COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 179, 29 July 1909, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star Office, Thursday, July 29th, 1900. The closing business of the month has been fairly well maintained in volume, and the orders reaching the distributing houses, although, not np to standard of last week's trade, are satisfactory for this time ot the month. Th« forward markets continue to interest buyers, and a large proportion of the Indents being placed now are being made speeulatively. •Rice.—A drop in prices has been advised. Currants.—There is a good inquiry for the cleaned packet fruit, but very little is being done in the sale of bulk, pending arrival of the new season's fruit. 1 Sultanas are meeting with a moderate demand, but the remark made regarding currants also applies to this line. Almonds.—Quotations for the new season's fruit show a higher value this year for all varieties. . Camphor is reported' steady, with, a likelihood of the market hardening. Cornflour seems to have reached 8 steady level, "and prices are not expected to alter much on the present ruling values. Coffee.—lndian and Mocha types hare firmed. Bluestone.—Cable advices notify c stronger market. Canned Fruits.—Orders for forward delivery are being placed now, and the opinion is held that a substantial rise on present quotations will follow the first deliveries. Sardines.—The inquiry is well maintained, and is well spread over the various brands. Exsiccated cocoanut is selling steadily at last week's rates. Canary market is Still very firm, and the prices being realised at present are not likely to become any easier for some time ahead. Fungus.—The quantity coming forward is moderate, and dry parcels are worth last week's price. Business in mining shares continues as brisk as ever on the Exchange, and during the last few days a sensational rise took place In Royal Oaks, due to rumoured important developments in the mine. Strong buying from Coromandel first set in, and this was followed by a sudden rush for these shares, which advanced from 2/4 on Monday morning at the first Call to 4/4 yesterday, and many thousands of shares changed hands at varying figures. One or two small parcels of specimens have been reported, and, from the steady buying, there seems reason to hope that 'the old Royal Oak has struck another rich patch. Naturally, tils has caused a little more attention to be paid to shares in other Coromande! companies Tokateas advanced from 3d to 5d yesterday, and frequent eales were made of Mt. Welcome and Pride of Tokatea shares. The report of 4cwt rich ore from the Hauraki Fr:.=jold caused slightly better prices to be offered for shares in that company, and Old Hauraki were also a shade firmer. A good deal, of business has been done in shares in Thames mines during the past week, mostly at higher figures. May Queens sold freely up to 6/6, owing to developments In the drive from the Queen of Beauty shaft, and 'Saxons sold frequently up to 2/4. Walotahl shares have fluctuated between 7/7 and 8/, with frequent sales. Considering that many thousands of tnese shares have been unloaded during the past few weeks, it speaks well for the popularity of Walotahis for the price to have been so well maintained. Old Albumia shares advanced yesterday to 3/6, bat dropped back again to 2/10. From the buoyancy of this stock, it is quite evident that if payable ore is met with shortly, a rapid rise In price will follow. Victoria shares remained steady at from 1/11 to 2/, and KuranuiCaledonians sold frequently at 2/4 and 2/5, while New Sylvias changed hands at from 4/ to 3/10. Kuranui shares were a little firmer, as were also Watchman, and free sales were made in Waltungis, Bonanzas, and Dlxon's Consolidated. Very free sales took place during the week In Walhl Grand Junction shares, until at last 58/6 was reached. Next day, when a 10/ assay was posted, the market dropped to 52/9, but reached 55/6 again yesterdny. Walhi shares sold at £9 10/ and Extendeds up to 8/, after -which transactions took place down to 7/0. Crowns sold frequently up to 7/3 and Wnlhi Consolidnteds from B/7 to 5/9, while Talismans reached the record price for that stock of 59/8. Shares in Talrua companies had more attention this week, and many low priced lines changed hands nt n slight advance. Investment stocks, while firm In price, arc not receiving much attention just now. Bank of New Zealand shares, however, changed hands yesterday at £9 6/, and Auckland Trams ordinary issue at 21/ B. Several sdles alno took place in Tanplrl Coal ft 20/6. Most other lines were unaltered In price. Potltoes.—Arrivals by the last three steamers have been light, totalling not more than 500 to 600 sacks per boat. As, however, stocks In store here accumulated dup ing the last month, this market Is still amply supplied, and prices remain without any material change. Flrst-elnss Derwents are quoted £5 per ton. and Up-to-Dates are 5/ cheaper. Owing to the lateness of the season the latter variety of potatoes Is not keeping so well, and consequently Derwente are preferred by retailers. The quality of the Derwents on the whole Is good. Owing lo the potatoes being now delivered from the pits, the second handling onuses any diseased tubers to be thrown out prior to shipment. Onions.—The market for onions continues depressed. Stocks are, if anything, a little easier. Prices show no change, the ex store price being still 6/6. Supplies oJ New Zealand grown onions will be exhausted in about a month's time, but early In September supplies from outside will be coming to hand. Oats.—The position of the oat market is unaltered. The Home business, for which contracts were made last month, causes heavy shipments of oats from the South, but it is generally thought that prices have now reached the limit at which export Home can be made with a profit to the shipper, and as there is still a large surplus of oats in New Zealand, it Is difficult to see how further advance in price can take place. Just at present deliveries of oats are rather light in the South. This Is due to the weather conditions preventing threshing, but In the course of six weeks, when the stacks are again opened, and spring threshing eventuates, the heavy deliveries may result in the price for this grain easing. The Wanaka is due from the Bluff and other Southern ports with the usual shipments of produce. The cargo Includes 6000 to 7000 sacks of oats, and thf quotation to arrive Is 2/3 wholesale and 2/4 ex store. Duns and Danish are a penny »ower. Milling wheat is reported scarce, as London commitments are forcing up the price, as farmers refuse to sell. The quotation •to-day is 4/8 f.o.b. In the South, and it seems not unlikely that to till orders as high as 5/ may have to be paid to secure prompt delivery. Fowl -wheat rules high in price, in sympathy with milling grain. Good whole fowl wheat is now worth 4/6, ex store. Brau and sharps are not meeting with the usual winter demand, owing to the abundance of green feed this eeason. Both lines eased in price to-day, bran being quoted at £4 per ton, and sharps £4 17/6 C,han\—(Deliveries of local chaff have practically ceased for the present, but the heavy stocks etill In store are ample for all requirements. Southern chaff is still being sent up In small quantities, but owing to the heavy stocks of local on hand, little business is passing in the imported article Southern is quoted at £3 15/, rail or wharf and local at £3 to £3 5/ at country stations, sacks in. y Maize.—Since last report the Aupouri, Tasman. and Ngatiawa all arrived with small shipments of maize from the Bay of Plenty, and the Waiapu from Gisborne nnd other East Coast ports. The whole deliveries, however, only totalled some 1200 sacks, still the market has dropped 3d per bushel. Wellington is now being supplied with maize direct from Gisborne, so the rest has to be consumed locally Agricultural Seeds.—The recent spell of fine weather enabled farmers to push on with getting the ground in order for the crops, and the demand for seed potatoes wheat and Algerian oats shows considerable improvement this week. Victoria Up-to-Date potatoes are quoted at £7 10/ to £8, Early Rose, Benuty of Hebron, nnd Northern Star seed £7 10/ per ton. Early Puritans are worth £9 per ton, and Canterbury seed Up-to-Dates £6 to £6 10/ according to quality; while Tuscan seen wheat is quoted at 5/9, and redressed Algerian seed oats at the comparatively low price of 2/10. A little inquiry has now set In for grass and clover seeds for small ureas, but there ie every indication that the spring business in these linee will be of fair dimensions. Cocksfoot seed is considerably easier in price, machine dressed being now' offered at 12/6 per bushel, as compared with 17/6 last season; rye grass is firmer. The market for seeds generally is reported much better. HIDES, SKINS, ETC. MESSRS G. W. BINNEY. AND SONS , REPORT. On Tuesday we again submitted extra large catalogues of hides, skins, tallow, etc., all being cleared , under good competition. Hides: Market firm. We quote: Ox extra •tout, to 7|d; etout, 6jd to 7d; medium, «*d to 6|dj light, B|d. tfl, M; sttWft fceit

lines, 5Jd;. good, «id to s|d; seconds, 4Jd to 6d; stags, 3Jd to 4id; kips, 3d to 4d; calf skins, best, 5Jd to 6}d; good, 4Jd" to 6d; cut and damaged hides, 3d to Sid per lb. Sheepskins.—'Market continues very film, (Butchers' extra large, to 6/; large, 5/ to 5/6; medium, 4/ to 4/9; small, 3/ to 3/9; lambskins, best, to 4/9; seconds, 8/3 to 4/; small, 2/ to 2/9; dry skins, large, to 5/; medium, 3/ to 4/3; small, 2/ to 2/9; damaged, 6d to 1/ each. Tallow: Market shows a further improvement. Best mixed to 24/, good 22/ to 23/; inferior, 15/ to 18/ per cwt. Bough fat, lid to lgd per lb. Cow tails, 1/8 per dozen. Bones, £4 15/ per ton. WEEKLY MARKETS. Farm and Dairy Produce. — Butter, *actory, 1/0} per lb, farmers', separator or dairy butter, 6}d per lb; fresh eggs, I/I per dozen wholesale; cheese, farmers', from M to 6}d per lb; factory, eid to 7d; bacbn, sides, Bjd, rolls Old; hams, 9Jd. Flour. — £12 5/ per ton (less discounts); wheatmenl, £12 5/ per ton (less discounts); sharps, £4 17/6; bran, £4 per ton; oatmeal, £13 per ton for 25's, wholesale. Grain. — 2/ to 2/4, ex store; seed oats, 3/; Southern milling wheat, 4/8, f.0.b.. sacks extra; fowl wheat, 4/0, ex store (sacks in); seed wheat, 5/9; maize, 3/6, for wholesale tines on the wharf; barley, 2/9. Potatoes. — Southern, £5 per ton, wholesale. Chaff. — Local £3 5/; Southern, £3 15/, ex wharf. Onions. — Local, £6 6/ per ton. 'xunDer.—Ordinary building timber, undressed, np to 24ft long, gin to Uα «r more In thickness, and from 31n to 12In wide, first-class 20/. medium' 17/, second class 12/ per 100 ft; undressed boards, up to 24ft long, not exceeding 12In wide thick, 17/, 15/, 9/; rough heart palings, sft x Bin x |In, 28/ per 100 palings; rough heart palings, 6ft x Bin x gin. 31/ per 100 palings; rough lining boards, 9ln by gin, 8/6; wide boards, 8d per 100 ft superficial, extra for every Inch la width over 121n and up to 181n; over 181n up to 24in, 9d; over 24in to 30In. 1/: 30in to 421n, 1/6; over 42iu, by arrangement; rough heart, 17/8 per 100 ft, . superficial; super, planing, 1/ per 100 ft extra; planed both sides. 1/6 per 100 ft extra; three and four sides, 2/ ditto. Flooring boards: Planed, tongued, and grooved. 22/6, 19/6. 14/6. LinIng boards: Planed, tongued, grooved, beaded or V jointed, 22/, 19/, 14/. Featber-edge weather boards, planed and shot: Out of Uln material, face measurement. 21/. 18/, 18/; out of l|ln material, face measurement, 20/, 17/, 12/. Rusticated and special weather boarding, 22/6, 19/6, 14/6. Ordinary building totara, scantling. 15/; boards, 4|ln to 121n, 16/; second-class totara, scantling, 11/6, boards 12/; clean heart of totara for Joinery, scantling. 22/; rough heart of totara ■cantling, 16/; rough heart of totara scantling, 6x2 and under, 14/; heart matal, ■cantllng, 18/6; rough heart matal, -er-ant-ling, 13/; ordinary building rlmu, boards, heart rimu, scantling, 13/; heart rimu (framing and bridge quality), scantling, 17/; clean 15/6; lecond-class rimu, boards, 12/; rough heart rimu (dressing quality), tcantitng, 20/.