COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1310, 13 December 1911, Page 10

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHAKES. There were no transactions in investment shares yesterday. The buving and selling quotations were as under:— Buyers. Sellers £ s. d. £ s. d. X.7.. and liiver Plate ... — 2 10 Well. Investment 11l i — Well. Trust and Loan ... 7 11 0 — Well. Deposit 0 5 0 0 0 0 Well. Gas (prof.) 0 3 0 0 4 0 Cliristchurch Heat 14 17 6 — : Meat Export (£•'.> — 5 0 0 Meat Export (52*. 6d.) ... — 3 0 0 Well. Woollen (ord.) — 3 18 0 Taupiri Coal 10 3 10 9 Leyland-O'lirion :. 18 9 — C. M. Banks. Ltd ■ — 10 0 Golden Bay Cement 12 0 — Manning and Co 410 0 — N.Z. Consolidated Dental — 12 9 N.Z. Druir : 2 9 0 • — N.Z. Paper Mills 10 0 - DALGETY AND CO., LTD. The accounts of Messrs. Dalsrety and Co.; Ltd., for the.year ended June 33, 1911, show that the gross profits wero .£551,370, as against £542,534 for the, previous vear— an increase of £8856—but, owing to the increased expenses and taxation, the nci profits show a decrease of £2569, being £219,138, against .£221,807. To the present net profit is added the balance brought forward (£77,579), making a. total of £296.717. Dividend on the 5 per cent, preference shares absorbs £25,CC0; dividend of 8 per cent, on the ordinarv shares (including interim dividend) £8O,0CO; the sum of £60X00 is transferred to reserve fund, which is thus raised to £410.000, and after appropriating £40,000 to writing down premises and £10,000 to the staff benevolent fund, the balance (£81,717) is carried forward. The reservo fund investments now consist of the Bishopsgate freehold premises, £165,000, and public securities, including £5000 in Great Northern Railway--3 per cent, debenture stock, £161,000 in Excbenuer bonds, £30.234 in Consols, and £25,000 in London County Council 3J' per cent, stock, all taken at market values at the date of the balance-sheet. The reserve fund has grown substantially of late years. In 1906 it reached £200,000, while it is now raised to £440,000. The report (dated London, November 2) remarks that "the outlook at the moment is not as encouraging as it was tliU timo last vear. A dry season prevails in Western Australia and in parts of South Australia. New South Wales, and Queensland, but tho advent of early summer rains would prevent losses, and • allay anxiety for the immediate future."

MEAT FOB WAE OFFICE. The Minister for Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists, has received advice from tho Director o[ the Army contracts for the supply of preserved meat to tho War Office. London. The tender will close on January 17, 1912. Form of tender, quoting all particulars, may be obtained, on application to the Director of Commerce and Tourists Division, Public Trust Buildings, Wellington. BRITISH EXTERNAL TBADE. The following is a statement relating to the external trade of the United Kingdom in the first nine months of 1911. with special reference to New Zealand. U is compiled by the Board of Trade, London. The total values of the merchandise imported into and exported from the United Kingdom during the nine months ended September 30, 19il, as shown in the monthly "Accounts relating to the Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" were as follow:— £ Imports 469,499,000 ExportsUnited Kingdom produce 331.175.CC0 Foreign and colonial produce 77,534,CC0 On comparison with the totals for the first nine months of 1910. thcte figures show an increase of £2,252,000 or 0.5 per cent., in imports, an increase of £12.50t,CC0. or 4.0 per cent., in'exports of t'nitfcl Kingdom produce, and a decrease of £9C8,000, or 1.2 per cent., in exports of foreign and colonial produce. How far tho totals for tha nino months .have been affected by the industrial dls-

tnrliniif-v- nf the summer eannot he delinilelv determined. It wnllhl appear fniln the figures for separate mouth- that the ground lost in Aueii.-t was hugely recovered in September, iiml thnl. mi the whole, the labour troubles h:nl elVe:-! on the rorcigu tnule tlmn inii;hl have been expected. The most important features in the comparison of imports during .itiiiunry-Scp-te.mlier this year am! last are the large inrreaH' in the quantity of raw eottnii imported this year. <Un! the fall in the average value of rubber. Further, 111;latter circumstance more than accounts for the reduction shown in the value of re-exports. The following comparison of the totals for the nine months ended September 30. 1901, with those for Ilia corresponding months of 1911 may be found interesting:— Increase m period. 1910. 1911. Amount Thou- Thou- Thousand sand sand Per i; s. Is. £e. tent. Imports into United Kingdom ... 3S-?.16L 105,038 27.3 Kxports from l'nitcd KingdomUnited Kingdom produce 209,143 331,178 122,035 58.4 Foreigu and colonial produce ... 50,544 77,534 26,930 53.4 The total values of the merchandise imported into the United Kingdom from New Zealand, and exported from the United Kingdom to New Zealand, during the nine months: ended September 30, in each of the years 1910 and 1911, were as follow:— 1910. ' 1911. Thousand Thousand £ s. £ s. Imports into the United Kingdom from New Zealand 18,926 16,478 Exports from the United Kingdom to New Zealand— Of United Kingdom produce 6,298 6,927 Of foreign and colonial produce 577 583, There was thus a decrease of. about 2$ millions in the value of imports from New Zealand, and an increase of about £6C0,0C0 in exports to Nov.- Zealand. Among the principal imports and exports were the following:— Yalue. Nine months ended Articles. Senteniber 30, Imports from 1910. 1911. New Zealand— . £ £ Mutton, frozen 3,974.000' 3.707,0r0 Putter 1.543.0C0 1.194.CC0 Cheese 1,2?3.n00 1.094.11111) Wool, sheep, or lambs 8,204,000 7,315,CC0 ' Tallow, unrefined and Stearine 734,000 609,000 Shcenskins. woollcd and pickled 521.0T0 525.K0 Exports to New Zealand (United Kingdom produce) :— Yalue. Nine months ended September 30. 1910. 1911. £ £ Iron and steel, and manufactures thereof (so far a3 distinguished in the monthly accounts) 759.PT0 Cotton piece goods... 559,000 £95,0C0 Woollen and worsted tissues (including carpets and carpet rugs) 3PB.M) 398,000 Apparel 420,000 471,000 Customs duty collected at the port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £3170 9s. lid. !-'P...»1)15 !?T A! i'T'3 f'/I'IKT Yege'.rics. C-'.ii 5 wrs are ret"ins with splendid competition, and consignments «rc recommended; green peas an: also in Eood demand, and so also are table carrots. Tomatoes are now coming forward . more freely, mostly from the Nelson district. Cucumbers aro in fair demand. Fruit--Owing to the wet weather strawberries have not been so plentiful, and a good demand will be experienced for this berry from now on to Christmas; Californian oranges arc in good demand, and buyers are advised to secure their requirements at an early date. Stocks of CiiliSirnlnn apnlcs are almost depleted; the oVality of these apples is excellent; red currants are in fair demand; block currants fire expected to reach the n»urket this week. Tho first of the IT.a'wke's "May-grown peaches appeared on the market yccterday. Onions aro in exceedingly short, stipplj, and the market is to relv upon Victorian grown; New Zealand onions, will not ho available until next month; prices range fi'."n 13s. to 15s. per ewt. old potatoes meet with very little doinard, the current quotation being 40s. to 60s. . TCew potatoes are in excellent demnnri. apd prices range from £6 to £8, according to oual'ty. P.ice flour has poor inquiry at -£5 10s. pe- ton. Bran is in full supply, and is quoted at ,-f.* js». net ton. Pollard.—Supplies are on the light side, and a. good demand exists at £6 to £6'ss. pe-> ton. Flour.—New Zealand is unchanged, at £9 5s per ton. a-, store. Celled oats have fair inquiry, at 9s. 6d. te Ms.' per dozen 41b. bags. . O.its are in I'ood re-iuost. "A ' grade Garto"-". at 3s. Bd. to 35., with "B" grade n halfpenny less. Fowls' wheat is firm, at 4s. 3d. to 4s. 6d. pei bushel. Maize is in good demand, at 4s. to 4s. Id. pe" bushel. Cape barley is dull of sale, at 3s. 6d. a bpshel. Fowls' barley is slow of sale, at 3s. 2d. to 3s. 4d. nor bnslirl. TlM'ed straw is in excellent demand, at 70s. Clover It;"- "eots with moderate inquiry, -a' f's to .*S 10s. per ton. TTams end bacon are in sf'-ong demand. Hams 91d.. sides 9d.. rolls 9-d. Fresh nits have. tidvn-neM in value: eggs in crates are now ruling at Is., and in case e + tUd. per .l^ e n. ■putter.—"rims mi"' 1 :! is in short supplv, avl i-- selH-g at tOJtJ. per lb. Poultrv.-T'ens 3=. to 3s. M., cockerels 3s. to 55.. dock-s 4s. 6d. to fis., c e"-o 7s. to B=. ner n"ir; turkey heo= 7s. to Bd. per lb. live weight, turkey gobblers 9d. to iOd.

WHEAT. Bj Telcsrnnh—Pre" >==<vint!on-CoDyrishl (Ree. December 13, 0.10 a.m.! London, December 13. Wheat—An Australian cargo has been sold at 355. 7\d., thirteen thousand quarters of Victorian, and 6200 of South Australian for December shipment at 365. 3Jd. CfIRISTCnTjRCH WOOL SALES. (By Telegraph—Prcs's Association.) Christohuroh, December 12. At the wool sales to-day, 16,032 bales .were catalogued. There was a very lar?e attendance, and animated competition for all classes of wool. The sale was one of the best seen in Christchurch for some years. Compared with the November sales, super halfbreds were Id. to 13d. better, medium Id. better, brisht cross and threequarterbred Ud. to ' lid. better, shabby crossbred Id. better. The market for merino was much stronger than in November. The best prices were:—Merino lltd., halfbred 13d., three-quarterbrcd lljd., crossbred' lid., lons wool 9d.. Corricdale 13d., Down wool 10d., pieces fully up to lant year's rates. BLENHEIM HIDE SALE. Messrs. Dalgety and Co. (Blenheim branch) report as follows:—We offered a good catalogue at our sale yesterday, this comprising 1903 skins, 80 bass and 17 bales of wool, and 71 hides. There was a good attendance of buyers, and bidding was spirited. Competition was keen, and prices showed a rise of from ]d. to *d. per lb. on skins, and Ud. on wool, over those ruling-at last sale. Skins: Halfbred, full wool, 7d.: halfwool, '.A. to 63d.; crossbreds. 6d. to 63d.; pelts, 31d. to 33d.; merino, 6Jd.: lambs. 53d.: hoggets, 6d.; black, 43d. Wool: Crossbred—Fleeces, 7Jd. to 83d.: bellies and nieces, 33d. to 6d.; locks, 2*d. to <!d. Hides: Sound, 6d. to 63d.; 6lippy, 43d. to 5Jd. Tallow: Rough, 225. per cwt.; rendered, 265. 6d. per cwt.