COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12817, 17 March 1905, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

* Jfinv Zealand Herald Office, '1*1:''')"? Thursday evening. finsixsss 0,1 t ' ie Stock Kxchuug© continues t , II ' For banks there are buyers of New Zoal'ancls at £5 14s and sellers at, £5 17s 6d. insurances are at. about last week's ?'"■ violations. New Zealand* are offered at £4 ' : 9?, with buyers at £4 Bs. There are fellers of' South British at £4. and buyers at £3 17s £» " Nationals are a shade firmer, with ' dyers'at £1 Is 3d: sellers ask £1 Is 9,1. Standards arc ottered at 17s. New Zealand and River Plate I.ami Mortgage are unchanged. In coals Taniris fold at 18s 6d, 18s 3d. and 18s 9d. and there are further . . sellers at 19s. and buyers at 18s 6d. Wcstnorts are wanted at £6 2s fad, sellers asking ?'6 10* in gas Auckland*, are offered at £13 I T. and Thames at £1 13s fad. New flys■ mouths are wanted at £7. In .sh.ppniß "Northern Steams are unaltered. In timber Kauri Company (contributing) are wanted at %4d sellers asking o** fad. Buyers of J,e\ - land O'Brien offer £2. and there are sellers It £2 Os 9d. P.S.C. .-old .it 10s 3d. and there are sellers at. 10- 9d. and buyers sit. 10s 3d. Northern Boot are wanted at fcs fad. There hnvor* of New Zealand Portland Cement ITil Is 9d. and sellers at £1 2.9 d. New Zealand Drugs are wanted at £2 fas. In mining business has been quiet. Wniotahis sold at 16s and 15s fad. cum div. New Moami♦aiaris sold at 2s 2d. 2s Id. and 2s 3d; Ivitra-rmi-Caletlonians at Is lid: Old Albumins at Is 6d and Is 5d : Victorias at lid. lUd and ■u- Waiiii Kxtonded at 7s 8d; ANailii Consolidated at 2s. Wail.is sold at £6 16s. and .here are sellers at £6 16s fad. and buyers at £6 14s. Talismans sold at. 8s 3d; (loldcn "Belt paid up, at 2s lOd. and contributing at 8 3d- Old Hauraki (< ontribntiugK at lOd and 9d. Hidden Treasure (paid up) sold at 2s ll r! and 3s, but closed with sellers at 2s, and buyers at Is 6d; contributing sold at Is Id, closing with buyers at 61. The mail steamer has landed the usual •>onsigniiients of American goods, the principal lines again beiii.u* canned and dried fruits- Th&se have been imported in larger nuantities than usual this summer, the demand having kept, up better on account of the comparative failure of the local iruit. ■\Ve are advised from San Francisco that -stocks are well cleared out, and this keeps the market firm. Prospects for the coming season are described as very favourable so far, and there should be a good crop if these conditions continue. Levant Fruits: Wo are advised from London that, the season just passed lias been ■jo the trade generally a curious and disappointing one. for with many lines wherestocks have been extremely light and the growth small, prices have fallen away nelow the level of the previous season, when crops were very much larger. This has been the case especially with sultanas and dates. The reason has been the phenomenal crop of English fruit, a large crop of apples, pears, and plums in every part of England delaying the sale of dried fruits until nearly "up ta Christinas. Currants were a good crop, the provincial fruit that first came into the Paris market being the best quality, while late deliveries showed a falling off. Prices have virtually ruled on the purity of last- year. There is a great difference of opinion as to whether the ae lion of the Greek Government is a wise one, in giving a fixed bottom price,. but it lias one advantage to consumers, in bringing j the price of really fine fruit to almost the | same price as poor quality, by fixing the minimum figure for the latter, prime being hold at the market rate, which is often only a few pence per cwt above the minimum Sultanas were a small crop, less than half the previous year, but the virtual collapse of the English demand kept prices down. Stocks are now almost cleared, and there is a slight hardening in medium and Sue j qualities. Figs'have . ruled very low all j along, and a good crop at cheap prices re- J gulled in an enormous consumption. Dates, were not much more than half the crop of the previous year, and better values might have been expected, but the market teil away, and is only now picking up a little. In spices we aTe advised from. London that pepper is again -firmer. Cloves are :S cheaper. Small supplies of ginger have been placed oil the market. Cochin is slightly easier, owing to slackness in demand. Jamaica is scarce and dear, with little offering. The Star of New Zealand has landeri a CS'ew York shipment, the heaviest hue, fencL ing wire, coming to a good market. Demand has been very good, and the price is firm, latent American advices showing a. •higher cost. • . . _ - ■ . • i During the week there have been inquiries for bran for South Africa. ! Pollard is unprocurable. Wheat is quoted at 3s 6(1 to 5* Sd f.o.b. South for new grain, old being worth about twopence more. It is expected that with so much of the crop damaged there will be trouble this year os regards quotations, which will depend on samples and not be bo reliable as in most years. Eggs havo been in increased demand since Lent began, and the falling-off in the supply has resulted in an advance in pi ice. The hot. dry weather, is also causing a falling-off in butter supplies, ana *.here is a good demand ? for all the prime quality that comes into the market. Cabled advico=> from London show the market very firm, and by mail wo havo received the following under date February 3:—"The position of the butter market is unchanged With respect to secondary and inferior qualities, which are still scarce and dear. Finest Australian is in fair request at 2n advance upon last week's prices; there is no New Zealand landed unsold, the next arrival being due in a day or two per Turakini. This is a very satisfactory state for tne London market to be in as regards New Zealand butter. - LIVE STOCK AND PRODUCE. MESSRS. ALFRED BDCKLAND AND SON'S' REPORT. Horses: Active colts, suitable for express anil waggon work, are wanted, the supply not being equal to the demand. At tlie Haymarket, on Friday, wo had an average entry, with strong demand for all young, useful sorts. Medium and light colts brought from £18 to £28; aged draughts, £10 to £18 10s: buggy horses and good hacks, £14 10s to £24 ss; light liarnesfTand ordinary hacks £0 2s 6d to £13. l'ony, trap, and harness £20 15s.

Straw, 30s a load. ~ „ . Hides, Skins. Tallow, etc.: Hides—Ox. 4id ■to 6^d; cow. 4(.rl to ''(id; kip. 4(1 to 4Jd; calf. 63d; damaged at relative rates: tails. Is 6a dozen; bones. ss; tallow, 15s fid to 17s 9«. Skins, 2$ IQd to 45 6d; pelts, salted 2s Id to 2s 9d, dry and damaged 4d to Is -Id: lamb, 2s 4d to 3s- dry, Sd to Is. Wool, ill bags: Crossbred, 5Jd to 6d; lamb. 5d to 7d; locks and pieces. 3d to 3?d. Grain, etc.: Maize, in short supply, advanced Id— lOd to 3s Id; oats, firm at late rates, 2s 2d to 2s 4d; cliaff, in lair supply. £4 5s ex rail. £4 15s to £5 ex store, £5 103 for Southern; bran, £3 10s: sharps, unprocurable. Grass seed 3in good demand at list rates. Bonedust. £5 15s and £6 10s: guano, £4; pressed hay, £3 to £3 15s; straw, £3 ss. , , We held • our second sheep fair of the •season at Remuera on Tuesday, and yarded close on 5000 head, which sold at satisfactory figures throughout, although prices were slightly lower. Full particulars have already appeared in the daily papers. At Runciman, on Wednesday, there was a full muster of stock of all classes, especially grown cattle, which, with few exceptions, were all passed. Those sold were forward in condition, and ranged in price from £6 to'£7 10s; two-year-old steers sold to £5 15s. Dairy cows were in demand, those near their profit selling to £3 10s; heifers, to £6 10s. Calves were required, also yearlings, at a flight advance on recent sales. Stock of all classes were well represented at Itemuera on Thursday, and met with steady competition throughout. Cows at profit sold up to £3 15s; heifers, to £6 ss; dry cows, to £3 10s. No store steers yarded. Eat and young calves, in full supply, kept recent values, small selling to 8s; medium, to 17s; heavy, to £2 3s; 73 sold. There waft an average yarding of fat cattle, mostly light ▼•eights. Last week's values were sustained. Oi beef selling to 22s the 1001b; cow, to 20s. Steers ranged in price from £6 to £10 10s; cows, £5 to £7 17a 6d; 260 sold. Fat sheep were well represented (the quality being good throughout), and sold freely, best, wethers reaching to 22s 3d; ewes, to 21s 9d; lighter weights, mixed sexes. 14s 6d to 17s 6d; 1450 sold. Lambs yarded in average numbers. "'Best sold up to 16s 3d; others, to 14s. Pigs, Plentiful; well finished porkers sold extra well: small and stores at low values; 97 sold. MESSRS. G. W. KINNEY AND SONS' REPORT. On Tuesday we sold a large number of ■ hides, sheepskins, tallow, etc. Hides: We quote—'Prime ox, 7id to 7UI; extra, stout. 6Jd to 63d: stout. bid to 6d; medium, 4Jd to sd; light and sheety, 41(1 to 4|d; now, best lines iirm at 4f';d; good, 4gd to 4Jd; stags, 3d to 3ld; calf, well Hayed, j'd to 53d; cut, 2d to 2id; kins, 4UI to 4Jd; damaged hides, 2d to 3jd lb. sheepskins: Hatchers', local green and country salted, large 2s 6d to 2s 9d; medium. 2s "d to 2s 3d; small, Is 6(1 to 2s; lambs', from Is 6<l to 3s. '*■ Tallow: Easier; good mixed in shipment : casks, to 19s; good, in broken :-asks and ; packages, 18a to 18s 6(1; seconds, 11s to 16s swt. Rough fat, lid to lid lb. •Bones: Good dry, £5 ton. ,/ FROZEN Mi;AT MAHKKI. I'KtEOKAI'U.—I'HKSS ASSOCIATION.] t NAI'IEH, Thursday, -he Colonial Consignment and, Distributing ...Company has received the following cable: — rrozeu meat market: To-day's quotations ■ —Canterbury mutton. 4'd; tinier, Wellington..and North Inland. 33d. "Lamb: First quality, 6d; second, aid. Beef Hinds, 3id; fores, 22d.".

AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. The following nro Thursday's closing prices, the business done being:—New Moanataiari, 2s Id, i's 3d; Victoria, II Jd, Is.

li. A. Eutti.s. Chairman H. J*. Hudlkstox, Secretary. 3.13 p.m., March 16, 1903. CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. Dividends. Due. Bunk of Australasia 2 8 0 Vat'. 31 Standard Insurance Now. Calls. Due. Old H.iuraVi, March 6 <1 0 1 Mar. 01 Did Albuinia. March C 0 i) 1 Mar. 27 New Saxon, March u U l) 0} Mar. -) RAM AND EWE I'AIR. [BY TKLKGKAI'U— t'HKSS ASSOCIATION'.] Clini.-'TCHUnCH, Thursday.

There was .1 fair attendance at the ram and ewe fair. The sheep all "otsnd were in good condition, and, with few exceptions, a very well-bred collection. English Leicestera met i: moderate demand, and the prices were obviously disappointing to wins of the breeders, as several large lines were withdrawn at auction, though some of these subsequently found buyers. Prices ranged from 2\gus 10 sstt:s. a few single sheep selling at up to ISgns. Shroushires were a rather mixed assortment. All good sheep sold fairly well, but inferior lots were neglected. Prices varied from 2igns to 4'|gns with a lew- single sheep to 7gns. Southuowns were well competed for, and sold from 3Jgn? to sgns; single sheep to Hlgns. Lineolns sold at from 2gns to 4g«s, a few single ones fetching 4Jgn?,' ogns, and Ggns. Only a few Romney Marsh were sold, at from Cgns to lOsrns. Border Leicester* sold well at from 4gns to llgns. Corriedales brought from 3gns to 1 Jgns.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET. REPORT OF NEW ZEALAND COMMERCIAL AGENT. [BY TELEGRAPH TRESS ASSOCIATION'.] WELI.IXGTO.V, Thursday. The Department of Industries and Commerce has received the following market report from the commercial agent for the colony in South Africa, dated Durban, February 13: — There has been a considerable flutter throughout South Africa during the past few weeks, mainly iu connection with some remarkable finds on the diamond fields. The gold returns for January are valued at rather more than £1,500,000, and an increase of nearly 7000 ounces is recorded. This, however, is no; as great as was expected, and is mainly owing to an increased number of 185 stamps and to two new contributors. In Natal a movement has been made in connection with gold mining at a place about 40 miles from Durban, where considerable gold is known to be. In the same neighbourhood there are good seams of coal, so that in that direction Natal may make some very important movements. The coal trade of Natal has been looking up lately. 111 many parts of South Africa there has been a good deal of anxietv caused by the lateness of the rainfall and the locust (a very large grasshopper) pest. In many parts where rain has fallen it has come too late to be of much practical value. In the Orange River Colony many crops were destroyed, and it is now too late to restore them. The following are the ruling prices in the local ifoduce markets:—Oats: New Zealand B grade, ti to Gs Gil per 1001b c.i.f. Wheat: Australian, Gs 101. Fodder: Ho., compressed, 4s per 1001b. Lucerne: - Argentine, 3s Bd. Bran: New Zealand and Australian, 4s Sd to ss. Maize: Local, 4s. Potatoes: These are confined to local supplies, of which samples are very good. The price is from £G to £7 per ton. Butter: Australian supply is small in consequence of the drought. As a consequence there is a tendency to firmer prices lor very choicest brands. The spot market is Is 2;d (duty paid). Queensland quality runs from Is ojd to Is lid. The indent demand is very fair. Poultry: Fowls. 31b anil over, 4s Sd to 4s !'d per pair c.i.f.; chickens, 2ilb, 4s 3d per pair. Cheese: Loaf, in bond, 7d per lb. Eggs: There is just, now an upward tendency, which, in consequence of the moulting season, must continue for 11 while. Local supplies tire not so abundant. Local* are quoted at from Is 0-1 to 2s Gd guaranteed. Flour: Australian, soft, is quoted at lis per 1001b c.i.f.: hard, 11«. Beef: Australian slues, 1401b to 1601b, 3Jd: Argentine. 3Jd. Mutton: Australian, 411b to liOlb, 3j,l per lb: extra. .'!\d c.i.f. Argentine, 411b to colb. Sid. Pork. s»<l. Veal. 4Jd per lb. Lamb: Australian, 301b to 311b. 4Jd; Argentine. 30'ib to 351b. 4 a 'd. Rabbits (24 in easel, 12s Gd per case. (N.B All prices here quoted are c.i.f.) Fruit: There has recently been somewhat of a flutter in the Capetown market in connection with fruit so largely imported from Australia. It is alleged that Australia is glutting the Capetown market with fruit, and to such an extent that last year the Australians lost 1125,000. LONDON. By Telegraph.— Association.— LONDON. March 15. Wool: At the sales Mount Vernon realised Hid; Nfc'apapa, 9£d. The market is firm at lit to rates. . , ~ .... Copper: .Spot. £08 las; three months, L 69 2s 6d. , , r .,. " Tin, £133 17s 6<l; three months. £134. Lead, £12 4s 3d. Tallow .'taction*: 1375 casks offered; 325 sold. Trices are unchanged.

>■ ■ Sellers. Buyers. B i NKS - , ' • £ .. a. ■ * .« a. iSiSSE' - ••• 6 17 • 5 M » IXSUBANCB-. New Zealand ... ... 4 9 0 4 8 0 National ... ... ... 119 113 South British 4 0 0 3 17 '« FJNANCIAI.— ■ N.Z. and Hirer Plate ... 1 7 0 16 0 COAL— Taupiri Mines, Ltd. . ... 0 19 0 0 IS t> West port « 10 0 l> •_> 0 GASAuckland ... l:> 3 0 _ Thames 1 13 0 _ New Plymouth ... ... __ <00 SHIPPING— Northern Steam, paid up... 0 17 3 XI MB Kit— Kami, contributing ... 0 3 « 0 3 4 Leylund-O'Brit'n, Ltd. ... - 0 ;< a 0 0 Mitchelson Timber Co. ... 0 1'.' i; Mountain Kitnu, Ltd. ... 12 0 _ MISCELLANEOUS— H.S.C., Limited 0 10 9 0 111 1 N.Z. i-'ruy, j:'j _ ... i; „ I N.Z. Portland Cement ... 1 i 9 1 1 ;i Northern Boot u S G i Ttiverhead Paper Mills ... l i:, 0 _ ' Union Oil loo 0 IS ti Wilson and Co., preference' 1 ti li — MIXING— , Kuranui-Caledonian... ... 0 'JO 0 1 9 May Queen Extended ... 0 1 1 New ipse _ 0 0 10V New May Queen ■ 0 0 11J 0 0 Hi New Moauataiari ... ... d 1' a O J l" Mew Una ... 0 0 1; — New Saxon 0 0 X Old Alburnia - ... _ 0 10 Victoria ... ' 0 10 0 (i 11 Maintain, ex div. ... 0 l> ji 1.1 l'i 0 Crown ... ... o -I 1: Golden Belt, paid up ... o 2 f< Golden Belt, contributing 0 . ,"> 0 2 0 Kiimata Reefs ... ... 0 - 0 '• 18 New Chelmsford 0 0 9 Bride of Waihi 0 1 2 0 1 0 Tairmi Broken Hills ... 0 l ti - • Talisman Consolidated ... O 8 li Wailii 1; i« i; 0, 14 11 AValhl fitiV.'h United ... 0 0 Ik 0 0 t>.\ Waihi Consolidated ... 0 2 (1* t> 1 In Waihi Extended 0 7 10 0 7 7 Waihi Grand Juuction ... 4 0 0 3 1:' ti Wailii South 0 0 ,s Wnimanttu, Is paid ... .! 1 0 Waimaniju. lid paid ... o 0 :t Banker's Hill nil 009 Ilaur&ki freehold Oil! — Harbour View ... ... it n :t ___ Old Hauraki, paid up ... 0 1 G ~ Old Iiauraki. contributing 0 oil Royal Oak, contributing ... 0 0 11 Hidden Treasure, paid up... o 2 0 016 Hidden Treasure, con. ... — Out;