule high in price when the samples £ re good. From Is to 2s per dozen has ™enpaid this week wholesale for really °De fruit. Pears are more plentiful now that Bon Chretiens are coming in.