COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12546, 13 April 1904, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald Office.

Tuesday evening. Tn* sharemarkefc was fairly active to-day. In investment lines Bank of New Zealands were in demand at 91s 6d, sellers 955. New' Zealand Insurances had buyers at 88s 6d, sellers 91s. Nationals at 23s had inquiry at 225. For South British sellers asked £6 Ss, buyers quoting at £6 6s. New Zealand and River Plates (both issues) were looked for at I 25s 6d, and Hikurangi Coals at lis, no sellers quoting. Auckland Gas at £14 were in demand at £13 15s. Kauri Timbers (contributing) wore offered at 3s lOd, buyers 3s sd. In mining lines attention was devoted to "Waihi shares, which were all firm, Waibi Eitondeils selling at 2s lCd. Waihis were looked for at £5 9s 6d, sellers advancing quotations to £5 13s. Waihi Grand Junetions hardened to 52s 6d, with buyers at 495. Waihi Consolidated® had inquiry at 10jd, ; sellers Is. Talismans were firmer, sales ! being effected at 4s, 4s 6d and 4s 3d. sellers closing at 4s 3d. buyers at 4s. Golden Bolts (paid tip) wore on oifcr at 3s 4d. For Tairua Broken Hills there were buyers at 2s lid, tollers 3s 3d. To Puke Gold Reefs had sellers at Is Bd, buyers Is. General business has continued very bury since the holidays, nearly all departments i of trade reporting a brisk turnover. A re- ,j vival is always expected after the bauk-bal- > slicing on March 31, and as this coincided ■ with the holidays this year, there lias been ; quit© an accumulation of orders, and these ; pre now being executed as fast as possible. , The produce markets are rather quiet, with j heavier stocks than usual in some lines. j Arrivals of maize for the week amount 10 600 sacks by the Waiotahi and Mangapapa, ; besides 260 sacks by the schooner Awanui. I Most of the prime samples haro sold on ; the basis of 2s 6d on the wharf in wholesale ! lines, while inferior lots have been offering ; nt less money. The new maize is almost- i ready, and the first, arrivals will be here i earlier than usual this season. It is reported that the crop is coming on well, and a large proportion has escaped tho frost There is no export inquiry at present, Wellington drawing from Gisborne at a lower price than is ruling in Auckland. 1 here is no prospect of trade with Sydney, as the new crop is coming in, and is being sold at 2s 4d for prime samples. There will be a heavy crop, ample for all requirements. Potatoes are in very short supply, prime Hobart-s being now worth £3 ex store. A few Southern have already arrived, and a further small lot will be here on Thursday, but the first heavy lot is not expected till Monday. The South is offering freely for next week, as there is reported to be a fair yield, and the quality is turning out well. There is still a large quantity of Waikato-grown, stored up by those who refuse to accept prosent prices. There does not teem any prospeot. however, of much improvement, as export to Sydney is stopped by the heavy supplies available from Tasmania. Oats are weak on account of the exceptionailv heavy arrivals from the South. The*ie have filled up all the local stores, and buying is now greatly restricted. The outlook does not appear very bright, and a good harvest is reported in Australia. Oatmeal is selling well at late values. Bran is offering freely from the South, and is not in very heavy demand. Pollard is almost unprocurable, and as the demand is rather heavy, a substitute has been found , in barley meal, which is selling at £5 10s ex store, and answering very well for most pur- : poses. , , .. ! Onion." are in rather short supply, after j heavy export per Sierra last week, the bulk of ; these being for Pagopago and Honolulu, while a tew were also sent on to San 1' ran- ; . cisco These were mostly Canterbury-grown , cased here. The price remains at 5s 6dl ex j i store, and the South is offering freely. The ; ; Tarawera should bring a good supply on ; Thursday. . . , . Southern chaff is arriving more freely. ; The price is unaltered, but the quality varies 1 a good deal, and sales have been made on j; the wharf at £4 10 to £4 15s, according to j condition . ,1 j Sales of seeds are falling off now, omy a | few straggling orders being received. There ;; is a better demand for Algerian seed oats. j, Manures are in less demand. . f. There is an increasing demand for fowling- j pieces and all kinds of ammunition, ready j * for the opening of the gaming season. It j is also reported that there is a better de- i i mand for revolvers. Evidently our citizens | are not going to take any chances while the , burglars are about. We are advised from Oporto that last sea- , son's production of port wines is very small j in quantity, the quality being indifferent, j and generally inferior. A variable spring, with late frosty nights, affected t.he plentiful , bloom most seriously, and already in May or , June it became evident that only a small , crop could be expected. During the summer j changeable weather prevailed, and although a tiis gathering took place under favourable .j circumstances, no really high-class wines cau hare been produced even in the most favoured localities. The season's scanty vintage has brought about a considerable rise . in the price of "Mosfos," whilst wine brandies have risen to about double what they cost during the year 1902; thus the shipment of the lower-grode I)ouro wines will be rendered extremely difficult. _ Advices from San Francisco indicate a sharp advanco in dried pears. Singapore advices of February 24 state that the crop of black pepper has ben coming m very freely, but has met with a good demand, and price" is unchanged. As supplies from other producing countries are also in excess of last year's, the prospect is in favour of some decline in value, but against thfc must be nlaced the very small stocks held in consuming centres. Supplies of white pepper will bf- quite small for three or four months to come, and prices should be well main- > tained. Demand for sago and tapioca has . been considerably stimulated by reports of reduced production, and prices of all kinds have advanced about fcd per cwt. r ull supplies of Rangoon rice are now available. A. smart reaction in coffee has token place in the home markets of fully 10s per cwt, due, it is said, to the losses of American speculators in cotton. Singapore coffees will be slow to follow the decline, except, perhaps, Siberian, which keeps in 'close touch with Brazil kinds. Nutmegs continue to fall in value. In cloves the crop is quite at an end, and only a small stock of inferior quality remains on hand. Preserved pineapples show % further advance. Factories are mostly full up with orders, and prices will probably be maintained for some time to come. Cornsacks are in very snort supply. _ In Calcutta the market remains firm, and it is almost impossible to get good for near delivery. Encouraged by their continued success, speculators there have operated ro° r , e freely for the second half of the year, Their general belief is that the country demand will go on right up to October. Castor oil keeps very firm, and oil for ready delivery is difficult to obtain in Calcutta, as the market is bare of castor seed, and not till the new crop seed arrives will prices show signs of easing. The local candle company are unable to supply Sunbeam candles at present. The ; fire destroyed the manufacturing plant, and ; the stooks in hand are now exhausted. The new season's honey is now coming m, but supplies are not very heavy. Beeswax is also rather scarce. Deliveries of tea from the bond have not been carried out with very great despatch, and the execution of orders has been rather slower than the storekeepers would desire. Heaw orders are now in hand. In the local dairy produce market we have no changes to report. Eggs are in good demand on the basis of Is 6d wholesale. Butter remains at lid for approved brands of factory, while the buying price for separator and farmers' is still quoted at 6d and upwards. Cabled advices this week show the London market decidedly weak. Ciieese is very plentiful at slightly easier prices for some sizes. Ham and bacon are offering freclv at late quotations. Lard is a little more plentiful.

THE FRUIT MARKET. The local fruit market has been left very bare this week, and supplies throughout have been far under requirements. Anything in the shape of fnßt-cla_ eating and cooking varieties brought high IbicesAt to-daVa auction sales prices were 8 5 follow. j Apples: "Dessert, extra special, 9s to 10s; (rood dessert and cooking varieties, 7 a to 8s: medium, 5s 6s; mo died and inferior, 3s to 3a od. I L * r " • J? eB :: Bert. 12s to 15s; cooking, 3s to ss. (All quotations for full bushel cases, boxes realising relative values ) Grapes: Indoor. *d to Is 3{d lb, . «*orJ.n,f to quality and condition; outdoor, loose, -id to 3d. Tomatoes 2s to 3s (id box; tree tomatoes, «s to 2s Cd C.dc eoo«eberri"s, 214 .to 3id lb; persimmons, 2. 'to 3? box; lemons' 3."6 dto 5, 3d case; passionfruit, Is ,to 4s 6d box. STOCK AND PRODUCE, saw lEALAXD LOAN* AND MERCANTILE AUt-Hi. i COMPANY'S, LIMITED, REPORT. Horses; At the Durham Yards on Friday WW had an average muster of horses entered. - y draughts sold at from £30 10s to £38 las, medium do., £19 15.'t0 £2G; light harness JLB »« to £20 • hacks, £7 10s to £15 15s; weeds, £- 10 n to , On. A sulky brought £7 lCs; spring cart, Tu(>l „ij T f a t Cattle-: At the Newmarket Yards on Tuesday_ tu stock was . penned in average uuin be • Dairy sold up to 24* per 1001b; *'. 17s _ ' , numbers, and store stock were yarded lu „ 7 , 7 niptv ' Dairy cows .old at from £4 10? to ~l< M > - do, £3 7a 6d to £4 7»: calves,, £15» to fca Fat oxen sold at from £6 12s fed t • no. cows, £4 5s to £7 15s. «v,. B n were Sheep. At Newmarket on Tuesday .heep we« penned in full numbers, and met a steady. «aie

Smptftved rated. ethers gold at from 133 6d to £1 Ss Id; ewes, lis 3d to IBs Sd. Lambs, in full supply, Bold st from 7» 6d to 15» 9d. figs were yarded in full numbers. ' Porkers sold at from £1 13s to £3 2s; weaners, 7s Gd to 16s 6d. /On Wednesday we held a sale of thoroughbred (took at the Durham Yards. There was a large attendance, and the following sales were effected: — Bay mure Austeriitz, 100 guineas; brown mare Redeemed, SS guineas; chestnut gelding Shrewsbury, 25J guineas; bay gelding Sapper, 14 guineas; browu mare .Albtira, 31 guineas. At Pspakura on Wednesday there was » large muster of stock of all descriptions. Dairy cows sold at from £4 10s to £7 log; empty do., £3 5s to £4 7s Gd; grown steers, £6 12s Bd to £6 17s Bd; heifers, £3 5s to £5 lUs; calves, '£1 lis to £2 ISs; beef at Newmarket rates. On Thursday we held an important sale of purebred shorthorn cattle on account of Mr. Alfred Kidd, and also on the same day, on account of Mr. T. B. Iteid. his well-known Clydesdale horses. The sale took place at our Pukekone Yard's. There was a very large attendance, buyers being present from Whangnrei, Dargaville, XValknto, Xaranaki, Hawera, Wellington, and *11 the surrounding districts. The shorthorn cows sold at from 9 guineas to St) guineas; heifers, 12 guineas to 7C guineas; calves, IS guineas to 76 guineas; bulls, 18 guineas to 35 guineas. The Clydesdale horses sold at: For mares, from JiSS to £53; yearlings, £?5 to £W; foals, £25 to £38; stallions, 100 guineas to ' 295 guineas. Full particulars of both tales have appeared in detail in the IT P. AM). On Mondav we held a sale of horses on account of Messrs. James Martin and Co., Paruell. No doubt owing to the approach of winter, prices were scarcely up to expectations, but on the whole satisfactory prices were realised. 'Bus horses Good sorts "sold at from £7 10s to £15; broken-down and leg-wearv, £1 10s to £tf. We submitted an average catalogue of hides and skins on Tuesday. Hides: Market weaker for all light lines. 'e quote: Prime ox, to Sd: extra stout do., U=d to 7»d: stout do., Gpl to Ogd: medium do., 5Jd to 5-d' light do., 4 .VI to opt. Cow Picked, 4J.1 to SJ,I; bulk, 4»d to 4jd; scored and cut, 3td to 4}d. Kip, :ijd to 4jd; calfskins, 4pi to sjd. Sheepskins: Market firmer. We quote : Best butchers' pelts and lambs, 2s to Ss 4d; good, Is fid to Is 3d; small do.. Is to Is 3d; damaged, 3d to Sd each. Tallow: Best lines, in shipment casks, J2s Oil: broken casks and packages. 20s to 21s: seconds, las Gd to IDs Gd; rough fat, lid to lkl. Cowtaila. Is 5d per dozen. Horsehair: Tail, Is 2d to li 2Jd. Bones, £5 ton. Wool, in bales and bags: Crossbred, 5Jd to t><l; culls, 4UI to 4{d; lambs. Sd to Sid; pieces, 3d to 3Jti; locks, 2\d to SJd. 'Maize: Still in somewhat short supply, and selling el 2s Cd on wharf. Oats: Owing to heavy arrivals on • consignment, the market is easier. B grade is worth Is KM c.i.f. ChntT: In good demand nt £4 15s on wharf. Potatoes: Supplies have fallen off, and the market is temporarily firm at £2 15s to £3. Local growers will soon have Southern in competition, when prices will inevitably weaken. Butter: Shipping having practically ceased, the local market has been rather heavily stocked, and prices show somewhat of a decline for poorer grades. Best separator. 3d; poor, 61 <1 to 7d. Cheese: In better demand, at late rates. AUCKLAND STOCK exchange. The following are Tuesday's closing prices, the business done being :—Talisman Consolidated, 4s, 4s Gd, 4s 3d; Waihi Extended, 2s lOd. ; Sellers. Buyers. ! BANKS- £ '■ d. £ ». d. ' New Zealand. ... ... 4 15 0 I'll 6 INSURANCE— New Zealand 4 11 0 4 8 G National ... ... ••• 13 0 12 0 South British G S 0 li 6 0 FINANCIAL— N.Z. and Hi ver Plate, old — 13 6 N.Z. and River Plate,, new — 13 6 COALHikurangi — 0 11 0 Taupiri Mines, Limited... 0 IS i' — GAS— Auckland It " 0 13 '5 0 SHIPPING— Northern Steam, paid up... 0 17 l' ■— Northern Steam, con. ... 0 710 0 7 i Devonuort Ferrv ... ... llt t> 115 6 TIMBER— Kauri Timber, paid up ... 010 li — Kauri Timber, contributing 0 3 10 0 3 5 Mitclielson Co. ... ... 0 15 0 0 13 0 MISCKI.T.A NKOi'3— Avondsle Brick and Pottery 110 0 19 6 1).8.C., Limited 0 12 2 0 11 9 Union Oil 0 19 0 — MINING— I Kuranui 0 0 3 — -Caledonian ... 0 0 6 0 0 2^. Maiiara Royal, contributing 0 0 3 — May Queen Extended ... 0 0 3 — j New Eclipse o 0 « — ■ New Una ... ... ... 0 0 li — 1 Old Albumin 11 — Victoria 0 0 3 — Golden Beit, paid up ... 0 3 4 Golden Belt, contributing... 0 2 11 — Komatu Reefs ... ox 4 012 Tairua Broken Hills ... 0 3 3 0 2 11 Talisman Consolidated ...U4 3 0 4 0 Waihi « 13 0 5 9 C Wsihi Consolidated 0 I t» 0 0 10.J Waihi Consols 0 0 3 — Waihi Extended 0 2 11 0 2 9 Waihi Grand Junction ... 312 6 2 9 0 Bunker's Hill 0 14 - Hauraki Freehold ... ... 0 0 4 0 0 3 Haibour View 0 0 3 — Old Hauraki, contributing 0 13 — Te Puke Gold Beefs ... 0 1 8 0 10 * G. A. BUTTLE, Ctialrmaa W. H. O. JoHssros, Secretary. 3.15 p.m., April 12, 1904. CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. Dividends Due. | Mountain Kimu Timber Co. ... 0 10 Now , Leyland-O'Bnen Timber Co. ... 10 p.c. April IS Calls. ! I )ue - Kuranui G.M. Co., April 8... ... 0 0 1 April »?■ DUNEDIN STOCK EXCHANGE. Dcskdis, Taesday. Stock Exchange sales: Hartley and Rtiey, SOs; Inch Valley, 4s Gd; New Alpine Consols, Its.