COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9021, 6 April 1888, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald Office, Thursday evening. The Customs receipts to-day amounted to £1139 5s 9d. ' The ' resumption of business' aftec the Easter holidays has not been attended with any material alteration in the market prices, or in trade activity. Fairly good Island orders have been received per Richmond, and Messrs. Donald and Edenborough's enterprise in establishing steam connection with the various Pacific depots, as far as Tahiti, cannot be too strongly commended and supported in the best interests of the port. A large shipment of China white sugars arrived per last Tarawera. The stringency in the local rice market has .also been relieved by a shipment of Japan quality ex same steamer. A lower market price is expected as soon as the new season's rice is due. r This is looked for about the latter end of the month.

A slightly better feeling is apparent in candles. The trade enquiry has considerably fanproved during the last two weeks. Kerosene is quiet, with prices unchanged. Jams continue very dull, and there is little to boast of as regards dried fruits. We hear of a slight weakness in salmon, and sales of Arctic at 9s to 9s 3d duty paid. Sardines are in better demand, but values are unaltered. Red herrings are wanted. A strong demand is being experienced for salt. W& W, fine, is at present very scarce. Crashed loaf sugar is scarce. Quicksilver is a noint lower, the mail ad-, vices bringing a recfuced cost. Building materials are all exceedingly dull. There is a steady business doing in teas, but nothing to call for special comment. In places where competition is of the keenest, the disposition to regard price without reference to quality, as everything, is manifested. Several parcels of flax have been sold for shipment, and buyers for really good quality lots are not hard to find. We heara good deal of latoaboutprohibition, but the efforts of our local agitators shrink into nothingness when compared with the prohibition recommended by the American New Tariff Bill, which fixes the duty on bags, bagging, etc., at 200 per cent ad valorem. The Yankees are nothing if not thorough. We quote maize at 3s 7d ; oats, 2s 2d; milling wheat, 3s Id; fowl wheat, about 2s 10d to 3s; potatoes, £2 10s per ton. In the localproduce market prices remain unchanged. The best dairy butter is 8d per lb wholesale and 10d per lb retail, while " shell brand " is 10d per lb wholesale and Is per lb retail. Eggs are scarce, and remain at Is per dozen wholesale and Is 3d per dozen retail. For the quarter ending March 31st the value of goods imported to Auckland amounted to the sum of £443,909. made up as follows .— From the United Kingdom, £286,495; from British possessions, £113,553; from foreign countries, £43,861. The exports for the same period amounted to about half the former figures, the aggregate being £223,098. Of this, £106,057 nas been sent to the United Kingdom, £48,126 to British possessions, and £68,915 to foreign countries. KAURI GUM MARKET. For ordinary gum this market remains quiet and steady, at quotations below. East Coast and biack gum and rescraped are dull, and in over supply. The supplies of all qualities for the month of March are about ,75 tons, making about 2426 tons for the first three mouths of the current year. We quote :—Poor ordinary, 30s to 33s ; fair ordinary. 34s to 375; best ordinary, 3Ss to 39a; and East Coast, 46s to 48s.

LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE MARKETS. AUCKLAND

Messrs. Hunter and Nolan's Weekly Report , —Horse feed, grain, seeds, &c. : Very little has been done, and there has been no noteworthy alteration in value. Horses : Bulness has characterised the market; the supply has been small, and demand slack. Below an average number were entered for disposal by auction at the Durham Yards on Saturday, competition was slow, and wJes hard to effect even at prices in favour of the purchasers. Wool, hideu, skins, and tallow : An average quantity was pitched on Tuesday; at the Durham Yards; competition was brisk. *We quote: Ox hides, at from 4d to 4jd: cow hides, 2id to 33d; calfskins, 4d to 6d ; skins, Is 6d to. 3s 6d. Cattle : The supply has been sufficient for requirements, and "the previous week's prices have ruled. The Newmarket sale was held on Wednesday, and the supply was consequently not so large as if the sale was held on the regular day. Most of the dairy and store stock having found their way to Papakuro. At the latter place the yards were completely tilled, but the demand was not brisk, and several pens did not change hands, and prices were very fluctuating. We quote : Dairy cows, £4 to £6 ; dry cows, 25s to £2 ; grown steers, from £2 10s to £3 15s ; 18-month old steers, 25s to 30s ; yearling!), 16a to 22s 6d; calves, from Kβ to los each. Sheep : There was rather a short muster at Newmarket on Wednesday, and a slightly upward tendency in value. No heavy wethers were penned, and prices ranged from 108 to 18s ; ewes, from Ss 3d to lls each ; lambs, 5s to 7s. Pigs have been in brisk demand at from 3d to Sid per lblive weight MR. Alfred BI'CKLAND'S WEEKLY REPORT.— During the past week the prices for fodder have been without alteration in value, and have ranged from Is 6d to 2s the cwt. At the horse sale on Saturday, March 31, horse stock Bold freely. Useful stock ranged from £8 to £13, and a hooded buggy £19. On Tuesday, a full market of hides and skins sold briskly at late values. Ox hides brought from 4d to 4jd ; cowhides, 3Jd to 33d ; calfskins, 4}d to 5Jd the lb; tallow, 15s ; bones, 4b the cwt; pelts, 8d to Is ; sheepskins, from Is Gd to 2s 9d each ; wool, 6|d the lb. The private sale held on the premises of Mr. James Wills, at Otahuhu, on Wednesday, was very numerously attended, and satisfactory prices obtained throughout. At Remuera, on Thursday, dairy cattle were at late values; store cattle in better inquiry. Steers advanced from 2s 6d to fri each. Fat cattle in full number maintained last week's values. Steers and barren cows from 13s to 16s the 1001b. Sheep plentiful; wethers were better worth than last week fully Is each. Ewes at last week's values. All pigs sold freely at full values, and well-bred porkers were short of requirements. Messrs. G. w. Binney and sons* report.—On Tuesday last, hides, skins, etc, fully maintained last prices. Heavy ox, 4id to 4j<i ; medium, 4d; light, 3}d to Sjd; cow hides, 3Jd to B}d; kips, 3sd to 4d; calf, average 4jd ; green ox, 22s to 27s 6d each; cow, 12s to 16s; stags, S3 to 12s each; damaged, Id to 2d per lb. Sheepskins: Local green, 2s 4d to 2a 6d ; lambs, 2s 6d to 2s 9d ; best country salted, 2s to 2s 4d ; medium, Is 6d to la 9d ; shearlings, 10d to Is; lambs, is to 2s 6d. Tallow, 12s to 15s per cwt; rough fat, Id per lb ; bones, £4 10s per I ° n ' THAMES CATTLE MARKET.

Messrs. Banks and Co.'s Weekly Repom (by telegraph).—At Panvwai on Thursday but little change was observable in the values of fat cattle. About an average supply was offered, and all were sold, prices for steers, light weights, ranging from £3 15s to £4 15s each; huifers, from £2 17s 6d to £4 10s. Sheep were penned in excess of demand, but last week's prices were maintained. Heavy wethers made 12s 6d each; ewes, 7s 3d to 7a 9d. Lambs were also plentiful, but best sorts sold readily at 6s 6d to 7s. JOHNSONVILLE CATTLE MARKET

Messrs. Fbeemax R. Jackson and Co.'s Stock Report (by telegraph.V-The beef entered to-day for sale was only of medium quality. We had not a single bullock of prime quality. Tho bidding was dull for cattle, but brisker for sheep and pigs. Veal calves were good, and well-fatted, but sold at low rates. The pig pens were full of all sorts and conditions. The following are the prices realised: — Cattle, bullocks, from £4 10s to £6 7s Cd ; the average for the different lines being £5, £4 10s 2d, £4 16s Oα, and £4 12s 6d. Veal calves, 11s to 14s each. Sheep : No wethers came forward ; ewes, 7b to Sβ Id. Figs : Baconers, 30s to 40s ; others, 23s to 27s ; porkers, 14s to 16s; stores, 8s to lls ; small pias, from 2s 3d to Ss 9d. Beef made 13s to 13s 6d the 1001b, and mutton lfd per lb.

THE AUCKLAND MARKETS. [Corrected to noon of Thursday.] KAURI GUM A XT) FLAX. Supplies for month of March, 775 tons. £ s. (1. £ s. d. Poor Ordinary, ton .. .. 30 0 0 —33 0 0 East Coast .• . - • • 40 0 0 —48 0 0 Fair Ordinary .. .. .. 34 0 0 — 0 0 Best Ordinary 88 0 0 —30 0 0 Flax . 18 0 0 —19 0 0 Tow 600 — 700 Fungus, lb 0 0 — 0 0 0 Cocoanut Fibre, cut, cwt.. .. 0 15 0 — 0 17 0 Beeswax, lb .. .. .. 0 0 0 — 0 0 9 PRESERVED AND DRIED FRUITS. Dried Prunes, lb .. 0 6J — 0 7 0 8 — 0 10 Preserved Ginger ..0 7 — 00 Shelled Nuts .. .. 00 — 0 10 10 — 16 Barcelona do 0 6J — 0 0 Brazil do. .. ..06 — 09 09 — 10 Peannts .. .. 02 — 0 2£ 06 — 00 FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE. Wholesale. Retail. 8. d. s. (I. s. d. s. d. Butter, fresh, lb .. 0 8 to 0 10 0 10 to 1 0 Do., salt .. • • 06 — 06 0 — 0 1 Do., inferior salt .. .. 0 3 — 0 6 Milk, quart .. .. .. 0 — 0 4 Cheese, local, lb ..0 — 0 4 0 6 — 0 8 Do., best factory .. 0 4j— 0 5 „ . Eggs, dozen .. .. 10 — 00 13 — 00 Lard, bladder, lb .. 0 — 0 CJ 0 6 — 0 9 Hams and Bacon, Pro. 0 6 — 08 Do., bare .. .. 0 7J —0 0 Cant. Bacon, new ..07 — 00 Hams .. .. -.0 6£— 0 8£ 0 8 — 13 Bacon .. 06 — 10 Jams, case 5doz .. 25 0 —27 6 Fowls, each .. .. 06 — 10 10 — 20 Ducks, do .. 2 0 — 30 Geese, do .. 50 — 70 Turkeys, do .. .. .. 6 0 — 7 6 Feathers, lb .. ..16 — 19 FLOUR. £ £ g Flour, roller, ton .. 11 6 — 0 0 Do., superfine.. .. 10 0—10 5 Do., household .. 10 0 10 10 „ Do., Southern, roller 10 5—10 10 Do-, Southern, stone 9 5 — 9 10 Bran 4 0 — 00 Sharps 4 10 — 5 10 Cabin Bread .. .. 15 0 — 0 0 Oatmeal .. .. 11 0 —11 10 Pearl Barley .. .. 20 0 22 0' Patent Porridge Meal, 71b bags .. ..00 15 0 HAY AND CORN. Per cwt. Hay, ton .. .. 40 — 60 66 — 70 Lucerne, do 60 — 6 10 7 6 — 80 Oaten, do. .. .. 3 10 — 5 0 6 9 — 7 0 Chaff, mixed .. .. 20 — 2 10 00 — 00 Oaten Chaff .. .. 2 15 — 3 0 Straw, load .. .. 0 18 — 1 10 4 0 — 5 0 Clover, ton .. ..BO — 00 Rye Grass .. .. .. 39 — 46 Cocksfoot .. ... .. 5 6 — 66 Potatoes .. .. 20 — 00 25 — 00 8. d. s. d. Maize, bushel.. .. 3 7 — 00 39-40 Barley, feed .... 30 — 33 33 — 40 Do., malting ... .. S 9 — 10 Oats, feed .V .. 22 - 00 24 - 00 Oats, seed, Tartarian 23 — 00 00 — 00 Wheat 31 — 00 00 — 00 ! DO., fowl v .. .. 2 10 - 8 0 I Per pound. i White Clover .. .. 0 0 — 0 0 0 lOJ— l I Red „ .. .. 0 0 — 00 0 8 — 09 Cow Grass .. .. 0 0 — 0 0 0 9 — 0 11 Alsyke ... .. .. 0 0 — 0 0 0 10J—1 0 Timothy ... ..00 — 0 0 0 5 — 0 0 Trefoil .. .„ ..00 — 00 06 — 00 "Rape .. .. .. 00 — 0 0 - 04 — 00 GARDEN AND ORCHARD PRODUCE. Apples case .. ..4 6 — 56 .. Do., lb 0 1 — 0 1J 03 — 04 Lemons, doz .. ..16 — 19 16 — 20 Oranges 00 — 09 1 0 — 13 Do., case ' .. ..80 — 0 0 ... Bananas, ib .. .. 02 — 0 2| 0 4 — 00 Cocoanuts, each .. ... 0 2 — 03 Do., sack .. „. 10 0 — 0,0 Onions, lb .. ..0 1 — 0 0 0 1£— 0 0 Garlic ... .. *. 0 3 — 0 0 06 — 00 Celery, bundle • .. . 0 3 — 00 Grapes .. _ ..10 — 00 J * — 16 Plum .. - _ C J— 0 2i 0 0 — 00

: - BUILDING MATERIALS V * Boards and Scantling, 100ft .. 0 12 0-0 (I 0 Do., best dressed.. .. ~ 0 18 6 — 014 0 Do., second-class.'. ♦. a» 068 — 090 Rustic weatherboards «. — 0 9 0 — 0 14 0 Mills, cargo, best *. — ' 0 10 0 — 000 Flitches «... .. .. - 086-000 Balk • - ." - - 0 5 0 — 0 7 0 Bricks, Whau .. ... ... 110 0-2 ,0 0 Do., town yards, 1009 .. — 1 16 • 0 — 2 0 0 Lime bushel .. .. — 010 — 016 Drain Pipes, Gin bores, 1000 „ 16 0 0-0 0 0 Do., 4in .. .i .. • 0 10 0 — 000 Do., Sin. .. ... .. .. . 4 10 0 — 0 0 0 Do., 2in .. ! i .. .. - 3 0 0 — 0 0 Do., 21n .. .. .. ~ 2 10 0 — 000 English Slates, 1000 - .. „ 10 10 0 — 0 0 Socket Glazed Pipes, foot: 24 inches .. .. .» 060 — 000 21 inches .. ». _ » 046 — 000 18 Inches «. «. ' .» 028 — 000 15 inches M ,» _ 01 11 — 000 12 inches . _ ™ _ 11 — 0 0 0 9 inches .» M — 00 10 — 000 6 inches *. — - « 0 0 41— 0 0 0 4 inches i. „ »« 0 0 8j— 0 0 0 3inches • .. * 003 — 000 * COAL AND FIREWOOD Coal, Newcastle, ship's side, cargo, ton *. .. .. 10 0 — 1 5 0 Do., yard .'. .. '.. — ' 150 — 180 Do., Bay of Islands, yard . 126 — 000 Do., delivered .. u ... 160 — 000 Do., mine .. .. — « 0 18 0 - 000 Do., ship's side .. — •. 100 — 000 Waikato, steam .. ' U 080 — 000 Do., household .. .. m ' 0 12 0 — 0, 0 0 Do., in Auckland.. .. ** 0 18 0 — 120 Kamo, loading ground, ton .. 0 10 0 • 0 0 Taupiri, mine .. .4 .. 0 8 0 — 0 12 0 Do., yard, steam .. .. .. 0 17 6 — 0 0 0 Do., household .. - — 140 — 160 Whangarei, mine .. - 096 — 000 Do., yard, steam .. — — 0 17 0 — 000 Do., household .. .. .. 180 — 160 Firewood, uncut, wharf, cargo, ton 0 7 0 — 0 7 6 Do., deliYered 0 10 0 — 0 12 0 Do., cut 0 18 0 — 0 16 0 BUTCHERS' MEAT. Roasting Beef, lb .. m 0 3 — 06 Boiling do. .. .. .. 0 1J — 0 3 Mutton, hindquarter _ 0 3 — 04 Do., forequarter „ «> 0 — 0 Pork and Veal .. _ 0 3 — 0 Steaks .. .. _ _ 0 4 — 0 Mutton Chops.. .. .. 0 3 — 0 Sausages .. .. .. 0 2 — 0 Mutton Tallow, cwt..» 18 0—21 0 — Beef and Mixed do. 16 0 —29 0 MISCELLANEOUS. Kerosene, ISO* test, duty paid 0 1 .7 — 0 0 0 Do., 150- test 0 2 0 —000 Fencing wire, No. 6, ton .. 10 10 0 — 0 0 0 Do., No. 7 10 10 0 — 0 0 0 Do., No. 8 10 0 0 — 0 0 0 Barb Fencing Wire .. .. 21 10 0 — 10 0 Lime, slacked, bushel .. .. 0 10 — 000 Quick lime, in stono .. .. 016 — 000 New Zealand Pailings, 6ft — 0 7 6 — 0 10 0 Do., Oft .. ... „ 0 14 0 —000 Teatree Rails, 100 ... „ 2 10 0 — 3 10 0 Puriri Posts „ «. - 600 — 700 Shingles, 1000 .. « _ 0 12 0 — 0 13 0 Hobart Pailings, 6ft « - 0 17 0 — 1 0 0 Do., 6ft .. „ „ k 018 0-1 1 0 Hobart Rails .. .* • 4 0 0 — 4 10 0 MESSRS. VIORERS AND HULL'S WEEKLY STOCK AND SHARE LIST AND INVESTOR'S GUIDE.

Last Current , | Jof Share, Fund. Company. j, d. £ Bank 0 1,000,000 7 10 1,900,000 7 0 & 273,626 3 10 1,000,000 j 8 0 85,673 17 0 7 j 18 1,000,000 10 2,000,000 j 7 0 100,000 8 & 260,000 9 18 , 5 ; ! ! 7 12,000 Taupiri J 7$ 8 0 0 Co. 1,000,000 10 < .. .. 100,000 8 15,874 Mortgage j I ' & ... Drug 10 0

Auckland, April 4,1888. "Ei div. STOCK AND MINING ASSOCIATION. Auckland, April 5, 18S8. Company. Business. Closing Prices. Buyers. Sellers. Banks: £ s d£ s d National _ . _. 35/ — 1 16 6 Colonial .... — 2 3 6 — Insurance : New Zealand „ — — 3 12 0 South British . — 2 16 — National .. _ — 0 17 6 — Standard .. *. — 0 13 0 — Union .. „ — —.148 Colonial _ — — 080 Accident" .. «. «— 000070 Miscellaneous : N.Z. Loan and Mer. —' 8 13 0 — N.Z.Land Mortgage — — 1 0 0 Auckland Timber ■ — — 8 7 6 Taupiri Coal .. — — 2 8 0 Devonport Ferry.. — 10 0 — Mining : Cambria ~ .. 8/, 8/6 0 8 J 0 8 6 Saxon .. „ — — 0 4 4 Manakau .. ..1/7 — . — Alburnia .. .. 8/to 3/6 0 S 2 0 8 6 Paroquet .. 2/10 0 3 0 0 3 6 Gem — — 0 010 Goldwater .. .. — — 0 2 6 Kenilworth .. 2/5 —» " — Silverton .... — — 0 8 0 A Saunders, C. Alexander, S. Vickers, J. F. Clarke, B. Frater. J. B. Morpeth, J. M. Lennox, ,D. B. McDonald, D. O. McDonnell, Aitken Carrick, R. Spratt, Francis HulL James Eeid, R. G. Macky. Joseph Newman, Chairman. CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. DIVIDENDS : Bank of Australasia .. ..2 8 0 ..April 10