COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 996, 10 December 1910, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. Sales of investment. shares recorded yesterday were National. Insurance at 345. 9d., and Kaiapoi Woollen preference at £5. The quotations were as under;— Buyers. Sellers Sales. ■ £B. d. £s. tl. £s. d. National Banlt ... 516 0 — . — Equitable Building 912 6 - — Well. Gas (£lo] ....19 0 0 - - Well. Gas (£6 155.) 13 10 0 - - National Insurance — 115 0 114 9 Standard Insur. ... - 16 6 tTJnion Steam 116 9 - - Well. Steam Perry 0 7 6 — - Kaiapoi Wool.prcf.) — - 5 0 0 Well. Woollen lord.) 3 13 0 - - Taupiri Coal .../I 0 0 10 6 - Wostport-Stocltton... - 07 3 - Loyland-O'Bricn ... 1 6 3 ■ — — Manning and Co. 4 4 0 — — Jliratnar, Ltd - 0 2 3 — N.Z. Con. Dental ... 1 2 6 — — N.Z. .Paper Mills ... 1 3 3 - - Taranaki Petroleum 0 8 0 — — Taringamutu Totara 2 3.5 — — Ward and Co. ... 5 4 6 5 5 6 - Whitcotnbe and Tomba ...:.; 6 5 0 6 7 0 — WHITELEY'S. New York Chicago can claim some new building now in course of erection at Paddington for Whiteloy's. will nut London on a level, if not ahead of, the American • cities. When the building is finished, it will have a frontago to Queen's Road of-600ft., and a depth of oCOft., the Eito measuring four acres in extent, Thero will bo five floors, Riving 16 acres of space available' for selling purposes. The building will have three domes, tho central one into which the entrance will open being 150 ft... high—a- ' copy of the famous dome of South Maria dcl'.a- Salute, in Venice. This vast dome will bo open, and surrounded by galleries. Beneath it will be an open floor space of 500 square feet. There will bo twenty-four ' passenger lifts Eo arranged that there will bo no waiting, and between 6COO and 60CO cm--nloycee.will be necessary to carry on the business. There will bo a- wireless telegraphy station, a children's playground, rest and rooms for L-uiies and will be among its ' o\hor novelties. -The whole- 'building will involve an expenditure of soino £250,CC0.

I , . LDfSEED -AND LINOLEUM. ~- ■ Tho advance in' the prices of linseed and linseod oi! havo put. tho ouotations up to a level practically unknown at this season of tho year. - 'In America' tho pneo has risen one dollar a. gallon, and linoleum manufacturers have been compelled to intimate considerable advances. Manufacturers in London and Fifeshiro have so far been able, to resist the temptation to put up prices, havincr, apparently laid in i large stocks of the raw. materia! at the lower, level of quotations. It is now doubted, however, if they will.be able to refrain much longer from mtimxtinc an advance in view of tho. .maintenance of oil prices and tho running down .of their stocke of cheap material. A considerable export trade is dono in. linoleum with the TJnited States, despito '.the hien dnty, and the British manufacturers have taken advantage-of the advances intimated, by domestic .manufacturers to sell considerable quantities of their goods on tho other side at prices which, it is calculated, will materially- strengthen their position with consumers there. Indeed, they: seem to have foreseen the rise in linseed values much further ahead than their American competitors,' and laid-in largo tjtocks in good time.. Meanwhile, the outlook .for. .a reduction in prices is. not bright, and littlo amelioration" is looked for until next .year at least. The advance is due largely to ehort crops- in India, and South America, as well as to tho. compaTativo failure of tho crop in the TJnited States. Tho imports of linseed into this country for tho first nine months of tho year have totalled 1.228.000 quarters, of a gross value of £3,650,000, as compared with 1,385,000 quarters and £2,963,0C0 in the corresponding period of last vcar.' Tho imports during September totalled 130,453 quarters, against 111,318 quarters last' year. In view of. tho price of linseed oil in ,New York having; increased to a figure which is double tho average of tho-:'lari five -years, consumers are turning their attention .to substitutes, and in this connection it ia intercstinc to learn that tho. Standard Oil Company is reaping a golden harvest thronsli the great increase in the soles of such substitutes by its subsidiaries. . .

N.Z. LOAN AND MEECANTILE. Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantilo Agency Company, Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London house, under date, December B:—Tho annual mooting passed- off satisfactorily. Tho report was adopted, likewise tho directors' recommendation to pay forthwith, it' dividend of 7i per cent, for the , year end> ing Juno 30 last, and, on January 1, 7. ner cent: -interest to tho , third ■ debentureholders over the samo , period, both bcinE subject to income tax. .

AUSTKIA AND.FBOZEN MEAT. The Vienna correspondent of the "Economist" (London), writing from tlio Austrian capital, under dato October 4, gives-,a graphic account of a. demonstration m favour of the importation of frozen meat. , Hβ Bays:—"On Sunday, October 2, the biggest demonstration that Vienna, has ever witnessed took place. According to the police estimates, 3CO.CCO men and women marched from all paris of the city- and suburbs to the coritoe, and from thcro to the Gothic Town Hall, to protest, against the prices of meat and victuals in general,! caused by. the,promotional policy which the Government upholds to .keep on sood terras with the politically influential agrariane. In splendid weather the: perfectly ordered columns marched- like battalions of. a powerful army, wearing badges, and carrying shielde and banners showing where each group camo from and .what was its occupation, lloro than ' ICO banners that spread across the street were carried by. willing bearcre, with inscriptions explaining the grievance that caused the demonstration. On one sheet was painted a,- lifesized Argentinian ox, who could not get across the black and yellow, Customs barrier; on others ■ threats were expressed: 'Need breaks iron' 'Wo will have cheap meat, if we have to fight for it.' In front of tho Town Hall, on a. roomy square, speeches were delivered by Socialists and Liberal members of Parliament, by housewives of tho middle classes, and by working women, during tho time the imposing march past lasted. One woman created a sensation by wheeling along a baby-cart with twins in it, and an inscription: .'I cannot bring them up-milk is too dear!' In all tho enormous crowd, though the marching. laded five hours and a half, thero was not one "disorderly person, ~nd the police had not one single causo for interference. But, then, tho police sympathised; just as much with the demonstration . as did the ' persons' who. watched the procession- from the -.sidewalks. Allcarriage and tramcar traffic was interrupts ed on tho King (luring three hours. Numerous provincial cities sent deputations of men and women, who arrived by early, trains, and took their place in the procession." ■■ . ■;, ' Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £2077 te. 6d. ' • WELLINGTON MAEKETS. Messrs. Laery and C 0 . ,, Ltd., Wellington, report wholesale pricce ruling on tho marl;ots:-\Vhcat, fowl, 3s. lid. to 45.; feed oat«, 2s. 10d. to 55.; Dun oats, 35.; seed oata, -2s. 10d. to 35.; Algerian oats, Zs. 9d to 35.; rye corn, 33. lCd. bushel;/ maize, 3s. 3d. to 3s. 5d.; crushed malt, 75.; fowl barley, 2s. 9d.; Capo barley seed, 35.: flour. New Zealand, £9 ss. to £9 155.; peas, split £18, partridge peas- ss. 3d. per buGhel; bonedust, £5 155.; superphosphates, £5 to £5 55.; Basic slag, £4 10s.: pollard, £6 10s.' to £6 155.; bran, £5.105. to £5 155.: pi"incal, £5 per ton; pearl barley, 155.; chaff (oatensheaf), £5 ss. to £5 10s.; potatoes, American, . £13; potatoes, new, 10s. to 13s. cwt.; onions, Victorian, £11 per ton; molasses fodder, £5 10s.: bacon (factory), sides 73d., hams 9d., rolls BJd.; butter, prime bulk 9d. to t9Jd. Poultry, hens 3s. 6d.; ducks, 4s. 6d .to ss. 6d. per pair;, turkeys, gobblers 18s. to 20?., hens lte. to 145.; fresh eggs, lOd. to lid. dozen; cheese, 53d. lb.; Akaroa machinedressed cocksfoot, BJd. to 9d. per lb.; farmers' dressed cocksfoot, 6d. por lb.; ryegrass. 4s. 9d. per bushel; Italian ryegrass, is. 9d. per bushel; white clover, 105s. per ewt. • The New Zealand Farmers' Co-operativo Distributing Co. .Ltd., report prices , for tho weelt as follow:—Potatoes, prime, £12 to £13 per ton; potatoes, seed, Canterbury Up-to-datcG, £8 per ton; onions, Australian. £10 per ton; cabbage. Is. to Is. 6d. ner sack; cauliflower, 6s. 6d. to 10s. per sack:

green peas, Hult, 3d.; Nclsoa, Cd. per peek; carrots, IXutt, 9rt. dozen, and 4s. i>cr Eack; others, 2s. 6d.; turaips, white, sd. dozen; lettuce, choice, Ze. 6(1. to fair, Is. 6d. to 2s. per c-aEO; spinach, best, 2s. (id. per case; sprins onions, Bd. per dozes bundles; asparagus, Id. to 6d. bunch; rhubarb, 3s. to 4s. dozen; gooseberries, 2d. to 2Jd. per lb.; strawberries. Is. per lb.; passion fruit, 10s. Gd. to lls. per half-case; cherries, 9s. to 10s. 6d. half-case; red currants, ss. £d. to 65.; half-case; cucumbers, 2d. to 6d. each; butter, separator, BJd. bulk; 9d. to 9}d. pats; dairy, Bd. to 3d. per !b.; choese, best factory mediums, Md. per lb.; loa', 7d. per lb.; .drcSEcd pork, 70's to 90'o, 4d.; 90's to 100'b, 33d.; baconers, 3*d.; choppers (heavy), 2d. to 2Jd.; osgs, fresh, 10d. to lid. .per dozen; bacon, factory sides, Bd.; rolls, 9d.; hams, 95d .per lb,; honey, Sid. to 4d. per lb. (slow of sale); beeswax, Is. 6d. por.lb.; fungus, keen demand at 5Jd. peril).; walnuts, 5Jd. per lb. (wanted); tallow, tins, 235. cwt.; wool, shncpskins, and hides, special sale on December 16, 1910. Poultry, cockerels, ss. 6d..t0 6s. for good birds; small, os. Cd.; tablo roosters ,55.; table hens, 45.; chicks, Is. to Is. 6d.; ducks, ss. to 6s. 6d. per pair; turkey gobblers, 9d. per'lb.; hens,'Bd. per lb. live-weight.

FEUIT AND PBODTjCE EEPOKT. The New Zealand Fruit and Produce Company report a steady demand for all fruit and vegetables, with projects of a good market until alter tho holidays. Tho following prices were ruling hero last week.:—Hobart Apples: • Eed dessert, 235. case; French crab 3, 13s. case; sturmer pippins, I°i3. case; oranges, 15s. to 205.; mandarins, 20s. to 235.; lemons, 7s. to 10s. case; pines, 12s. to 14s. case; passion fruit. 2Ci5. to 255. case; bananas (Tongas), r/s. to 183.; strawberries, 10d. to Is. 6d. box; tomatoes, 11s. ;o 16s. case; cherries (Nelson), Us. to 12s. 6d.; gooseberries, 3s. to 4s. 9d.; new potatoes (Eopi , . demand), 10s. to 13s. 6d. cwt.; onions (Australian) ,9s. to 10s. cwt.; cabbage, Is. .6d. to Js. sack; cauliflower, ss. to 7s. saelc; carrots, 4s. to ss. sacl;; turnips (white), 2s. 6d. to 4s. sack; peas (12 peck). Is: to 10s. sack; French beans, sd. to 7d. per lb.; rhubarb. 3s. dozen; brond beans, lid. per lb.; lettuce, 2s. Cd. to ss. 9d. case; spinach, Is. 6d. t-o 3s. case; asparagus, ss. to Ss. dozen bunches; walnuts, M. to (i'd. per lb.; chair (oatonsheaf). £5 12s. 6d .to £5 17s. 6d. ton; oats (A Gartons), 2s. 7d. to 2s. 9d. bushel; bran. £5 ss. ton; pollard, £5 10s. ton; straw, 2s. to 25 , . 3d. bale; wheat, 3b. Bd. to 4s. bushel; peanuts, 235. sack; rice, -fe. 6d. mat; chickens, 4s. 6d. to ss. parr; ducks, ss. 6d. to 6a. fid. psir; hens, os. to 3s. 6d. pair; eggs, lid. dozen.

TAEANAKI PETEOLEUIt COMPANT. (By Tolosraiih.—Press Association.) New Plymouth,' December 9. ■ Tho Annual meetinit of the Taranaki roleum Co. was held to-day. There \va3 alarge a-ttandance, a—d proceedings were marked by a more confident tone, tho reports of the directorate and manager being hopeful, and in the main satisfactory. The retirint: directors. Messrs. '0. Carter (the chairman), and J. B, Boy, wcro re-elected.

RECORD BUTTER SHIPMENT. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, December 9. Throughout tho present season butter exports from the Auckland province have boon. showing a gratifyi-g increase. Each fortnightly shipment has been in excess'oi the quantity shipped for tho corresponaing period of last year, and a fortnight ago the increases culminated in a record cargo, which was taken by the steamer Arawa, tho quantity being 22,297 boxes. This record has been again beaten, for the' Corinna, which leaves Onchunga tomorrow, will take 22,850 boxes lur , transhipment to the Euapehu. which 'kavea Wellington for London about December 15. For tho correspondinK period of last year, the Turakina took 21,411 boxes. This had been tho ■ record until tho Arawa's shipment ia November of this year left it, behind. It should also bo noted that'the Kuapehu is not taking a full fortmeni n cargo, as the butter had to bo loaded a day earlier than usual. Another day* butter would probably Teach a total o£ from 1000 to 1500 boxes, and would- havo made - tho cargo a, much higher Tccbrd.

Even as it je, there is matter for congratu- ! lation that the Ruapoliu's shipment is 653 boxes in excess of tho Arawa's record. The via tho West Coast, and will zo tax the Corinna's space that she will bo unable to tal;o butter from Taranaki on her way to Wellington, but a special trip to Now Plymouth will bo made in order to tako ■Me butter awaiting export from that part of the island. GEAlif AND PEODUCE. . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christctiurcll, December 9. The rain that has fallen in Canterbury, during tho past week has considerably improved the grain crops in. - .thc-so districts where. any quantity of rain was experienced. The whoat crops in many parts promise well ,hut the oats crop will be very light, and tho opinion is gaining ground that there will not he anv surplus of oats for shipment, and probably there will bo barely sufficient for local requirements. While there will bo a, cousiderablo quantity of wheat to. carry lorward—a quantity that cannot evov. bo approximately estimated in tho abe-euce of reliable statistics—the stocks of oats will be practically exhausted by the time the new crop comes on the market. Tho local wheat market keeps very firm, at least, eo far as holders arc concerned. Any offerings that are being made havo values placed upon them th.at millers ar« not inclined to give now that tho rains have improved the, prospects of the growing crop; consequently, there is practically nothing changing hands. Since th« lato rains thero have open a few lines of oats' placed on tho marUot. and chaff is offering rather more freely, thouirli tho quantity of. either is not large. - Chaff is now worth 05s. at country stations, and for prime bright samples us much as 90s. has been paid, but this .Quality is very limited ia quantity. -More rain is required ia North Canterbury for the potato crop, for, whilo thero is a good growth of top, there has not been sufficient moirturo to promote good root de» velopments.

WOOL, HIDE,. AND TALLOW SALE. JleEsrs. Abraham and Williams, Ltd., report:—Wo held our monthly, wool and hido salo r.t Palmorston on "Friday, and offered fl- largo catalogue to a '"air attendanco of buyers. Bidding was fairly snirited throughout tho sale, and, with tho exception of a few lota of wool, wo sold every lino under the hammer. The paesed-in lots of woo! wove p.li cold at fair market value. Our offering comprised 70 bales, and 100 sacks of wool, 1500 sheepskins and pelts. 650 calfskins. «0 laree hides, 4 casks, and 110 tins of tallow, 2 halo; and 4 sacks of horse-hair, as well as cowhair, t-aile, and rabbitskins. We quote:—Wool: Crossbred. flne.'OJd.,- 9d., 93d. to 9Jd.-; crossbred, medium, 71(1., 73d., Bd.> 82d., Bfd. to 83d.; crossbred and Eomncy, Bd. to 9}d.; crossbred hoggets, Eld. to B{d.;

dead, <!3d., 5a., 5Sd., Cd., 73d. to Ba.; lnmbs, 7id.; looks, pieces, and bellie.-, 3Jd., 4d.. W.; crutchings, 4fd., sd. to s<d. Skins: Crossbred, iine, 7i<!. to 73d.; crossbred, medium, 63d. to 73d.; crossbred, inferior, «d. to 53d.; dead and damaged; 3ld. .to 6d.; quarter to half wools, 3Sd.; lionets. 5d.; lambs, 6d. to Md.; pelts, %1. to «o.: butchers' skine* at per piece, crossbred, fine, 6s. 6d.; crossbred, medium to fine, 3s. 7d., ss. lid., 6s. 5d., 7s. Id., 7s. 3d. to 7s. 10(1.; dead, ss. 7d.; Limb:. 25.; Bran. 3e. id.; raited pelt?, Is. 7ri., Is. 9d. to Is. lid.; lambs, salted, Is. lCd. to 2=.; crossbred, salted, 4s. Gd. to 6s. Del.; ca'.f, at per lb., sound, 71d., Sid.. BJd. to 9Jd.: slippy, 3>d.; cut, 6Jd.; yearlings, 6Jd. to 63d.; yearlings, cut. 53d. Hides: Ox, heavy, 6M.; ox, medium, 6[;d., 63d., 6Jd. to !•}..; ox. licht, CJd.. 6J(1., to Wd.; cows, medium, 6d., Ojia. to 63d.; cows, licht. 53d..6d., 6id.. 63d., 6*d.; cows, cut, 5»d.; bulls..sgd. ; stas=, 53d.: heifers and stairs ,61u.: horse,' 2s. 6d., 4s .6d. to Us. Sundries iTallow. casks, £Z7 to £27 Sn. per ton; tins, .014 10s. to £26 ss. per ton; rough fat, 15s. 3d. to 18s. per cwt. J'ores-hair, Is. 4d.. l.i. SAcl., Is. cd. to Is. Bjd.; cow-hair, E:d.: cow tails, nt per dnzen, Is. 2£ii.; rabbitskins, id. to 9id. per lb. SHEEPSKINS. The Bank of New , Zealand has received the following cable advice from its London, office .dated December 8:—"For all kinds of sheenskins prices are practically unchanged. For crossbred nelts prices are par to 5 per cent., higher." The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Apency Company, Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London house, under (".ate December B:—Sheepskins: Prices are about par to id. lower; competition by both Home and foreien buyers is fairly active. • Motsw. Murray, Eoberto and Co.. Ltd.. Wellington, have received tho followins market cablegram from their London agents, Messrs. Sanderson, Hurray and Co., dated December B:—Sheepskins: Market sho'.vs no material ciianEe. LONDON 3IAEKETS. ■ Messrs. sDalgety and Company, Ltd., haro received .tho following cablegram from their London house .under dato December B:—Frozen Meat.—Mutton: Limited demaud; prices weak. Lamb:' Slow demand; prices somewhat in buyers' favour. BOTf: Tory <M 1 demand- .o-.ving to low prices of chilled. Pork: Very poor demand; prices lower,from id. to id. per lb. Sheepskins: Sales continue firm and, active, with brisk competition; prices aro unchanged. Woo! Sales—Tho American buyers bought about 1000 bales, which was not reported when the sales closed ou Tuesday last. Tallow.—Market irregular,' and for muSton (fair to good Quality) it is 3d. to 6d. per cwt. lower.- '

Mining News and Live Stock Sales will bo found on page 3 of this issue.