COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 195, 16 August 1906, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Buslneis continues rather quiet, with not many.chmgcs In prices to report. The expected rfte in herrinss in tomato sauce and kippered herrings is announced. A few prunes ire now procurable, but the arice is extreacly high. Other dried fruits 'are scarce; quotations now in for new season's evaporatd. apricots show that tliey will cost aboit 1/ per lb. Canned fruits are selling f eely to arrive. The Apartma is due from Calcutta early in September with comsaciy, castor oil.. etc. A cable from Calcutta, shows another advance in cornsacks, and 4S-inch would cost S/ c,l;f. Stocks are low iin Auckland. Sago alitl tapioca continue iou the up grade, and sago would now cost'2l/9 to land. A recent Singapore circular says that though supplies are fairly plentiful, the price keeps advancing, the reason for this being th.:t "bearing" has been overdone and played into the hands of the "bull." Ceylon tea: A Colombo circular of USrd July states:'"Offerings during the past fortnight were rather smaller than In Demand his been very strong- for all good liquoring sorts', mora especially tippy brokcns, which sold at aiP vanced rates. Common and undesirable sorts were again neglected, and difficult of sa3e." Ousts aud farmings were irregular and generally easier, except for standout quality." No definite information as to the arrival of the next kerosene boat Is yet available. Fungus is coming iv slowly, owing to the wet weather prevailing, and the price remains firm. Sago and tapioca show signs 'of advancing in price, and macaroni has advanced in price. Australian milled rice is still supplying this market,

"Auckland Star" Office. August 10.

as Japan is too high to compete, although decidedly of better quality.

The continued wet weather is so hampering operations of. naxmlllers that supplies sent in are very small, and as stocks In store are light, the result is that high prices liave to be paid if lines are urgently needed to fill contracts. This no doubt explains the present peculiar position of flax realising nearly as much in Auckland this week as the latest cabled quotations from* London. The kauri gum market remains with an active demand for all grades, due to the falliiig-oft in supplies, which Js also due to the prolonged wet weather. Mo iloubt when liner weather sets in supplies will improve, but a factor that must,not lie lost sight of Is that plck-and-shovel men have had plenty of work this winter, and under such circumstances a steady wage is preferable to life on the gumfields during winter.months. Timber mills are still kept fully employed, principally in filling orders for the lingllsh market. On tho Exchange business has been dull j siuee last report, although a good number i of Talisman Consolidated shares haye j changed hands at, from 20/ to 26/0. YVaihi shares sold at £!» 4/6, and Crowns at. 4/0. Waiotahi shares fluctuated considerably iv •price since last report, selling as low as £4 12/6 one day aud reaching £0 about 4S hours afterwards. Late sales yesterday were, however, made at £f> I-/- The proposal to increase the number of shares in the company was finally: agreed to yesterday. Whether the lower price will bring in more buyers, or the larger number of shares will prejudicially affect the market, remains to be seen. linranul-Caledonian shares have declined in price since last report, and sold as low as 2/2 yesterday afternoon. Alburnlas remained steady, but Thames were a shade easier. May, Queens were wanted at 3/, and Golden Belts sold at 2/10. Sts the crushing this mouth ..was not quite'Miuul to the'former ones, although 320 tons yielded £900. The smaller tonnage treated may be due to the breakage re-, ported" in the aerial tram. Investment stocks showed little change in value this week, and comparatively few transactions were reported. South' British Insurance shares sold :<t 112/. aud the right to take up new issue of N'-Z. insurance shares was sold for 10/3 aud 10/6 premium. Potatoes.-The market is very' firm owing to the increased cost of potatoes now coming forward, and merchants readily get ±.i----per ton for prime lots. Southern supplies have now practically ceased,- as It vnas been ascertained they have little more lelt In stock now than will be required for their own consumption. Even £12 per ton is vow little more than presents landed, cost at the recent -advances in the Australian markets. The Sonoma, due next week, will bring the first supplies of. Californian potatoes, and the' price will be about £1 per ton higher than last season, but may ease a little later on, as .the crop is reported to be a heavy one. Seed potatoes are meeting with Teady sale, but good clean samples are difficult to. secure. Up-to-Date seed are still in most demand, owing to proving sach a line marketable variety. L'p-to-Bates are now worth £15 per ton for prime samples. ,■ ... Maize—Oulv 150 sacks of maize came to hand from Sydney this week, and being transhipments from the Islands, was of excellent quality. The local maize coming up at present is rather soft, and in some cases frosted, and has to be sold at 2d per bushel' under tlie standard quotation. Early inquiry is seeing iv for seed maize, but the volume of business is not large.

Oats.—"Becidcdly tweak," best describes the present position of the wheat market, and quotations are fully a penny per bushel lower than they were- a- mouth ago. This price will urobabiy hold for a while, as there is still a total absence of any business for export. Stocks iv the colony are really light, as reliable estimates now showthat there will. not toe much, if any, in excess of probable requirements. The last shipment o£ oats here by the, Wanaka was a very light one, but this wil be balanced by tlie fact that the barque Casablanca is leaving the Bluff with 8000 sacks for this port Stocks in-store here are light, and the present position, as far as the local imarket is concerned, may be considered a fairly strong one at the penny decline aiiready referred toj Tlie Australian market continues very steady, but no business is being done with New Zealand bats there at present B grade oats, ex Wanaka, were quoted at 2/7J, ex wharf, and 2/9 ex store.

.Milling Wheat—The market for milling wheat is considered not to be so strong as it was. It Is more evident that there will be a surplus over requirements for local consumption, and as present prices are much above a parity" of London values, should a surplus of good wheat be found to really exist, quotations here must ease, as the year is now getting iwell advanced. Farmers are now showing more inclination to quote, where formerly they were firm holders. The price at present is nominally 3/4 to 3/6 f.o.b. Southern ports.

•Fowl Wheat is in good demand at 3/S, ex wharf, and 3/9 ex store. The Specularlt, from Timaru, brought large lines of fowl wheat, which was distributed from the ship's side at the above figures.

Chaff.—Supplies are light this week, and the market is consequently firmer by 5/ per ton. Prime samples are worth £4 15/ to £5 ex wharf or rail, and £5 5/ ex store lor wholesale-fines. r

Onions.—Another rise of £1 per ton took place this "week In the price of onions, repicked' lots now realising £11 per ton, ex store. The" Sonoma will bring 2300 cases of onions from 'Frisco next week, which will arrive to a hare market and ehonld find ready sale. Dunediu, Christchurch and Wellington are also buyers out of the Sonoma's shipment, consequently her cargo will be readily .taken up at 15/ to 16/ per ewt. :

Bran and Sharps.—Bran is meeting With steady demand, but sharps' are dnll of sale, and are quoted 5/ per ton lower this week. /

Grass and Clover Seeds.—The soason : s prices were fixed this morning, tout on the average show little alteration on last year's quotations. Paspalium shows a decline Of 3d, making the price 1/3 for this season; and Chewing's fescue has advanced 2d, as prime seed is difficult to secure. Cocksfoot is a shade easier, tout rye is firm, with no quotable change in other lines

Bonedust and manures are in good demand, especially for top-dressing pastures, which is being done on an unprecedented scale in the Auckland district this season Farmers have evidently realised that ten dressing pays well, and are therefore goin™ in for it largely. "

AUCKLAND' PRODUCE MARKET. / v The-tollowlng arc Auckland quotations:-* Farm and "Dairy Produce. —Butter;;,: lac- • tory, 1/2, -farmers' separator or dairy but* ter 9d per "lb; fresh eggs'," 94 per doien. wholesale; cheese, -farmers', 5d- to 5Jd, lb;j factory, medium, 60, loaf Old,, .■■*;■'■ Flour Market.—Flour; local,- wholesale. < £9 13/ (less liscount); wheatmeal, £9 15/S bran, ICOlb,, £3 15/; sharps, 2001b sacks,, £5; oatmeal, £14 per 'ton;' 25's. '•'"" '.-•;• Grain. — Oats,- B grade,: ;2/9 ( es> storcv Algerian seed, 3/10; White. Tartar, 3/2? fowl wheat, 3/9, ex store, sacks included; seed Yvheat, 4/0;" Southern milling wheat,. 3/0 to 3/7, f.0.b.; sacks extra; maize, 3/ft •for wholesa3e lines on the wharf,..... ' Potatoes.- — £11 15/, ex store; <• iUp t*. ■ „. Date seed, £15 ton. Chaff. — Local, £55/, ex store <■ ; Onions, £11 per ton. ■ ._." Coal and Firewood Markets.—Newcastle coal, at yard, 2t/ per'ton, delivered 32/;. westport, 30/; xauplri,' hest - household. delivered, 12 sacks to the ton——tons, 28/, discount 1/ for cash;, halt, tons, 15/, discount 6d; quarter tons, ' 7/6,' discount, 3* for cash; picked steam. 12 .sacks'vto,. the'ton —-.tons/ 24/.-—-discounts: 1/ for cash; half "tons, .12/6, discount Cd for cash; quarter tons, 6/9,n discount ua ror cash; union Colliery, as/,,, per. ten delivered, hair -ton "12/, > quarter; ton 0/3 cash; steam coal,'2l/ ton, IV Bait' ton and O/'J quarter-ton.. ' Iflrewood: <Jn- x cut,' at wharf, 7/ to 9/ per ton; delivered*. 12/ uncut, cut 13/ to 18/, Building Material., — Flitches, air., he i. 15/0; boards and scantling, undressed, 100 ft ' best, ' 16./0; medlum,. and grooved,. Ist class, 18/0"; medium, 15/0; la/v; ::ua <;iass, 10/u; best planed, tonßue<K and class,. 3,2/0; rristicatedL. weatner boards,. Ist class, 15/6; medium, -15/0; 2nd class,..' 12/0; undressed boards, Jin thick, -best.. 13/ts; medium; 11/o; 2nd class, 8/;' rougin lining hoards, glo,, secoud class, 7/; Ilnlfls boards, planed, tongued and grooved,,, pest, is/0; medium, 15/6; 2nd class, 12/G tspeclued lengths, flooring, lining, and weather-, boards, 1/0 extra;; boat" boards, speciality selected, 18/6 *°r 3 1n,.'17/U for 21n;. kauri palings, rough Heart, Oft,' 2(5/6 per 100 pallugs; rough heart, lift, 29/0; ti-tfee rail,, a 10/ per 100; puriri posts. 1/ to 1/6 each; snihgies, 15/ per looo; nobart palings, sit, li/; ort, TJ/; rails, so/; dry .pressed bricks, I tr_yu per looo; ordinary bricks, 60/ per. mou; are bricks. 2*3n, iS; and Sin, Si P**, 1000; flre clay, 60/ per ton; nydraullc llmiv it/- per cvvt bag; drain pipes, at works, 2ia3in socket pipes, 2ft' lengths, 7d each; 4in* 10/; 31n DO/; 4ln 130/; 6ln, £13 per aWB?i drain tiles, I2ln lengths, 50/ per 1000; ad; 6in, l/; uin, 2/; I2in, 3/;. loin, 4/6; ISin* • 6/; 21ln, 8/; 241 d, 10/. '. . _ ...^-'