FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 193, 9 May 1908, Page 8

FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

THE.SJIARE MAfoKET. ( • ." ;,The share ; market is relapsing into dullness . again, and'yet two or three pales are reported .■/ daily. Yesterday Bank ol; New Zealand shares . • ' uold at JE9 • 35.,- to the investor £3 i 10s. .6d. per, cent./ 'or a' little more, than half of "what might investing ingiltr edged mortgage,-;. There wasi.a,.sale, of New Zealand:lnsurance shares at' J!3 15s. ..Gd. : , at' • winch" price the return is Gs.. .; : \ .peiv cent.,"'or fully 1. per'.,'cent. :bolow'a:'mort-. v. : ; gage "'return;,V" The buying' ; ahd' 'sellirig guot'a'-' " r tions . covered' less 'than a; dozen ..quotations. : f. , There were*sellers of :Natibnal>Bank'share3 at ty: " ;■;; ; !£5 ;Gs. ) :','National-''lnsurance' at - 275. : 6d., Wel- , ::.lington '.Trust r-ahd Loan 'at £07, lis., New Zea- ; ' land and River-Plato .at. .£1 12s. 6d., Union .» . Steam Ship at 345., .Westport Coal at J37, Ley-•land-O'Bnen .- Timber -at 43n.. New Zealand, . Drug x at' 51b. 6d., -New Zoaland . Portland Cement ;• at 285.,': "arid ' Taranaki Petroleum at; , 'Bs." The only 'buying, offer, was for- Westport, i . Coals, which were• wanted at:,£6 17s. ,6d. ■ v •••' THE MINING MARKET. There ivas : dullness 'in .this; market also, althougli values :wero unchanged:' /.The, quota-. [;;■/> :tions yesterday were, as under; i - _ --• Buyers: - ■ Sellers. ■ '<£ s. d. .f!s. d. • Talisman ... ;:... 2\9 G .>-2 10 3Waihi 9 11 0 9 12 0 Waihi Consolidated ... 110 0 ' - '■:■ : j '/\ STATE INTERVENTION IN TRADfc. t; f/. ' ; While\ih[New':'Ze'aland.'and..Australia there. is a. disposition to' the.Stato to meddle, h .. -with trade.. and'..commerce, : :the. very /reverse' ■''V ■ prevails in ~Great: Britain... Addressing the r ; v : ' members. of ■ tho' Associated. ChairibeTrs -of - Com-,; . merce. a; few ' weeksVago. MrVWinston Churcliill,_ "■ who is scoking:re-electiou cn lns .clevatiori' to" . 'the Cabinet"as 'President r ,of the Board of, .'i.;,;,'- Trade, confessedthat he .was ..amongst: thosb ' v r :' ' who w :'distrusted>'prof6tindly' the- positive interi(;' -f' '. ,vention : of' : Governnient, ; particularly of a party • Government; m :such a delicate and . operation as that .of; trade. They, did. not ' ' . understand enough "about it.. ; He"'said he-was. , drawn to the conclusion that the relations of • -the .Government'.towards,trade'must be mainly ' >, of aliberating'and negative character. But^ ! even'so, there were very considerable spheres iii which , they "-might, without risk or'peril,, advance. ' They-v-^niight: try 'to set -'the, taxr payers free from itlio I burden of debt, which ' pressed with such a deadweight , upon- ~the ..... country, ,'slf.-colonialy'Jpohtibiains,.;-could : b'e . brought tQ ;-regard' r '.matters in .the'-''same -light, :.. some good--would. resulti .' .. ' .

'' '• w AUSTRALASIAN'BANKING. - . " \ ?'. One, of ■ the. striking features ot, the. Au^tra-' lasian bankingjreturns of the'rMaToh.quarter is , the largely, increased'holding of coin and bul- , - lion, which is .-said to be. due chiefly to the, -cutting dovni of balances in - London and else- . 'i. ; ',' where.-. Another'striking feature is that ' the! ' advances have ; been,; considerably augmented; * arid this has ,beenUri a' 'due to the fall in the '.value ; .'6f : ,,woo!,.;heriip; .'hides,; .skins;-etc., and to tlio poor harvests in Ausi' and NewiZealand. -. A "comparison bf ad-. varices, .deposits, and-coin 1 of four States of . . , the Commonwealth-iind New . Zealand for the ,: first ;1908 is.given below;^-,'; ' ' ' Total '- , ; - ■ Deposits, v Deposits.' , J Victoria-"...-;. 13,927,213 37,474,465 v . N.S. AVales :.. , ... 19,537,525 43,G61,56l - '. S.' Australia'-,' • 3,536,375; i M 8,618,106;--Tasmania- ... - 1,666,993 r 3,640,4-19 : < - New Zealand ' 11,53-1,879- , 21,088,573 . ; ■ -i - . Coin and ; . Advances. • Bullion. | Victoria 32,885,601 8,120,706 v N.S.Wales ... ' '... '37,317,497 10,158,216 S Australia ..: -' 5,429,577 2,126,618 Tasmania' ;... ... ; 2,729,3-10. .. 747,495. I Neij 20,638,105 4,978,658 . - . ; , JAPANESE PIG IRON. • " Tho Japanese Government, it-is stated, has ,' 'during- the past 'ten years expended about • . i' 5,600,000 in the establishment of a Government iron: foundry]'at Wakam'atsu, and it still "\ •' appears that: pig iron, can bo- imported better : " and cheaper , than-it can be produced locally, and--it is tho same; with many finished iron 1 products. Replying to:, questions before the Japanese Budget Committee, General Nnkamivra admitted that the.foundry was'in rather a bad way, but he complained that coal was very, dear,' and while'it remained so' high in , ' price' the foundry, could-not be fairly expected ' to be a success'; seeing that bj; the Conven-'. tional tariffs" pig iron could be imported at >a duty of 5 per cent, ad valorem. But lie ■ looked - forward ,to , the . year' 1912, ■ when the Conventional, tariffs would .terminate, and the dnty could be increased. Then the foundry would have a chance, for a high duty on imported iron would "encourage" the sale of the\ product' turned out by the Government iron foundry.' ■ ' • • SLUMP AT BRbKEN HILL. The Broken -Hill Proprietary Company and tho British Broken Hill Company)have both passed • their dividends, because the low 1 prices .of lead . and silver, and the high workr ' ing costs. There are several other minor reav 'sons' also, but'the above are tho more important. - Since 1905' the' Broken Hill Companies have done very well, for both lead and silver advanced, the former to over .£l9 per ton, and the 'latWi' to 2s. 7d. iier ounce. In the past six months thero has been a very heavy fall- in both metals; lead is'now ,£l3 ss. to-JCI3 10s.: per ton, and. silver about 25.. per ounce; that .is to say, lead is , about £0 per ton less, and silvor 7d. per. ounce. This, on tho annual output : of the field of 150,000 tons of lead arid 9,000,000 ounces of silver; - . means a shrinkage of returns at the rate of nearly JE1,150,000. When the lead market was at its zenith an increase of 12J per cent, in wages was conceded, and this concession remains, notwithstanding tho' fall in values. Other directions in which costs have gone up are in mino' supplies, sueli as coal, timber, and other commodities. Tho 12$ per cent; wage increase to the workers and the enhanced price of supplies affect the mine returns to the' extent of .£270,000 per annum. So far, the loss occasioned by the fall in theft values of the metals is carried by the shareholders, and' no doubt presently the workers will be asked to share in tho loss.

■ REAL-- ESTATE : INNEW .'SOUTH WALES, Returns issued; bj .the Registrar-General of New Soatli Wales, -showing tlio operations .of, .his department for tlie.'year 1907, give a'goo'd insight into the extent of. the dealings in reai'estatc in-the State'during'last'year. The ' transfess . .registered were •! no ■ fower ' than 19,080/ the ■ consideration "stated •; 'representing .a/sum 366,063,--a&.'compared 'with' 1G,359 Jtransfers,; with: ;a; ' consideration.: of: .£7,346,558,, and 13,292'. > tra"nsfers,." ivith: , a consideration' of <£',068,022, in the' years'-1906 and 1905 respectively. For ; the/ lastri'tliree. years the mortgages registered were'-as follow:—1907, No. 8783, consideration 190G, No. 8062, consideration .£7,814,30?J and 1905,- No. .7220, consideration - .£6,437)965.' .The mortgages .'discharged during.! tho,. same' years' \were':—l9o7, jNo. 5967, .amount V-£5»388;752; IDO6,- No.- 1 5480, fainount.. .£6,395,104;; *4905, Nb. 4453, " amount •£3,621,G07. , The return for 1905. represents a, moderate increase, in; the average transactions ;for the preceding .seven* years.- The 'improveiihent. in seasons,- and. tho consequent' demand ;for..'land,;'..'; together /with the..development of the closer; settlement; policy of the.'State,' account for "the /extent. , of. the transactions , during. r I9OG ' and''l9o7. ..The ''total' area of land" comprised .within Crown grants ,'in the State' at the end of 1907 ...was 30,788,748; acres', and ■ the declared' value .£59,246,245. ...

MINING. . > :,: ''(BT J TELECnAPH.—riIESS ASSOCIATION.) .• ' ' , "" \i • I < | Auckland, May 8. ' During the imonth-of-April- the Talisman Consolidated, Ltd., crushed and-treated 4086 tons ■of ore, for a return of bullion valued at ,£17,296 ss. Bd.- The cost for April was Xl' 14s. per ton. DREDGING. —rni:s3 associATlON.-)^ 1 ; Dunedin, May 8. ,- Dredging ; returnsMa'stprton,- 81oz.'" lOdivt.'; -.Waikai, 71oz; lOdwt;; "New - Roxburgh. Jubilee, :590z. 'sdwt.; Mystery ..Flat; ' 470z. Bdw't;; Hess'eys,' 276z.'. >19dwt';';; ''C^tral'^.Charlton, 220z. 2dwt.'i Electric' i No'.:: 1; . 21oz. - 9dwt.: Electric No. 2, 13oz. 15dwt;; Itura,'l3oz. 13dwt.; Welsh;mens, r ;'lobz. 7oz. ;ldwt;. ' ■ STOCIC-EXCHANGE.- -r- ' ' ' , , (DY TELEQKAPII —rEESS ASSOCIATION.)' ■ •- ■ • D.unedik, May 8. Stock: Exchange sale: - New Zealand' Portland Cement, 275. 'ed.'' l : '' : , ' : : - ( .

LIVE STOCK SiLES. ;' •, 'V'" ' .Messrs. Dalgety'and 'Company report ',as follows, on their ,EketaTi"una sale ,held. yesterday :— More sheep' camo forward than were advertised, ;and' also..all' cattle; that were entered. .Bidding for , good.' : sorts of; sheep was:brisk. Cattle - were slack,: but- we managed to, quit all, lines-'that 'Were ■.in:. >.:We quote: 2-tooth wotlienr,' fat arid 'forward,'-to 14s. Sd.; .small 2 : tooth- wethers, 9s:: 3d.,' to :10sJ Bd.;' small 2-tootji-ewes,/to :11s."--fid.; -cull ewes, in ' lamb, 75.; rape lambs, to 9s. Gd.; store, lambs, .from ss; '3d.; to 6s 4 6d.;cuir lambs, 8s; ,Bd. to'4s. Cattle^-Aged-cows, to',£2 ; heifers in calf, 205.; IG-months' heifers, 17s. ;■ 10-njontlis steers; 205.; 2-year 'geldings;-' : M and XG ' 10s.; 2-year filly, m:;:';a;:.. ' , - The. .'Mutual:, Trading Company, Carterton, : report that-risngh-'weather prevented full entries coming -forward: ; for- yesterday's ' sale. The prices obtained- were:-Ji'orward/ lambs, 9s. -3d.; store -wethers, 10s.- 2d.; fair conditioned. old ,ewes, :7s.' r 9d.; heavy, weanor pigs,10s. Gd. '■ ' The Now Zealand, Loan and" Mercantile Company, Feilding, report :—At' Itimbolton sale on Tuesday there was a fair, yarding of both sheep, and cattle,, but competition was not, brisk. A fair ■ clearance ■ was effected after' the sale. Empty, ewes made ss. Id.; cult lambs, 2s. 10d.;.. mixed lambs, 7s. 3d., Bs. Gd.; two and fourtooth, , owes in lamb, 125.; ,two-tooth wethers, lis.; fat cows,. .£4, J24 125.; empty cows, £2, 55.; store cows, 195., 285., 345. Gd.; heifers in calf, ,£2,55.'.6 d.; weaners, 17s. 6d.; mother-fed weaners, 245. Gd. . ' • At-'-'Feildingl.on Friday owing -to the . wot weather our yarding of both sheep and cattle was sniall./A good demand again existed for woll-conditioned sheep, and buyers were -also present 1 for wethers. Store ewes made Bs. 5d.; cull lambs, 3s. Bd.;, forward two-tooth wethers,' 12s. store :;co>i(sj";'3Gs. ;'- forward steers, M '17s. 6(1); light fab: bullocks, 1 £S< 2s.;"forward cows, *d£2 lSsrj'."eiii pty"heifers,.23s. • ' Mr. '-'Newton ' King 1-; sends". the following .'weekly auction'- " ' ,- ' ' . At Toko on; Monday there was the usual yarding, and- 'nearly, .•everything sold q,t the hammer.'- Weanerß'mado 7s. 6d. to 15s. / yearling heifers, 20s: Gd.,- store cows, 31s. to 375.; forward cows,. 475.; - /cows and calves, 303.;. bulls, 41s. to. 6ps;;"fat>cows, JE4 195.; 21-year steers,,, ,£3 10s.'; 'springing heifers, i£3 ss. to X 3 15s. ; 2-tootU . ewes, ,11s. At Stratford-on--Tuesday, in spite of the bad weather,- there ',was a :big yarding and large attendance. -Bidding was not particularly brisk, but • the majority of lines were quitted at ruling rates: Small weaners made ss. to 95.; good weaners, 13s. to 18s. Gd.; 12 to 15-months heifers, 225. to 255.; 3-year, steers, ,£3 7s.;''2-year'-steers, 395.; store cows, 275. to 475.; forward cows, £2 12s. to £3 165.; fat'• cows, ~ : M' 14s. to J!5 55.; bulls, £2 15s. to Is;,- fat bullocks,, .£6 4s. Gd. to XG 15s„ WELLINGTON PRODUCE MARKETS. The New Zealand—Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Company;.'. Ltd., report ' as follows:—Maize, ss. 9d. j- wheat, fowl ss. '4d.; barley, feed -3s. 10d...ta 4s. 4d.; barley, Cape seed 4s. 9d.,- oats, 35.-to 3s. 3d.; oats, crushed 3s. Gd. per bushel; oat's, seeds, duns, sparrowbills, Gartons,. 3s; 6d. j African • Algerian, 3 S . lOd. per . bushel; ryegrass, perennial ss. Gd. per bushel; maize, crushed 55.. lOd. per bushel; hay, £5 to 'M 10s. per ton; straw, £3 10s. per • ton; bran, £7 per ton'; sucrosine, 200's 165., 100's Bs:*, Gd. per bag; prime oateusheaf chuff, vilG per- ton; -potatoes,, table jCG to 10s.; onions, £7 105.., to w88: " Butter, separator 1 Is. Id.,.'milled Is. Id., daify' pats- lid. to Is. per lb.; oggs, fresh 2s. 2d., preserved Is. 6d. 'por dozen; honey, GO's 4Jd.; beeswax, Is. Gd.; fungus, 4Jd.; walnuts, sd. to Bd. .' . ■" " Porkers, 70's'to 90's-5d., 90s to 100s -i Jd., heavy pigs'3d,'to 35di per lb. " ~v . -. Cabbage; Bs.'"per.: sack; oauliflowor, 7s. Gd. to Ba. per sack; swedes, 20. 2d. to Bs, jjoe owt..;

marrows, 7s. ycr. sack; pumpkins, Gs. per sank; carrots, tabic reds 45., horse carrots 35.. 6d. per sack; apples, dessert (is. Gd. to 8?.; npplcsj cookers ss. to 6s. ; pears, "dessert P>s. Gd. ; pears, cookers Gs.; quinces, 6s. per case. Poultry.—Table roosters', 'Is. to 3s. Gd.; cockerels,' 4s. to -55.; tablo hens; 3a. ; ducks, ss.' to Gs.;. geese, Gs. to 7s. Gd., all at ■ per pair; turkeys, gobblers 10d,, lions 9d., live weight. WOOL, SKIN, HIDES AND TALLOW SALES. Murray, Roberts and Co. report that they submitted their usuak cataloguo of skins, hides, and tallow yesterday, when, owing to the. adverse advices from London, prices for skins were.easior to the extent of Jd. per lb. Hides, also . showed an easier'tone, being. jd. lower. \ .Tallow was about the v same level as last week. Prices were as follow;— . Skins.—Crossbreds, medium, well woolled, Id. to 4Jd.; crossbreds, short to 1 halfrwools, 3jd. to 4d.;. lambs, 3d. 'to "4d.; halfbreds, 41d. to std. . . '■ Hides.—Stout ox, 5Jd. to GSd;; medium ox, sd. to 5Jd.; light ox, id. to 4 Id.; medium cow, 4d. to 4Jd.; light cow,-3Jd. to 3|d.; calf,; Sound, 4Jd. to sJd.'; damaged,. 2d. to 3Jd. ■ Tallow.—Tins, 17s. to IBs. Gd.; casks, 18s. 6d. to'22s. Gd. »■'. 1 . Tile date of next sale is May 22.,

Dalgety and- Company, Limited, report having held their, usual fortnightly sale of wool, skins, , and hides yesterday . afternoon. The catalogue'- of wool, was only a small one. They offered a large catalogue of skins and hides, some good well-conditioned lines being in the '.latter. _ The market.'for skins was a veryweak one, and the lines submitted met with little competition, 'owing' to the ' prevailing weak market at Home for wool and sheepskins.' Hides showed no appreciable, difference in.price with last sales, and the .market may ■be said to firm at late rates. They quote as follows, . I Wool.—Crossbred, 1 3}d. -to 4A; crutchings,/ ljd. to 2d. . '. , " ' ."■ Sheepskink—Full-woolled crossbreds, 3]d; to 4d.;. crossbred, shorts, 3}d. to 3JcU;, lambs, 3Jd. to 3|d.; Shorn- lambs, 2Jd.; inferior, dead,, and seedy crossbred; l}d, to' 2Jd.; stragglers (at each), Is. Id.; crossbred, green (at each), Is. sd. to Is.. Bd.; lambs, green (at-each), Is.-lid. to 2s. 7d. Hides.—Ox, 62 to 751b., -53d. to' 5Jd.; 46 to 561b., 4|d. to 5Sd.. Cows, 40 to-" 531b., 4d. to 4§d.; 29 to 391b.,' 3fd. to; 4d. Ox, cut and slippy, 3jjdi to 4d.; cows, cut and slippy!' 3Jd. to 3Jd. Yearlings, 3Jd. to 4dr . Bulls, 21d.«' to 3Jd. Calf; ' prime, '"'5Jd. Inferior . .calf,. 3d. to 3|<l. Cowtails (per dozen), Is. . 4d.. snipping' order, ,£23.55. per'ton.;, .fat; in/tins, 18s. 6a.' to 20s. per cwt. ■/ Levin and Company, Ltd., report as- follows;—We held our fortnightly sale .yesterday,, offering a . small, quantity of wool in bales and, bags, • 1000 : skins, '820 hides,' aijd'a quantity .of-,tallow and 'horsehair. ' ■ ' 7" .'"Wool.—Market .wealrvahd depressing": • *'Sales can-'bnly' be made at'- lower rateS.'; ' We' qiibtoi Medium/crossbred, i3d. to''4Jd.r inferior,' -2d; : to-3d. ;■ Vambs' wool, '4d.' to and looks,'ld. to 2d. ■■■. , ' Skins;—ln sympathy with advices received by a fall of a-, half penny'to a penny in London, prices fell, here to an equal extent. Wc quota: Fine crossbreds, 4d. to 42d.; crossbred, 3d. to 4d.; dead skins, 2d. to 3d.; dead hoggets, ljd. to 2Jd.-; dry pelts, Id. to ljd.; lambs skins, 3d. to 3^d.; green pelts, "2s. to 2s. 9d.; green lambs' woolly, 2s. to 2s. 9d.; green lamb pelts; Is.' to Is. 9d; ' * ' Tallow: steady. 'Parcels in shipping order •!£22; tins, ,£ls to .£l9; rough fat, £10 to ,£l3. ' Horsehair, Is. •to Is. 3d.. pen lb. . Horns, ss. to 17s. 6d. 'per hundred! Cowtails," Is. Gd. to Is. Bd. per dozen. Hides. —We had a, heavy catalogue of hides, which were well competed for at last sale prices. We quoteOx hides. (heavy), ..Gd. to .'G|d.; ox hides, (medium), Gd.. to G|d. ;•• ox hides "(light),' 4d. to'sd.; cow hides, 33d.- to 4Jd.; cut 'and slippy, hides,.-2d. .to 3Jd!'j stag hides, 2Jd.. to; 3Jd.; bull hides, "2d. to 23d. ;' calf best,' -''4d. tb' , .sgd.';;'calf "cut and slippy.;'2d. to'3d.- . . •iV Oiir'-next- sale will bo lield on vFridav! Mav 22, 1903:. ' . y

' > The New '.Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company,. Ltd., report:,--Our fortnightly 1 sale/was. held : to-day, in the presenco ..of.a good attendance.of buyers. The anticipated drop .in sheepskin sales predicted in our last report'has: -unfortunately eventuated, the sales, hold thero yesterday disclosing a fall :6f-'3d:'.to Slid, per lb. in:all grades of. skins. >- • not offor any -'wool at/to-day's sales, preferring to hold' until:, a' little later in the year, when'wo shall hiivo a fair-sized ca;talbguo' ''to.offbr' buyers. "Wo quote:—; , ■ - Sheepskins.—Halfbre'd, 4{d.'".t'o'®ld. lb;; crossbred, full ■ wool, 3ld.' T .t,o 4df per lb.'j cross- 1 "bred, ;half :.wool, 33d. -to 33d.'- per'-, lb.; crossbred/; . polts, 25d.'- to 3d.'per lb:; crossbred, damaged, Jd. to 3d. per lb.; lambs,' 3d: -j to'4d,,. peir. lb.'; pelts, green,'ls. 7d. tb 2s. Bd. each; iambs, Is.' -to Is.'7d. each. 1 . ; , -. ," Hides.—The 'Australian . markets /are again easier: - Medium ox, 4d. .to 4Jd. per. lb.; light ok, 3Jd. to 3|d. per lb. ; cow, 3Jd. to 4Jd., per lb!; hides, damaged, ljd. to-3d. per Ibi; calf, sound, <to 4Jd. per lb.; calf, damaged.'lid. to 2Jd. per lb. • . . ■ Talloijr.—Medium quality, in .shipping order, 235. to 235. 3d. per cwt.; odd packages, ,15s. ;tfl' 20s.'Gd. per cwt. ' . » ' ; T GRAIN. ' : ' i„ .CnnisTCHURCH, May 8. ..'There is a firm. tojie- in,the local .wheat market. Inquiries : are coming to hand from the north, .and in. the absenco - of offerings-of-any extent from growers' nierchants are filling orders mainly out'of store at an ■ advanco' on the late-rates, i,A 'fow purchase's have been made 'from growers at 45.. sld. "and 4s.' Gd. at country'stations; the,latter price being offered for prime milling, ,pearl having; the preference. As no supplies of oats .arccoming forward .orders': for. coastal shipments are being filled iii the south by local nierchants. The Southland crop is an exceptionally good ono,; and farmers are selling rather rnoro froely than further'north. , Oatsheaf chaff, is in fair supply,'.but there is only. a. limited outside enquiry. Potatoes are firm; and v£4 is now bemg paid for both-Dorwents and Up-to-dates.

' . ( BT . TELEORAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)., ''■ -V-: ' • • Duxedin, 'May 8. In consequence of the advance in the London ; wheat'market .of'6d. per quarter,- which-.was cabled <jri Wednesday, the/market horo has also firmed. Lively business'is now passing, arid 'best, lines are "meeting with ready, sale at 4s. 7d. 'per .bushel. -So satisfied do holders feel that they.are asking 4s. Bd., but-no sales have passed at this figure. 1

I 'POTATOES. • ■i (BJ TEIEGBATH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) , > . , Dunedln, May 8. ' Dunedin merchants are indignant over the Government's action in introducing the' now rule as to the inspection of potatoes at the port of'arrival, as.against inspection at the port of shipment. Already the local market has "slumped" in consequence of tho..disturbance. Prime potatoes to-day . were on offer with- a very! slackened, demand' at M: 7s. 6d.,,as -com- ' pared', with Monday's eager buying value of ,£4 155., and uriless something is immediately done to. remedy the: difficulty.'it? loojcs 'as if "a still further fall ■ will- quickly follow. - There ■ seems, ■however,' to be a- probability that ■ something' will be done, .for this: afternoon the Prime Minister sent an. answering • telegram to the effect, that he had' communicated with, the Minister for Agriculture on the matter.

ANTWERP. WOOL SALES. ' . I t BY IKLEGBAPn—PIUSSB ASSOCIATION—COPTBIGHI. ~ London, May 7. At' the Antwerp' wool sales 3228 bales of La Platd were offered,, and 9-18 sold; The market was inanimate. Merinos, compared with prices in March, showed a fall' of from 15 to 20 per cent., fine crossbreds 15 per cent., and coarse up -to 25 per cent.' . WHEAT. The American visible supply of wheat is 39,921,000 bushels. ' , ,

I LONDON MARKETS! ." Tho Now' Zealand Loan and ' Mercantile Agency Company have received tho following cablegram from London, under date May 7:— Sheepskins.—Since last sajes combing merino sheepskins, fine crossbred sheepskins, and crossbred lambskins havo declined Id.; clothing descriptions of sheepskins, Jd.; and'coarse crossbred sheepskins, lid. por lb. \ ,- Mossrs. Dalgety and Company, Limited, Wellington, havo received tho following cable messages from their London house, under dato of May 7:— «. Wool.—May series of sales. Of the total colonial wools available (264,000 bales) moro than half is estimated to. be crossbred wool. Tho estimated quautity to be offered is ISO.OOO bales. Arrangements have been mado to hold over thjs balance. Dates of our own sales are: May 13, May 20, May 27, and June.\l.' ' " : Butter. —Market weak. The Copenhagen official quotation is unchanged. The total imports of butter into the .United Kingdom for weekending May 2 amounted to '78,000, as compared witfi 19,000 lor the corresponding geek of IM7j_

showing a decrenso of lOOOcw.t. . Finest', 106s. . per tfwt. . . . Frozen Meat—Lamb: Tho'demand continues, and runs principally on finest, dualities.' Mutton: Thoro is loss demand;, and prices are weaker. Beef:. Poor' demand, but prices are unchanged'. '■ Our quotations for New Zealand descriptions are:—Prime crossbred lamb,' Canterbury, heavy 53d., light 5^1.; prime crossbred lamb, North Island, heavy- yd., light 4Jd.; prime crossbred .mutton, Canterbury, heavy. 3Jd., light 4Jd.; prime crossbred mutton, North Island, heavy 3Jd:, light 33d."; prime ox beef, fores BJd„ fores 3jd. . 1 • .Sheepskins.—Prices are lower as follow, sinco our last advices:—Combing moriiio, Id. to ljd.; fine crossbred, Id.; medium and coarse crossbred, woolly, Id. to lid.; clothing, id. to Jd. ' Tallow. —At par to 3d. per cwt. lower. Messrs. Murray, Roberts,: and Co. have received the following wool market cablegram from ..their London house,. Messrs. Sanderson, and Co., dated May 7:—'"Merino and fine crossbred sheepskins have, declined 3d. told., coarse to medium crossbreds have declined Id. to ljd., and short woolle.d skins have declined id. per lb."

WELLINGTON SHARE LIST. • i K ' COMPAQ 7 . ™d SV ■' r " rQKq - ™ ( t r..du P Buyor . gollo , tmv _ Idv X V: ''-./'"■i--' '• '.-.1 .:< . ■■ \ \ ' jv.../<•'.; •_ BANKS,. "X .'£. -• :x d, ' ' £'d. • f «. d. } M, •• v . ; Ftn Zealand . 1 . ?.<«),001 . SOfin jl ''.Si'. ' 10 9 9 0. ' 9. 9 0 ? 10 6 ... V ?*®SJsURASCE. '■'* 575,000 535JU ' . , .15 13' ; 5 6 0 V6'6. 9; ' [13 6 ' .. national:'-'. ■. ■ • j CO. 031 HMT) unlU. 15 .... 1 7'.6 1 . .. New Zealand'; : SOO,000 596,074 '• j • '8 10 .'17 0 3 15 6' . 6 6 0 'EonthBritish i, •. 100,000 474,91-3 • i 4} -S 10' ' .. ''.217- 6 .. . .'' • 75,000 ST.385 V, a unit! 10 -1 2 0.1 3 9' ' V FINANQfATi. .• , ,, ■- * - " " ■ ■ '/ • .' ' Equitable Buildim! ... 50,030' „ 4f,!<0 .5 '■' 5 . ]0- ■ ■ ■ . '10 2 0 ' ■. N \ Metropolitan liuiluir.3 49/01 , ■ 30 ' nil 1' ' • * ; • v Wellington - 50,00a ' ■ 3,931- • 1 '-j 6- ! -• 012'3 ril 6 r 4 4 Wel'gtonTrnst&Lom. ;'ioi,2-,l . ' 44,3M .'5 3 • .8 .,.7 9 ,0 , .. 711.0.. ,'7 9 6 V 7 0 .V"- National Mortgage . ..- .500,010 .112,550 g, 10. .j-.l-S f 1- 0 ru 1 . N.Z.andRiver Plate - 300,000 .552,000 •' j . nil ' , 7; 112'0!-.1=11.-6 - '112' 8 4 g 4 . ■', Loan andMercantile - • - 315.133 i .bl. . !.'"6 ; l" 6 "0 0 6 0' 10 0 0 , ' ' ' GAS/- ;■ , . .1 . ' . :Ancklind' . 180,370'• • (3,853 .( nil' 16 ' -• > ChristchutcU 152,030 .' :. 65,037.- -j ..ml/ ,10 " ' ... 10- 2' 6 10 00-. r, (l 0 FoUding : -.... :. ' 12,000 ,' . 103 ' .1 ml —- 017 0 ,. - ; Gisborno , i . . ■ • • 17;OT 10,5il 1 "11.I 13J 2 9.6 ' 2 10 0 110 0 6 10 B . Hawera . -: 8,-i50 . 715 • 3 < 1 10 ' • ' ■ /■■ - Newl'lj-moutti .. .. lb'.OOO E.liO' 5 , n.l ■■ .10 - . i... : >apier . 1 .' .10 Lil 15 ' . •, - . <9,937 £3,131 . 6 5 ' 15 ' •) . ' 1 a 15 "'. - _ ■ ■ . ,• '•• i ralmerfilonNoria ■ ; . ;7,«X) -11,091 . 44 • j 10 ' . ' KV»elliDt.0U'... •• ; 57010 nil ■ 10 ]910 0. . v :: - -MEii. »: ' 6 ■■■ w 9i3 '° . " . . CBnterburi'^-, jf3,737 • M.071. • ,J. 24 v - 8 -719 0 -j:0*0« : . Clifi6tchurph.,v \ 1&),30J ' 'i7,UJ j u uu.: 8.' .jq 6 0' 10-7'6 10 7 0 7 14 7 > ..ttar : .:CW6l . ' .1 ' u.i. ; I2j ' "2,9;6 ■ --2 10'6 ,.210.0' >00 r >\ 4 '<i , wi ,8 1, 0. : 10 0,0 1/■ .. ,- WellicgtonilcatEm. ' - 5 mu.' ' 8 . . iC i2 6 ' . " .- . ' "' 105.753f B.75T 1 . '1 6 './•■ - . 6 2 ,0 . [ 2 0 1 , 5 II Wanganni. , ■ ■. "45,850, 11,401 5 u'j, 8 1 3 TBANSPOBT. ; : .■ • - ; ■ : ,:, y;A?-' R^ ilwily: • . 1WN ; ■ 121.45J , 1 4'. ' " 2 7 • "3 ■■no'. 2 8 0 518 4 • K.Z. Shipping - - ■' • 473.ai3 - ' 113.7JI ,8 mi. V ?5 '* 1 . - . e's.'o s , w ...*. . UnionSteam : -.'800,00] v! .1 uu. " 'ii -113 g ' -134 0 ■ "Wetn.SteamFec:y-■" .. - 4S,'ijj \ ' w .1 - u.u '6 - ''' ■ v, . . ',-COAD.'-". -■ - x ■ . Weftport .i,-' • . - tEO.OOr 117.11' jJ. 11 .; 6 17 5 t o o ■ 619.,9- f 5 0 ' - v ' V r , ' 1 I .- .0 19, 6 . : ■ p 19 6 . ' nllo. I ifaiapoi- , / ' . • - 100.W ' "Si\ - .5'' u.L ° V'.'-.t-. . :v'V--- .- - ')•' llOSgicl • . . • J • , |jA ' 11 ' i.c " Q fl *p n'. fi ' a » I rt t m ft .'"■VMEEikEdak : . v' 6 = r 0 .' s ' 5 0 ' 3 0 » ■■ * • M - 5 r 3 ,' « i o /. .MauriceyiUeLimj '. ...V.UJJ ' 'iOj - l' "•»•.' K ' ■. i . - H.2. Candle- 10.UJJ , - —. "jo ..'•■J " -! v vKXDiwis' -• ■ "J4.5U ' , i"' '7, 9 n i-V,„ . N:Z.PapoiOIiil3. ',-.'£4,755 . , 'li/Y i / . nU.;. j 2 2 1 3- 0 ra ' '• ! ! J . . ' NAOuieat- • - • . ."'40,uuJ 2„Ml 1' ■ uU {,( S ' : - J : ' '... 1 , s ' 0 « XUiinineifcOo.-. • ' %.mi I il.o/J . 4 ' • 1 . ' 10 i 17 k ! ! "•••" Vr«M&OQ.--I- •'..••••.* : fcO.OUD ■ . "tO.WS ; 4 1 - :. Ill ' ' 4 \L ; 2 i~„ „' 0 0 r -f Wstn. Opera Hani ' 'lt,t31' : - . Jj . 6 ml; 'lis " '' 5 . 0-0 0 8 8 5 ■ tresii l''(io.l> ; itv-ul . ' — ' : 1' , ' —, i " . , Whilcomi t,* Tombs :v ir^oj. ; If" io.ijl v ,'i 'ml'' . 1J ■ .- . ■ ■ . kt"..-. . |. V..n J .. ..-,4 0 13 /6. i l l . , 0 0 7 10 0