FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 993, 7 December 1910, Page 8

FARMING AND COMMERCIAL.

Kcft&yy" ZEALAND'S/ REMARKJui^BIbE;; PRODUCTIVENESS. ". . ; '. ; 'v : .::-figures' i?ros[. '.english //:;;■:,;.;• •• /statistics.;?// , •; '-/-/.THq/'.'following extracts from ' English , Statistics to-hand by the last mail may V giyeVah' idea of how. some of New Zea''.lahd's exports to. England compare with, 'those of. other countries. The figures are 'a tribute ; .to :the meat-growing capacity -'of;: New - Zeaalnd and Australia, -particularly New , Zealand,. on account of its .''smalljarea., They show that but for these , twoVcovmtries England would be short.of /meafc/vi'■".'■" ;'~-' ■. : ' ' . ' ;■"■■■ -During. the: period, January to Sep-tember.-(nine months), 5,530,6900wt.' of / beef. was imported by England. The value .' ."wa's. JC10,065,573.. The. principal sources of supply..Were -as follow:—The United ■'■ States,:salt,'sß,96Bcwt.| the-United States, fre5h,..375,402c'w.t.; -'Australia, 565,181cwt.; New .Zealand, -.'• 491,4G6cwt.; Argentine, ; 3,473,596cwt.;/Uruguay, 129,049cwt; New .-..'• Zealand's" share was :an increase .of 26.30 '■: per cent., on.-tbat of the previous year, V.and Australia's. 135.08 per cent, Argentine increased 10.09.'per cent., and .Uruguay 6.87; per cent. The United States' quantity, of' salt/beef represented a de-' /crease/of 22.89 per cent.,, arid of fresh .beef: .44.81 per. cent. / The imports have .-increased • from'. , 3,608,281cwt.. (worth ■ ten years ago..

thesame nine months, i/lGCyoacwt. of l mutton was: imported by England. The /value of. the :meat: was- ,£8,280,614. The 'increases since 1900 are'shown by the following, retires:—l9oo, 2,555,152cwt. ' <£4,'808,237) ; : 1900, 2,930;454cwt. (A' 5,751,813); 1000;:/ '4,10G,121cwt.. (^C,74",263); 1010, .'M'6G,4sscwt; ((68,280,014)'.': r . .:. The principle sources of supply, together '•with''-the variation plus or minus, with the same period of .the previous year are as, follow:—Australia, 1,145,450cwt., plus :68;33.per cent:; New-Zealand, 1,9G3,873cwt., .plus 7.77 per cent.,-Argentine, 942,283ewt., minus 21.98 per:'cent:;'Holland, 73,195cwt., 'minus 2fi.3oper cent.; Uruguay, 89,557cwt., plu's:..37.6l,:per' : ceut... The remainder was imported, from countries not separately ' enuirierated.- ;; /l~t will-be observed thai-the /.'whole/ enormous increase recorded ■ sn:\the..rhiitton' : supply during the.past nine .'months is -due to the productiveness of • Australasia.•■■ '

MANAWATU A. & P. SOCIETY.

':'(y;;(JENEEAE : CdiIMITTEE MEETING. , : -'lify'>'Telcsriiih;—Special Cnrresponaeftu ■-■' -.'!;.'; '■'■ '■_'■■- ■■'■■-.x.'- Palmorston, December 6. ~-iThe' 1 -monthly meeting of the general ■ committee of . the-Manawatu A. and P. .was, held to-day,. the pre'si- .'!'. dent '(Mr. ■ C. A. J. Levett) being in tho .v;.:.ebairi'■':•.' ': . : Arnong.- the -.correspondence wero letters .-;' froiii. -Messrs. Isaac .Jefferson, -A.. M. .Wil- ':; liains;.; and H. Y. Lethbridge, enclosing . .cheques of 10s.. and .£2O re- '.- spe'ctively-,towards "the gift- auction. A ;■.-.. hearty vote '■ of thanks .was passed to ; " -the donors. '.-" .;,' , '.' . From the. secretary of the Feilding A. ,: arid. 1 P..--Association,, stating, that-..if was, '.'•'■'. projo'se'd'.- toXcable' to'. Mr.. E. -Short, ■' in-?u'iririg-if; December, 16 would ;suit -him or: holding -.'the -proposed welcome ban- ',-'"; qpeL"i";-":': : '- : "■''''.-'.:■-':•■ '•;'. ' '•'' ■' .\ :., 'Prom . the'.Mayor of Palmerston, askving'.fo'r the free, iisa of ..this'.'Agricultural .;■';Hall; for.-..tho: performance of. the Shef..'field'Ghoir in : Jnne next.—Granted. .";!. (Proinx the :Kairangi,';County Council, v.,donating. i3. : f6r. : a-,prize for collecting, V::'-birds';'eggs'.trKe.ceived :with, thanks;' a'noV .'.; 'referred'to■ the Dairy Show Committee. ..:: vFrbm" General Manager of Eail■■'...iways'(Mr. T.-Ronayrie).regarding a train I ,'. from. Masterton on the morning of the '-':'second day of the spring show. Tlie let- ".! 'vjter'-stated that a'-train-'could not be put '.': :ori/uriless .it was guaranteed, as there "*■■■-.■ ttere not' sufficient bookings. On the -.•motion',of Mr.tJohnston, it; was decided -/'.'.toj;.request, the'; Eailway. Department to ''.M;fn'rnish,'.a. ; returri.;of_ the bookings,.from-: ■, ;',Makerton., on the, second, day of the "...isp.ring. show of 1909. .-.' ;, ->'••'."■'-A' vote of coridolenco was passed to ;i.; the ; family of the. lato-Mr. J.,H.;WiI- ;;: I'liams;.'formerly president'of theHawke's (ißay.A. and-'J?."- Association..'.'- >■.'-. •-.;:' ■->,'-:•:,' Tho -secret'arjvreported that Mr.;.. P. ":-*;!Moor6':and/Mr. H. Gillies had «ach do-;;;.Tjated-a/bullock, and Mrs.' "Weeks a pig ■;;'.towards .the gift auitioni. •'..'. .... ; ' v .'-'Tho -. riew.-' ; members -were :.:': elected:-r-Messts. E. .A. Swartz; (Palmers-

"'. ten:. North), G. Stockwell '. (Palmcrston '■:..:>'orth), -; F.(' Eastern :.(Foxton), F. Tews .' (Kairanga), '.T.-H. F;rickson (Palmerston ■■■ : North), E, Jackson. (Stratford), CL Bu- • ;chanan'' (Eumerolj),:'J;',:L., Nelson (Wcod- ■ . tville);-=. \Y.' Pefyer (Gisborne), E. Lane . -'(Napier),; .T. -H;. Shepperd (Taibape), A. V': ,;M'Lcod;(DanneTirke),; W. A.. Price, (Pal-.-.mersfon. North), II;.. M'Kenzie (Darine- . • ririe). .A. .'\V...Gain (Cambridge).- G. Good- .' :»)n.(Hawera). W. L; Luxford (Hamilton),. ; '/.W:'Baiikiri (Glen Oroua), W. Blackmore .'■, ,'(Palmerston North).,:,!?.,- Cave, (Rongotea),. ; v .and; H. •Franklin (Opoutama):. ".'.":■•'«:The'- Dairy Show. 'Committee -recom- , imehded that a 1 sum' of <£25Q0 should be. ■"• in .the., erection of further /... ibuildings for ■ the , Dairy Show. Con- :.-:■', .siderable discussion look place on : the ... question, which was-eventually, referred ;■"■■ 'to' the-.Finance. Committee, the Dairy ; ;',:Y Shoir-Comraitteej and; the' Ground Com.mittee in the--meantime to-prepare- a '.: report of "what is exactly required for . -the.extension of- the. dairy j show; -build-- :. :: ing's.V'Th'eFinance' Committee are : also 1 ■■}:: to report at nest, general committee •■''■". meeting. '■.■;■:'-.:",. : 'i~ ;■':■. .'■.'-.''■'.' ■ ; '. : A- report-from the gate ', stewards," ■ ■'.':■ - Messrs.';'J;:.M'.'.'Johnston, and 3.'11. -Fos:..ter -Pratt', making'suggestions for. vari- .- ou's', alterations, ,w?.3 referred to . ; the ' : Ground Committee.' ;:

./ift.'-;.' 4lh-view ot-tbe importance of the grainv'■-■:■;... ;.growing..ihdustry; in -,the Raugitikei':it is ;/..:, interesting .to'hear that all the early oats J-' .y' ; Bud'-wheat are.lboking very .well. Un- '\-'-.'■■: '_• -'fortunately,- most- of the late spring sow- '■'■\~:.-~ iiigw-illibenext thing to a' failure. Some' ! -:.v'•'.,-; ,-Mhint;,that chaff is likely to be high for. ■'..•':," another.season::.;. • ; ;■?-:'.•• ; At-.the last meeting of the Hawke's '['■;-<'■■'■'. :Bay'-Fruitgrowers' Association, held at '..Hastings, the resignation of Mr. W. H. ■;,-,"., -'-'Smith' fl-oui the presidency was received. M';~: Great t'egret was expressed by the mem".'•bers.because of losing Mr. Smith, and . •-.■';,' .;. his loyalty,'to, and work for, the assoeia- .--,'.': . tibn were, much praised. Mr. Smith .was ■:■'•;.•■.■'■■', presented;with;an illuminated address, a ■•rj. silver-:teapot, and an entree dish. He V, ' ■.. thanked the. donors and said that'whatever he had done for the association was .',;-. - ailabpur of-love,'-,Mr. Smith left Hastings .-■ ''■■'•"'.. .yesterday for Taharua, in the Taupe' dis- : trict v '': .;"-.- '-'• . 0 V ;'"- ' FREE : TO ALL DAIRYMEN. VK:;--■■'.•' farMbes;. AND..STOCKOWNKES.'- ' ■; .: ; ;ThVWellington; edition of. SYKES'S ':[:', 'Journal' for- Tjairymen, Farmers, and :'.':.:.; Stockbwners has now' issued from tho >v. ■':;•',-': pressi ;ahd contains the most compreben-:r-.-f'- ' siy§ information necessary to. successful :,-':,;:: dairy-farming ever distributed. Specially :.t,. ,'.; nseful.will-.bo found the extensive tables /'-. - ..; . for;'.recording the daily milk-testing, re- ■":•'.'.-:' cords:for"the.year.i Tho diseases common :; : .:'.. to-cb.ws-and thcir.treatment are explain- '.'-. i-'ed in-'-language.that no' farmer can. mis- -.■'."•''.'.', 'understand.;. Breeding tables, seed-sowing •-... :-fAb!es,; nerd register, account books, in \'."'fact^-everything a.'.farmer should know : are ; now - offered, to you free. If .I have .overlooked your na,me in tho Wellington ..distribution, send at: once a postcard to -.',- ,"'-. the publisher, and you will recoiva one by return mail. A. E. SYKES, Chemist, \:' ; - Proprietor SYKES'S DRENCH, New' Ply;';.;'•■.,..'' mouth.—* ':■■-.' .

fIEWS AND MOTES.,

;-;..; PIG EXPORTING. | SELLING ON CONSIGNMENT, ' . i.Tho. Kongotea.,. corrcspoiiilent of .the i''Manawat,ii Sranclard'," ill-his collection of notes a gathering of dairy" la'rniers'who' bail met to discuss with a representative of Messrs. C'ollett and . Co. a proposal concerning tho disposal of their pigs. The. firm's representative said there was a profitable business to be done by sending Homo frozen pork, and said that he was quite prepared to at once take piss to-the number of 500 per week if they could, be got; .'and. give lid: per lb. for them, but the following'offer ho thought would, be most advantageous to the farmer:—Tff make thenr an advance'of -id. per lb. dead weight on all fat pigs, including porkers from,6olb. to. 1651b. in weight; to be taken at Longburn Freezing Works, where all pigs would have to be delivered. All profits after, paying shipping and other expenses' to be returned to the suppliers, his firm receiving a commission onlyvfor handling and placing the goods. He believed that' an average of quite ss. per carcass would'be obtainable over aud above the 4d. advanced. All pigs to be ihspe6ted' and any loss by* disease to be borne by the supplier. It was decided to accept the offer, and a. committee, was set up to further the idea.

'''.'. STATE FRUIT FARAIS. MINISTER ON-THE NEW SCHEME. • !By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, December 6. The: Hon. T. il'Kenzie, Minister for Agriculture, passed through Christchurch this morning, and to an interviewer he expressed, himself very hopeful 'of the success of the fruit farm settlements which the Government :is establishing at Waerenga, in the North Island. Several fruit farms of about twenty-five acres each, Mr. - Mackenzie stated, were now ready for occupation half planted in fruit. The scheme was to advance about ,£l5O to the person taking up the farm, together With the cost of the farm, which would be. about .£059. Sections would be. disposed, of under Act 3 of the Land Act under "optional .tenure. In that connection, however the land itself was of infinitesimal. value, probably 7s. Gd. on acre, but its value would bo represented by improvement. There would bo pretty, stringent regulations regarding the treatment of the farms by owners in the matter of spra'ying and the keeping down of pests, and,"if the faims were leased, the proper pruning of trees would have to be carefully supervised. "Regarding the future profit of the venture," 6aid Mr. Mackenzie, "my officers assure me that it yrill be a success. We have demonstrated by Shipments of fruit, sent. Home that it is possible to land fruit- of the right varieties at remunerative prices. Of course, tho shipment of , fruit is just, in its initial stage, bur we haye. discovered points of weakness and points of value. AVe have again put . a vote on the Estimates for another experimental .supplement, subject to approvements in the/matter of selection, packing, .transit, and".marketing. "If it can be demonstrated at "Waerenga that we ' can. bring into usefulness these 'great areas of land hitherto > regarded as' absolutely . valueless," Mr. Mackenzie I added, "and if. we can place on small holdings people 'who can earn a comfortable . and pleasant living, it will he a great , r

• One groat vconsideration.in the'scheme, 'Mr.-Mackenzie added, wasthat many meu and women unlit for heavy manual work would be able to adopt the farms as their' lives' occupation. Questioned "as to the finance, of the scheme from the point of view of the farmer, Mr. Mackenzie remarked that he had no balancesheets to offer showing that-farms would be .1 financial success,--because they had just been 'brought up'to what was called "profit,", and from that point the fruit.farrner would lake on t\\a responsibility. It.was.no part of the Department's scheme io: pick the market fruit. It prepared the farms,' and there the work ceased, except in regard, to supervision. farms'were .being,'.ploughed and prepared. '•"■ ■•■'-.-•.■■■■ Mr. Mackenzie added that he.could not say definitely what the method of selection would be, but there must be some assurance that, this'..incoming tenant had a knowledge >of gardening, arid fruit culture. The soheinc'was in ah experimental stage, and he could not speak with too great-, confidence. ■■ until <its>-success had ". been. further, assured,: but if the fruit turned out well, and,he had no 'doubt it would,' he would urge 'the Government to extend the principle .;ns. far as was reasonable. •<•; '■ '' ,- GENERAL'FARMING NEWS. The three sheep which figured in--the "{weight-iffdgingi' tp'mpotitioiv. at ■ the- Taranaki Agricultural ''Show turned the scale at the following weights:—Small wether, : 491b.; ewe, 671b;; big wether, 811b.; total, 20Mb. The exact -totnV was guessed, by Messrs. T. Woo'dard.-Now Plymouth, arid K. Clout, Haweray who will divide the JC3 prize. money- The. judging . ranged from 1031b. to 3161b. '.•'■ ■'■'

.:..Shearing, is being .done .throughout ,the Piri Piri ■ block: (near•■Dann'avirko). Some iveryT.faiivelips. are, reported.

If- the - Tomoana paddocks don't furnish a record in lambing -this year (says the papier ."Telegraph"), the"percentages cannot be. very far behind. Last September the"lambing'for gt ; ewes was 12!. They were drafted" at : the. end of last month, and' they 'returned.'no loss than 105 fats, averaging 311b. each. It is stated the lambs did not come'from the best paddocks ' either. .: , ;„ ' , , and Sirs. Cunningham, two of the earliest settlers in the'district, are about to leave Beaconsfield.-; .. The much-needed rains which fell at. the end. of November had a very beneficial; effect on the. rapo crops in many of the country districts. When the suppliers of the dairy factory at riri Piri; (near Dannevirlie) arrived at the depot'with their milk cue recent morning, they found that the manager had been taken seriously ill. While one supplier .secured medical assistance several others: put their shoulders to the wheel and helped to keep the factory .working. The manager (Mr. Woods) was sent to the hospital. y Haymaking has been commenced in some parts of the Manawatu, and on a number of farms about peilding. ~ Lambs on the ' farms . about Marton are more forward than they were last year. ".'■''' The warm rain which fell at the hitter end of last week did a considerably amount, of good to the crops and pastures generally iii the Feilding district. Crops are looking -well. ''.'.' . Tho secretary of the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers' Association stated at tho recent meeting that the Hastings railway stationmaster had informed him, that the Railway Department.had.reconsidered ils decision rcroi-ding the'freight, charges on shooks. They had now decided to allow these to be" carried 100 miles free ,of charge.- --. . • • , - Dairving in the Eangitikei is reported to be cm a better, footing now. than it has been for some years. The Beaconsfield correspondent of the ."Feilding Star" slates that' illr. Gricc put in a crop of maize recently, rather as an'experiment to discover how it would succeed'in'.the valley.' -Mr. Once is exceedinglv well pleased with the result. Although-sown, only a short :time ago, it is making remarkable progress, and .gives promise at prereiit of turning out na excellent, crop. Mr. Gricc intends (o use it as fodder for dairy cows. The milk supply at the Nireaha factory is reported to have gone. up. at a very rapid rate: this month, and to bo now equal to the supply of last j'ear, but the tests', are somewhat low. ■ A" contributor,■'• to the "Taranaki Herald"- says-that shearing throughout the is well forward, and so favvery little, is being- heard--of-the Shearers' lU.nion.'- Several of the largo sheds report tliat are-plentiful. Owing to good' feed -and a dry spring, -[most.of the clips are bright and in,good.condition.

LIVE STOCK SALES. Messrs. Dalgely and Co.. Ltd.,' report ■ having held their usual sloe!; sale at Waipnkurau yesterday, when they offered 1300 sheep to a good attendance of buyers. They realised the following pricer,:— 3-year steers, £5 165.; fat owet, 10s. lOd.-, forward wethers, 13s. 6d.; 2-tooth owes and wethers, ,12s. 2d.; • 4-tooth ewes, lis. lOd. ~-■ Messrs/Dalgety and Co. report:—At outf Marton sale yesterday there was a small entry. Two-tooth wethers (small) made up to lis. lid.; 2-tooth ewes, to 14s. COMMERCIAL ITEMS. INVESTMENT SHARES. The market for investment shares was quiet yesterday, uo transactions being recorded. The Quotations were as under:— Buyers. Sellers Sales. £s. d. £s. d. £s. d. Bank N.Z : 10 12 0 - - N.Z. Loan and Mcr- ' . , cantilo 010 0 — ■ — Gisborne Gas '. 3 0 0 — — « Well. Gas (£10) .... 19 0 0 — . — «' Well. Gas (£6 155.) 13 10 0 - - / Well. Gaa (new) ... 2 8 0 —, — ' N.Z. Insurance .... 4 3 3 4 5 0 ,— Standard Insurance 16 0 — — Union Steam 116 9 , — — Kaiapoi Woollen ... 5 0 0 -— ' — Well. Woollen (ord.) 3 13 0 - ' — Westport-Stockton — 0 7 3 — Leyland-O'lirien ... 1 6 3 — — Manning aud Co. 4 4 0 — — Miramar, Ltd — 0 2 6 — N.Z. Con. Dental ...12 6, - - N.Z. Paper "Mills... 13 0 - - Taranaki Petroleum 0 0 0 — — Taringamutu Totara 2 3 6 — .— Ward and Co 5 4 0 - - UNITED INSURANCE COMPANY. The past year (September 30) has been a prosperous ono for the United Insurance Company. The revenue for the year amounted to £190,380 12s. Hd.. ar.d tho expenditure totalled £175,656 ss. 3d., leaving a surplus of £22,724 7s. Bd. Besides add ing - substantial sums to tho reserve and reinsurance funds, the directors wercablo to declare .a dividend at tho rate of 10 per cent., 'ar.d a bonus of 2J per cent.' Full, details will be found in our advertising columns. 1 GEAR MEAT COMPANY. Tho balance-sheet of the Gear' Moat Preserving and Freezing Company, Ltd., for the year ended November 30. shows that after making allowance for depreciation asd providing adequate reserves, the net profit for the year is £9740 15s. Id., and there was brought. f orwaTd from the previous year £92C0 63. Sd., making available £18,941 Is. 6d. The dividend for the year at tho rate of 10 per cent, absorbs £9200, leaving £9741 Is. 6d. to bo carried forward. The report states that: "Owing to the care oxercfecd in the shipping and handling of the company's products in all stages, the claims for damage have been practically, nil, consequently, the directors recommend tho payment- - a, bonus of 5. per rent, on the paid-up capital out of tho insurance reserve.""

UNITED BUILDING . SOCIETY. ■ The annual meeting of the United Building Society will bo held on December 16. Tho annual report. cays :—"Tho profit Sor the year in the,first fund amounts to £491 2s. 9d.; the balance at credit of profit and loss account being now £MC2 6s. sd. Tho profit for the year, in the second fund amounts to £224 4s. Od.; the balaice at the credit of the profit and loss account being now £714 Ks. During the year there were five appropriations in tho first fund.

thre9 by ballot and two by sale, the latter yielding a profit to tho society of £574. and two appropriations in the r : ;cond fund, one by ballot and one by sale", the latter 'yielding a profit of £325. Your dircotoi'3 anticipate that there will bo sufficient funds in the first fund for an appropriation of £1000 by which it is propor-ed to ofi'er at the annual meeting. An appropriation of £300 in the first fund will also bo submitted for rale on behalf of tho successful members who drew an appropriation held on 'August 26 last. The condition of the rale will-be submitted at the meeting. According to the society's rules Messrs. Scott and Young retire from tho'board, and, being eligible, offer themclvos for re-election. ■ ' According to the society's rules, Mr. S. C. Leary, the shareholders' auditor, retires, and.' being eligible, . offers himself for reelection."

. NOTES. Tho Liverpool Cottar. Association Tcoorts that 'the total weight of cotton consumed in Great, Britain durini-; the year ended August 31 was 1,631,595.2971b.. arainst, 1.823.883,5821b. in 1908-9. • The total etock held bv spinners was eslimated-to be 58.0C0 'inlcs less than last year. The stock of cotton at the ports of Great Britain onAu"uet 31 amo'.-nted to 330,280 bales. T*ainst, 890,470 bales at the clor.o of 1908-9. Great Britain now absorbs 2,126,5 M bales of American cotton a year on the five years' average, against 3,129,382 bales in the previous quinquennium.

The output of, tho summer pack of Quensland pinenrVes is e-timated by 'Mr. I'milc Green, of Messrs. Webster and CoBrisbane; at 30.CC0 cases. The opening nvice has been Used at- 4s. 7}d. per dozen 21b. tins no*, f.0.b., and later the season tho -price will he advanced to 4s. 9<l. Tho opening price lart reason vnc 4s. 6d., but the cost has increased since thcr., the advance in the price of boxes alone representing an inorea.-p of 3d. per dozen to the.packers. The packers, it may be mentioned, nre not satisfied with the present selling price, which, however, the competition of the Singapore article compels them to accent. Th.ev are hopeful that when the Federal tariff is revised additional protection will be given to their industry.. It if- pointed out that the cheapest Australian stone fruit is S.A. plums, which fetch 4'. 6d. to s*. ner dozen 21b.. tins, and tho labour ent.iilcd in canning pines is mnch greater than that incidental to'the putting up of stone fruit. Mr. Green estimates tho valuo to the packers of this se.i'-or.'s pack of pines at from £14,C00 to £15,000.

Customs revenue collected at- the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to" £2135 2s. 9d..

TRADE IN ALLEN STREET. Fruit—Transhipments, ex Centnry, from San Francisco, came to har.d by the Tar.v wora yesterday. , Californi.an oranges 'realised up to 21s. a case, and applos up to 16s. Further supplies from tho {im; locality are due per s.s. Aorangi to-morrow. Shipments of bananas from tho Cook Islands will also come by the same steamer. Fijian bananaG and pineapples axe duo en. Friday. Strawberries continue to como forward freely, and satisfactory rates arc being obtained. Now Zealandgrown peaehes and plums put in an appearance this wedt. Apricots from Australia were marketed lact week, and realised 10s. to 12s. per half gin-case. The Manuka is' due from Sydney to-day with consignments of mandarins, lemons, pineapples, oranges, apricots, and plums. - Vegetables.—The Hanawatu district is sending fairly large cnppHcs of new potatoes, and these make from 10s. to l'.s. per cwt, according !o o'lrlity. Cabbages ere

2s. 6d. per sack. Cauliflowers have declined in value, and now realise from 6s.

to Bs. per sack. Green peas are in rather short supply, and satisfactory rates are being obtained. Hams and bacon are without any alteration in prices, and there is a good trade doing. . . Uhcese.-boaf is in ■- short supply, but medium is 'in suflloicnt supply to meet • all immediate demands. ' \ Butter.—Vriroo milled is bringing 8»d. to 83d. per lb. ''', ■ Eggs—Fresh eggs are in heavy supoly. tho current price beini'lOd. to lid. ner dozen. ■- , Poultry-Dens arc malting 3s. to 3s. 6d. per pair; young roosters.'4s. to ss. 6d:: ducks, 4s. 6d. to 55.'6 d.; turkey gobblers; lOd. per lb. live-weight.; hens, 8(1. Onions.—Prime Victorian-grown, in cases, are bringing 10s. tolls, per cwt. Fowls' wheat has again advanced, and the nuotation f.o.b. south is now 3s. sd. to 3s. 63. per bushel. Flour.—Southern ' prices continue at £8 10s. f.0.b., less the usual trade discount. Pollard-Supplies are now plentiful, but prices .are 'unchanged. LONDON 'WOOL 'SALES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. t>ndnn, December 5. ' At the wool oales prices for merinos were ur.chaiivid, >.«a mere was a slight irregularity in crossbreds. WHEAT - ASD PLOTJIf. ■ By Tclezraph—Press Association—Copyrieht. London, December 5. Tho total ouantity of wheat'afloat for ■ tho United Kingdom is 2,«0.0C0 quarters, and for the Continent 2,250,f:C0. Atlantic shipments, 154,000 Quarters; Pacific. ■ 80.0 CO. The total shipments to Europe during the week wore 1,300,000 ruar'ers, including 101,003 from Aree'tins. «S,CCO from Russia. 900,000, from the Danubian provinces, 124.CC0 from India, and 31,000 from Australasia. SILVER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright . London, December 5. Bar silver is quoted at 26 • 5-16 d. per ounce standard. WAIHI SHAEES.. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, December 5. W-aihi shires are cuoted at £5 18s. 9d. to £6 Is. 3d. , . _ GEATN ASD PKODTJOE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, December 6. Business this vesk in the grain and produce market has opened very tjuiet. The turnover in wheat and oats is very limited, holders of wheat being firm, and oats vcrv scarce. A few small sales of mi'Hng wheat have been made at 3s. 3d. to 3s/4d. at country stations, but the demand on tho part of millers is not at all keen. , Ryegrass ,?eed keeps firm, and is still being turned over' in fairly large quantities. CANTERBURY FROZEN MEAT CO. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, December 6. The .directors of the Canterbury Frozen Jleat Company, at a meeting to-day, decided to recommend dividend;-- for the last half-vear of 3 per cent, on preference, and ■ 5 pel" coat, on ordinary share?, making 6 per cent, and 8 per cent, respectively for the year.

MINING NEWS. - : WELLINGTON SHAKE MAKKET.' The market for mining shares was extremely weak yesterday,. and prices generally were tending downwards. The cales recorded were as under:— May Ouecn, 3s. 3id. (second (fell). New Svlvia. 3s. 9d., 3s. 8(1. (second call). Sixon.'ls. Bd. (second call); Is. 7d. (third call). Waihi, £5- 16s. (first call); £5 15s. 6d. (sscond call); £5 If''-. 3d. (third call). Waihi Grand Junction, 30s. 6d. (second call); 3Cs. 6dr (third call). Waitingi, Is. 7d. (first call). Watchman, 3s. 4d. (second call). Nw Big Biver, £3 4s.' (second call). T'oe ouotations and last sales were as under;— Buyers. Sellers. Sales. £s. d. £s. d. ' £s. d Bremner's 0 0 6 0 0 9 . — Hauraki Keels - 0 0 8 - Kuranui — .005 — Kuranui Caledon'n 0 14 0 16 — May Ouecn 0 32 034 03 3* N'.Z. Crown 0 4 3 - - New Sylvia 0 3'7 038 03 8 Old Haurald 0 2 0 0 2 2 — Saxon 017 018 017 Tairua Broken Hills 0 10 0 12 - Talisman 211 9 212 3 - Talisman (new) ... 2 0 0 —. — Waihi 514 0 515 6 515 3 Waihi Extended ... — 0.2 6 — Waihi G'd. June... 110 3 110 6 110 G Waitangi : — .— 017 Watchman — 0 3 4 0 3 4 Elackwater 110 9 111 6 — Con. Goldfields - 10 0 - New Big Hirer 3 3 0 — 3 4 0 ProgreM 011 9. 012 3 — Undaunted Sluicing — 6 0 0 — STOCK EXCHANGE. Auckland, December' 6. Business done on 'Change yesterday:— Bonanza, 4£d... sd. May Queen, 3s. sd. Sylvia, Js.'.lOd, 3s. 9d. Saxon, Is. Ed. • Watchman, 3s. 3d. Fauraki, 2s. Id. Kauanga, (con.), 7»d. Tairua Broken Hills, Is. Id. Waihi Fxtcnded, 2s. Ed. to 2s. 0d.., Grand Junction, £1 lis. 6d. New Zealand Insurance. £4 6s. South British. £3 3s. 6d. New Zealand Portland Cement, £1 16s. 6d. The following business waa done at the 3.15 call this afternoon:— ..Watchman, 3s. 2d. Old Hauraki. 2s. Id. Waihi, £5 17s. Waihi Grand Junction, £1 10s. 9d. N.Z. Insurance, £1 15s. 6d. Dune'dln, December 6.Stock' Exchange sales :— New Svlvia, 3s. 9d. Old Hauraki, 2s. Id. Sales TcportvA -.-Waihi. £5 165.; Christchurch Meat Co., £14 15s. CONSOLIDATED GOLDFIELDS. v Yesterday the Wellington Stock '. Exchange received the' following telegram:Progress mines crushed 4426 tons, yielding £3541; cyanided 2500 tons, yielding ,£7C4: suinhttrets proved value £762. Wealth of Nations crushed 1855 tons, yielding £2412; cyanided 1232 tons for £1089. Blacltwater crushed 3556 tono. yielding £7C68; cyanided 2079 tons for-.£832.