COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 4 October 1911, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. Sales of investment shares recorded yestoday were: Christcliurcli Gas, at £9 12s. 6d.', and Westport 'Coal .at £1 Bs. 9d. The ■ buying and selling quotations were as " uudor:— ; . ; Buyers. : Sellers, ■•■is. d. • £ s.d. National Bank ..; 6 16 ; '6 2 0 Bank New Zealand — .' 12 3 0 N.Z. Loan, and Mercantile — \ . 017 9 Well. Investment; 0 11 ■ 9 — Well. Trust and Loan ... 7 9 o.' — Christfchurch -Gas 9 12 6 9 13 6 Feilding Gas — ' 12 6 Gi-sboine Gas — 3.16 Well. Gas (£10) . —, 19 0 0 Well.'Gas . (new) 215 0 *• . — Well. Gas (rights) .v. v 0 o'3 : (1 o's Union Steam — 2 0 6 Well. • Woollen (prcf.)-— 3 0 0 Hikuran'gi Coal • '— 10 9 Taupiri Coal — 12 0 Wesiport Coal. 1 '8" 6 — Levland O'Brien ' 1 8.9 • — NsZ-ißrug ..... 29, 3 .- -' N.Z. Paper Mills — 10 .9 fiharlandja. ordinary ...... — ..1 .4 6 Tara'naki' Petroleum. ...... — "0 18 0 Taringamutu Totara 2' 2 9 Kotuku .Oil l; 6 6 —

. . ARGENTINA'S WHEAT CROP. The wheat.crop of Argentina is, perhaps, exposed to moro vicissitudes than that of any other country as, in addition to tho vagaries of tho weather, there is always the risk of damago by locusts. Every year the Government spends large sums in preventive measures in respect to the lastnamed plague, but tho greatest danger to' crops in the Argentino is from frost.- In past yearn great havoc has been wrought bv- .tho occurrence of cold nights with the thermometer bblow freezing, point, just rft tho most, critical .period of' development. It seems probable, however, according to recent advices, that the crops will bo sufficiently hardy before the danger of frost appears, as the growth is well forward for tho time of year. If weather conditions continue as simulating as in the past, an abundant harvest will be secured in the principal branches, of agriculture. Tho area underi cultivation in Argentina this year Is larger than iisnal, ana the outlook is promising except in regard to labour. On that' important point there is considerable anxiety owing to the fact that immigrants from certain European countries have not been plentiful of late. ~

If the war between Italy and Turkey is prolonged the labour difficulties may lie accentuated. In any case there istroublo regarding Italian immigrants. It appears tiiat the Italian Government has promulgated a decree forbidding its people to ro to tho Argentine Eepublic owing to a conflict of opinion between tho two Governments on the subject of sanitation. The Argentine authorities are confident that they will get together a sufficient force for w.ork in the fields, but in- no case is there likely to be any surplus, and it is more than probable that wages will be high. Argentina's record crop of wheat was in 1907-1908, when 194 OCO.COC bushels were harvcstcd. representing an average yield of 13.64 bushels per' acre. .

ANOTHER INSURANCE COMPANY. According to recent Home files, rumours have been circulate! with regard to tho probable formation of a new insuranco company in the near futnre. It is stated that the name will bo the Catholic Insuranco Association of Great Britain and Ireland. •It is expected that the capital will be £3,0C0,0C0, of. which a large proportion will "be offered to the Diiblic in shares <>T .£1 each. Both ordinary and industrial life assurance will bo undertaken in addition to fire insurance on non-tariff lines. It is evidently intended ,to launch the company on a somewhat ambitious basis, .and the Roman Catholic clement in financial circles i 3 said to be largely interested. Competition -amonp-' insurance companies has been diminished lately owing to amalearaayons and oth«r causes, and the advent of a new company with such resources as are contemplated -.in the present case will not be regarded with -enthusiasm by Existing societies Pur'ulCT ■information s will doubtless be awaited with considerable interest among insurance men. ,

Customs revenue collected at the port of Welluigton yesterday amounted to • £5M9 • ..LONDON WOOL SALES. 'By Telegraph—Press ' Association-Copyright London, October 2. At the wool sate, Rood wools are selling veil, but prices for' faultiea are irrsgiil.ar. ■Messrs. Abraham an<l Williams, Ltd., have received the following cablegram from London under date October 2:—"Tbc sales continue animated, with a Blight advance upon opening rates for coarse and medium crossbreds, whilst fine and crosE-" bred and Merino rule at opening prices." " ' " SILVER: By Telegraph—Press Associatkm-Conyricht London, October 2. Bar silver is quoted at 24.1 d. per ounce. VICTORIAN ,BUTTER. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyriirhl lilclbourne, October 3. Tho price of butter has increased to thirtcenpenco a pound, wholesale. The enhancement is due to the high prices ruling in London. The Commonwealth exports of butter last 3.506,600 boxes compared with 1,193,C00 boxes in the. previous year. CANTERBURY GRAIN MARKET. * (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' Christchurchj" October 3. Thoro is a rather better inquiry for wheat, which may, to sorno extent, .be speculative in view of the outbreak of war between Italy and. Turkey. There is, however, very little grain ' offering by growers, holders being firm, aud arc asking up to 3s. 9d. at country stations. The limit of buyers 15 ahout 3s. 7d. There is 'practically nothing doHig in oats ill con* sequence of the great scarcity of supplies. Oatsheaf chaff is worth 87s. 6d. to Ms., at country stations. Potatoes arc in rather better demand, and there are now buyers at 3D<?., whereas, last week, they were practically unsaleable. PROPERTY SALES. Messrs. James. Jlaoiutosh and Co., of ■Wellington, report the sale of tho following' properties in conjunction with .oilier agents: 380 acres leasehold, Manawatu Line; 38C0 ncrcs freehold and stock, Vnirarapa; 538 acres frcohold, and stock, Porirua.

TEADE IN ALLEN STItEET. ■Fruit.—The. Mq'nna. chic from Sydney today, is bringing the usual shipment of passiqn fruit, mandarins, oranges. pineapples, and lemons.'' The Miuulku, due on Friday, will bring a shipment of Hobart apples arid South Australian orangce. Vegetables,—Cauliflowers have improved In value, and choice samples are selling at 10s. and 14s. per sack; cabbages are fetching ss. to 6s. a. sack; parsnips are in good demand, and up to Bs. was obtained' during the week: carrots are also wanted at 6.-. 6d. per sack, lfutt-growu rhubarb is in plentiful supply, and only moderate prices are- being obtained. Green peas are selling well, the bulk of the supplies coming from the Nelson district. Fowls' wheat is in excellent' demand, at 4s. 3d. to 43. 4d. Weekly shipments are now coming forward from Victoria. Oats.—"A", grade is without alteration, tile Wellington price being 3s. 6d. to 3s. 7d.; "B" grade being a halfpenny per bushel lower. Victoria-grown oats arc selling at 3r. 2d. to 3s. 3d. ex store. Rolled Oats—'flic demand is slackening, due no doubt to the warmer weather; prices are unchanged at 9s. 6d. to IDs. per dozen. Oatmeal.— I The quotation continues at £15 per ton, ex store, Wellington. Flour is unchanged.—The current ouotation. ex store, Wellington, for leading Now Zealand brands is £9 ss. 6d. per ton in ZCOlb. sacks. Australian is bringing £10 10s. per ton. Pollard is In strong demand at £6 Se. to £6. 10a. per ton. Bran is in exceedingly short supply, and is ouoted at £5 15s. to £6 per ton. • ' Rieeineal meets with fair business, at £4 155.. per ton. with ricetlour selling at £1 per toil more. Old potatoes are in moderate request, at 60s. to 70s. per ton. New potatoes are selling at 3d. to 3Jd. per lb. Onions—Californian are meeting with keen demand, at £12 lCs. per ton. Maize.—'The market is strong, at 3s. 4d. to 3s. 6d. per bushel. "Cape barley is dull of sale at 3s. 6d. per' bushel. ;' Fowls' Barley.—Moderate business is passing at 3s. 3d. to 3s. 4d. per bushel. Baled straw is in short supply, and is selling at 555. to 70s. per ton. Baled hay is dull of sale; meadow, £4 ss. to £4 10s.; clover. £5 10s. per ton. ; 'Ham3' and bacon meet with a fair demand; ..best factory 6ides, Bid.; hams, 9d.; rolls, 9\d. per lb: Margarine.—Australian, in bulk, Bid. per lb. Lard, in bulk, Bd.: in pats. Bid. oer lb. Fresh eggs havo declined in valuo, ease oggs are realising 11(1. . per dozen, and leading brands, packed in crates. Is. per dozen. Cheese, beat factory, 6*d.; loaf, 7d. per lb. . . Butter, nrimo bulk, milled, is selling at lid.' per Ih. /Poultry is in strong demand: hens, to 55.; cockerels, Eg. to 65.; ducks. ss. 6d. to 6s. 6d. Tier pair: turkev gobblers. Pd. to 9d. per lb. live weight; hens,'6d. to 7d.

WELLINGTON MARKETS. Messrs. Lacr.v and Co., Ltd.. Wellington, report wholesale orices ruling on the market as ilridor:—Wheat.. ?ontl wholn fowl? , 4s. 3d. to 4s. 4d. bushel; oats, good,feed, [,3s. 6d. to 35.>7d.; oats, seed white, 35.. 9d.; oats, seed Algerian feed, 3f. 3d.; Victoria, 3s. 9d.; rye corn, 3s. lOd.; maize, 3s. 3d. to 3s. 5d.; fowls' barley. 3s. 3d.: Cape. 3s. 6.(1.; crushed malt. 7s. 6d.: partridge peas. 4s. 6d. to 4s. 9d.: pollard, £6 ss. to.£6 10s. per ton: bran, £5 15a. to £6; (lour. Atlas, £9 ss. 6d.; chaff, oaten sheaf. £5 15s. to £6 ,55.: .rice flour, •£5 15s. per'tori: rice'meal, £4 15s. per ton: notntoes, table. £4 lCs.; potatoes, seed, tfp-to-Dates, £5 per ton: Early KoEe, £9 IC<5. per'ton: Kidneys, £8 10s. per,, ton; onions, California!!, £12 10s.; bonedusrt, £5 155.: basic slag, £4 ss. :to £4 10s.: siiDcrpho'nliates, f4 15s. to £5; oatmeal, £14 10s.; rolled oats in 4's. 9s. 6<l. dozen; cheese. medium-sized, 6id. per lb.: loaf, 7d. ier lb.; butter, prime biilk, lOd. to lid.; fresh oggs, lid. per dozen; honey. 56's bright, 4d. lb.; linseed nuts.-13s. per cwt.: linseed cake, crushcd, 13s. 6(1. per cwt.; bacon, Fides BJd. per lb.; bacon, rolls. 93d. per lb.; hams, 9d. per lb.; fowls, licna 3s. to 4s„ young roosters 3s. 6d. to 55.; ducks. 4s. 6d. to Es. all at cer pair: turkeys, cobblers, Bd. to 9d. per lb. live weight, hens 6d. to, 7d.