COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 10932, 15 May 1899, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Ihe srooun? o' r, van'e collected at the Cust-n ■ r«Bp nn -rri-xlr -Ir,-, r( >,l fr.-r consumption *<*- '* \ wan £1.300 19=! 10.1.

The farms on Windsor Park, advertised for sale by Mr Mcnlovp, are finding purchasers. Some time ago we mentioned the sale of several farms on the estate, and last week Mr Menlove concluded the rale of three farms on the famous Queen's Plat, the total purchase money aggregating a little over £9.000. At this rate of disintegration the estate will soon resolve itself into a lmmh'T of farms instead of being held in one large block.—' NO. Times.'

The eighteenth ordinary general meeting of the Trustees, Executors and Agency Company of New Zealand was held on Friday. Mr James Mills, chairman, stated that the business of the company went on increasing slowly but surely, and that it was of a very sound and satisfactory character. The investments of their own funds, both capital and reserve, were unquestionable. These funds were invested as follows:—On mortgage, £3.627; on bank deposit, £2,780; in debentures, £7,464 ; the balance beine invested in small advances to clients and in other minor asset". The amount of mortgages, debentures, and bank deposits held by the company for clients at the close of the year was about £291,000, so that there was no increase under that hradinp There had, however, been a very substantial increase in general agency business. Having shown conclusively that the position of the business was satisfactory, he trusted that the shareholders would approve of the proposal of the directors to distribute an increased dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum—a rate which they might exppct to maintain. Mr Hosking, referring to the chairman's remarks as to carrying to a reserve, said he did not see the necessity for this in such a company, and thought that, considering the double liability of shareholders, Ihey should receive more than an ordinary dividend. Mr A. G. Fenwick made some remarks in the same direction. The Chairman, in reply, remarked that the question had been discussed in all its bearings by the directors, and they were satisfied that it was a most prudent step, and regarded with favor by c'ients, and also, he was confident, by the majority of the shareholders. Messrs P. C. Neill and J. R. Sinclair, the retiring directors, were re-elected, and Messrs W. Brown and Co. and A. Bartleman were re-elected auditors. THE LABOR MARKET. Skene and Son report:- Gloomy winter shows his teeth early and sharp, bringing broken time and small money for outdoor labor. We have had a prosperous season, and should be well able to face a bit of slack time. A thrifty housewife can make the shillings go a long way, with bread, etc.. so the old man is not too thirsty ! Demand is heavy for all sorts of country hands, and wages are liberal for genuine workers. GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORTS. Donald Reid and Co. report that prices ruled as under at their auction sale to-day:— Oats. —We submitted a catalogue of medium to good feed oats suitable for the local trade. There was fair competition, and the catalogue was cleared at prices in most cases a shade in advance of late quotations. Good lines suitable for shipment are not offering freely, and for sueh there is strong inquiry at quotations. We auote long Taitars and seed lines Is 4Jd to Is 6d ; prime milling. Is 4d to Is 51; good to best feed, 1r 3d to ls4d: medium and inferior, Is 2d to Is 2Jd per bushel (sack» extra). Wheat.—There i< f<tir demand for all milling wheat in prime condition. Medium quality is more difficult, to place Fowl wheat is offering more freely, and late values are barely maintained. W e quote prime milling 2s 3d to2s6d; medium, 2s Id to 2s 2Jd; whole fowl wheat, Is 10dto2s; broken or damaged, Is 6d to Is 9d per bushel (sacks in). Potatoes.-The market is fully supplied, and in consequence large sales cannot be effected except at a slight reduction on late values. We quote : Best Derwents, 32s 6d to 355; others, 30s to 32s ; 6d per ton (sacks in).

Chaff.—The market is still heivily stocked. Only prime quality meets with any inqniry, other sorts being extremely slow of sale. We quote: Best oaten Fheaf £2 2s Cd to £2 ss; medium to good, £llss to £2 per ton (bags extra).

Messrs Mbritzaon and \Rbpkih freport haying held their usual weekly sale of- grain and produce this morning. There was a poor attendance of buyers, and, with the exception of oats, for which there is a good demand,.competition, was du11.,,-; ~ pats.—All. comins-forwaid met: with a ready sale at prices which showed an advance, of Jd per, bushel on those of last week. Best feed are worth Is Mi ; inferior and medium from Is Id to Is 3d ; milling Is 4id to Is 5d per bushel; . . / i. y heat—Prime samples have- some attentionr put medium lots are hard to place. Prime milling brings from 2s 4J to 2s Gd; medium, 2s 2d to 2s^d; fowl feed, Is lOd to,2s per bushel. ■-. : Potatoes.—Market glutted, and prices are again lower. We quote best, 355; and medium from 30s to 32s (id per ton. Chaff.—Arrivals have been heavy, and prices are 2s 6'd to Gs per ton lower. We quote nrime, £2 5s to £2 7s 6d ; medium from £1 IBs to £2 2s Cd per ton.,;. -

Messrs Dalgety and Co., Limited, report having held their weekly auction sale, when there wus a good attendance of buyers. Oats.—The demand for all sorts has improved, and prices have advanced about Jd per bushel. We sold at auction good to best feed from Is 3d to ls4d ; medium, Is 2d to Is 2Jd; prime milling. worthls4Jdtolssd. Wheat.—The demand for all prime milling is fairly strong, but medium is hard to place. We quote,- Prime velvet, 2s 4£d to 2s 6d; do Tuscan 2s 3d to 2s sd; red sorts, 2s 2d to 2s 3d : fowl feed, Is lOd to 2s. .Chaff.—The market is over-supplied with medium and inferior sorts, which are very difficult to place. There is, however, a fair inquiry for prime lines, which bring from £2 2s 6d to £2 ss; medium to good, £1 17a 6d to £2; inferior unsaleable. Potatoes.—The market is glutted, and anything but good are unsaleable. We offered ?l V o e / a l hnes « an d.cleared the bulk at from 32s 6d to 35s for prime. MINING NOTES Additional dredging returns: Golden Gate, 88oz 17dwt; Matau. 770z; Vincent, 40oz 6dwt; Molyneux Hydraulic, 21oz; Sunlight, 16oz 16dwtimnedin, 16oz5dwt; Golden Point, lloz : Golden Measure, lOoz lOdwt; Galtee More, 9oz. The Rev. Joseph Campbell declares that by the thermo : hyperphoric process from 80 to 95 percent extraction can be obtained from the most refractory ore to be found in New Zealand. * T, J,e Crown mfne (Auckland) crushed 2,6*1 tons for .£6,C07 worth of gold. The Thames eoldfields April return is £47,882 worth of gold, as compared with £43,0E6 for last vear. It is reported that the Vincent dredge, which has been dredging for some months on what was supposed to be a rock bottom, has broken through it, as it proved to be only a layer of cement, and ha s struck a seam of wash 3ft thick, carrying ldwt to the dish. This opens up great possibilities on our rivers.—' Cromwell Argus." Our Alexandra South correspondent wires:Hydraulic, 21oz. A sixth dividend was declared i on Saturday night."