Untitled

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 316, 1 October 1908, Page 10

. THE SHARE MARKET.-' At the meeting of the Exchange yesterday nale of Taranaki Petroloum shares at 3s. au. =5 reported" Tho quotations were very few and in some instances there_ was a * ea Jf n gJ g tendency. National Banks, buyers .£5 os -,, ' sellers .£5 Is. Gd.; Equitable Building, Eollers £10 2s. 6d.; Ellington seners lis. 6d ; Wellington Trust and Loan, sellers £7 75., Christehurcl Gas, sellers £9 ICs i NahondJn, Burnnre huvers ill Bs.; New Zealand insur ance° sellers i'3lts. 6d. ; Standard Insu^nco buyers .£1 2s.Gear Meat (£4 paid),buyers AJ 165., (Xl' paid) buyers £2 9s. ' { „ P t(l e sellers £G lis. 6(1., £5, and £3' Is. lor trie respective, issues; Union Steam Shin, buyers £1 1456 d.; - Wellington Woollen, sellers ss. fiH • WestDort Coal, buyers £6; --U estport-. Sto'clcton buvers B'. 9d., sellers 9s. :3d.; New. Zealand Drugs, sellers i 2. Its.;. New Zealand Paper Mills, buyers .£1 2s. 9d„ sellers 3s. 3d.; Taranaki Petroleum, .buyers 35., sellers Ss.'6d.;-Ward and Co. brewery shares; buyers .El lis. 6d.; Sharland's ordinary and preference* sellers .. .' . ,' _ The "course of sales during the past montii is shown as under:— - • National Bank, .£5 Is., £5 Is. Wellington Trust and Loan, £7 7s. 6d. Wellington Investment, lis. 6d. Wellington-Deposit, 9s. 2d. New Zealand and River--Plate,. £1 10s. 3d., 1 3110s. 4d., Jtllos. 6d;'- '.. i New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, 4s. 3d.,4s. 3d.' \ ' Christchurch Gas, .£9 155.,) £9 15s. Feilding Gas, 19s. 6d. Napier Gas (£1 paid), £3 7s. Gd. Nejv Zealand Insurance, £3 14s. South British Insurance, ..£2 14s. ' . ' Gear Meat (XI paid), ,£2 9s:, £2 9s. Wellington Meat Export (£2 12s. 6d.. paid), '£3 £3 ,£3; Manawatu Kails, .£2 Bs. 9d., £2 9s. New.Zealand Shipping, .£8 75., £6 10s. Wellington Woollen, £3 Bs. 6d., £3 6s; 9d. Westport Coal, £5195. Westport-Stockton; 95.,' 9s. Manning and Co., £3 16s. 6d. Ward and Co;, £4 155.,. £i 15s. New Zealand Portland Cement, .£1 Bs. 6d. . „ Wilson's Cement, preference, £1 J9s. 6d., £1 19s. 9d.Taranaki Petroleum, 3s. 3d. -

THE MINING MARKET. A. fair amount of business was donq in mining shares. Talismans sold at .£2 25., 6d.,. and, Waihi at 2s. 6d., .Waihi Grand Junction had quittance at ,-Cl 12s. 6d., and New Zealand Crown at 4s. Tho quotations were as under:— - i . . • ' Buyers. . Sellers. •, Sales. ; £s. d. £s. d. <£ s. d. Talisman* ... ' ... 2- 2 G 2 3 6 2 2'6 Waihi . ... ..; 9,2 0 93 0' 9-2.6 Waihi G'd Junction — — 112 6 N.Z. Crown ... ... — 0 4 2 0 4 0 Champion ... . ... 0 4.6 0 4 9 ,—. Blackwater ... 1 6'o 1 — Big River -. ..... ... .1 13 0.1 11 6 - . The course of sales 1 during the past month is shown _below:— Talisman, 395. 6d., 395. 3d., 395., 375., 355.,' 355. Gd., 355. 6d., 355. 9dl, 365., 375:, 385., 395.,' 395. 3d,, 405., 405./3 d., 425.; 41s., l 4os. 6d., 405., 405., 405., 40s:, 40s;; 40s. 3d.,'405., 405.,' 405., 40s:, 395. 9d., 405., 395. 9d;,'395. 9d.;-395. 9d„ 405., 405., 40s. 3d., 40s. 3d., 40s. Gd., 40s. 9d., 415., 41s. 3d., 40s. 6d., 415.3d., 41?. 6d., 41s. 6d., 425. 6d. Waihi, £8 19s. 6d., .£8 195., .£8 195., £8 195., *8 19s„ 3d., £9, £9 Is., £9 Is., £9 Is. 6d„ £9 Is. 6d., d£9 Is; G'd., .£9 Is. Gd., JE9 Is. Gd., £9 25., JB9 2s. Gd., £9,25. 3d., i 9 2s. 6d. Waihi Grand Junction, 31s. 9d., 325. 3d., 325. Gd.- ' ■■ ■; New Zealand Crown,'4s., 3s. 10d., 45.,- 4s. Id., Ss. -lOd:, 3s. 7d., 3s.'lOd.i 4s. Waihi Consolidated; 25., 25., Is. lOd. ' Tairua Conqueror (3d. paid), lid. Tairua Conqueror (6d. paid), lid., lHd., lid. Tairna,Broken Hills, 35., 2s. 7d. Tangiaro, 15..4 d., Is, 4d. Champion Contributing, 4s. 7d., 4s. lOd. Big River, 355., 355., 325. 6d., 325. 6d., 325. 6d., 325. Gd; , Blackwater, 21s>, 245.

THE LONDON "WOOL SALES. There will .bo keen disappointment respecting the opening of the fifth of the series of London wool sales, the tone being somewhat adverse. Several classes of wool show a decline of 5 per cent., and although there was a large at-, tendance, the bidding was not keen. It' was the opinion of many wool growers that the September-October series wonld see an improvement in values, consequently a considerable quantity of wool tfas held over, the total-carry-over being 88,000 bales, of which' 19,500 bales consisted of New Zealand wool. Altogether 254,000 bales were available for tho. series, and, although this is a large quantity . as compared with the. September sales of the' past five years, it is much below the big x carry-over immediately succeeding the "boom leavings of 1900,' as will be seen from the following:— ' '' : y Year. " Bales. Year. Bales. 3901 ...; 305,000 1905 82,000 1902 193,000 1906 102,000 1903 .......... 158,000 : -1907 " 95,000 ' 1904 ' 87,000 .1908 ' 254,000 In the year immediately succeeding the "boom," -viz., 19U0', there was no September series owing to tho stagnation of the trade, but an October-November series was held, at which the available wool was 368,000 bales, owing to the accumulations. Tho carry-over Wool, however, was quickly used up when trade revived. The carry-over .to-day therefore cannot be viewed so seriously as some would have us view it. Indeed, the fact that it is mainly v in first hands removes from it a good deal of its ' sting. With the revival of , normal consumption it would quickly vanish It is generally thought, that for all good wools last series prices will be maintained. There is a heavy weight of wool to be lifted, and with trade depressed in all the manufacturing and consuming centres it is scarcely to be wondered that'-the'raw material is not meeting with a better sale. As a guide to the movements of the .market we give below the prices current for.the several grades of New Zealand wool at' the'close of the July sales:— Superior. A Average. . Inferior. 1 Merino— d. d. £ d. d. . d. d. Scoured ....'2l to' 22 19} to 20} 18 to 19 Grease ... 12 to 13 91 to 101 75 to '8$ Pieces I _ - i scoured 20-to 20J iSVto 19J 16} to 17} Pieces..' ..' ■ ' grease' 10 to 11 8 to 9 65 to 7} Crossbred— Fine scoured 19 to 20 17 to IS 14}'. to 151 Medium , . ' scoured 131 to 141' 11! to 12J 91 to 10} Coarse , sconred 9} to 10} 8} to 9 7} to 7J ■ Fine grease 12 to 13 10 to 105 7J to 8} Medium grease 9 to 10} 7} to 8 G to 7 Coarse • • . grease 7} to 9 GJ to 7 5} to 5} Lambs' . grtase 8 to 9, 7 to 7} 4} to 6 scoured 16 to 18 9 to 10 7 to 7} pj OCeS S grease to.lo} sto, 5J 4. to dj WOLSELY SHEEP-SHEARING MACHINE. The Wolsely Sheep-shearing Machine Company, after years of. adversity, is now earning a dividend at the rate of 15 per cent, per annum. In addition, at the end of its last financial year the company "carried forward .£11,406, which, added to <£25,-115 brought forward, meant that the company had .£36,821 of undivided profits in hand. The policy of the directors is to keep a large sum available in this way to meet the season's requirements in Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. Heavy writing doiyn ]i;is been done in" the I past, as patents and goodwill now stand at . .£23,000, compared with .£135,000 some time back. The company paid its first dividend of 5 per cent, in 1904. Then in 1905 the dividend was 10 per cent., and in 1906 and 1907 15 per cent. CUSTOMS RETURNS FOR SEPTEMBER,'' ' During the month of September the Cui-toms revenue and beer duty collected at Wellington amounted to ,670,299 Is. sd. and .£IOB7 Is. fid. reupectively. The corresponding figures for 1907 were in excess of this year's returns, being (revenue) .£71,987 4s. Id. and (beer duty) .£ll2l ins. Oil. - Yesterday the Customs revenue collected amounted to JC2483 3s. 3d, GOLD OUTPUT. (BT TBLEOBAriI—rRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, Soptember 30. Tho total output of gold in the Auckland provinco for Soptombor amounted to -£112,167 os. lid." -Tho three districts Ohinemuri, Tluunes, and Coromandel contributing JC109.7J13 lis., 2(1., X22GI 9s. .93., and i.112 rcspectivolj. STOCK EXCHANUIi (bi tiutaaju'ii—raisa issoctation.) ' .., Duncdln, Sopfembor 30 Stock Exchange s4ct Xluburn {iiu# jmd - Ccacm, X'l IDs.

PROPERTY SALE. V At Messrs. J. H. .Bcthune arid Cp/s auction 6alc yesterday afternoon, a Karori r property was submitted, under instructions from tho Registrar of tho Supreme Court/ . This: comprised freehold land having an area of 36 lurches with an irregular frontage of ,203 ft. toMakarn Road, together with four-roomed dwelling, and was purchased by Mr. R. J. Tarr for i 235. STOCK SALES. ■ ' ■ The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., Peildin'g, ; report on their Apiti sale, at follows:—At-Api.ti -on luesday we had a good-yarding of 1?oth sheep , and cattle. Buyers for both classes,, were present, and we affected a clearance. Hoggets, and springing cows wero in'good demand a'tid sold freely. We quote Forward wethors, Us. lid.; mixed hoggets, 9s. to 10s. Bd.-;,owe. hoggets, to lis. Bd.; ewes with lambs at foot, 17s. 6d.; fat- cows,■ £4 2s. Cd.; store cows, 235. fid. 255.; backward.cows in calf,..£2 17s. to <£3 17s. 6d.; springing cows, JA 12s. *6d. to «£6 10s.; yearling heifers, 2Gs. 6d.; mixed weaners, 28s. 6d.; yearling steers, £2 Ib.; 18-month steers, JJ3 2s. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., roport on their • sale' of yesterday at .Paliiat.ua us follows:—Sh'eop entries 'were confined to a line, of hoggets atid a.' line\ of '-'dry ' Cattle came • forward in t excess • of advertised numbers, and, . being' mostly yprng steers , of-fair quality, sold above-vendors expectations. Hoggets sold at 10si Bd.;-springing cows, riC3 10s.; stores, in poor condition; £iis. to. 305.; yearling steers, 375. to- 475». A couple : of lines of bullocks were -passed in : unsold, pi ices being :i below owners' ideas of value. •, The -annual spring- horse fair.',held by'the New 'Zealand and Mercantile Agency Co.; Ltd., at Hawera, was concluded on Saturday. ! Over :1000 horses were catalogued, the majority being sold. Most of these were purchased by buyers.from other districts. A largo nuriiber of excellent tvpes -wore' purchased for the Wellington district by Mr. J. Y. Dyke, of Nainai, Lower Hutt. .• Some high-class horses of all descriptions were submitted, and were keenly competed for. On. the whole the prices were rather lower than. in previous years, but more horses than usual were disposed of.

tnr TSWOBivn—rit*sß association.) j Christchurch, September 30. i At the Addington live stock market to-day there were fair entries of stock and a good attendance. . Fat cattle made no change in prices. Store sheep - were rather better. .'Young lambsshowed' a considerable improvement in price, and fat sheep opened at about last week's rates. Pigs sold well. There .waS a moderate entry of store' sheep, a considerable proportion being ewes. For dry, sheep there was an improved demand, and prices showed-some advance, .and there was a good .clearance of the' whole yarding. The few lots of- wethers sold up to lGs. 2d.; ewe hoggets, to 14s. 9d.; wether hoggets, to 12s. Gd.; mixed sexes; to::13s. 10d,; two-tooth crossbred ewes, to 16s. 3d.; merino ewes, 1 8s.; and ewes and lambs, 10s., all counted., There'were about GO fat lambs penned, and thore was a much better demand than last week, and prices were considerably ..better, ranging from 16s. to 20s. Tho yarding of fat sheep was much smaller than of late,, and butchers, who were the only buyers,' competed freely, prices for primei lots'being firmer.'There were some good lines of crossbred weth'ers; but a considerable proportion of the yarding was not well finished. Towards the'.clCse of the sale prices were weaker, and.a number of lines wero' passed, Tho range of prices was: Extra prime wethers, to 27'5.; prime, 20s. to 225. 4d.; medium,. 17s. 6d. to. 19s. 6d.; lighter, 15s. 4d, to 175.; prime merino wethers, 14s. to- 15s. Gd.; lighter, 10s. lOd. to 1 13s. 4d.;-prime ,'ewes, 17s. 6d. to 215.;. extra, to 235. Gd.; medium, 15s. to 175.; hoggets, 14s. to 16s. 6d/-There was a small entry of ' store' cattle, "mostly in poor condition,' and they met with a dragging sale. Fifteen to 18-months, sorts mixde-293.; : 2-yoar steers, £2 95.';.3-year-steer's; £4:35.'; 'and dry cows, 16s. to £3 Bs. Dairy cows were dull of sale at JG3 10s. to .£6 17s. Gd., tho entry being sirialrand the quality poor. The .number. of fat cattle entered was 186, but.in .view of the supplies obtained at the Culverden sale the. previous week the'offerings were sufficient for the trade. The general average was of fair quality, and included some good heifers. Bidding was fairly ." brisk, and almost all' lots changed hands at the previous week's prices. Steers made £5 12s. 6d. to .£ll lOs.; heifers, £5 fo JO9 12s. 6d.; and cows, ,£4 17s. Gd. to .£8 155., equal to 245. to 28s. for prime, 21s. Gd. to 235. 6d. for medium, and 18s. to 21s. for cow and inferior' per 1001b. The' bulk of the vealers were small, and prices ranged at 14s. Gd. to 555., and some yearlings J23 17s. 6d. There was a small entry of pigs, and all -classes sold-remarkably well. Choppers made up to £5 55.; heavy baconors, 70s. to 88s.; and lighter, 50s. to 655: (equal to 6d. per lb.); largo porkers, 425. to 485.; smaller, 325. to 40s. (<-qual to 6d. to 6Jd. per lb.); large stores, 355. to 375.; medium, *30.5. to'34s.; and weariers, 14s. to 235. 6d., according to size and age.

(by telegraph—press association.) ° . . ■ Dunedin, September 30. At- Burnside stock Bale 3349 sheep were yarded, a big yarding, consisting mainly of Rood wethers and a small-nuniber: of ewes: Prices for prime wethers ivere somewhat in advance of last week's quotation, but ewes met' with very, poor deipand. Freezing buyers bought freely, but prices, for' freezing. weights were a shade easier' than last week. Best wethers, 20s. to 225. Gd.; extra,' to'23s. 3d. j medium, 17s. 6d. t0.195.; inferior, up to 165.; best ewes, up to 17s. ?d.; inferior and light, up to lis. Fourteen lambs were yarded, and sold up to 275. Gd. ... Cattle: 198 yarded. A medium yarding, consisting of some pens of prime quality bullocks, which brought prices slightly below those quoted last week. Best bullocks, JilO to .£l2 55,; medium, £7 to .£9; inferior, up to 55.; best l heifers, up to JiS 155.; medium, £6 10s. to\S7 Ms;; inferior, up to JES ss. Pigs: 115 yarded. There was brisk demand for young pigs. Porkers and baconers were firm at'late rates: There was ,a small yarding of porkers 'and Suckers, 19s. to 21s. 6d.; slips, 235,' to 285.; stores, 335. to 3Ss.;'porkers; 40s. to 425.; light-baconers.'4Bs. to 535.; heavy, 58s. to 605.; choppers, to £i 6a. ■ • GRAIN MARKET. .; ' (BYTELEqKArfI— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, September 30. Oats.—Business, last week was chiefly confined to seed lines, for which thore is fair inquiry. Export demand was quiet, but. sellers are indisposed to accept reduction on reserves, believing the shipments now being* made to England, will prospects here before long. Prime milling, 2s. OJcL to 2s. Id.';, good to best feed, Is. lid. to 25.; inferior to medium, Is. 3d. to Is.. IOJd. ; ... , Wheat.—Prime milling has decidedly bettor inquiry, jnd nearly all sales this week-have been at an advance on late rates. Medium quality is not grenlly favoured by millers, but_ has ready sale as fowl wheat. Prime milling, 4s. 4Jd. to 4s. ■ sd:; medium, 4s. 4d.j whole fowl wheat, 4s. 3d. to 4s. 4d.; medium fowl wheat, 4s. to 4s. 2d.; broken ariddamaged, 3s 3d. to 35.: Dd. , .: ' LONDON WOOL SALES. SHABBY WOOLS DECLINE. 5 PER CENT. London, September 29. The wool sales opened brisk.'- Good classes are firm, and faulties 5 per cent, lower. LATER. (Kec. September 30, 9.58 p.m.) London, September 30. Messrs. Buxton and Ducroy . aii'd ' Messrs. Balme and Co. offered a joint catalogue of 13,379 bales, including 7295" ,New., Zealand, largely slipes and' gcoureds.There.jwas' a' full attendance' of buyers, including,, Americans. There was keen competition in a)l' quarters for all the best wools. Compared' : witji the Jiily closing rates;'good merino , were, unchanged, faulty and shabby were from par. to 5 per cent, easier. Fine crosisbreds were .unchanged, coarse greasics wore" 5 per cent easier, slipes and scoureds".-were 7} fier cent easier. . ' BROKERS' WOOL CABLES.' Messrs. Dalgety and Co.l Ltd., Wellington, have received the following .cable message from their London office, dated September'29:—"The wool sales have opened with a good selection. There is A large attendance of buyers and competition is animated. Prices are, unchanged for merinos generally, fine cnwibreds, medium and coarse crossbreds, but Jor heavy earthy and wasty merino prices are at par to 5 per cent, lower as compared with the closing rates of last series. Shabby crossbred wools, greasy, are also at froiji par to 5 per cent, lower. Slipe wools '5 to Vi per cent, lower." ' The N.Z.L. and M.A. Company this morning received the following cablegram from their London house:—"Wool: As compared, with last salos closing rates prices are lower about par to 5 per cent, for merino, medium and inferior and greasy crossbred; and. about 5 per cent, lower for crossbred scoured and crossbred s!ip«. For good merino th'o market is firm. The attendance at the sales is. good, but biddins was not very keen." United Fanners' Co-opurativo .Associai lion, Ltd., received , tho following , cablo from 1 tiioir Loudou ageuta pbilsji' datq September '<3:--

"The'fifth series of wool sales opened (o-day, and wero well attended, by Home, Continental, and American buyers. As compared with tho closing rates, of last sales, prices for fine medium, and coarse crossbreds ruled from par to 5 per cent, decline." , Messrs. ; Levin and Co. have received the following message from their London' agents:— "The market is steady. There is a good demand for coarse crossbreds, also medimii and 6lipc wools. Faulty merinos rather weaker. Other qualities aro unchanged." " Messrs. 'Murray, Roberts, and Co. have 'received the following wool market cablegram from'their London house, Messrs. Sanderson, Murray, and Co., dated September 29, 190S:— "Tho'sales hnvo opened with a good attendance of buyers, .and brisk competition. With the exception of inferior descriptions, which are par.to 5 per cont. lower, prices.show- no material change." ' THE METAL MARKETS. (DI TELiCßArH—rittss ASSOCIATION—CorytuJiU.) London, September 29. Copper.—On spot, £59 12s. 6d.; three months, £60,85. 9d. Tin.—On spot, <£132 10s.; three' months, .£133 ' 17s. Gd. Silver, 23Jd. • . SHARES. London, September 2D. Shares are unchanged. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE MAEKETS. Sydney, ■ September 30. Wheat, 4s. 3ld.■ Flour, £9 ss. Oats: Tasmanian, 3s. Id;; New Zealand "A" grade' gartons, -3s. 2d.; "B," 3s. Id: ■ Barley: Capo, 4s. 7d. to . 4s. Bd. Maize,. 4s. sd. Brand and. pollard, £6, Potatoes: Tasmanian, £4.155.--to X 5 105..-. Onions: Victorian, .£l2; Japanese, i!ls. Butter, 112s. Bacon, Bd. Melbourne, September 30; Wheat, '4s. ljd- to' 4s. 2d.. Flour, .£8 10$. Oats, Algerian, to 2s. Bd. Barley, Cape prime, 4s. 2d. 'Maize,' 4s; Bran,. Is. la. Pollard, Is.' 2d. Potatoei Tasm'aniahs, to ss'. Onions, £10 10s.. '• ! Adelaide.September 30. Wheat, 3s. 10Jd. Flour, £8 ss. to £8 10s. Bran and pollard, Is. Id. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. • . The Department of Industries and Commerce has received the following cable from the High Commissioner; dated London, September 28, 190?:The mutton market is dull on account of heavy arrivals; trade is very disappointing,' 'there being'only a very hand-to-mouth demand. Cauterbury mutton is quoted at 4Jd.';' North Island,-31d.; River Plate, 3id. per lb. • The lamb market is weak. Thero is a dull sale for heavy carcasses, and the market seems likely to decline. Canterbury lamb is quoted at sid., and other than Canterbury at sd.\ per lb. The beef market is quiet, but .steady..- There is less demand for New Zealand brands on account of chilled beef from the River Plato selling, at the same price. -Hindquarters are quoted a't.4Jd., and forequarters at 3gd. per lb. ■ The . butter markot remains firm, and prospects are favourable; The- following are tho ciirrent quotations:—Choicest New Zealand, 116s. per cwt. nominal; Danish, 1235.; Argon-' tine; 116s.;.Canadian, 1175.; and Siberian, 108s. ; The cheese "market is quiet, but firm, and there is a good demand. Canadian brands aro quoted at 61s. per cwt. ■ The hemp market is rather quiet, and a poor business has been done. The following are the current quotations:—Good fair grade, on spot, £27 10s.; fair grade, on spot, £23; fair current Manila, on spot, £23 10s.; October to December 'shipments are' quoted as follow:— Good fair grade, £26; fair grade, £23; fair current Manila, £23 10s. Last week's output from Manila amounted to 30,000 bales. ■ • The cocksfoot seed market is \qniet, and buyers aro not keen to do business. The American new crop has been sold at 80s. per cwt. The market is firm, with a hardening tendency. Oats.—The market is quiet, and prices are slightly weakor. Beans and Peas.—The market is -.firm, with an upward tendency. The hop market is.quiet, but rather steadier.

DISCHARGE OR TRANSFER? — 4INTERESTING POINT IN SHIPPINC LAW. A reserved decision of more than usual interest concerning the seafaring community was delivered by Mr. \V. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. The caso was that of the Marino Department (Mr. Fell) v Captain. Sutcliffe' (Mr. Johnston). Defendant, master of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamor Ton-, gariro, was charged on two informations: the first, with failing, on August 30, to discharge a certain seaman, W. Young, in the presence of a superintendent of mercantilo marine, in,tho manner provided by the Shipping and Seaman' Act, 1903 ; the'second information charged defendant' with having, on the same day, failed to sign and give to the same seaman discharged from tne ship a certificate of discharge as required by the provisions of the Shipping and Seaman Act. The facts were the same in both cases, and were admitted, viz.;: —That on August' 30, without going through the usual form'of discharge, the seaman in question was, by arrangement and with his consent, transferred from the steamer Tongariro to the Rimutaka, a vessel belonging to the same company,'then on the eve of sailing for London. . An entry was made in the log-hook of the Tongariro to the effect that W. Young, a fireman, had been transferred to the Rimutaka'by mutual consent, and'that owing to the : Customhouse being closed his wages, £2 lis., had been banded to'him in the presence of ' certain witnesses. Young undertook to releaso the ship from further claim, and received his discharge book. The agreement with ; the crew entered into prior to the departure of the Tongariro from London oontained the following clause:—"The crew or any member thereof may he transferred, if required, at any port and at any time during the period of this agreement, to any other vessel of the New Zealand Shipping Company's fleet, or to any other steamer returning to a port in the United Kingdom, rating, scale of pay,' and period of service being tho same," and by another clause each member of the crew, agreed to remain in tho company's service for a period npt exceeding two years. For "tho defence, said his Worship, it was argued that there had been no termination of the seaman's engagement, as tho'transfer ivas riiado under an express agreement between him and his employers, and that it had been held in the case Fraser v. Hatton and another that such an agreement was lawful and not contrary to lie statute. That decision was given under an Imperial statuto which contained provisions similar to thoso of the New Zealand statute, and it had never been questioned. Under Section 55 it was only when a seaman was, on tho termination of his engagement, discharged in New Zealand, that he must be discharged before a superintendent. If the engagement between the seaman and his employer had not terminated the section did not apply. But tho case.' was rather different under Section 56, which dealt with every seaman discharged from his ship, whether foreigngoing or home trade, without the limitation mentioned in Section 55, and whether in tho ordinary way or on payment of his wages. By Subsection 1 of that section 'every seaman on signing articles must produco a discharge in' respect' of the capacity in which he wished to engage, and by Subsection 2, when a seaman had signed articles, he must hand bis discharge from his last ship to tho superintendent, who would thereupon cancel that discharge by stamping the word "re-engaged" over the name of the ship in which the man last served. From this it would appear that in order to carry out other provisions of tho Act, even in the case of transfers of seamen 1 from ono ship to another, shipmasters should | comply with Section's 6, and as that had not been done by defendant ho must be convicted and fined 20s. and costs £3 10s. under this section. Security for appeal was : fixed.