COMMERCIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1943, Page 7

COMMERCIAL

MINING. Austral-New Zealand ' Mining, report from Cromwell that the dredge operated for 250 hours producing 338 ounces of bullion.—P.A. ALEXANDER MINES At the seventeenth ordinary annual general meeting of shareholders of Alexander Mines held at Reefton, Mr D. A. McVicar, Chairman of Directors, presided over a small attendance. The Directors’ report, bal-ance-sheet and statement of accounts for the past year ended May 31 were read, and after being discussed were adopted. As there were no further nominations for directors, the retiring directors, Messrs J. B .Discaciati and James Haisty, were duly elected directors for the ensuing year. Mr M. J. Fogarty was re-elected auditor. Mr James Haisty, director, was unable to be present at the meeting through illness, and it was decided that expressions of sympathy should be conveyed to him, with best wishes for a speedy recovery. BEATH AND CO., LTD.

The report and statement of accounts for the year ended August 19, 1943, of Beath and Company, Ltd., has been issued by the directors, for presentation to the fortysecond annual general meeting of shareholders on October 11. The net profit for the year was £13,131, to which was added the balance brought forward from last year, £23,936 (less final dividend, 1942, £3607), a total of £33,460. An interim dividend of 3 per cent, on ordinary shares and 2| per cent, on preference shares paid for the halfyear ended February 19, absorbed £3607, leaving available for appropriation, £29,853. The directors recommended that this amount be appropriated as follows:—Payment of a final dividend of 2| per cent, on £1 5 per cent. cum. pref, shares £250; payment of a final dividend of 3 per cent, on £1 ordinary shares, £3357 —£3607; leaving a balance to be carried forward of £26,246 —■ £29,853. The above dividends are not subject to social security charge of national security tax, and the company is again paying these taxes. If sanctioned by the meeting, dividend will be paid on or after October 11. The company has had another successful trading year, and there has been a substantial increase in turnover. However, once again the profit from the increased sale has been mainly absorbed by increased taxation. Mr. T. W. Perry retires from the board by rotation, and, being eligible offers himself for reelection. The retiring auditors, Messrs William Jameson, and Son, offer themselves for reappointment.

RABBIT SKIN SALE.

DUNEDIN, Sept. 21.

Approximately 47 tons were offered at to-day’s rabbit skin sale. There was a good demand for all grades of bucks, and prices for these, as compared with previous auction rates, can be quoted firm. Winter does, on the other hand, were not so keenly sought after, and these were 9d to 15d per lb lower, and in some cases the decrease was up to 241 b per lb. Low grades, with slight fluctuations, can be quoted generally about on par. Following is the official range of prices: First Winter bucks, 180 d to 184 d; first Winter does, 170 d to 176 d; second Winter bucks, 170 d to 177 d; second Winter does, 144 d to 164 d; spotted Winter bucks, 150 d to 163 d; spotted Winter does, 125 d to 136 d; outgoing Winter bucks, 130 d to 138 d; outgoing Winter does, 116 d to 129 d; first Spring bucks, 115 d to 127 d; first Spring does, 96d to llld; second Spring bucks, 981 d to 112 d; second Spring does, 90d to lOOd; furrier does, 130 d to 148 d; stained does, 116 d to 122 d; milky, 80d to 102 d; Summers, 72d to 84|d; first Winter broken, 87d to 96d; second Winter broken, 84id to 92d; third broken, 66id to 77d; Winter blacks, to 161 d; Winter fawns, to 161 d; hareskins, 23d to 50d; first ferret skins, to 17/5.

STOCKS AND SHARES AUCKLAND, Sept. 22. Sales: New Zealand Insurance 85/-, General Industries 23/-, McKenzies 47/6, Woolworths’ Sydney 17/9.