COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 34, 8 February 1906, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

*• Auckland Star" Office, •February 8. Business hasa continued brisk during the week just passed. Several linee are in short supply, Colman's halves mustard and Colman's starch particularly. Heavy shipments of fungus went forward to Hongkong by the Mokoia, and appear likely to arrive to a weaJj market. Burma candles arc rather low in stock. A fall is announced of -0/ per ton in Southern oatmeal. A Singapore circular of recent- date e-tates as to Eastern products: White pepper, In sympathy with black, has experienced a further decline. Arrivals from Sarawak have fallen off, and are likPly to be light for the nest few months. We consider market as low as it is likely to go. Tapioca: This article is in the hands of spectators, and extreme prices are being. aiskeA. Supplies are certainly very moderate, but we cannot help thinking the advance is being carried too far. Until supplies increase we must expect a high and #ucttgcUng market. The Tilly E. Starbuck is due with, a shipment of kerosene about .the end of the month, and price's ex wharf show a slight reduction. Advice regarding the tea market from Ceylon states that at the auctions competition was good for all kinds at fully late quotations, and in some Instances advances were paid. During the year 1905 the tea shipped to the Australian colonies totalled 155,129,4541h5. as compared with 21.822.7671bs in 1904, and 18.850,329 ibs in 1903. The total export of ten from Ceylon during 1905 wa* 1«2.074,6071b5, as 'against" 144,991,378'bs iv 1904.

The exceptionally heavy supplies of fruit on the local market this season have resulted in prices being unusually low, anil In consequence' growers will get a very poor return for their labour. So great is the glut of plums that quotations 'nave been lower than rates that have rued for many years past. Even nectarines and peaches are selling at.comparatively low prices, and it is many years since cartloads of peaches were hawked in Qneen street at 36 for a shilling. Apples and pears, on the other hand, are not quite so plentiful just now. One effect of the glnt of stone fruit has been to cause a big demand lar. preserving jars, au evidence that thrifty housewives are taking advantage of the low prices now ruling to make jam and bottle fruit for winter use.

Prices continue steady for kauri gum, ajjd a fair amount of business is passing. The main demand is still for the better grades of gum, of which smaller quantities are being sent in this dry weather, as diggers are able to work the swamps better when there is such a continued, spell of Sne weather.

The building trade is fairly brisk in Auckland and the suburbs, and timber miPs are consequently pretty busy.

The flax market is still brisk, although cable advice from London this week notified a drop of 10/ per ton. The weather is, of course, all that millers could desire, and but. for the high prices that nave now to be paid for the green leaf, a lot of money would be more* especially as there is a strong demand now for tow at good prtcea, -whereas formerly this by-product was simply burned to get it out of the way. Now, tow is wanted in London for manufacturing purposes.

A. good deal of business lias been done in mining shares during the week, and very free sales have been made of Talisman Consolidateds. The strength of the public faith, in this mine is shown by the fact that, although about 8000 shares were placed on the market daring the week, they ail found, buyers without a very serious decline in price. Shares did fall from about 31/ to. 28/, hut although the selling continued steadily, the shares were taken up. and at the late call yesterday 29/6 was again reached. Crown shares had several sales at 6/ and 6/1, and Waihi Extenders, after TouchiDg 6/1. again sold at 6/4 yesterday. The diTidenu of £15,000 Is payable in "W'alotahi shares, and prices eased to 115/ es div.. so that this stock is not quite so strong as it was. Probably the cause ie that it Is taking longer than was anticipated to cut the run of gold at the No. 6 leve , . As far as the No. 5 level is concerned, the stone is evidently very rich, as another 3cwt was obtained from a stope this week. Of course, if the same rich run of gold is also cut at the JJo. 6 level, it will mean a big thing for shareholder?, and no doubt the present price is paid to some extent in anticipation of the gold being found to go down. Waihi shares eased a little in price this week, sales being made at 144/- May Queen shares declined in price this week, latest sales being at 5/3. Victoria shares were also easier. Kuranui-Caledonian shares, on the other hand, advanced in price owing to a stringer carrying gold being met with in the winze now being sunk to reach the Cure reef on its dip from the Waiotah' mine. Should this stringer carry gold down to the reef, there is every reason to hope that another important discovery will be made at Thames, and as this is the o'd Caledonian ground, the possibilities are of course great. Shares advanced from 2/6 to 3/6 this week, large numbers being bought; for the Thames people. Investment stocks had good inquiry this week, and both New Zealand and National Bank shares advanced. The former are now wanted at £S 6/, and the latter at £6 5/, but those prices were not accepted. Insurance shares were firm at late rates, and gas shares generally were in demand at srooid prices.

Maize. —The total arrivals of maize since last report were 536 sacks and this quantity was quite eqnal to requirements, as poultrykeepers are now mainly feeding with wheat, not only because it is cheaper, but also because maize is too heating for this hot weather. In consequence of this the demand for maize has fallen off considerably of late.

Potatoes are being sent in freely from all quarters to bhis market- During the weefc consignments have been received from Melbourne and the South, as well as from various districts in the Auckland province. Hitherto this season the main local supplies have heen drawn from Pukekohe, but lesser quantities are now being sent in from that district. Local potatoes are quoted £8 at station, and imported £6 10/ per ton at. the wharves. At present local potatoes are superior in quality to the 4m ported article, hence the difference in price. Digging the late crop will commence shortly, but it ie anticipated that in the' majority of cases these will be saved for seed, and not sent on to the market.

Onions.—A little more business was done in onions this week owing to extra heavy sales for shipment by the Ventura to Honolulu and San Frauclsco. The qnality of the onions is excellent, added to which local, shippers have followed the American practice of packing In octagonal wire-bound eases.

Fowl "Wneat-—The demand for fowl wheat is reported exceptionally good at present. There is. however, no shortage, as plenty of fowl wheat is offering from the SoTith. The price is now 3/8 to 3/9 ex store.

Oats.—The market for oate in the South is reported dull, but locally more business has been passing, as holders of stocks appear anxious to sell before the new oats are on the market. Already new Algerian are offering at 2d per bushel above f.o.b. prices for old oats.

Chaff.—The principal supply for this market is locally gro-nru. although there is still some old Southern chaff in store. Importations have, however, now quite ceased, ss the local chaff now offering is of excellent quality, being mainly from Algerian oats. The price for local chaff *s now £3 15/ at rail, sacks iv.

Bran.—The demand for bran is duller than might be expected, as th*» continued dry weather was thought to most likely create inquiry for cow feed. Locally prices are below rates ruling in the South, where the market is reported firm at present. Sharps are meeting with better inquiry now that the season is beginning for pis feeding.

Butter and Eggs.—An advance of 2d per dozen took place this week in the wholesale quotations for eggs. Butter remains unaltered, bat the dry weather is causing supplies to fall off. This week dairy-men advanced the price for milk.

AUCKLAND PRODUCE MARKET. Farm and Dairy Produce.—Butter Factory, lid: farmers - separator or dairy butqOter. Sd lb: fresh eggs, 1/2 per dozen. wholesale: rbeese. farmers'. 3d to sid lb; factory, medinm. 6d. loaf &Jd. Flour local, wholesale. £9 15/ (less discount); wheatmeal £9 15/: braa. 160!h. £3 2/6; sharps. 2001b sacks, £5: oatmeal. £12 per ton. 25's. Grain.—Oats. B grade. 2/7 c.x store: fow] ■Wheat, 3/S to 3/9. ex store, sacks included; Southern milling wheat; S/7 to 3/8. f.0.b..' sacks extra: maize, 3/9. for Trholesale lines on the -wharf: rye corn. 3/6. ex store. Potatoes—l/ocal, £S per ton, imported £6 10/. ! Chaff—Local, £3 16/, at station. I Onions—Melbourne, 4/6 per cwt; local. 5/6. Coal and Firewood Markets.—Newcastle and, at yard, 28/ per ton, deUfered 81/; - weetport, aof, Tknpftrl, best booffinoia,

discount. 1/ for cashrnair tons. 14/b, discount 6d; quarter tons. 7/3. discount, 30, lor cash; hundredweights, l/a, n O discount. flcKed steam, 12- sacks- to :thie-rton— 24/, discount 1/ lor cash; half tons. 12/6, discount 6d for cash; quarter tops, 6/9, discount 3d for cash; Union Colliery, 23/; per ton delivered, half Ton 12/, quarter ton 6/3 cash; steam coal, 21/ ton. 11/ hair ton, and 5/y. quarter ton. Firewood: Oncut, at wharf,-7/ to 9/ per ton; delivered, 12/ unc'uti cut 13/ to "Iff/.

Building Material. —Boards and scantling, undressed, 100 ft best, 16/6; medium. 13/6; 2nd class, 10/6; best planed, tongnecL and grooved, Ist class, IS/B; medium, 15/6; 2ud class, 12/6; rusticated weather boards, Ist class, 15/6; medium, 15/6: 2nd Class, 12/b'; undressed boards. $in thick, best, 13/6; medium, 11/6; 2nd class, S/; rouga lining boards, fin., second class. If; lining boards, planed, tongncd and grooved, best, IS/6; medium, 15/6; 2nd class, 12/6 {specified lengths, flooring, lining, and ■weatherboards, 1/6 extra); boat boards, specially selected, l«/ 6 lor Jin, 17/6 for Sin; kauri palings, rough heart, oft, per 100 palings; rough heart, 6ft, 20/6; ti-tree rail. £3 10/ per 100; puriri posts, 1/ to 1/6 each; shingles,, 10/ per 1000; Hobart palings, oft, 11/; 6ft, 19/; rails, SO/; dry pressed bricks, 62/6 per 1000; ordinary bricks, 60/ per 1000; lire bricks, m; and sin, £U per loou; tire clay, tKy per ton: hydraulic lime, 2/ per cwt Dag; drain pipes, at works, 21a '3(1; O'in. 1/; 9m, -J/; I2in, 3/; loin, -1/6; lain. 3in socket pipes, 2ft lengths, 7d each; 4in, 70/; 3in yo/; 41n, 130/; 6in, £15 per 1000; drain tiles, fengtns, 50/ per 10006/; »/; 2410,10/. G. W. BINNKY" AND SONS' REPORT. On Tuesday we cleared a good catalogue lof hides, sheepskins, tallow, etc., niider brisk competition.

Hides show an advance. Prime ox. to 9d; extra stout, "id to 7'id; stout. <sid to 7d; medium, ojd to 6}a; light, s}d to~sid; cow, best to o&d, good, 5Jd to aid. seconds 4id to sd; kips, 5d to old; calf, wtjll flayrd 63 to 6id, cut 4d to sd; stags', 3d to 3*d; damaged hides, 2d' to Sid per Ib. Sheepskins: Butchers' large- green and salted, 6/ to 8/; medium, 6/"to 6/K; sma'L, 3/6 to 5/: butchers* pelts, green aiid salted. 2/S to 8/1;* lambs". 2/6 to 3/: country dr.v. good 5/5 to 6/tf, medium 3/S to ,4/6", smal' 1/ to $/ each. Tallow: Market firm. Best mixed, 21/ to 21/6; medium. IS/ to 19/; seconds, 15/ ta 16/. Rough fat', lid to li<i per Ib. Bones: Best dry.. £4 .15/ pen ton. Cow tails. 1/6 per dozen. Hair: Horse tail, 1/3 to 1/6; mane, 9d tet 10d per Ib. ■ LONDON CABLE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 9.7 a.m.) LONDON. February T. Copper: On spot, £77: at three months. £753- Tin: On spot. at three months, £1641. Iron, 51/ S. Lead, £16g.

Thirteen thousand quarters of Adelaide January-February wheat sold at 31/. and ten thousand Victoria February shipment at 30/9.

Tallow: 963 casks offered: 254 sold. Fine mutton, 33/6; medium, 27/6r fine Ueef, 29/9; medium, 27/.