COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1902, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Auckland . "Star" Office,

Thursday

Business has been greatly interrupted by the holidays, and has not yet resumed its even course. As far as can be ascertained retailers are satisfied with! the Christinas trade, and in some eases last year's figures ■were exceeded. As is usual in this month complaints are heard that cash is scarce, and accounts are not being paid promptly. A shipment of kerosene has been received by the s.s. Riversdale, but not many sales were made ex wharf. The tariff rate which rule now have ended the extreme cutting' of prices which formerly prevailed. It is worthy of note that all shipments now arriving- are low screw cans. The new crop of rice is liow selling- both ex store and to arrive at rather lower prices. From a recent circular received from Kobe ■the crop is said to be certainly superior to the yield of late years. In 1900 it was 44,773,000 kokus; this season's estimate is 40,100,000 kokus, but statistics show that the Japanese are annually consuming more rice in place of wheat, barley, etc., and the population is steadily increasing at the rate of 400,000 to 500,000 annually, so the larger crop is expected to be easily absorbed. Calcutta advices of December 2 state that the gunny market is dull and inactive, and prices are unchanged. In tea, on 22nd ult.. 15,355 packages were offered, and 17,436 sold. The market was generally quiet, with an easier tendency.

The Star of New Zealand and Te Koa arrived this week from London, and are now discharging. Full supplies of all trade lines are to hand, including V.II. cocoa, Colman's starch, whiting, National candles and milk. A trade sale of Derby slightly damaged, ex Ileathdene, has been announced, but it is understood that the parcel will be bought in by the agents and re-shipped to America. "Frisco advises seeded raisins firmer. Although immense quantities have been seeded the market is quite bare, owing to the phenomenal demand. The advance recently reported in Nestles milk, and in cornflour, is now being asked. Mining. —The Exchange opened on Monday, after a fortnight's holiday, but so far business has shown no sign of improving, the market being very slack. Prices ruling are about the same as before the holidays, but in one or two of the Ohinemuri stockbetter offers are made. Waitekauris sold at from 9/3 to 9/6, and Waihi Extendeds at 2/10 and 2/11, sellers closing at 3/. Talismans were offered at 22A buyers quoting IS/6. Crowns ■were wanted at 10/, sellers 11/. Waihis were held at £6 10/. buyers £0 4. li> investment stocks New Zealand Insurance sold at 71/6, and South British at 78/, with further buyers at a shilling less. Maize. —Arrivals for the week ex YVaiotahi and Waitangi total 1400 sacks. A good part of this was sec-ond-class and inferior kinds, and sold at 2/ to 2/1. the best samples being quoted at 2/3 on the wharf. The demand for maize for feeding purposes is increasing, and the market may probably further advance in the near future. " A good portion of the shipments went South, and inquiries came in from Taranaki and the West Coast. vv'here there is a probability of a new market being opened up. The continued high price of wheat is responsible for" considerable inquiry for anaize. . O a ts.—The oaf market is fairly firm, and there is no change in quotations. Stocks are very low, and it is not likely that there will be any .alteration of prices in the shape of a downward tendency until the new crop comes into the market. The c.i.f. quotations are 2/9 to 2/10, and 3/ to 3/3 ex store. Potatoes.—There has been a regular glut in the market during the past few days, and the market is accordingly very much disorganised. The nominal qilOtations for I<idlie.V s flre 4/ to 5/ per cwt for good samples, round sorts 3/6 to 4/. A good many potatoes have been sent in in an unripe -state, and have to be cleared out, at once, as they become discoloured m v few days. Good ripe samples are readily disposed of. There seems to be an'impression abroad that the potato market will harden considerably. btil there is not the slightest hope of this The continued rains have increased the crop so much that there is no chance of the demand overtaking the supply. . Onions.—The onion market is firm,, on account of orders having been received from San Francisco. These orders are now being filled, and the steamer leaving on Saturday is expected to take' away a considerable shipment. Prices for prime samples are fi/G to 7/ ex store. Chaff.—There has been more demand for chaff during the last few days but the supply is quite equal to .requirements. The quotations are £3 to £3 5/ per ton, according to quality, on truck at the station. No new -tuff is offering at present, and none will be in the market for the next week or ten days. This will be used for mixing with old stuff, and the new lot will not be fit for storing purposes for the next six weeks. Fowl Wheat.—A considerable demand exists for fowl wheat at increased prices, and anything coming ■forward is readilyy disposed of. So bare is the market that milling wheat has been sold for feeding purposes. Prices have advanced to 3/7 ex store. Fend barley has strong enquiry, and the supply "will not equal the demand .until after the harvest. The quotations are 2/6 to 2/9 ex store. Eggs.—A drop of Id has taken place this week, and the wholesale price is now 7d per dozen. Tins is partly due to the late arrival by coastal steamers of shipments intended Cor the Christmas and New Year markets, but another important factor in the decline is the indifferent quality of many of tlie eggs. Many complaints have been heard on this score. It would seem that the producers kept back their eggs for the Christmas market and are now sending in fresh eggs mixed with stalo

and pickled. This has had a marked effect on the consumption, and a drop in value has followed.

Butter.—Late rates rule, the quotations being: Factory butter, lOd and lid; separator, 7d; best dairy, 6d; second quality dairy, sd. The supply is in excess of the demand, and no improvement in prices can be looked for. The continued rains in November and December ihave made fee* plentiful, and the amount of gutter made has consequently large!}' increased over the average product for those months. Little relief can be looked for from {Tie Home market, as shipments made now will reach London at the same time as the fresh spring butter from Denmark and France, consequently a decline in values of New Zealand butter in London may be anticipated.

Sydney Market: Sydney advices are to the effect that the large houses are still doing little more than "'mark time," pending the settlement of the tariff question. The business done, however, has been profitable, merchants having reaped the benefit of duties on their free stocks. It is anticipated that the wheat harvest will be a record, the average being 12.8 bushels per acre, with an estimated yield of 19,000,000 bushels. The general outlook in New South Wales is encouraging, with the exception of the evils caused by drought in some districts. The high duty (3d lbj shuts out American evaporated fruits, and Tasmania is supplying most of the requirements. The same may be said of tinned fruits, Tasmania and Victoria doing most of the trade. The duty of 3d lb on dates seems likely to have the effect of putting them out of consumption.