COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11618, 4 April 1901, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Heiiat.d Office, Wednesday evening. The Stock Exchange has been moderately busy thie week, and a fair all-round business done. There is no change to report in bank stock. Buyers of Nationals are still offering £3 lis 6tl. There are sellers of New South Wales at £15, with buyers at £43. In insurances, New Zealancls sold at £3 Bs, ami closed with sellers at £3 8s 3d and buyers at £3 7s 9d. South British sold at £3 17s, and (here are sellers at £3 18s and buyers at £3 16s 6d. Nationals sold at 19s 6d, and pollers ask £1, buyers offering 19s 3d. There are buyers of Accidents at £1 12s 6d, and sellers at £2. In gas stock there are sellers of Auckland fully-paids at £13 12s 63. Buyers of contributing offe, £10 15s. There are sellers of Thames Gas at £1 10s, and of Gisbornes at £1 16s, In shipping, sellers of Devoiiporfc Steam Ferry ask £1 17s. Northern Steam contributing sold at 7s lOd, and there are still sellers at that pride, with buyers at 7s Btl. NeW Zealand Shipping arc wanted at £6 ss. In coals, there are sellers of Hikurangis at 9s. Taupiri Mines sold at 19s, and there are sellers at 19s 3d and buyers at 18s 6d. '• Westports sold at £3 18a 6d, and there are sellers at £4. Sellers of Sharlands ask 19s . 3d, with ; buyers at 18s 6d. ; Sellers of Union Oils a'sk 19s 6d. Northern Boots arc offered ■ at. 9s 6d. Buyers of D.S.O. offer 8s 9d. ■, There ■-. are sellers -'..: of Leyland? and O'Brien Timber at £1 lis, and buyers at £1 9s 6d. New Zealand and Bivor Plates are offered at £1, with buyers at 19s. For new issue £1 0s 6d is asked, buyers offering 19s 6d. In mining, there lias been an r.otive de land for the smaller-priced Waihi stocks. waihi Extendeds sold freely from 4s to An b r>i. c W l S with buyers at 4s 6d and sellers , at Is 74. Waibl Beach sold at 4d wad 3d,

and Waihi Consols at 6d and s£d. " Komata Reefs sold at 3s 6d and 3.? sd. Tairua Broken Hills sold at Is sil, Monowajs at 2s 3d, and New Whaus at 2d and L id. New Foiir-in-Hands sold at 3s. Barrier Beefs sold at 5s 3d, 5s 4d, 5s 2d, and 5s 3d. General business has inclined to bo rather easy again this week, and has been only made to appear rather brisk by the natural desire to get everything cleared up before the holidays, as so many of the mercantile Houses have announced their intention of closing until next Tuesday. In produce there have been the heavy deliveries usual at the: beginning of the month. Maize has been none too plentiful, the holders at the-Bay'; being probably tinder the impression that they can wait for better prices. Arrivals for, the week were 510 sacks by the Waimana,- which got in two days earlier than usual, 131 by the • Clansman, and 500 by the Waidtahi.: The Sydney demand has been a little easier, and 811 sacks went on by the Zealandia. At the same time it is more than likely that this demand is holding up simply on account of the delay in getting the grain from outside districts to Sydney, consequent on the 'continued rough weather that they have experienced. Lines have been placed at 2s 2£d to 2s 3d f.o.b. for Sydney, which will return the grower about 2s 2d. The local price remains the same, while prime camples of seed have been sold a little higher. Potatoes have come in rather freely, although the supplies expected from some sources have not arrived, the farmers being doubtless engaged on other urgent work. Some are expected from Opotiki shortly. The Southern main crop is now being offered, and the importation will start very soon, as holders are anxious to commence business on the basis of 42s 6d f.o.b. In the meantime, locally grown are fetching £2 10s at the station foi prime samples. Oats have declined a penny on account of larger offers. from the South. A few discoloured samples rejected from export orders have come to hand by the Hawea and Zealandia, and these have also depressed the local market.

Another local porridge meal has been placed on the market, and is meeting with good sales. Some* of the Southern preparations have been reduced in price this'week. Onions are in good demand, and a dry sample is worth from £5 10s to £6. A telegram from Ohristchurch announces an advance of 7s 6d per ton there. There has been quite a rush of chaff sent in to be safely delivered while the weather lasts. Many of the samples are inferior, but prime is worth £2 12s 6d at the rail. The fine weather has brought an increased demand for grass seed. The new crop of ryegrass is reported to be short, consequently prices are firmer, and, for heavy machine-dressed are likely to remain so for the"next two or three months. Italian ryegrass is very scarce. From cabled information we note that the present crop of clover is much short of last year's average, and we can confidently expect a further advance. This applies to red and white clover, cowgrass, and timothy. Cheese is weaker, and the factories that have not already arranged for the sale of their output are easing their quotations. The price is declining in London, as it usually does at this time, of the year, ; but account sales up to February were satisfactory. Fortunately., there has been a fairly good demand in New South Wales to relieve the local market of much of its surplus, and the substantial shipment of 114 cases went over in-the Zealandia; but this demand is now reported to be weaker. Very full sales of canned meats are reported at the advance already noted. The New Zealand preserving companies used to meet with strong opposition from Australia, but this year the prices on the other side are so high as to prevent any effect from their quotations, while their reports show the same state of the market as ours, and may be summed up in the few words, "Stocks are very bare." Bonedust is very scarce in Sydney. The kerosene from the Hiram Emery has mostly gone into consumption, not much having been stored. It was noticed that the last lots to be discharged were in poor condition. Tanks have been erected in Sydney and Melbourne to receive the oil which will come from Borneo in bulk in special oil vessels, but nothing has so far been done in Now Zealand. The explanation of the Standard Oil Company in making their own shipments to Australia to meet this probable competition is that "the regular indonters of oil have not shown a disposition to keep the New Zealand market supplied," and that "if parties will not order they must of course supply the requirements, and by having sufficient oil in hand be in a position to meet the Borneo competition when it comes." So far as Auckland indentcrs are concerned, it is not likely that 'they will amend their plans, as they reckon that the Standard Company is quite welcome to the little profit that is made in distributing parcels here. ■ . Turpentine is a little firmer in America. ;.Freight rates from America to Australia by steamer are expected to rule somewhat lower ahead. At the same time wo may mention that the steamer Lynander, which has loaded for Melbourne and New Zealand ports, had such a large quantity of freight for our colony that she could only call at one Australian port. , . American wire has been steadily advancing, and local holders are now endeavouring to get better prices to meet the extra cost, although some are still reported to be selling at little or no margin of profit. English wire remains the same. Many lines in hardware show a downward tendency. Nails are being cut up by some merchants. Corrugated iron has eased a little. : . •" ;:

The timber mills are very busy, and there is a good demand on all sides. Logs are now more plentiful than they have been, the five rafts that arrived having been badly wanted. The wet weather has no doubt hindered a lot of the carting, which is usually so easily done in the summer. We must expect a fall in flax before long, according to the London cables, which are very discouraging, making forward .sales extremely weak. In the local produce market the price of butter remains unchanged as follows: — Factory sorts, lOd; best farmers', 6d; and second grade, 5d per pound wholesale. Eggs are much more plentiful, and as the Easter demand is over must drop 3d per dozen. It has been decided by the trade to quote Is 3d up to and including Saturday, after that Is per dozen wholesale.

KAURI GUM MARKET. The following are our quotations of kauri gum for the week ending April 2, 1901: — White gum: Poor ordinary, £20 to £23; good ordinary, unpicked, £4-3 and upwards; superior ordinary, £65 and upwards; East Coast, good quality, £65 and upwards; rescraped, £112" and upwards. Black gum: Nuts, £8 and upwards; mixed, £15 and upwards; good, £48 and upwards. Remarks on market: Simply for the month of March was 680 toils; for two days of April, 18 tons. There is still no move in the market. Business is on a very limited scale,. and quotations are nominal. LONDON. By Telegraph.— Association.— Copyright. London, April 2. Silver, 2s 3|d. Tallow: Stocks, 18,670 casks; imports, 4478; deliveries, 5714.. : , Copper: Supplies, 16,536 tons; deliveries, 17,453; stocks, 28,231; advised, 2675. Tin: Slocks, 17,620 tons; on spot, 6456, afloat, 2107; deliveries, 2462. Wool: Arrivals for third series of sales, 256,000 bales, of which 50,000 were sent forward direct. Available for sale, 264,000.

Wheat: The cargo ex Norfolk Island, from Melbourne, sold at 29s lOgd. Inverlochy, from Geelong, at 29s 9d.

AUSTRALIAN MARKETS. Sydney, April 3. "Wheat, chick, 2s 2d; milliner, 2s 6|d to 2s 7|d; Flour, £5 15s to £6 5s per ton. Manitoba, £10 5s to £10 10s. Outs, prime New Zealand, feeding, " B," Is lid to 2s; " 0," Is 6d to Is 7d: milling, Ss Id. Barley, feeding, Is lid to 2s; seed, 2s 3d. Maize, prime, 2s 7d. Bran and pollard, Bi<l. Peas, blue, 3s 3d to 3s 6d. Potatoes. Circulars, prime, £2 10s to £3. Onions, New Zealand, £5; Victorian, £6 10s to £6 15s. Butter, creamery, lid. Cheese, New Zealand, loaf, 60. Bacon, 6d to Bd. Hams, New Zealand, Eld to 9d. The above quotations are those ruling between merchant'and retailer, and do not represent slightly lower values obtained by recognised broker. Memottrne, April 3. Wheat, firm at 2s 7£d to 2s 6tl. Oats, strong ,in sale at Is 9d to Is lOd. Bran and pollard, 10id. Onions, prime, £5 15s. • Adelaide, April 3. _ Wheat, dull at 2s Sri. Oats, Algerian, Is 8d to Is lOd; whites, 2s 2d to 2s Bcl. Bran, lOd. Pollard, io£d.

ADDINGTON STOCK MARKET. CHEISTCHUECH. Wednesday. At Addington. to-day, the fat cattle forward numbered 149 head, mostly of fair average duality Good beef brought 20s 6d to 22s 6dj steers, heavy weights, £8 to £9 10s, othara *£> 1 n 5 r S ,7 to . it U ss; ,, : £ eifers> £5 17s to £6 7sj cows, £5 7a to £6. Ihere were about 3000 fat sheep, including good lines of both wethers and ewes, and many inferior sorts. There was no competition for export, and an easier tone prevailed, while ewes were also weaker, being : in .over supply. Good wethers i sold at from 17s to 19s; lighter, 16s; ' best ewes, Ms to 169 6dj others, 10a 6d to 13s; merino ewes, 8s Ho, to 10s 3d. The fat lambs forwardiad mun-

bered 3550. The demand was keen, and the bulk of . the' lambs ■. Were taken by exporters at from 14s to 15s lid; unfinished, down to 12s. The store sheep numbered 9500, mostly ewes. Younger sorts told well, but aped were neglected. Wethers and lambs also sold better. Good young ewes, 15s \to 18s; medium sorts, 12s 4d to 14s 6d;; and aged down to •■ 10s lid: aged merino ewes, 5s to 5s 4d; forward wethers, to 16s, and backward 13s to 14s bet; lambs, 9s to 12s fid. The pigs ■■■ numbered about 400, including some, very prime paconers, which were, however, slightly easier, considering the quality, Selling at 37b to 52s 6d, equal to 33d per lb. Porkers were in demand at -25s to 355, equal to 4d per lb. ■ Stablers were .in request at 12s to 25s 6dj small sorts'dull at 4s to Bs. GRAIN MARKET. , DUNEDIN, Wednesday. Wheat: While moderate business is passing, the tone of the market is not lively. Most of the sales are of Northern growth. Millers decline to purchase any but very prime, arid medium quality is difficult to place. Best milling, 2s 5d to 2s 6d; extra prime, 2s 7d; medium, nominally, 2s 2d to 2s 4d; inferior to medium. Is 9d to 2s Id; sacks in. Oats: A fair demand exists for both milling and feed, but owing doubtless to low prices at other centres shippers are unable to compete except at correspondingly low prices. Prime milling. Is 5d to Is bid; best short dry feed, is 4d to Is 4£d; medium to good. Is 3d to Is 4d; inferior to medium, almost unsalable at Is 2d; sacks extra. Barley: Malting has some demand; medium and feed, difficult to place; prime malting, 2s 6d to 2s 9d; extra prime. 3s; good to best, 2s to 2s 3d; feed and raill/jg, is 3d to Is 9d; sacks extra. AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. BUSINESS DONE.— Zealand Insurance, £3 8s; National Insurance, 19s 6d; Monowai, 2s 3d; Waihi Extended, 4s sd, 4s 6d, 4s 7d; New Four-in-Hand, 3s; Barrier Reefs, 5s 2d.

BUYERS.— Bank, 71s 6d; Bank of New South Wales, £43; New Zealand Insurance, 67s 9d; National Insurance, 19s 3d; South British Insurance, 76s 6d; New Zealand Accident Insurance, 32s 6d; New Zealand and River Plate, old, 19s; New Zealand and River Plate, new, 19s 6d; Auckland Gas, new (£4), £10 15s; New Zealand Shipping, £G ss; Northern Steamship, paid up, 17s 3d; 'Northern Steamship, contributing, 7s 8d; Taupiri Coal Mines (Limited). 18s 9cl; Saarland and Co., 18s 6d; Leyland-O'Brien Co. (Limited), 30s; D.S.C. (Limited), 8s 9d; Broken Hill,; 3id; Monowai, 2s 3d; Victoria, id; Welcome Jack, contributing, 6d; Chelmsford, 2s 8d; Komata Reefs, 3s 3d; Maratoto, Id; Pride of Waihi, sd; Rising Sun. lid; Star of Waihi, lid; Tairua Broken Hills, Is 3d; Talisman Consolidated, 23s 6(1; Waihi Consolidated, Is iOd; Waihi Consols, sd; Waihi Extended, 4s sd; Waihi South, lOd: Woodstock, 5s 6d; New Four-in-Hand, 2s lOd; Hauraki Freehold, 2d; Barrier Reefs, 5s 2d; Whangamata Gold Corporation, 3s. SELLERS.—Bank of New South Wales, £45; New Zealand Insurance, 68s 3d; .National Insurance, 19s 9d; South British Insurance, 783; New Zealand Accident Insurance. 40s; New Zealand and River Plate, old, 20s; New Zealand and River Plate, new, 20s 6d; Auckland Gas, old, £13 12s 6d; Gisborne , Gas, 365; Northern Steamship, paid up, 20s; Northern Steamship, contributing, 8s; Devonport Steam Perry, 375; Hikurangi Coal, 9s; Taupiri Coal Mines (Limited), 19s 3d; West-port Coal, 80s; Sharland and Co., 19s; Northern Boot, 9s 6d; Union Oil, 19a 6d: Kauri Timber, contributing, Is 7d; Leyland-O'Brien Co. (Limited), 31s; Mitohelson Timber Co., 20s; Broken. Hill, '' 4d; Iron Cap. 3d; Kuranui-Caledonian, 3d; May Queen Hauraki, 7d: Monowai. 2s 6d: New Alburnia, 4d; New IVliau, 2Sd; Victoria, 3d: Kapowai. contributing, 9d; Weicome Jack, contributing. 7*d; Chelmsford, 3s; Crown, 12s 6d; Imperial. 4*d; Komata Reefs, 3s 6d; Maratoto, 4d; Pride of Waihi, 6d; Rising- Sun. 3d: Star of Waihi. 3d; Tairua Broken Hills, Is sd: Talisman Consolidated, 253; Union Waihi. 19s; Waihi Beach United, sd: Waihi Consolidated, 2=5; Waihi Consols, 6id; Waihi Extended. 4s 7d; Waihi South, lid; Woodstock, 7s; Bunker's Hill, old, 6Sd; New Pour-in-Hand, 3s id; Hauraki Freehold, sd; Barrier Reefs, 5s 3d. G. A. BUTTLE, Chairman, AuWRET) OLDHAM. Secretary. 3.15 p.m., April 3, 1901. CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. cults: Made. £s. d. Bate. Chelmsford .. Mar. 14..0 0 1 ..Aprils New Hauraki North;. Mar. 27.. a 0 1 ..April 10 Young New Zealand.. April 2 ..0 0 1 '..April 10 Kapowai .. ..April 8.. 0 1 ..Mnyß dividends: Mount Lyell.. .. .. .020 ..Now