COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1385, 11 March 1912, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. There were no transactions in investment shares on Saturday. The buying and selling ■ quotations were as under:— Buyers. Sellers. £ s. d. £ s.-d. National Bank — 6 0 0 Bank of New Zealand ... 10 18 0 — Metropolitan Building ... 12 0 0 — N Z. Loan and Mercantile — 0 17 6 Well Gas (£10) 18 0 0 18 10 0 Well Gas (third issue) ... — 12 10 0 Well. Gas (prof.) 0 8 0 — Christchurch Meat — lo 15 0 Meat Kxport (£4) - 5 0 0 Meat Export (J."..;. 6d.) - 2 19 0 N.Z. Shipping . - J ? ,2 5 Kaianoi Woollen — 6 U 6 'Welli. Woollen (prof.) 2 17 6 2 19 0 Hiliurnngi Coal -- 0 19 6 Taupiri Coal 113 AVestport Coal 1 \ \ ~ Tariiu'amutu Totara. .... 2 6 6 2 6 9 C. M. Banks, Ltd ; .... - 0 19 6 lionachy Rope and Twine — 12 6 Golden Bay Cement 14 0 15 0 Manning and Co - 4 11 0 N.Z. Con. Dental - ' } t 0 Sharland's ordinary — J 4 ,6 Shivrland's preference — \ 4 o Ward and Co - 5 4 0 W.F.O.A. (£5) - 7 5 0 W.F.C.A. (£1) - I'" THE SEASON'S EXPORTS. Five months of the current produce season have expired, and it is interesting to compare the values of the principal ?s----ports with those for tile corresponding: periods.of last year. The figures are as Under; ~ » 1911-12 1910-11 .£ £ October 61't.007 720,383 November 1.146,503 1.041,183 December 1,262,122 2.161.769 nnuary 2,490165 3,026 016 February ...... 2.984,753 2,346.744 8,517,550 9,296,095 Then" is a decrease on the five monlhs of £778 545, and the probability is that the season will close with a. deficit. NEW SOUTH WALES SAVINGS BANK. Expansion marks the operations of the Ravings Bank of New South Wales during 1911 the accounts showing an increase of £660, or 5.1 per cent, in the number of depositors, and of £502,539 iu the amount of deposits, as compared with the figures of 1910. The total at credit, of depositors on December 31 last was £7,765,643, interest paid thereto was «36.712. at the rate of 31. per cent, up to £200. and the income earned amounted lo £294,235. lo the reserve fund £14,720 was placed, to guarantee fund £6,500,000 was allocated, and a balance of £13,221 was carried forward. Tim reserves now Heme at £348,440, and in addition there arc various other funds for dtsreciatdon la InvestntftnU and (aort-

hicli • £1,058,193 represents mortgages, 1,545,E61 municipal bonds, £4,051,719 (iov■iiinciit stock, £1,392,545 ted and other fposits. hank premises £89,229, and rash 47,512. NET EARNINGS. In a recent article the London "Hankers' [agazino" points out that in stating the orccntnge of net earnings, it is advisable 3 calculate same on the reserves and copal combined, since both arc absolutely ie property of tho shareholders. Th: prot would not have been obtained but for ne existence of the reserves, which have ecu accumulated through tlii3 self-denial f the shareholders. The bank which does ot take this into account gives an idea nit the business is more profitable than , really is, and this may ho a great dis- J , dvantage in these days ot increased pubic expenditure and greater taxation. This ingestion is worthy of the attention of iistitutions other than those in Great iriluin. CUSTOMS. Customs revenue collected at ths port of fellington on Saturday amounted to £1250 =. Bd., the total for the week being £10,978 3. 2d. Tha returns for each of tho past > ight weeks, compered with tile figures for he corresponding periods of last year show s under:— 1912. 1911. January 23 13,807 9.439 January 27 23.458 25,245 February 3 12,125 12.958 February 10 24,751 7,372 February 17 11,834 21,007 February 24 11,255 27,001 March 2 13,340 12,614 March 9 10,978 13,225 121,558 128,851 The hesr duty collected durinc the past veek amounted to £553 18s., as compared vith £405 13s. for the corresponding week if last year. NORTH OTAGO MARKETS. (By Telegraph—l'ress Association.) Oamaru, March 10. Offerings of wheat have been larger durng the weak, and Velvet has commanded t, higher figure than red wheats, the prices •tinning from os. 4d. to 3s. 4*d. net at counxy stations. Two lines, of 500 sacks each, lave sold at these figures, hut most of the incs have been from ICO to 300 sacks. Six uindrcd sacks of r2d chaff sold at 3s. 4c1., ess commission, at country stations, but )ther sales have been made at 3s. 4d. net 'U it country stations. A mixed line of Bor- _ lier and Velvet, comprising 1400 sacks, sold tt 3s. 3d. net. Carton oats have been sold _ it from Is. lOd. to 2s. net at country sta- i ions, but the hulk- of tho business has jeen done at Is. 10id. to Is. Hid-, and a rood many sales have been made at these iguros. Malting barley has realised 4s. Id. net at country stations. Eyeerass has ;o]d ot Is. 7d.. and cocltsfoot (light and showing signs of weather) at 4d. For oatdieaf chaff, 455. and 475. 6d. net on trucks at country stations aro the prices paid. The business in potatoes is on a small scale, and £3 net at country stations is the general nrice. but one line has sold \t £2 155.. while £3 2s. 6(1. has been paid tor a really good sample. LONDON WOOL SALES. Messrs. Murray, Roberts and Co., Ltd., have received the following cablegram, datsd March 3. from their London friends, Messrs. Sanderson, Murray and Co.:—"The second series of wool sales, which were to havo been held on March 5, and postponed awing to coal strike, have now been fixed to commence on April 11, with a limit of 250,000 bales. The third series of sales will commence on June 11. No limit fixed at prcssnt. The date of the fourth serifs not yet fixed." A similar message has been received by Messrs. James Macintosh and Co. The Bank of New Zealand has received tho following cable advice from its London offiM, dated March 8:-"The opening date for second series of the wool sales has 1 been fixed for April 11, instead of March 5. The quantity has been limited to 250,000 bales.. Shipments ex Clan Macauloy. I'aparoa, and Arawa are now included." LONDON MARKET. The Nc\v Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, have received the following cablegram from their London house, under date March B:—Market weak for mutton; more inquiry for lamb; market slightly better for be?f (sides). The London Wool sales, second scries, ore fixed for April 11, with a limit of 250.000 hales. The London wool sales, third i-cries, are pn June 11, limit to be arranged. LONDON MARKETS. Bj Toleeranti-I'""* Association— Cooyrvehi (Hcc. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 9. Copper—On spot, £64 18s. 9d.; three months', £65 13s. 9d. American stocks: 62,940,0001b. Tiu.-On Epot, £189 10s.; three months', £186. Lead, £15 16s. 3d. Cotton— March-April shipments, 5.80 d. Jute—March-April shipments, £25 ss. Hemp.—Tho market is dull. March-May shipments are quoted at £21 10s. _ Rubber.—Fine hard Para rubber ib quoted at 4s. 9d. Kauri Gum.-The stock totals 447 tons. Copra—The market is firm. South Si3a, in bags/is quoted at £24'55. Rabbits—The market is Oat, and prices