COMMERCIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 16236, 4 October 1916, Page 1

COMMERCIAL.

• The Customs revenue and beer duty collected in tho Dominion last month' and during the half-year just ended totalled as follows ;—September Customs, £320.672 (increase on last year, £91,139); beer duty, £11,822 (increase on last year. £2,770). Six months—Customs, £1,945.919 (increase. £265,673); beer duty. £86!535 (increase, £24,718). SOUTH BRITISH INSURANCE COMPANY. Tne annual report ot the South British Insurance Company, Ltd., states; Tho net premium amounts to £558.7.39, the income from interest and rents received and accrued is £45,511; total, £602,310. After making full provision for losses outstanding, there is a.surplus in the underwriting account of £71,224; income from interest and rents, as above, amounts to £43.511; total, 114,735. This has been dealt with in the following manner:—Transferred to reserve fund, £40.000; written off investments, £21,268; Auckland leasehold sinking fund, £200; London leasehold sinking fund, £225; contribution to officers’ provident and superannuation funds, £4,532; total, £66,225 ; leaving available £48,509’. Out of this an interim dividend of 2s 3d per share was paid in April. 1916, £22.5C0; and tho directors now recommend the, payment, out of the balance of tho_profits of the year, of a dividend of 2s od per share, (making tile total distribution lor the vea-r 4s 6d per shard, which will absorb £22,500; total, £45,000; to which must be added balance from August, 1915, less dividend and bonus to staff paid in October, 1915, £48,119; making to ho carried to the new account, £51,629. THE MARKETS. Press Association—B3' Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 5. 1 allow.—Stock, 1,438 casks; imports, 4,530 casks; deliveries, 2,015 casks. popper.—-Supplies, 40.292 tons: deliveries. 41,435 tons; stocks. 5,796 tons; afloat, 3,000 tons; visible, 10.371 tons. Copper.—Spot, £119; three months. £lls 10s. Tin, £175 7s 6d. Lead.—Spot, £35 10s: three, months £29 10a. Spelter.—Spot, £52; three months. £46. Silver. 32Jd per oz. COTTON SHORTAGE. RECORD PRICEY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams. NEW YORK, Ortotrer 3. (Received October 4, at 9.20 a.m.) Storms and inserts have ravaged the, cotton crons, and tho season shows a decline of throe million bales. i.otton is selling at 16 cents per lb—the hb'bcst price it has reached ‘ since I Civil War. !