FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16693, 29 November 1919, Page 11

FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

DOMINION'S TRADE AND MARKETS.

(IJT ovn COiIiILECIAL 11D1TOK.)

GENERAL NOTES. So far tho election campaign has not affected business, which is satisfactorily brisk, though in many directions tho shortage of supplies of imported lines is making itself felt. Aa election day approaches, no doubt, it-3 effect will becoino more noticeable. As tho deciding day follows immediately after Anniversary Day, it will add to tho convenience of retailers and tho comfort of purchasers i; tho latter begin their Christmas shopping in good time. If they leavo it to the last weelt, they will have only themselves to blame if the-.- find it a tedious and un-

uie latest being l« id. Xo sunpliee are -ret m Mg-bl. starch factories. owingj to tjhe ecircit''' of rico, arc severe!;.- restricting Eupplies to customers. T-he latest quotation for rice that liaa oecn rcccived ;n Now Zealand from the East was over ±"70 per ton c.i.f.e. Kew Zealand main port?. Supplies for prcscut Tequirements havo been drawn from Australia, but. tfao latter has in turn to draw from tho East later on, therefore a further mcreaeo in price ' Ila " v. The sample that is coming to hand just ikw is very inferior to prowar lines, containing a largo proportion of )roken and weathered gTains. Ground rico in sacks and 56's La 6 sdvance* 3 .

comfortable proccss. The discussion at tho quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, on the general all-round imperfections and shortcomings of the Christchurch Post Office and postal ecrvico was much needed, and much to the point. It is to bo hoped that the consideration of the various questions that were raised by the Council of tho Chamber will reeult in the desired improvement. Cable advice received yesterday intimated that the Colombo exchange had readied the highest point it baa yet attained —2s 3 7-lCd. Two days before the Calcutta 13to was 2s 2Jd. Prices of Eastern produce will show the effeci <>f this rise.

to eGs per cwt, 31b bago being eTill quotou at -Gs 3d v>er dozen. There has been a genera] move -up iir conee prices, The cheapest grade is now 2e, and higher quality lines arc selling at 2s fc'd. A popular coffco eseenco lies been in short) 6upplv for sorao time, but a small quantity? now arriving. New Zea 1 and-mado cofTeo essence has r.ow advanced to 17s. market for cinnamon is very firm, 6oz tins being quoted at 32s per dozen. Ground, ginger is also in demand, and toe tins are quoted at 9s fld. Nutmegs are quot-f ed' at 19 5-lGd, and Amboyna moco at IGjJd w lij c.i.f.e, ou indent. In keeping with r l sc spices, bottled herb© havo ad-*

The report of the liquidators, of Bowtob va-ncedto .s 6d. Bros. Export and Trading 1 Company will be Singapore pifioapple, ljlb tics, baa bem. presented to a meeting of shareholders in offered by cable on indent at 13s 6d c-Lf., Christchurch on Deoember 17th. That re- which, means a landed cost of about 18s 6d port states that tho liquidators have virtually per dozen. completed tho liquidation of the company. There is still a general chortago of tobacco The asselg at their disposal, consisting of and cigarettes, and hardly one standard lino the purchase consideration of £50,000 in is obtainable in normal quantities, whilo debentures rcocived from the Vooleton Tan- many of tho popular brands aro not to bo neries, Lrd., havo been duly distributed procured. Tho retail prico of several brands among shareholders after settling tho claims of English cigarettes is to bo raised next by holders of irregular certificates and trans- week. fera. These claims, which amounted to A considerable advance in tho prico of £64,333 in rcspect of irregular certificates many of the brands of coooa now on the and tran«f?rs f-r market must bo espected, as cocoa beans for the email 6um of i 2950 in caali. while 3GOO have risen, about £100 per ton shares ranked for a final dividend. Haying- Cable advice has been received that French made bo satisfactory a settlement, the li,ui- cream of tartar k advancing in price, da.ors were able to distubutc a debenture Bird seed in lib ha! risen to 7a id dividend of £23 12s Gd per 100 shares, and to per dozen pay acaeh dividend of Od per share. The A SO ntWn firm of soap-makers has ad?flTr inS the directors in respect of vised merchants of a slight advance on fJmo their liability regarding irregular scrip H-as G f e ./ v> J7 . carefuly considered by tho liquidators, but, °f tallow? ° f th ° l " h pnC ° being advised that there was little prospect a, indi-ai.aj „i, n n. ■i i . of obtaining any damages, they decided not ket is t K° Ch f nalchnrcll t-o institute proceedings. In the matter of t_ a ,j "°f lines, proeocuting another man tho liquidators de- *°09e mentioned, the following 1 cidcd, as such a proceeding would not bring: Tnn i rfirr ,fl rt . ® U PP V ; Wax matches ar r o y* in any assets, not to take any step ill that j. ' ' , Pineapple, oocoamifc bulk direction i , ' sa P on > and several brands of bulk and I packet teas.

REVIEW OF THE SHAKE MARKET. | Merchants report generally a considerable Tho local share market continues buoyant increase in business during the week, though and thcro is a, good demand for tho leading end of the month usually shows a investment stocks. slackening off. Tbero is'a strong demand for Huddnrt-Parker ebare3 have been of in- from country districts. terast during- tho week, and tbero has been » Shipments of Tyzack's scythe blades have sharp riao in value®. At the end of last sold out a.t 102s per doz. week the quotations were, buyers 45s 9d . There is a steady demand for agricultural and sellers 4£a, with sales during that week implements, fittings such as mouMyboards, at 465. During the earlier part of the skeith-blades, and ploughshaws, in anticipresent week there wer» several aale3 reports pation. of tho ploughing season after harvest, ed at 43s 9d, and then prices; rose, business Shipments of Rigby's axles have arrived, being dono at 46s 3d, 47e, 495, and 50s, the ex Remuera, and show a. big advance on quotations at tho time of writing being, . previous prices. buyers 495, sellers SOs. _ | A small shipment of gin and 7-16 in round P. and O. Deferred Stock lias sold dating Netherton, bar iron haa arrived, but the the week at £646 to £648, as compared with quantity is not sufficient' to meet the present £633 at the end of the previons week, .and demand.

. No advices havo been received of Blocks lof round and square mild steel, ordered twelve months ago, and l local etocks havo never been lower. Unless stocks of the very largo and very small sizes arrive, shortly, thcro will bo a decided shortage for traction engine requirements. The Expanded Metal Co., Ltd., of London, ' have notified that their expanded sheets Jin, 3-16 in, and Jin, for reinforced concrete work, havo advanced' 5 per cent, at tho works and thinner sheets 10 per cent. Another riso of 3d per gallon in linseed oil at Home was notified by cable yesterday, making a total advance of 8d in a fortnight. White lead has also gone up in price by £2 per ton. Rosin is slightly easier, this -week's quotation showing a decline roughly of about £2 per ton for both G. and N. grade. Sheet lead is now quoted locally at £48) which does not include this week's advance of £2 r,er ton at tho works.' Corrugated iron is coming along in very small quantities and is almost all sold to arrive. To-day's quotation is £57 103. Wire of all lands is scarce, and the market is firming all tho time. Litest cable advices show advances of about £1 for plain and £1 10s for barbed.. The lonio and Remuera brought a fair assortment of general hardware, with a good supply of shelf goods. Prices in- all directions show a tendency to increase. By tho same steamers supplies of sporting goods— tennis racquets and balls, oricket material, and bowls—also came to hand jn. fulfilment of orders over twelve months old. Tho demand for these goods at Home is very groat. Useful shipments of bolts and nuts, showing a sharp increase in price, have arrived. Nettlefold's have found it neoeesary to iesue a fresh price list for their goods, which indicates a prea t difference between present prices and these obtaining- before tho war. Tho local cost will therefore probably. advance in the near future. Galvanised pipe is becoming -very scarce, and is now quoted locally at list. Ono of the leading English makers lias this week reduced his discounts by about per cent. Sydney reports speak of locally manufactured barbed, wire as being almost unprocurable, while imported lots have been bringing- from £56 to £EC.

PRICE or CIGARETTES,

at 'tlio moment tho quotations arc, buyers £651, 6eller3 £660. Business has been done in the eha.rcs of tLe Bank of Australasia at £110 and £138 os, cuin the rights in the new issue referred to laat week, but the market is now a little easier. If the confirmatory meeting of shareholder to bo held on tbo j'itli prow agrees to tlio creation- of the 25,000 new 6hares, it is the directors' intention to issue 12,500 of the shares to shareholders, in the propor-' tion of on© for every four shares held. Tho premium of £70 per share is to bo added to reserves. Tho da to airi terms of issue aro to be announced later. Bark of New South Wales shares, cum tho rights in the now issue, have been offered locally at £10 without attracting a buyer.. New Zealand Insurance shares have eased a little as compared with last week, the latest salo reported beinjr at 3Qs. Other Insurance shares are still not keenly sought after, but business has been done in Standards at 60s. The transfer books of the Canterbury Frozen Meat. Co. close on Monday in pre- j paration for the annual meeting, tie end of j the company's financial year falling on tho' .Tilth inst. "Thero has been a good deman-i for Canterbury i'rozen Meat shares, tho ordinary issue of which have changed hands at £15, while buyers aro offering £5 9d for the Preference issue. _ Netv Zealand Refrigerating tha.ro values have remained eteady t and in "Wellington Meats there hava been reported sales at £1 Is 6d for (he issue paid to £"2 12a 6d. Ths market for "Woollen Company shares has not been active, and no Jviisme33 has been officially reported in rospcct to any of the companies. Buyers of CJiristchurch Gas shares have increased their offers dnring tho week from £C lie to £6 13s, but declared sellers locally have kept 'heir quoted selling figure at £6 16r.. T)>ere liiu* been a further liso in value in Crown Brewery eharep. La»t week we reported an increase from 31s to 335, and during the present week salea have been reI ported at 34s 6d and 355. This company ia noaring the end of itfl year, which falls on the 31st December. Hie list of companies proposing inoreases in capital has been added to during _ tho , week by an announcement by th-e British Tobacco Company (Australia), Ltd. This company proposes to increase its capital to £6,000,000, bv raking tho ordinary capital from £4,000,000 to £1,500,000. Of tho 500,000 new shares created, 370,447 thares will bo offered' to shareholders, at par, in the proportion of one share for cvoiy ten or mulliplo of ten existing ordinary shares held by ©ach shareholder •on the 17th prox. Although thero is no immediate intention of exercising tlie powers, provision is being made in the'Artiolea to enable the company to distribute capital assets in oxccss_ of_ ite paid-up capital by way ■of capital distribution either in cash or shares. The company's shares have beon offered locally during the week at £2 cum tho lights in the above-mentioned issue. ! Buyers of Mason, Struthers chares have increased their offers to 2G® end 13s for tho paid and contributing shares respectively, but sellers aro scarce. •: Sellers are also scarce of "Weeks,. Ltd. sii area, for which buyers are offering £9 cum the rights in tho proposed new issue. • £6 17s 6d per share has been offered locally for "Whitcombe and Tombs shares without attracting a seller. _ _ The latest reported, business in. nnnins shares has been i Wftihis 53? 0d aud 53s 3d cum a dividend of Is par&Wo on Monday, Talismau 10s OJ. and Grand Junctions at He. At the time of writing tho quotations are: \ Wailii. buyers 53s 6d, sellers 53s 3d: Talisman, buveis 10s sd, sellers 10s Gd; and Grand Junction, buyers ISs Gd, sellers 14s. The Mt. Lyell Mining and Railway Co. has declared a dividend, for tho year of 2s per f.hare, payable on tho 10th prox., and business has been reported lately at 26a 3d cum this dividend. GENERAL MERCHANDISE. GROCERIES. The position ia worso thau it. has ever becri, and a number of shops in the city mid country districts aro quits without supplies. Those whose stocks aro not quite depleted arc limiting customers' orders. Con. fectioDors aro very badly situated, and have .great difficulty in securing enough sugar to carry on with. The demand that 6et in for brewers' crystals and cut loaf sugar has resulted in these lines being cleaned out. Icing 6ugar is almost unprocurable. The arrangement arrived at with the Australian Government regarding the release of dried fruit for e.tport to Zealand, aa reported in yesterday's issue, is satisfactory. Merchants, however, have sold all stocks to arrive, and will have no margin for future requirements.

ANOTHER RISE. Except for W. I), and H. O. Wills'* wellknown cigarettes, tho price of a packct of "tailor-made amoke»"__will go up another penny on Monday. .Before tho war a> 10cigaretio packct could- bo purchased for Cd with- a small box of matches thrown in. for caslu To-day tho packct is readily purchased at Bd, and tho box of matchco at Id. On Monday 9d will be charged for a. 10-cig-arclto packet. Over a month 150 importers had .to meet aa advance in the prices of cigarettes from 'tho Ardath and Carrcra, Tobacco Co., and tho retailers now: find it neo©3sary to paos tho riso on. The wholesale coat of cigarette-j advanced eomo weeks ago by Gj per 1000, and those retailers not in a position to import have carried tho extra burden without charging the higher pricc. One retailor, intervowed by a "Press" reporter, admitted that eo:nc people must be making a. Hugo profit out of the cigarette trade, but ho was positive tho profiteers were not to bo found at this end of tho world. Tho new price-list, ivs drawn up by the Chrisfchnrch Tobacconist and Hairdressers' Assoriation, includes the following advi-rc?®: Now price. Previous price. 10's. 25's. 50's. 10's. 23'e. 51>"s. State Express. 333'5, ardiual and V ini'red .. 0d — 3/3 £d — 3/4 655's .. ..3/2 2/11 5/9 1/1 2/S 5/3 Astorits .. 1/8 4/ 7/6 1/6 3/9 7/6 My Darlings .. li' 2 — — 1/1 — — Turkish Leaf 1/8 — — 1/4 — — His Majestv's — -1/ 7/9 — 3/9 7/5) Do Luxe ... 1/4 3/1 6,'G 1/3 3/ 6/ Clarenco and Golder. Cypher f)d — 2/3 8d — 3/1 In tho case of State Express, Cardinals, Winifred, 333'5, Clarenco, .and Golden Cj'pher, packets of 20 advance from Is -Id to le 01.. Packets of Rodent have not advanced, but this brand, when, in tins of 20, will increase to Is 6d. With the exception of Clarence ar.d Go?aen Cypher (Oarrora's. Ltd.) all the above-named cizaretios a.ro manufactured by tho Ardath Tobacco Co. No rise i-j anticipated for loose cigarette (nbacco, which a.* present generally retails at 9d per oz. Pipe tobacco will also remain at present, prices, but pipes are advancing steadily. Locwcs ;iro difficult to procure. Tho Americans aro putting some high grade pipes on the market which are lip to tho quality of tho best Trench, but cheapergrade American pipes have not eo far proved satisfactory. Lately English ar.d European pipes have jumped up 50 per cent. Kcpp'3 cheiries have advanced from 2a to 2s Cd, ana al! classes of pipos aro erpectcd to become dearer.

The tea market is etill very firm. Foijf teas are now being offered hero ai, 2s to 03 3d in bulk, n'h;ch are costing' 2s 5d to buy in Ceylon. Latest cabled reports from Colombo state that commoner grades wero a little easier; medium and high quality grades being firm. "London support is still strong, and any 6erious decline in values is: unlikeiy." The' London Tea .Brokers' Association recently assorted that the increase in l the consumption of lea in Great Britain during the first eight monha of 1919 bji ■IO.GOO.OCOIb compared with the corresponding pcriAd in 1911 was due to Imperial pre" ferenco stimulating the demand, also to .higher wages. "With all countries competing for supplies." continued the report, "comparatively. high priccs must rule ii an adequate supply of tea to Britain ia to be mainJ tained. - '

Tinned fruit is scarce, but the Kuxonr's arrival with a big shipment in. about tea days will relieve the pressure.

Thero is a keen enquiry for hops, but the market is almost bare. Prices have firmed considerably.

Orange and lemon peel are not to be procured, and quotations a:c merely nominal*

rOTATOES FOR VICTORIA. IMPORTATION •PROHTRTT-.n (rr.ESS association tki.egram.) ■WELLINGTON", November CP. The Department of Agriculture lias revived tho folioxin? cable message from the Director of Qnarar.tin; at Melbourne "The importation cf potatoes for food under modified conditions is no permitted. Pleaaa inform all exporters i;nd shippers." cjoveenmext v.-00l contp.ol. THE PKOFITEEHING ALLEGATIONS. (Br Cable—Pre«« Association—Copyright.) tAustralian and N.Z. Cable AeeociitioE.* LONDON, November 21. The Dejmi.'-Cor.trallor of Haw Materia:*, on behalf of Sir Arthur Goldfinch, Controller of Haw Materials to the War Office, assuicd the Australian Press Association that he hud 110 knowledge of any proposed investigation into protiK<-rir,c in wool, 110 admitted that the high current prices resulted in considerable profits, but the Government wool was subject to open competition at auction. It appeared to bo tho t aires t and most equitable way of disposing of the stocks. High prices could be corrected by re-est&b-lishing the system of ;i fixed issue. Such artificial methods would interfere with the restoration of normal trade. That was undesirable, ar.cl would 1 also be unfair to Australian and Ne;c Zealand growers, who were entitled to the highest market price, and to sharo tho profits with the British Government. The only other way of reducing the price was to prohibit export und eliminate foreign buying. Approximately half the importod wool was re-exported. If foreign buyers wero eliminated, as during the early part of the veer, the quantity available would bJ greatly increased, but, in. view of the adverse cxcha.nge, the Government was anxious to encourage exports. It. was satisfactory to note that- the export of manufactured woollens had already considerably revived. Great Britain was trying to market an increased quantity of wool, birt th? capacity of tho workers to handle it, to the reduction in the hours of tho dockers, warehousemen, and railwaymen, limited the efforts, while the difficulties of transport and the congestion at the docks had increased the task of satisfactory distribution to manufacturers. Meanwhile, tho world demand for woollens was enormous, particularly in view of the war destruction in Europe. It was improbable that an artificial reduction in the prices of raw wool in England would be effective in seriously reducing the prices of manufactured goods.

MR HUGHES'S VIEW. (Received November 08th, 9.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, November £8. Mr Hughes, referring to tho cable concerning alleged Government profiteering in wool, states that he is taking steps lo protect tho interests of th<> Commonwealth. Ho says: "Wo are entitled to half the profits, and ought to bo consulted as to the prioo of wool and the methods by -which tho price is fixed, exactly similar to tho wheat contracts." CANTERBURY WOOL. BIG PRICE Oif HOlffi MARKET. Messrs Vfnt. Nicholls p.n3 Sons, Belfast, have received the following- cable, message: — ".Merino wool scoured by "Win. Nicholli ,tmd Son, branded N.C.S., Kaputono, Belfast, N.Z.,' sold at 03 per lb London market." PEARL SHELL TRADE. LONDON, November 24. A meeting of all parties interested in the pearl shell trade decided to hold sis auctions m 1930, commencing- on January 15th, and then at intervals of two months. bradford~market. LONDON, November 24. The Bradford market is firm. Topmakera aro not anxious to sell merinos or lino crosabreds. A good demand continues for lower sorts. SHARES. LONDON, November 24. Waihi—Buyers S7s 6d, sellers 58s 9d. Talisman—Buyers &s 9d, sellers lis 3d. P. and O. (dcf.) —Buyers IXBO, sellers £700. FOREIGN RATES OF EXCHANGE. LONDON, November 21. The sight exchange rates show the following variations:— Par. Nov. 21 Nov. 24. Paris fr. 25.22 i 39.20 38.82 Stockholm kr. IS.IG 18.14 17.88 Chxistiania kr. 18.16 18.70 38.56 Calcutta rpe. 16d 24Jd 24Jd Montreal dol. .4.86 4.21$ 4.25 New York dol. 4.66 4.03 4.7 AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. MELBOURNE, November 28. Oats—Feeding, 5s Gd to 5s 8d; milling, 59 lid. Barley—English, 5s Gd to 6s; Cape, 5s Id to 5s 3d. Maize, Bs. Potatoes, £16. Onions, £9 10s. THE HIDE MARKET. MELBOURNE, November 28. Hides—The market' is very .firm and prices havo improved a farthing all round. BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES. (Received November 28th, 9.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, November-28. Tho half-yearly report of the Bank of New South Wales shows a profit to September 13th of £302,425. A dividend of 10 per ccnt. haa been dcclarad. CHRISTCHUBCH STOCK EXCHANGE. • YESTERDAY'S TRANSACTIONS. Sales reported:—Standard Insurance. £3; Canterbury Frozen. Meat. £15; National Mortgage, £5 17s 6d: N.Z. Refrigerating (fully paid), £2 4s; N.Z.. Refrigerating" (10a paid), £1 4s; Huddart-Parkcr, £3 10s; Adelaide Steamship, £2 13s 6d.

from el&ewharo, and no disposition on the part of merchants to buy. Thero is a keen demand foT A grade Garton oats, A gri.do selling a-t -up to 5s ai. country stations, whilst B's nre worth 4s 9d to 4s lOd. Duns arc also in firm demand at .recent rates, and Algerians are also ■worth 43 9d to 5a at oountrr stations. The demand for chaff continues firm, end £1 to £7 15s is readily on offer for gcod heavy oaten .sheaf. : Tho following a.re prices paid to farmers at country stations, free of commission, sacks extra, except where otherwise stated: — Milling Wheat—According to Government pnccs: South Island, November 6s 9d per bushel; Korth Island, 4d per bushel additional; fowl wheat, 5s lOd to 6s. Oats —Gartons, A's up to 08, and B's 4s 9d to 4s lOd; Algerians, 4s 9d to ss; Duns 4s ©J to 4s 9d. Barley—Prime maJting, .6s Cd to 7e; Cap* barley, 4s Cd to 4s 9d. Flour—£ls ,per ton; 1001b bags, £15 15s; 501b bags, £16; 251b bags, £10 15«. Bran—Shipping, £5 10s; local, £3 13s per ton. Pollard—£7 10s per ton. Oatmeal—2slb bags, £30 per ton; 7lb bags, £34 psr ton. Oatß.heaf Chaff—.€ 75s to £7 15s. Italian Ryegrass—Up to 4s to is 6d. Perennial Ryegrass—4s to 4s 6d, Cocksfoot —9d to 10& Red Clover —la 8d to Is lOd. Whit© Clover—la 4d to Is 7d. Potatoes—£3 (nominal).

YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS OX OTHER EXCHANGES. (iTJESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.) AUCKLAND. Sales on 'Change—Huddart-Paricer. 50?; Talisman Cod., 10a Cd; "\V:iihi, 43s Cd, S3s 3d; New Zealand Post Office (£SO bond), £37; ditto (inscribed et-rwk). £07. Sale jep-jriod—Auckland Gas (paid), 26a id. DUXEDIX. . ■Sales on 'Chang*—P. and O. (def.\ £G£2, £663; Huddart-Parker (ord.), 43s (two parcels): "Westport Coal. 31s. Sales rei>orted —Eclipso Petrol, £2 (two parcels); Standard Insurance, £3.

CANTERBURY MARKETS,

DAIRY PRODUCE. Eggs aro worth up to Is 7d per dozen. Thero is no bacon offering at the - Government prioe. Other linos icmain unchanged. Tho wholesale prices aro:— Butter—Fadtory ]s 6d not, farmers' separator Is id. dairy ]s 3d. Ckeeso—Factory lid to lljd, dairy lOd to IOJd. {Bacon (net) —Sides Is IJd, rolls Is Bd, hams Is 2Jd. Honey—Extracted, 61-1 per ib ; sections, Ss per dozen. eggs, Is 7d per dozenf

Friday Earing.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, Vegetables liavo in Rood supply during tli© wo ok, and. there .liar. been a fair demand, with prices lower than tho previous week. There U very little demand now for old potatoes, and tho roarkot has dropped os to Gs during tho wtck. Xew pecs ar/1 potatoes havo been, arriving in inquantitv during the weolt, qnd liavo sold at the usual lulos. The bAhic remark applies to tomatoes and A chipment of Fiji bananas a-rived rturni- the week and met with a Rood demand, owing to this lcass of fruit being in snort* supply. The demand for Sydney oranges was slightly this week, and prices wvr© not quite eo firm aa those ruling ?ast» Sca potatoes a.re. arriving flora the .Ncr'.Jl lejulaily. Tho usual Sydney shipment 13 ex bv tho Riverina Dixt A slup incut of'CWv Island bananas and tomatoes and nl?o 'Frisco apples and oranjres, is cx pDoted per the iloana, due in "Wellington 01 December Bth. Prospects for local supplies of small fm:t aro very good this season. Aprico'n suk peachea, however, were affected by tho i< cent frost. i . ... ?■

Following aro market quotations: Apple*, Frisco, per caeo 27s 6d, dessert 21s: balanaa, Fiji, per ca.si 30s to 31s; lemon". Friflco per case 60s: oranges, Sydney, per ase 27s Cd to 2Ss 6d; valeucias, 28*; pmeipples, per ca«> 30s; clierriss, local Is 2d to a S*l per lb: gooseberries, to 41d per b; etrawberriee, Is 6d to 2s 2rl por lb; lomatoes, sccnnds. Is '2d to Is 0d ]>or lb; 2s to 2s Sd; •\rainuts, Is 2d por J.i; McnJnbern. 1* Id per ib: i« poUtw?. local "d to 4d per la: >.orthej-n 2d to 2 x -d lb * ar■-3rn.jni£, to 6d ]>er doz. bdUs: boot,* 2:? to 2s Od p?r 'lea. bates; car rot" "s to 2« 3d per dcz. bdles; radisbe*. 6d to la prr dos. bdlos: rhubarb, 3s Gd to 6s 6d KT <l»z. bdles: spring onions, 6d to Is per -Jo?:, bdtes: turnips, Is Cd to 2s Gd per doz. bdles; broad beans, Is 3d P 6l, P 6o ?'; groen pea?, local 3s 3d to 3s Gd p«rpeck; "aibagefl, 2.1 to 4s 6d psr doz.; cauhflowcre, 7- to 15s per doz.; lettuce la to 2s Gd per dvz.: onions. 'Frisco 37s Gd per crate, A ictorian 213 psx c.-rt.; per sack.. 0s Uj IZr.

The principal Incident of the week is tLc collapse of the Sydney potato marks*, "bearin7 crat the contention advanced in columns 'that th/> miirket w»s an extrc.me.ly risky one "to eater lor. in spite cf tao hijrh valuos ruling. Acoard:rs to tho cables, value® bave dropped to £8 to £12 per ton, and a& a result, further shipments that weTo arranecd for from here have been can- •

tuiapx. (SPECIAL TO "the FBESS.") TIMARL", November 28. Thcf a ~ crv <s u i tone on. Ill© local ir-arUrta this week, and ihia condition. eeemfi likely to remain until the new crop oomed ii. for the reason that inere :s 310 grain! ... _ _i 1 -i liMl/k ATI 4h#»

arranged JOT irom n«sr<? iw--railed. Merchant? that took tho risk oi the market arrl shipped according];? vrill doubileeo Jena to a considerable extent over tho transactions. A year or two before tiie war enquiries Trer' 1 made (ro:n Sydney up to CThristnias fo:' Xok* Zealand at up to £25 a ton. at -Sydney, a-d in yie - c nf the efieota of tho drought in Australia it is quite passible that a. revival of the demand may occur. For tlio present, locally, the demand, is 07er, there bcic- eo enquiry

• 1-ft 1o soil, or at least very little. A.l tlie ■nrhoa*. lim now passed out of .lie liauaa of ■ ; probers, and there are very le?/ holders of . ! oat*. The r.cxt shipment of vheat from' I ' Australia (which js to be lanfioH et Duncdinl and Timartf) v>:U not arrive till somo tim<* in January. The end of the market lor <nd potatoca M just about reached, and there is s decliue ct* £2 to £3 per toil, 10-d?y's_quotatiou being £7 to Tvi'li buyers. indiiicrcnL

DUXEDIST. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") DCXEDIN, November 28. The wheat supplies are exhausted, und' thero is nothing offering of milling: or fowl wheat quality. Tho oat market continues to linn, oml Bales of A Gartons liavo been inado at n« high aa 5s id on trucks country fiidinps, audi of B grade at a penny leas, consequently the f.o.b. quotations will be firmer in the course of a few days. Sales of B Gartons havo l>coni made at 5o IOJd f.0.b., s.i., for December! deliveries, South Island. A very hirpo amount of "business has been refused during! the week at 5s 3d f.0.b., s.i., for merchants had not tho oats to supply tho orders. The general impressions among buyor3 hero is that IS Gartons will seo Gs within e. week, l and unle-ss something is don© to prevent 01 further rise, it is hard to say wlier© theji will stop. .There is considerable. enquiry from Australia for next season's oats, up to 5s 3d f.0.b., a.i., being offered, but none of l the.orders lias boon accepted. Tho potato market is finished for tho «c«eon. very few being left. Tho prices remain) ■unaltered, with dragging sales. There is a, keen demand for any prinm bright heavy lines of chad for shipment b>" the AVanaka. which is taking n. full cargo trt Auckland. Owing to competition, prices advanced during tho week to £8 ex truck here, but it is cxpected that aa eoon as the Wanaka. has left pricos will ncoin recede to about £7 to £7 us cx truck liuncdin.

AUCKLAND. (SPECIAL TO "IHE TRESS.") AUCKLAND, November 08. Old potatoes litivo again fallen, and aro now quoted at £12 for Ix'fit quality rcpieked, but poor grades aro hard to quit at any price,' ii 3 most consumers aro evidently determined) to tiso now for the future. Now potatoes.) although supplies are not particularly heavy, aro realising only lid per lb for beet. Onions—lmporters arc gla- to seo the lastf of tho Japanese onions, «s their importa- 1 tion thia season hus been a moit unprofitable vtnturc. Thero is a more sustained enquiry l for American, and tlieso are' a littlo firmer at 40s per crate. Both onions and potatoes aro in .better demand than is usual at thia time of tho ycir, on account of tho comparative scarcity of other vegetables. Oats—Tho firm tono in the .South is even, moro pronounced this week, but tho locbl market is oniy slowly responding. Best feed is worth 6s Sd ex store.

Wheat—The drought in Australia, is every! week causing more attention to bo paid to wheat. It is rather a peculiar coincidcnco* that tho last time the drought ruined th<"< Australian crop in 1911, tho area under wheat in New Zealand was exceptional!? small, and! the Dominion hud to so to Canada for supplies to in alio no tho deficiency. Fowl wheat is eclling ct Ss "d ts store. Com sumera are looking for higher prices, and nro getting in good supplies while they' can. Chaff and Ilav—After an early spring that promised well for oat<? and hay in 'lliirt part of tho Dominion;> tho prospects tavc» »>ecn romplelclv altered bv tho <lry weather. Chaff is decidedly firmer rince week, befiU southern being quoted at £15 n store. Maize—-Tho rise in wheat is steadily improving the demand for maize, and silicon-' signal onts have been readily placed at 7s Cu : to 7b Od in wholesale lines on tho wharf.

SALE OF lIOCIVWOOD estate. A preliminary notico appears in this iMiin regarding an important oubdiviftioii by auction <A tlio well-known Itockwood Estate, situated I'jcl'.voon Cricklcwood and tho Opihi JJivcr. The western boundary of thi« fine property is closo to C'ricklowood I'ailwuy Station. aJid Iho on.-it<-rn boundary in c!oso to Kockwood School, !<ixVenn mile* from Pleasant Point, ar.d twenty-eight railca from Tim:ini. Tho ontat/s is well known for its excellent cheep and rattle-carrying capacity. It hu» btx-n subdivided into blocks of 577, 518, -173, osn, "Kl, 6fiS, and fi'2B acres, tho latter bein:< the homestead block, with fin® residence and complete farm buildings, machine sharing chod, dip, plantations., larpe drc.hard, ctc. Tho la-nd is suitable for mixed fanning, and tho block 9 havo been subdivided, into areas suitablo for prajngrowing and shcep-fatteninc farms. The property is well roaded. and splendidly watered throughout, tlio Opihi Kiver being the northern boundary, whilo numerous creeks, dame, and «pring3 eusuic a permanent supply for all tho blocks. Land buyers will note that the terms arc exceptionally easy. Tho property hag been used by the present owners entirely {or sheep and cattle grazing, with Boino cultivation for root', so buyers will get land in tho best of heart. Ino auctioneers, I'ync, (Jould, Guinness, Lid., will offer the property at their sale, rooms, Timaru, on Saturday, Dcccmbcr 20th. and they invito those interested to write for sa.ij plans, showing tho \arious subdivisions.

LATEST QUOTATIONS. Buyeiw. Sellsi*. £ a. d. £ u. d. BANKSAuatralaaiii. (cum rights) — 337 0 0 Commercial of Australia, (d p.c. cum pref.) .. 6 35 0 — National of New Zealand ti 11 6 6 11 0 INSURANCE— National .. .. — S IS 0 New Zealand .. — 1 13 0 Standard .. 2 ID 0 3 2 (i LOAN AND AGENCY— National Jlcrrtg»?o- .. 5 IS 6 — N.Z. and JJicer Plate.. — 2-4 6 SHIPPING— 'Adelaide Steamship .. 2 13 0 — Huddart-Parker 2 9 0 2 10 0 P. and O. Deferred Stock .. .. Col 0 0 — FROZEN MEAT— Canterbury . • .. 1*1 30 0 15 0 0 Canterbury (6 per cent. cum pref.) .. 5 9 0 — N.Z. Refrigtfrfclinj (SOs paid) .. .. — 2 4 6 WOOLLENS— Kaiapoi ... •»; — 3 10 0 GAS— CTirislchnrch G 13 0 6 15 0 BREWERIES — Manning .« .. — 4 6 0 Ward .. .. 5 10 0 — CEMENTSGoldeni Bar .. ... 0 19 6 — MISCELLANEOUS— Booth, Macdonaldg"; .. 0 10 0 — Bcoth, Macdcnold t6 per cert*. cum pTef.) .. — 0 10 0 Colonial Sugar .. — 2o 5 0 D.I.C. .. .. 0 12 6 — Mason, Strutters, £1 p<3.) 16 0 — Mason. Struthcrs (lis pd.) 0 18 0 — N.Z. Paper Mills .. 1 10 6 — N.Z. Su~ar of Milk .. 2 3 0 2 3 6 Papua.n Products .. 0 2 5 0 2 6 MINING— Mt. Lyell (cum dir.) .. — 17 6 Talisman .. .. O 30 5 0 30 9 Waihi (cum div.) .. 2 10 6 —