COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 273, 17 November 1910, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

Auckland "Star" Ofißce, Ttarsday, iNorember 17th, 1910. ■A healthy activity has characterised busi- | ness lor some weeks past, and last week was no exception. Large indents arriving, I ■ and the necessary intakixtg oi (heavy stocks to distribute for Christinas orders; toave kept j ill connected with the wholesale trade very busy, while carting arrangements ha<ve been heavily taxed 'to cope with business. ■Much 'building and constructional work is in progress, and some factories are working overtime to complete orders. So*t and Cancy goods houses are handling orders at satisfactory volume. Camphor.—A low price is now .being asked for this article, and good business put through. Pigs.—.New season's fruit is now due to arrive, and will reach a bore market. Orders are on the light side, so that stocks are expected to move off quickly and fetch ijood prices. 'Fungus.—Supplies continue ito come to hand of f volume. Tallow.—There has been a good general demand, and prices have advanced, the fullest appreciation 'being upon fine mutton. Ou c.Lf. terms a fair business has been done at steadily-advancing prices for anything (or shipment up to the middle of this month, but for more distant position it is difficult to find .buyers. Cocoa Beans. —Price denotes adTance, with further upward tendency. Asparagus. —-.Buyers would do well *o buy, as the home demand in America is very strong, and prices may advance. Tapioca and Sago show slightly easier prices, with only fair demand. rjea Colombo and Calcutta markets have been advancing steadily for some time past now, and, by cable, we are informed of a further advance in ■Calcutta of from id to id all round and that <the market is excited. The general position of 'tea is exceptionally strong at the present time, and we do not see any chance of a drop in the meantime. The advance at the terminal markets will doubtless be reflected in Melbourne and Sydney, and teas are well worth Tow is a good inquiry for this article! but, in the absence of oilers, business is restricted to any parcels that may be arriving unsold, of which there seem to 3 Frnits.—There as a good demand, and local etocks are. moving off readily. Quotations show no reduction tfor forward "mc" kauri gum trade continues to be very depressed. This is most probably to a great extent due to the high flgures ruling tor other articles required by varnish manufacturers, such, as resin, Unseed oil, and turpentine. An article in an American paper mentions the fact that enormous profile had been made by the raising of resin grade, and it is interesting to note in this connection that a charge of "conspiracy in re-str-dnt of trade" was preferred in the United States Court at Savannah against five officials of a company, three of whom were llued, and the chairman of the- Board and the vice-president were each lined and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. It may be mentioned that common reein has advanced in the last four years nearly four dollars per 5001b barrel, and turpentine, which sold in 190T at 52J cents per gallon, Is now quoted at 72J cents. Linseed oil is also up to the one dollar a gallon, so it is easy to understand that with such high quotations for other ingredients, varnish makers are not likely to pay higher figures for our kauri gum. This, no doubt, explains the greatly increased demand for China nut oil, as well as Soya bean oil. While such conditions continue in the United States, it is to be feared there will not be much improvement in the kauri gum trade. The amount of building going on in the city and suburbs at the present time is really surprising, and tbe ultimate result should certainly be Ifower rents when the supply of dwellings is found to exceed the demand. So far, that point has not yet been reached, which would seem to indicate that population is flowing into Aucklnud. It is, of course, quite reasonable thtat such should be the case, as so much building must have drawn workers from outside Auckland district, and th«lr families would, no doubt, follow in due course. One outcome of the building boom has been to put timber millers at their wits' end to supply seasoned timber to those who want it. Meanwhile, the cuttiuj' up of estates for building purposes is going on merrily, and will continued until the demand ■ Iβ satisfied. One advantage of measures passed by tbe Liberal Government is that all these estates have to be roaded, and even then some local bodice had it a difficult job to keep pace with the demand for drainage and a water supply. The wool season is about to open, and everything points to heavy entries for the opening sale next Wednesday. According to a trade circular to hand, the London wool sales in October opened well, and advances in price were registered at first, bnt -after the first few days a suddeu change came over the marSfet, and by,-the opening of tbe second week the initial advance had all been lost, and the sales closed on a parity with July currencies. The prin r cipal cause of tills was the entire lack of any American demand, and for the same reason the Bradford houses found it necessary to send up to the London sales a considerable quantity of the better grades of greasy crossbred, which have, no doubt, been held with the hope tbiait demand fromj that quarter would revive. Out of 115,000 bules available, about 120,350 bales were catalogued, whilst the estimated quantity taken for export was 42,000 bales, and 16,500 bales were held over for future realisation. Concerning the flax market in London, Messrs. James Morrison and Co. report, under date of October 6th:—During the past mouth, in spite of somewhat heavy meipts, prices of Manila have slowly in?proved. and at the close marked an adnun c of 20/ per ton during the month under review, fair current for October-December position being worth £21. As far as New Zealand is concerned, very little business has been doing, but the last two days has seen a little better inquiry. The latest sales comprise fair for October-December shipment at £20 15/, whilst good fair is nominally worth £2-1 10/, but in the absence j of offers from the Dominion, uo business | liias been put through. Stocks remain about, unchanged at 3-13 tous. | The Exchange has been quiet during this i past week, the volume of business all round .being less than usual. Investment stocks, however, maintained values. In mining shares, practically all the business has been in Walhi and Waihi Grand Junction shares, although there were odd sales of Talismans at about 55/, and Sylvias up to 4/. In Waihi shares there were numerous sales, prices fluctuating from £6 6/ down to £C, at which rate there were sellers last evenIng. Waihi Grand Junctions declined to 31/8, with free sales at that figure, and also at 3d. advance yesterday. Old Hauraki shares showed signs of advancing in price, but this was promptly blocked by free selling. Potatoes.—As intimated last week, arrivals of old potatoes from Australia have now almost ceased, only some 200 sacks coming to hand since last report, the rest being new potatoes from Sydney, which, despite the duty of fl per ton, can be sold here at 12/ to 14/ per cwt, which Is the same as the rates ruling for those grown locally. The blight has appeared in some places, but is not making much progress, as so late in the season 'the growers are able to cope with the disease. The crops are still maturing all right. Ah Inquiry has set in from the South for new potatoes, which shows that stocks of o3d are exhausted throughout the Dominion. It will be a!bout three or four weeks before our own new potatoes reach this farket in any quantity, when export South will probably set in. Onions.—This market is now entirely dependent upon Australia for its snppHee. The market shows no change, the price still being 12/ per cwt. The Sydney new crop are now being offered, and supplies will probably be drawn from that source until January and February, when our locaj crop will be ready for the market. Maize.—Since last report the arrivals represent 800 sacks by the ordinary steamers and the schooner Kaeo. The position of Oils market is unaltered, Oats. —The market for oats is exceptionally strong at the present time, as the continued dry weather in Canterbury stlH forces priers upwards with the result that an advance of 2d. per 'bushel has taken place since last report. The quotation now for oats, 'f.0.b., Southern ports, is 2/3}, which means 2/8 ex store in Auckland, and there is still n strong tendency upwards, as considerable business has been done in the South by local merchants at 2/3 J. They prefer to secure the higher price now offering in the South rather than .bring the outs purchased ahead up to this market to be sold in email lines. Fowl wheat is much firmer, an advance of one penny per bushel bavin-g tafcen place since last report. Offerings from the Sooth are made sparingly, and stocks held locally are light. The price is, therefore, firm at 3/8; ex wharf, and 3/8 ex. store. Milling Wlieat.— The position at the market for milling wheat Shows little change this week. The dry weather does not affect wheat so prejudicially eS It does oats, consequently . the growing <«>p is not likely, to be seriously affected *» iv, - ' i i

Bran., and Sharps are both exceedingly scarce, and as a result there Is keen demand, which the mills are unable to keep np. with. ■Chaff.—The Joseph Craig brought a shipment of Melbourne chaff since last report, and the Louisa Craig is due about the end of the month, with further supplies. The Victorian chaff is toeing offered at £4 17/8 •per ton to arrive, and the quality of that to hand this week is reported very satisfactory. It will not be till about January that local hew season's chaff will be on the market, and till then supplies nrnet be drawn from Australia.

■Grass Seeds. —Prospects point to very high prices ruling for grass and clover seeds this season. It is quite certain that clovers nmst rule high, as the seed now oh the water was purchased at bigger prices. Fine grasses will also be dearer, while the recent dry weather in the South h-as prejudicially affected the rye-grass. Already it was known that the area for seed this year Is smalleß, and now it is thought the yield per acre will also be smaller than nsual. Hawie'a Bay and Poverty Bay report very small stocks held- of old rye grass seed, with a prospect of a lighter yield this harvest. AUCKLAND. rum *a<l iJairy Produce.—Butter. i«etory, 1/0* per lb; fresh eggs, 8d dozes wholesale; cheese, fanners', from 5d to 6J4 per lb; factory, 6id to 7d; bacon, eloee, Bid. rolls 9id; name, 9Jd. Flour.—£ll 5/ per ton (less discounts): wheatmeal, £11 5/ per ton (less discount"); sharps, £5 15/ per ton; bran, £5; oatmeal, £13 per tea for 23's, wholesale. Grain. — Oats, 2/8, ex store; southera milling wheat 3/10. f.0.b., sacks extra; fowl wheat, Zβ to 3/9, ex store, sacks in; maize, 2/7 per bushel. Chaff — £6 to £6 10/ per ton. Potatoes. — Australian, £10 per ton; Southern, 3/9; New Potatoes, 12/ to 14/ cwt. Onions. — Victorian, 12/ per cwt. Timber.—Ordinary building tinmer, undressed, up to 24ft long, gin to lin <w~more In thickness, and from 3ln to 12in wide, first-class 22/, medium 17/6, second-class 12/ per 100 ft; undressed boards, up to 24ft long, not exceeding 12in wide and tin thick, 18/, 15/, 9/; rough heart palings, sft x Sin x iin, 28/ per 100 palings; rough heart palings, 6ft x 6in x 4in, 31/ per HX) palings; rough lining boards, Sin x lin, 8/6; wide boards, Cd per 100 ft superficial, extra for every inch in. width over 121n and up to 181n; over 181n up to 24in. 9d; over 24in to 30in, 1/; 30In to 42in, 1/6; over 42in, by arrangement; rough heart, 17/6 per IOOIt superficial;, snper, 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 £rooT<ed, 24/6, 20/, 14/6. Lining boards: Planed, tongued, grooved, beaded or V-Jointed, 24/, 14/e. Feather-edge weatherboards, planed and shot: Out of ljin material, face measurement, 22/, 17/6. 12/; out of liln material, face measurement, 23/, 18/6, 13/. Rusticated and spKial weatherboarding, 24/6, 20/, 14/6. Ordinary building totara, scantling, 17/; boards, 4Jin to 12In, 16/; eecond-c'ass totara, scantling, 13/6, boards 12/; clean heart of totara. for Joinery, scantling 22/; rough heart of totara, scantling, 18/; rough heart of totara ecantllnE, 6x2 and under, 16/; heart matal •cantling, 20/6; rough heart matai, »cantJng, 13/; ordinary building rimu, boards, Heart rimu, scantling, 13/; heart rimu (framing and bridge quality), scantling, 17/; clean, 15/6; Eecond-class rimu, boards, 12/; rough heart rimu (dressing quality), scantling, 30/. MESSRS DALGBTY AND CO., LTD.'S, REPORT. Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report having held their usual weekly fat stock sale at Westfleld yesterday, as under:— Beef.—A large yarding. Prices were practically the same as last week, with the exception of choice pens, which were a shade higher. Choice pens of prime quality ox sold at equal to 20/ per 100; ordinary prime ox at 24/ to 25/ per 100; cow and heifer beef at equal to 20/ to 24/. VeaL—A small yarding. Prices were higher, owing to the small entry. Heavy sold up to £3 17/6- choice quality, 30/ to 55/; small, 3/ to 13/. Mutton. —A large yarding. The demand was very limited, and prices fell fully 2/ a head; extra heavy shorn wethers sold at 15/ to 19/; medium weights, good quality wethers, 14/ to 16/6; heavy shorn ewes; at 14/ to 15/6; medium ditto, 11/6 to 13/6. Lamb,—A large yarding and good demand. Prices were quite equal to last values. Prime heavy sold at 16/6 to 20/; good, 14/ to 16/; moderate quality and small, 10/6 to 13/. Pork. —A moderate yarding. The demand was limited, and prices were on a par with last week's sale. Heavy sold at equal to 3d, light at equal to 3Jd per lb. DUNEDIN GRAIN MARKET. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNBDIN, Wednesday. Local etocks of oats are now much reduced, -and, as .better inquiry has been received of late, values have improved. Prime Gartots are 1n "most favour, but all classes lure readily disposed of to shippers and for local feed. Prime milling, 2/1 to 2/2; good •to best feed. 1/11* to 2/2; inferior to medium, 1/10 to 1/11. The wheat market is qniet, but prime lots of velvet are readily disposed of. Velvet ear and red chaff aj-e in fair demand, but jTusoaD Is very difficult to quote. Best whdle fowl wheat is also in fair demand and moving off in small lots. Prime velvet, 3/10 to 4/; prhne velvet ear and Tuscan, 3/6 to 3/7: medium Tuscan, 3/4 'to 3/3; best whole fowl wheat, 3/2 to 3/3. G. W. BINNBT AXD SON'S' REPORT. We again submitted extra large catalogues of hides, skins, tallow, etc., at Tuesday's sale. Hides.—Market remains the same. Ox. extra, stout, 63d to 7d: stout. 6*d to <3sd: medllm, 6id to 6 3-Sd; light, 5 7-Sd to 6 l-8d; cow, best lines 6 1-Sd to 6 3-Bd, good 5Jd to 6d, seconds 4}d to sd; stags', 4Jd to 43d; ldps, 54d to 6d; yearlings. sfd to 6d; calfskins, best 7jd to Sid. good 6d to 7d, seconds 5d to old; cat and damaged hides, I SJd to 41d per lb. I Sheepskins.—Market continues firm. Biir- . cbers', extra large, to S/ ; large, G/6 to 11; \ jfftod, 3/6 to 6/3: medium, 4/6 to 5/; small, 13/ to 4/: country dry skins, extra, to 5/6; large, 3/9 to 4/6; good, 2/6 to 3/6; small, 1/6 to 2/G; damaged, 6d to 1/; pelts, lambs, 1/ to 1/5 each. Tallow. —Market very firm. Best mixed to 2S/; good, 24/6 to 26/6; medium, 20/6 to 23/6; inferior, 15/ to 18/6 per cwt. Rough fat, lid to l}d per lb. Cots- tails, 1/8 per dozen. Bones. —Good dry, £4 ,15/ per ton. Owing to the first wool sale taking place next Wednesday no sales of bides, skins, or tallow will be held next week. JOHNSONVILLE STOCK SALES. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) JOHKSONVILLE, this day. Messrs Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report on the J-ohnsonvllle sales as follows: — "A heavy yarding of prime sheep and cattle came forward, about SOO sheep being yarded and sold. Beef also met a ready sale at late rates. Prime weighty ox, £10 to £10 5/; medium ox,. £9 7/6 to £9 12/6; light, £8 12/6; vealers, 18/6 to 20/6. Extra heavy shorn wethers, 18/; good shorn 16/6; prime ehorn ewes, 15/6 to 15/9; medium, 14/2 to 14/6; extra prime heavy woolly ewes. 25/6; plain woolly ewes, 19/5; plain woolly wethers, 17/6 to £1: prime lambs, 13/6 to 14/4; good lambs, 11/6 to 12/9. PIKES CURED IN 6 TO 14 SATS. PAZO OINTMENT is guaranteed to cure any case of Itching, Blind, Bleeding or Protruding Piles in 6 to 14 days or money : refunded. 2/3- '