MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10258, 29 January 1894, Page 5

MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL.

[Special to Frees Association.! LONDON, Jan. 26. The Bank of England returns, published to-day, show the total reserve iu notes and bullion to be .£19,262,000, the proportion of reserve to liabilities being 54 40, Consols, 99. Three months’ bills are discounted at 3 per cent. The market is firm. Four per cent inscribed stock, 107 ; 3| ditto, 97 j. New Zealand long-berried wheat, ex warehouse, 29a; market flat. South Australian ditto, 29a 6d; market weaker. Victorian ditto, 29s ; quiet. Frozen meat. —For first quality 4§d, second ditto 4£d; iamb, first quality, sd. The new season’s New Zealand lamb, per Coptic, is of poor quality, and is realising leas than last year’s shipment. Australian lamb 4£d, cross-bred 4|d, Sugar—Best German beet 12s 6d, Java 15a 3d.

No, 1 best Scotch pig-iron, f.o.b. in Clyda, 43s 6d. Danish butter, 118 s 6d, market firm; other sorts unchanged. The ■wool market is firmer all round, and competition is strong. Mr J. B. Patterson, the Premier of Victoria, has cabled to Sir .Andrew Clarke, Agent-General for the colony, stating that he fails to see any necessity for concerted action with regard to tho silver coinage question. In the London and Australasian Debentures Corporation report for the half-year, it is stated that the Company’s investments show a depreciation of 20 per cent. A sum of £3IOO has been placed to the reserve fund. The National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand haa declared a dividend of 5 per cent, and carries forward .£2400. Jan. 27. A syndicate of leading firms proposes acquiring Shiela and Elliot’s automatic temperature regulator. It is intended to maintain the temperature of frozen beef at one degree, T7hieh it is believed would make Queensland beef equal to American chilled. WASHINGTON, Jan. 27. Owing to a breach in the ranks of the Democratic party, the prospects, of defeating the new" tariff are increasing. PARIS, Jan. 27. The conversion scheme has been attended with success, only a few holders applying for payment. MELBOURNE, Jan, 28. The Agent-General suggests that Spain and tbe southern provinces of Franco and Italy ought to offer good markets for colonial butter.