COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 447, 4 March 1909, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

THE SHARE MARKET. ' Sales of iWestport-Stockton Coal' at Bs. 9d. and LoyJand-O'Brieu Timber at .£1 2s. Gd. wero reported, tind a salo of National Insurance at ■CI Bs. 3d.;was ntadfi.on. .'Change. . There were a fair number ot~ buying quotations, insurance 6hares rccciving more attention than usual. National Banks, buyers .£5 Is., sellers .£5 35.; National Mortgage, bnyors £1 125.; New Zealand Loan- and Mercantile, buyers 2s. Gd., Eel-' lets 3s. 3d..; Wellington Trust and Loan, buyers ■ £7i sellers .£7 2s. Gd.; Wellington' Gas (.£lO paid), buyers ,£16.155., (now issue), buyers 12s. 6d. premium; National Insurance, buyers. £1 Bs,. sellers';,£l Bs. 6d.; New Zealand-Insuranco, 1 buyers JE3"; 135.; South British, buyers £2 9a. 6d., sellers X 2 lis. Gd.; Gear Meat (XI paid), buyers JE2 '10s.; Meat Export (.£2 12s. Gd. paid), buyers £3, ! sellers ,£3 Is. 6d.; Manawatu Rails, buyers .£2 .los.; Wellington Woollen (ordinary), ! buyers £3, sellers £8 Is. Gd. enm dividend; Westport-Stockton Coal, buyors Bs. 7d1," sellers 95.; Kauri' Timber (15s. paid), buyers 14s. Gd., sellers "15s:; Leyland-O'Brien Timber, buyers ill 2s. 3d., sellers .£1 2s. 9d.; New Zealand Portland Cement, buyers ,£1 155., sellers,.£l 16s. Gd.; Sharland's (preference), buyers 17s. 9d., sellers 18s. 3d.; Taranaki Petroleum, sellers 95.; Ward ' and Co. (brpwery shares), sellers JMjl7s,"6d,\ 1 THE' MINING MARKET. : ; Sales of (Talismans at £2 ss. ,3d., ,£2 ss. 6d„ £2 ss. 6d.,' and Wailu at .£8 16s. Gd. were re- • ported, and p. salo of Saxons at Is. Bd. was made on 'Chango. Tho quotations wero as under:— •; , .. Buvers. Sellers. Sales. . £s. d. £s. d. £s. d. . Waihi I Grand.. Junction-" 1.5 6 • — — Talisman •'. 253 25G 256 Tairuat 'Broken Hills' ■ 0 15 0 1 9 - N.Z. Crown .1. 0 <jr' 3 ;,0 4 ;G. \Waihi 1 8 IG.. 0 ' •-8 17 ft 8 16-. G ■ Saxon \ O-l- S .-.-O ,1 .? 0 1.;3 Consolidated Gold- '. •' !'" fields ? 012 0 - . - Big River;;. .113 G 117 0 ' Blackwaterl. ...J 1 0 0 —'■ • t.,' ' ; ; IMPORT MARKETS. ! ' A quiet trado.-is.,passing,,betweon...niea:chants and-retailors; the latter buying from hand to month. There is practically no change in th« quotations:— Arrowroot—Do.herty's ,i's- -and .l's,. J(ia. t tp„ 4d. per lb. " •', ' ;•* -, • ' Blue—Reckitt's, bag B|d.; square 7Jd.; Colman's and-Keen's, Eiu-. pire, Gd. y 1 " ! "ijrf, , 5 Vi V* Candles —The New /cTtlnnu -C'nndU; •;'Cf in-' pany's quotations, issued December 19, are - .— Premier stearine and five medal, Bperm, French sperm, Universal ivay. lacel- '■' sior paraEne, Gd,Apollo,,sperm .tiii.\enus paraffins, 6|d.; Venus': : God_.; piano, bedroom, ./lortsi- packed in cardboard boxes, 7}d.;'less the usual trade discounts. Price's London sperm, IGoz., 63d.; 140z., 6Jd.; Bnrma, 16o»., 6Jd. Cornflour Sis meeting with fair sale. B. and P., s}d. toijd.; Johnson's, 2id.},-IJrown,s, 3d.; Chicago, 23d. |"; I'j V,.,'' Evaporated apricots, apples', and' praches make from K ,7Jd. to Bd. per lb. . . Canned. Fruits.—There, is a fair at 83. Gd. to 12s. Gd,, according to qoility.' Quota-, tions for Australian canned fruits' are now be-' ing given by several importers, .and ,-they...are practically on the same basis'; as .'last -year.''. l -" Dried Emits.—Currants, finest provincials, 3d. . per lb,; cleaned Amalias, 3i(J.,; if .llb„ 3s. Gd. per i'doz. Sultanas, selected 3jd., choice 4d., golden to sJd.per lb;lib. Cartons,,4s. 6d. per dozen. Dates, bulk, 2Jd. per lb.; Carton's, 35.-Gd. per dozen. Figs, 12oz. glove boxes, 3s. Gd. per I 'dozen., Figs,v inb. layers, ; 4j_d:; naturals, sd. por'lb.' Seeded raisiiis are 'slightly • lower, faucjf llb>cpackets'!43;;.'ch'ois»'.3s;"Gd.Vper dozen. Muscatels,: Californian, s's boxes 6d., . 10's s}d., 20's 4ja.'''perlK , ; : 'Malaga','SS'Siat,'lo(L. . per Jb. • Mildura Fruits—The grades and prices for the now season's Mildura, fruits, are published in the Melbourne papers. Several changes have been.madojn the.grades..; Thus, in sultanas ther f ' five-crown has been incorporated with tho ' four-crown,i aiid -is, 'to boCa. uuperibr top-grade fruity The three-crown is now the Australian standard. . Tho view of the •association vis that, takingi.quality;,into! cot};, sideration, - prices are much > nioro >f , than last jrear, the standard friiit being quoted at Gd., whilo last year tho quotation was 6<d. Other grades have been priced correspondingly. In lexias six-crown (the old * golden extra) has been abandoned and amalgamated'' with the five-crown. .'The four-crown is tho Australian 6tandard, and " raisins'', 'is,, apparently 'jabol-, ished, thati.'grade" being'covered by ; bno-c"rown. - Prices in the lexias'areVonly'tentative, as the crop haa-'not yet' beei) harvested;' indeed, the ; prices announced are "subject-, to crop." Such prices, however; have been fixed at from Jd.: to Jd. less than-the corresponding grades of last year. The standard grade, of currants hfis-been.advanced, last.year it was Bid.; this year it; is' sjd. The ''standard' grade this year .is .three-crown, as against two-crown. Poaches are ljd. per lb. lower than; last year, arid muscatels show a similar reduction.

Samples received from Mildura and Renmark show that; 'the;.fruit, is ...of.,excellent,.quality, though in some cases curraats show somo slight sign of hasty drying. The. total crop of currants is estimated to be ;2QOO' tonsj'.tho estimated lultana: crop Tof'Mildura and Eenmark reaches about .the same figures; while, the crop of peaches at Eenmark,';Mildura, and tha Gou,lburn Valley is estimated at 90 tons. Among the distributing houses, some interest is being shown as to how the incorporation of the lower grade's with higher-grades will work out. The following are the ."prices"'as fixed by the association.'for 1009, compared'"with those for 1903. Such/prices are the same for Adelaide, Melbourne; Sydney, and Newcastle,-but are an ■eighth higher for Brisbane, Freiiiantle, Albany, and Tasmania:—.. 1 ~7''" " '

SULTANAS., ISO 3. 1903. ... d., d. - 5 Crown — 7-J ,4 Crown ' ... ! .... 6J.,. -GJ , -... 3 Crown (Australian standard) G GJ 2 Cro-.vn ... f .. . ... ... .5} G 1 Crown ... .:. ... ....'.-Si'" 5' ' LEXIAS (Tentative Prices);*-'' ••*' 1909. ' 1903.' ' • • d. d. .' 6 Crown — '5| s!Crowii ... .... 4} , 5 ■ , 4,' Crown v.'.'-" : '4i'" '4s' i: " 3 Crown 4 4i"' " 2 Crown ... , 3J 4J 1 Crown '...' 3J 4 -Raisins/ .... ... , ... ... — 3,} Seedless ...- '4J ■'.• 4J-. Musca(J;Sultanas 4i 4J ; CUEEANTS:--. i'-'-;1909;1908. " • ' d. ,d. - i CrovQn .... . ... .... 6 . G ■ \ 8-.Crown (Australian: standard)' 51 : '5J " 1. 2 Crown "l, ' 's|' " sV_.:'1 Crown 55 . .5J - 'PEACHES. ' "■ i • . 1909. 1908:, „ „Vd.\ d.i I 4 Crown OV 11-Jf..* • 3 Crown.(Australian standard)-9} -H-- • 2 .., ... *"'!;*9 10 1 Crown ... ■ 8 ! 9 " .Plain 5 . y.. w -f : AIUSCATELS (1909 PEICES). ~ , H ' 'J!rays.i2lb'. Cartons, lib. Cartons! 6 Crown 1 . ;V;. ,Bid. 9d. .9.1. 1 Crown ' '"'Bid' '" '''' 2 Crown " ... GJd. 7d. 7Jd. 1 Crown ... 51d; 6d. 6Jd. Ginger—Preserved, fair sales;-10's-and 28's being quoted at 7.id. to ad- per lb, Canned. l l''ish.- j .The liaarket 'is' fulls-' supplied, but as the demand just now is good, because of the Lenten -period, -stocks oughtv to show some reduction'by Easter. ' ' Herrings.—Tho.winter herring fishery'iii'Newfoiindland- w'aters: closed ;on- January ip.-' 1 The ' catch t'or.thb season.ttiiiouiited to--only -75,000 barrels, the value of which is' about" :X3G,00.0, : ' as against >142,000.' barrels,'s valued at 'for the previous;, .sea^buv• Jlustard. —Fair sales. Colman's D.S.F., 4's, Is. 51d. to Is. Gd.; i's, Is. 31d. to'ls; 4d.; Dur- . ham, 71b. . tins, 7d. to 7jd. Jlatches. Piaids, 3d, Bd. to 3s. 9d. a gross; penny slides, Bs. 9d. to 9s. G(L;. safeties., small, foreign, 3s. to 39^Sid.; Bryant and- May's, small, 4s. Gd., large 7s. Gdv* '■' Condensed Milk.—Highlander, >« fe.'-; >Cowiilipr 4s. Gd.; Swiss Milkmaid,"Gs: ; 'Gd; ' to' fk""lld. per dozen. Canned Meats.—Sheep tongues, 10s. Gd. to lis. for l's; ox tongues, 2-i's, 31s. to 345., 3's, 345. to iSGs. per dozen; Gear's assorted, potted, 4s. Gd.; St. George's, 55.; ~ .... : Peel—Quotations- are-• unchanged. .lemon,'' 7's, sd._; orange, 5!d., and citron, Is. per lb. There is a probability; of an advance in'peel, bccauso of the destruction of crops in Sicily. From Messina peel manufacturers rcceivo the raw material,, and. it is feared ithat-with a shortage'iii supplies values will tend,, upwards. , , Pickles-Morton's- hexagon 10s. 6d., round 12s. 6d. per dozen; Captain. White's, 235. Gd.; Carton's- 11.P., J-pints, 10s. Gd., pints 18s. Gd.; puro pickles,. 9£ Gd. Rice.—No. ; l-,--163.,-;Np ; 2,' : 155. per . cwt. A shipment of Japanese rico has come forward, and this'is the fitsfc'lot-received since, the o.titbreak of hostilities-, Russia .'Hid Japan: . The quality of the rice is really oxcellent. Salt.—German tnble salt is on; the market for the first time for many years, and is meeting with" "ready sale.

Starch.—Colman's, lib. boxes, 5Jd. to sJd.j slb packets, sd. to 5Jd.; New Zealand, lib. boxes, 38s. to 3i)s. per cwt.; 51b. packets, 375. to 38s; .per cwt. Tapioca.—Seed, Us. Gd.; pearl, 15s. Gd. per cwt.

Sugar.— I The market is steady, with a good demand. 1A and No. 1, 56's, JUG las.; No. 2, JGI6 55.; No. 3. _Cl 5 ss. per ton. •Vinegar.—Midland lieu Hock, quarts, Bs.; Champion, quarts, Us. Gd.; Red Senl. quarts, •Is.; Midland concentrated, Boz. bottles, 10s. Gd. per dozen; concentrated, sgal. casks, Bs. Gd. per gallon; pure malt, 28gal. casks, 2s. Gd. per gallon. Chemicals.—Cream of tartar.,9s per cent., 9d. to OJd., 99 per cent. 9-I'd. to lOd.; tartaric acid, Is. 3d. per lb.; soda crystals, £5 10s.; bicarbonate of soda, .£lO 103.; calcium carbidc, .£ls to illG; -Milestone, 10s.; whiting, -£t 15s. Tea.—Latest advices from Colombo aro to. the effect that tho market continues to exhibit a firm tono. Americans wero operating freely in anticipation of a duty being placed on this commodity when the tariff is revised.

FRUIT AND PRODUCE REPORTS. Griffiths and Co., Ltd., report quotations at thoir fruit and produce markets, held yesterday, as follow:—Potatoes, best grade, 3s. 9d. to 45.; inferior and small,- 2s. 3d. to 35.; onions, ss. cwt. for locals; cabbages,■ Is. to Is. Gd. sack; cauliflowers,'ls. to Is. 9d.; peas, ss. to ss. Gd.; beans'," Is', to' Is. 6d.; tomatoes, choice 3s. to 3s. -"sodotlds Is. to 25.; lettuce. choice_4s. to 4s. Gd. in banana-cases, inferior Gd. to Is. in banana .cases;.plums, choice 4s. Gs. to ss. Gd., ordinary 3s. to 3s. 9d.; apricots, none offering; peaches, choico dessert Gs. to 7s„ primo dessert 4s. to 55., stewing 2s. 9d. to 3s. 3d.; apples, choice Jonathans 10s., choico Cox O.P. 10s„ ordinary desserts 7s. to Bs., choice green cookcrs 4s. 9d. to ss. Gd.; local grapes, 6d. to lid. per lb.; bananas', ss. 6d. to Gs. Gd.; Island oranges, 10s.; to 10s. Gd.; nectarines, 3s. to -Is.; pears, choico Canterbury . 7s. 9d. to Bs. 3d., seconds Canterbury 7s. to' 7s. 9d., cooking 2s. 9d. to 3s. Gd. half-case; eggs, fresh, Is. 7d. to Is. Bd. per '<lo:eri;' pumpkins, 3s. 9d. to 45.; swedes, Is. ■half sacks; carrots, 25.,3 d. to 3s. sack; parsnips, •2s. 9di' to v3s.; 'cucumbers,-2s. -9d. to 3s. 6d. 'banana cases. The market took a new leaso of

life yesterday, and prices all round in fruit showqd a material improvement, especially iapplds andpears. Tho Fiji boat arrives to-day.

WELLINGTON MARKET REPORT. -^Laerjr- V and-'Co.,-' Ltd., Wellington, report wholesale prices ruling on the market:— Wheat, fowl Is. 6(1. to 4s. 9d., brokeii 3s. 9d. to 4s. 3d.; oats, 2s. Id. to 2s. 6d., dnn oats 2s. Id. to_2s.. 3d.j'seed oats 2s. 9d. to 2s. 10d., Algerian seed oats 2s. Gel.; maize, ss. 2d. to ss. 4d.; crushed malt, Bs. 9(1.; fowl barley, 35.; horse beans, 4sr;Bd.;'all at per .bushel; ricemeal, i! 5 •to ia 55.; -flour, vN.Z., .£ll. 10s., Australian "Veio las. to ill'} bran, ,r i£s 10s.; to £5 155.; pearl barlev. -619 10s.; jpeas, partridge 4s. 9(1., Prussian bluo fis., fowl peases. 3d., split .£lB 10s.; bonedust, .£G; superphosphates, .£5 to £o 55.; guano; <£4 10s.; chaff (oatensheaf), ,£3 10s. to ; oatmeal, .£lO 10s. to >610 155.; new potatoes, jC3 to'£t 10s.; onions,'vJ!6; molasses fodder, £5 10s.; bacon, factory, sides 7}d., hams 7i., rolls Bd-; primo bulk butter, , Bd. to 81(1. Poultry: -Hens 35., ducks 4s. to 55.; turkeys, gobblers lis. to 125., hens 9s. to 10s.; fresh eggs, Is. Gd. to Is. 7d. per dozen; .cheese, Gd. to 65(1. per per lb'.; Akaroa cocksfoot 9d., farmers' dressed sd. to 6d. per lb,; ryegrass,, 3s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. per bushel; 'Italian (ryegrass, 3S; f)d. to 4s. bushel; white 'clover^-70s. to 755. per cwt; red clover, 655. cwt.; cow ,grass, 655. cwt.; alsike, 82s.> Gd. cwtr; mustard,v4os. cwt.;-.trefoil,'37s. Gd. cwt.; rapd'seed,''-265. cwt.timothy, 325. Gd. cwt.; swede and turnip seed, GOs. cwt. PEOPEETT SALE. • "At-Messrs. • Thomson and Brown's salo of Edinburgh Terrace properties, Mr. H. Anderson purchased property to the value of. <£2835. 'LIVE' STOCK SALES.' ' 'Messrs.,-Dalgety- .and . Co.; Ltd., report, on "tK6ir'"Otaki'"sal6V''as 1 follows:—A full yarding of sheep mot rather a dragging salo at auction, vendors having, in most eases, to ' reduce _ re-serve'-beforei'sales, wero • effected.. The prices "realised 1 were"as follow:—2-tooth wethers, 10s. 6d.'to .lis. 1 Id.'; small wethers, Bs. 6d.;'2-tooth ewes,-135.; mixed, aged.ewes, Bs. to 10s. 4d.; fat ewes, lis.' Id;; store lambs, 55., ss. 4d., to 65.; fat wethers, 135.; Bomney rams, «£1 Is,; small ,7s. ,i6d. to 125.; 18-months heifers, JC3 ' 65.; store cows, iSU' to £2 10s.; yearling steers, .£1 75.; light faf.cows, £&' Bj. Messrs. Abraham and Williams, Limited, report on their Masterton. stock sale, held on •Tuesday, as follows:—Sheep were yarded greatly in excess of advertised, numbers,'upwards of ,e%ht thousand being'penned. Bidding at auction was duller than ■at previous' .sales; and, although'.we quitted the bulk of; the yarding, vendors..had, in .'most cases, to slightly lower their, reserves! The entry in cattle consisted of bullocks,; ,ai«l tko usual odds and ends of cows and weaners. " Quotations:—Sheep—Wethers, lis. to 125.; culls, 95.; woolly lambs, 9s. 10(1. to 10s.; shor)i : lambs, 6s. Id. to Bs. 7d. Rams— Homneys',to' li guineas; Southdowns, 2 to 3} guineas; Xincolns, 2 guineas; Shropshires, 1 to 3 guirfeas. Cattle—Forward conditioned bullocks, £b 10s. to .£6 Is.; cows and calves, 30s. to 405.; weaners, J3l; calves, 7s. to lis.

• t "iDDINGTON STOCK SALE. 8 ' [Bl' ll tIGBArH— PRMS HSOCtATrON.I Chrtstchurch, March 3. At tie; 'Addington.' yards to-day there wore fairly largo'entries'of stock and\a good attendance. ..Tat Cattle','sold at about last week's rates; Store v sheep and fat la.mbs were easier, and : fat -sheep ;sold ! at: still lower prices. -Pigs sold at latei rates, 'ind there was a rather dull .for. storo cattle. : . • was the largest for tMs/'seastfni about 1 3000 being yarded. There was -a number 'of ] North Island, and Chatham Island'Shoep among the lines of, wethers and ewes. There , was a large entry of lambs, and they were mostly- light and inferior sorts. . The .demand for all classes was easier, and prices showed a reduction oh lato rates. [Forward rape lambs were the only sorts that maintained anything like late values, while there was a considerable drop in low-conditioned and lambs. Ewes of all ages also 'suffered in price, even young ewes not being in 'she'll strong demand as of late. Wethers •were dull-of sale, though thflre wore some .good lines on offer, and several lines were passed, forward wethers made 12s. to 12s. 6d. ; medium,-lis. to lis. 6d.;' small loir-conditioned .'find travel-stained, 7s. 9d. to 10s.' 3d.; forward rape lambs, lis. 6d. to 12s. 9d.; medium, 10s. to 10s.:. 9d.; inferior, 7s. 9d. to 95.; best two'tooth ewes,'.to 18s. 10d.; others, 155.,6 d. to 16s. 6d.j small; Ms. to 15s. 3d.; sound mouth, 125.; and,.!,, G,and 8-tooth, to 12s. lid. "There .:was 'an entry' of 50G1 fat lambs, or about; 350 less ; than ,]ast week, the quality on tfye; whole, being good. The export buyers chafing again-reduced, their limits, all classes "were" easier,"heavy-weight lambs being most •affected." ,The buyers- limits are now -lid. to 3filb.; 4:\d.-fbr 3(Slb. to 421b.; and'second quality 3Jd. for .over ,421b. ...There wore 4GGS lambs taken for freezing at 12s. 2d. to Us. 7d., 321 by butchers, the top price for a few heavy-weights making 15s. 9d. to 17s. Gd., and 75 were passed in."., .... .. ~ '• Ther isntry of fat sheep was not quit© so large as. last-week, but the-supply was more than 'sufficient', for the bufchers, and prices showed a- ; further'■ decline. "It was less noticeable in wethers than .in ewes, but a few lots of the former wore cheap enough for graziers to purchase.; Aged and inferior ewes showed the 'largest reduction in ' .values, and the lowest prices, .for.,the season,, I were realised. The range of 'price's'"' was Prime wethers,' 15s. 6d. to 17s. Id.; others, 12s.' 9d. to 155.; prime ewes, lis. Od. to 145.; extra, to lis. lid.; medium, 9s. 6d. to" lis.; and aged and light, Gs. to 9s. The yarding of fat cattle totalled 305 head, the quality beinx somewhat below that of late sales, steers being in short supply.. There was a- fair demand, and prices showed littlo or ho alteration from last week. Steers made .£6 17s. Gd. to ,£1 7sJ Gd.; heifers. .£5 2s. Gd. t0.<67 12s. Gd.; and. cows, .£4'l7s.-6d. to .£B—equal to 225. to .23s.>.for.prime;'19s;.to 21s. Gd. for medium, '<md 179. : to" 18s. Gd.-for-cow and inferior per 1001b. Veal'calves sold at 4s. 7d. to 505., ac•c6rditig"to size and quality, There was a largo entry of storo cattle, including some - good lines, but the demand lacked the freshness shown at last sales. Local yearlings made 225.; 15 to 18-months, 3Ss. to 485.; 2-year steers, .£3 2s. Gd. to .£3 55.; 2year heifers, £2 Bs. to ,£2- ISs. Gd.; ■ 21-year 'steors.'iE-i 17s. Gd.;'3-year .steers, £$■ 7s. Gd. to iG); dry C9w5,,.255. to £3. Southland cattle, of w-h*ich there were consignments totalling about 150. head made-7-For yearlings, 28s. Gd.; 2-year steers,- sS2 Bs. to M 175.; 21 and 3-year heifers, .£3 10s.; 3-year steers, .£5; 3 and 4-year steers, M 195.; and dry cows, 3Ss, to £3 3s. Dairy -cows .were in only fair demand, and made .£3' 10s.' to ' JE9

Tho entry of pigs was smallor than last week,-and there.was a fair demand at lato rates. Choppers sold up to .£4 10".; large baconers,.6os. to 675.; lighter, 48s. to 50s. (equal 'to sd: pfer lb.); large. choppers, 425. to 505.; smaller, 30s. to 40s. (equal to Gd. per lb.); largo stores, 325. to 3Gs.; medium, 2Ss. to 315.; weaners, 12s. to 225. Gd., a line of about 70 from Cheviot making 12s. Gd. to 21s. Gd.

BTJENSIDE 'STOCK MARKET. . 1 (nV TKLEQEIPH—I'KKSS ASSOCIATION.) •.... : 1 ... Dunedin. March 3. At the Burnside stock market 182 fat cattlo were yarded, a good proportion of which were light 'and unfinished. The attendance was somewhat smaller than usual, and prices allowed

no advance. I'rimo bullocks, £9 10s. to .£ll 2s. Cd.; medium to good, ,£8 to' X 9; light and unfinished, ;£G 10s. to £1 10s. Sheep: 2376 yarded. The quality was only medium, the bulk of tho yarding consisting of old owes. Thero wero few pens of prime wethers, and these sold at lato rates. Ewes of all classes suffered a decline of about 2s. per head. Best wethers; 17s. Gd. to 19s. Gd.; mediums, 13s. to 155.; light and inferior, l'Js. Gd. to 125.; best ewes, lGs. Gd. Lnmbs: 11G2 yarded. A good yarding. Prices wero not so good, owing to freezing buyers not being out for business. Best lambs," 13s. to 15s. Gd.; medium, lis. to 125.; light and inferior, up to 10s. Gd. Pigs; 98 yarded. Young pigs beinp in tetter demand, prices wero firmer. Thero was also a good inquiry for porkers and baconers, which wero in fair supply. Suckers, lis. to 14s. ; slips, 18s. to 205.; stores, 235. to 285.; porkers, 355. to -10s.; light baconers, 455. to 505.; heavy, 535. to 60s. Tho Customs revenue collected at Wellington yesterday amounted to .£1507 lGs. lOd. FEBRUARY EXPORT VALUES. The values of exports from Wellington last month were as under, the figures for tho corresponding month last year being givon in parentheses;— Beef, .£15,186 (X8S0S); mutton .£63,G24 (,£35,651); mutton pieces, ,£BBB7 (.£2452); lamb, ,£60,453 (,£41,013); butter, .£79,850 (•C3G.IG3); cheese, ,£34,630 (.£16,034); wool, .£353,325 (£347,109); hides, .£11,147 (,£4349); skins ■£18,255 (.£12,889); tallow, ,£28,',45 (.£17,474); hemp, ,£12,548 (,£21,206); tow, .£1446 (jEIOOS); timber, ,£863 (.£235); grain and pulse, £H (.£15); potatoes — {£3); poultry, — .£4. '

BLENHEIM RAM AND EWE PAIR. Mossrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Blenheim, report that they held their annual ram and ewo fair at tho Co-operative Sale Yards on 'Tuesday. Their entry comprised 325 rams and S2OO sheep. There was a large attendance of buyers from all parts of the district. Rams were in sympathy with markets elsewhere, somewhat lower all round than for some years past, but a good clearanco was made at the following prices—Lincolns: On account of Mr. D. Bishelf, to sgns.; on account of Mr. W. Bell and Sons, to 3gns. English Leicesters: On account of Mr. W. Bell and Mr. A. F. Murray, Canterbury, 3gns.; on account of Mr. W. Nixon, to 3gns.; on account of Messrs. W. D. Bishell, to sgns.! on account of Messrs. W. M. Neville, to 2gns.; on account of Mr.. H. Coleman, to 2gns. Shropshires: On ffcuount of Mr. H. D. Vavasour, to 2gns.; on account of Messrs. W. Bell and Sons, to 2gns. Romneys: On account of Mr. W. Bell, Flaxmere, to3Jgns.; on account of Messrs. W. Bell and Sons, to 3}gns. Corriedales: On account of Mr. H. T. Little, Harwnrden, to 25gns.; aged merinos, to ■ 3Jgns. The sheep yarded were mixed crossbred and halfbred ewes, wethers, and lambs, with a few pens of fat ewes and shorn lambs. Prices .were a trifle easier, except for young' ewes, which met with spirited competition. Wethers wero dull ,of sale, but the total yarding, except a few small pens, was sold. Canterbury buyers were in attendance, but local requirements made prices , too high for them to drive south. They, however, secured '■ a few nice lines of young owes. Prices ruled as follow:— Two-tooth wethers, 9s. fid. to 10s. 4d.;' four and six-tooth wethers, lis. to 125.; ' fonr-tooth wethers, fat, 12s. 5d.; store lambs, Bs.. to 9s. lid.; forward lambs, lis.; fat lambs, shorn, Js. 6d.; merino ewes, 55.; two, four, .'and sixtooth crossbred ewes, 15s. Bd. to 15s. 7d.; .halfbred two-tooth ewes, ,14s. to 15s. 6d.; s.m. ewes, at 10s. 3d. to 12s. 5d.; aged ewes, Is. 9d. to 7s. 4d.; aged merino ewes, Is. Gd.

DTJNEDIN GEAIN MARKET. [DT TELEGRAM—rEESS ASSOCIATION.) . Dunedin, March 3. There is . a fair demand for prime milling wheat, and a moderate amount. of business passing at from 3s. 9d. to,3s. 10(1. (sacks' extra) on trucks at country sidings. Considering the tone of the London market at present level values are likely to be maintained. Fowl wheat is scarce, and, in small lots, is fetching more than the milling variety. There is no improvement in' the demand-for oats. ' A few .sales have been effected .to local, buyers and shippers, but.the market remains flat. Primo milling, Is. Sid.;'.best bright short feedv-'-ls. •'4|d. to Is. 5(1.; inferior ■to • medium,'ls. 3d. to is. 4d.; all ex store, sacks extra. AUSTEALIAN PEODUCE MARKETS..! (nr TKI.!!GHAI'U—PKF.3S ASSOci.ATMJt—CorYIIIOnT.) I ■. Sydneyjl.Mar.ch. 3. Wheat, 45.;,5d. / Flour, £10 ss. Oats, Algerian 2s. 4d. to 2slv'Gd!'( : :'white '25.-, Gd. BaHeyV-Gltpe 2s. 9'd. to 35.. .Maize, nominally, 4s, 3d. -BrAn, £i 10a. Pollard,'.£s. Potatoes, TasmaniaU £5 1.-to £5 10s. Onions, New Zealand v£7 10s., -Victorian £8. Butter, 925. to. 945. 'Cheese; ; "'7d. Bacon, 93d.' '■ .. ;:";■' ' , The above'.quotations are - those 'ruling ' between merchants and retailer,' and do not represent slightly lower values obtained by recognised brokers. ' Melbourne, March . 3. Wheat, 4s. 4d. Flour, £9 15s. Oats, Algerian feeding Is. 9d. to Is. 10(1., milling Is. lid. Barley, English malting 4s. Maize, 4s. lid. Bran, 115(1. Pollard, Is. id. Potatoes, '.£3 10s. to Jli 10s. Onions, £7. ■ Adelaide, March 3.1 Wheat, 4s. 31d. Flour, ,£9 15s. Bran, is. 2d. Pollard, Is. 3d. • THE META T i MAEKETS. (by TELEGBAPK—PRESS ASSOCtATION-jCOPTniGHT.) London, March i. Copper—On spot, £57 55.; tliree'montlis, ,€SB; supplies, 21,653 tons; deliveries, 25,293; stocks, 52,295; afloat, 5000. Tin—On spot, .£l3O 55.; threo months, ,£l3l 15s. . Lead, .£l3 lis. 3d. per ton. Silver, 23 5-16 d. per ounce standard. TALLOW STATISTICS. (BT TELEGIUrir—rBESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT.) London, March, 2. In stock, 5037 tons; imports, 2123 tons;-de-liveries, 1750 tons. ,' , BANK SHARES. (by TELEGRAPE—rEESS ; ASSOC (ATlON—cori EIGHT.) London, March 2.. Buyers. Sellers. Bank. . £s. d. £s. d. Australasia 108 10 0 109 10 0 IJiiion ... 62 0 0 — National 417 G .528 New Zealand 9 10 0 10 0 0 LONDON MARKETS. , The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, Company, Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London house, under yesterday's date:— Wool—Market firm, with upward tendency, particularly for coarso crossbred. Consignments per Matatua are-not available for the second series commencing on 9th instant. , Frozen meat—Market depressed, witii a downward tendency. Average prices fqr New Zealand brands are as follow:—Prime quality mutton, '3}d. per lb.; prime quality lamb, 4jd. per lb.; prime beef (sides), 2Jd. per lb. '

BRITISH-NEW ZEALAND MEAT CO.

ANNUAL MEETING. • (BY TILKOUArU— rttiss ASSOCIATION.) March 3. At, the annual meeting of tho British-New Zealand Meat Company to-day a dividend (tho first) at the rate of G per cent, was passed. The year's operations showed a balance to credit of profit and. loss account of £'20S1. Mr. M. C. Orbell (chairman), in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, which was agreed to, spoke hopefully of the company's prospects. Ho said that from what ho had heard and read lately a pessimistic feeling with regard to future prices had taken' possession of some Canterbury people. Tho old bogey, had been again brought forward, and fears had been expressed that Australia and the Argentine wero going to play havoc with the Now Zealand meat trade. He did not believe it, and never had believed it, and ho still believed that a remunerative markot would always ho found for whatever quantity might come forward.' It was only a question of time, and that not a very long one, before the Continent, with its huge population, would be a consumer. The agrarian interests were in power at present, but the masses were becoming day by day more alive' to their strength, and were' not going to pay lOd. and Is. 3d. per lb. for meat, when their neighbours could obtain it for half that price.

STOCK EXCHANGE. (BT TELEGRAPH —PltnSS iSSqr.UTION.) Dunedin,' March 3. Stock _ Exchange sales are reported as follow:—\Vai hi Grand Junction, ill ss. lO.kl.: Mamihorikin, _125.; New Zealand 'Portland Cement (new issue), Ms. premium; "Otago Daily Times," £20 10s.; Hartley and liilev »£1 Is.