COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 216, 10 September 1903, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

TM rsdW' districtr "Sdto* tinned P tae te aP r A me eting for rice Ks° repo « r . At present stocks of from J^ ttle easier- Al ,J" llr but heavy "g" i«t hind. Stocks ■JWland to a™ c 0 American go ods fi Slly S Kded to the cargo for P° rt, «orbAt is at present in a pecue flax market is a hemp ls al _ liar IwfXted on a basis of £10 per ton • a f C fl»t from"he Phllippinese, yet at under that from l h two arc ranking «* pr^e lme on tbe London market, not <b ont the same on toe ))ut on **"? being cheap. The re"T, hesitation at this end, as shippers •«» *„£ asto the future of the London &* however.interfered with millers' *£l£m and the consequent shortage iSBS has tended to keep prices flrin. market continues firm, .„ far aY Prices are concerned the short"Li of supplies assisting to maintain rates •ttiie Ugh levels that have now been rul--1 for so long. Very little ordinary gum h being sent in at present, and as work b still plentiful at good wages, men have Ht been compelled to go on the fields this winter During the past week there has not been such a good demand for gum, but 19 practically no stocks are held ideally, this quietness has not affected prices. Probably when the Star of the Bast arrives to load for New York an improvement may take place in the demaud for gum. unless sufficient hns already been secured to fill the space available. A good demand is reported from outside fo rtimber at fairly .good prices, while the local requirements are still heavy, consequently mills are kept running full time to execute orders. Rimu timber is now wnliiff more into use, and will no doubt become more popular as kau* gets scarcer and advances further in price. A good deal of building ls still going on in the suburbs, as the rapid travelling afforded br the electcic trams enables people now to reside much further from the centre than was formerly practicable..

0a the Exchange business was dull since last report, but prices of standard stocks were well maintained, although few transactions were reported. Northern Steam 'firmed slightly hi price, being waated at 15/8. L.o'B. Timber shares also advanced, buyers now offering 44/, but holders asked 46/, and no transactions were reported. .-N.Z. Drug shares flrmedx slightly, buyers offering 48/, witn no sales resulting. Westiwrt Coal shares had buyers at £7, with sales at a shilling or two over that figure. Mining stocks were somewhat neglected tills week,'and comparatively few,, sales were reported. ■ As boring commences at Thames on Saturday, it is to be hoped that &i results will be such as to renew interest in what was once the favourite section of onr goldfields. Should the bores prov<? the existence of favourable country below the barren stratum reached in the early days, and never since passed through, it will mean a revival in mining on the fiames.

Aβ advance all round in the price of meat has been decided upon by the master botchers. This is attributed to the present fiigh price of stock. At the sales this week fceef advanced 1/ to 2/ per lOOlbs, best realising up to 30/ per lOOlbs, and sheep were keenly competed for at high rates. Wethers realised from 20/ to 31/, ewes from 18/6 to 86/3, and hoggets 17/6 to 21/. This is no doubt partly the result of the heavy export, ef sheep and cattle to Australia during the drought having depleted the stock, added to which, as far as cattle are concerned, the growth of the dairying industry does not conduce to breeding cattle suitable for butchers' requirements. Potatoes.—During the , past week the local market has been well supplied with potatoes, which have met with good demand at from £4 7/6 to £4 10/. Inquiry lor seed is now pretty well restricted to Dements and Up-to-Dates. The bulk of the .Derwent eeed this season requires cutting, winj the size suited for table purposes. Mawe.—The maize market is dull, being now over-supplied, with no outside demand to take the surplus, as Wellington is supplied with grain from the Argentine. About 1400 sacks arrived during the w-eek, and another lot Is on the way, while it is estimated that nearly three weeks' supply is fn m» S l ore here - The P rice dropped to 2/io ex wharf, but it will require to decline a little more before Argentine maize an be competed with in the Wellington

•J"!? ,- :™ 3 marke t continues, very dull, aid the tendency still seems to be towards lower prices Seed oats, such as Tartars, wfth '/? d s P arr °wbills, are meeting with good inquiry. mE^* I***1*** contlnne s very firm, and at S^TVk 6 . 1 ? 3eems uo indication on the KnwMi "n t 0 make an y concession. 2SSS , mill f s are only hn * me to suit unmediate requirements. with°^n^ ea L has , advan <*d in price, netto Serb?*™ 6 ° W rate at whicn malze 5 tE.h & i T Me ls a significant indication «tf4 a s C t a o r re ity ° f Wheat - Hold * r3 A*l£ii\™j™> but ** ma * e Onil Sti Th r » wch ™S*& in price. ™Sw 3?S ffir at the moment - ana ttbwSk! 1, * eSgB remata malterea in'prtce