GENERAL MERCHANDISE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15775, 16 December 1916, Page 7

GENERAL MERCHANDISE.

In view of the leading merchants having notified their intention of closing from 25th to January 2nd, both days inclusive, and a further desire to have everything off the board has ruade the week rather brisker than usual. Jordan almonds arc in short supply, and although the Athenic has brought fair parcels of tho new season's crop, further arrivals are anxiouslv looked for. Paper-bags of all sorts will remain very high owing to the d earn ess of paper. There seems no relief in view until tho end of the war. Tho Opawa has just discharged fair shipments of cornflour, and -what with high freights and increased cost of Paisley, tho landed cost works out at 10 per cent, above previous shipments. Fresh supplies of Crosse and Blackwell's essence of coffee aTe now landing at slightly increased cost. New season's Barcelona nuts are a very line sample this year. The cost, however, is close upon double what was ruling before the war—bringing them quite up to the price of Brazil nuts. All anxiety this year regarding the arrival in timo for tho Christmas trade of new season's Californian canned fruits, raisins, and other dried fruits is over, they having come to hand by the Tancred and Kurow. From present appearances it looks as if this year will see the clean up of all dried fruits in California, and the crop will bo all sold long before next season's crop arrives. The demand, too. has been heavier than ever known before. _ Lemon, orange, and citron peel continues extremely scarce and difficult to obtain. _ This was forecasted some short time ago, and to-day sees many ictailers unable to supply their own "customers' requirements. The Makura brought a shipment of Shamrock salmon. The quality of this brand met with much appreciation last yeivr, and supplies are now anxiously awaited. ,The trade will have to again take to the tall tins, as the one's flats are not available. Sardines of all sorts r»Te in very short supply, and anything like a fair sample does not require much argument in making sales. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. Messrs H. S. Fitter and Sons, writing from London on November 3rd, state:— "Home-killed Mutton. —Scotch sheep are now beginning to arrive somewhat moro freely, and there are fair supplies of English sheep, while small uumbers of Irish arc coming. Only once recently have any Dutch sheep readied the London market. The demand has been fairly good, but our last quotations have huTdly been maintained. "Home-killed Lamb.—English lambs havo now practically disappeared from the market, but there are still good numbers of . Scotch hill lambs and some Irish on offer. "Frozen Lamb.—Rather smaller quantities of New Zealand lamb have been .released for sale on the market recently, but, on the other hand, the demand at this time of the year generally falls off when there arc so many Scotch hill lambs and Irish lambs available at near tho same prices. "The quantities of River Plate lambs marketed are still moderate; they arc mostly of very fair quality, but "rather on the large side. "Frozen Mutton. —There have been a few more New Zealand wether sheep on the market just lately, but most of them have been rather too large to meet a ready sale. This also applies to many of the New Zealand ewes lately on offer. The supply of Rivor Plate mutton continues light, as we suggested in our last report that it would do. ' 'Argentine /Beef. —Recent supplies have been heavier and the demand has not increased in proportion, consequently the ■ market has not always cleared, and prices aro somewhat lower; The heavier daily pitchings of Birken-head-killed Irish beef recently have also helped to weaken the price of the chilled beef."

A YEAR'S WHEAT REQUIREMENTS. SUPPLY AND DEMAND. Mr George Broomhall, the Liverpool grain trado statistician, submits _ the following revised estimates of the likely exports and prospective requirements for the current season: — Season, August Ist, 1916, to July 31st, 1917. Probable Exports. . Qrs. North America — 25,(XX),000 Australia ... ... 14,000,000 India ... ... 6,000,000 Argentina ... «• 8,000,000 North Russia - 1.000,000 North Africa, etc. ... 1.000,000 From floating supply, which was 6,000,000 on August Ist ... 3,000,000 Total available ... 58,000,000 Prospective Requirements. United Kingdom ... 26,000,000 Frr.-ncc ... ... 12,000,000 Italy 8,000,000 Holland and Belgium 6,000,000 Spain and Portugal ... 1,000,000 Scandinavia ... ... 2,500,000 Greece and Serbia ... 2,500,000 Switzerland ... ... 2,000,000 Ex. Europe ... 5,000,000 Total ... ... 65,000,000 Less 10 per cent, on account of high priccs 6,500,000 Net requirements ... 53,500,000 The North ' American estimate of 25,000,000 qrs. is considered pretty safe, in spite of tho alarming reports of scarcity which are coming over from Chicago. Towards this quantity 11,300,000 qrs. have been shipped already leaving only 13,700,000 qrs. to be shipped in the subsequent forty weeks of the cereal year. The Australian supply is in existence, and much more probably -will be available. The transport of such a big quantity over 12,000 miles of ocean is the difficult oart of the problem, and with the steady loss of shipping tho difficulty becomes still greater. India has already in twelve weeks shipped 1,600,000 qrs., and should easily be able to manage 4,400,000qr5. in tho next forty weeks.' Argentina since August Ist has shipped 1,734,000 qrs., and has in sight 1,400,000 qrs. of old wheat. The serious question here is as to whether she will have «vn additional 5,000,000 qrs. of new wheat to spare from tho crop to be harvested next December, for this has already suffered severely from drought. The floating supply, as stated, at the beginning of the season stood at 6,000,000 qrs., and it has since been reduced by half u million qrs. More than the three million quarters suggested might easily be taken off the £oa ting supply, but as a good deal of it may be composed of Australian wheat, which occupies a long time on passage, it would not be prudent to relv on more than the quantity indicated.

TLMARU MARKET. (SPECIAL TO ,: TBX PBES3.") TIMARU, December 15. The local grain market is in a state of suspense, pending the findings of the Board of TVado as an outcome of their deliberations with this week. It is understood that the Minister of Agriculture and the Board of Trade will meet the millers in conference next week. Notwithstanding the check given to business as a result of these negotiations, some odd parcels, of wheat have been sold on the basis of 5s 9d to 6s, delivered Timaru. The continued dry weafher and the hot nor'west winds have had a serious effect on the crop 6.

BAKER BROS., THE HOME-FINDERS. LETTING REPORT. Messrs Baker Bros, of _16S Chester street, report having let the following properties:—Account Mr prill, dwelling, Cashel street, to Mr Geary; account Mr Atkinson, bungalow, Avon street-. to Mrs Millward; account Mr Phillips, residence, Cavershani street-, to Miss Allen ; account Mrs Mulligan, dwelling, Fife street, to Ml" Cooper; account Mrs Cameron, cottage, Peterborough street, to Mr Evans; account Miss Talbot, residence, Lyttel-_ ton street, to Mr Neale: account Mr Cotton, dwelling, Rosebcrry street, to Mr Edmond: account Mr Mcl/&chlan, cottage, Leeds street, to Mrs Savage; account Mr Nixon, bungalow, Mersey street, to Mr Menenay; account Miss Gadd, residence, Madras street, to Miss Durant; account Mr Atkinson, dwelling. Coventry street, to Mrs Coulthard; account Mr Machcn, cottage, Walker street, to Mr Tarpey. 2020 CHRISTCHTTRCH STOCK EXCHANGE. latest quotations. Buyers. Sellers. £ 0. d. £ s. d. COAL— . . Taupiri .. •• 010 0 — "West port •• — IS" Stockton •• . 0 6 1 — Stockton (6 per cent. pref.) •• .. 016 6 — FINANCIAL — ■ Dalgety •• .. GlO 0 INSURANCENew Zealand .. .. 61G 0 617 0 MEATS— , v „ „ Canterbury (ex aiv.) .. — 8 10 0 N.Z. Refrigerating Co. (£lO paid) .. 20 0 0 ■ — SHIPPINGUnion (cum. div.) ... J J — WOOLLENS— Kaiapoi • • • • 6 5 0 — Kaiapoi (preference ro div. only) .. GOO — YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS ON OTHER EXCHANGES. (rRESS ASSOCIATION" TELEGRAMS.) DUNEDIN. Sales: —Union Steam, 43s 6d. 41s 3d, 41s Cd; Perpetual Trustees, 23a Gd. MINING. TALISMAN CONSOLIDATED. (rBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, December 10. At a "cneral meeting of. shareholders of the Talisman Consolidated Gold Mining Companv, tho chairman, Mr Casey, stated that the present directors wero nvo of the' largest shareholders in th® company. it was difficult to secure skilled labour, but the directors hoped to be in a position to par dividends. Mr Hanna stated that one Bavin? effected by the transfer of the Advisory Board from London was that their remuneration would only be £950, gainst the JC2IOO previously charged in London The repor and balance-eheet were adopted.

BOATMAN'S CONSOLIDATED. The mine manager reports yndor date o! 2nd inst.. as follows:—"The shaft has been completed to the. bottom a feet, guides are m position, and. the shaft is ready for the cage. At present I am removing the Tongye pump from tho Just, in Time shaft, and placing it in No. - Itery Cross, Tfhero the most -water is making. The horizontal pump lam removing to IS9. 3 level. While awaiting the arrival of the compressor I will work two" men on cach shift ,n No. 1 level on the line of the reef, ne aro using, a new crosahead of patent design with satisfactory results. The Mines Inspector saw it work and approved it. It has a patent csfety appliance which works automaticallj. "The manager telegraphs, under date of December 14th"Shaft ready for sinking. Reef No. 1 looking nice."