COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 182, 2 August 1900, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star Office, Thursday.

Trade generally with distributing hotfses has been satisfactory during the past month. Cable advices were received this week to the effect that the rice market in the East is steady, with a further upward tendency. Nestles milk bids fair to be very scar'oe, as only small supplies are on board the Star of New Zealand. Milk maid brand has been almost unprocurable, but supplies are now at hand. New season's dried apricots arrived by the 'Frisco mail steamer this week, and the price is considerably less than it was last season. Apricots have never before been delivered here so early in the' season. Advices by mail state that other new season's fruits should follow by the next boat. Currants, still rule high in price, as a large proportion of the growing crop in Greece has been damaged by the Perenoperos. The receipt of the news in London caused considerable excitement, as dealers were caught with very light stocks. As an outcome of this the price of currants advanced from 12/6 to 24/. Shipments of turpentine came to hand by the mail steamer, and sales were made at 3/9 to 3/10. The market for turpentine is still reported very steady in America and showing signs of another advance, as stocks are becoming concentrated. The E. L. Mayberry has arrived at Wellington with further shipments of kerosene for this port. Transactions for delivery from ship's side. The market for kerosene in America is reported firm, as crude oil keeps steady, and production [has fallen off considerably. Locally Van Houten's cocoa is somewhat scarce at present, and Bells 250 vestas are almost unprocurable. Herrings are likely to firm in price as reports from the fishing districts in England are to the effect that packers are talking about even a less supply than was obtained last season. It is anticipated that brushware will rule higher in price as the war in China will prevent the shipment of Chinese bristles from Tientsin, Circulars by the 'Frisco mail report a material reduction in the price of barbed wire and in plain wire in less proportion. The market was also easier for pig iron and steel of all descriptions has been reduced from £2 to £3 per ton. The timber trade has been brisk throughout the month, orders having come in freely both for export and also to meet local building requirements. Several large blocks of buildings are in course of construction in the city, <and .foundations are now being dug out for a warehouse for the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency at the foot of Albert-street, In the suburbs a number of houses are being built, and blocks of shops in Hobsonstreet, Karangahape Eoad, and elsewhere. The kauri gum market has remained steady during the month as far as prices were concerned, but lessened supplies of better grades restricted transactions as poor stuff was not in much request. East Coast gum firmed 'in price during the month. The flax trade has been dull

On the Exchange business has been on the quiet side this month, the comSlications in , China with the possiility of graver troubles to follow having apparently resulted in money •haj^dening; which naturally checks speculations on the Exchange. Coal shares have, however, moved upwards during the month ,and also Standard and National insurance shares. Auckland Gas on the other hand eased in value. In mining stocks dividends have been paid this month fey the Waitekauri, Waiotahi, and Talisman Companies. The returns from the Waihi, Waitekauri, and May Queen mines each showed improvement this month. The Hauraki group on the other hand showed a slight falling off. Flour: Steady sales are reported at late rates.

Wheat: The European markets for wheat still show a downward tendency. The crop of wheat in Kansas is estimated this season at about 90,000,000 bushels, or 20,000,000 more ..than the famous yield of 1893. In this colony the wheat market is quiet as there is no disposition to buy at present rates for export. Bran and sharps are in better supply, and the price of the latter article has been reduced 5/ per week. Fowl wheat is still worth 2/7 and meets with better demand owing to maize being- dearer. Maize: Arrivals of maize were small this week, and consequently went fapidly into consumption at 2/4 "for lines on the wharf. In consequence of this orders tfor Sydney Could not be supplied. Oats: This market remains unchanged. ' Potatoes: Supplies came forward more freely. Good samples are worth £3 ex store. Hams and bacon: Green's agents notify a reduction in the price _of hams and bacon, the quotations being furnished upon application. Cheese continues to rule high in price. Factory, which has been almost unprocurable, latterly, is again on the market, and is quoted at from 6d to 6£d. Loaf is practically unprocurable just now, and is nominally quoted at 6£d. Butter and eggs: The warm weather during the past week has resulted in unusually, large quantities of eggs being sent in, and great difficulty lias been experienced in clearing stocks, parcels being sent away wherever there was a chance of finding a market. The price has fallen another twopence per dozen this week. Butter on the other hand continues scarce, but so far the price has not altered.