COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 857, 1 July 1910, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHAKES. The transactions in investment shares recorded yesterday were Wellington Gas, new issue, £2 7a. 6d. premium, and Christchurch Meat, £13. Bank of New Zealand, buyers £10; National Bank, buyers £6 is.; Metropolitan Building, buyers £12: Wellington Investment, buyers lis. 3d.; Wellington Trust and Loan, buyers £7 6s. 6d.; Wellington Deposit, buyers Bs. 3d.; New Zealand and Kiver Plate, buyers £2 is.; Wellington Gas, £10 paid, buyers £1810s., £6 15s. paid, buyers £13 10s., new issue, sellers £2 10s. premium; Standard Insurance, buyers £1 45.; Gear Meat. £4 paid, buyers £10 Is., £1 paid, buyers £2 135.; New Zealand Shipping, buyers £G 155.; Wellington Woollen, preference, sellers £2 10s.; BiUumne'l Coal, buyers £1; Wcstoort Coal, buyers £s'los: 6d„ sellers £6 125.; Leyland-O'Brien Timber, -buyers £1 ss. 3d.; New Zealand Drug. buyers £2 9s. 6d.; Taranaki Petroleum, sellers 125.; Ward and Co., sellers £5. .

The course of salt's during . the past month was as under:— "Bank of New Zealand, £10, £10 2s. 6d. National Bank, new issue, -£2 prem.. £2 prem. Metropolitan Building £12, £12. £12. £12. National Mortgage, £3 45., £3 4s. Cd. N.Z. Loan and Mercantile, 12s. 9d. N. 55. and Elver Plate, £2. Wellington Trust and Loan, £7 Ob. Napier Gas, £12 10s. Wellington Gas, £10 paid, £10 10a. • Wellington Gas, £6 15s. paid, £13 7b. 6d., £13 6s. 6d., £13 12s. 6d.,£13125.6d.,£13125.6d. Wellington Gas. new issue, £2 7s. Cd. premium. South British Insurance, £3 3b. 9d. Christchurch Meat, £13, £13. Gear Heat, £4 paid. £10 ss. Union .Steam, £1 13s. Gd. Wellington Woollen, ordinary, £3 4s. 9d., £3 ss. Wellington Woollen, preference, £2 10s. Taupin Cdal, 19s. 6d., 19s. 6d., 19s. Cd., 19a. Cd., 205., 20s. Manning aaid Co., £4, £4, £4. N.Z. Drug, £2 Bs. Leyland-O'Brien Timber, £1 ss. Taranaki Petroleum, 12s. Cd., lis. 9d.» 13a. 43d., 135., 12b. Ward and C 0.,. £4 16s. 6d., £4 18s. 6d., £4 13s. 6d., £4 18s. 6d. Wellington Opera House, £7 16s. 6d. BRITISH TRADE. BIG .INCREASE IN FOUR MONTHS. . The British Trade Commissioner, Mr. Rolleston, furnishes the following very interesting analysis of the external trade of the United Kingdom during the four months ended April 30 last, compiled by ihc ,Jk>ard of Trade, London, with special reference to New Zealand:— The total values of the merchandise imported into the United Kingdom cuad of the merchandise exported from the United Kingdom, during the four monthß ending April 30, 1910, were as follow:— £ Imports 224,716,000 ExportsUnited .Kingdom produce 136,179,000 Foreign and colonial produce 38,634.000 These figures are greatly in excess of the totals for the corresponding four months of 1909, the increases being:— £ In imports - 19,602,000 or 9.5 per cent. In exports— Of United' Kingdom produce 18,488,000 or 15.7 per cent. Of foreign and colonial produce 7,302,000 or 23.3 per cent. The increases, both in imports and in exports, were very general. Consequent 011 the shortage of the cotton crop, there was a decreasso of -about £4,500,000 in the value of raw cotton imported. The returns compiled at the present date do not show the value of the total imports from, or that of the total exports to, particular countries during the month of April, but figures are available for the three months ending March 31, from which it appeal's that practically the whole of the increase of £9,200,000 in the total value of the imports during the first quarter of 1910, as compared with the first quarter of 1909, occurred in imports from conntrios within the Empire, the iucreasc under the head of foreign countries being less than £100,000. As regards exports of United Kingdom produce in the quarter, the relative proportions of exports, to countries without the Empire were about the name in 1910 a? in 1909. The total value of the merchandise imported from New Zealand during the quarter was £7,591,000, and that of the merchandise exported to the Dominion £2,129,(.C0. Among the principal imports and exports were the following:— , Articles. . Value. Imports— £ 1 Mutton, frozen 649,0C0 Beef, frozen 145,000 1 Butter I,CCD,COO 1 Chcc«e C2J.OCO I Wool, fheep's or lambs' 4.312.CC0 | Tallow and stearinc 150,000 Exports— : Iron mid steel manufactures I thereof (r»o far as separately distinguished in the Monthlv I Trade Accounts) 230,000 Cotton -pieoo goods 153,000 1 Woollen and worsted tissues and . carpetn 97,000 Apparel 151,000 Boots and shoes (leather) 52,000 'EFFECTIVE BANK RATE. The 4 per cent, hank rate fixed on March 17 a-cted very effectively and Kattsfa-ctorily owing to the peculiar condition* prevailinr at the time. America's big adverse trade balance and her inability to raise credit in London by placing bond caused exchange rates to advam* to a figure making gold shipments the least costly form of remittance. Tn one week recently the Bank of England received £4,500,000 in gold from abroad, all suve £500,000

of which was in United States eagles. Probably the previous largo bullion influx in one week was in November, 1890, wheal as a. rusult a" the severe strain placed upon the city of London by the downfall of the house of Barings, the Bank of England took the unusual stop of arranging to borrow ±'4,01)0,000 from the Bauk of France, and in the week ended November 19 a sum of £3,321,CC0 ou balance went into the bauk, followed a week* after by the receipt of £1,935,000. Happily, it was not accessary to use the gold, though doubtless the mere knowledge that it was in the vaults of the Hank of England was sufficient t-o allay the panic. The nervousness was so groat, and stocks fell so heavily, that the bank, through the Gov- ; ornment broker, announced to the Stock Eschango its intention to obtain gold. I During the American financial crisis of 190?, too. a large amoaut ot gold was re--1 ceived from the Bank of Prance, but the operation was really arranged independently of the Bank of England.

THE A.JLP. SOCIETY, To-day, the 59th anniversary of the establishment of the New Zealand branch of the A.3>I.P. Society, the members will receive certificates for their share of the • routs for the year ended December 31 last. The amount of cash distributed on this occasion is £771,491, which will provide reversionary bonuses amounting to about .-C1,370,C00, and the members winnot fail to be gratified by this very fine result of the year's work. It is said to

urescnt, together with £8200 na-id as interim bonuses, a return of £37 6s. per ■?nt. on the participating assuVnce premiums received during the year. The succoss that has attended the efforts o*

:o New Zealand branch since its inauguration on July 1, 1871, has been very remarkable. Indeed the society states that

the close of last year the branch business was in advance of every other office "ompeting in the Dominion, including the Government Insurance Department.

CUSTOMS REVENUE. JUNE QUARTEE. A substantial increase is noticed in the Customs revenue for the quarter ended June 30, as compared with the figures for the corresponding Quarter in 19M. The Customs revenue for the quarter just ended amounted to £163.571 os. Iftd.. beer duty totalling £3198 os. sd. For 1909 the fi&ures were:—Revenue £147.780 13is., beer duty £3.133 16s. 3d. During the post month the net Customs revenue totalled £52.631 ss. 3d., surtax £424 Is. ICd., and beer duty .1031 10s. 3d. THE METAL MARKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, June 29. Copper.—On tho spot, £54 55.: three months, £54 18s. 9d.; electrolytic, £57 ICfi. Tin.—On tho spot, £148 155.; three moot-hp, £149 12s. Gd. Silver.—Bar silver is quoted at 24 11-16 d. 3cr ouuee standard. (Rec. Juno 30, 11.20 p.m.) London, June 30. Copper.—On spot, £54 6s. per ton: three months, £55 7s. 6d. per ton; electrolytic, £58. Tin—For forward delivery, £149 15s. per ton. Lead, £12 13s. 9d. per ton. WHEAT. - By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London; June 29. The American visible supply of wheat is 26,623,000 bushels. Au Australian caTgo of wheat was resold at 335. 3d. TALLOW. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, June 29. At tho tallow acutions 1431 casks were 'offered and 1040 sold. Fine mutton realised 365. 3d.; medium, 335. 6d. Fine beef, 355. 6d.; medium, 335. LONDON WHEAT MARKET. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, (Rec. Juno 30, 11.20 p.m.) London, June 30. Wheat.—An Australian cargo lias been sold at 335. 3d. per quarter. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE MARKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Rec. June 30, 11.45 p.m.) Sydney, June 30. Wheat, 3s. 6d. to 3s. 6-jd. per bushel; flour, £8 15s. per ton; oats. Algerian feedins 2s. 3d. per bushel, millinc 2s. 5d.; Tasmanias, 2s. 6d. to 2s. 7d.; barley. Capo feeding, 3s. per bushel; maize, 2s. 6d. to 2s. Bd. per btiehel; bran, £4 ss. per ton;

!'d, £3 10s. per ton; potatoes, Tasmauians, £5 sa. tn .65 10s. per ton; choice.

j tier ton: onions, £4 per ton; Didders, £2 10s. per tou; butter, 115s. to 118s. per t.; cheese, 6Jd. per lb.; bacon, 6}d. per lb.

Melbourne, Juno 30. Wheat, 3s. 7d. per bushel; flour. £8 .nor Ion; oats, Algerian. Is. lOd. to 2s. 21(1,

.- .bushel: barley, prime maltine Enelish to 4s. 3d. por bushel, Capo 2s. 6d. per bushel; maize. 2s. sd. to 2s. 6d. per bushel; bran, £t 10s. per ton; pollard, .£4 ss. per ton; potatoes, £3 to £5 per ton: onions, . 10s. to £3 per ton.

Adelaido, Juno 30. Wheat, shipping parcels, 3s. 6id. pel bushel; (lour, £7 15s. per ton; bran, £11 10s. per ton; pollard, £11 ss. per ton; oats, Algerian, Is. Hid. per bushel.

| MELBOURNE RIDE MARKET. By Telegraph-Press Association—Copyright. (Itec. Juno 30, 11.45 p.m.) j Melbourne, June 30. Hides are dull. Market prices havo declined one-eighth of a penny. INCREASED IMPORT VALUES. THE AUCKLAND OU3TOMB. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, Juno 20. The net Customs duties collected at Auckland during the month of June amounted to £47,612 lis. 5d., the net surtax to £1027 Bs. 9d., and tho net primage to 4s. 10d., a-s aeainst £38,708 6s. 5d., Customs duties for June of last year thus showing a decided increase in the Taluo of imports. The beer duty amounted to £1829 l(ss. 4d., as compared with £2187 19s. 6d. for June, 1909. C.O. AND D. COMPANY. (By TelcirraDh—Press Association.! Napier, June 30. Tho 0.0. and D, Company received the following cable advice from London:— "Market somewhat easier in values of North Island mutton; beef declined. Today's prices:—Cauterbury mutton. 4d.; Napier, Wellington, and llawlie's Bay, 3*d. Lamb—First quality, s*d.; second. 51d. Beef—Hinds, 32d.; fores, 33d."