COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12069, 12 September 1902, Page 4

COMMERCIAL.

* New ZsAiAjro HsEitrj Office. Thursday evening. A. good business is reported en the Stock Exchange during the past week. No sales reported in bank stock". New Zealand* are wasted at £3 3a 6d, with sellers at £3 63. Nationals are offered at £4 4s 6d, with buyers at £4 Is. In insurances New Zealands sold at £3 17s 6d and £3 18a, and more are wanted at £3 17a 6d, "sellers asking £3 Vis 6d. South British are very firm, buyers offering £4 9s. There are sellers of Nationals at £1 Is 9d, ! and buyers at £1 Js 3d. New Zealand Accidents' sold at £1 8s Cxi and £1 8s 9d, and there are sellers at, £1 9s and buyers at £1 Ba. New* Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage, old issue, are wanted at £1 Is 6d, sellers asking £1 23 6d. Tor new issue buyers offer £1 3a. In coals there are buyers of Hikurangis at 9?, and sellers at 9s 6cl. There are sellers of Taupiri Mines at 18s 3d, and buyers at 17s 6d. Westports are wanted at £5 2s 6d. In gas stock Auckland.? are offered at £14. Thames sold at £1 9s, *nd there are sellers of Gisbornes at £1 18a. New I' ymoutba are offered at £7 10s, with buyers at £6 17s 6d. In. shipping Northern Steam, paid up. sold at 153 3d, and there are sellers at 15s 6d and buyers at 153. There are sellers of contributing at 7s &d, and buyers at 7s 3d. Devonport Steam Ferry arc wanted at £1 17s. In timber Leyl&nd-O'Brien sold at £1 17s 6d, and more aso wanted at £1 16s bd, sellers ask £1 17s 6d. Mitehelson are wanted at 18s. Riverhcad Paper Mills sold at £1 7s od, and there are buyers at £1 7s 3d. D.S.O. sold at 9a 9d, 9s Bd, 9s 9d, and 10s, closing with sellers at 10« 2d and buyers at 9s lOd. Kaiapoi Woollens sold at £6 2.3 6d. There are sellers of Milne and Choyce, preference, at £1 ss. A fail business in mining shares has been transacted. Waihis sold at £5 10s 6d, and tht*re are buyers at £5 9s 6d; sellers ask £5 13a 6d. Waihi Consolidated sold at 7d; Waihi Souths at 6d, 6£d, 7d; Tairua Broken Hills at 9s 3d, 8s 9'd, and 8s 6d; Maratotoa at 4d; Big Beetle at 2id and 3d; Kuranuis at Bd, Bid, 9d, Bd, 6Jd, and 6d; May Queen Extended at 4d, sd, and 4d. A large business has been done in Bunker's Hills, from 3fl 3d to 3s, to 4s 7d to 4s 2d, to 4* 6d to 4s 3d. Hauraki Freeholds sold at 9j,d and lOd. General business is about the same as last week. In produce we are still watching the Sydney market to see what effect the rain has had on their crop prospects. The live stock market keeps up, and there is a strong demand for Sydney, (he Mararoa on Monday taking over the usual quantity of cattle and sheep.

The slight recovery of the Sydney maize market has been only temporary, and a decided fall has come this week, so that on Monday 3s 6d was the best price obtainable. As there were only two buyers operating, all the others having had their orders ccucelled, there was no difficulty in securing at tlija money the best of the 3350 sacks that hav«* arrived since last report, and the 2316 sacka shipped by the Mararoa include some beautiful samples of hard, dry vraiu. Some lines on offer were rather soft and appeared already heated, so that they will have to be useci at once, hut there is a fairly good local demand now that tba price is mora on a parity with fowl wheat, and as all stocks have been allowed to run very low during the last few weeks a good many were placed for local consumption. As there were 1000 sacks left over, and the Waimana is running an extra trip with 1200 sacks this week, we may report the market closing weak at 3s 6a, at which wholesale lines have been placed this week. Potatoes are still advancing, and they are now worth £5 5s to £5 10s f.o.b. Southern ports for future shipments. Arrival? have not been heavy, and we understand that there are only 550 sacks on the Zealandia arriving next week, which have been, purchased at the higher rates now ruling. Wo may expect a higher market on arrival of these, as it takes fully £1 oyer the Southern price to put them into store, but lines have been placed this week at £5 10s to £5 15s ex wharf.

Oath aro a little lower, the arrivals by tho Mary Moore having slightly weakened the ex ship quotation. A good many discoloured samples have been offered, and also some packed in ICOlb bags, left oter from South African orders. It seems certain that the present rales cannot last long. One opinion

from the South estimates that before the new crop comes in oats will be at famine price?, and it is estimated from the best informal that the available stocks held and in sight are exceptionally low for this time of the year. Oatmeal remains the same, arid Rood Bales are reported, alio of rolled oats ami similar preparations. , . The wheat market is very firm, milbng wheat standing at 4s 3£d f.o.b. Southern ports, jacks extra. Fowl wheat has advanced in the local market, and the lowest quotation ex store is now 3s lOd. The Sydney demand'is keeping the market very firm in the .South, and as everything points to a failure of the crop in New South Wales we may look for a continuation of high prices.

Flour is selling well. Pollard is scarce. Bran in a little weaker in Sydney. Very heavy orders have been executed for Australia, but the rain has already caused a slight decline in the demand. There is a brisk demand for chaff, prices being about the same, say £5 5? to £5 10s at station. Southern is selling readily American onions are selling at lid to ljd ox store. A few are still arriving from Pukekolie and Opotiki, which have been placed at lid and upwards. Canned meats are selling freely, and it has been difficult to nil orders in hand. Substantial orders have been executed for the Islands this week; and there is also a demand for keg beef for Sydney, the Mararoa taking over another heavy line. Hams and bacon are still higher, and, acfording to the quotations that, are now out. it seems certain that hams will sell at Is retail this Christmas. Factories are not eager to quote for forward delivery. Export demand keeps up. Hops are likely to bf» at much better values this season. Wo mentioned last year that tie price of Nelson hops would hardly pay for the picking, but this year there has been a steady improvement in ail markets. Californian have been advancing for_ some months, and a cable from London this week notifies that at the very outside the English hop crop cannot amount to more than half of last year's total, whereas it may possibly he only one-third. An Australian report says: — " There are next to no Californians on spot, and wa quote' Is 5d to Is 6d; Kcnts, lOd to Is: Tasmanian, Is 2d to Is 3d. It. is expected that the new season for Kcnts and Californians will open at higher prices than last season." The Titania lias arrived with a large quantity of kerosene, being the second shipment within the month. Free sales have been made from ship's side, as it will be some time before any more arrives, and higher rates will be asked in store. One-gallon tin.3 are now obtainable, as the Titania brought 200 cases of this size, in addition to 15,000 cases of the ordinary size, the balance of the 59,150 cases on board going South under optional bill of lading. Turpentine and benzine are also to hand. There is no change in castor oil, but the prospects are in favour of easier prices in Calcutta for forward delivery. A Sydney report says:—" Cornsacks have had a 'fairly strong market, advances having been well maintained. The late rise will probably further strengthen the position, as they greatly improve the prospects of the wheat crop. The outlook seams rather in favour of holders." Preserved ginger lias arrived, end" h easting higher. Sago and tapioca are both scarce on_ the local market, and it has how be-en ascertained that there had been a considerable quantity shipped for this port on the Aparima. A3 she was reported on fire a fortnight ago at Albany thoro is likely to be a continued scarcity in many other lines of Eastern goods, notably cornsacks and Indian teas. The arrival of the Umta is anxiously awaited, as sago is almost unprocurable at present. Heavier sales of peail tapioca have been made lately. The Torooana hag arrived with a large assortment of goods, and fills up an unusually large number of lines that have been in short supply. In groceries we may mention sultanas, Cdman's mustard. Nestle's milk, chocolate menier, National candles. Trefavenne and Albert sardines. The Star of Australia, due shortly, will ulso bring a good many lines now wanted. The Wellington match factory advise that they will be unable to supply cardboard wax Testas for some months.

Heavy orders have been executed during the last few weeks for dairy utensils of all descriptions. Dried fruit? ore selling well. Muscatels are in short supply, also dates and figs. The report of damage by storm to the currant crop in Greece has not ina.de much impression here, as the dangerous time ,for this fruit is from about Jul/ 28 to August 14, while the fruit is lying- on the ground, and it usually arrives in, Patras about August 28, so that the reported storms seem too late to hurt the crop. The Agent-General's cable on the hemp market does not agree with private cable advices received this week, which show tlie London market a little easier, as buyers are not keen to operate past December. There is not much coming in, and. contracts absorb all (he arrivals.^ In the local dairy produce market there are no changes to report, all prices standing exactly the same as last week. The supply of egga ii not sufficient to tope with tho demand" at present. KAURI GUM MARKET. The following: are our quotations of kauri gum for the week ending Sept. 8, 1902: — White gum: Poor ordinary, £'£8 and upwards; fair ordinary, £57 and upwards; bold, three-quarter scraped, (free from nuts), £85 and upwards: East Coast (good quality), £8* and upwards; rescraped. £125 and upwards. Black gum: Nuts, £18 and upwards: medium (free from sugar), £24 and upward:: good. £60 and upwards. Remarks on market: Supply for eight days of September, 250 tons. Gum is arriving rather more freely than of late, but the market remains as it was. GROCERS' MARKET QUOTATIONS. The following are the quotations for butter and eggs for th& week ending September 18, 1902, as fixed bv the Auckland Dairy Produce Committee: Factory butter. Is per lb; separator butter, lOd per lb; farmers' butter (best). 9d per lb; farmers' butter (second quality), Cd per lb; eggs, Sd per dozen. LONDON. Ey Telegraph.-Presa Association.— LoiJDON, September 10. Copper. Spot, £5+ 7s 6d; threo mouths, £5* 15s. Tallow. At the auctions 1425 casks were offered; 650 Bold. Prices unchanged. FROZEN MEAT. [liV TELEGRAPH. —•PRESS ASSOCIATION".] Napier, Thursday. The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company cable: —Lamb, Loth qualities, have- fallen one-eighth. Quotations: Canterbury mutton, 3|d; Napier, Wellington, and North Island, sjjd. Lamb, first quality, Aid; second, 4i<i. AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. BtTsINESS DONS.—New • Zealand Insurance, £3 18s: Kuranui. 6id, 6d; May Queen Intended, 6a, 4&; Tairua. Broken Hills, lis 6d; Waihi Kit ended, Is Cd; Bunker's Hill, 4s fad, 4s 6d. 43 3d. Bin-EBS.— of New Zealand, 63s 6d ; National Bank. 81s; New Zealand Insurance, 77s 6d; National Insurance, 21s 3d ; South British Insurance, S9s : Standard Insurance, 18fl 3d; .Now Zealand .Accident Insurance, ;& ; New Zealand and Biver Plate, old, 21s 6d; New ZeaJai»4 and River Plato, new, 23«; Hikuraaigi Goal, 9s : Taupiri Coal Mines, Limited. 17s 6dl, Westport Coal, £5 2s 3d; New Plymouth Gas, £(> iTi 6<l; New Zealand Shipping Co., £6 laa; Northern Steamship, paid up, lbs; Northern Steamship, contributing, 7s 3d; Devonport Steam >'erry. 37a; Uitchelson Timber Co., 18s; D.13.C, Limited, 5a 10d; H.M. Arcade Theatre Co., preferential, ZOs; Eiyerhead Paper Mills, 27s 6J; Onion Oil, 2ls; May Queen Extended, <kt; Victoria, 2d; Tfe Puke Gold Beefs, Is lud; Crown, lis; Komata Itcefs. 10U1; Maratoto. 4d; Tairua Broken Hills, 83 Cd; Waihi, £5 9a Cd; Waihi Consolidated, Sid; Waihi Extended, la Cd; Waihi South, 6Ui; Waitekanri, 2? 9d; Woodstock, 4a 3d; Sailor's Creak. 26; Blinker's Hill, 4s 2d; Huaralci freehold, 9d.

SEUiEBS.—Bank of New Zealand, 665; National Hank, 84s 6d; New Zealand Insurance, 78s Cd; National Insurance, 21s 9U : New Zealand Accident Insurance, 23;:; New Zealand and River Plate, old, 22s 6d; Hikurangi Goal, 9s Sd; Taupiri Coal Mutes, Limited, 18s; Auckland Gas, old, £14; Gisborne Gaar, 535; New Plymouth Ga«, £7 10s ; Northern Steamship, paid up. 15s 6d : Northern Steamship, contributing, 7s 6d; LeylandO'Brien Timber Co.. Limited. 37s 6d; Avondale Brick and Pottery, 20a 6d; D.K.0., Limited. 10s 2d; Milne and Clioyce, Limited, preferential, 2ls; Broken Hill, 4'd; Karanni, 6Jd; May Queen Hauraki. 3d; May Queen Extended, Ed: Monowai, 2s Cd; Victoria. 3d; Waiotahi, 245; Welcome .Jack, contributing, 4d; Bis; Beetle, contributing, Sid; Te Puke Gold Beefs. 2s 3d ; Chelmsford. Is ; Crown, lis 6(1; Komata Reel's, Is; Maratoto, Gid; Tairua Broken Hills, as 9d; Talisman Consolidated, 16a; Waihi, £5 13s 6d; Waihi Beach United, 3d; Waihi Consols, 3d; Waihi Extended, Is 8d; Wailii Grand Junction. 22s 6d; Waihi South, 7Jd; Waitekauri. 3s 6d; Bunker's Hill, 4h 4d: New Four-in-Hand, 8d; Hauraki Freehold, lid. G. A. BUTTLE. Chairman. AV. ir. O. Johnston, Secretary. 3.15 p.m., September 11, 1902. CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. Calls made: £ a. d. Date. Welcome .Tack ... Out Hep. 16 Bunker's Hill, August 26 ... 0 0 3 Sep. 23 Chelmsford, Aug. 26 0 0 1 Pep. 2fi. Woodstock. September 10 ... 0 1 0 Dec. 31 Taniwha, September 11 ... u 0 1 Oct. ? Dividends: Jlup. Mount Lyell Mining and Bailway Company 0 1 0 Oct* 1 Bank of Australasia 2 4 0 OcA, 3