COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 5, 6 January 1910, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star Office, Thurstlay, January 6th, 1910. Business Is extremely - -jiet, as Is usual at this period of the yea*, and nothing of auy moment has transpired since our last report. Almonds (Sicily).—Pace has eased for forward delivery. Bacon.—A reduction.ln price is advised. Cocoanut.—Very flrm at late rates. Corn Flour.—Good demand exists. Cheaper grades a shade firmer. Fruit (canned).—Very good sales are reported. Forward market firm. Ginger (preserved).—Lower quotations have come through. Limited demand at the present time. Herrings.—Being a seasonable line, herrings are meeting with good Inquiry Market unchanged. Hops are selling freely. Forward market very strong. Oil (linseed).—Present quotations veryfirm. Pineapples appear to be in short supply." Higher prices ruling. ttiee.—Good sales reported. Quotations unchanged, although an advance would not come as a surprise. Raisins (seeded)..—Selling well. No alteration in price to report. Salmon.—All grades are meeting with good inquiry. Market firmTeas (Ceylon).—-Colombo advices report market showing slight improvement, some very attractive Brokens being offered and these met with a good reception. Bidding throughout was spirited, and, as at last week's sale, most attention was given to both grades of prize tea. Common teas, both leaf and broken, were keenly competed for, and showed a slight advance on last prices. Medium teas: Brokens were very firm, with tippy, coloury teas dearer. Leaf teas were firm at last rates. Pine teas: Brokens showed a slight advance, which was to be expected with the improvement in quality. Pekoea were fractionally dearer. Orange Pekoes were about steady. Dust and tannings were very firm.

Fungus.—Supplies continue to come Iv freely. Present ruling price for good sundried, 5d per lb.

Potatoes.—Supplies since last report bare been on the light side, but the crop has been exceedingly good, and prices therefore chow a slight firming, prime samples realising £8 10/. Reports from the principal producing districts, such as Pukekohe, Onehunga, and Papatoetoe, indicate that the bulk of their early crop has been marketed, and that supplies from this out will not be heavy. This would Indicate that the above figures will remain firm, at any rate until the Lower Waikato supplies ure available later Iα the present month. Onions.—Since last report stocks of Victorian onions have been greatly reduced, and are uoiv practically bare. Local onions are now finding their way on to the market in larger quantities, and, although smaller in size this year, are of very good quality. Prices stand at from 7/6 to 9/, according to sample. Maize.—Arrivals since last report comprise 400 sacks by the Ngatiawa, and 2SO sacks by the Xasnian. This quantity, coupled with ■ the already heavy store stocks, was too much for the market, consequently prices declined 3d per bushel. This will probably have the effect of curtailing supplies, but in any case, owing to tie fact of a very large quantity being on the coast to come forward, and that grain is offering freely from other quarters, prices cannot show any substantial advance. Its value will probaWr remain at about the present tigures.

Oats.—The market Is decidedly weak, and prices have slightly decliQed with the new crop of oats now at hand. Stocks in store are not heavy, and as it will be another tea days before the Wanaka and Landerdale from tbe Bluff, Oamaru, and Timaru, reach Auckland, the market will be exceedingly bare. Prices for B grade to-day stand at 'HZ ex wharf, and a/4 ex store. The first of tie Canterbury new oats will be ready in about a fortnight's time. Dun oats for feed are meeting with inquiry at Id per bushel under the above figures. Prices for the new crop of oats .will not touch the low figures at which the market opened List season, namely, 1/6, as there Is still an outlet to Europe at about 1/8 to 1/9 f.o.b. from Southern ports. Wheat. —Fowl wheat Temaius without change, meeting with good inquiry at 4/7 ex store. The Home market in milling wheat is somewhat weaker, which feeling Is reflected iv the local markets. As with oats, so with wheat, and new grain is likely to offer at the end of the present month, and as indicated last week, there ,w.lll be a very large surplus for export. of Southern chaff are now reduced to very small holdings, and prices remain without change at £4 5/ ex rail, and £4 10/ ex store, but the little late local chaff still offering commands from 5/ to 10/ less than the above figures. Latest reports from the country districts Indicate that the new stuff will be of exceedingly good quality this season, hat somewhat light in grain, owing to the dry weather. A very large area has already been cut, and during the next fortnight harvesting will be carried on extensively. Should the fine weather continue it will ensure all the stuff being stocked in first-class condition. High prices cannot be looked for, and it Is probable that the present values will rule for soma considerable time, the new stuff already being offered at-£3 5/ to £3 10/, at the station, while sheaves are being delivered to cutters at £2 10/ per ton. Bran and pollard are meeriug wititi better demand, the continued dry teacher greatly diminishing feed throughout the district. Prices for both lines remain unchanged a.t £4 and £5 respectively. Flour.—Quotations remain at £12 10/ per ton, In sacks, less discount, for Auckland roller flour. Southern flour, in sacks, £10 15/, f.0.b., less 2J per cent.

. Bonedust: and ilanures.—Business is "slackening off considerably, the bulk of the month's requirements for turnips, maize, and other summer crops having- been secured, but a cousiderable quantity of Calcutta bonedust was delivered f<mi the Aparinia during last week, farmers in many quarters availing themselves of the lower quotations, ex ship, although not Immediately requiring the bonedust. A second steamer is due from Calcutta next month, bringing further shipments of this line. Agricultural Seeds.—A better inquiry has set in for grasses and clover seeds: in fact, the season, so far as South Auckland province is concerned, may be said to have nonopened, the first orders from that quarter reaching Auckland seeusmc-n this week. The area down hi bush Ch rough the Ohura and other King Country districts represents a respectable total, and the season on the •whole promises to be well up to the average. If fine weather, conducive to good clean burns, should continue, there will probably be a repetition of the abnormal demand for seeds experienced in 10OS. Cocksfoot remains firm, the Home market, according to cables, showing a further advance. Clover seeds stand at late rates. The Star of Canada, just arrived from Europe broug-lit the first shipment of the new season's clover seeds. The eeason for swede turnip seeds has been a disappointing oae, and the area this year shows a great decrease. This is accounted for partly by the fact that maize and other fodder plants are much more widely sown now than formerly. And as far as the Waikato is concerned tion, owing to the repeated top dressings which are now much more the rule tliau was the case a few years ago. Kauri Gum.—Supplies for the first five days of January amounted to 51 tons, being 16 tons in excess of the supply for the corresponding period of December. The total supplies for last year amounted to 8130 tons, which is 2019 tons over the supplies for 1908. The exports last year amounted to 8605 tons, beln.? thus about 500 tons more than the supplies. The market generally during the holidays has been quiet, owing to- most of the merchants having been closed , down.

WEEKLY MARKETS. Farm ana Dairy Produce. — Butter, factory. 11 jd per lb. fresh, eggs, lid per dozen wholesale; cheese, farmers', from lid to Oid per lb; factory, 6Jd to 7d; bacon, sides, BJd, rolls 91d; hams, 9id. Flour. — £12 10/ per ton (less discounts); wheatmeal. £12 10/ per ton (less discounts)sharps, £5; bran. £4 5/ per ton; oatmeal, £13 per ton for 25's, wholesale. Grain. — Oats, 2/4, ex store; Southern milling wheat, 4/S, f.0.b., sacks extra; fowl wheat, 4/9, ex store (sacks In); maize, 3/3, \for wholesale lines on the wharf; barley, \2/0. Potatoes. — New potatoes, £6 10/ to £7 10/ per ton. Chaff. — £4 10/ to £4 15/, « store. Onions. — Australian, 0/ to 10/ ewt. G. W. BINNEY AND SONS' REPORT. On Tuesday we again submitted and cleared large catalogues of hides, skins tailow etc. Hides.—Market continues very firm at late rates. Ox, stout 7Jd to Sd, medium 7d to "id, light 6Jd to 6Jd; cows', best lines ejd to 63d, good 6d to 6}d; seconds, s«d to sjd; stags', 3J<l to 4id; kips, 5Jd to 6d; calfskins, best to 9*l, good 6d to 7d, seconds 5d to 5Jd; cut and damaged hides, 3d to 3Jd per lb. Sheepskins.— The demand continue* equal tQ toe supply, .with prices. .Very firm.

±$mchers extra large to 7/B, large 5/9 t« 6/6. medium o/ 5/9, small 3/ to 4/6; dry ( il to 2/9; .damaged, 6d to 1/; De ks and best 1/s to -'- "^v » tn' r^/v W- ~ il f rket ls Tery fim -' Be st mixe< to 26/ d, good to 24/, medium 20/ V 22/, inferior 15/ to IS/ per cwt. Rough fat, lid to IJd per lb Cow tails, 1/S per dozen. Bones, £4 17/6 per ton. - AMERICAN TBADE. In their report, dated November 27, 190BL ilessrs Arkeli and Douglass, of New Yorfc state. that the American trade prospect* generally pointed to a good winter trade, and were of a satisfactory character. *>peakmg on freight rates, the report says: ■•Beginning with the s.s. Star of Australia and the e.s. Deu of Crombie, all rates oft first class cargo will be advanced liy per" ton, and on all other cargo, 5/ per toa. This will make the first class cargo rate te Melbourne and Sydney 50/ per tou, and tile includes such lines is firearms, drugs perfumery, etc., leather, paint and sewing machine oil. Second class cargo to the same port is 42/6, and this class Include* such lines as axes, shade rollers, sewing machines; hardware and tools, cotton duck, and some classes of machinery. The third class rate to the same port is 35/, and inciudes butter dishes, clothes pins, common, chairs, ■ carriage woodwork and fruit jars Urpasyet unclassified for the same ports will vary from 27/0 per ton for roofing slate, and 32/G per ton for lubricating o£ lumber and plaster, to 40/ per ton for refrigerators, lanterns, windmills, and glassware. Tlie corresponding rates to Freniantle, Adelaide, and Brisbane for c»ic *s>^i7«. ilme -i cl / sses are res P e «iTely 52/6, t? / 'x- 7/6 - aucl from 30/ to 45/ unclassified. To New Zealand ports. 55/, 47/6, 40/, and; 3«/6 to 40/ for unclassified cargo " Kerosene Oil.—The basis price has de. elined a further 10 points, and is now 10 45 vvater white is 1* cen-ts per gallon extra. Consequently the price of 1000 case lots -"" water white, packed 2/5 American gallons, i≤ now 12.15. When packed 2/4 Imperial gallons, there is a further 25 points extra Terpentine.— The market has somewhat declined, and we quote 65 cents per American gallon in 200 case drawback lots. Rosm:—The market has slightly • weakened, and prices are somewhat lower. Quota tions will be found elsewhere in our price Second-class Mail Matter.—For some time past considerable trouble and annoyance has •been caused by the loss of packages and. samples, etc., sent .at second-class rates, especially, where tags are used for the address instead, of its being put upon She packages. We recommend that the address should be written upon the packages, and that these should be seat either letter nost or registered. ■ F JOHNSOXVILLE STOCK SALES. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent) JOHNSONTILLE, this day. Messrs Abrahams and Williams, Limited, report on their Jo'ansonvllle sale as follows:—This was the first sale held on 3 Wednesday at 2 p.m., -with the result that several new buyers were able to attenO. the alteration of the sale day proving very satisfactory. We had a large entry of prime bullocks and sheep, which sold readily at late rates,. Prime bullocks, £8 5/ to £8 12/6} lighter, £8. Prime wethers, 12/6 to 12/10; lighter, 11/6 to 11/9: prime ewes, 10/3 tc I. 10/5 to 11/; lighter, 9/6. Extra prime shorn V lambs, 9/7 to 9/11; medium woolly lambs* ' 12/2 to 11/3. LONDON. (Received 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, January 5. "' Wieat: An Australian cargo, 21,000 quarters loading, 10.000 quarters of DecemberJanuary shipment, and 6000 tons per jsteamer January-February, sold at 41)/; 6400 tons January at 40/ net; 14:000 quarters January-February, 2?/10i; 5900 tons steamec December, 40/0; 6400 tons teajner, Janu. ary, 40/6 not. - g^ Copper: Spot, £61 2/6; three months, »■-- £62 13/; electronic, £63. Tin: Spot, £148 7/6; thre -emonths, £149 15/. Lead, £13 11/3. Tallow: At the sales, 949 casks were offered, and 458 sold. Mutton, fine. 37/6; medium, 38/6; beef, fine, 36/; medium, 32/ R. j