COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 71, 24 March 1910, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

- — . ,(\... Auckland Star Office, minrsday, Marci 24, 1910. A revival in trade has manifested itself during 'the past week. Wholesalers and retailers, alike, have been kept busy with town and country orders, and present conditions point to continued activity. Acid, Tartaric. —Market firmer; probable advance. • Acid, Citric.—Quotations a shade easier. Alinouds, Sicily.—Forward market slightly weaker. Arrowroot.—No alteration to report; prices still firm. Clothes Pegs.—Considerable advance has taken place; forward market very firm. Cream Tartar.—Very firm, with prospects I of higher prices. •Coeoanut.—JS'o alteration to report. Currants.—Market doll. Dates.—Good inquiry exists. Quotations unchanged. Fruits, Canned.—Market flnner for good brands, with local stocks in small compass Fish, Canned.—There hns been an excep tional run on almost all grades this season, more -particularly s-ainioß, and present stocks are now very light. Gingers.—Market has again advanced. Haricot Beans.—Market steady at late quotations. Oil, Unseed and Castor.—Market is con ; siderably firmer. ■ IHce. —Xo alteration to report. Tapiocas.—Enhanced prices are now ruling; market much firmer. Ceylcm Teas.—Offerings continue on a small scale, and consequently, a good demand existed lot all classes, and, as competition was keen throughout, prices were in advance of 'the previous sale. The sejection offered was a good one, and quality generally was better than for months past. Supplies coming forward are only moderate, and as quality wiJl be improving during the next few weeks, a very strong market is anticipated. The demand for kauri timber in England is at present exceeding the supply sent forward from Auckland; consequently, prices continue very firm, with no likelihood of any reduction taking place locally. The export to England is practically a cash business, as drafts aTe available as soon as the cargo is aboard the vessels. The .local building trade Is evidently improving, as millers report a bigger demand tor local requirements this month. There is -aiso inquiry from Australia for white pine for ordinary box-making, which may make a market to:----the kahlkatea not suitable for the manufacture of butter boxes.

The extension of the tram service to Richmond, Grey Lynn, is causing an amount of building to be gone on with in that distrie't, and, no doubt, land which is at present used for farming purposes will in due course be cut up and sold tor building purposes. The formation of roads on the B-auk of New Zealand's unsold portion of the Surrey Hills estate is also being gone on with, and as soon as that work is completed, it is understood that the land will be disposed of. Already a number of sections have been nagged for private sale. At lit. Eden and Sit. Hoskill areas of land beyond the present tram terminus are also being brought into the market for buildiufe purposes, so that there should be a fair .iinouut of activity in the building trade for some 'time to come.

Business was rather quiet on the Exchauge most of the tiinu since last report, that is, as far as mining shares were concerned, for investment stocks had, if anything, more attention Uaau usual. There was n sharp decline 111 the price of Waiiil shares during 'the week, as low as IS7/ being accepted. As the il-ays went by and it was found that there was no bad news from the mine, the price recovered a little, and several small lines changed hands yesterday up to 191/. Waihi Grand Junctioi. shares sold freely during the wwk at from .'ili/O to ;W<>- Talismans cased back a little, and Crowns remained sfteady- at about 5/. at '11, and Sylvias at 4/8° to 4/9. Old Hau:akis continue to lluctuitte between 3/S and 1/2, rising or falling, without any apparent reason. Consolidated Goldiields shares sold from 22/ to 21/8, and Progress Mines at w/s.

Investment stocks sold more freely. Auckland Gas (£1) shares changed hands at 66/3, and N.Z. per Mill shares at 22/, -svhile ICaurl Timber contributing issue were transferred at 17/e. Coal shares had considerable attention. Westport sold at 127/, mini lauKl at 20/, and Taupiri at 10/9, while Northerns were wanted at 12/9. Fair lines of Auckland Trams, ordinary shares, sold, itt 21/9, and Wilson's Cement, ordinary Issue, changed bands at 4.6/. Insurance stocks were also In request, X.Z. selling alt 77/ and South Britten at 53/. There seems i*vot*y reason to ex-pect that tile Excluinge ..in opeu to good business after the Easter vacation.

Potatoes.— The local market has been oxreniely bare of potatoes,, on account of tUc mail supplies tint have been coming for v.ird latterly. It will, however, be re 'leninhed by shipments on board the Rnnerl:Uc and the War.aka, Prices temporarily ire very fti-.m at £6 10/ per ton. but for de"very ex the above named vessels, £~> 10/ -i £5 l"i/ per ton Is the figure asked. The iitnre of the potato market depends almost ntirely upon what Is the condition of the crop In Canterbury. Reports regarding the ■light In that province were not reassur hiis. which render it a somewhat difficult matter to form an adequate opinion at the present juncture. Maize.—About 700 sacks of maize came to bund during the week by various coasta": vessels. This was all cleared at the r? auction In price noted last report. The market remains quiet at that figure, witii no signs of any upward movement In the near future. Oats.—The position of the oat market a; :he present time is an exceptionally strong 'inc. The heavy shipments for this market ■y the AViinaka have now been pretty well distributed, and store stocks are once more i! small compass. The Southern market for Kite continues very firm, owing to the strong attitude of the farmers. In consequence if I his, the recent advance In price Is fully maintained, more especially as it is just ■ n the cards that very considerable export

business may eveutunte. Onions. — Prices still rule very low. this market being in a very depressed condition. The consumption of onions lins. however, increased, owing to the lower prices ruling, coupled with the fact that potatoes wore the ilrnrer food. Fowl wheat remains quiet, as very large' quantities are now being offered nt Hip comparatively low value of 3/9 to 3/10 vs store. Millinii Wheat. — This grain shows little iltoration upon the position, as last reported. Bran and- Sharps are both dull of sale. as. although the season lias been a hot one, still there bare been rains about once every n'.nrtb which replenished the pasture. Chaff.— Local supplies of chaff hfivp not been heavy, and it is at present difficult to say whether sufficient will be Kent lv to meet locat- requirements. At the present low price. Southern chaff cannot be im ported to compete In the local market. The quotation to-day is £4 per ton at country stations, and £4.10/ to £4 15/ ex store. Grass and Clover Seeds are meeting-- wttbTery brisk demand. Seedsmen report thai the season bids fair to. be a very, gqcii, one in that respect. The rain, that is hanging; about will be now welcome to the farmer. as there are very large areas of ploughed land that have been baked so hard by the sun that they cannot be worked preparatory to sowing grass and clover seeds until after a good rainfall. ■ Manures are in pood demand just now. The barque Hqtu is due at the Kaipara from Sydney with, a cargo of nonednst. which will be distributed from the ship's side by rail to various parts along the line.

Sydney with a cargo or honeunst. which i will be distributed from the ship's side ■ by rail to various parts along the line. WEEKLY MARKETS; ' Farm and Dairy Produce. —Butter, fac- ' toiy, 1/0J- per- lb; fresh, eggs, 1/2 per dozen; I •wholesale: cheese, fanners', from 5d to 6Jd. ■ per lb; factory, 6Jd to 7d;. bacon, sides, BJd, roll* OJd; hame, 9Jd. ' Flour.— £ll 15/ per ton (less discounts); wheatmeal, £11 15/ per ton (less discounts);' ; sharps, £3 17/6 per ton: bran, £4 10/; $ oatmeal, £13 per ton for 25's, wholesale. Grain. — Oats, 2/5 ex "store; new southern ■ milling wheat, 4/, f.0.b.. sacks extra; fowl : , wheat, 3/9 to 3/10; ex store, sacks in; maize . 2/10 for wholesale lines on the wEarf; Chaff. — , Local* new, £4 per ton, star ' tion. ' 1 Potatoes. — £6 10/ per ton. Onions. — £4 per ton. p Timber.Ordinary building timber, undressed; up to 24ft long. Sin to lin or more- ■ in thickness, and from 3in- to lain wide,' first-class 20/, medium 17/, second-class 12/ . .per l£Oft; undressed, boards, up to 24ft i long, not exceeding 12in wide and Jin ■ thick, 17/, 15/ 9/; rough heart palings, sft i- x Gin x Jin, 28/ pec 100 palings; rough, heart , palings, eft. x Gin x Jin, 31/ per 100 ! palings; rough lining, boards;. Din x gin, 8/6; ■ wide Boards, 6d per 100 ft snperflcla'lj extra £ for every Inch- la width over 121n and up i. to 18in; over ; lain up to 24in, 0d; over, 241n r to; SOin, 1/; Spin, to; Vβ; 1 OTer 42&,; by ■ arrangement; ' pongh 'heart; 17/C-. per. IOOJft li i enperflclnl; , super, . -j piimipg, 1/ "par i 100 ft '" "extra; planed' both sides, 1/6 per- 100 ft ' extra; three and four sides, 2/ ditto. Flooring boards? Pinned, torieped. end gpoov^i.

tongbed, grooved, beaded .or ,V-jointed. 23/, 19/, 14/. Feather-edge weatherboards, planed and shot: Oat of liin material, face measurement, , 21/, - IS/, 13/; •■ out t otljin material; face measurement, 20/, IT/, 12/. i Rusticated and; special weatherboard ing, 22/6, 10/6, 14/6. Ordinary, building totara.' scantling, 15/; boards, 4«n to 12in, 16/; second-class totara, scantling, 11/6, boards t 112/; clean heart of totara for joinery* I scantling, •.. 22/; rough heart of totara ; scantling, 16/; rougli heart of totara scant I ling, 6x2 and under, 14/; heart matal j scantling, 18/6; rough heart matal, scanting, 13/; ordinary building rimu, boards, heart rirmi, scantling, 13/; heart rimu (framing and bridge quality), scantling, IT/; clean, 15/6; second-class rlmii, boards, 12/; ro.ngn heart riinn (dressing' quality), scantling, ao/. MESSRS G. W. BINTTET AND SONS' REPORT. On Tuesday we submitted extra large catalogues of aides, skins, tallow, etc., all meeting with good competition. Hides: Market- firm. -Ox stout, 7*d to 8d; medium, 6jd to 7Jd; light, 6sd to 6Jd; cows, best lines, 6gd to 6Jd: good, 6id to 6Jd; seconds, 51d to 6d; stags, 3Jd to 44d; kips, ojd to 6d; calfskins, best, Sid to 9d; good, 6d to 7d: seconds, Sd to 5Jd; cut and. damaged hides, 3d to 3Jd per fb. f t Sheepskins: Market firm. Butchers' extra , large to 0/, large 6/ to 7/6. medium 5/ to 5/0, small 3/ to 4/6; dry skins, large to 5/, medium 3/ to 4/3, small 2/ to 2/8, damaged 6d to 1/; ratiißskins, best to 3/6, good 1/9 to 2/0; pelts, best 3/, good 1/6 to 2/3 damaged fid to 1/3 each. ■ -. > Tallow: Market very - firm. Best mixed to 26/, good 22/6 to 24/G, medium 20/ to 22/; inferior 15/ to 18/ per , curt. - Rough fat, lid to lgd per lb; cow tails, 1/8 per dozen. Bones, £4 17/6 per ton. ■ JOHNSONVIIita!! STOCK SAUE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent. JOHNSaXVIDLE. this day. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report on their Johnsonville sale as follows:— An extra heavy yarding of prime cattle and sheep came forward, and met a good demand at late rates. Best bullocks, £8 12/(3 to £8 15/; lighter. £8 to i 8 7/6: light. £7 12/6 •to £7 15/: realers, 21/ to 30/ (equal to 20/6 per 1001b). Prime wethers. 15/ to 15/5; plain light, 12/1O: prime- ewes. 13/3----medium ewes. 12/ to 12/3; plain. 11/ to 11/3. A heavy yarding of lambs sold readily. Prime woolly, 11/10 to 12/9; good woolly lambs, 11/3 to 11/6; prime shorn, 10/ to 10/3; plain, 7/9 to 8/ to 9/6. AOSTRATJAS MARKETS. (By —Press Association.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, March id. Wheat, 4/1. Flour, £10 15/. Oats: Algerian, feeding 2/2, seeding 2/4 to 2/5; Tasmanian, 2/11. Barley: Cape feeding ii/, seeding 3/2. Maize, 3/1 to 3/2. Bran and polliird, £4 10/. Potatoes: Tasmanian, £4 16/. Onions, £3 10/. Butter, 104/. Cheese, I ."id to 54d. Bacon, B}d. MELBOURNE, March 23. Wheat nominally 4/2. Flour, £10. Oats, 1/10 to 2/2. Barley: Prime- malting, 4/4. Maize, 2/9. Bran and pollard, £4 15/. Potatoes, £3 10/ to £4 10/. Onions, £2 10/ to £3. At the hide sales to-day light and medium weights were from one-eighth of a penny to a farthing lower. Other sorts were unchanged. ADELAIDE. March 23. Wheat, 4/1 to 4/2. Flour, £8 15/ to £9. BTan, lljd. Pollard, 12id.