COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. The sales recorded yesterday wero Christchurch Meat at £16, Wairnrapa, Farmers' Co-op, at £7 ss. cum dividend, and Wellington Harbour Board's 41 per cent, debentures at .£9B 10s. The buying and selling quotations were as under:—.'. Buyers. Sellers £ a d £ s. d National Mortgage 3 9 0 — X.Z. Loan and Mercantile 0 17 0 0 18 0 Cliristchurch Gas 9 17 6 — Feilrtins Gas - 12 6 Napier Gas 25 0 0 — Wellington Gas (£10) 19 0.0 - S.B. Insurance — 315 6 Standard Insurance 1 10 0 —' Ohristchurch 3'eat 16 0 0 — Meat Export (£5) 6 5 0 — Meat Export (525. ti.) — 3 5 6 Well. Woollen (ord.) — 4 0 0 Taupiri Coal - lit lieyland-O'Bricn 18 3 — N.Z. I'apcr Mills - 119 Tarimaki Petroleum 0 17 0 017 6 Taringamutu Totara 2 6 0 2 8 0

ARTICLES OF CONSUMPTION. A return presented to Parliament showinpr the consumption of articles in common UfO is interesting. The per capita consumption of spirits shows a small incrcajo in 1910 over 1509, the figures being 2.37 gallons per head, as against 2.26 g-'U-lotip in 19D9. The consumption of wine was 0.21 gallons per head last year, as Against 0.20 gallons in the previous year. Of imported ale and beer the consumption equalled 0.33 gallons, against 0.36 gallons, but the consumption was in no caec. so larvo r.s in the nineties. Thus in 1892 Uie consumption of spirits was as much as 2.47 gallons; the consumption of wine in 1890 was equal to 0.29 gallons per head, and of ale and beer 0.67 gallons. During tho past twenty-one years the highest rate of consumption of tobacco was in 1904, when the average was 7.43!b. per head, last, year the average was 7.101b. as compared with 7.171b. in 1909. and 7.351b. in-1908. Tho increase in the consumption of tea has been continuous for the past three years, the consumption last year being equal to 7.221b. per head, against 7.C81b. in 1909, and 6.-M in 1933; the lowest rate of consumption of tea in the past twenty-one ye-irs was in 1904. when the average- was 5.671b. per head. WELLINGTON INVESTMENT. TRUSTEE, AND AGENCY CO., LTD. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of shareholders of tie- Wellington Investment, Trustee, and Agency Co, Ltd., was held in tho coinpony's office last evening. Mr. J. E. Blair, chairman of directors, presided. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman remarked that this was the twenty-fifth year of the existence of tho company, and. like other years, it must be regarded as a. satisfactory one. The affairs of tho company had gone on in the utual way, and they could have increased operations had they wished, but a largo amount of the business that was offering was not considered desirable by the director?. They wore passing through a time of depression when speculation was practically dead, and, when that was nonexistent, business was correspondingly quiet, £0 far as the chairman could sec. there was no reason why they could ndt look forward to another very prosperous year. The country' was' expanding, and, when one door of business closed, another would npen. The policy of the board was to build up the reserve fund so as to secure to shareholders their dividend from year to year, and, now that they were recovering from the time of depression, it might be that there would be an increase in the dividends. The meeting declared .1 fnrthcr dividend of 3 per cent., making 6 per cent, for tho year. Messrs. J. M. Richardson and' It. M. Simpson, the retiring directors, were- reelected, as were the auditors, Messrs. E. Bucholz and J. 11. G. Rowley. i On the motion of Mr. Balcombo Brown, a vote of thanks was passed to the direcI tors for their services.' ■ Customs duties collected at tho port of Wellington yesterday amounted to i<9os Bs. 3d.

WELLINGTON MARKET PRICES. A survey of the Wellington market yesterday showed that apples are about the only local fruit to any extent just now, and for these satisfactory rates are prevailing. The shipments of Tasmanian apples sent here do not recompense shippers to the same extent as those consignments forwarded from the local orchards, owing to the duty and higher transit charges. Values offering in llobart continuo to be high; therefore, only small to moderate supplies will bo directed to this market. Choice Golden Russets sold on Friday at'Bs. to 9s. lid. per case, other sorts Bs. to Bs. 9d. Local-grown Epps Seedling sold at 6?. to 6s. 6d.; Washingtons, 7s. to 7s. 6d.; Sturmers, £s. to Bs. 6d. Repacked Island oranges arc selling at 7s. per case. Lower Ilutt hot-house tomatoes sold at B>d. per Hi. for choice.

Supplies of citrous fruits ex Moana., from Sydney, were sold on Thursday. The built-landed .in good condition;-and fair rates were.-maintained,.although"values fell before the sale closed. Mandarines in gin cases' realised 7s. ~6d. to lCs. lOd.; lemons sold at Bs. to Us. per bushel case; pineapples went from 6s. 6d. to 9s. 6d.; choice passion fruit realised ss. to 6s. per half-gin box. Tasmanian • dessert pears are in good request at Bs. to 9s. 6d. per half-case. All vegetables arc in demand. Cauliflowers sold at 2Cs. to 255. per sack for extra choice. Cabbages, 6s. to 125.; parsnips, 43. 6d. to, ss. 6d.; kuineras, 9s. per cwt.; beetroot;' <!si to ss. 6d.; leeks, Is. per dozen; celery. 2s. to 3s. per-dozen heads; turnips, ss. per sack; rhubarb,'isi... per dozen; lettuce; 2s.'to 4s. per case; swedes, 25.; carrots, 3s. 6d. to. 4s. 6d. per sack; spinach, 3s. 6d. to ss. 6d. per case; brusr.els sprouts, 10s. to 12?. per half-sack; horse radish, 6d. per lb.; onions. 9s. per gimnio. Eggs aro selling at Is. 2d. to Is. 3d., with an improved demand. Artichokes, 3s. 6d. per half-sug.arbag; garlic, 2d. to 3d. per Ib.; peanuts, 225. sack; walnuts (good), 6i<i. per lb.; ducks, 4s. to ss. 6d. pair; fowls, 3s. 6d. to 4s.

BANK OF ENGLAND RETURN. By Telegraph- Press Association-Copyright London, July 27. The Bank of England return issued for tho week ended Wednesday, July 2G, is as ■under:— . • ItSDE DEPAnTStEXT Kot: I«su« ■.., £cZ,iO'J,OU> Gor. debt... £i1,015.0M : ".".: Othor securi- ■■ •■■ .- ■ • tio] ... 7.< m,(M "..".'.."".. Goli ..',., 30.0C0.000 .. £33.400,003 ioj.dOO.lOO BiXKIXG DEPART3TEST. Propriolors" Govt. securicapital fW,553.(X10 ' tics £14,067,000 Public do- ' Other socuriposits ... 0,100,000 ties £8,427,000 Other aeliosits ... 46.525.000 Kotos ... 25,520,000 Best, 7-day unci other bills- ... 3.siS,orei Coin ... m 1.202.C00 £73.816.003 jC73.816.C00 Tho leading items of the Bank of Eng-

land return afford the following comparison :— Ihis tveo'.c Last vrooli. Irnnl yimr £ £ 3: nuiiion E9.flfiO.oM sn.iioo.ooo ;i!>;,;7,rm Reserve ... ... 50.122.ax) 3n.03i!.iK«l auW.KKi Notocirculation 2:1,189X00 2H.3'Jli.COil" •.'H.III-J.IKU l'liblio Deposits U.H10.000 n.:i:ii,u).j )/..::! 1.1.1,11 Other Deposits 4C.52j.WW jC.Sfti.UOJ 'M.U'-W.WI Proportion of rcserro to labilities ... 5J.53 53.33 &1.23 GOVERNMENT SECOIUTIKH. The following arc the latest qiiolatloni for Government tecuritiC3. with a comparison of thoso ruling last week :—

BANK BATES OP DISCOUNT. The Bank of England rato was reduced on June 9 from 4 to 3 per cent.; on September 29 it was advanced to 4 per cent., and on October 20 to 5 per cent. On December 1 It was lowered to <1 per cent., on January 27 to 4 per cent., and on February 16 to 3j per cent., and on March 9 to 3 por cent. The Bank of Franco rato wae reduced from 3J to 3 per cent, on Jauuary 23, 19C8, ami remains at the latter figure. The Imperial Bank of Germany on January 21.'1909, lowered its rate from 5 to 4J per cent., and on February 10 to 4 per cent. Rut on September 26 it was raised to 5 per cent., on February 6 it was reduced to 41 per cent., aud on February 19 to 4 per cent. • MARKET RATES OF DISCOUNT. The following are the. market rates for best three months' bills:— London Paris Berlin rate. rate. rate. percent percent, percent. This week 2MS 2J 21 Last week 2 2j 31 Last year 21-16 2J 3 Short loans are quoted at 13 per cent., as against 1J per cent. last week and 11 per cent, last year.

COLONIATj AND OTHER PEODTJCE. Whoat.-The market is firm on adverse crop reports from' Eussia and Germany, and the failure of the Indiau Monsoon. Buyers are cautious on account of the political situation; 345. is asked for Victorian off coast, 345. 3d. for Victorian and .South Australian Starch-April shipment, and Victorian, per steamer, July -ship, men* 355. 4>d. to 335. 7*d. has been paid for July-August shipments. There is little demand for Australian, on spot, 365. is the Quotation for the best New Zealand loneberried and 355. 6d. to 365. for Australian. Oats are scarce. Cartons, 21s. 6d. to 225. 6d.i Sparrowhil;, 20s. Cd. to 21s. 6d.; La Plata. July shipment, 16s. Heans.-New Zealand, 335. 6d. Peas, 395. to 40s. Butter.-The, market is very firm. The drought continues, and there have been only slight local rainfalls in England. Danish, unchanged: choicest Australia/., lids, to 1125., occasionally 11%.; unsaltcd nces not command a premium owing t 0 its largo proportion of arrivals. There are good sales of secondaries at 102s to 1G8« lirst-ham! stored is seUin B well, andmn,.y retailers are. restoring small quantities. Lhcoso is in good demand and unchanged. Susan-German beet, 88 per cent, net titrc, 9d .lusher at 13s; 2d.. nrsHnaA.gran. iilatcd, f.o.b. Hamburg, led. higher at ls s 2d. per cwt. Bradford Tops.-The market is steady Sixty-tours, 273 d.; super sixties, 27Jd. ; common sixties, 26Jd.; fifty-sixes, 22J'd.; fifties 19d. ; forty-sixes. 15Jd.; forties, Mid. per lb! THE METAL JIAKKETS. Copper.-On spot,' £56 7s. 6d. per ton-,, three months', £56 18s. 9d. per ton; electro!' lytic, ss. lower.at £58 10s. Tin-Cash,, .£I9Q. per.'ton. .j." r ■■'.'■ ' ■,

GBAIN AND PRODUCE. IHy Teleeraph.-Prcs3 Association.) „. ,■ , CliHstcliurch, July 28. There has. been no change in the local B . r h aln , m , ar , ket dnt , in S tho week. Growers who still have wheat on hand are holding firmly, and theru are no offerings at present. There have, been several fairly largo lines of oats on offer, but all prices asked were, beyond buyers' limits, and no business has resulted. There ie no chan-o in oatshcaf chaff. Potatoes arc very dull of sale in consequence of the northern markets being still well supplied, and the best oilers to growers are 455. and 5Ce per ton at country stations. ■■ ■ ■ ■ sheepskins. .■.Messrs: Murray. Eoherts'and Co. have" received the following ' market cablegram from their London friends, Mcssrc. Sanderson, Murray and Co., under date July 27-.-Sheepskins: Merino market shows no material change. Crossbred market dcchnod a farthing to halfpenny per lb, KING COUNTRY LAND. Messrs. M'Donald and Cochrane, land agents, Te Kuiti, report a keen demand for properties in the King Country For the month of June they sold 17.C00 acres in areas from 500 to 1100 acres. Mining news, and reports of wool, skme ana hide sales will bo found on nacre. 7 of this issue.

t Vnriullons - cumimieil Tfica, Willi , : last wool;. £ <i. d. 35% Imperial Consols 78 2 A 7b OcI. lower ■f ,.N.S.W.irajaii.,Tuly 101 0 0 Unchanged 3i .,N.S.W.X013.\lBr..Sop. 03 ID (I UiiehiuuJcU 3 ..K.S.W.l'J.ijApI.-Oct. S7 10 0 10s- lliHllcT i .Vic. WiJJan.-July 101 10 0 GiichiuiKwl 34 „ Vic. WJl-li Jnu.-July \» 0 0 ;j,, c hmii)cal 3 Vie.lL«J-lUJuii.-.Iuly ti 10 0 UuciiaMcil 35 ,.S,A. ISliiJnn.-JuIy Od 10 I) Unclianuua 3 ,,S.A. liliiJan.-July bi u 0 UiichniiKcd J ..Q'l'dl'Jli-m.riiu.July Kl 0 0 ■Uncliund-d 35 „ ej'J'dWJi-aojan.Juiy ss 0 0 Unchancoil 3 =0 0 0 UnclianeoJ i ,,N.Z.192i)5Iny.Sov. 101 0 0 UnoliaiiKod A ,,N.Z. l'JlUJan.-JuIy 07 0 0 10s. liishor » ..N.Z. liM5April-Oot. W 10 0 UncliinCad A,, W.A.lO-20-iOiIay-Xov 07 7 s Unchanged * »,}V.A,101a.25.May.Sov ■ B6 10 0 Uncbantvd 4) ..Tas. l'J4OJan..July 1j7 O U Uncliantca a ,. 1'a.s. 1W3-13 Jaa.-July 81 10 0 UnchouKod