COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 13091, 26 October 1908, Page 6

COMMERCIAL.

At the annual meeting of the Carreras Tobacco Company, the Chairman (Mr Baron) declared that the huge sum of a hundred millions sterling was invested in the world’s tobacco industry. Of this sura twenty millions were embarked in the trade in Great Britain, but the business was now “wholly beset by trusts and combines,” the ba'neful influence of which he_ maintained was felt not alone in Great Britain, but throughout the world. NORTH OTAGO MARKETS. [Special to the Stab.) OAMARU, October 26. wheat has been coming forward more freely, and supplies have been discovered that \vere not known to be in existence. A fair amount of business was done last week at rates a shade in advance of those given the previous week, though the market closed with an easier feeling, but not with any change in values. The chief transaction reported was one of a mixed line of 1,050_ sacks, mostly velvet, with small proportions of Tuscan and rodchaff at 4s 6d, f.0.b., sacks extra, at country stations. From 4s lid to 4s 2d net has been given, most of the transactions recorded being at the higher figures. These included a mixed line of 500. sacks, and others of 200 and 300 sacks each. A parcel . , smutted fowl wheat was quitted at 4s, f.0.b., sacks in. There has been practically nothing , m ° ats > but a parcel of 200 sacks ot feed Gartons was taken at Is 9d net at a country station. A number of sales of Derwent potatoes have been made for shipment at £3 15s, t.0.b.. and for one prime lot £4 was obtained. the general net quotations to growers at country stations are £3 to £3 ss, according to railage, but £3 10s was quoted for a specially good sample. the markets. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 25. (Received October 26, at R53 a.m.) Frozen Meat.—Sheep : Canterbury medium, 4d. Canterbury lambs: Light, s|d; medium, s^d; heavy, 4£d. Beef : Zealand Plate fores, 3 3-16 d. Rabbits : Very firm, especially young. Hemp : Quiet and unchanged. Antimony, £9 10s. C °PP er = Spot, £6O 15s 6d ; three months, £6l 15s. Spot, £133 10s; three months, £los ss. Lead, £l3 6s 3d. Copra ; Weak. South Sea is freely offered, and there is fair business at ill 2s 5d for bags. Wheat : 8,500 quarters December and shipment sold at 33s lid, and d,CXX) tons, per steamer, February and March shipment, at 35s 6d. AN INSTRUCTIVE RETURN. . - The British Board of Trade have just issued a return relative to gas undertakings in the United Kingdom, for which it appears that there are 763 authorised undertakings, of which 491 are companyowned and 272 managed by municipaliThese figures, which cover the year 1906 (the last year dealt with in the return), explain themselves : Companyr, ... . , owned. Municipal. Capital invested £103.986,664 £44 468 784 Expenditure ... 13,671,369 7,211,987 Coal carbonised _ < tons ) , 8,922,781 5,923,476 Gas made (1,000 cubic feet) ... 114,528,923 67,312,155 Gas sold (1,000 cubic feet) ... 105,218,682 62,726,524 .Number of conx'ublic lamps supPhed 356,070 321,910 GRAIN AND PRODUCE REPORTS. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. reportWe held our weekly auction sale of grain and produce- at our stores to-day. We had a good selection on offer, and under fair competition. most of the lots catalogued were quitted at quotations. Values ruled as under:— Oats. There has been more inquiry for good lines suitable for export, but in order to effect business it has been necessary to accent lower values. The demand is chiefly for B grade Gartons or Sparrowbills. For A grade there is not much demand, while Danish, black oats, and other special kinds are quite neglected. We quote: Prime milling, Is 10id to Is lid; good to best feed. Is to is lOd; inferior to medium, Is 7d to Is 8d per bushel (sacks extra). Wheat.—The market is unchanged. There is so little wheat in stores locally that no sales of any importance can be'reported. Millers are taking all prime lots offering, while medium quality is, in most cases, being quitted as fowl wheat. We quote; Prune milling, 4s 5d to 4s s£d ; medium, 4s 4d to 4s 4|d; good whole fowl wlieat, 4s 3d to 4s 4d ; medium do, 4s Id to 4s 2d : broken and damaged, 3s to 3s 9d per bushel (sacks extra). Potatoes.—During the week consignments have been arriving steadily, and nearly all good sound lots have been sold on arrival. The export demand is not quite so brisk today. and only best lines can be readily placed. Consignors who are repicking potatoes would do well to see that only good sacks are used, as the sale of many consignments is seriously affected by the inferior quality of the sacks. We quote : Prime Up-to-dates, £2 17s 6d to £3; medium to good. £2 10s to £2 15s; inferior, £2 to £2 5s per ton (sacks included). Chaff.—Moderate supplies are coming forward, but as the demand is weak prices show a slight decline on those lately ruling. Prime quality has most inquiry, but medium and inferior are difficult to quit. We quote; Prime oaten sheaf, £3 5s to £3 12s 6d; discolored and inferior, £2 15s to £3 2s 6d per ton (sacks extra). Straw.—Supplies are not heavy, and best wheaten sells at 35s to 37s 6doaten, 45s to 47s 6d per ton (pressed). Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., report as follows;—We held our weekly sale of grain and produce at our stores to-day, when we offered a large catalogue to a moderate attendance of buyers. Competition was more brisk than at our Last sale, but prices were mostly in buyers’ favor. Values ruled as under: Oats.—This market is. without change as to demand, which still continues slack. The season is now advanced, and as business has been found impossible at late values, lower prices have had to be accepted to effect clearances. We quote: Prime milling, to Is lid ; good to best feed, Is Bid to Is lOd ; inferior to medium. Is 7d to Is 8d per bushel (sacks extra). Wlieat.—The week has been a quiet one in this market. Holders are very firm in their ideas of values, and are not forcing sales meantime, the offerings consequently being very light. Fowl wheat is scarce and m request. We quote : Prime milling, 4s 4£d to 4s sd; medium milling and fowl, 4s 3d to 4s 4d; broken and damaged, os 6d to 4s per bushel (sacks extra). Potatoes.—Although a fair amount of shipping was done last week, the arrivals continue fully equal to the demand existing. Buyers’ purchases are confined almost entirely to choice white tables, off-condi-tioned lots being neglected. Late quotations are not maintained. We quote; Prime Up-to-Dates, £5 to £3 2s 6d ; medium, £2 12s 6d to £2 17s 6d; inferior, £2 upwards per ton (sacks in). Chaff.—The market remains about on a par with last week’s. Prime bright heavy oaten sheaf finds preference with buyers, and is readily quitted on arrival at late rates. Medium and inferior quality, however, is not in favor, and is difficult to place. We quote: Prime oaten sheaf, £3 15s to £4; medium, £3 7s 6d to £3 10s; light, inferior, and heated, £2 10s and upwards per ton (hags extra). Straw.—We quote : Oaten, 42s 6d to 4Sa; wheaten, 37s 6d per ton (pressed).