COMMERCIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 128, 30 May 1918, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

~ AUCKLAND MARKETS. .Auckland Star Office, Thursday, May 30,-1918. OUR MONEY MATCKKT. The money market has "town nttte material alteration during tMs monthThere is sufficient capital available for all ordinary business requirements, ami the rates keep fairiy steady and firm, but money for loan and mortgage is not plentiful, as many of the large lenders have put considerable sums into the War Loan to avoid the heavy income tax.

The vast accumulations of produce of all kinds held up here for want of shipping space mean a very considerable locking up of capital. The fact that the Imperial Government lias either paid for or made advauces against dairy produce, wool, and some other lines has saved a very considerable further locking up of money, and has been of most material benefit in this way to the money market. Had tbe banks been callert upon to finance all this, it would have caused a very serious depletion of their funds, and made a very material difference to the tone of the money market. As it is, however, they are saved that, and, as stated above, there is sufficient money available for all legitimate needs. The value of wool awaiting shipment would run into over two millions, and dairy produce to about three millions, while the meat in store, which is not financed by the Imperial authorities, would be worth nearly five millioti.". These figures give a fair indication of the effect of lack of shipping on fiuance, and what we are indebted to the Imperial Govern* ment for. The present week has opened well, aud promises to improve as it advances. Visitors are plentiful, the Farmers' Conference being the main attraction just at present, and a couple of days' good sport a little later ou. Retailers are well busy, likewise wholesale, with the distribution of "As Ist" orders ex store and some recent arrivals ex ship.

POTATOES. The local market !s still rather oversupplied with potatoes, with the result that prices are somewhat irregular. Really first-class lines of potatoes that will keep ■ are commanding much higher figures thun the average quotations, which remain at about £'.) per ton. Australian potatoes came to hand via the south, and. although higher rates than ruling quotations were realised for them, still a loss resulted to importers, owing to this -market having declined since the potatoes were shipped from Melbourne. Notwithstanding the fact that the potatoes were a month ou the way across still the condition upon arrival was excellent. Inquiries are now being received for eajly seed potatoes. Beauty of Hebron. Early Rose?, and Early Russets command from £9 per ton upwards. Up-to-dates, Maori Chief, and Gamekeeper varieties are worth from £8 per ton upwards. ONIONS. Business in onions Is merely to meet im- . mediate requirements. Although arrivals have been fairly heavy during the last month, much smaller shipments may now be looked for, and later on higher prices are certain to rule because there is 41ttle chance of supplies being imported from abroad this winter. MAIZE. Supplies of maize have come to hand from Australia, and also some of the new local crop has reached this market. Prices remain firm at 7/ per hushel for wholesale lines on the wharf. FOWL, WHEAT. The quantity of fowl wheat sent up latterly has been a little in excess of the actual requirements of thLs market. This had the advantage of enabling merchants to lay in store stocks as the result of the extra steamers being put on. OATS. A firmer tone is reported in the oat market during the past "week, f.o.b. quotations naving advanced fnlly one penny per bushel. So far the local market has not responded to the advance reported from the south. Supplies here are now somewhat short, as, although a steamer has just arrived, the bulk of the shipment went into immediate consumption. Advices from the south are to the efTect that the remaining heavy Gartons will tie required for milling arid seed purposes down there. The Algerian seed oats, grown in Canterbury South from Australian Importations last year, turned ont exceedingly well, and should give excellent results -when planted this year, as a change of seed is always advisable. Supplies ot machine-dressed Algerian seed oats from Victoria have come to hand via Wellington, and further small lots are expected, but merchants find great difficulty in getting regular supplies to cover orders. MILLING WHEAT. Heavier supplies of mUling wheat have come to hand latterly. Local mills are benefiting from the fact that less Southern flour'has been sent up latterly. BRAN AND SHARPS. With colder weather an increased demand is reported for bothe these lines, and supplies are still much under the requirements of this market. CHAFF. Prices stiU rule high for chaff, as the demand continues good. Unfortunately, amongst the supplies sent up is some chaff of inferior quality, but rcaßy prime is in short supply and commands full prices. PEAS AND BARLEY. An unusual demand has set in for split peas and barley, and Dominion producers are gaining business as a result of the smaller importations made from abroad this year. WHOLESALE CURRENT PRICES. Farm and Dairy Produce.—Factory hotter, 1/6J per lb, less rebate for prompt payment; farmers' butter, lid per lb; farmers' cheese, 9}d per lb; factory | cheese, lOd to 10} d per lb; hams, 1/1 to 1/2 per lb; bacon, 1/0* to 1/1 per lb: circa. 2/6 per dozen. 6i ** Flour.—£l6 10/ (less discount of 2t per cent) per ton, in 2001b sacks; sharps, £8 10/ (nominal) per ton; bran, £6 10/, less 2J per cent (nominal); oatmeal (25*s), £26 per ton. Grain.—Oats, 5/7 per bushel: Algerian seed oats. 6/6; fowl wheat, 7/0, ex storej maize, 7/6 to 8/ (wholesale lines on the wharf). Chaff.—Prime, Southern, £9 to £9 15/ per ton ex store. S{. Potatoes. £10 10/ to £11 per ton. Onions, 10/ per cwt. MANURES. Stocks of fertilisers are in small compass, and, as oat sowing is sUll in progress, there is a good demand. Inquiry is also setting in for manures for the planting of the early potatoes in this district. ON 'CHANGE. New Zealand Insurance shares continue to advance in price, as high as ISO/ being offered yesterday for this stock. South British Insurance had steady buyers at 120/6, but no sales. Nationals "were also inquired for at 5.8/6. In coal stocks. Westports could be placed at 80/, and Taupiris at 18/4. Inquiry .set in again this week for Northern Boo" shares at 15/9, but no seller quoted. Sales of New Zealaud Cement were reported at 11/, and buyers now offer 10/.

AUCKLAND STOCK SALES.

The New Zealand Loan aud Mercantile Ageucy Co., Ltd.. report:— At Westfield store sale and at Tnakau on Thursday last cattle came forward in average numbers and sold well up to late quotations. Dairy cows and heifers continue in film demand, best making £13 to £1S 5/, others £10 5/ to £12 15/: aged cows and small backward heifers, £5 2/0 to £9 17/U; empty cows and heifers, £4 to £8 7/U: best weaner calves were; slightly stronger iv demand; steers, £3 5/ to £5 2/6 for an extra j choice quality pen; others, £1 10/ to £3 2/6; ; heifer calves, £1 5/ to £3 15/; three-year-old steers, at Tuakau, made £12 10/. Sheep: The advertised two-tooth ewes in lamb averaged 27/, lambs 4/D to 9/9. The township | sections at Tuakau were sold at £220. ; Horses at our Albert Yards on Friday I were entered in large numbers, the attendance of buyers being exceptionally good, I most of the city carrying firms being repreI scnted. The bidding was keen, and we reIport a most successful sale. The advertised horses from Messrs Frledlander Brothers averaged weU over £30. Best heavy

draughts sold at from £33 to £38 10/, others £24 to £31 10/; medium draughts, £16 to £25 10/; light harness sorts and hacks. £8 to £15 10/; poorer sorts from £4 upwards. Practically all the saddlery, haraega, etc-, entered was sold at satisfactory prices. On Monday at Takapuna we had an arerage yarding of cattle. Bert dairy cows and heifers made £10 to £13 10/, others £7 10/ to £9 17/6; empty cows and heifers. £5 5/ to £8 12/6; aged and poorer sorts, £1 5/ to £4 10/; calves, £1 9/ to £3 4/; gig and harness, £14 7/6. At Howick on Monday we held a clearing sale of Mr M. Finlay's dairy herd, implements, etc. There was a large attendance of buyers, and we report a soccessfnl sale. Best cows made from £12 to £14 10/, others £9 10/ to £11 15/; backward and unsound. £5 2/G to £9 5/; calves. 4/ to £2 7/; horse £8 S/; fowls made 3/6, turkeys 11/6. Implements, tools, sundries, etc., at ruling rates.

Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., report:— At Waitakaruru on Friday, May 24, there wag a moderate yarding and a good clearance effected at ruling prices. Dairy cows and heifers made from ±lS 10/ to £11 12/6; small and backward heifers, £0 10/ to £8; small fat cows, £7 5/ to £10 7/6: two to three-year-old steers, £8 10/ to £10 10/; yearling to IS-mouth heifers. £4 15/ to £6 la/; best calves. £3 to £4 12/6; others, £1 11/ to £2 16/.

At Westfield, on Thursday last, we had a full entry of dairy stock and a moderate yarding of store cattle. The former are in strong demand, and high prices are ruling. Best cows made from £15 15/ to £19, second-grade cows £12 to £14 10/, others £10 to £12, aged and inferior £4 to £7; best springing heifers £12 10/ to £14 10/, others £7 to £11; empty cows, £5 10/ to £9 3/: calves, £1 3/ to £3 13/: IS-months heifers, £5 10/ to £7 5/.

At Pnkekohe, on Monday last, we held our usual monthly sale, and had a full yarding for the time of year. Dairy cattle were iv keen demand, aud there was little difficulty in placing all penned at high Drtces. Best cows brought from £15 10/ to £19 10/, second-grade £13 to £14 15/, others £8 10/ to £P2; best springing heifers £14 to £19. others £10 10/ to £12 17/6, smaller and backward £7 10/ to £9 10/: three to 31----year-old steers £10 10/ to £11 5/, two to three-year-old £0 2/G to £10 10/. yearling to two-year-old £6 to £S 15/; heifers came age. £4 10/ to £7 10/: empty cows, £-5 5/ to £8 17/0: best calves £3 5/ to £4 7/6. smaller £2 10/ to £3 4/. small £1 8/ to £2 5/. weedy 10/ to £1 1/: small fat steers, £12 10/ to £14 15/: fat cows and heifers, £9 10/ to £15 7/6. These figures are about equal to Westfield values.

PAT STOCK SIAKKET. I

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. report:— At. Westfield oti Wednesday beef was penned in average numbers, the quality in same cases not being too good. Competition was keen, the market showing a firmer tone. Choice ox sold to £2 10/ per 1001b. others £2 6/ to £2 9/: cow and heifer beef, from £2 1/ to ;2 7/; steers sold at from £9 2/6 to £!) 12/6: cows and heifers, £8 2/6 to £15: bulls, £8 17/6 to £15 10/. Some of the averages were:—Eight steers from Mr Chas. Bischoff. Waiuku. £8 15/; 16 from the Waikato, £17 17/6: nine small, well done steers from Mr Thos. Coates, from the North, £12 17/: another truck of steers from the North, £1-5 13/: heifers from the same vendor, £13 10/9: a truck of cows and heifers from Mr .Tames Taylor. Cambridge, £12 C/: Matamata cows, £15 >l/ 3. Calves: A good yarding, with competition brisk for quality stuff. Some of the calves were not up to the mark. We quote: 'Runners, from £4 17/6 to £6 15/; heavy vealers £3 12/6 to £4 15/, medium £2 11/ to £3 10/, Ught 30/ to £2 7/6: small and fresh-dropped, 4/ to 27/6. Sheep were penned in full numbers, and imoroved in prices. Best prime wethers sold at from £1 18/ to £2 2/6, others £1 12/9 to £1 17/6; inferior wethers (including two-tooths). £1 0/3 to £1 11/9; best ewes, £1 11/ to £1 15/6. others £1 5/3 to £1 10/6, inferior 16/ to £1 4/0: aged store ewes, from 6/3 to 15/6. Lambs came forward in average numbers, prices ruling at late rates. Best lambs £1 7/ to £1 12/6, medium fl 0/6 to £1 6/9. others S/9 to 19/9. Pigs were yarded In large numbers and sold well. Baconers and choppers made from £4 12/6 to £6 1/: others. £3 14/ to £4 10/; large porkers £2 12/6 to £3 12/6. medium £2 5/ to £2 11/: slips, 16/6 to 25/; small porkers, 30/ to £2 11.

Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons report:—:— Yesterday at our -weekly Westfield fat stock market we yarded fat cattle to the number of 207 head, comprising 142 steers, 63 cows and heifers, and two bolls. There was a steady demand -with values firm at last week's quotations. Choice ox sold to £2 9/ per 1001b; prime quality ox, £2 5/ to £2 7/ per 1001b; rongh and plain beef, £119/ to £2 2/ -per 100R); cow and heifer, £1 18/ to £2 5/ per 1001b: steers ranged in price from £10 10/ to £20 15/: cows and heifers. £7 to £18 2/6. The highest averages for steers were: —Eight from Mr E. G. Hull, Otaua, Waiukn, £20 3/9: 1M from -Mr 'B. Reed, Waerenga, £19 12/6; six from Mr Tom Muir. Onewhero, £1S 5/6; two trucks from Waikato. £17 11/S; 16 from Mr James McNicol, Te Aroha, £17 1/3; 16 from South Head, Kaipara, £1S 7/3: 12 local, £15 11/8; nine from Mr R. -McCullough, Papatoetoe, £14 18/7; three cows from Mr Geo. Has tie, Papatoetoe, £17 3/4; five cows from Messrs Humphries and Feltham, Mount 'RoskllL £12 0/S. Fat and young calves were penned in average numbers, and sold at late rates. Runners made from £5 5/ to £7 7/6; heavy vealers £3 15/ to £5, medium £2 12/6 to £3 10/, light £1 15/ to £2 10/, small and fresh dropped 3/ to £1 10/. (50 sold.) We had a full market of pigs, and prices were firm at fully last week's values. Choppers and heavy baconers made from £4 15/ to £6 2/6, others £3 15/ to £4 10/; large porkers £3 to £3 12/. medium £2 5/ to £2 17/6, small £1 to £2 2/: slips, £1 to £1 8/: weaners, 11/6 to IS/. 1223 sold.) The sheep pens were well filled, and although there were several lots of unfinished, the quality generally was an improvement of late markets. There was also a decided improvement in the demand, with an advance of from 2/ to 3/ a head. Extra heavy prime wethers,- £2 1/6 to £2 4/9, the latter price for a pen from Mr Isaac Gray, Gray Farm, Papatoetoe: heavy prime wethers £1 S/6 to £2; medinm to heavy prime -wethers £1 1-3/ to £1 17/6; light fat -wethers. £1 12/6 to £1 14/: large framed unfinished wethers. £1 11/G to £1 14/6: smaller unfinished wethers, £1 4/ to £1 9/; best heavy prime ewes. £1 12/ to fl 15/9: fat ewes £1 7/ to £1 aO/: lighter ewes, £1 2/ to £1 6/: other ewes. 12/6 to 19/6. <173S sola.) The 296 lambs which came forward were required and sold freely. Best heavy prime £1 8/ to £1 10/6: lighter fat lambs. £1 3/ to fl 6/6, light 17/ to £1 2/, unfinished 14/ to 16/6; small stores, 10/ to 13/.

Messrs. Dalgety and Company Llmlteu. report having held their usual weekly s.ite of fat stock at Westfield on Wedne«dav as under:— -

Beef.—A fair yarding, which sold at last weeks rates. Extra prime ox sold at iid to £L 9/ per 1001b; ordinary quality £2 6/ to £2 8/; cow and heifer, 4*l/ to 43/. Veal.—A fair yarding, and prices were about the same as last week. Extra heavy runners made up to £5: heavy suckers, £1 6/ to £3 5/; small. 10/ to 20/. Mutton.—A very mixed yarding ana prices were on .n par with last week. Heavy prime wethers sold at up to £2 0/9; medium weight, 31/ to 33/: ewes 34/tjstore ewes, 7/0 to 20/. - Lamb.—A good yarding, and prices were about the same as last week. Good lines woolly, made 26/ to 33/; shorn. 20' to 22/----others. S/ to 14/

Pork.—Fair yarding, which sold at late rates. Choppers made £4 5/ to £5 10/• baconers, £2 0/ to £3 ID/; porkers, 32/ to £3. ' ' '

HIDES. SKINS AND TALLOW. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co Ltd.. report:-We submitted average catalogues of hides, which sold -it late rates. We quote: Hides—Extra stout ox. IOJd to lid. stout njd to lOJci. medium 9}d to 91,1 light 8M to 9d: cows', best ItoS SJd to 83d. good Sd to SJd. Inferior 7ld to 7}d; kips. o*d to lOjd; calfskins, best to 13d, good 10jd to 114 c], cut and damaged Sd to 9d: horse hides, 5/ to S/9: stags', r>4d to 64d: damaged hides. 2Jd to 53d. Tallow.—Market lower. Best mixed to 34/, good 28/0 to 30/. Inferior 22/ to ''>4/6ronght tat. IJd to 2Jd per 10. Bones, £7 5/: eowtails. 1/ per doz. Horsehair. 1/ to 1/6.

Messrs. G. W. Binney and Sons report:— At onr sale on Tuesday, the following prices ruled: — Hides.—Best cow, Sid to SJd: medium SJd to SJd, scored Bd, cut 7Jd to Sd, damaged sid to 6d; ox, heavy, IOJd to 105 d. medium lOld to 10gd. light »Jd to lOd, cut Sd to S*d. damaged tiUl to 7d: yearling, Od to 9«d, cut 7sd to Sd, damaged s*d to 6d; calf, good, li*d. medium lOd to 10»d. cut 9d to 9}d: horse. 9/ to 10/, medium 8/ to 8/6, small 5/6 to 6/, cut 4/ to 4/6. Tallow.—Casks, best 35/6 per cwt, medium 34/G, ordinary 32/6; tins, best 33/, I ordinary SO/, draggy and burnt 27/. i Bones.—Good, dry, £7 to £7 10/ per ton. j

Messrs. Dalgety and Company, Limited, report having held their weekly sale at hides on Tuesday. Prices were as -under:— Best washed abattoir bines, ox lid to 12Jd, cow 9Jd to KM, stag 6d; butchers* hides, unwashed, ox S'd to 10Jd. cow Sd to 9d; can" skins, best to 14d, "heavy and meaty 3d to 12d; cut or damaged hides at Id to 3d less; tallow. 25/ to 33/: hair, tall, 1/5 to 1/CJ, mane lOd: bones, £7 10/ ton.

WAIKATO.

The Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company. Ltd.. Hamilton, report for the week ended Monday, as follows:—Fat bullocks, prime quality £17 to £17 10/, medlnnl £14 10/ to £15 5.': fat cows prime qnalttr £11 10/ to £12 5/, medinm'£lo 5/ to SO 15/; fat heifers, £11: 3| and 4-year bullocKs. fresh conditioned. £12 10/ to £13 5/: 3J ana 4-year bunocks, store, ill 10/ to £11 15/: 2}-year steers, good colours. £10 10/ to £M> 15/; 2-year steers, ordinary, £9 15/ to £Xi; 18-months steers, good colours. £S 10/ to £8 15/, ordinary £6 10/ to £7: empty cows, fresh conditioned £3 5/ to £8 15/, ordinary £7 to £7 10/, old and poor £5 10/ to £6 5/1 steer calves, good. £4 15/ to £5 5/: h«lrer calves. £3 10/ to £3 13/; mixed calves. Si 10/ to £2 15/; 3-year heifers, in calf, -close to profit. £12 10/ to £15 10/. backward £ru 10/ to £10 15/: 2-year heifers, in close to profit. £10 15/ to £12 10/, hack-ward £9 to £3 5/: 2-year empty heifers. £5 5/ to Of 10/: fat wethers, heavy-weights. 32Ai to 35/: medinm-weights. 30/ to 31/, fat.ewes. heavy-weights, 29/ to 32/6. medium-weights 27/6 to 28/; empty ewes, fresh conditioned. 20/ to 22/: ewes in lamb, 2 and 4-tooth, weH woolled. 2S/ lo 30/: ewes in lamb, 4 and <? tooth, weß woolled. 25/ to 28/;" ewes In lamb, f.f.m.. well woolled. 18/ to 22/; ewes In la-mb, s.m. and poor. 12/ to 15/; liogjrets, best woolly 20/ to 23/. nest shorn 14/ to 16/0; ordinary mixed 12/ to 15/, fat 24/ to 27/6: wethers, good 2-tooth, 25/ to 28/, small 2-tooth 21/ to 23/6, good 4-tooth 30/ to 33/, small 4-tooth 28/ to 30/; ewes, f.m. tooth. 12/ to 16/, s.m. tootn 10/ to 12/. 'old and poor. 10/; dairy cows, best, £11 By to £20. ordinary £10 to £12 10/.

HIKUTAIA SALE.

The Fanners' Auctioneering Company, held their usual stock sales at Hiktrtaia, There was a good yarding of all classes, but the prices realised showed no Improvement on late rates. Fat cows realised from £10 2/6 to £11 10/. fresh conditioned cows from £9 to £9 15/, store cows from £5 5/ to £7 15/, 2 to 3-year-old steers from £10 10/ to £11 2/0, 18-months steers from £4 5/ to £6 15/, heifers in calf from £6 15/ to £7 5/, steer calves from £3 2/8 to £3 10/, heifer calves from £2 2/6 to £3, small calves from 20/ to 35/, bulls 7i gs. to lot guineas. Sheep: Prime fat wether* 53/. ewes to 25/6. ewes in lamb 23/7, storo ewes to 18/7, hoggets to 13/9.

ADDINGTON.

(By Telegrapu —Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday. There were fair entries of fat stock at the Addington market to-day. mutton being ir. particularly good supply. The exporters operated mucin more .freely than usual for all classes of beef, this being attributable by many to tbe improved prospect for the disposal of hides. ~_..» .... Store Sheep.'— Four, six. and eight-tooth ewes brought np to 25/6, sound-mouth ewes to 27/3; two-tooth wethers. 22/7 to 27/8; two and four-tooth wethers. 27/1: fonr and six-tooth wethers, 19/3 to 31/8: ewe lambs, 25/; mixed sex lambs. 23/4 to 24/S; wether lambs. 22/. Fat Lambs. —Extra prime to 35/3, prime 29/ to 35/5. medium 25/6 to 28/, lighter 22/9 to 24/5. „ . .-, Fat Sheep.—Prime wethers realised 40/ to 45/. lighter 29/9 to 39/10. Merino 25/ to 32/: prime ewes. 37/ to 40/6, medinm 32/ to 36/6, lighter 24/9 to 31/. Fat Cattle.—Extra prime steers sold up tn ■**>*> 10/- nrime steers, £lo lU/ to ±J.y, orcinlry steers. £12 12/6 to £16: prime heifers, £15 to £15 10/: ordinary'heifers. £9 to £14 15/; prime cows, £17 17/6; ordinary cows, £8 12/6 to £13. Store Cattle.—Eighteen months to twoyear steers realised £7 17/6; heifers. £6 17/6- two and a-half to three year steers, £11; dry cows, £6 5/ to £7 10/. Pies—Choppers sold for £5 to £7 10/, extri heavy baconers. £0 10/: heavy baeonersTS 5/ to £5 15/; lighter baconers, £4 o/ to£4 15/. equal to Sd to Bid a lb; heavy porkers. £3 10/ to £3 W,, u Shter porkers, £3 to' £3 5/, equal to 9Jd to- lOd a. lb.

BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

SYDNEY, May 28. The half year's profits ct tie Bank of New South Wales totalled £278,784. -A. dividend of 10 per cent has been declared.— (A. and N-Zl. Cable.)