COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9490, 20 April 1894, Page 4 (Supplement)

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald Office. Thursday evening. During the past month the volume of busi* ness in investment stocks has been small, the market being depressed, partly owing to the uncertainty regarding the re-construction of the Loan and Mercantile Company. Now that this is assured, we may look for a better feeling and an improvement in values. There is already an inquiry for Bank of New Zealand at low rates. The Waihi Gold Mining Ctynpany have had another good month, and have saved £5005 worth of bullion from the treatment of 1737 tons of ore. The Crown Company's return for the month is £1130 worth of bullion from 480 tons of ore treated. The returns from this mine should shortly improve, as the rock-borers which are being erected will enable them to win a greater tonnage of ore. During the month Mr. Wales, C.E., representing an English syndicate, has inspected the Talisman and Bonanza mines at Karangahake, and it is understood that his report will be very favourable. Mr. Wales, who is, we believe, the manager of the Great Western Coal Company of Cardiff, has inspected most of the coal properties in l the colony, he having specially come from England for the purpose of reporting on certain coal properties. In a sense unsatisfactory, the month has been a lively one, for a crop of bankruptcies, compositions, and arrangements between creditors and storekeepers, has been a distinguishing feature, and there is a more nervous feeling about business than has been experienced for years. The retirement of a soft goods firm with a large cliency from business, and the upset of all calculation for whole or part renewals is pinching the financial position of a good many traders, who are liable under other engagements, and there is a general adoption of a financial policy to prevent preferential payments. This unexpected position has come at a time when, with few exceptions, every product of the province is at an abnormally low value, and when the restrictive financial policy forced on the banking institutions makes relief a matter of great difficulty. r

We report another dull month on the shaiemarkefc and but little alteration in quotations. The assent to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company's reconstruction has, however, caused the market to be steadier, and we think the fall in shares which has been general for some months past is stopped. A fair business has been done in insurance, gas, and other shares, and buying orders more plentiful, which ought to be a sipn of better prices. There is an abundance of money for investment, and if safe security is offered a low interest satisfies investors. All local debentures are in request at high rates. Speculation in Upper Thames mining shares has been more active this month. There appears to be a substantial show" in the mines there, more reduction machinery being urgently needed A steady volume of business has, however, been maintained, due largely to the depletion of stocks under anxiety to buy sparingly, and keep down liabilities or overdrafts. There are no excess stocks either wholesale or retail, and the ordinary demand chiefly for necessities, has kept up fairly well. . There has been more intercolonial demand 'for kauri pine for building purposes, and large contracts have been fixed for white pine for the Victorian butter box trade, the mine development of the export in the butter trade in Victoria contributing considerably to the New Zealand sawmill activity, experience having proved that the odourless, easily worked kahikatea, or New Zealand white pine, has no equal for this purpose. The East Coast maize crop is now safe from everything but exceptional floods. It is stated that the yield is likely to be very heavy, and the growers can afford to be content at low prices, as however low, the grain will pay under the grand crop. Not bo with the unfortunate Southern wheat and oat growers, who are finding threshings far lighter than calculated on, some shrivel in the former grain causing a great disappointment in quality and quantity even in bright samples, but a large percentage has also turned out too weathered to ship. In this district the farming and pastoral interests look so bright and prosperous that it is difficult to realise the misfortune of occupiers to have so little money return for exertion. There have been fair yields of bullion from the Waihi and other op-country mines, but on the old Thames Goldfield the suicidal action of the Miners' Union, and the notorious influence of unionism on the present Government, threatens to stop mining investments, and an utter collapse of the Thames trade is expected. The financial year closed on the 31st ult. with, it is stated by the Premier, a surplus of over £200,000. Ere this reaches our home readers the exact figures will have been cabled, and will indicate more general pros- | perity than we are free to here state is the case. The bright particular feature over the colony is the increased supply of frozen and cool chamber space in the export of meat and dairy produce, with the steady recognition at Home of the quality of New Zealand mutton and lamb. The prospect of opening up business in Manchester, and French, German and Dutch ports is giving much encouragement in the acquisition of land and the bringing of it into permanent pasture. This necessarily means outlay, the employment of ! labour, and trade activity. The capability of the colony to double or quadruple its exports of wool, meat, and butter under the development of our rich interior lands is never questioned by anyone in a position to know the big potentialities, and this conviction does much to counteract the timidity that has a tendency to creep over all sorts of general business under the clouds that overhang the present position. Much interest has been felt in the affairs of the Loan and Mercantile Company, and the Court's sanction to the scheme of reconstruction hag been a relief to a great state of suspense. The markets are, in the main, little changed from last month. The acceptance of prices is ruled by quantity and differential trade risks. It would be an inexact guide to home readers if we made any resume of the market that is under such delicate conditions, so we simply refer to a few leading lines in a general way. Flour : Victorian and Adelaide flours have .found their way in small parcels, but the phenomenally low price in Australia is met by an equal case here, while freight and £1 per ton duty on imports is a handicap that must stop business. Dried fruits : There is little doing, and the market is much overstocked in currants and sultanas. Candles: Sales have been good in imported, notably in Price's makes and De Roubaix Jenas, but the better qualities of the local make are steadily displacing the imported, except National Sperms and London wax, which hold a special high-class trade. Bagging has Deen quiet, a few small transactions are reported in corn sacks, and some forward contracts of woolpacks have been fixed. Kerosene has ruled strong. The arrival of the Lottie Moore, from New York this week, has replenished stocks, and the market for large parcels is just a point easier for ex ship delivery. Chemicals are slow. The various manufacturers of baking powders, soaps, etc., are being supplied direct. In the ironmongery list we hare only to note a reduction in plate iron and zinc. Fish is in very slow enquiry. Lobsters and Albert sardines have been scarce. Rice: Costs of Japan quality have increased, but colonial stocks are heavy, and the demand is slow. There is no corresponding rise in price for this reason. Sugar haa been quitted largely by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company, who control the business at this centre. Prices are unaltered. The business in yellows has dwindled. Teas : Australia offers largely in Ceylons, poor Indians, and Chinas, the latter at extremely low rates, but blenders have to meet a faatiduous public judgment, and little business goes through. There are full supplies until the opening of the new season s market in Calcutta. Coffee : In common with Australian trade reports anent this article, sales show a steady shrinkage in consumption. Spices: The only exception to a dull, low price market is ginger, which commands ull rates. Oilmen stores are only moderately stocked, and are bought in sorting-up lines at a small advance over laid-down cost. The demand runs mostly on well-known brands, and new lines are difficult to place. Whiting is somewhat scarce. In liquids: Good sales are reported in Boomerang brandy, dry gin, One-star Hennessy, and Gaelic whisky. Robertson's Tree-star and Hennessy's One-star have been scarce, in all intercolonial markets. Other lines command fair trade sales. KAURI GUM MARKET. Business during the month has been exceptionally dull, with lower prices. The bngaur.ine J. C. Hamlen, jun., has cleared for New York. The barque Rangitikei is on the berth for London, and the barque Lottie Moore for New York. The following are the average prices for the month, as supplied by the gum merchants' committee :— Poor ordinary ... , ... £24 to £28 Good ordinary £40 to £48 Fair ordinary £30 to £34 East Coast... ... ... £50 to £52 Good Bush . . £50 to £56

and we are glad to notice this want is being rapidly supplied. The Waihi mine continues to yield up to highest expectations, and the shares should be quite safe buying, even for some years to come, at present price. Banks.—A dull feeling in Zealarids at 59s to 57s 6d, business done. Colonials firm at 318, buyers. No sales reported in Nationals, sellers 225. Small sales in New South Wales at £31 ss, with sellers still at that. We have an inquiry for Unions at £34 15s; sellers want £35 2s 6d. Insurance. —We report a large business in Zealand at 59s 6d down to 575; they are now I firmer at 58s, buyers: sellers, 58s 9d. ' Nationals sold at 16s 2d to 16s 6d. South British at 34s 6d ex dividend, and sellers still at that, with buyers 345. Gas. —Aucklands in good demand at £10 I The stock in Auckland on March 24 I amounted to 1104 tons ; less overstated stock ! last month, 40 tons : supply from mail to ! mail, 554 tons, making a total of 1628 tons. During the month there had been exported 401 tons, leaving as stock in Auckland at date, 1227 tons. The exports are as follow: Per R.M.s. Monowai to San Francisco, 2 tons; per s.s. Talune to London, via Sydney, 28 tons ; per s.s. Mararoa to London, via Sydney. 12 tons : per J. C. Hamlen, jun., for New York, .306 tons; per s.s. Pakeka to London, via Che South, 53 tons : total, 401 tons. AUCTION SALES, &C. March 31. Messrs. Samuel Vaile and Sons sold lots 8 and 11 of the parish of Waimana, containing 100 acres for £600 at auction to-day. Messrs. Gabriel Lewis and Co., auctioneers, sold to-day at their mart, a farm at Helensville, with all improvements, for £2300. The sale was well attended, and the business brisk. April 7. Messrs. S. Cochrane and Son sold by auction 811 acres of land at Kuaotunu, called No. 2 Block, for £565. The property was purchased on behalf of the Government. April 13. Messrs. Digby Tonks and Co. held a sale of city and country properties to-day at the Brunswick Mart. A property of two acres, with dwelling, situate at Mangere, was sold for the sum of £225, Mr. S. Gooseman, jun., being the purchaser. An allotment of one acre, in the township of Opotiki, was sold to Mr. E. E. Vaile for £3. Two sections close to Mount Albert station, containing la 2r 16p, were purchased by Mr. E. Whitehead for £20. The properties in Abercrombiestreet are under offer, and will probably | change hands. At Messrs. Samuel Vaile and Sons' land sale to-day, there was a good attendance, and the bidding was fairly spirited.. The " Lonsdale" fruit and poultry farm at Waikomiti, comprising 18i acres, sold after considerable competition, for £310, and the allotment at Blake-street, Newton, for £34. The other lots were passed in. Messrs. Cochrane and Son offered by auction several properties situated in Albertstreet (city), ana at Newmarket, by order of the Registrar of the Supreme Court, but they were all bought in by the mortgagee. Mr. C.Williamson reports the sale of sevenroomed house and allotment in Flagstaff Road, Devonport, to Mr. Nicholson, on behalf of Mr. John White also, five-roomed cottage and acre of land, Takapuna, to Mr. Mactier, on behalf of Mr. M. Murphy. BATHS OP EXCHANGE ON LONDON. MCYINO SELLING. Demand .. i % 1 Demand ... 1?£ \ SO days „ i I Dls. 30 days «li ( Pre--60 days „ J f count 60 days _ J [ mium 90 days MXi J 90 days «. J ) Telegraphic Transfers to London.—22 "per per cent., plus cable charges. Deposits.— Rites of interest on money deposited in the colony: Fixed deposit: 3 months, 3 per cent, per annum; 0 months, 4 per cent, per annum; 12 months, 6 per cent, per annum. Ales and Porter.— in bulk: None now imported to warrant market quotations. Ale (in bond); Bass's Dogshead brand (Bead's bottling): pints, Cs 3d; quarts, 8s 9d (in bond); Foster's Bugle ale, quarts 8s 9d, pints 6s 3d; Foster's Bugle stout, quarts, 8s 9d, pints 6s 3d ; Bulldog (B. Porter and Co.'s bottling), 6s 9d »nd 8s 9il ; Allsopp's, quarts, ale and stout, 8s 6d ; pints, ale and stout, tis 3d ; W. Younger's, 5s and 7s 3d; Ashby's, 6s 3d to 8s 9d; Bass's (Blood bottlers), pints, 4s quarts 6s Sd. AngloBavarian : pints 5s 6(1 and Ss; Boar's Head Stout; quarts, 8s 9d; pints, 6s 6d. Guinness's , Harp brand by Foster: pints, 6s; quarts, | Bs. Foster's Bugle stout: quarts, 9s; pints, 6s 3d. Blood's: pints, ss; quarts, 7s. Dogshead Guinness's (Read's bottling): pints, 6s 6d; quarts, 8s 6d. R. Porter and Co.'s bottling : pints, 6s, quarts, Bs.; Burke's : 6s, and 9s. Other brands: 5s and 7s 6d Duty : pints, Is 6d: quarts, 3s per dozen. Building Materials.— K.B. and White's worth 12s 6d. Slates: English Countesses are worth £11 to £12 ; American, unsaleable. Plaster of Paris, 14s to 16s. All these quotations nominal. Breadstuff's and Grain. — Best roller flour, in sacks, £8 10s; household, £8 ss; 100's and 60's in proportion to extra bagging. Southern wheat, milling, 2s Bd, sacks extra; fowl wheat, 2s 6d (sacks included). Bran, £2 15s. Sharps. £3 10s. Maize, 2s 6<L Oatmeal, £10 per 20001b. ' Barley (for malting), 3s lOd ; feed, 2s 6d to 2s 9d. Oats, Is lOd (bags given in); f.0.b., Southern ports, ls7d (bags in). Pearl barley, £20. Cabin bread, £15 per ton, sacks included. Bags and Bagging.—Calcutta full weight woolpacks, lljin., 2s, d.p. Corn-sacks, 44in. by 20} in., Ss; 48in., 6s 3d. Coal.—Newcastle, ship's side, 22s 6d; delivered, £110s; Bay of Islands, 15s at the mines, and 27s 6d to 30s at yard, is quoted; Whangarei coal, lis at mine; ditto, Waikato, steam, 10s; household, 20s. Cordage, d.p. (Subject to trade discounts).—Manila hemp rope, all sizes, Auckland-made, £60 for best, £51 for next best; whale and lance lines, £80; New Zealand flax rope, all sizes, £34 ; wool lashings, £38; clothes lines, 5d per lb, subject to trade discount; Manila clothes line, 8d; oakum, free, ditto, £40; point spun yarn, £63 ; twine, shop, d.p., per lb, 9d to Is 2d; sewing twine, Is Id per lb; local-make, Is to Is 3d Coffee and Spices (in bond), per Ceylon, coffee plantation, No. 1, Is lid; ditto. Island, lOd; chicory, colonial, 35s per cwt. in tins; cocoa, d.p., Taylor's, Is 3d ; Fry s, Is 3d ; Van Ho en s, 8s 6d; Epps's, Is 2d; chocolate, Taylor's, Is 4d * Fry's, Is 4d. Spices, d.p.: Cloves, 6d to 7d; bleached ginger, Is 2d; nutmegs, 2s 6d to 3s; black pepper, whole, in bond, 4d to 6d; white ditto, Cd to 7d. . Confectionery.— manufacturers are producing good articles, and consumption is chiefly in their goods. Waters's colonial boiled, 4Jd ; dry, VJd; jujubes. Is Id Mennie and Dey'sboiled, 4Jd, less trade discount; Keiller's assorted confections, 9id; Gray's, 9Jd ; candied lemon peel, d.p. (duty, 6d per lb), Is; orange, Is ; citron, Is 8d; local, from 6d for lemon to Is 3d for citron ; Keiller's jujubes, Is 4d; Gray's jujubes, Is Id to Is 3d; Compagnie Frangais' gums, Is. Gum, Flax, &C.—We quote: Gum : Good ordinary, £40 to £48; fair ordinary, £30 to £34 ; poor ordinary, £24 to £28; East Coast, £50 to £52. Good hush, £50 to £50. Flax : Best clean Auckland, £17 10s at the local mills only ; fair average quality, £11 to £12; tow, £3 to £4 per ton. Cocoanut fibre, £15 to £17; cocoanut oil (fine white), per ton, £24. Copra, per ton, £10 5s to £10 15s. Fungus, 3d to 3Jd. Ironmongery, &c.—Galvanised corrugated iron, 5 to 8 feet, £1 10s ; 9 feet, £18 10s ;10 feet, £1910s ; English bait iron, per ton, £810s; Onehunga (New plate iron, £0 10; fencing wire, assorted sizes, Zealand) iron, £8 (nominal); English pig iron, £4; £9 10s. Barbed wire, £16 to £16 10s ; pig lead, £1210s; zinc, £24; I.C. coke tin plates, 15s; charcoal ditto, 17s 6d ; powder Curtis, Harvey, and Hall's, 5Jd. Muntz metal, 7d. Quicksilver, 2s 2d. Jams, dried Fruits, etc.—Duty, 2d per lb. Keiller's marmalade, lib., d.p., 7s 3d; Gray's, 7s; Moir's, 7s; Peacock's jam, 4s; j Phosnix, Dunedin, 4s to <3 6d; Nelson (New Zealand), ss; Smyrna sultanas, 4Jd (d.p.); Malaga muscatels, scarce. Is6d ; Californian, 9d ; new elemes, sd; currants, 3}rt; figs (140z.), 7s 3d per dozen; Californlkn prunes, 7d; dried apples (duty, 2d par lb), ordinary, in kegs and ' cases, 7d; evaporated, 9Jd; dates, Ijd. -

17a 6d, and sales up to £11- The 503 issue were rather weaker; sales at 108s. Gisborne in strong request, and several sales 25s to 25s 9d. Palmerston lower; sellers 475. Shipping.—Union Steam wanted at £7 ss; sellers, £7 7s 6d. Northerns enquired for at £3 10s. Miscellaneous.—Several sales in N.Z. Drug at 19s and 18s 6d. Union Oil in demand at 12s. Taupiri Coal easier; sellers, 14s 6d ; buyers, 14s. i Mining.All Thames shares dull and j prices low. Business in Alburnia, 2a 4d; [azelbank, Is 2d. Try Flukes advanced from 2s 8d to 3s 5d owing to the erection of 1 additional reduction machinery, which means increased monthly returns. A good business in Waihi at 21s to 225. Woodstock in fair demand ; sales 3s 5d to 3s 7d. Prater Bros. Leather and Hides.— leather, 8d to Is 3d per lb ; kips, Is 2cl to Is 6d • runners, Is (id to Is 8d ; calf, colonial, 2s ed to 3s Ccl; basils, 8s to 18s per dozen; closed uppers, 4s 6d to 8s 6d per pair; hides. Id to 4d: calf skins, 3d to 4jd per lb ; sheepskins, 6d to 6s. Manures.— bonedust, £0 10s to £8; Auckland, £8 10; superphosphate of lime, £6 to £810s ; boneflour, £8 ; Peruvian guano, £14 to £17 per ton ; animal manure, none; cocoanut oil cake, none; linseed cake, £12; Coral Queen Island guano, £5 to £6; New Zealand Drug Co.'s manures : Suporpnosphate, B llj per cent. S.P.L., 2 tons, £4 2s 6(1 ; 6 tons, £4. Superphosphate, C 25 per cent. S.P.L., 2 tons, £5 7s Cd ; 6 tons, £5 ss. Superphosphate A 32 per cent. S.P.L., 2 tons, £7 ss; 5 tons, £7 Bonedust, pure, 2 tons, £7 10s; 5 tons, £7 fcs ; Bonedust and blood, 2 tons, £6 10s; 5 tons, £6 7s od. Root manure, 2 tons, £7 10s; 5 tons, £7 6s. Corn manure, 2 tons, £7 ss; 5 tons. £7. Grass manure, 2 tons, £6 15s; G tons, £6 10s. Potato manure, 2 tons, £7 10s; 5 tons, £7 6s. Maize i manure, 2 tons, £7 ss; 5 tons, £7. Orchard and tobacco manure, 2 tons. £8 15s ; 5 tons, £8 10s. Malt and Hops.—English malt, no inquiry is exEerienced; Colonial, 5s to 5s od. Hops : Nelson, rewers, Is ; grocers' hops, lOd. Oilmen's Stores, &c.—Price's Belmont Candles, duty, 2d, 7id, d.p., per lb ; McLeod's Dunedin of various brands, 6d to 7d, less trade discount; Orient Candles, 7Jd (Dunedin make); Atlas Paraffins, B£d; Price's National, 7 Ad; Price's Belmont, 7id ; Young's British Wax, 7|d ; Price's London Wax, 7J(l; D. H. JtSna.r's, 7Jd ; Price's self-fitting, Bid; local blue mottled soap, £21 per ton; carbolic, £30; best yellow, £26; No. 1 household, £15; Ist Crown, £26; double Crown, £18; soft soap, in tins, 4Jd per lb; toilet, 9d to 10(1 per lb— subject to trade discount. Salt, 10s per ton duty: Coarse, W. & W., £3 10s ex store, d.p.; ex ship, 5s per ton lower; fine Black Horse, £4 ; ex store, d.p. ; rock salt, £3 10s bagged, or £3 loose; Jordan almonds, 3d; Blacking paste, Day and Martin's, 4s 3d : Column's starch, No 1 (duty, 2d per lb): white, 48s ; blue, 48s; Heumann's, 4tis; Hoffmann's, 465. Mustard, d.p.: Champion's genuine 1-1 book-shaped tins, 19s to 19s 6a; J-lb tins, 9s 3d to 9s Gel; Caiman's 1-lb tins (red), lis 6d; half ditto, 9s; 7-lb tins (red to green) 7Jd to is; 1-lb tins (green), 13s; J-lb dittos, 7s 6d; DSF J-lb tins, 9s, lib, 19s. Blue, Reckitt's Paris, in circle, new make, 7d; Matches: Vestas, d.p., Bryant and May's 250, per gross, 18s 6d ; ditto, plaid, 4s 6d ; ditto, fancy oval, 24s 6d ; R. Bell and Co. 250's, 17s 9d or lis 6d in bond; plaids, 4s Cd. All match quotations regulated by quantity of parcel. Oil : Castor, in pints, 8s 9d ; half-pints, ss; quarter-pints, 3s 6d. Salad: C. and 8., pints, 14s; half-ditto, 6s 6d; Morton's pints, 12s ; half • pints, 6s 3d; Pickles: Stephens' pints, 7s 9d; Crosse and Blackwell's, pints, 13s; Morton's, 10s; McConnochie's, Suffolk, 8s 6d. Rice (ground), in tins, 4Jd. Sauces: Lea and Perrin's, halfpints, 13s 6d; C. and 8., half-pints. 9s 6d; Mellor's, 7s 6d, pints 15s ; Stephens, 6s 6d ; Gooilall's Yorkshire Relish, 6s 6d; Vinegar, d.p.: Champion's, per gallon, 2s; Holdbrook's, Is lOd; Evans', 2s 2d; Burnett's, Is lid; Potts', Ist lOd local, Is 3d. Vinegar, case : Champion's, 7s 3d to 7s 9d ; Burnett's, 7s ; Morton's, 7s 3d. Treacle, 2d; Golden Syrup, bulk, 2id. Sago, 13s to 14s per cwt; tapioca, 14s to 15s per cwt. Cornflour : Brown's, 3d, (l.p. ; Brown and Poison's, 6Jd; Johnston's, 6Jd; Preserved milk: Nestle's, 6s 9d to 7s according to parcel; Milkmaid, 7s to 7s 3d. Tartaric acid, in jars, Is 8d ; in keg, Is 4d ; cream of tartar, in jars, Is 4d, in bulk, Is 2d; bicarb, soda, £12 10s ; English soda crystals (duty £2), £8 scarce; local, £5 15s ; Whiting, £4 10s. • Oils and Paints.—Duty, 6d a gallon. Colza, in drums, 3s 6d; bulk, 3s 3d ; linseed, boiled drums, 3s3d; bulk, 3s ; raw,drums, 3s Id ; bulk, 2slid ; castor, in drums, 2s lOd; half-cases, 2s 7d ; kerosene, in bond, White Rose. 150 test, BJd; other high test brands from 7|d; these prices are for large lots. White lead, ground, per cwt, 60s and 112s; genuine. 265: No. 1 white lead 21s in 56's, smaller packages more, accord lug to size; red lead, dry, 245. Zinc white £2 per ton more. Oil colours, assorted, £1 10s t £1 18s per cwt. Turps, duty paid: American, 2s 9d; resin, £7 10s to £9. Varnish, oak, 9s 6d to 12s 6d: copal, 12s 6d to 16s. Quotations regulated by quantities and qualities. Provisions.—Cheese : Southern faotory, 4d to 5<L Salt butter prime 6d. second quality unsaleable. Taranaki, 9d. Rice i.b., finest Japan dressed, £12 15s; No. l, £12 ss. Canterbury bacon and hams (in cloth), sides only, BJd; equal numbers hams and bacon, 9Jd; hams only, lOd. Fish : Ling, 5Jd; boneless cod, sid ; preserved red herrings, in tins, 36s per dozen (2-lb tins); white, 33s per barrel; Marshall's white, 3s,per tin; Macconochie's fresh herrings, 6s to 6s 3d ; Findon haddocks, 8s; lobsters, American libs, 13s; salmon, lib Columbia River, d.p., 9s 6d; Alaska, 7s 3d to 7s 6d, d.p.; salt salmon, 5d ; sardines, nuarters, 4s to 4s ed; halves, 6s 9d to 7s Cd; oysters, 7s; mullet (Kaipara), 5s 6d. Sugars.—Mauritius brewers'crystals, £32 duty paid (duty id per lb); Colonial Sugar Company's Auckland refinery, d.p., No. 1, £24 10s; No. 2, £23 10s; No. 3, £21; Queensland whites, £2210s to £24 nominal; English crushed loaf, 3Jd, d.p. ; French cube, 4Jd; Queensland yellows, i.b., £11; browns, £14 10s, in bond, nominal. Spirits .—Duty, 15s per gallon of proof spirits in bulk, 16s per gallon in case. Brandy: Router, Gouillet ana Co., 25s and 8s; Marcellain's, case, 22s Gd, i.b.; flask, 28s 6d; half-flask, 35s 6d; quarter-flask 53s 6d, and in bulk, 7s 9d; Hennessy's; case, 37s ; Martell, 365; Bisquit, Dubouche, and Co.'s pale, in hhds. and qr.-casks, 7s ; Dennis Mounie 345; Courvoisier's, case, 34s ; Otard's, case, 29s (nominal): Bisquit, Dubouche and Co.'s, 255; Muller Frere's, 20s; Silver Cup, 15s. Whisky, bulk : Walker WW, 10s; Distillers old, ss; very old, 7s; VOS, 8s ; case. Old Scotch, 15s ; very old, 19s ; VOS, 225; Gaelic, Old Smuggler, 21s; Buchanan's House of Commons, 21s; case, Teacher's, 10; Vint's bulk, 6s 6d; Vint's case, 20s 6d; Dunville's, 5s 6d; case, 18s; Speysiue, 21s; Royal Blend, 245; Teacher's old, 265, Encore, 19s; Walker's WW, 2is; LL, 22s 6d to 235; all in bond. Geneva, proof, 3 gallons, JDKZ, 15 bottles, 14s 6d; 20 bottles, 17s 6d ; key, Geneva, proof, 10s; Schnapps, Wolfe's, 21s 6d. Gilbey's dry gin, 15s ; Burnett's Old Tom, 13s. Lowndes' rum, 30 0.p., 3s lOd ;in hhds., 4s 2d per octave; Red Heart, case, 25s 6d. Key, 225. Timber.—Quotations are as follows Kauri board and scantling cargoes, 100 feet, at mill, f.0.b., East Coast, 10s o*l to lis first-class; 7s 6d second-class ; at yards, Auckland, 14s 6d to 15a first-class; 7s 6d to 10s second-class. Flooring, 13s6d to 16s first-class; 9s 6d second-class t rusticated, 16s fid to 17s. West Coast, sawn kauri, 10s; square baulk, 5s to 6s; flitches, 9s Gd; white' pine (kahikatea), 5s 6d; T. and G., 12s, f.o.b. at mills; at j yard, firstclass, 13s; second-class, 8s; Hobart palings, 5 feet, 13s Od ; 6 feet, 15s; Hobart rails, £3 15s. Tobacco. 3s 6d. Ruby Aromatic, 2s 4d; Victory, Is lid; Juno, black, all shapes, Is 3d to Is 4jd; Unique, Is 4dto Is sd; low, 10's, lOd; Cameron's Fancy Aromatic, Is 8d; Derby, cases ten, la 7Jd ; single case, Is 9d ; boxes, Is 10d Columbia, Is 2d; Nailrod, Is Id. Teas.—Prices range as follows (in bond). — Congous, common, 6J<l to 7d; middling to fine kinds, 9d to lOd; Saryunes and Panyongs, Is to Is 8d; Souchongs and Kaisows. Is to is 2d; Darjeelings, Pekoes, Is 3d to Is sd. Pekoe Souchongs, 9d to lid. Good broken, lid to Is id; semi-broken and fine Souchong kinds, 9d to Is 4d. Ceylon teas from Is to Is 4d, d.p. duty, 6d per lb. The sale of China teas Is now much restricted. Indians are in strong deraaud in nearly all descriptions, foi blending purposes witb Ceylonj more in general use.

! FRATER BROS.' SHARE INVESTORS' GUIDE.APRIL 19, 1894. - . Number lares Total J? 1 ?, 1 '' , Paid-up Fund and Pa ii. Up Dividend Interest Half Year Companies. lamied . Capital. -gj Capital!- UndMTd s ££ e . &Ze. A JP« Quotations. ■*. Current 9°^ Ranks £ £ ' & £ & £ s. d. £ £ s. d. £ b. d. ■ . - ' • New Zealand .. ..200,000 150,000 1,275,000 900,000 900,000 64,161 105/,150/105/,150/ 5 58/& 85/ 9 10 March 31, Sept.30 National .. .. .. 200,000 100,000 1,760,000 750,000 250,000 10,077 7/10&10 2 10 0 5 1 2 0 10 17 4 March 31, Sept. 30 Colonial 400,000 200,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 400,000 70,781 5 2 0 0 7 1 11 6 8 15 0 Feb. 21), August 31, lN New*Sand .. .. 100,000 100,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 200,000 259,023 10 2 0 0 13} 2 IS 6 9 3 4 May 31, Nov. 30 National .. .. .. 200,000 196,115 2,000,000 1,961,150 98,057 111,508 10 0 10 0 15 0 16 6 9 7 6 March 31, Sept. 30 South British .. .. 100,000 64,628 1,900,000 1,227,932 04,628 119,278 19 1 0 0 10 1 15 0 5 14 3 Feb. 23, August 31 Standard .. .. 100,000 100,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 76,000 43,469 10 0 15 0 10 0 16 0 9 7 0 Juno 30, Dec. 31 Accident .. .. .. 100,000 20,000 100,000 20,000 5,000 12,056 1 0 5 0 12£ 0 8 0 7 17 6 December 31 Loan— _ , . N Z Loan & Mercantile 180,000 160,000 4,500,000 4,000,000 863,685 .. 25 2 10 0 .. .. December 31 National Mt'ge & Ag'ncy 100,000 100,000 1,000,000 1,000,000 100,000 29,352 10 1 0 0 5 « « June 30, Dec. 31 N.Z. and River Plate Land Mortgage .. 200,000 200,000 2,000,000 2,000,000 400,000 34,407 10 2 0 0 _ — _ October 31 G Auckland 50,000 29,243 250,000 116,215 111,857* 26,549 5 100/&50/ 15 220/ & 110/ 6 16 C June 30, Dec. 31 Thames 10,000 0,980 25,000 24,955 18,965 1,300 2} 1 18 0 6J 1 3 0 9 19 0 Jan. 31, July 31 Gisborne „ .. .. 15,000 12,000 15,000 12,000 12,000 .. 1 100 10 1 5 0 7 19 0 June 30, Dec. 31 Timber— Kauri Timber .. .. 600,000 600,000 1,200,000 1,200,000 ... 16,7S6 2 40/ & 22/ „ ' August 31 Shipping— Union G 100,000 59,892 1,000,000 596,920 590,920 199,270 10 10 0 0 6 7 10 0 8 0 0 March 31, Sept. 30. New Zealand .. .. 100,000 59,689 800,000 477,512 369,495 2,904 8 8 0 o 3 2 10 0 9.12 0 June 30, Dec. 31 Devonport Steam Ferry 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 2,225 1 100 10 1 12 0 6 1 0 December 31 Coromandel Steam .. 4,500 3,037 4,500 3,037 3,027 .. 1 100 .. 0 11 6 .. June 30 Northern Steam .. 150,000 116,784 108,750 84,668 45,560 571 14/6 14/6&7/ 6 0 4 0 11 5 0 March 31 Coal— ' Ilikurangi.. _ .. 30,000 30,000 16,000 15,000 9,000 .. 1 0 « 0 .. .. .. June 30, Dec. 31 Taupiri 24,000 24,000 24,000 24,000 19,200 1,528 1 0 16 01/9p.sliare 0 14 0 10 11 5 June 30, Dec. 31 Taupiri Reserve.. .. 25,000 19,215 25,000 19,225 13,639J .. ■ .. 20/& 13/ ... .. „ Miscellaneous— New Zealand Drug .. 100,000 70,994 200,000 141,808 87,604 17,614 2 40/ & 20/ 7£ 0 19 0 7 10 0 Jan. 31, July 31 Auckland Fibre .. .. 25,000 18,945 25,000 18,945 18,945 .. ,1 1 0 0 ... .. .. April 30' Northern Root and Shoe 15,000 12,622 15,000 .12,022 8,520 2,036 1 0 13 6 .. 0 4 0 .. October 31 Union Oil, Soap& Candle 150,000 36,850 60,000 36,850 25,795 1,300 1 0 14 0 9} 0 12 0 11 18 0 September 29 Hharlaml & Co 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 31,250 1,709 1 0 12 6 8 0 12 6 8 0 0 November 30 Mining (Gold & Silver)— New Moanataiari .. 50,000 50,000 25,000 25,000 „ « £ 0 5 0.. 024 „ „ AVaiotalii 6,000 6,000 18,000 18,000 „ .. 3 2 10 0 Nov. 14,2/6 0 13 0 Cambria 44,708 44,700 44,700 44,700 .. .. 1 0 5 9 .. 0 1 0 .. Crown 100,000 78,400 100,000 78,400 .. ... 1 1 0 0 .. 0 15 0 Silverton 50,000 5C.000 25,000 25,000 „ .. £020 .. 010 .. .. Albtirnia .. „ .. 60,000 50,000 25,000 25,000 .. ... £02 ONov. 8, Is 0 2 6 ... •\Vaihi 150,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 .. .. 1 1 0 0 April 2, Is 12 0 .. .. Lone Hand .. .. 30,000 30 000 15,000 15,000 ... .. J 0 10.. May Queen .. .. 79,000 79,000 39,500 39,Ml) .. .. +012.. 012 Try Fluke 50,000 1 50,000 12,500 12,500 .. .. J 0 0 6Dec.13.6d 0 3 4 .. Norfolk .. „ .. 50,00!) 50,000 25,000 25,000 .. .. i0611_ 010 Orlando 40,000 40,000 10,000 10,000 .. _ i 0 15 „ „ „ Keel Mercury .. .. 30,000 30,000 7,500 7,500 .. .. i 0 3 0 .. . Victoria 120,000 120,000 30,000 30,000 M .„ i 0 110 „ ... ., Puhipuhi Prospectors.. 53,360 63,360 26,680 26,680 .. .. £ 0 7 2 „ .. „ .. Woodstock United .. 55,000 55,000 27,500 27,600 .. .. * 0 4 0 .. 0 3 4 Ilazelbiink .. .. 42,000 42,000 21,000 21,000 .. .. £ 0 2 3 Dec.12.0d 0 13 Golden Cross .. .. 24,000 24,000 24,000 24,000 .. .. 1 1 0 0,.. 0 7 0 .. .. Grace Darling .. .. 60,000 53,000 30,000 20,500 £ 0 5 0 0 3 6 ..