COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 290, 6 December 1900, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

"Auckland Star" Office, Thursday,

Distributing houses have been very busy during- the past week owing to the demand for the Christmas trade having created considerable activity. A strong demand has set in for dried aim tinned fruits since the sudden ad-vt-nt of very hot weather. Figs it) particular have had strong- enquiry. During the week the Matatua and Tomoana arrived with cargoes that replenished various lines. Stocks of lice are reported rather light, and the advance noted a week ago has been maintained. Kerosene maintains its unusually high price, actual sales being reported at 10/, although nominally kerosene should at present be worth even more money. The high prices have effectually checked speculative buying. Mason's jars are meeting with good enquiry, an indication of the approach of the fruit season.

The opening wool sale of the season was not a satisfactory one. prices showing a serious decline upon the excellent rates ruling- last year. Growers scored heavily last season over shippers, the latter having to face heavy losses. This has caused buyers to be particularly careful this year in the face of the condition of the market at Home, and prices fell accordingly. The drop was heaviest in the better classes of wool, but even the coai-ser kinds showed a decline of lid per lb. Fortunately only a comparatively small quantity of wool was offered, about 3500 bales, and of that a great proportion was held for higher prices. The growth of the export of frozen meat from this colony may be gathered from statistics supplied by the Colonial Consignment and Distributing- Company. " In 1897 the sheep and lambs exported from Xew Zealand to London totalled 2.702.456 carcases. In IS9B the export was 2.754-.122 carcases, while last year it reached 3.249.557 carcases, an increase of 547.401 carcases upon the export three rears before. Beef shows even a larger increase, being- 25.236 quarters and pieces in "97. and in '93 it reached 51.563. while last year the total export was 90.13S quarters and pieces, an increase of 44.902. Several parcels of New Zealand pork have also arrived to a very g-ood market, well-bred but rather too large and fat to make top prices; they have sold from 4^l to 5d per lb The export of frozen beef from Xew Zealand for 1900 to October 19th was 1G6,511 quarters, an increase of 10° 34S over the quantity received for a similar period in 1599. Australia, on the other hand, shows a decrease of S3 134 probably the outcome ot the drouo-ht. Of New Zealand lambs, an aggregate of 1,283,392 have been exDortecl since January Ist, 56.183 more than last year-. 153.813 over IS9S, and 261.670 more than were received in 1597; values in London are id to $d per lb above last year, id per lb over IS9B, and about Id to lid per lb above rates ruling three years ago. The mutton exported from the colony this year totalled to October 19th 1.682,970, bein°- 151.416 more than last year, and an increase of 326,146 over IS9S. Notwithstanding the much larger imports to London, values are about id per lb hio-her than they were in October, 189b and 1599. and instead of being, as they were then, on the eve of lower prices, they are now apparently the beginning of still higher rates, and there seems to.be no great accumulation of stocks. The kauri gum market continues in an unsatisfactory condition, there beiuo- Uttle inducemwrt to do business at the prices aske* in the face of the state of foreign a* Meets. Practically the sales are rt*!ricted to better o-rades and rescraped, and as little ot either can be got the volume of biisine=s is much restricted, the result being that many of the hands in the stoVes are having enforced hohdajs before Christmas. Poor stuff is almost without demand. The timber trade presents quite another picture, busine^ being so brisk that difficulty is experienced in filling orders Most of the mills are running night shift, and electric lighting apparatus is beino- installed in another mill to enable •it&to follow suit. Owing to the finer weather there is now not so much difficulty in getting logs, as the bullock teams are once more at work, and during the past week some green logs cut this season reached the town mThi* has been a busy week on the Exchange. The high rates offered for standard stocks have now forced prices to a point where it is hard to invest money so as to secure more than 5 per cent.'return. Probably as an outcome of this state of affairs more attention is beino- paid to mining stocks, many lines having- moved upwards during the past week. The most notable advance was in Waihi shares, a. rise of 7/6 being recorded in the buying price, a= £13 was offered. A good advance also took place in Waihi Grand Junctions, sales being made yesterday at £4 per share, the market value being thus at a little under one-third that of Waihi shares. Free transactions have taken place in Waihi Consolidateds owing to negotiations bein^ in progress for the sale of that Company's property. At the late call yesierday as high as 2/8 was touched for shares which a month ago could have been got for about 4jd. Waihi Consols have also sold up to 1/, and Extendeds fluctuated from 3/6 to 4/9. with subsequent sales at 3/11. Another sharp rise was in Talisman Consolidated shares, the advance this week being from 15/ to 21/. This is understood to be due to buyers from the Home market. In a Company with 300,000. the present price seems a very fair one for the property. The N Z Crown mine this week declared a dividend of 1/ per share, whichi means the distribution of another. £10,000 The Waiotahi mine at the Thames had the usual satisfactory crushing- tins month, and shareholders may look for the customary Christmas box this Company has given regularly for many years past. Barrier Reef! shares have'remained firm at about 12/6 and 13/, sales having been made at the former price yesterday. This week the first 60 tons of concentrates from tie Barrier Reefs mine were shipped to N.S.W., and when the return comes to hand these shares should have an upward move. The Monowai Company got another very satisfactory return from 37 tons of concentrates snipped

to XS.W. for treatment, the net result being £409 2/10. Another 70 tons are on the way to the works for treatment. Komata Beef shares firmed a little during the week, being sold at 2/5, and buyers came in for Woodstocks at 9/3, and for Kauri Freehold at 3/6. but holders of the latter asked 7/6. Slightly better prices were also offered for several of the cheap Thames s'.ocks. In standard stocks buyers ot South ISritish Insurance advanced to 74/. while Nationals sold at •20/3 and 20/0. X.Z. Accidents .-old aiid are still wanted tit 26/, and inquiry was made for N.Z. Shippingshares at £5 5/. Auckland Gas also firmed. £13 15/ being oft'eied for old, and £11 for new issue. Other standard stocks had good all round demand.

; Maize.—Since last report arrivals have been heavy, 3591 sacks having come to hand prt- coasting- steamers, and the schooner Aotea. The market eased back to 2/4-1 on Monday for i wholesale lines' on the wharf, but l*.ter on several parcels changed hands at lower money. The Australian markets were decidedly easier, and report just to hand both by cable and letter are not encouraging, but the improved ,price ruling for oats over there may steady rates ruling for maize. Speculators, have been operating freely during- the. past few weeks, with the result that stocks have accumulated in Sydney, on which the Australian merchants are now working. Of the above arrivals 2.1G0 sacks were transhipped by the Talune to Sydney, part of which was the completion of old orders, and pan fresh business at the above reduced rates. Queensland buyers are cautious, a? our maize has been freely dumped down in Townsville. Brisbane, and Freemantle, as well as lots from Victoria. The Queensland new crop will be ready shortly, when no doubt that market will be closed ag-ainst Xew Zealand maize, which will have to contend with a duty of Sd per bushel. The Sydney market will probably hold present rates for a while, but on top of their own production it may easily be surfeited. Regarding future supplies here it is stated that stocks held at Whakatane are now getting into small compass.

Seed Maize.—The Aotea brought a little seed maize, but merchants were disappointed at the quality of some of it. It would almost seem as. if the grain was running out, as the same samples cannot now be got that were obtainable four or live years ago. Some growers pay no attention to change of seed. A large quantity will be sown during the next three weeks. For good lots 3/ is easily obtained, but sale.s were made at 2/(5 this week.

Oats. —There is no change to report as far as this market is concerned .but in the South holders have altered their ideas of values. The Imperial orders reported a fortnight ago have been repeated, a fact which immediately imparted a firmer feeling to the market. This was the only thing- That would arrest the downwards tendency that set in. and probably for g-ood grade oats the price will now hold at about 1/9 f.o.b. B-gracle. The local market is not heavily stocked, but still oats are ratlier slow of sale at present, at 2/1 ex wharf, and 2/2* ex store. Onions. —The market is cleared of all 'Frisco, and merchants have had a splendid year with them, which will recoup the loss of the last two years, when they were sold under cost. The first of the Xew South Wales newcrop advised last week .as being on th e Mararoa- came to hand in splendid order. In the hungry market they went into immediate consumption at "la/ and 16/. The local crop will be ready towards the end of the present month. Potatoes. —A few old potatoes still arrive by each steamer, and go into use straig-ht away, as merchants are not stocking- at this time of the year. Old potatoes are worth £4 10/ per ton. The local new crop is being- dug- freely and the price holds at from £7 to £S for prime samples of kidneys, and £j to £6 for round sorts. On situations! whichwweer c not exposed to the severe winds and hail some time back, the return is excellent, and growers are quite in good spirits. The majority of the samples sent in are well picked, and it is to the best interest of growers that they have acted on the advice of a few weeks ago, and cast the chats on one side. The South Island will take new potatoes from this on, for a time, but the Wellington market has been most erratic for a week or two. Wellington have a few of their own crops ready to dig.

Potato Bags.—Stocks of these are nearly exhausted, and 3/4 per doz. can now be got. The scarcity is accounted for by the fact that large lines of these have been bought up to be used 'as two bushel bags for oats, to fill the export orders recently piaced in the i colony. Chaff. —Xo change can be reported on last quotation, viz., £2 17/6 for i i truck loads at the station, and £ 3 5/ lex stores. -A- lot of poor stuff has been sent in, but growers cannot work this i off as good stuff. ' Buyers will not look at it. Bonedust will be wanted now for seed maize and turnips. For the best 'Sydney, clean, pure bone, £7 5/ is i quoted. Wheat.—The market in this colony is still stagnant. Fowl Wheat is offering a little more freely from the South, at slightly reduced rates, but practically the market is strong. No doubt several lines are wished to be cleared *c stores now that the space is required for wool, etc. The local price remains at-2/9 ex store, at which figure it has been moving off. freely during the past week. Flour is meeting with fair demand. Bran is dull of sale. Sharps are in better demand this week. Butter and Eggs. —Daring the week eo-gs have been scarcer, and are now quoted at 8d wholesale. Butter is still plentiful and unchanged in price.