COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11949, 25 April 1902, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald Office, Thursday evening. There has been no material change on the Stock Exchange this reek. No sales are reported in bank stock. New Zealand* areoffered at £3 3s. There are buyers of Union Banks at £41 10s. In insurances New Zealands are firm, with Rales at £3 13?, and there are buyers at £3 12s 6d and seller* at £3 13s. South British are wanted at £4- Is; sellers ask £4 3s. Nationals sold at £1 Is. New Zealand Accidents are unchanged. In gas stock there are buyers of Auckland, old issue, at £13 18s 6d, and there are- sellers of new issue at £13. No change is reported in the price of Hikurangi coal shares. Taupiri Mines are firmer, with sales at 18s 6J, and buyers at 18s 3d. There are buyers of Westport at £4 Bs. In shipping Northern Steam Company, contributing, sold at 7s 4d, and there are sellers at 7s 6d. D.B.C. sold at 9s 6d. In mining the demand for Tuirua Broken Hills has been well sustained, and sales are reported from 6s 6d to 7s 2d to 7s Id, 6a lOd to 7a 8d to 7s 6d. Waihi Extended* sold at 2s Id and Is lid and 2s. Chelmsford* at Is 7d, Is 9d, and Is lOd; Te Puke Gold Beefs at 2s 4d. There hag been a good demand for May Queen Extended, with sales from Mto fc : d; Kuranuis sold at 7d and 6J>d.

General business shows steady improvement since last week, the usual forward booking for the first of the month having made a decided difference to the wholesale trade. The most noticeable fluctuations in value being again in grain and produce, many further advances being registered since last report. The increased cost of horse feed has caused cartage contractors to raise their rates, the new tariff that has just been announced being equivalent to an advance of about sixpence per ion all round. The advance in price ci fodder has been coincident with the issue of the award of tho Arbitration Court, so that the extra cost entailed thereby will justify J>ie higher cartage tariff. Maize has maintained its price, owing to the continuation of Australian demand after the appearance of a slight decline. -Some of the orders in on Monday could not be executed, but tho Mararoa got 812 sacks away. Tho arrivals were 170 by the Waitangi. 841 by the Waiotahi, and about 600 by the Clansman. The schooner Avvanui is now in with another 611 sacks, and the Muritai with 950, so that these will keep the market' better supplied. Most of this is of sufficiently good quality for shipment to Australia. Local demand was easier on Monday in expectation of a decline, but came on again when it was realised that the Sydney market was sound. The regular price for wholesale lines on wharf remains at os 6d, at which the market closes firm.

Potatoes arc still scarce, but the Waikato and other districts are sending more in, for which they have been getting £5 at the station, but the price is now lower, quotation being £5 to £5 5s ex store. Canterbury prices have been greatly affected by bad weather, otherwise the heavy crop would have cased prices. Christelmreh merchants were of opinion that the opening prices would not hold, but Sydney has been steadily buying, and the present f.o.b. quotations Lyttelton are at decidedly firmer rates, as much as £5 being asked by some holders. Tho future price will depend upon .no effects of the bad weather, as this cannot be estimated at present. The present, local price is £6 ex store, which barely covers cost at the latest Canterbury quotations. Cats are much firmer in the South, and -while some ask 2s BJ.d f.0.b., others will not quote at all. There is a considerable difference of opinion as to the probable move of the market. ft is known that there was a reduced acreage to begin with, drought kept the yield per acre down below normal crop, and now damage by flood has to be taken into account. Commencing the season with unusually low stocks there lias been already to much shipped away or committed for that there cannot lie much left to operate upon and even if the cessation of hostilities in South Africa, should result in less demand from that quarter the requirements for Australia will be considerable this year. The local price is 3s 2d to 3s 3d ex store.

Oatmeal has seen two advances of 10s each in tho South since lust report, tho present f.o.b. price being £15, but all holders are not yet taking full advantage of this advance, which puts Southern meal considerably above the price of local, even though the latter has now advanced to £15 per ton in 251b bags. Wheat is verv firm on account of damage to the already small crop* in tho South. A large quantity is actually destroyed, besides further quantities being much damaged. New wheat of even indifferent quality is selling at 4s in the South, and during this week an offer at 2a s|d was afterwards withdrawn. Both local flour and Southern have advanced since last report, the present price of local being £11 5s in sacks, with the usual extra, charge for smaller bags. As soon as the sample of American flour now nearly due has been inspected there will probably bo more attention, paid to a circular cablegram which wa» received from Sydney on Wednesday by.maiv, Auckland firms. It is certainly a low quotation. Nelson and Marlborough have had good crops of barley, ol which nearly all has now been sold. The ruling rate has been 3s 9d f.o.b. for malting, and 2s 9d per bushel for feed i .

Contrv/ry to expectation onions have improved in value in the South, where there is certainly a heavy orop, hut a strong demand from Sydney had lifted the price to £5 f.0.b., which was the ruling rate up to the beginning of the week. We have since been Informed of a sharp advance, a* high as £7 10s heing named as the value f.o.b. Lyttelton. There has alro been damage to this crop, and

some of. the arrivals, show traces ftf this in the rather soft condition. '.-• £j . . Peas are a short crop, and yiikie has improved. Blue are still selling- here at under what it would cost to replace ftjwia.the South, where quotations vary from bftxi to us. The had weather has kept bade supplies of chaff, and the market is firm at- £& per ton at the station. We have hesxd of sales to arrive at £5 5s by the trxjAload, and m the meantime sales are being; "f™ at *» ius ex store. We understand W«-i» worth £5 in the South. It is certain that farther supplies will have to bo drawn from South, as the stocks now in the hanfe- of farmers here are very tight. j f , . „ Baled straw is scarce, and the small conBißiunent ex Havvea Has been m keen demand. There is a strong demand for seed Dim cats, which is only natural with the high prices ruling for chaff, hay, etc. f Limejniw is ia*v«ry good demand for Sydney, and orders'cannot he. executed in. full until the arrival of next shipment from Rarotonga per Oyabui next month. Inquiries are also in from t'ue South. ■■ , , _ Owing to tie advance in the price of the raw material* the local Candle Company have advanced the price of mining candles. Stock* of Wolfe's schnapps,. are- short. A small quantity of Champion's vinegar arrived bv the Tonga'riro, and has been at once taken up. Another lot should he hero on the Indralema due early next month. The shipping combine will bo carefully watched as to its effects on the costs of heavy 1 goods. American wire and nails are already posting 15s per ton more. „ According to American advices of March 1 it is not yet known whether the new freight rates annoanoed there will hold firm. The advance in metals has increased the cost of corrugated » l '°», sheets, and wire. Tsi<! t'ax market is still, quiet at Home, with buyers reluctant to operate. Bad -weather has kept back the local supplies. In the local produce market prices are unchanged, factory butter Is to Is Id, separator 9d, farmer®' Sd and 7d per lb wholesale. Eggs remain' s* Is 6d per dozen, wholesale. Mr. Louis Lewis offered by auction today several properties in Ponsonby, Newton, and Archbill, but the bidding not coming' up to the reserve prices they were all passed in. Messrs. S. Cochrane and Son sold by auction to-day the -following country properties:—Parish of Pirongia: Lots 39 and 40, 60 acres, 5s Id per acre; lots 154 and 155, 100 acres, 2« 9d per acre; lots 157, 158, and 291, 155 acres, 5s 6d per acre: lots 299 and 2S9A, 50 acres, 3s 6d per acre; lot 134, 50 acres 7s 9d per acre; lot 276, 50 acres, 6s 6d per acre: lot 50, 50 acres, 2s 3d per acre: lot 24, 50 acres, 12s 6d per acre. Parish of Awitu: Lot 4, 128 acres, 2s 6d ner acre; north-eastern pari; of lot 69, 40 acres, 8s 9d per acre; lots 28, 32. 23 44, 45 47 and 48, of subdivision of lot 3, 27a. 3r. 4p., £5 10s the whole. Parish of Mnngapai: Eastern part of lot 71, and north-west part of lot 72, 40 acres, 2s 3d per acre. Parish of Te Arru: Lot 30, 30 acres, Is 3d per acre. GROCERS' MARKET QUOTATIONS. The following are the quotations for butter and eggs for the week ending May 1, 1902, as fixed by the Auckland Dairy Produce Com—Factory butter, Is and Is Id per lb; separator butter, 9d per lb; farmers butter (best) 8d per lb; farmers' butter (second quality), 7d per lb. Eggs, Is 6d per dozen. 1 KAURI GUM MARKET. The following are our quotations of kauri gum for the week ending April 21, 1902: — White gum: Poor ordinary, £o2 and upwards fair ordinary, £52 and upwards; bold, three-quarter scraped (free from nuts), £80 and upwards; East Coast (good quality), £75 ami upwards; re-scraped, £120 and upwards. Black gum: Nuts, £12 and upwards; medium (free from sugar), £18 and upwards; good, £55 and upwards. Remarks on market : Arrivals for 21 days of April. 510 tons. The market is rather quieter, but prices remain steady. LONDON. By Telegraph.—Press Association.— London, April 23. Copper: Spot and three months, £52 17s 6d. _,_, Tin: Spot, £127 ss; three months, £124, . Lead: £11 13s 6d. Wheat: One Australian cargo sold at 29s 6d, and two others at 29s 10id. Tallow: At the weekly sales 1075 casks were offered and 432 gold. Prices unchanged. AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. BUSINESS DON'S.—Gisborne Gas, £1 12s; May Queen Extended, B<i; Chelmsford, is 9U, Is iOd: Tairua, Broken Hills, 6s lod, 7s, 7« 6d. 7s BU, 7s Cd

BUTBEB.—Union Bank of Australia, £41 10s; New Zealand Insurance, 72s Grt; South British Insurance, 81s; New Zealand Accident Insurance, 255; Taupiri Coal Mines, Limited, 18s 3d; Westport, 88a; Auckland Gas, old. £13 18s fid; Northern Steamship, contributing, 7s 3d- D.M.C., Limited. 9s sd; Milne and Choyce, preferential, 22s fid; Kuramii. fcu; KurnnulCaledonian, 6d; May Queen Extended, 7Jfi; Monov/ai, 2s; Chelmsford, la 8d; Crown, lis; Komata Reefs, Is 2d; Maratoto. 7d; Tairna Broken Hills. 7s 4d; Taiisman Consolidated, 13s 6d; Waihi Extended, Is 9d; Waitekanri, 3s 6d.

SEIiIJSES.—Bank of New Zealand, 635; New Zealand Insurance. 735; National Insurance, 21s 3d; South British Insurance. 83s; New Zealand Accident Insurance, 26s 6d; Hikurangi Coal. 8s 4d; Auckland Gas, new (£4 10s), £13; Northern .Steamship, paid up, 17a; Northern Steamship, contributing, 7s 6d; Mitchelson Timber Company, 17s; Avondale Brick and Pottery. 22s 6d; 0.5.C., Limited, 9» 8d; Broken Hill, 3d; Knranui. 7Jcl; Kunurai-Caledonian, tort; May Queen Extended. Bid; Monowai. 2s U; Waiotnhi, £6s; Te Puke Cold Beefs, 2a sd; Crown, lis* 3d; Komata Keel's, Is 4d; Maratoto, 7id Rising Sun, 6d: Taivtui Broken Hills. 7s 9d; Waihi. £5 16s; Waihi Beach United, 4d; Waihi Consolidated, sd; Waihi Consols, 2d; Waihi Extended. 2s; Waihi South, Cd; WaiteUauri, 4s 6d; Woodstock, 2s 6d. O. A. BOTTIiE. Chairman. W. li. O. JOHNSTON. Secretary. 3.15 p.m., April 24. 1902.