COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 11697, 1 October 1902, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

At the weekly Ashburton sale yesterday there was a general advance of from Is to Is 6d per head on sheep, as a result of the improved prospects for feed, which is coming_on rapidly after the late rains. The Wairarapa Farmers' Co-operative Association declared a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, in addition to paying bonuses of 3 per cent, on the capital account, 2 per cent, on shareholders' purchases, 3 per cent, to all employees, 3 per cent, to the heads of all departments showing a substantial increase on last year's business; besides carrying £1,017 to 'he reserve and carrying forward £6,000. Copper, according to the latest London advices, is quoted at: Spot, £52 10s; three months, £52 15s; and silver Is 11 9-lld Der oz.

Advices from Pomahaka Downs state that as a result of an open winter farm work was well forward. Sowing was commenced some time ago, but was brought to an abrupt termination on the 18th ult. by a heavy fall of snow, the land being- practically soaked. A few sacks of grain can be seen here and there in some paddocks, and-a black mark halfway up the bag indicates how far it was immersed in water. Young lambs also had a severe time, many perishing iu the cold and snow. As a result of the rough weather the bulk of oat-sowing will have to be done this month, not by any means a suitable one.

Tho American invaders are nob having it all their own way ; indeed, it seems that a very determined and successful business invasion of American territory has recently been accomplished by enterprising British traders. The contract for 60,000 ornamental street designs for New York has been placed in Birmingham, and much <<f the material for the new cable from the United States to China is being ordered from a British firm, while the wildest stories are current in America regarding a British-built rapid-transit tunnel between New York and Brooklyn, stories which put Mr Morgan's plans for the moment into the shade.

Messrs George Newnes report a profit up to June 30, 1902, of £66,508 18s 4d. Last year the profit was £66,151 10s sd. In 1895 the profit was £57,322 0s 2d. The copyrights and goodwill are valued rt £740,000, the leasehold buildings, furniture, fixtures, etc., at £55,932 14s sd, and the machinery and plant at £35,123 16s 3d. The stock in hand is estimated at £54,938 14s sd.

According to the Postmaster-General's report the total number of letters delivered in the United Kingdom during the vear which ended on March 31 last "was 2,451,500,000, an increase of 5.5 per cent., and an average number to each person of 58.9. The postcards totalled 444,900,000, book packets and circulars 766,200,000, newspapers 169,800,000, and parcels 86,600,000, making a grand total of 3,919,000,000, an increase of 5.2 per cent., and an average of 94.2 to each person. The letters have increased at a higher rate than for many years past, and the 6.2 per cent, increase in postcards was no doubt in a large measure due to pictorial postcards. The letters undelivered numbered 10,183,866, which total is larger by 3,500,000 than the figures for five years ago. Out of ten million letters undelivered nearly nine millions were reissued to corrected addresses ur returned to senders. The number of telegrams for the vear amounted to 90,432,041, an increase of 0.95 per cent.

The Board of Trade returns for Julv are good reading. They should form an excellent tonic for those who are suffrrW from the effects of American fever. The total increase reaches three millions, and this in spite of a drop of nearly a, million in raw materials for the textile "trade and a fall of over a quarter of a million in coal exports, a fall in value, not quantity. One of the most welcome and stimulating items in the report relates to the shipping trade, <f which we have lately heard such depressing accounts, but which in June showed an increase of over half a milliou in shipments of foreign and colonial merchandise. And more encouraging still, we have once more taken the lead in export trade, our exports being two millions above those of the United States for the first six months of the year.—Exchange. An Ashburton wire states that owing to the high prices ruling for stock the local butchers have decided to raise the price of meat by id per lb. THE PACIFIC CABLE. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 30.—The Colonia on the 23rd inst. was busy in latitude 27deg 23min S., longitude 137deg 18mm W., laying tho Vancouver-Fanning Island section of the Pacific cable. • THE WOOL SALES. Press Association—Byi Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 29.—At the wool sales to-day all classes were firm in price, Dub there was less spirited competition. (Received October 1, at 9.33 a.m.) LONDON, September 30.—The Mhoka (?) clip sold at 10f|d, the Harrow at lljjd and the Hillersden at Is "' AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE REPORT. Preu Anocntion—By Telegraph—Copyright. (Received October 1, at 10.18 a.m ) SYDNEY, October I.—Wheat: Chick, 4s 9d to ss; milling, 5s to 5s Id. Flour £10: to £lO 10s; Manitoban, £l2 15s.

Oats: Feeding, prune New..Zealand and Tasmania, 3s 7d to 3s 8d; Algerian, 37d Barley. Cape, 4s to 4s 3d. PeasPrussian blue, 8s Maize, prime, 6s to 6s. 3d Bran and pollard, Is 6d to Is Potatoes: Tasmamans, £7 to £7 IDs; NewZealand Derwents, £6. Onions • Victorians to £7; Cahfomian, £9 10s. Butter, prime. Is 2d to Is 3£d. Cheese: New Zealand loaf, 9£d; largo white. B£d to 9(1. Bacon, lOd to ll£d. [The above quotations are thoso ruling between merchant and retailer, and do not represent the slightly lower values obtained by recognised brokers ] MELBOURNE, October -I.—Wheat.- 4s 8d to 4s BJd. Flour. £9 15s to £lO. Oats: Algerian, 3s 3d to 3s 7d: stout, ?s sd, Maize, 5s sd. Barley; good, 4s 6d to 4s Bd. Bran and Pollard, Is 4d. Potatoes and onions, £5 10s to £6.

ADELAIDE,. October I.—Wheat, 4s 7d to 4s 7£d. Flour, £9 5s to £9 10s. Oats: Algerian, 3s 4d to 3s 7d: white, 3s 7d to 3s lOd. Bran and pollard, Is 6d.