COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8483, 6 February 1891, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald Office. Thursday evening. The Customs duties to-day amounted to £2124 3s lid. The usual run of orders at the commencement of a month has imparted a lifctlo trade briskness; but in a general sense there is not much real improvement. It is more of a sterling character, the result of very careful, prudent buying, and close application to leak- ! ages. Cash'is more and more evident, and the proportion of trade losses is quarterly becoming "small by degrees and beautifully less. All this is very satisfactory, but, to be plain, the volume is wanting, and unless we can tap outside and oversea markets, trado for the number of distributors will comparatively be insignificant. Thanks to island connection, the San Francisco service, and the growing business on the East Coast, with larger distribution to Southern centres, we have been able to maintain a fairly respectable presentation of trade figures, but they ought to rest more upon provincial progress than they do. The mail advices report a further advance in tin plates, and the local market has at once responded. The struggle with the Scotch railway employes is very stubborn, and considerable inconvenience has resulted. Still it is impossible not to have a lenient feeling to the strikers, who feel that working twelve to fifteen hours out of the twenty-four is little else than white slavery. Socialism may be an ugly word to capitalists; but it would be robbed of half its terrors if the great controllers of English and Scotch labour had more of the colonial spirit of sympathy with all that is reasonable and fair. Unfortunately in these colonies,_ the very Utopia of the labour market, a spirit of perverse discontent is unreasonably manlfest, and a concession is looked at as a triumph of force instead of a desire to meet all reasonable demands, and this compels an attitude of war instead of one open to conviction. The American advices are more words than facte. We glean a pint of grain from a bushel of chaff. It is curious how the apparent necessity to write something makes our practical cousins build so much upon probable futures in which the wish being father to the thought is so clear. Salmon still rules very dull. Quicksilver remains rather weak. Canned fruits have been well picked over, and the assortment is not good. There has been a large advance in evaporated and dried apples. The advices from the East are all indicative of puzzle in regard to the ups and downs of exchange. The controlling centre of the world's markets seems to be travelling towards New York, for the silver question and the McKinky tariff are both big things. The price of silver from day to day fixes Eastern exchange, and this is almost everything in regard to laid down values. One mercantile letter we have seen says " that buying produce is ABC, but watching and operating for what appears a favourable rate of exchange is just like sitting down to a card party with a lot of first-class players ; every play is practically a gamble." ' The local market for kerosene remains dull, with nearly all the business going to high test. Limejuice is in improving demand with hardly any obtainable until arrival of the Richmond in a fortnight. The near approach of Lent has not so far done much to stimulate the inquiry for fish. There was a small supply of Derby in the Tongariro cargo just landing, and it is being taken up with eagerness. Probably before country buyers see this advice it will te all snapped up. Victory, and Ruby Twist are both scarce. Good business has been done in sugars— the American granulated and cube, ex Mariposa, finding quick sale. We learn that the demands in Australia for the Colonial Sugar Company's brands are in excess of ability to fill, and the market for refined is distinctly hardening. Fine salt stocks are now very low, and prices are tending upwards. In liquids the Gaelic whisky continues in strong demand, and a shipment of Dog's Head stout, ex Oamaru, has been cleared into second hands. Cabled orders from Boston and New York to replace as far as possible the Leading Wind 8 parcels of flax has rather improved tha demand for first quality. It is impossible to give prices as there are no standard qualities, and each lot is judged on its merits, but the market may fairly bo termed healthier. Maize is worth 3s 2d, with a falling market. Oats are better, and cannot now be quoted under from 2s 2d to 2s 3d Potatoes are worth £4 10s for Derwents.

The long spring season drought in the South Island is expected to reverse the ocder of supply in keg butter, and that the North Island, especially the clover and humid province of Taranaki, will supply the far-famed Canterbury province, as well as the mining centres of the South West Coast.

Milling wheat (local): Some splendid lines of last year's wheat from the Waikato and East Coast districts were sold during the week to Auckland millers at good prices. We are glad to notice that a large portion of the wheat raised about Mangere was secured before the weather broke. The yield this year will be probably about 20 bushels per acre on the average, —and some of it is slightly affected with rust. Round about Tamaki, Papatoetoe, and most of the Waikato districts, the heavy continuous rain has seriously injured many fields of both cut and uncut wheat. Of Southern wheat there are no arrivals or sales reported. The splendid iron ship Ganymede, from Oamaru, has nearly finished discharging into the Northern Roller Mills. For bran and sharps there is a better inquiry ; sharps dearer. Flour: The first of the month has had the usual effect of greatly increasing both sales and deliveries.' In the local produce market there is great difficulty in getting really good presentable butter. Were such obtainable a high price would be given for a really good article. The general prices have advanced to : Best dairy butter, 7d ; second quality, Cd ; and third quality 5d per lb wholesale. Eggs have advanced to Is per dozen wholesale, and Is 3d per dozen retail.

KAURI GUM MARKET. This market continues sluggish and dull, in consequence of the very poor and badly-scraped qualities of ordinary, out of which most of the good gum is picked in the country. East Coast is unchanged in quotation, but buyers complain that recent deliveries' contain more poor and less bold gum, and they have determined to lower prices for poor or picked lots of East Coast. Supplies for month of January were about 610 tons, and for four days of February about 45 tons. _ We quote : —Poor ordinary, 35s to 38s; fair ordinary, 395; best ordinary, 40s; and East Coast (best quality), 555."

LIVE STOCK & PRODUCE MARKETS. AUCKLAND. Messrs. Hunter and Nolan's Weekly Report Grain, seeds, horsefeed, etc.: The demand has been moderate and the supply ample. We quote : Feed oats, 2s to 2s 3d per bushel; barley, 2s Od to 2s 9d ; bran, £3 103 per ton ; chaff, £2 10s to £3. Horses : J.ess than an average number have been brought forward. There was an improved demand for those of a good stamp at a slight advance in value. .Scarcely as many as usual were disposed of by auction, but most of those entered were disposed of. We quote hacks at from £4 to £11 10s ; light harness horses, £5 Os to £12; medium draught, £10 5s to £1010s. Wool, hides, skins, tallow, etc.: A small catalogue met steady competition. Wool, in bales, from 5Jd to 6id per lb ; bats, 3d to Cd per lb. Heavy ox hides, 4ld to bid per lb ; medium, 3d to per lb ; cows, lJd to 2d ; calf skins, 3jd to 4Jd per lb ; pelts, lid to Is 6d each; lamb skins from Is -to Is 6d each; bones, £i 10s per ton; tallow, 17s 6<l

per cwt. Cattle : The number brought forward has boon "barely up to the average. A steady demand has existed with* little or .no alteration in value. There was a moderate muster at the Newmarket Yards on Tuesday, and a large one on Wednesday at Papakum. The competition was steady and the previous week's values were given. Fat ox sold at from 14s to 17s Cd per 1001b ; cows, 12s to 13s per 1001b ; soma averages Of steers weie £C 16s, £0 8s 9d, £6, £5 12s Oil, £5 10s, £fi la 3d. Cows, £2 15s, £3, £3 7s 6d, £4 7a 6d, £3 15s. Sheep: There was an average muster at NeNvmarket on Tuesday and steady competition. Wethers sold -it from lis fid to 16s; ewes, Ss Ski to 14s Oil ; lambs, Os to 12s. Pi/?s : Very few yarded. There remained an unsatisfied demand at from 2Jd to 3d per lb live weight.

Messrs. Alfred Buckland and Sons Weekly Report.— the Haymarket during the past week oaten sheaves have ranged in price with quality, from Is Gd to 2s Od ; meadow, Is fid to 3s Sid the cwfc. Wheaten straw has been short of requirement, and sold well. Bran, *4 ; chaff, £3 2s Oil the ton ; oats, Is lid ; ryegrass, 0s 6d; cocksfoot, 7s Od the bushol. There is a greatly increased sale of Little's sheep dip, in five-gallon tins, at 0s the gallon. At the horse sale on Friday there was a smaller muster of horse stock than usual; those offered werei required, and sold freely : Prices ranged from £7 to £11 each, for useful farm stock. At the hide »nd skin sale, on Tuesday, extra heavy ox brought old ; good stout ox, 4Jd ; medium, 3d to 3Jd ; light, from 2d; cows, lid to 2d ; calfskins, 3d to 4jd the lb ; tallow, 16s the cwfc; pelts and skins were at late quotations, and wool sold more freely; all lots standing over were cleared : Merino, from 6Jd to 7id; crossbred, 6J<l and OJd; longwool, 5Jd to «Jd the lb. full particulars of the sheepfair have already appeared and may be summarised as follows : —Ewes, were from Is to 8s higher in price than at last year's sale, while for rains scarcely so high an average was obtained. A draft) of 1100 two-tooth ewes were sold privately at 12a each. At the sale of properties in the estate of the late D- Thomson, the 30 acres at Similes' Mountain brought £16 15* an acre ; that near Gisborne, 103 an acre ; the Te Awamutu farm was not sold, being held at a reserve of £5 an acre. At the usual Papakura monthly cattle sale the advance in price of store cattle lately uotedwas fully sustained, and all offered sold i oadily. At Reniucra on Thursday dairy cattle were in usual number, and kept their values. Good animals near their profit ranged from £4 to £5 10s each. Fat cattle in full number, above 300 sold. Prices for steers were steady throughout the sale at from 10s to 17s the 1001b : cows, lis to 14s. Sheep abundant. Wethers scarcely kept late values, but ewes and lambs were better worth. Pigs scarce and in request at full values.

Messrs. G. W. binkey and Son's Report.— On Tuesday wo cleared a largo number of hides of all descriptions at good values. Heavy stout ox and light kip are wanted. Medium weight (cow and steer) are in better demand. We quote : Prime up to fld : heavy stout, 3Jd to 4jd ; heavy, 3d to 3id ; steer. 2Sd to 3d ; cow, ljd to 2d ; inferior lots, ljd to lid; kips, 2}d to 3d ; calf, 4d to 4Jd ; stag, Id to 2d per lb; damaged at nominal prices. Sheep skins • Well-wooll. d, 3Jd to 4d per lb ; salted pelts, Is Cd to Is ski ; small, »d to Is ; lambs, Is 3d to Is 9d * dry pelts, several lots 110 value on account of weevil damaged, sales from Id to Is each. Tallow and bones firm at late quotations. A\ 00l : Sold 70 bales and lot of dumps at good values. Crossbred, o}d to 7d ; lambs, Cd to GJd per lb ; locks and pieces, 2d to 4d per lb. JOIINSONVILLE.

Messrs. Freeman R. Jackson and Co.'s Stock Report (by telegraph on Wednesday). usual muster of fat cattle wis yarded. Beef was a shade lower in price though firm at quotations. Best bullocks made up to £0. Fat wethers of good quality and weight made 13s (id each. Pigs sold readily, the demand for stores being strong, and those entered made full rates. Ox. beef made 13s Cd the lOOlbs.

THE AUCKLAND MARKETS. [Corrected to noon of Thursday.] FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE. Wholesale. Retail. s. d. s. cl. s. d. s. d Butter, fresh, dairy, lb 0 7- 0 0 0 9- 0 0 Do., second quality 00 — 0 o*— 0 0 Do., third quality .. o£>— 0 07—00 Do., Waikato "Anchor' brand _ ... 010 — 0 00 —00 PrinSt .. -06- 0 8 00- 0 0 Do., inferior salt -03- i 0 4-0 0 Milk, quart .. - - J}®* JO Cheese, local, lb — 04 —05 06 0 C Do., best factory - 0 6— J » - n „ Bggs, dozen .. ..10—'00 IS 00 lArd. bladder, lb .. " 6- 0 0 06 - 0 0 Hams and Bacon, Pro. 0 —0 Ci nominal Cant. Bacon, new (in cloth) .. - 07 — <i - Hams (in cloth) .. 0 9 — 010 — Jams, case odoz — 23 9 —23 3 — Fowls, each — —06—-10 14 - 9 Ducks, do. — — J „ Geese, do. - - - « « a n Turkeys, do. — — — 06— 80 Feathers, lb — — 16 —10 — HAY AND CORN. Per cwt. Hay, ton - -30 — 4-0 5 J-J ® Lucerne, do. — — 60 —6 10 76 80 Oaten, do. .. — 20 —30 4 0 6 0 Chaff, threshed —20— 210 00 — 0 Oaten Chaff — — 3 6 — 310 — Straw, load — — OIS— 110 «. Clover, ton — — 6 0— 00 — Potatoes — — 4 10 - 0 o — s. d a. d. Maize, bushel— — 32 —00 00— 00 Barley, feed ... — 30— 3 3 3«>— 36 Do., malting — — 39 — 3 10 — Oats, feed - - 22-23 00-00 Oats, seed — — 00-00 00— 00 Oats, milling .. ..2*3 —0 0 "0-00 Wheat, old local milling 3 8— 00 00 —00 (Sacks extra.) Wheat. Southern 3 —00 00 —00 (Sacks extra.) • _ Do,, do., seed.. 0 0— 00 00 — 0 0 Do., local, seed — 00 —00 00 —00 Do,, fowl - - 30—00 00 —00 . FLOUR. & 8. Northern Roller Flour, sacks per ton .. -. 10 10 —. Household do. do. do. .. 10 0 — Roller Flour, Southern do. .. 10 10 — Stone Make do. do. do. .. 9 10 — Wheatmeal .. .. .. 10 10 — Bran .. — —..30 — Sharps .. — .. .. 310 — Cabin Bread — — 15 0 - 0 0 — Oatmeal, 25's .. ..119 — 00 — Oatmeal, 7's — .. 13 0 — 0 0 — Pearl Barley ... .. 20 0 —21 0 — PRESERVED AND DRIED FRUITS. Dried Prunes, lb — 0 6} — 0 7 0 B—o 10 Preserved Ginger — 07— 0 0 _ — Shelled Nuts .. — 0 9-010 10 —16 Barcelona do. .. — 07-00 — Brazil do. .. -06 —09 00— 1 J Peanuts .. .. 03-03 00-00

GARDEN AND ORCHARD PRODUCE Apples, lb, local -0 1- 0!} 0 0— 0 0 Lemons, doz .. »» 1 3— 19 18 0 0 Oranges, none .. 0 °— 0 0 0 0— 0 0 Bananas, lb .. ... 02— 0 3 00 00 Cocoanuts, each -. 0 - u * Do., sack .. —100 —0 0 „„" n n Onions, lb .. -03 —0 0 00 —00 Garlic, lb .. .. 00 -00 o£> - Oil N.Z. FLAX ROPE. Prices subject to trade terms. Rope in all sizes, ton .. —300 0 — 0 0 Tarred Yarn, do 36 0 0 —40 0 0 Wool Tailings, do. .. .. 35 0 0 —38 0 U KAURI GUM, FLAX, ETC Supplies for the thirty-one days of January, 010 tons; and for four Ua>s in February, 45 tons. £ s. <1. & s. d. Poor Ordinary, ton nominal .. 35 0 0 —38 0 o East Coast - 65 0 0— 0 0 0 Fair Ordinary 39 0 0 0 0 C Best Ordinary range gum .. 40 00—0 oJ> Flax, best clean Auckland ... 17 0 0 —18 0 0 Good medium 15 10 0 -10 1 0 Poor, ordinary „ — -800 —14 0 0 Tow .. .. .. - ~. 20 0 -*■ alO 0 Fungus, lb 0 0 3 — 0 0 0 Coeoanut Fibre, cut, cwt .. 015 0 — 17 u Beeswax, lb . ... .. •• 009— 00 J

MANURES Bonedust, Sydney, ton .. .. 710 0-8100 Do., inferior .. — •• 0100 — ? 0 0 Bonefiour .. .. — -- 850 —J J J Do., Auckland .. .. - 710 0-8 10 0 Peruvian Guano 14 0 0 —17 0 J) Coral Queen do 500 — 00 Long Island do., bags included ilO 0— 0 0 0 Superphosphate of Limo, 20 to 28 per cent 000 — 0 10 0 Do., 38 to 38 per cent 8 0 0 — 8 10 0 Potato Fertiliser Fison's .. 11 0 0— 0 0 0 Wheat „ „ .. 10 10 0— 0 0 0 Grass „ „ .. 10 10 0- 0 0 0 Turnip Fertilisers ... .. 8100— 00 0 Superphosphate „ .. 7100 —0 0 0 BUILDING MATERIALS. Boards and Scantling, 100 ft .. 0130— 013 0 Do., best dressed.. .- .. 014 6—o 15 0 Do., second-class 0 8 0 — 011 0 Rustic weatherboards, best ... 011 6—o 15 0 Mills, cargo, best .. .. 011 o—o 1C 0 Flitches .. .. ... .. 011 C- 0 0 0 Balk.. .. " ... ... 0 0 0— 0 8 6 Bricks, Whau .. » — 110 0 — 209 Do., town yards, 1000 .. _ 200 —2 50 Do., delivered * 210 o—2 15 0 Hydraulic Lime, bushel - 10 — 020 Shell Lime.. .. ■. — 10 — 020 Craig's Stono do., .. .. 010 — 010 Drain Pipes, Giu bores, 1000 ... 15 0 o—i 0 0 0 Do., 4in .. .. . ~ . 0100— 00 0 Do., Sin ... .. - . *10 0— 0 0 0 Do., 2in „ -. - > 3 00-000 Do., 2ih .. .. •• •- 210 0— 0 0 0 English Slates, 1000 .. „ 10 10 0- 0 0 0 Socket, Glazed Pipes, foot: 24 inches .. ~. -. 076 — 000 21 inches .. .. u 060-000 18 inches ... .. .. 0 8 0— 0 0 0 15 inches „ - — O. 26 — 000 12 inches « .. « 020 — 000 9 inches _ „ _ 016 — 000 0 inches _ -. ... 006 — 000 4 inches ... ... 004 — 000 3 inches - 004 — 000

NEW ZEALAND DRUG CO. S MANURES. 1 Tons. 6 Tons. Superphosphate, C 25 „ 6 17 0 — 514 0 Do. A 32 „ 7 5 0 — 7 0 0 Bonedust, pure .. .. _ 7 15 0 — 7 10 0 Do. and Blood .. ... ... 6 15 0 — 6 10 0 Animal Manure ... « — 526—500 Root Manure .. ... — 7 10 I) — 7 5 o Corn Manure ... _ _ 750 — 700 Grass Manure ... ... 6 15 0 — 0 10 0 Potato Manure .. ... ... 7 10 0 — 7 5 0 Maize Manure ... .. .. 7 5 0 — 7 ,0 0 Turnip Manure .. .. .. 7 10 0 — 7 5 ,0 Orchard and Tobacco Manure 8 15 0 — 8 10 6 Coral-Queen Guano, 561% .. 55 0 — 5 2 0 Sulphate of Ammonia .. .. 17 0 0 — 0 0 0 Terms 2i per cent, discount for cash within one month. COAL AND FIREWOOD.i Coal, Newcastle, ship's side, cargo, ton .. ... .. 1 10 0 — 000 Do., delivered .. ... .. 1 15 0 — 0 0 0 Do., yard .. ... .» .. 1 12 0 — 0 0 0 Greymouth yard.. .. .. 250 — 000 Do., Bay of Islands, yard .. 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 Do., delivered .. . .. .. 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 Do., mine .. .. _ ...0 0 0 — 0 0 0 Do., ship's side .. — .. 000-000 Miranda, mine .. - .. 090-000 Do., household .. .» .. 0 12 0-000 Do., in Auckland.. .. .. 0 16 0 - 0 0 0 Kamo, loading ground, ton • .. Oil 0 — 0 0 0 Taupiri, mine, steam .. .. 0 10 0 — 0 0 0 Do., yard, steam .. ... .. 0 18 0 — 0 0 0 Do., household .. — — 120 — 000 Do., do., delivered .. .. 15 0 — 170 Firewood, uncut, wharf, cargo, ton 0 9 0 — 0 0 0 Do., delivered .. ... ' .. 0 12 0 — 0 13 0 Do., cut » - » . .0 14 0-0 10 0

BUTCHERS' MEAT. • Per pound; Roasting Beef, lb.. «. 04 — 05 Boiling do. .... . ... 0 — 0 4 Mutton, hindquarter - „ 0 4 — 00 „ legs _ _ 0 — 0 0 Do., forequarter _ «•.'.■ 0 2 i— 0 0 Pork .. .. „ „ 0 4-0 Veal .. .. .. .. . 0 3— 06 Mutton Tallow, cwt... 20 0— 0 0 — Beef and Mixed do. 25 0— 0 0 Steaks .. .... .. 0 5— 07 Mutton Chops.. «. .. 0 s—oo Sausages .. .. .. 0 0— 04 MISCELLANEOUS. Kerosene, ISO* teat, duty paid 0 16 — 000 x)o., 150' tost ".. ' ... .. " 0 19 — 0 110 Fencing wire, No. 6, ton .. 1 „ , No. 7 ... ..>l6 0 0 —10 0 0 ~ „ No. 8 « .J Barb Fencing Wire .. .. 25 0.0 —20.0 0 Pie Wire (close barb) .. .. 25 10 0 —20 10 0 Galvanised Iron, sto Sft — 25 0 0 —28 0 0 Lime, slacked, bushel .. _ 010 — 000 Quick lime, in stone .. .. 0 10—000 New Zealand Palings, Cft _ 0 7 6—o 10 0 Teatree Kails, 100 . „ 210 —3 10 0 Ptiriri Posts .. „ » COO — 600 Shingles, 1000 .. „ « 012 0-0 13 0 Hobart Palings, sfb «. .. OIV o—l 0 0 Do., 6ft .. .. _ .. 018 0— 1 1 0 Uobart Rails ~ .. ~ 400 —4 10 0

AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. AUCKLAND, FEBRUARY 5, 1891. •

Joseph Newman, S. Vlckeis, J. Kriar Clarke, It. Frater, J. M. Lennox, D. B. McDonald, D. G. MacDounell, Aitkeu Carrick, R. Spratt, Francis Hull, James Keid, K. G. Macky, T. A. Mouzies, James Frater, G. if. Brimblecombe. C. Alexander, Chairman.

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. CALLS. £ *■ '1. Rod Mercury G.M.Co. M 0 0 2 „ Feb 5 Golden Crown G.M.Co. _ 0 0 1 _ Feb. 7 Victoria <'.M.Co. .. ..001 _ Feb; 10 Great Mercury Proprietory G.M.Co - 0 0 6 „ Feb. 11 Shotover G.M.Co 0 0 0J .. Feb. 10 Puliipuhi ProspectorsG.M.Co. 0 0 2 _ Feb. 24 DIVIDENDS. New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortcaee Co. .. _ 4 % _ Now. Bay of Islands Coal Co. «. 10 X _ Now.

Company* Business. Closing Prices. . —— Buyers. Seller.*. Banks : £ s . d £ s d. New Zealand .. ■» , — 5 0 0 Colonial ... .. - 2 2 0 2 3 0 Insurance: New Zealand .. •— — 3 12 0 South British .. — 156163 National .. .. — 0 10 3. - Miscellaneous! Auckland Gas, ex.. — 10 6 0 - Kauri Timber .. — — 0 11 0 N.Z.I/. & Mercantile 53/9,59/ — , . 3 0 0 Tauplri Coal Ext... — — 110 Union Oil .. .. — 0 10 3 0 11 0 Northern Boob ... — — 0 7 0 Minimi : May Queen.. .. 4/6 0 4 4 0 4 9 New MoanataJari.. 11/0,11/9 0 11 0 0 11 9 Saxon .. .. — — 0 5 3 Magnolia .. .. — — 0 3 .6 Caledonian .. .. — — 0 2 0 ' Cambria ... — — 0 3 3 Norfolk .... — — 0 18 Freedom .... — 004000 Victoria (T.) .. 1/7,1/8 0 1 « 0 1 ,8 Waihi .... - 0 17 6 — Alfred ... .. — 0 0 7 0 0 10 Try Make .. .. 8/3 to 9/3 0 8 9 0 9 0 lied Mercury ... 3/, 3/1 0 2 10 0 S 4 Carbine - .. 2/1,2/2 0.2 0 0 2 3 Omnia M .. — 0 0 0008 Mariposa _ ... /10 to 1/4 0 12 — Waitaia _ .. — 0 18 — Kapai - .. 1/2 to 1/4. 0 12 0 1 4 John Bull - .. — 007008 Kuaotunu — .. 1/3 to 1/4 — 0 16