FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 211, 30 May 1908, Page 8

FINANCE AND COMMERCE.

THE' SHARE . MARKET. /;. . Several - sales of investment' shares were natide yesterday. Bank of .Now Zealand shares * I-.- V. 1 ! 'sold''at. JBS, ,:at which price they return. £3 Ids'. Id., per cent., but-as,th9 dividend is due next moutli the return ivonld, work,'out to 'a. little'niore./,\Vith money at 6.per cent,' the reI. 1 ■ turn on, the ..share investment ■ is, \too small; vi '!and unless there is some easing of money rates "iyvery shortly, the share 3 are hound to go lower.; 'ii--:- . National Bank- shares were'sold at £5 53., re; turning £5 Bs. 7tL .per cent Here; again, the '. .. -.' return is small compared with what call bo v. V'i" obtained' just: now on gilt-edgsd mortgage ,'se r l . ; curities... In the . financial group, : a Bale ,of Wellington Deposit-at 9s. was. reported/ and :l\' i- thei'o iwere -sellers of Equitabio Building;' '»*' \ t ..' £10.! 25.,: National. Mortgage at £3 -Is., ' and *<■: ,3 Kiver Plato at £1 j2s. 3d. In g-i/s .shares, a ';v'/. little more , interest, was . shown ,by a iouplo of i,'"/ Bales of ,£lO paid-up, Wellington Gas somr'e= at ' .5sV/TorV.the.'secondissue Wellington. Gas, . shares. was'-ljid, and. for FeUding ; Gas' |. . ■. y-: 19s. 6d." was' oiFefed'. Insurance shares -were-'ne-V'-'fleeted.-.There were sellers. of ,';New Zealand' r .: •''• Insurance *at £% 1G5.,-,6d., and : Sojth : British j v' at 175. : .Other quotations we.e: Canterbury k-,';".-Frozen : Meat, sellers '£&; '.Ch'rhtchtircli' Meat, 1_ ,V jGIO 2s. Gd.,' sellers £W 55.; Gear Heat, j , sellers ,£2 30s. Gd.; Wellington Woollen, buy--1 tts,'£3 Gs.; Taupiri Coal, sellers '£lj Wcstport '-\ Coal,. : sellers .£6 18s. 6d,; Westport Stockton, p.: sellers: Is. ,Gd. -premium; D.I.C. preference,. selr'fv. -.' l6rs'22s.; Leyland-O'Biien Timber, sellers £3 'v' ! .'r. :V3s. ; .N-Z- Drugs, sellers JB2 lis. 6d.; N.Z. Paper ; Mill's/sellers 3s". j Taranaki; Petroleum, selloH GS..G&. ■ ' \"y THE MINING MARKET. : Talismans - appear to :be ; decidedly on. tho - tip grade, and there is now no doubt that 'the "bear" attack engineered in Auckland has rr"-'Y, i completely broken ■ down.'. Sales of Talismans '••'•-iVere. made on tho ' Wellington 'Exchange - yes- • torday at £2 Gs. 6d., and buyers were offering ;i : : £2 7s.' 3d. Waihis.liave firmed, with sales- up .to'.£9 12s/. The quotations-yesterday,were as • . under.- , V Buyers. .Sellers. Sales.'. , • £ s.d. £ s. d. £ s. d. : 'Waihi Grand. . : Junction ... • 1 15 6 1 36 6 1 16 0. Big River- .... '1 1 G 1 3, 0 "■ , r V - v Tairua' Broken ! A Hill ... 0 3 0 0 3 i —- t. .: ■ Wailu- Consoli- ' ' . - dated • ... _ 0 2 3. — . ; - Talisman '-~ 2 7 3 2 8 0 2 6 6 f: : ' Waihi - _ DUO 912 6 911 6 i/\ 'A - . - ' 912 0 ! THE LONDON MOAEY MARKET, f-,.: . 'At last the Bank: of 'England discount ■ rate t:; ;': :-. has been reduced -to 2-i per cent. Such a move-R<-'v * m ent seemed.. warranted fdr several weeks past, | ' . ' but for . good reasons .110 doubt -tho reduction r-'has been delayed until now. It .is some, time since we.had tho Bank rate at' 24' per cent., tv( ' - believe not:since August, 1905, and this cheapC - .'ening of 'money: ought, have a stimulating j : -''.-/iffect on'..trade. In.Great Britain cheapmonej f ;., .' is the natural concomitant 'of trade depression ;v'but after,,a : time the' cheapness stimulates specI,: :: : ulation, • and thero comes a 'revival.. We maj 1 ' • ' liopo to see this.Tevival as soon as America [!/'! ■.. i 'Germany, and Japan h'avo done iwith the*, pro ■ cess of: liquidation, and have- readjusted, theii : economic conditions, •

' GEEMAUX'AND _ JAPAN. ' Australianmair advices show, that both Ge'rl; ' many'and Japan-have been large purchasers K; ' .-'of.gold, to relieve .the awkward situation that 5 \ has., arisen in the, respective countries mainly' [ .' through the'huge expenditure on armaments; ;V, / .Japan was, according to the inflated;ideas of i the ■ 'Japanese, ' about' to . oust every one j : ' - - . from the Pacific, Now she can do practically f..'. ' iaothing,- because she stands ,in urgent - need l'jf money: • Under ' the financial strain to which Japan has been subjected since the .war, large numbers'of corporations involving 'mil--' . lion 3 of capital,-have gone into liquidation. The nation's fiscal policy has not worked fr- . - well,-and for some time income has not been ; ' . equal to expenditure. To, meet the financial ; 7 responsibilities of the coming year the-authori- £ • ■ -.' ties have been-obliged' to reduce, outlays con-' . templated in the enornous armamontal expansion by about frith only the un-"-.:7- - pleasant prospect of increased taxes and fur- ' tlier loans to meet the still unsatisfied deficit. I . '-Tho financial condition of the nation has seri--1 ' • cusly affected the ambitions of tho shipping I ; companies. Another largo steamship trust f-i; that was organised, recently for the exploita- •' lion of Asiatic waters has also been dissoled before reaching ".lie stage of practical opeiaI- •■ -" 'tidn.'. because its capital of £2,000,000 failed of - ' ; " realisation. Now that the. Shenshu Domeikai '■ ■ lias shared tho fate of tho Nippon Risen Kai•slia, there has been no'further talk of multi- !- : plying steamship-companies on the. Pacific. Tho "Investors' Review" of April 11 thus dc--1 scribed the position of the Fatherland:—"ln : " ■ Germany the new loans have, filled the minda J of speculators, investors, and publicists alike. Industrial Germany goes from bad to worce, r partly because the methods adopted by the i combinations of producers in all brinchos of i . business arc calculated to hurt rather than tieip tho industries afTlicted. Tbe: struggle is i ' ■ maintained in'imitation of the United btatcs ite keep up prices in fpito of the shrunken demand, .home and foreign, and at 'the same time to reduce the wages paid to labour. As foreign markets are just as reluctant to buy Irom Gornumy, even at the reduced prices i nth which its merchants, tempt them, the position' naturally becomes more and more ag- ■ jravated, and finds, expression in daily fail- > ures, some of them of importance." | ' COMPANY REPORTS, ! <■ ,Tho report of tho Alliance Assuranco Com I ' priiiy for 1907, presonted in London on Apri jv ;: 29. "."states that tho funds now amount t< I '.. ''v£1G|147,312, of- which ,£2,035,602 aro in the lifi t .':,- . /; and 'annuity branch, £2,000,000 in tho firi j branch, and the balance in the marine an(

accident accounts, with X 1,000,000 paid-up capital,'.and' ,£158,629 at credit of-profit ami loss. The' Alliance.' has .recently absorbed tue Imperial and Provident Life, the Westminster, the County,- and' the; Law Fiijo Offices, and-as a result has now'3l directors, many of them; amongst the highest business names in London. A dividend'of 10s. per share absorbs ..£350,000. The report of the British aind Australasian Trust and Loan Company/for 1907, submitted in London on April 24,- showed an available net '.profit of including brought into the account.' A dividend and bonus together of 7 per cent, absorb £li,ooo, and i! 5000 is added to the reserve fund,, making it £115,000; leaving J10,890 to, .be carried forward. The company; >in';addition, to-'£200,000 called-np capital, has .£440,197- in 3i per.cent, debenture stock,. plus £6100 paid in advance' of calls,' and has issued ,£178,017 terminable, debentures. With the reserve fund and other items- its resources approach £1,000,000, and it is one of the few ; Anglo-Australian financial undertakings that .practically :cscaped the effects of the'crisis of '93.: . . v. - , , .-- ■'■■ \ notes: - . Hong-Kong annually imports cotton goods to t the value of 25,000,000d01., 90 per cent, of which 'come from India.The Band output of gold for the first three months of the .current year amounted to 1,677,160 fine ounces valued at-JC7,124,117.- ' Out of tiie production of iron in the.United States last year (2G,700,000 tons), it is stated that the American railway companies took one- , third. _ A committee for the protection of the diamond industry, comprising representatives of the principal firms ot Ajntwerp, Paris, Amsterdam, and New York has been! formed., The returns, -from 288: trade-' unions in the United Kingdom show, that at the end of March the unemployed were G. 9 per cent, of the membership as compared with G.-l per cent, at tho end of Pabruary, and with 3.6' per cent, at tho end "of March last:year. This serves to show ' that the prevailing, depression lias reached the United Kingdom.. , The contract for tho supply of coal for the South Australian Government for two years from July 1. next, has been secured jointly by the Huddart, Parker, and Co., Ltd., and the Adelaide';.Steamship^...Co.,; Ltd. The estimated quantity is 133,000 tons per annum; the price ii--175.. :per , ton, compared-with lis. 9d. in tho existing contracts, which .were let at an OjK--1 c'cedingly favourable _time. •'. The contractors . undertake ,to supply; coal from tho northern , collieries of Now; South Wales. > i ! The "Wall Street Journal" thus comments upon the official notification that the debt \>l I. New York on March'l, 1908, was ,£125,143,000:— ' I "Within less than a year this has been increased by'nearly 100,000,000d01. Compared ' with thfe: national Idebts of the different coun'r - tries :of the world,, the outstanding obligations of New York are greater than those of Argen- ' tina, of Belgium, of.Brazil, and almost oxactlj ! those of China. It outranks the indebtedness ' of Egypt, and is little less than that of th< German Empire, which does not include tin debts of the of the Empire : It likewise surpasses/the national debt of th< Netherlands, and-is-iearly four times that 0; - llexicb,. six-time's'.that of Chili, and ten time: 3 that of Denmark."- '

...STOCK EXCHANGE. . [BT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] V" •" .' - r Ddneoin, May 29. '~ Stock. Exchange sales Talisman Consolida ted, 465. 3d., 465.;; • , ' DREDGING; IBT lELEGItArn~rnES3 ASSOCIATION.) ' ~ Ddnedin, May 29. „ Dredging returns: Masterton,' 60oz. 16dwt. Mystery Flat,. 550z.. . 2dwt.;New Roxburgl 'Jubilee,; 400z.-;l7dwt.; Koputai, 380z.; Maim herikia, 26oz.';' W'aikaia, 20pz. 15dwt.; Centra Charlton,. 190z.. '4dwt.;. Les'seys, 19oz. ldwt. Chicago, 18oz.; Charlton. Creek, 160z.; liurc 12oz. 18dwt. WAIHI GOLD MINING COMPANY. '(BY TELEGIUm —PHESS ASSOCIATION.)' .. Auckland, May 29. : During tho four weeks ended May 16 las the Waihi Gold Mining Company crushe and treated 30,847. tons of ore for a retur of bullion valued at .£70,890. This is a increase over the return for the previou month, when 30,173 tons yielded .£70,283. Con -pared with the corresponding/ period of la; year, when 28,382 tons gavo a return of .£67,52 tho present return shows an increase of ov< £3000.Th0 Waihi mine has now product bullion of a total value' of .£0,628,752, an including. the 3s. 6d. dividend and 3s. bom payable on Monday next (June 1), ,has rein bursod to shareholders a total of ... WELLINGTON MARIO3T REPORT. The N.Z. Farmers' Co-operativo Distributii Co., Ltd., report as follows:—Maize, os. 9d wheat, fowl, ss. 4t1.; barley, feed, 4s. to 4s. Gil barley, Cape seed, 4s. 9d.; oats, 3s. Id. to £ 3d.; oats, discoloured, 2s. 9d.; oats, crushe 3s' Gd per bushel;-oats, seeds, duns, sparrobills gartons, 3s. Gd., African Algerian, 4s. 3 per bushel;, ryegrass perennial, ss. 6(1. p bushel; maize, crushed, ss. lOd. per bushel. Hay, £■> to JK 10s. per ton; straw, .£3 to 10s. per ton; pollard, .£9; bran, £" 10s. p ton; sncTOsine, 200's, 165.,. 100's, Bs. Cel. per ha prime.oatensheaf chaff, .£8 to' M. ss. per toi potatoes, table, X's 10s. to <£G; onions, J-8 JCS 10S. Butter, separator Is., milled lid., dairy pa lid. per lb.; eggs, fresh 2s. 4d. to 2s.'sd„ di

sorvod Is. sd. to Is. Gd. por doz.; honey, 60s, bacon, sides 83(1., rolls 9Jd., hams 9}d. por lb.; beeswax, Is. Gd.; fungus, 4'] d.; walnuts, fid. to Gd. per lb. 4 Cabbage, ss. 6d. to Gs. per sack; cauliflowers, 10s, to 12s. por sack; swedes, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 9d. per cwt.; marrows, ss. per sack; pumpkins, Gs. to'7s. per sack; carrots, tablo reds, 3s. Gd.; horse carrots, 3s. per sack. Apples, dessert, 7s. Gd. to 10s.; . apples, cookers, Gs.; pears, dessert, Gs. Gd. to Bs.; pears, cookers, Gs.; quinces, Gs. Gd. per case. Poultry—Table roosters 3s. Gd., cockerels 4s. to 55., tablo hens 3s. to 3s. Gd., ducks Gs. to 75., geese 7s. Gd., all at per pair; turkey gobblers lOd. to Is., hens 9d., live wiiglit. Messrs. Laery and Co., iimitcd, Wellington, report wholesale prices ruling on the market:— Wheat,' fowls' ss. 3d. to ss. Cel.; oats, 3s. to 3s. 3d.; seed oats; 3s. 3d. to 3s. Gd.; maize, ss. Gd. to ss. 9d.; crushed malt, Bs. Gd.; prussian blue peas, Gs. 6d. to 75., fowl .peas, 4s. Gd. to 4s. 9(1., all at por bushel; flour, New Zealand, .£l2 10s., Australian, ,£ll 155.; bran, £7 ss. to £7 10s.; pearl barley, .£l9 10s.; split peas, .£lB 10s. ; bonedust, .£6; superphosphates, £4 15s. to .£5 55.; chaff (oatensheaf), .£5 15s. to JSG 55.; oatmeal, £14 10s.; potatoes, £5 10s. to £Q; Tasmanian' seed (TJp-to-Dates), ,£6 10s.; Beauty of Hebron, ,£6 10s.; Flukes, £R 10s.; bacon, factory sides 83d„ hams 9(1., rolls 9Jd.; butter,' bulk, lOd. to IOJd.; poultry, hons 2s. 6d. to 35.; ducks, ss. Gd.; turkeysj gobblers 15s. to 225., hens Bs. to 95., all at per pair; cauliflowers. 7s. to 145.; cabbages, 2s. Gd. to 7s. Gd.. all at per sack; fresh eggs, 2s. 4d. to 2s. Gd.; preserved eggs, Is. sd. to Is. Gd. por doz.; cheese, 6d. to 6}d. per lb.; onions, £7 10s. to per ton; Akaroa cocksfoot, lOd. to lid.; ryegrass, 4s. 9d. to As. 6d. per bushel. ! . LIVE STOCK . SALES. The Mutual Trading Company, Carterton, report —There was a good yarding of sheep and a few cattle at our Carterton stock sale on Friday. Cattle wore still dull, but sheep showed an "improvement. Prices ruled as follow.—Dairy cows, 905.; weaners, 135.; storo cows, £2 55.; fim. breeding ewes, 7s. Gd. to 95.; 2. 4, and G-tooth ewes, 12s. Gd. to 14s. Gd.; cull ewes, 55.; lambs, ss. 3d. to' 9s. Gd.; culls, 3s. 7d.; weaner pigs, ss. Gd. Messrs. Dalgety and Company, Ltd., report on their Levin sale, held yesterday, as follows:—\\le yarded 2700 sheep, and with the exception of 100 ewes every line' was sold at the'following rates: Mixed;aged ewes in lamb, 7s. Gd., Bs. 2(1., to 9s. 10(1.; aged ditto., 4s. Id. to ss. 3d.; woolly lambs, Gs. 5d.; empty ewes, Bs. 10d.; fat wethers, 155., 16s. Gd., to 18s.; 2-tooth. wethers, 9s. Gd. to lis. 7d.; 4 and 6tooth wethers, 155.; halfbred wethers, Ss. Cattle—Heifers with calves, £2 3s. Gd.; 2-year heifers, 415.; yearling heifers,' lGs.; yearling steers, 345.; 2-year steers, ,£2 17s. Gd.; fat steers, ,£G to £7; stags, to 305.; calvcs, 9s. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., rpport that at their Feilding salo yesterday there was a fair entry of sheep and cattle, with a good demand for lambs' and forward conditioned owes and wethers. Forward ewes made Bs, 9d.; empty ewes, Gs.; cull owes, 2s.' lOd.; young ewes in lamb, 135.; small mixed lambs, 5s 7d.; fair lambs, Bs.; forward lambs, to Bs. Bd. fat and forward lambs, 10S. Gd. j.'fat and for ward wethers, 145.; empty cows, 385.; 2J-yeai steers, „E3 Bs.; 21 to 3-year steers, ,£3 18s.; fal and forward heifers, .£3 lis;; 3 to 3|-year for ward conditioned bullocks, «£5 155.; fat cows 15s. The Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Feilding, report :—At Apiti oi Tuesday, we had. a good yarding of sheep o all classes and a medium yarding of cattle Bidding was brisk, and wo quitted tho who] of our entry under the hammer.' Lambs wer in demand, and showed '■ a decided rise ii values. . Forward empty ewes made 95., 9s. 2d, i 9s. 4d., 9s. 9d.; fat owes, 13s. 9d. J mixei lambs, 6s. 3d., Gs. 5d., 7s. Gd.;.wether lambs small, ss. 7d.; ewe lambs, up to lis. Id.; cul ewes in lamb, ss. Gd.; 2-tooth ewes in lamb < 135.; 2-tooth', wethers, small, 10s.; f orwar wethers, 12s. Gd.; forward empty; heifers, ,£ 10s.; empty cows, 305.; 2-i-year steers, ,£2 17: Gd.; dairy, cows, .£4 45.. '

. At : Mr. B. Wrightson's, Makino, on Wednesday,- there was a good ' attendance, and stock sold fairly well, prices advancing somewhat oh late rates. Two-tooth ewes in lamb made 13s. 3d., 145., 14s. Id.; 4 and 6-tooth ewes in lamb, 13s. lOd.ff.ni. ewes in lamb, 9s. 3d.; cull lambs, 3s. lOd.;. mixed lambs, Bs. 3d.; empty owes, 9s. 3d.; empty cows, 335. to .£3 65.;. cows in milk, £2 to £2 2s. Gd.; woaners, 7s. Gd. ; steers, £2 7s. Gd.; horses, ,£3 to Jl7. . At Peilding yesterday, wo • had an average yarding of sheep and cattle. Lambs again sold Well, but fat ewes wore a shado easier, and breeding ewes 'still neglected.' Ewo lambs made. JOs. ;• woolly wetherlambs, Bs.; forward lambs, ,9s. 2d.; fat ewes, 10s. 6(1.. to. 12s. 7d.; cull owes, 2s. Gd.; 2-tooth Lincoln owes in lamb, 14s. Id.; cull heifers, 14s. Gd.; store cows, 37s.forward cows, £2 18s.; forward heifers, JC2' 9s. . . . ■ f Mr. Newton ,Kings sends tho following weekly -auction report Kahotu-on Tuesday cattle came forward in advertised numbers, and there was a good attendance. Small weaners made ss. to 75.;-yearling .steers,-. 225.; 18■ months'hoifors, 235. Gd.; store cows, 16s. t0.355.; good springing hoifors, £i 85.,t0 c£s; fat : cows, £3 2s. Gd. to ,£4 12s. At Stony River on Wednesday, tho yards were' full, and there was fair competition for most lines, nearly everything being sold at satisfactory prices. Calvos made 6s. to 155.; -yearling steers, 225.. Gd.; 2 to. 2s. year heifeps, ,£2 to <£3; fat heifers, J!3 15s.> fat cows, <£4 ss. to JA 155.; store, cows,f 20s. to 375.; 3 year steersrJM: bulls, £2 to M 19s. At Waiwakaiho on Thursday we'aners made 55., Gd. to lis.; 2 year■ iheifor's in calf, 375. to 395.; store cows, 255. to 315.; forward ditto Is. 6d. to £3 175.; 2 to year steers, ,£3 4s. / ; HIDES, SKINS, ETC. ' Messrs. A. H.' Atkinson and Co.,' Ltd!, report:—On Thursday wo held our usual sale . of wool, skins, and. hides. Wo had a good attendance of buyers, and bidding was brisk. Wool was firmer than at last sale, skins were"Jd. better than last nionth, and hides were Jd. lower in sympathy with the Australian market. Wo quote:—Wool—Crossbred seedy, 4J3.; cotted,4d.; pieces, 2d.; dead, 3d.; lambs, 3!d.; looks,. 1 jd. Skins—Medium crossbred, 3jd., 4d.; broken, ljd„ 2d., 23d.; pelts, broken inferior, lid.; sound, 3d.; dead, 2d. to ,3d.; lambs, 3Jd.; half-dry skins at oach Is. 7d., Is. lid., 2s. Id., 2s. 3d., 2s. Gd., 2s. 7d., 2s. Bd. Lambs—ls.,. Is. 3d., Is. 9d., 2s. 3d. HidesOx heavy, 5Jd.; medium, sjd., sJd.'; light, 3}d. to 4id.; cow, 3|d., 4,3 d., 4Jd.; slipy, 2J3.; cut,, 2jd.; yearlings, 3jd.j slippy, ljd.; 3p. to 4Jd.; cow, 3id. 4Jd.; slippy, lid.; dry, Id. Bones—3s. 3d. per cwt. 'l'allow—Tins, 15s. 9d'. to 18s. per cwt. LONDON MARKETS. ■ Messrs. Dalgoty and Company, Limited, Wellington, havo received the following cable messages from their London house, under date oi May 28:Butter.—Market quiet and prices aro, steady, Tho Copenhagen official quotation is unchanged, Tho total imports ofc butter into tho United Kingdom for week ending May 23 amounted tc -68,000cwt., as compared with 92,000cwt. for the . corresponding week of 1907, showing a decrease of 24,000cwt. Finest, 104s. per cwt. Frozen Meat.—Tho lamb market is firm without change in prices. 'The market foi beef and mutton is weak,-and prices are easier Tallow.—Sinco our last advices price's foi all sorts of tallow are unehtinged, with tlu exception of mixed good to prime, which is t . shado easier. RabbitskinS.—Competition is strong., Out o: an offoring of 1937 bales, 1713 bales were sold Since our last telegram prices are higher ai follow: Pair to fcood qualities, lid. to 2d. pel lb.; inferior, id. to Id. per lb. Leathor.—Prices are Jd. per lb. lower Basils—At par to Jd. per lb. lower. Horns--5 per cent, to 10 per 'cent, lower. Bones am hoofs—Any chango in prices is in favour o buyers. THE WOOL SALES. BY TELEGRAPH—PHEBS ASSOCIATION—COPYMOHT. : ' . . London, May 28. Good competition for all sorts, but shabb; 1 crossbreds, suitable for topmakers, were a far 1 thing cheaper than last week, owing to th ' largo offering. Sales included Acland Bid. ' Hillorsden 9Jd., Ohoka 123 d. J THE METAL MARKETS. 1 BY TEl,ECliArll —I'IU-SS ASSOCIATION—COrYIUGIIT [ London, May 28. 3 Copper.—On spot, J!SG 17s. Gd.; tlireo months .£57 10s. Tin.—On spot, .£129 155.; three months, .£l2 7s. Gd. LONDON MONEY MARKET. 'j BANK RATE REDUCED. sy ri'.i.EGRArn —I'REsa association—corrmoni London, May 28. Tho Bank of England minimum rato of dis count has been reduced from 3 to 2$ por cent. 3 . MOUNT LYELL RETURNS. r »T TELEGUAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPY HIGH , Melbourne, May 29. o The Mount Lyell returns from April 23 til Jlny 20 (inclusive) show that 29,156-tons of or s were treated, also 210 tons of purchased on 1- The converters produced 638 tons of blistc

copper containing— copper. G3O tons, silver •17,01!) ounces, gold 1225 ounces. Tho shortago of blister copper was chicily - owing 'V an accident to tho winding engine. ■ GRAIN AND PRODUCE. (BY TELEGRAM.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CnniSTCiiur.cii, May 29. . Tho whoat mjirlcot is lifeless at present. Buyers have assumed an indifferent attitude, and wore only offering 4s. Gd. for any lots submitted, while growers are not prepared to accept less than the rata ruling a few weeks back, so that no business is eventuating. Australian flour is still coming in, tho Mifitai on her last trip from Mclbouruo having brought 3298 sacks. - . ■ Southland is supplying tho coastal and Australian demand for oats, as no supplies aro availablo locally at exporters' prices. Potatoes aro duller of sale and lower in price, as there is less demand for coastal shipment.. Cowgrass is very firm and in keen demand, up to IOJd. having been paid for best grade seed. Very little white clover has been offered by ■growers this season, and ovidently less than tho usual quantity was saved. THE BUTTER MARKET. (BY TELBOUArn—I'ItESS ASSOCIATION.) New Pltjiouth, May 29. Messrs. 33. Griffiths and Co. this afternoon received the following cable from their London principals, Mills and Sparrow, Ltd.■ There is good steady consumptive demand, and butters aro going on the counter straight away. Few, if any, of the retailers are holding any stock. Trade continue? good; All butters are . selling well, and clearing up close. A scarcity of fine butter is now being felt.

. —0- ; ; v : " ■ LS-^V : ■ : r • W ELLINGTON SHARE LIST. -C=:vO; v ' •■' Bosorvo &8 r.'!,! ■■ - PRICES. Yi-ltl > rn VP i v-y Canital Fund and'-'5 to COUPASY. v . Kdaup. .Babuicd ' • Last InTostor. , Forward, g Buyer. Sailor.' jj a ] 0i ■ ' - , BANKS. ! £ £ £ £ .£. £'b. d. 4 s. d. £ 8. d. £ s. d. .Now.; Zealand 2,000,000 81,678 31 '"3j 10 8 18 0 9 1 0 9 0 0 S14 1 /; 'Rational . i.. . ... 375.000 . 335.318 ajf 15 12 5 4 3 5 5 3 5 5 0 6 8 7 INSURANCE. 53''Vv': Rational. "... ... ... 100.000 249,339 j unltd, ,15 'l CO 166' „ „ „ „ K r..New Zealand ... . ... 500,000 396,674 q 8 10 3 16 6 3 15 6 B 6 0 i,; ': 'A Bouth. British ... ... — 100,000 474,912. i 4i 10 217 0 Standard -. - ... — 15,000 93,366 J Oi 10 1 2..P. 12 9 FINANCIAL. ' -7 ■ Equitable Building ... -. . CO.OOO £2,000 5 6 10 10 2 0- 10 0 0 it . lV 2 '' Metropolitan 'Building ... 50,712 5,088 -io nil 7 ■ • ' -. ■ . . , >0.:r-Wellington.'Invest. ... '••• .••• 50,000 3,5*33 1 j '6 ,. 012 0 Oil 6 5 14 Wellington Trust and Loan i:. ,101,250 '44,334 5 5 8 790 7 11 0 796 670. V.'-v-' National Mortgage ... ....... 200,000 127,746 2 8 ' 10 30 0 310 300 6 13 * i .N.Z..and'Eivor Plate 300,000 -252,000 1 nil 7 111 9 1 12 3 1 13 3 4 6 4 .Loan.and Mercantile ... 135,2iH 315,133' j 81 5 0 5 0 0 5 0 10 0 0 CAS. ■ ■ , .'Vt Auckland ... — .180,370 E5.463 5 nil 16 ■ • „ Chriatchuroh ... 70,918 5 nil 10 • 10 0 0 10 0 0 s 0 0 Fellding ... ...' ... . ... - 12,000 t 108 1 nil 019 6 019 6 X . ' " Gisborne ... .17,300 10,565 1 nil 13J 2 9-6 210 0 210 0 510 0 Hawera ... ... '8.250 • jG94 3 " i 10 " ;• V,,, ' New Plymouth .... ... ifcooo 3,159. 5 nil 10 Kapief. ... ... ... .. •» ) .. 10 nil 15 a"; - r 49,957- . es.iei 5 5 15 ■ : > Palmerston' North _ ...' 27,000 11,092 jl 4. 10 I . , .Wellington : ... - ... . ••• 1 - 7n 7 . 10 nil 10 ' • • .19 7 6- 19.5 .0 5 4 0 'iXy-;. : ~ ... . - / uw " u . . UlIJa 5 5 10 10 0 0 1 V';--- HEAT. Canterbury ... ... ..ui.: - 163,727 32,656 >7> 95 8 V ' '" 8 0 0 . V :'. J Chnstchurch, : ... 165,920' 77,642 - 10 nil 8 10 2 G 10 5. 0 10 7 0 7 14 7 «:• V -Gear ... . .. ... ... -. ■ _ ' - 1 q,™ 1 nil 12i 2 9 6 2 10 6 2 10 0 5 0 0 . X: _ f 92,100. 96,261 } 6 i 2 J u 15 0 10 0 0 .Wellington Meat-Export .- j 5 .nil 8 1 612 6 . \ „ ... - f 105,766 53,767 4 - 1 8 5 2 0 5 2 0 6 5 6 I... .. ~ J- 21 S3 8 : 3 5-0 3 5.0 6 9 3 -. ..Wansanul - . ., „ ~ - / 15,550 \ 10®5 b nil 8 • TRAMSP0R7. , . W.-and M. Kailway ... jtO.CCO 121,452 1 4 7 276 280 '276 300 ■ : N:z. Shipping.... ... ... ... .'473,840 . 110,760 8 .'nil 5 618 6 5 18 6 10 3 10 Onion'Steam ....... ... ... KXUXX) 3M,M7 1 nil 100 -i 7'";. Wgtn. Steam Terry ... ... ... it,.i£0 . • 65 1 nil 6 . f-c-k-':- v"-' /coal.-' ■ ; . ■" ! Wes'.port ... 1 .... - 2f»,000- 117,215 3} .15 12J 6 18 0 6 18 6 6 19 9 6 5 0 •V. Taupiri . ... ...* * ... . b5.UX) 5,33Q V ,1 nil 71 1 0 0 0 19 6 7 14 0 '. . > Vi'OptLEll. i ■ , Kair.T)oi ... ; ... . ... ... 100,000 - '32,851 5 nil C5 ' • ' „ >• '- Mosgiel ... ... ... 83,457 .17,-212 3* - • 14 4 3 3 0 3 3.6 3 10,4120 . : Wellington , ... .... ... - 82,825 : , 21,ii63 4 .'.1 6 3 6 0 3 9 0 3 6 0 7 5 .6 , HISCELLANEOUS. | f ■ ■ ■ Donaghy^Bope ' ... ... ...- ' 23,500. . 1,981. 5 ■ nil 6 6-0 0 6 5 0 I I,eyland and O'Brien. ... 35,000 37,761 1 nil 15 .. .. 2 3 0Manricevillo Lime , ... 7,000 . 205 1 -nil 8 I- . K.Z. Oandle .... ....' .. ■: 10,000 ' 576 10 -nil 8 ' Drugs-... i 200,000 36,730 2 - nil .1 2 10 6' 211 6 2 11 0 6 0 K.Z.' Paper Mills ■ .:. ... -94,775 .' 1,682 1 nil ' 7 1 3 6 1 3 0 ' ' ■K.Z. .Coment ; .... .... .... ... . 10, COD 2,048 1 nil .... Ill 0 111 6 : ■ Manning, and Co. ... ... ■... - 96,(500 37,670*-' '4 '1 30 3 14 0 Ward and Co ... ... £0.000 30,655 / 4. ■ 1 10 4 15 0 S'D'O 4 15 - 0 0 8 5 Wgtn. Opera Honse ... ... ... 18,630 '1,705' 5 nil 121 :• - ; Wgtn..Fresh Food. '... ...:... 28,261 .1 'nil '.... . • ' V *■ V Whitcombe and Tombs ... ... . 4(v250 30,156'. ' 5 "nil 1 19 ' . 4 8 0 ', I ;,-:v . .Eharland f; X/td. I; ... .... 48,676 9,311 1 .'nil Vi 0 10 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 710 0