COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1570, 14 October 1912, Page 8

COMMERCIAL ITEMS.

INVESTMENT SHARES. A s-alo of Leyland-O'Brien Timber share* at 276. was the. only transaction recorded in investment shares on Saturday. The quotations were as under:— 1 Buyers, flclicru £ a. d. £ s. d. Nationa.l Batik 6 1 C — Equitable Building — 9 17 6 Metropolitan — 12 10 0 N\Z. and Kivcr Plate — 2 2 0 Palmorston N. Ga3 9 0 0 — Well. Gru? (£10) - 18 0 0 Well. («as (third issue) 1 ... — 14 15 0 Well. Gii3 (pref.) - 10 9 N.Z. Insurance — 4 13 9 Gear Meat (£4) - 13 0 0 Gear Meat (£1) 3 4 0 - Meat Export (£5) 6 2 0 6 3 6 Meat Export (£4) 4 18 0 5. 2 0 Union Steam — 2 6 6 Well. Woollen (ord.) 3 14 0 —. Hikurnnj?i Coal 0 17 3 — Wcstport Coal ; — 18 9 Wwtport-Stoekton — 0 4 6 Leyland-O'Brien 16 9 — Tarinjrnmutu Totara 2 5 9 C. M. Jlnnk?. Ltd — 110 Golden Bay Cement, 10 0 110 X.55. Con. Dental — 12 0 Shndaud'? ordinary — 1 i (£5) - Ui

THE MONEY MAItKKT. So far the London money market Imp not been affected to any extent, by the war in the Balkans. The quotation for Cohfolr dropped J, hut tho Bank of England figures wore not affected, the movements disclosed being itormaJ. and peculiar to this time of tho year. The discount rates for three months' bills are unchanged in London and Paris, but there was a jump in Berlin from 3J per cent, to 4J per cent. The only adverse feature to be noted is tho somewhat marked decline in the prices of colonial stock. Tho three per cents and three and a halfs have declined from 10s. to 605., but fortunately New Zealand is not included in this movement. Tlio Balkan war has scarcely begun, and what has been done so far cannot be regarded as very expensive. At all events the little States would bo able to meet expenditure, for there is no doubt that t.hcy have, for some months past, been preparing for this eventuality. What may happen later on, say, in three or four months' time, is a different matter. The financial resources of the belligerents are very restricted, and presently they will be put to shifts to find money. LONDON WOOL SALES. The Septemher-Oetober series of London wool sales closcd last week with prices at tho highest level. The Bradford top market too shows great firmness, and the tendency is upwards. The outlook for wool at the moment appears exceptionally good. The "Textile Mercury" states that there seems every probability that wool will continue at o, good price and as more persons in tho world como to use it the demand should induce an upward tendency in values. It is pointed out by that journal that Australia euppJicG 28 per cent, of the wool raised on the globe. This in itself is a great achievement, but what is more remarkable still is that the quantity of fine wool produced in Australia is in far greater proportion to the total of 'this grade used altogether. It has been computed that the Commonwealth and New Zealand supply 70 per cent, of tho wool imported by Great Britain and North America, and of tho wool imported into tha United Kingdom Australia alone supplies over 42 per cent, of tho total, and 46 per cent, of tho value. It is important to remember in this connection that the number of sheep in the world, far from increasing or even maintaining its position, is rapidly decreasing, especially in Europe: so that tho expansion in Australia is bound to have a double effect for the Southern Hemisphere. The significance of these facts is demonstrated in the course of prices. Sincc the drop to 73d. in 19Cfl-1901 wool has steadily risen in value, with tie excoption of 1907-1908, until it has come to be regarded as worth about Is. per lb. for greasy. In this "region," states the "Mercury," it has remained, showing that tho markets have regained stability. That is the most important factor to those who desire to launch out in a big way. It is not necessarily a . low level of values that ruins an industry provided it is not below cost of production, but it is the wide fluctuations that unsettle the wholo fabric. CUSTOMS.. The Customs revenue collected at the port of Wellington on Saturday amounted to £882 4s. 4d., the total for tho week being £11,713' ss. sd. The returns for each ox the past eight weeks, compared with tha figures for the corresponding periods of last year 6how as under:1912. 1911. August 24 27,261 15,965 August 31 17,218 18,156 September 7 10,446 23,406 September 14 26,133 13,455 September 21 21,558 . 21,591 September 28 15,362 7,593 October 5 34,496 15,117 October 12 11,713 9,9C8 164,187 125,191 Tho beer duty collected for tha week totalled £232 55., as compared with £196 13s. for the corresponding week of last year.

'FEIMHNG MARKET KEPORT. Messrs. A. H. Atkinson ajid Co., Ltd., of Feild'ng, report a good market for poultry oil Friday, but very little was offering. Pigs were also limited in supply. Weaner pips, 9s. 6d., lis.,, to 12s. 6d.; slips. 165.; stores, to 30s. 6d.; sows, 255.; goats, ss. 6d. to Bs. Poultry, at per -iair: Hens, 4s. to 4s. 6d.; ducks, 4s. to ss, ad.; swans, 30s. Pups, 3s. Produce: Seed potatoes. 83. 6d. per sack: fable do., las. to '45.; wheat, 4s. 3d. per bushel; chaff, 3s. to fc. sd. per hag; factory hams. lOd.; fides, 10} d.; bran, 65.; pollard, 12s. 6d.; Algerian oats, Js. 4d. to 3s. 6d.

NORTH OTAGO MARKETS. (By' Telegraph.—Press Association.) Oamaru. October 13. Wheat still Temains inactive, hut tha sales htvvc been 6lijrht.iy laraer than in the previous week. Velvet realised 3s. Bd. r.et, and 3s. Bd t less commission at country stations, the latter price being for a line of 1500 sackfi. Red wheats are a penny below the velvet ouotations. Sales of Tuscan and red chaff have bscn ramie botli separately and in combination at 3s. 61d., and 3s. 7d. net at country stations, and for velvet and rod chaff (mixed line), 3s. 7>d. net was piven at a oountry station. Oats a.re ofTcrlnp very Irregularly, and the sales have been on a- small scale. The prices paid have been 2s for A grade Gortons and Is. lOd. to Is. lid, for B rrade The potato market revived a little during the middle of the week, when a buyer apposed to fill an order foT Sydney. The order, however, was a. small one. and the sliinme.nit was secured from store to eo via Port Chalmers. The prices in the country are £6 150. net and £7 less commission. LONDON MAEKETS. By Telecranh-Press Aesociation-CopyrliliJ (Hec. October 13, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 12 Wheat,—The market is firm, but quiet; 395. 3d. v lias been paid for nn Australian parcel, October shipment, afloat. American middling cotton, OctoberNovember delivery, 6.05 d. per lb. Jute.—Oct-ober-November delivery, £25 12?, 6d._per ton.

New liemp is xery firm. JanuaryMuch delivery, £32 per ton. Copra.—Small business was dono during the week; bagged South Sea, £26 2s. fid. per ton. )lubbpr.—Fine hard Para, 4s. 7Jd. per tb. Antimony, £7 10s. per ton; good ore, 50 per cent. Galvanised iron, £18 and £15 15s. Tin plates. I.C. and coke, 15s. 7Ad. and lfo, 71d. per cwt. Iron bars. £8 1£«. per ton. Trim rails, £5 15s. per ton. "Wire-netting, 525. 6d., -with l\ to 5 per cent, off list. Cement, ss. Bd. and ss. 3d.