COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 10

COMMERCIAL.

THE SHAKE MARKET. ■■' Sales ofi Wellington Gas, nowissue, 2s. 6d., premium, and Leyland-0 Bnen Oimber, at 2s. 6d. were reported. There were a great number of buying orders, but the interKion of the holidays may check business for a week or;two. Bant of Now Zealand, Wβ 125.; National Banks,. buyers t £i i 3s. 6<1., Wellington Investment, buyers lls, 3d ; Wei-, lington Trust and Loan, buyers £1, sellers £, is°- Wellington Deposit/sellers fls.-; Palmerlion North Gas, sellers .CT 75. , ; Wellington Gas, ilO pai<V buyers JEW 12s. 6d.; .£5 15s. paid, buyers ss.;.new issue, buyers .81 Is. preniium; National Insurance, buyers £1 Bs. 6d., New Zealand Insurance, 18s., sellers £3 18s. 6d.'; Gear Meat, £i paid; buyers £10; & paid, buyers £2 lls.; Meat Export, £5 paidf sellers Jβ 7s. Gd^^ed/ paid; sellers 23 Is.; New Zealand Shipping, buyers £6 Us., sellers .£6. 165., ex •-dividend; • Union-. Steam, Boilers £1 165.; Westport'Coal; buyers £6 45.; Westport-Stockton Coal, sellers fe. 9d.; ley-land-frßrien Timber, sellers £1 2s. 9d.; Neiv Zealand Drugs, sellers £2 Bs.; New Zealand Portland Cement, buyers £1 17s. THE MINING MAKKET. Sales of Waihi Grand Junction at £1 Bs. Gd., Waihi at £d 3s. and 49 2s. 9d., and Ta isman at £2 6s. were reported. A sale of lalisman at £2 6s. 3d., was made on Change. Tie quotations were as under:— ■' ■ Buyers. Sellers. .•'Sales. . ' £s. d. £',s. i.C,£ s. d. J ™H ; V' irß 9:"l 8 6 Waihi . ... 92 0 9 3 0 --■ 9 2-9 Talisman:: -.2.0-3 2 6 6 2 6 3 Waitangi :... ~..036 039Big River;... ......2 _. 7 ..A-..„—...~.~.:~^~ The Wellington 'Stock ' fecliangb"-_will"~be' closed for the Easter holidays from Friday to Wednesday, both days inclusive. .< .• ■ ' The Customs revenue.collected, yesterday amounted, to £HiV 19s; Id; . •;-. ■

-THE IMPORT'MARKETS. . . . \ The trade doing between merchant and retailer is within ■ small compass and ; .steady., 1 lie. fourth passed quietly, and apparently satisfactorily. Trade with the United States 3s.foiling off owing to.the necessity of curtailing imports, and it is believed thai one steamer a month less' will be dispatched from New York. Reports from New York received by last mail advise that the'various .lines of, steamers hail :somo together in regard to freight rates, and were once more working in harmony. ine xates'had been advanced to 355. for Melbourne tnd Sydney,' other Australian"pbrts 375. 6d., and New Zealand ports 40s. Theso rates were supposed to apply to prarctirally. all lines. oEand, this action, of 'the, combined lines; created considerable friction and criticismamongst exporters, who advocated returning to the schedule of rates in operation some timo ago. The.contention was that Tough lines of cargo, such ta resin, plaster, oil, turps., clothespins, washboards,'etc., should not, and could not, afford to pay theso high rates. Thegeneral opinion was that affairs would,be adjuste.il again on a proper" basis', in the near future. The White Star had advocated rates, but on a through bill of lading via Liverpool were really quoting ss. under the combined lines; namely, 30s. Sydney and Melbourne, 325. Cd. Adelaide and Brisbane, and 355. New Zealand ports: Commodity,prices show no changes, and while there is scarcity of some few lines, the near approach of fresh shipments prevents any rise. Arrowroot— J's and l's, 3Jd. to dd;' per lb. ■ ; Blue-Eeckitt's bag ,BJd., square 7Jd.; Coir man's and Keen's, square and bag, 7jd.; Empire, 6d. ' Candles—The . New Zealand Candle Company's quotations, issued December 19, are: — Premier's stearine and five medal, s}d.; British sperm, Frenoh sperm, Universal wax, Excelsior paraffine, 6d.; Apollo sperm and Venus paraffine, 6{d.; Vonns coloured fluted, 6jd.; piano, bedroom; and carriage sorts, packed in' cardboard boxes, 7}d.; less the usual trade discounts. Price's London sperm, 160z.,.>6id.; 140z.,6Jd.;. Burma,'l6oz.,GJd. . Cornflour is meeting with fair sale. ii. and P., sid. to 5Jd.; Johnson's, 2Jd.; Browns, 3d.; D^d'Fruits-Currants, finest provincials,, 3d. per lb.; cleaned Amalias, 3Jd.; lib. cartons, 3s 6d. per doz. Sultanas, selected %\L, choice k, golden m- to fiW/per lb.} *• 6d. per dozen. Dates, bulk, 2Jd. per lb.; Cα.■ton.;&. 6d: per dopen. Pto, 2oz. glove tees,; Bs. 3d. per dozen:? Figs; lib. layers, *,* naturals, sd. per lb. deeded raisins are slightly, . lower, fancy lib. packets 45., choice 3s. 6d 'per dozen Muscatels, Califorman, 5 s boxes 6d 10's s}d., 20's i\d. per lb.; Malaga, s}'s at 10d. PB CaMed fmit meets with slow sale at Bs. 6d. fruits, such as apples, apricots, and peaches, make from 7}d. to Bd. per lb. . mail advices state that tho crop of Bahia cocoa for 1908-1909. promises to be the most abundant on record, local returns to thfend ? of October last showing an excess ot over 71,000 bags, equal to 4000 metric, tons, Xn compared with the output for the. corresponding term in the previous season. It L estimated that the total for this season will W^sof^lh^feiS' Co rP , 4s. 6d.; Swiss Milkmaid, 6s. 6d. to 6s. lid. per

d C«Sned Meat9.-Sheep'tongues, 10s. Gd. to Us. for.l's; ox tongues, 21's, 31s t0,345.; 3s 34s to 365. per dozen; Gear's assorted,, potted, 4s. bcl., Canned Rsh!— Herrings in tomato sauce, l's, 7s. to 7s. Gd;; i's 4s.■ -6d. to- -55.; kippered herrings, l's, 7s. Gd. to 7s. 9d.; l's, 4s. Cd. to 55.; fresh herrings, Is, 6s. to 6s.'6d.j lobster, C.nnd B. Jib. tins, 14s. 6d to 155.; salmon, salad, medium reds, lib. ialls, 'Bs. Gd. to 95.;. lib. .flats ,9s. to 9s. 6d;■ silver, Jib.- flats, 55.; Golden Link, Sockaye, lib. . tails, 10s. 6d.; lib. flats, .11s.; Southern Cross, ' lib., 6s; Gd.; herringlats, in oil, Senator brand, Bs. to Bs. 6d.j in tomato sauce,. Bs. to Bs. Gd., sardines,,. Skipper, lib. tins, ss. to 55.6 d. is, 9s. 9d. to 10s.; "King Edward," is, & 9d. to 5s ; l's, Bs. Gd.; ling, Smethurstbrand, is making 555. to 58s. per cwt.;, codfish,- .in. 21b. blocks and strips, is meeting.mth fair inquiry When the-last English mail to hand left London, it was expected that the. high prices, ruling for salmon would affect the consumption, W, says an exchange, "if it bo only about a quarter of tho average, it is questionable whither there will be sufficient to carry tho . trade through the present season until the 1909 pack is available,"which cannot be until practically the end of: the year,- even if -shipped, by the overland route." With regard to sardines, latest advices from Norway confirm.tho report that'■arrangements haye been made to .'cease packing., during, the winter. packer in the winter.are considered inferior, to. those put up in the summer, and the reputa--1 tion of "several packers has suffered owing to both kinds teing offered under tho same brand. Chemicals.-Cream of tartar, 95 per cent., ?<; to 9™, P 9 per cent. 9}d, to 10d. rtartaric acid, Is. 3d. per lb.; Bdda crystals, .£5 lOs.rbicarbonate of soda,"<eio-10s.; calcium .carbide, to £10; Muestone, 10s.,- whiting, £4 15s. ( Mustard.-Fair sales. Colman s D.b.1 ., is, Is. 5Jd. to'ls; 6d;;.l's; Is. to Is. 4d.; Dur-, ham, 71b. tins, 7d. to 7Jd. MatchDs.-Plaids, 3s. Bd. to Ss.-9d.,a gross; penny'slides, Bs. 9d. to-9s.'. 6d.,; • safeties,-Bmall, foreign, 3s. to 3s. 3d.; Bryant and May s, small, is. 63.; large, 75.. 6d. Nutmegs, Is. Gd. to Is. 9d. per lb. . Peel—Lemon peel is reported scarce, • and further supplies from Messina willnot reacn this market until June. For lemon 7 s the quotation remains at 5Jd.; orange, Gd.; citron,

Pickles.—Morton's hexagon 10s. Gd., ronnil 12s. 6(1. per dozen; Captain "White's, 2.15. Gd.; Garton's H.P., i-pints, 12s. 6d.; pints, 225. Gd.; rure pickles, 9s. 6d. to 10s. • : Rice.-No. 1, 165.; No. 2, 15s. per civt. ' Salt.—Pine, 71b.- bags, ss. 6d. to Gs. Gd.; owt. bags. 3s. 6(1. to 45.; coarse, in cwt. bags, 3s. to S Sauc'es.-L. °and P., i-pints, Ms. to.Us. 6d.; pints, 255. to 255. Gd.; Holbrooks, j-pmts, 7s. 6d; pints, 10s. 6d. to 10s. 9d.; Garton s, -i-' pints, 7s. Gd.; pints, 10s. to 10s.. 6d;; Eaglo brand (N.Z.), J-pjnts, 2s. 9d. to 35.; pints, ss. Starch.-Colman's, lib. boxes, s!d. to 53d.; 51b. packets, ,sd. to 5Jd.; New.Zealand, lib. boxes, 383. to 395; - per cwi; slb. packets, 3is. to 3Se. per cwt. Tapioca'.—Seed, Us. 6d.; pearl, 15s. Gd. por Sugar—The market is steady, with, a good demand. 1A and No. 1, 56's, <CIG 153,; No. 2, iil6 55.; No. 3, .£ls ss. per ton. Vinegar—Midland Bed Hock, quarts, Bs. Gd.; Champion, quarto, 9s. 6d.; Red Seal, quarts, 45.; Midland concentrated, Boz. bottles,. 11s. fad. per doz.; concentrated, sgal. casks, 9s. Gd. per gallon; pure malt, 2Sgal. casks, 2s. 9d. per.galTca.—The correspondent of "The Times" at Shanghai recently stated that the Russian demand had been normal, accounting for aboul half the- production, but the balance had proved too much for the London , and American markets readily to absorb; and both natives and foreigners had made heavy losses. On account of high prices for common, tea in 1907, when Indian

suppliein\'erVexpecte(F?o bo short, natives hail this season protlnceil an excessive supply ot low grades, but as tho London market could not absorb any unusual quantity of Congou,, America had b6en made" the recipient of twico tno normal qiinhtity*--- speculators t hero being teinpteU Tho shrpments ot ■jrcem-toa to' Europe wero larger than m ISUi, tut really.'Many of them found their way to the north coast of Africa. A shorty in the crop compared with last season, combined with shipments b Europe, had re Ueved tho American markets .from thp,,f.ear of over-supply this season. '.;<-<••" ■■■>•< •

-WELLINGTON MARKET REPORT. Laery"and"co'.rLtd", Wellington, report ivholesllo, prices ruling, on tho market heat fowl t6 -is. Od.; oas, 2s. Id. to 2s. Gd., Jun oats, 2s. Id. to 2s. 3d.; seed on s, 2s. ii. :o'2s.',Bd; oats, 2s. 6d.; ts. 10d. to ss. 3d.: crushed malt, Bs. Od; fowl barley, 3s. j.horsa-. beans, 4s. 8(1., all at per jushel; ricemeal,- MWM 55.; flour, New Zcaand ill 10s., Australian .£ll 10s.; bran, M 10s. to £i 15s. ipearU barley, .€ls; peas, partrido 4s. 9d., Prussian l)lue ss. to ss. Gd.; fowl 3 eas 4s. 3d., split ,rftf 10s.; bonedust M; Superphosphates, £5 to -JSS as.; guano, £i 10s ; jhaff (oatensheaf), 10s. to £i; oatmeal, .£lO 10s. to .£lO 155.; potatoes, £3 to £i; onions, £G; molasses fodder, .£5; bacon (factory), sides 'Id. hams -7!d., &IW, Bd.; butter, bulk, Bd. Poultry—Hen's, -33.; 'ducks, 4s. to 55.; turkeys, -obblers Ills; to 12s'.,' hons 9s. to 10s.; fresh leg'ST" Is.""'10d. -to 2s: f preserved eggs, Is. /d. jer dozen; cheese, Gd. to Gld. per lb., oaf 7d. ; o 71d. per lb.; Akaroa machine-dressed cocksloot," -7'M.- to Bd.; farmers' dressed, Sd. to Gd. aer Id.; 'ryegrass, 3s. 3d. to 4s. Gd. per bushel; Kalian", ryegrass, 3s. 6d. to is. ' bushel; white ;lover,?7os. to 755. per cwt.; red clover, 655. ■w.t; 'cb> grass, 655. cwt..; alsike, -82s. 6d. !wt ; mustard, 40s. cwt.; trefoil, 3is. Gd. cwt.; •ape seed, 265. cwt.; Timothy, 325. Gd cwt.; iwedo and turnip seed, 60s. cwt. ~ . MARKETS. The Mowing report, dated February 26, has j*-tf:,-recei.vedi;.by,^{he TJ s)epartment of IndusJjom the High Comniisin Xonijbnj-S «*,•■■ ~._,..■, • ■ The-6.s?"Waiveriry wilich left Wellington on December 31, docked in London on February 17, having-pnrboar,d 48,500 boxes of butter and 10,000 crates'of cheese.-- • , The butter market is quiet, and prices have jeen steadily,_declinjn;k.and clearances of-the iarc'eVeFs.s. Waiwera are not being rapidly Bade. Supplies-on liand from all sources are aeavy and holders are anxious to realise. Even ■ho"ii§h'"w"iniiig"t6'Tccepl lower prices to effect sales, the reluctance of retailers to buy more than they And absolutely necessary has hamrared business, (find, a. considerable quantity-of bntt'erlia3<beon--forced-into cold store. Naturilly" under'' such"'coiiditT6ns, retail buyers have been taking advantage of the condition to depress" tKe~mhfEet; 'a"nd"for this purpose complaints would appear to be made for very trivial faults.--Reports 6f-"fishiness" being found inTJNeii! Z&HapS-" butjer have become moro 3omirionv I' have'made , considerable inquiry ns to these complaints regarding "fishiness," and, whilo I am informed by agents or wholesale merchants handling 'the shipments from New Zealand that, they have received complaints, I have been unable to discover but few instances when'-'-fish'inbss has-been found, by them , by personal inspectioa,of,.the bntters on the floors of their warehouses." Parcels that have been left in the dock sheds for some time after disjharge from,the ship, .where they aro held uniler; imperfect-conditions, may have , become "fishy," ahd.it may be'that from these faults have arisen. • ' "Thero have-teen , complaints also made that some of,the butter arriving from Neiv Zealand by the s.s. Bnapehn developed a strong " grass flavour."' Several of the agents and merchants have told me of tliis, and they ascribe it to the EacV.T{naJ''possibly"about the time that shipment of'butter .w.asi being made, in New Zealand the grass supply may havo been-over-abundant, and rank. The qnality of the butter ex s.s. Waiwera is. finer, and the strong flavour above complained of has not been noticed in it. The cheese market continues quiet, with no special .feature,i arid prices remain ihe same as during the past few weeks—6os. for white and 635. for coloured. Buyers, as in the- case ar.e xOnly.idesirous of purchasing, for immediate •requirements, so that while the market may be considered firm, there does not appear any indication of any immediate rise in values. As, however, stocks of cheese are reported to be within reasonable compass, there is no great likelihood that prices will show any marked decline." ADDINGTON STOCK SALES. ! , T ". (DI&if.EG'BAifIfrtmSSSIASSOCIATtON.) '.. ) V-ii\ » *" "(ihristchurch, • April 7. Tito entry'of J slock'ht Addington yards today wa3 good, all classes being well filled. Store ehcep showed an increase on the previous week,, and great interest was evidenced in this section. The yarding of fat lambs was a large one, 7369 beihgentered, as compared with 2835 last week. The qnality of lambs was rather better thaa at previous sides, and, in spite of the fact that, within the last few days,-export buyers ;had reduced their limits for weights over 361b.taid second quality, the market was rather firmer than was the case a week ago'.'- This, no doubt, was largely the result of recent' cablegrams received from London ■' announcing that the market. was more steady, and that prices were firm at quotations. 'At to-dayVsalp there was an aUence of"cutting up," ■ which had teen the feature of recent., markets, bnyors appeared more anxious than previously to secure lots. Several • export buyers held off, however, as did also'several Australian buyers, who havo recently arrived in New Zealand. . The export buyers'secured lines totalling G4OB at prices ranging from Us. Id. to 13s. Gd. (extra making 13s: 7d. to Ms.),- while:;butchers purchased 206 at prices-varying fro ml3s. 6d.;to 14s. 7d. One lot of-flxtrii'good quality.made .£1 15s. 3d. The lines passed' -totalled 757, the majority being forwarded to factories for consignment on owners' account. ..There' was a fairly largo entry of fat sheep, including a proportion of sheep of good class. Prices obtained were on a par with those ruling at the previous week's sale. Towards the end of the sale, presumably as the result of over supply, the demand for ewes slackened, but values remained unchanged. Tho range of prices' was:.Erim"e wethers, 15s. to 16s. 9d;; extra, to 17s: ,6d.; .lighter, 9s. 10d. to 14s. Bd.; 'prime owes, 11s. to 13si 4d.; lighter, 7s. 3d. to 11s. 6d.,., v.ln. the store sheep pens there was again a large entry, ewes of all classes forming the.greatest part of the yarding, the balance being made up oj a few pens of lambs anirwethers*'' Tho condition of the sheep varied considerably, some pens being very low, while others were very forward. For all classes there, was .a. fair demand, and the prices obtained showed no material change as compared with those ruling at the previous sale. ■ ..' , ',

The price of. lambs ranged from Bs. 9d. to I 10s. Gd. The; better 'class of ewes elicited good competition',', but inferior lines were dull of sale. Tiro-tooths of good class realised Us. Gd. to 15s/ 6d.;mediunr, 13s. Gd. to 145.; and four, six,,;and. eight-tooth sorts, also of good quality, made 13s. 3d. to 14s. Gd. Good for Iward'wethers'brought'..9s. Gd. to 10s. 6d., and ■low-conditioned , sorts 7s, 9d. to 9s. •'■ Two hundred and-eight-one head of fat cattle were yarded,: the greater portion of ■which were good useful animals. As usual, 'there was a,fairly large number of dry cows, some of which were hardly up to fat cattle standard. The demand.was not very animated, and the sale was.a dragging one. Consequently, prices showed a decline, when compared with the previous week, of .about 6d. per 1001b. Best steer beef realised 19s. to 215.; medium, 17s. 6d. to 13s!;'cow beef, 15s. to 17s. per 1001b. Steers brought £i 10s. to ,£10; heifers, £A 15s. to £1 7s. Gd.; dry cows, £3 10s. to £7 15s. The yarding of pigs was only a medium one. For choppers there was little inquiry, and prices ranged'to .£3. Baconers, for which there was fair demand, ranged from 50s. to GOs. for heavy, and 455. to 495. for smaller, equal to 4}d. per lb. Heavy porkers, made 38s. to 445.; lighter, 325. to 3Gs., equal to 5Jd. to Gd. per lb. For all classes of stores tho demand was weak, and larger sorts made 30s. to 38s.'; medium, 225. to 28s. Weaners brought Bs. to 15s.

BUBNSIDE MARKET, ret lELEuiiArn— γ-pkss association 1 Dunedin, April 7. At Burnsido stock market 3-176 sheep were varded, an especially largo yarding. Prices 'dropped by Is. to Is. Gd. per head. Prime wethers, 18s. Cd. to 205.; medium to good, 12s. Gd to 14s. Gd.; light and inferior, 10s. Gd. to 12s • best ewes, up to 18s. 3d.; medium, up to 15s!; light and inferior, 10s. Cd. to 12s. Gd. Lambs-2300 yarded, a big yarding. Consequent on tho number entered and the fact that freezing companies were not buying, prices went down. Up to 2.30 p.m. the best lambs sold had brought only 16s. Pies-A good yarding of fat pigs especially. Suckers sold up to 11s.; slips, 18s. to 235. Gd.; stores 355.; baeoners, up to £3; choppers, up Cattle—276 yarded, principally good to prims bullocks and heifers, which sold up to late rates. Medium and inferior sorts were considerably easier. Best bullocks, £8 ss. to 019; extra td .£10; medium, £1 to £8; light, .65 10s. to £6 10s.

GRAIN MARKET. (HI TeWGIIAI-E—I'IIESS ASSOCIATION'.) Dunedin, April' 7. Wheat: Prospects are good, nnd holders of prime milling are in a fairly strong position

owing to tho unfavourable weather. Prime volvet and tuscun, 4s. Id. to 4s. 2cl. j medium, 3s. 10(1. to -Is.; wholo fowl wheat, 3s. bcl. to 3s. lOiJ. ; inferior and broken, .Is. lo 3s. Gil. Consignments of oats so far have been light, and all coining forward have been placed at quotations, but tho market has a downward tendency. Trimo milling and shipping lines, Is. id. to Is. lid.; good feed, Is. 31(1. to Is. id. LIVE STOCK SALES. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report as follows:—At our Wanganui sale yesterday iOW sheep and 230 cattle wero yarded, and thoro was a good attendance. Tho sheep consisted mostly of aged ewes, and wo. matlo nearly a total clearance under the hammer at full ruling rates. Cattle wero in demand, but high reserves resulted in one or two pens being turned out unsold. A lino of fat and forward cows from Lisroore Station sold out well. Quotations :—Medium four and five-year ewes, Bs. to Bs. 2d.; old ewes, 3s. 3d., 45., to 55.; old cull ewes; Is. to Is. 9d.; good forward lambs, Bs. Id.; cull mixed two-tooths, 55.; good fat heifers, £i 10s.; medium fat cows, M 10s.; good forward cows, £3 10s. to £3 lls.; store cows, £2 10s.; mixed weaners, Bs. Gd. Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report having held their fortnightly sale at their Masterton yards yesterday, when they submitted a large entry of both sheep and cattle. The report states:—Stock canio forward well above advertised numbers, and wo are pleased to report that practically a total clearance was made. Notwithstanding tho depression in fat sheep, al classes of sheep. were well competed for, and cattle found a very ready market. Wo quote:— Lambs, ss. Id. to Gs. 5d.; two-tooth ewes, to lls. 10d.; f.m. ewes, 4s. 9d. to Bs. 4d.; twotooth to f.m. ewes, 9s. Bd., 9s. lid., 10s. 4d., to 12s. Id. No wethers came forward for sale. Three and four-year steers, £o Gs. to >£5 Bs.; empty cows, to ,£3 145.; empty heifers, £2 14s. to £3 2s. Gd.; fat cows, £3 Bs.; forward threeyear steers, £i Bs. to. £i lGs. SOUTH CANTERBURY GRAIN MARKET. Reporting on tho South Canterbury grain market, Messrs. G. S. Meredith and Co., of Waimate, state:—Wheat—The market is very firm. Sales have been made of velvet at 3s. 101 d. at country stations, equal to 4s. Id. f.o'.b.s.i.; Tuscan and R«dchaff, at 3s. 9k1., country stations, equal to 4s. f.o.b.s.i. The wet weather has interfered with threshing operations, and offerings have fallen off accordingly. Farmers are now holding for 4s. on trucks at their stations, and with the.recent firming in London, we think that after the holidays are over the market will improve. Oats—The market is quiet. Sales are as follok:—Gartons, Is. 31d. at country stations, equal to Is. Gd. f.o.b.s.i. net; Danish and duns, Is. 3d., equal to Is. aid. f.o.b.s.i. Chaff—Three is plenty of first-class chaff offering at 38s. per ton on trucks, which equals 555. f.0.b.5.i., but as this price is about Bs. to 10s. per ton abovo "market rates, the southern shippers are unable' to competo for the North Island trade. No sales are taking place. Farmers will, not accept less than this price, and as soon as the local chaff in the North Island is used up the market will be about 555. to 575. Gd. f.o.b.s.i. Potatoes—The potato crops are•not turning out so well as expected, the yield per acre being about half what it was last year, and if other districts are similar, then the market must go up. Quotations are:—Prime table up-to-dates, 555. f.0.b.5.i.; derwents are not ready yet. Straw—Baled wheaten and oaten, 225. Gd. per ton on trucks, equal to 30s. per ton f.o.b.

_ SHARES AND DEBENTURES, j (by telegraph—press association—copyright.) London, April 6. Bank. Buyers. Sellers. £ s. A. £ s. d. Australasia 106 0 0 107 0 0 New South Wales ... 44 10 0 45 10 0 Union 61 0 0 62 0 0 National 5 0 0 5 5 0 New Zealand 9 10 0 10 0 0 Debentures.—Bank of New Zealand guaranteed debentures, .£101; N.Z. Loan and Mercantile debentures, ,£94. THE METAL MARKETS. (bt. TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTRIGIIT.) ' London, April 6. Copper.—On the spot, £57 7s. 6d. per ton; three months, .£53; electrolytic, 15s. . ' Tin.—Spot, ,£133 per ton; three months, .£134 2s. 6d.' ■ Lead, .£l3 12s. Gd. per ton. • AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE MARKETS. (by. telegraph—peess association—copyright.) Sydney, April 7. Wheat, 4s. 11(1. Flour, ifill 10s. ian, 23. 2d. to!2s. 3d.; white, 2s. 4d. to 2s. sd. BarleV-Cape ,Ks. Bd. to 2s. lid. Maize.-.-fcpr&l-. Bran,' M 10s.' Pollard, .-65. PotatoSs-TaV manians, .£5 10s. Onions—New Zealand, £1; Victorian, £7 10s. Butter, 88s. Bacon, Bd. Tho above quotations arc those ruling between merchant and retailer, and do not represent the slightly lower values obtained by recognised brokers. Melbourne, April 7. Wheat, 4s. ll?d. Flour, iill ss. Oats-Al-gerian, Is. • lid. Barley—Cape malting, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 7(1.; English, 3s. 9d. to 4s. 2d. Maize, 45. , 6d. Bran and pollard, Is. Potatoes, X 3 to £3 ! ,15s. Onions, to <£6 10s. Adelaide, April 7. Wheat, 4s. 10d. Flour, illL Bran, Is. Pollard, Is. 2d. HIDES MARKET. (Rec. April 7, 10.5 p.m.) Melbourne, April 7. In the hides market there was good competition, and supplies were moderate Prices are unchanged.