LATE COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 12942, 4 May 1908, Page 4

LATE COMMERCIAL.

GOLD AND SILVER. WELLINGTON, May 4. During the first four months of this year New Zealand exported 162,3790z of gold valued at £637.828, being an increase of 18,2910z, value £61,801, compared with the figures for the corresponding period of last year. The export of gold last month was 28.2790z, valued at £109,759. as against 25,9690z, valued at £102.555 in April of 1907. Last month the Dominion exported 138,3170z of rilver, of the value of £14,246, as compared with 91,2720z, value £9,317 in April of last year.—Press Association. GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORT. Donald Reid and Co. report:—We held our weekly auction sale of grain and produce at our stores to-day. Wo submitted a lengthy catalogue of oats, wheat, potatoes, and chaff to a large gathering of the local trade. Bidding was exceedingly brisk, and every lot was cleared at prices fully equal to, and in some cases in advance of, lato Values ruled as under : Oats.—For all good to prime quality there is a strong demand, while special seed lines, such as Duns, long Tartars, etc., are readily placed. Prime milling lots also havo more inquiry. We quote : Seed lines, 2s 6d to 2s 8d; prime milling, 2s 5d to 2s s^d; good to best feed, 2s 4d to 2s 4gd; inferior to medium, 2s 2d to 2s per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat.—There has been some excitement in the market during the week, and all sorts Jiave advanced slightly in value. Millers have a strong preference for prime velvet and red chaff, but now give more attention to lines of medium to good Tuscan, \vh ; ch have lately been saleable only as fowl wheal. In sympathy with milling quality, prices for fowl wheat show an advance of about Id per bushel. We quote : Prime milling, 4s 7-jd to 4s B£d; medium to good, 4s 7d to 4s 7|d; best whole fowl wheat, 4s 6d to 4s 7d ; medium. 4s 4{,d to 4s 5J,d; broken and damaged, 3s 9d to 4s 3d per bushel (sacks extra). -Potatoes.— Fair supplies continue to come forward, but with good demand for export, late values are more than maintained. We offered a considerable quantity at our sale to-day, all of which realised prices which show a distinct improvement. Shippers complain that many consignments are unsuitable for their orders, owing to being bagged in inferior sacks, which their buyers will not accept. -Wo quote : Prime Derwonts, £4 17s 6d to £5; Prime Up-to-Dates and other white sorts, £4 10s to £4 12s 6d ; choice, £4 15s ; medium to good, £4 to £4 7s 6d per ton (bags extra). Chaff.—The market is well supplied, but for all prime oaten sheaf there is ready sale. The practice of cutting Btraw with oaten sheaf is in many cases overdone, as it reduces the weight below the grade rcquird for export. Prime, bright, heavy chaff has strong demand from both local and shipping buyers, but for medium and light quality they aro not so keen. We quote: Prime chaff. £3 17s 6d to £4; medium to good, £3 10s to £3 15s; inferior and light, £3 to £3 5s per ton (bags extra). Straw.—Consignments have now slackened. Oaten straw sells at 35s 6d to 365; wheaten, 30s to 32s 6d per ton (pressed). HIGH COMMISSIONER'S CABLE. [Per United Press Association.] .WELLINGTON, May 4. The Department of Industries and Commerce has received the following cable from London, dated the 2nd : Mutton. —The market is weak, and there is less demand except for light weights. Canterbury mutton is in small supply, and is quoted at 4£d. The average price for North Island brands is 3|d, and River Plate 3£d. There is dull salo for heavy carcasses of mutton. There is good demand for all lamb, and the market firm, although the weather lately has been very unfavorable to its 6ale. The supply at present meets the demand, but small shipments are expected. Canterbury brands are quoted at sgd, and other than Canterbury at There are complaints of the quality of the New Zealand lamb this season. Beef.—The market is quiet, and there is less demand. Hindquarters are quoted at 3Jd, and fores at old. Butter.—The market is very firm, and there-is a brisk demand, on account of the difficulty in obtaining supplies. Choicest New Zealand butter is quoted at 114s; Australian, 109s; Danish, 116s: Siberian, 109s.

1 Cheese.—The market is quiet, with a tendency in favor of buyers. Buyers are i.holdinjj.backj ejecting jgrices. to jjiMower.

Transactions are very limited, at ah svth rage of 60s 6d. Hemp.—3he market is quiet, but steady. There is a fair local demand on account of light shipments being expected. Current quotations are: Spot, good to fair grade* £27; fair, £26; fair current Manila, £26 per ton. April-June shipments, good to fair, £26; fair. £25 10s; fair current Manila, £25 10s. Cocksfoot Seed.—The market is firm, and buyers are not keen to do business. There, is no change in the quotations from last week. WooL—The market has declined, and the prospects are rather less encouraging. Large shipments are arriving. Bradford tops am quoted as follows:—36's, low cross-bred*, 8d; 40's, low cross-breds, Bid; 44's, medium cross-breds, lOd; oXTs, half-breds, la 2Jd; 56's, quarter-breds, Is s|d; 60's, merinoes, Is 9£d per lb.' The hop market is overstocked and depressed. English best-quality hops are quoted at 555, and American at 40s (nominally).