COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 685, 9 December 1909, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

.' INVESTMENT SHAKES.,. ■' ' A sale of. Ohristchurch Meat, £3 paid, at £J 2s,' 6d. was all the business recorded in this section yesterday. National Bank, sellers £6 la.; National Mortgage, buyers £2 183. Gd., sellers £3; Loan and Mercantile, sellers 45.; Wellington Investment, buyers lis., sellers lis. 6d.; Wellington Deposit, sellers Bs. 6d.; Feilding Gas, buyers £1 Is. 3d.; Napier Gas, sellers £12 7s. 6d.; Wellington • Gas, £10 paid, buyerß £17 155., sellers £18 55.; £6 15s. paid, sellers £14; National Insurance, sellers £1 7s. 6d., « dividend; Now Zealand Insurance, sellers £3 18s.: South British Insurance, buyers £2 135.,' sellers' £2 155.; Ohristchurch Meat, £10 paid, buyers £10 17s. 6d.; Meat Export, third issue, buyers £2' 155., sellers £2 17s. 6d.; Wellington Woollen, buyers £3 35., sellers £3 ,4s. 9d i.Westport-Stockton, buyers 6s. Bd.; sellers 7s.; 1 Leyland-O'Bricn Timber, buyers Zealand Consolidated Dental, oollers £14s. 6d.; Now Zealand Consolidated Dental, sellers .614 a. 6d.; Now. Zealand : Drng, buyers• £2 6s„ sellers £2.75. 6d.;; Sharlund's ordinary, sellers 20b. 9d.; preference, buyers 20s. 6d.; Taranaki Oil,-sellers 75.; Wellington Opera House, sellers £7 17s. 6d.

;'.'■,... GEAR MEAT . COMPANY. . The balance-sheet of the Gear Company for the year ended November 30, waa circulated yes-terday,-and shareholders will bo highly pleased, for tho results are as satisfactory. as cjuid be wished. The net profit amounted to £8766 14s. sd„ as compared with £9178 17s. 9d. last year, and £9560 4s. in 1907. ••• The slump in tho meat trade is reflected in these figures. There waji brought forward £9633 125.. making with tho net profit a sum of £18,400 6s. 5d., out of which a dividend at tho rate of 10 per cent, has been declared, absorbing £92C0, leaving £9200 6s. sd. to bo carried forward. • The • directors' further recommend the payment of' a bonus-of 21 per cent, from the insurance reserve, the dividend and bonus for the year together amount to 12J per cent;, the same,-as in tho, previous year. The ..retiring directors aro Messrs. J. B. •Blair and Jameß Gear, who seek re-election. Mr. D; T. Stnart, who has'been one of tho auditors of the company since its inception, does not seek reappointment.' .... The liabilities and assets .for the past two years compare as under :— • ..'.'•"'•"■ ■,-•.:■-. jgoa. • ' 1909.-- -.-. Liabilities— ~£.''£ 'Capital paid up : 92,000 .92,000 .Sundry creditors l .21,617- ,75,882 Unpaid dividends ............... 103 ''~ —■• Iteserve fund ...;. ....:..... -.50,000: 60,000 " Insurance reserve ■ 45,395' 49,409 'Prollt and,loss .:......'.......... 18,833 . 18,400. Assets—.- ■'■''■' ;','.'. -, ,' "...'"... ", Property and.plant ..; .-74,050 ' 83,350 Sundry debtors, etc 78,543 .' 120,014. • • ■: Stock ■.••■;.; 43;£03 • ' 48.193 - ; '; Bills receivable ■ ...;...;,. 9,523•.-.'.■ 10,375 • ■■' Investments : .....10X00.' 10.C00 . " -' Cash in bank ........... .'.. 6,959 7,757 .'■■:' Cash -in hand .'... '...'...... .1,569 . 1,401. iTho annual meeting of the company is -to bo hcldon Priday of next week., -.-.'■

"; ■■■■■■■■FIBRE CONGRESS AND ,EXHIBITION. .'.- ' The Hon.. C. Johnston, Vice-Consu! for the, Nethorland, sends U3 a booklet dealing with the proposed congress and exhibition in ■ connection with the cultivation and preparation of fibres to bo.held at Bouraboya,; Java, on'July"3,'4; 5, 6, 7, and 8, 1911. The aims of tho congress aDd exhibition aro: To farther tho cultivation' of, Tibres in the. tropics,',to advise plantem regarding " the culture, to'discuss points on which thcre'is now difference of opinion, to attain uniformity ill methods of production,-and to arlive at :a proper insight as .to the value' of cultivating fibre-plants, - both 02 a largo- and a small.scale. For these reasons the ', congress will attach, particular : interest .to • those fibres which practice has shown to have met with somo mcasuro of success, and which have, consequently,. attracted the .attention of planters and capitalists. ■ The congress !wi!l 'deal mainly with sisal, manila, and jute, as well as substitutes for the . last-named. Cotton, - Ramie, and coconut fibre will not be discussed, In connection with tho 'congress an tion will ,be held, principally of machinery for .the preparation of,fibres. As the cultivation: of-fibre-bearing plants, especially :of sisal and Manila homp, is. spreading widely, there is a good demand for such machinery. The committee will do: all in its' power to grant every facility to -exhibitors of machinery., Spaco and fpower will 'be furnished free oK charge, while endeavours .will bo made to induco steamship, companies to grantreduced rates of freight on"exhibits.- Ap. .plications for space, must reach tho.secretary of the Netherlands Indian-Agricultural- Association.' Sourahoj-a, Java, by July 1, 1910. "■■■.-.

;;;:,' ■;' IMPORT' MARKETS. :•;.-' '■[■'■ ' Thero slight revivsl in tho city; owing ■to tho Christmas demand;, but on the whole trado in.city, and suburbs i 3 quiet,' : with occasional spurts of activity. : With tho country districts a good business is passing. Values .show,:no ; changes. ..-,;:!..:- '. Arrowroot.—St, Vincent, sd. per lb. -' , VCandlcs— Tho ..demand continues in 6mall compass. Prices aro. unchanged. Tho* New Zealand Candle. Company's. Quotations stand as -fpl.low—Srcmior steanno •''■ and : ''livo'-r ■medal. ■ sd.;', British • -sporm,-'" French- Bperra;- 1 universal, . wax, Excelsior paraffin, 6Jd.; Apollo sperm and Venus paraffin, 6d.; Venus, coloured fluted, 61d.; piano, bedroom, and carriage sorts in cardboard boxes, 7Jd:, less the usual trade discounts. Price's London cperm; 160z.,6iJd., lte. 6id.; Burma, 160z.. 6id. ; Cornflour.—Steady business passing. B. and P., ■sSd.'. to 5Jd.; Johnson's, ,25d.; :.Brown's, 3d. j Chicago, 22d.; Buffalo, 2Ad.,., ■,■.;:,■ Cocoa—A' steady hand-to-mouth -' business 'is doing. Van Houten's,- l's, 35.. 2d.; J's, 3a. 3d.; i's, 3s. <d. per lb.; -Bensdorp's, I'd. 2s. led.; J's. 2s. lid.; J's,'3s.;;Fry's, Is. lid.; Bahia,; 2s. 1M; ; .Cloves.—Kail advices . report that the Penang cloves crop will bo very small.

; Condensed Milk.—Highlander, 55.;: Cowslip, 4s. Cd.-, Swiss Milkmaid, 6s. 6d. to.6s. lid. per''dozen; : Canned Moats.—Sheep tongues, 10s. 6d. to lis. for l's; ox .tongues, 2J's, 31s. to '348;;'-3's, 345. to 365.->por dozen;: Goar'j assorted;'potted, 4s'. 6d.; St. .George's, 53. .;■ •'■-.■•' Carbonate of Soda, 9s. 6d. to -10s. ' \ Cream of tartar,' 9d. to lOd. . : Canned ' Fish.—Herring- in '.tomato 6auce, l's, 7s. to 7s. 6d.; J's, 4s. 6d. to 55.; kippered herrings, l's, 7s. (id; to 7a.-9d.; J's, 4s. lid, to 55.; fresh herring's, l's; 6s r to 6s.' 6d.; lobster, C and B, Jib. tins, 14s. 6d. to i('.; sr-lmon, salad, medium reds, lib. tails, Bs. fid; 06 90.; lib.'flats, 9s. to 9s. 6d.; silver, Jib; flats, 5b.; Golden Link, Sockcyo, lib.'tails, 10s.' 6d.; lib. flats, lis.; Southern Cross, Jib.; 6s. 6d. 'HerringletSiin oil, Senator brand; Bs. to'-Bs. 6d.; in tomato Bauce, os. to "Ba. 6d.;, sardines,. Skipper, 31b,:tins, ss; to ss. 6d..; J's, 95.,9 d; to 10s.; "King Edward," s's, 43. Sd; to 6s.j"i'o, 83. 6(1.; ling, Smethurst brand, is making 55a. to 565.' Per CWt. -, -'... ;.;

Canned Fruits.—Tho- demand, is steadily expanding with the advent of warm weather, tho quotations arc unchanged at Bs. M. to 12s. 6(1. , Dried Fruits—Supplies of new fruits.are within small compass, and it soems ,that; tho local demand has been under-estimated. ■ Last season - a considerable quantity of inferior fruit came on to this market, causing great 1033 to the holders. The new fruit is of excellent quality. .Currants, llncst-provincials, 3d.j Amalias, 3d. per. lb.;-lib. cartons, 3s. 6d. per dozen; sultanas, selected 3Jd., choice' 4d.,:golden (i'n'bulk)-4d.,-lib. cartons 4s. Cd. per dozen; dates, in bulk, 21d., in cartoM,3s. 6d. per dozen; figs, natural, in bags, 3d.; seeded .raisins, fancy lib. packages 45., choice 3s. 6d. per : dozen;, muscatels, Malaga, 10d.: per' lb.; prunes, 3d. to '35d. :•■■ , - Evaporated i'ruits.—Apricots, 7ja. to Bd'.;, peaches, 7d.j poara, 3d.; apples, Bd, , Ginger,' preserved, Yid. per lb. Infants' i'ood.—Koavc's, -9s. 9d.;- Allan and Hanbury's Nos.'l' and.2, 175.; No. 3,-. 165.'6 d.; Bonger's, 175.; Kobinson's patent groats and barley,. Vs. 6d. Weave's milk, food, los. 6d.; NestleV milk food, 17s. dd. ■•'.'■-'.' '■ Jam.—New /Zoaland l's, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d.- : Knife Polish;—Nisey's, 4s. 6d.; Okey'e, ss. 3d. . - -M'aiiena.—Durjca-s, Sid;."-- . ;• .-.;, .. . Mustard.—Coleman's D.S.F., l's, Is. 6d. f to 1 lsl" Gd.';. s's, Is. -3Jd. to'.ls. 4d.;-Imrham, 71b. tins, 'id.to 7Jd. ■'■'■'■' ■••■/";■> .-' •" ; v ; ■'•' •Matches.—Plaids,' 3s. 'Bd. 'to 3s. 9d. i a'- gros3; penny slides, Bs. 9d. to 9s. 6d.; safeties, ■ small, foreign, 3s. to 3s. Gd.;- Bryant and May's, small, is. 6U.; large, Vs..Gd.. -,:-;• „..-.. .-,,:- : Nutmegs,-Is. to Is. 2d. per lb. ;-•"■.'! Peel—Wow Zealand lemon; 4Jd. to 5d.;-orange, sd. to 51d.;' imported lemon, 7's,'s£d.; orange, 6Jd.; citron, Is. to Is. 2d. - "..:.''..."_- !'. l'ioklos.-Mortou's hexagon 10s. 6d..,round 12s. •'6d. ■ per dozen; Captain' White's,: 235. Gd.; GarIton'o H.P., l-pints;l2s. 6d.", pints, 225. 6d.;' puro pickles, 9s. Gd. to 10s. , ': : Eice—No. 1; 155.. Gd.; No. 2,..145. 6d.; special 'Japan, lGs. per cwt. ■■■ !•' H.M.. Embassy at, Tokio report, under date-.Octobor-6, that; the rice crops-in Japan are praotically assured. -: An official estimate at, the •beginning'of September placed the crop at 269,314,000 - bushels, which would be over 4 nor cent, greater than that'of - last year, itself a record year, and .17 per cent, greater than, .an" average crop. A second official estimate now places- the' ilgures 6 per- cent;. higher than tho first .estimate. .- •' -V .-.' . Salt—Kne, 71b. bags,:ss.-.63;,t0 Gs. 6d. por.cwt.; bags, 3s. 6d. t0.45.; coarse, in cwt. bagß,'3s. to 3s. Gd. per cwt.. Sauces.—L. and P., i-pints, 14s. to 14s. :6d.; pints, '255. to 255. 6d.; Holbrook's, i-pinta, 7s. 6d.-, pints, 10s. 6d. : to" 10s. 9d.;' Carton's, i-pints, -7s. Gd.; pints, 10s. to 105.,Gd.; Eagle brand (N.Z.), i-pints, 2a. 9d. to 33.; pints, 55.'6 d.-to 6s. Starch—Colman's, lib. boxes, sid. to 53d.; 51b. -packets, 6d. to 51d,j. Now. Zcar,,nd, lib. boxes, 38s. to 395. per cwt.; 51b. packets, 375. to 38s. per cwt. !.' Stove Polish.-Nixey's, 23. Gd.;-Itcckitt's, 3s.'per' dozen. " ; Sugar.-IA and No. 1, 56's, £17 10s.;i'No. 2, £11 f N0.:3, £16 per ton.■ -. <•-. • ■- Tapioca—Pearl and flake, 15s. to 15s.- 6d.; seed, 14b. to 14s. Gd. ,;-,.." ..'. -•;„ - Tea.—Tho last number of the Calcutta "Capital" contains some criticisms on tho existing methods of marketing tho Indian tea crop. It 16 pointed but that whilo Ceyloli, Southern India and' Java produce their crops all tho year round, and necessarily must sell all the year round.- Northern India produces its 200 odd million, lb. in prnctically six .months) and thoto with whom tlio selling of this rests mostly disposo.of it in.sevon or eight months,' and thus overy year put.-the-command of the market.-into tho hands ofV.tho buyer instead of retaining it in their own. Attention is also called to the initiation: of, Java tea auctions in Australia, on estato account.,'lt is remarked that Caloutta"exports to-Australia' this year aro. only,', about half, of. what, they word at the corresponding date; two-years -ago.-Jt-looks, says '•Capital, 1 ' as-ir-Jdva;would italic a largo proportion of the Indian -teaVtrffde'-iir Australia, etc., uUlcsb some.Jmeans ore.,found -of having a supply-of attractive tea:availablb in Calcutta in March, .April,, and May, by keeping.' say, 30.GC0 -to 40,000 che'sts with which;: toy have' one-auction sale during each of these ■ months.'' ! ; Vihegar,-French,;6s;6d. to, 7s. M.; Champion;

Customs revenue collected at Wellington yeatorday amounted' to. £1980 2s. .2d. - , ; SHARES AND DEBENTURES. .. (By • Tcleeraph.—l'rcso Aaaoclatlbn.—CaDjrlirht.l ..•'"- London, December 7. ■ The following are the latest quotations:—Bank of Australasia, £107; Bank of Now South "Wales, .£47; IDs.; Union Bank, £6-1 10s.; Dalgcty and Co., £5 7s. 6d.; Bank of New Zealand, 4 per cent, debentures, £101; Australian and New Zealand Mortgage Company's debentures, £95. HOTEL AND PROPERTY SALES. Messrs. Dwan Bros, report having sold Mr. William Hunter's interest in the lease and goodwill of the Commercial Hotel, Havelock, Marlborough, to Mr. John Campbell, well known in the local carrying business; the lease and goodwill of the. Post Office Hotel, Picton, to Mr. 'Thomas Green, late of tho Agricultural Department, Wellington, on account of Mr. R. J. Paul; Mr. J. F. Meagher's interest in the Clarendon Hotel, Waverlcy, to Mrs. Kavanach, late of the Post Office Hotel, Palmerston North; tho lease of the Club Hotel, Suva,. Fiji, on account of Mr. .Marks, to Mr. Barnes, of Christchurch; the lease, furniture, and goodwill of the Post Office Hotel, Collingwood, on. behalf of.Mr. M. G. O'Oonnell, to Mr. H. S. Meads, of tho Wairarapa; the lease, furniture, and goodwill as a going concern of the Columbia Private Hotel, Lower Cuba Street, to Mr. P. T. Lyons of thi3 city, who is now conducting the business; the lease of fiio Olub Hotel, Carterton, to Mr. E. J. Paul, late of the Post Office Hotel, Picton. .Messrs. Dwan' Bros, also; report having. soldi three .level sections freehold at Maranni, situated opposite the store, to Mr. Milligan, of, Wellington; also two sections at Maranui to' Mr. P. Connell, of Kilbirnie; also a block of land opposite ,*.hc Palmeijton North railway station, together ! v ith four houses facing Willis. Street, at tho back of tho property, and 95 acres at Terrace End to Mr. Thomas Weston, of New Plymouth.