FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 146, 14 March 1908, Page 8

FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

THE SHARE MARKET ■ '. Investment shares'.-were'; very; dull; yesterday,, .; ' and V.no; business' was; done.,;; The qu9; toti6j)s,' wero.;few'/in} number, . and . . questions "appear: tb'< 4 ;'. be ' for ;' show;/ purposes rather'.ihan'w;ith"the: object-of-inducing, business. There were buyers of >Loan . ami. Mci- .: cantile .at,"ss.', r :Man;lwatu Itails: it -455.,' and ', , . 'werbSsellers .of.-. National Banks at 6d.-,'j -Equitable -liuildihg.' at' .£lO -4s.; ; Loan, andj.Mer-cantile,at-ss/ Sd.-. Eeildmg Gas.at 17s.,National ,' Insurance, at 28s;,;Wullingtori ,Gas at. £19 >155., .'•'.'W.elliii^n' : :Mea^^l»i^-:'?t^'^6';^.-®4.?'' v '® 5 -: 2s;, ; , : and'/£3 ss. 3d. .for 'the -'respective- issues, 'VW;.jsar];;for-'; West^prf:-' ; CXmly" 10s.: •fbr ; 'TVestportStockton.' and -19s.v!for; Sharland's ; prdihary;/'- ■ i "'/ '■ V ■ THE MINING M4RKET .Business .in'. was'- restrieted - to. ■ transfers of Talismans and Waihis,--both--self ling', at /full, rates! : >Vaihis keep/firm, ...but, : Talismahs- ; sh'ow- - a- r 'slighttpiidency. to ' droop. : ' Th'e-'qudt'atio'nsiyesterday-.Were. iis'>under irr Wi-; '. '//j' ■■' l ßuyerS. : Sellefs:";''SalSs^ • 'jB-s. d. ,£-s."d. .S , Talisman - ;;/* ; ... 2 12- 0 -2 13 0 - 2 12- 9, Wafln " 9 4 G s 9 5 6 9 4 G : Tdirua.Broken Hills ,; t- ■ / ,0 , 4 0 ..rtiUi-,-';,.; 1 .-.-:..-.-, ,j ; ■ "'CivHi/Si,':;-.:.,/bv-; -V METROPOLITAN/BUILDING SOCIETY. ' -The;; balance-sheet^'■ of / this . Society ,fbr"\the' ; year tended February -15,' 1908, has - been -cir-, culated.-. 'The gross- proKt "earned" during! the year - totalled; 'equal to. 7.70; ;per "cent/ on : the aggregate of the ."A" ;aiHl ; "B" shares , and-'the,' reserve--fund; ,The expenses', of .. management'totalled £645;,0r nearly 15.40.-per ' cent.', of the gi-oss' rovcuue./ The ;net .'profit', for. ■ the yearwas : thus ' £3552,. to' which must-,>be addea;£229 , brbught;fonvard;frbm_the previous : year, making the-balance at credit £3781. The ■ dividend/;for the year/,at. the;.rate of 7 per, cent.;absorbs.,.-3093, aiid £500-is-'added ■ to, the - reserve fund, -leaving'.£lßß. to be carried for---ward. The reserve fund,now stands at £5500, the whole-of which is . invested in the busi-. Etz-s.', .Tin; deposits total - £50,118,, loans "on. mortgage amount*, to : £105,464j; loans - on - shares , . to: £1290,- andVcash in-! bank-stands at - .' HOWARD ' SMITH ! C 0.,, LIMITED. The'-.report.; and 'accounts of .-this 'Australian / shipping concern .for the year : ended l 'December " 31, 1907,ifihow/,that",thO:'net profit'for the : year, after'i setting/aside -.£33,785 Ifor depreciation,, 1 -.: ifi/£32,041;.-:which';' compares,,with £31;759 for; .■:. i l9O6 I '--4W;9i2;:f6r*:;1905,--v;imd'v'£3l,9K'".for..n9 * /brought-forward,' £17,961,"the \-total; - ;ayailable;/isr£so,oq2/^The;' : usual;rdiyi r --; , deiidsj.-at the .ratc 'of o. per cent, per ;anhun^ on'ff'preferehce /shares;'';;and;''lo, i: per; cont." : per /'artnum on -.ordinary/ shares, including'-ihteriiri " dixideiids.-.paid.' ; in- , SepfcmbeJ,'/last, 7absorb . ; £31,814;-.. and A the /'balance,--; £18,188,. ■ is -carried forward. 'The';,balance-sheet- shows .that,-.'.the : . , '"pajd-np; capital;';'including preference, shares, , . £M5,344,'.//Bnd/:-'-;o'rdinary' shares -£226,128, . amounts ;t'o"' £431372. depr'ecia- ; tibnj '..replacements, l.r^iiwals.'.^nsuraKe,, equal-. f'isa-t'iou .: of■.-dividoiiclsr J -r-;;rad T - -contingencies 4 amounts, to .-i342;716,'-"or-'ant increase"'of-,.£67,297 on- 'the • year. : Adding.. del)ts /dne by. tlie:. cora- ': pany,;; and-', cash/ due ; to * bankers;', less - cash' in ;. halid,; £131,143,."and ■ iprofitXaiitl'i loss'.' balance,' ' £34,525; tho ' balance-sheet;';tbtal\'-is'- '£942,858/ . Steamers- and 1 plant'-6tan.d ;at ;'-£G13,655,- against £554,211- a ' year ago, and- £413,457 twoVyeare- . agb;:';;The, t fund' for depreciatioHj etc.;:is equi- !'. valent", to- over-'55-.per -cent, - of '.the cost of -' steamers' and-; plant. ,';v Other/ assets/'include shares:,in,.-other 'companiee,;/£194,421,• • against / real estate arid : :ijroperfy:'£2o",o7G,'in- ! Burance,,;',.premiums. -/ , prcpnid, .-claims :■ against '£92,071, aiid -. other items; .' / .. ''' - UNITED .SPATES IRON PRQIiL'CTION,',;. According : to. the . official'statistics the' make , of iron' in; the United States'during the twelve' iribriths of-1907, actually f eicbcded -the- make/for- . , the-'calendar' year .'IOOG.' ' Biit'.a;'sharp .' distinction niust ; /be mado\betwten;;tho, results; for. : the last : six months, lind those- for the. first .six !■ "months.?',: 'In'; .'tho firstsix' 'mbnths' the output >vas 13,478,044 tons; which was at- ' - the'rate .of, -roughly, 27,000,000, touS:<a. jear. In the ; last; six - months . the product was only 1 12,303,317 tons, arid for the full twelve months / it:. was 25,781,361 tons, which/latteiy . though better- by 474,170 -tons than'"tho' production for the calendar .year ; 190G, -' falls; '-considerably over a million - .tons, below . th'e promise held 'out. during :the first ■ six- months, of ,• 1907.. /Even figures; libw--ever;-.fa'.il,;to r 'show -.the.,extent ofvtho,suspen : , sibn .of 'activity which,:;.occurfed-.;tpwards...thb '; clqse/ of . the .year.': ..For . October' the output • wa5;2,3072 tons,. in, November it had 'dropped .to 1,828,125' tons,, arid' in December to "1,234,279' - toris.'.-'ln:. other.;words,' in"^October''production' '■ ; was».at' tho. rate of. 27,000,000 tons a• year; 'in. December it • was'-at tho' rate .of, less /than'. 15,000,000 toils. • .'ln-January' of' this year -the output;dropped, to a basis of only 12,000,000. ' tops- a-year. -The.record, of idle furnaces tells the '.stbry-'.of .trade/relapse ,yet'mora convinc-'- '.: irigly;.'!. The. number .".of furnaces;, iri^blast! !bn" ' Deceriiber 1907;' was only IG7,' against; ,359oiiV J line ■' 30," ~1907, - arid ■' 340: oCl'.Decemter'i.Slj'' 1906,' :; Th'e number of 1 furnaces ;iri blast at- the end'/ of 1907 was- smaller ' than' at; the clcjse of any -year-'since .1896,, when ;but : 159 furnaces' / were l -tfctiire.'' ' At the close of /1907-there-were--276 Vi'dle". furnaces,' 'a$" r coiiipa'rcd.'- wi'tli"-.89 fidlo" furnaces; at' the Close' of' 1908:/;The;prpduction' of-pig-iron, in, the,/United'..States has gone,up very' rapidly, the expansion cnch year, except '■ 'in *1904;- :J)eing.'remarkable. . The. annual outputs for the past seven years comparo as under/.' ' . . .; ? Year. ' Tons. , , isoi 15,878,354 ; 1902 .;. ... " ... ' ... ... 17,821,307 -1903 -'..v. -!.»' ». ... .18,009,252 '1904 ... /' ...' : ' : ... '- ••• 16,497,033 ■ 1905 -... ...'■' ••• 22,992,380'. '-190G -... ■:; •••/ — 25,307;191 • 1907 ... 1 ... ••• ' ... 25,781,361 • A RECORD LAMB SEASON; The lamb . industry , for South Australia-has marred,: so:far as ,the: season just closed is; concerncd, • by. an .unfavourable .spell iii' Septeniber. and October, which militated, tho maturing, and caused a .larger proportion to' be, rejected as . unfit, for shipment than would otherwise have been, the-case.. In. spite of • this', ;hbwevcr,.'the,number of carcasies. frozen; arid ; sent to help feed the millions s - of Great' Britain's industrial population passed thp. 1 previous, season's record, total." Wliat the aggregate- would• havo been-: had. the spring

musti bo ;leftUo/ con-jecture-''Breeders have ■ little to complain- of ■now .that."the..season..is ended,, even, if; those who. ..haye,', had / the; handling . and': shipping -of the produce- could' have wished for'-a, icign of more.' remunerative' prices..: Frozen meat ■ im-; ports to the United Kingdoms last year jvere 5,800,351- carcases; of mutton,: and- 4,349,594.' car? cases • of ; lamb; 'Australia's':'share of this trade was • represented - by : '9-t0,377' carcases v. of. sheep,. / compared^with,'Vssß,432 . carcases''in' 1906; ; and 1,397,581 ; carca'ses of' lamb, against'.'l,l73,B96 oar:, cases; Official- jedords giye-'South Australia's"'c6htribution'ijis"6o9B' fearcasbs ''of sheep. 'of: 4493. and =102,860 «^F«i^ ; ;~ln 'other words,' 'slie wasT-esporisiblG for barely a quarter', of-Australian..frozen lamb, and not one-tenth 6f,rthe r - totKl : Jmpqrtafions.; ' There' is '-plenty of, /room; for ".expansion/'quite apart- fromi-tbe-- : ■fact -that/the ' population - of the' r'pnited Eingdom!;ihcreases:. at-the-rate of' ab'out''4oo,ooo.'per.. annum.-. ; Of,;.lasti.year,'?.• total»of ■ 4,349,594'_. car?■ cases ;of; frozen ,'lamb'ilnpbrte'd into Great'Elritam, /New,.Zealand,supplied 2,824,904 carcases, and .South' America only: .127,106 carcases.—"Sydney Daily Tele : graph'."'- . J '; ' LIVE / STOte MAEKETS Tho New Zealand Loan and . Mercantile Ageriey . Co., 'Ltd.,'/reports -as follows Pal-merston'Nbrtli'.'.on'-Tuesday'we had a gqod entry of . sheep_ and a'/mediuui entry of ; cattle.' The; shle'"wtts"'inclined , tiV'- drag, but* we;'.were su'ccessful ' in • placing. ;all "lines' of' sheep, and most pens or cattle/. 'We-quote Lambs, 3s. to 3s.''7d.; ,: goo'd v store':Manibs; us. 4d.; cull ewes, Sea to 4s. 2d.; sound, mouth -ewes, • Bs. 7d.-; 2 and 4-tobth ewes, (small), 10s.\Bd.; 2-tooth (medium), 14s. 'Cattle.rTWeaners.Wi/.Gd,; .store cows,': 20s. ;'-fbrTvard ycows,' .£2 :2s; ;'to Ss.';* fat cows, J23 12s.;'cciws and calyes,/31s/ ' 'Dalgety and Co., . Ltd., reportAt 'the Waverley sheep fair there, was a'good yarding, consisting largely of-store wethers. This class showed:-a/'remarkable-advance, selling; practically up to-the'fat-rates,' -Ewes .were easier/ • .Cattle, sold well, .there being .good competition right through/: Quotations :—4-tooth,',wethers; 145.',, 14s. i '''ld.','Clis;*,3d.', l '.to'l4s'. 4d.; medium 2-:tooth",-:wethers';;;l3s/-..ld".''-;,tp.';l3s.;;6d. ;■ small .2- '. tooth'. wethers; -10s: Gd.'; . small, 2-tooth , ewes, 13s. .Gd.; 4 and::s-year owes, 'Bs.-.-to- Ss.; cull e.wes/vls.-.'ld; to Gs.-,'Mambs, Gs. .Gd. to -7s/ tid;; 2-tootii-Lincoln rairis,:'li: to. 2.guineas2-tooth Roihney. ..rains,,,;a : guineas;- /"4-year..;-bullocks, 4s. -9d.- to -ss. ;-7£year*--steers;- : ie3-. • 1k ; . '6di; ,18-: imohtb. steers,< £2 d3priiStore' :Cows;; .326/ Gd. '■!'( The Mutual Trading Comparijy'-of. Carterton, -report-a-good.-attendance of the ; public'.; at ' Friday's" .6ale,V.'but' : a;'.6omewhfit small , yarding of stock, for which, thero .was good' competition. '■•vTliefollowing/ prices; - were' ob.taihed:^.C.ull/lambs,i.3s.;. 9<l.' to- ,45.; Gd.;.;store lambs/. 7s. '3d: to ;75.;,5d. ;': topthle,ss'.ewes, 2s. 6d. .to ,6s. 6d.; young, breeding ewes,,, lis. to, 13s. j and -225. : ; -Lincoln- do., 6d.';,::wgan(;rj;pigs," 7s. ..6d,-';..-porkers, ;,4Jd-.. per. lb.; good.' Calves,- 17b., 6d.,; old cows, 205.. to 30s. j•'■ store': cows', 150s.dairy ;cows, 80s. to ;90sl; springing h'eifers; 70s.'; 18-months heifers in. calf,; 35s;V:tb'!45S.; / 30-month heifers in calf, -Jss.'and; ; sos/"-"r>S;' ' , - . . . Notwithstanding.the'.%eather,conditions, private inquiries, made-during. the, weeks'from, : South 1 : i-Wairarapa : 'graziers'' for.' good breeding'ewos'/'fbr Shipment to, ,tho South IslahdV'"in\"li'ries".,'pf'':'sPo.yo •'3000,.' have, failed to elicit a single- offer. !',* Messrs; Dalgety, and; Co., .'ltd* -. report':--Ai our fyesterday • we hid: an excep-; tionally,"heavy- yardihg.of sheep, and a small: entry-'of /cattle.. .''There- was;'a,"good-'demand' for,'-/all., gbo'd-conditioned/ and "young, sheep. 1 Agpd,:;e i wes';;and - "sheep were neglected.'-' The .bulk ot tho entry- was cleared aii the\following. prices Rom-. 'ney h sw^,^4s;;,sd.',-;l^,'9d., 15s. Id. ; small, twotooth. r 9d. ;-'"'aged and 'inferior. ewes, 2s , ;,^3sl'ld;';' : %rid';ss";'',.7d".;to 6s.','3d^; good,-four, andfive-year-ewe3!-'.9s. v to -lOs;;6d.; two-tooth' wothers; : los. -Gd' ;'ismall'lambs,'2s/: 7d. to 3s. Id. ; '.The'.' '.-.Loan and Mercantile Agency-'Cov--Ltd.y report:—At Feilding on Priday. ,we had. a heavy, entry ■ of sheep' and cattle. good.'depa.nd 'existed.-for-.all classes' of shebp.Sand' althbugh- bidding .was not . quito so..brisK\'iis , 'at v lasfwebk we Svor6; successful in -getting'the whole- of our.yarding'in the.cattle pons.. There ,"svas. a .'good demand : for, fat and forward'cows; 'but steers were -dull of sale. Lambs, small,/made;from 3s. id. to 3s. 4d.; medium, 55.. 9d. :,to 9d.; forward lambs, Bs. 2d.; culls, ewes,' 2s? : to 3s; 3d.,; ,aged. ewes, 4s.'.' to ,7s.;' soiiiid/raouth. owes, ,Bsl 2d., to 9s.' ,5d.;. mixed •age 'ewes,..llsi-Bd./to 12s. 7d.'; ; two-tooth owes,' i6sl.;'-'aged-'Eomney rams,: 20s!/..,t0 lig.;. two-tooth ;Homriey; rains', ;.3Jgi;: "eigliteeri-months to two-year, heifers;'3ls.';'-forward cows, 395/'.to. 65.; 'fat- cbn's; £3 10s. ;to- M -55.,; .'eighteenmonths - steers, " 39s;';; 'two-year ■'■ steersj;tX2 17s. ;; three-year' Steers; 'JB3' 13s- .' ; ;' : : .WELLINGTON: MARKET -REPORT. . ■f Tho -Now Zealand. Earmers'. Co-operative ,Dis-. tributlng Co.'i' Ltd;,'-, report as follows Maize, ■ 55.; wheat, ;'fowl",: ss. >'3d.";: oats; pHme feed, v 3s.': to ,3s. 3d.;'.oats,', brushed, 3s. Gd.; barley feed, 4s. Gd/per: : bush.; Cape barley seed, ss. per bush.; oats, seed,?Gartons, Duns, Sparrowbills, ,3s.' Gdper; bush.. -, ; '■ Pollard, :Australian;. £9; bran, JE6. .10s. ■ per ton;'.' sUcrbsiiib,V;2oo's;"lsa. Gd.; lOO'b. 'Ss. ' Gd.; prime' baten 'Sheaf chaff, £5: ss. ;'■• hay, 'English grown,'/iG-lOs. ; :straw,:.wheaten- and oaten,' £2 15s; per-ton.':'-.' ; ' .' - Potatoes, ;, new . -whites £8, reds £6 10s.; • onions,i'JS7 :10s;. per ton., . • Butter,- separator Is. Id., milled, Is., dairy pats Is/.per lb.; eras, fresh, Is. Gd. per doz. Bactory bacon, sides; 9d/ rolls' 9d., hams 9d.; honey, GO'S, 45d!; -2Jlb:'.'tins,-10s. : 6d. per doz.; beeswax,' 16.' Od.;, fungus, 43d.;. walnut 6, sd; to 6d. per; lb;'- ! ' - * "V. ' -,/' - t- Porkers, VO's to 90's, 4d.. to,. 4id., ,;90's to - 100's,V4d.'; heavy, pigs, 3d. per lb. Cabbage, 7s.v Gd. per sack; rhubarb, , 2s. 6d. per doz;; carrots,-'table reds, 55.. ppr.rsack. Plums', 45. : ;-;peaphes',/Gs. to-7s.'';;tomatoes, 3s. per lralf•.'case; deSsert apples,/ Gs. t0,,75. Gd.; cooking apples, : 4s. Gd. to ss.- 6d. per case; .quince, '4s. Gd.. per case. . v ;.. • " Poultry.—Table'roostbrs, 3s. tOi4s.; cockerols, 4s. to ss/ Gd/;'.table ;hens, -3s. : t0.'35.,',6d. ; ducks, > ss. to 55..Gd., all at per pair; turkey,.gobblers, Is.; hens, 10d,.- per lb. live weight.■ ■ ; - itrois, skins,.etc. ' i' ..Messrs. Dalgety and §0., Ltd., report having , held their usual fortnightly sale of wbol, skins, i hides, and'tallow on Friday, March' 13. Only ; a few oddments and inferior, lots of wool vers

offering, and the market showed a.decline on February rates,'in-sympathy with London. In sheepskins no pood lines:were submitted, and prices were.easier from Is. 2d: to 3s. 4d. Hides showed. a decline of about 3s. Bd. per lb., 110 prime lots being offered. They quote:— Woql.—ln bales, merino, Cd.; crossbred, to Sd:; lambs, 4d. to 5Jd.; in bags, crossbrod, 3Jd. to 4j[d.; dead, 3}d.- to 4jd. Sheepskins.—Crossbred, 4|d. to 5(1.; short, 3d. to 4d.; pelts, 3Jd.; lambs, 4}d. to 4}d.;.'lambs', pelts, 3{d.; crossbred, dead, 4d. v Hides.—Ox, GO. to 631b., 5Jd: to o£d.; 491b.; 4Sd.; eows', ! '43 to 541b., 45d. to 4jd.j calf, sto 81b:, 2Jd.' to • 3Jd.. '•:.■• ■Tallow.—ln casks, 21s. 3d. to 235. 3d.; in'ferior, 14s. 3d. In tins, 20s. to 20s. 9d. ■ . Murray, Roberts and Co. report as follows: —We- offered. 30 bales of wool, 1500 sheepskins, and 400 hides, besides ;a small, lot of tallow. Prices. for! wool and skins, consequent upon cabled advices received of a heavy fall in London on. Thursday showed a drop of from id. to Jd. per lb. Hides' also were ea-jier to the extent, of-about Jd. per lb., although the quality of tho offerings was not equal to late sales.' Tallow showed a. drop of about Is. .to .Is. 6d. .per cwt. . Wo. quote prices .current as under,:— : : ■.; ■ . Wool,—Crossbred fleece, . fair condition, - 5Jd. to 6d.: per...lb,-" crossbred fleece, rough and stained. Id. to 4Jdv per lb:; pieces, bellies, and, locks; Id. to 3d. per lb. ■ ' Skins.—Crossbred, medinm to line, . 5Jd. to GUI. per ,Ib.; crossbred, coarse, 41d. to \sd. per lb.;-short to .quarter wools, ;35d. to 4d. per lb.; lambs', 4d. to, 5Jd. per "lb.; dead and damaged pelted skins, 3d. to 4id. per, lb. Hides.—Ox, heavy,' 5Jd. to Gu. per lb.; ox„ medium, 5d., to sfa. per lb.; ox, light, 4} to 43d.- per-lb.cow,, medium ,4Jd. to 4id. per. lb.; cow, liglit, 4d. to 4Jd. per lb.; damaged, cut, and slippy, hides, 2d. to* 7 3Jd. per lb.; calf, good, 4;d. to sd. per lb.; calf,' medinm, 4d. to 4jd< per lb.; calf, damaged, 2d. to 3d. per lb. . ... ■ 20s. to 235.; tins, 16s. to 28s. Gd. .' ; ' Date of next sales, March 27, 1908. Messrs. Levin and; Co., Ltd., riSsft as follows on their yesterday's sale:—held our fortnightly sale to-day, offering oPSSlall quantity of wool, in'bales and bags, 1000 skins, 600 hides, and a quantity of tallow and horsehair. ,The wool market was weak. and. dopressed.' We quote: — . Wool.—Medium crossbred, 41d. to 5d.; inferior, 3d,, to 4d.; lambs'•,wool,, 41d. to 5Jd.; pieces, 2£d. to 3Jd.; locks, Id. to 2d.' ' Skins.—Market . lower " again ■in sympathy with London quotations.- Wo quote: Fine crossbred?, sd. to 51d.; dead skins, 3d. to 3}d.-; medium crossbred, 3(d. to 4}d.; dead hoggets, 2id. .to Sid. j. dry pelts, 2d. to 3Vd.; lambskins, ■4d: : .to-4jd.; grfeen . pelts, Is. Bd. to 2s. 7d.; green lambs' (woolly), Is. Bd. to 2s. 7d.;, green l&mb : pelts, - Is. to Is: 6d. Tallow.—Weakor. Parcels in shipping order, J623''105... Tins,. Jls to. J!l9. Rough fat; £13 to JBIS 10s. Horsehair.—ls, : to Is. 3d. per;lb. Horns, ss. to ,17s.'' Gd...-per hundred. . Cowtails, Is. per dozen. '/ / . • . Hides.—Market' easier all- round; heavies'and medium suffering to .the extent of Jd.; lights, a half-peiiny, lower. ■We ■ quoteOx , hides, heavy, Gd., to'GJd.,; ox hides, medium, 'sd. to s|d;;. ox hides," light, ,4d. t0,.41d.; cow hides, 4d. to; 4jd.; cut'and slippy'hides, 2d. to 3jd.; stag "hides, .^d'.'to . 3Jd. . , i ■■".-. 1 /. LONDON. SHEEPSKINS SALE.; . GENERAL .DECLINE IN- VALUES, i ■The'. New Loan and Mercantile Agency Company,, Ltd.,. has •teccived the following cable 'from London; dated Match'; 12 :— Sheepskin's.—Combing merino have, declined id.';-fine crossbred;ld. ii nnd coarse; crossbredlid.', since last'..sales.. Salonot. yet finished. ; New Zealand Loan . and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd.;,, report as , follows .—At yes-, tei'day's sale we offered about 50, bales and 14 bags': wool, "about 800 skins, and a small quantity of hides.. Cable advices indicate a likelihood '.of a"diop at forthcoming' London wool sales, and at the skin'sale, just held ft. drop of■■■■jd!-- to' IJd; -.per lb.. Part 'of this was 'anticipated''.'.by buyers at :last ' local sales, and at to-day's sale we./have to-.'report' a decline on-last; sales ,of'jd. to Id. per lb. in wool; and Skills.' We quote; 1 Wool.—-Medium crossbred, 4id.', to,'sld. j, in-, ferior and bush stained,, 3Jd. "to 4Jd:; crutchings, ;l}d. to-J23d.;.-lambs', medium, to G}d.; lambs', inferior and seedy, -Jd'.'i'to'. ■ . Sheepskins.—Fine' "'Crossbred and" halfbred, none offered , coarse and medium crossbred, 3Jd.. to s}d.;\dead and damaged,'2d. to 4d.; broken' and' 1 seedy, Id." to ljdvj dfy pelts, 'Sound, 3d.'to', 3jd.; .dry . pelts, damaged,'ld. to 2id.; green pelts, Is.' to Is.. 9d.; green . lambs', Is. to "2s. 2d.; damaged pelts, id. to 9d.. . Brides.— Only:inferior lots, offered .at.,to-day's sale., ■ • \ ..'' '. . , LONDON. MARKETS.. . ." Messrs. Dalgety and Coin'pany„.Ltd., Wellington, .. have .-received the following cable messages from' tlieir . London house, .under date of March 12:— ..'.'■' ' Butter.—The market is very weak. The Copenhagen' official quotation is ■ 5.; kroners (about ss. 7-Jd.) per cwt. : lower. The. total imports of butter into" the United Kingdomfor . week endings March ".'amounted: to .95,000 cwt.; as compared with 81,000 cwt. for the ■- corresponding' ' week- of 1907,- showing , an-"increase of '14,000cwt. Finest,. I.lßs. ' : ■■■. •' < ■ Frozen .. Meat,—Market firm' at last quotations. . . 1 .' - ■ ; Sheepskins.—Combint; merino, sheepskins, lourer by id.; shorn pelts, lower, by Id., poor demand; fine crossbred sheepskins, lower; medium, and coarse crosbred sheepskins, lower by lid.; 8100 bales offered. •' ; Tallow.—Priiriß mutton tallow, 3d; per cwt. lower. Other descriptions are unchanged. . ■ : ANTWERP' WOOL, SALES. , , . , • -FALL IN VALUES.' »T : TKl.EGßira—l'll ESS ISSOCIATIOM—COrTHIOITI ' , London, March 12. ' ■ The • Antwerp . sales opened' without animation; . Merino declined five and.fine crossbreds ten per-cent. Ordinary classes were neglected. Two' thousand three' hundred and fifty-eight bales of La Plata 1 were offered and 992 sold. •. ' ' • LEAD . STATISTICS. . ;. UY TELEGEAPtt—rr.ESS ASSQriATXON —COPTEIQHT. 1 ' ..v.-' 0 ■ London, Maroh 12. : 1mp0rt5,19,431 ■ tons, including, 5143 ' Australian;/exports,'s762 tons. ■: JtELBOUENE.- HIDE SALES. BY TELEGEArH—PHESB ASSOCIATION- —COPYHIGHT.. ...... Melbodene, March'l2. At tho hide-sales to-day medium and light sorts were easier--.of.sale,' but prices for others remained firm. - GRASS'SEED.. ' (BI TELEGKArn —PRESS ASSOCIATION.^ Auckland, March'l3. ... Inquiries .from Auckland seed merchants, toda'y revealed the l fact that, grass 6eed, stocks, with- the '-exception of rye-grass,' are almost bare; The demand," moreover, is stated to be three times as much "as in former years. Tho chief ,-rise in'prices is in cocksfoot,, the wholesale cost being 15s. 10d. f.o.b. from tho ! South. :

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