COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10424, 23 April 1897, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Hebald Office, . Thursday evening. &»TEft the Easter holiday! the Stook Ex:hauee opened for business yesterday, with » quiet market. Investment stock «how a ■light improvement upen late values. National -Bliplt ace offered at £2 Is. New Zealand Insurance find buyers at £3 10s, with no declared tellers. Of South Britisli there »re sellers at £2 108, ex div. For National* there are buyers at 18s, with sellers at 18s Gd. For Auckland Gas, new issue, call paid, there are buyer» at £9, There are buyers of Devonport Steam Ferry at £1 12s, Northern Steam at 63 3d, »nd Taupiri coal at £1 5s fid, Sellers of Nguqgpru Coal ask £12a 6d. There w very little doing in the mining market, business beta? confined to Nonpariels at 84 and Bjd; Victorias at 2s sd, Stanleys at 10d, Tandems at 4d mid 4J(I, Hauiaki North (paid up) 343 d, andWaihiExtendedsat7H Aa far as volume is concerned, distributors report a satisfactory demand, There is, however, nothing about the import market worth commenting on without being repetitive. Stocks are heavy, and prices are i pood deal demoralised by the severe competition that OXisti, * _ , . The war and the Hawke's Bay calamity excite great commercial interest. With respect to the former, there is, apparently,* well-grounded belief tiwt the conflict will be kept within its i'n-s'mii sphere, but while the position is so mrniueil, nil interested in the state of the London money market watoh the daily cables with somo anxiety. With the continental Powers all armed to the teeth, and all having rival interests, no one can be sure of what a day may bring forth and a kaleidoscopic change occur which will seriously threaten the interests of New Zealand. Currants: Although the local market is quiet, every distributor having ample stocks, the existing position in Greece is exciting Australian speculation, and no parcels are purchasable under 2Jil in bond either in the Melbourne or Sydney markets. Cement: Good sales are reported to the various Upper Thames districts. Hotel liquids: These being so under control, there is practically no open market, and prices are fixed under a strict quantity tariff. The demand, perhaps a little stimulated by the races, hat been good. We extract from Messrs, A. S. Paterson and Co.'s, of Dunedin, report ot the 10th in stunt, the following, viz, tOats have claimed a considerable amount of attention dutiii. the fortnight, and under theinnu , ence of a strong export and speculative demand price? hive advanced fully Id to lid per bushel. Heavy tains in the country districts nave, it is re. ported, d tniagtnl a lacßs portion of the new crop still iinthwhwl, and have interfered with deliwiei to sucli an extent that buyers hare been unable to obtain sufficient to cover their sales. Consequent); the market has been all in favour of farmers who ap pear now tube, for the most part, determined to (tow their grain in the hope of forcing a still higher maiket later on. Tlin arrivals into Dunedin on ac count of the new season are, so far, in excess of last year, but probably we are within the mark in siyinj that 90 per cent, is for storage on owners' account. While, therefore, we are by un mraiis satisfied that the present firmness is- justified by the itatiet'cal position, we are of opinion that firmer* will, for a few months, lie sufficiently strow; holders to prevent giny material decline In prices. As we go to press Borne sensational cable adilces regarding the drought in Australia have dome in, ami are likely to give additional stioiigth to the market, up to the present quite unlookeii for. Oatmeal: Millers have become quite demoralised by excessive orders and inquiries that have come in before they have been able to arrange for anything like an adequate supply of oat-, Large forward contracts coulil have been made, but millers will not undertake lit in until the oat market becntnei more settled, ami they can buy with more freedom than at preiiint. In the ineantlnw current orders arebeina filled at £12 f.o.b. for bulls; £13 IDs f.i 7'', being an advance of £2 per ton during the fortnight. Ryegrass: Order* have been well up to the aveiage, mid price* ere firm at 3* ail to <b for cllnicest inichinn dressed; 3s 4d to 3s Ed fur (good to prime j 2j ml to 3s Id for good fanners' dressed, 1.0.1 i., sacks extra. Cocjcsfoot.—A good Me has been n>ie in this seed, principally fur Australian and locil wants. No London biisines» has yet bean d"Be, and prubably mat); orders from that quarter will not lie forthcoming until June or July. Bright seed has been in good demand at steady prices, but dincoloured lota, which form n'i inconndinabl*: portion of the new crop, are neglected, and for such prices have an easy tendency, Bran.— strong demand still eiiits ami has practically exhausted millers manufacture.! stocks, bile they art. not very willing to book forward orders except at an advance on 609 which is to-day's quotations. Pollard.-The same lemarks apply, to-day's quotations being firm at 7*s, f.b.b. Peas.-Blue Prussians, is od; Partridge, Is ed to 3s 9d, The week hits been *n active ope in the produce division, with oats, oatmeal, and potatoes the ohief lion of interest, Locally outs have moved up to 2s 6d o.i.f. Potatoes have been very scare*. Holder* of Southern, on advices of th* Anglian hayins put back to Wellington Heady, could have secured almost »ny price, sieving, however, a limited supply at £5, Itatinx the market absolutely bare until the Anglian'* arrival, when the market'eased slightly, bnt we mint still quote from £4 10s to £S per ton. The Waihora, due on Monday, has a large parcel ori board.' '""'■. - ' ' * 1 Maize: A very short supply this week. Fair demand at 2s 8d ,9 2s B|d offrrhuf. Southern enquiries still continue. - '-;'.' "• ' Milling wheat: .Farmer* are busy carting their'wheat into Auckland mill*. TheEaater holidays have caused an entire stoppage of cither buying or wiling. ; ''-J '-.'■ ■>.■■}, ■' I .Fowl wheat is more plentiful. ■• '•■■: ■'■'•. Bran and iharps are doll of site.., /. ■•

In the local produce market, prices remain unchanged, as follow :-Best dairy fresh butter, sd; second quality 4d, and third quality 3d per lb, wholesale. Eggs are Is 3d per dozen wholesale, and Is 6d per down retail.

SALE OF PROPERTIES.

There waa a large attendance at Mewrs. S. Vaile and Sons land »ale rooms to-day, vhen several properties at Taurauga, Albert Park, etc., wore offered. The first offer was "Fernoliff," the property of the late Mrs, A. E. Allen, situatt near Tauranga, submitted by order of the Supreme Court., It oaneitted of 2924 acres, with dwelling-house and improvements. The first offer elicited waa £300. and the amount was inoreaeed in £30 bids to £500, at which urioe it was knocked down te Mr. E. Coleman, representing the mortgagee. For a 12-roomed house in Princes-street, Albert Park £1200 wm first offered, rising in £100 bids to £2000, at which prioe the property waa passed in. A oottage of six rooms at Arohhill was started at £180, and ran up m £230 ■ while for six-roomed cottaire on Commercial Road £130 was the only offer, Both properties were patted iu «t the figures stated. .

KAURI GDM MARKET.

The following are the quotations fer the kauri *im market for the week ending; April 21, 1897:- . . Poor ordinary, which comprises weak and rough-coated jjieces, pickings, and washed nuts, £25 to £2J» Ordinary, meaning hard, rough-sorajed gum, varying in price according to the quaetlty of washed nuts, £35 to £37. Good ordinary, meaning hard, unpioked range gum, price varying aocording to size, soraping, aud freedom from weak pieoes, from £40 and upwards. Bast Coast, £65 to £67. Re-scraped, £&S and upwards. Supplies for 21 days of April, 290 tons, Owing to the holidays and the general dullness of trade, very little business siioe last week, and all quotations are more or less nominal.

LONDON.

Press AMOciatlon.—Electrlo Tefcgrapb.-Copyright. LONDON, April 21. The American visible wheat supply is estimated at 52,969,000 bushels. The total wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 1,470,000 quarters, and for the Continent 660,000 quarters. Shares: National Bauk ot New Zealand, 1i; Bank of New Zealand four-per-cent, guaranteed stook, 105; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy Company four-per-cent. prior lieu debentures, 91{. Silver, 2a 4jd,

THE AUCKLAND STOCK AND SHAREBROKERS' ASSOCIATION.

Business Done.-Victoria, 2? 6d; New Zealand Talisman, IBs; Tandem, 4J, 4JdBUYERS. -New Zealand Insurance. 70s; National Insurance, 18s; .New Zealand and Ri»er Plate, Us; Auckland Gas, new, £9; Deionport Steam Kerry, 3?a; Northern St«.i«.ship, 0a 3d; Taiipiri Coal, 25a 0d; Kuranni-Caledoniiin, 4s ad; New Whau, 3Jil; Nonpireil, (Id: Scandinavian, 6d; Victoria, 2s 4d; Waiotahl. 40*; loua, lid; Kuaotiiiin 6il: SterliiiK. 3.1: Tallsnwn Kntemled.Bd; Wa|M Extended, 6d; WaitekßUri No. 2, Id; Bunker's Hill, 2s 3d; Gonquerng Hero, 3d; Ooroniaiidel Freehold Proprietary, lit; Four-in-Hand, Is 5d ; Hauraki North, paid up, Ssldi Haurakl North, contributing, Is 04: landoui, 4d.

Skilkhs. —National Bank, 41s; Nguiißiiru Coal, 22s «d; Union Oil, 16s 3d; Ailelnidu, SI; Alburma Kast, IOd; Argosy, 6il; Hell Rock, 3d; Beudigo, 6d: Big Reef, 8d: Broken Hill, 6d; Cardigan, Is; City of Auckland, 13; Club, 4d; Ulunes, 6d; Comstock, Sd: Comet, 8d; Conserfative, 4d; City of London, 8d; Freedom, 2.1; (iolden Horn, 6d; Golden Opportunity, 2d; Goldon Point, 6d; Kaistr, contributinß, 6d ; Karaka Queen, M; Kuranui, Is 4'l; Kursnul Caledonian, 6s; Loin Hand, Iβ; M»gaz!ne, 2J; Mala Reef, 2Jd; May Queen, 8a 3.1; May Qiieon lixtumled, 9d ; Moana. Uiarl llß;Moanat»iwi Extended, 4s; Moiinatairl North, <d; Munowai, 3s Oil; Naw Allmrnh, *s; New Wh»u, 6d; Nonpareil, 9d ; Occidental, 3d; Orlando, 3<i; Pm« ConeolidatetJ. is 0d; Bovhl, Is (Id; Suandinaiian, Oil; Sbwidan, 2s; Tapu Fluke Is 2d; Taroru Creek, 4a;Tainple Bar 3Jd; Uly«se<, 4d; Victoria, 2s 7d; VVaipuru, 3d ;lona, la Id ; Aorere, In; Gulden Anchor, «d; Ooldeu Link, 4d; Invicta, 3d; Juuo, W; Jupiter, 2s 3d ; Kapai-Vuriiimil, e»; Kuaotunu, Is; Mnon Dream, la 2d; Maoriland, 7d; Alpha, U (In; Byrou Bay, 21dj Oentral, 2r, Crown, 28s; Germanic, 3d; OrM. Darling. Iβ 7d; HitOlMiss, Is 8ll; Hnanui, Is; linporial, 9d ; lvinlin'- (Id; New 'Zealand TalUinau, 16s; Ml Desperandum, 3d; Oceania, 7d; Ohinemuri Byudlc»te, as; J'ortsea, l)d; Kainbow, 2s 6dj' RUins Sun, «d; Southern Cross, 9d; Sovert-lgn. 6d; St. Patrick 4d; Stanley, IOd ; Sterli)iß,Od; Talisman Extended, lOd ; Teutonic, «d; Union lack, 4d; Victor- tv,il,ou, Is l<1; Waihi Consols, 4d; Walhl UradMiii)!, 4d; Waihi Kxtended,7d; Wailii-Sil««rton, 21s; Walhl South, 9d; Waitek»uri,Bos; Waltttowri King, Id; Waltekauri No. 2,3 d; Waitekauri United, 8a; Waitekauri Prince, 4d; Waitekauri South, (Id; Waverley, la ; Wowletock, 4»a; Younu New Zealand, 10d;Zlon, 2id- Bay View, 9d; Btltanniu, Iβ 6d; Bußalo, 6d ■ Huiikrr'H Hill, 2.i lid ; City of Glsborne, Is; Conquerlnj Hero, 4Jd; Cornmandel Freehold Proprietary 8d; Culrnaier, Oil; Pour-in-Hand, 1» 9d; Great Kapaiißa, 8d; Hanwki No, 2,lsod| llauraki North, puid up, 4s; Hauraki North, contributini;, 2a; ll*nrak! Associated Beefs, lOd ; Harbour Vjuw, til ; N«w Ookoqda, «d ; Prida of llauraki 4(1; lV>Kre-s-Chst)e Hock, Oil; Tandem, 6d ; Tokatea Cons .is, Is 9d; Welcome Find, 2a; Sie*. landln, Iβ; Atlas, la; Prince of Wales, 6d; Royal Shield, (M; Eiceptre, paid up, 10(1; Sceptre, riHitrlbuling. 8d; Albert, l> 6d ; Day Dawn, Sd ; Harp Of Tara, 4i I. M. Lennox, Onuruito. 1 p.in., ThuriidM, April 22,189?.