COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13006, 25 October 1905, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

NEW Zealand HEUALD Office Tuesday evening. Business improved on the sharemarket today. In standard stocks sales were mad© in Bank of Now Zealands at £7 and £7 Is, mid la to sellers advanced to £7 ss, buyers offering £7. South British Insurances were a. shad© firmer, with sales at £5 lis. D.S.C.'s sold at 3s lid, late sellers 9s, buyers 8s lOd. Buyers of New Plymouth Gas offered £7 12s without leading to business. Other investment lines were at about recent rates. In mining stocks Waihis were placed at £6 12s 6d, lato tollers demanding £6 14s, and Imyers quoting £6 12s. There was further improvement m Waiotahis, due to a telegram from the mine manager announcing the selection of picked stone, including a few pounds «lrom a stringer at the No. 6 level. Sales were at 71s 6d and 723 6d, the market closing with sellers at 73s and buyers at 725. Mahara Koyals had buyers at 2d, and mow could have been liad at the priro. New May Queens were a bit firmer, and sold at Js 3d. More were on offer at '.bat figure, late buyers quoting 3s 2d. Kuranui-Caledonian "rights" bold at Is Id, lato sellers Is Id, buyers Is. New Moanataiaris sold at 2s Id, late sellers 2s. Id, buyers 2s. "Victorias were dealt in at Is lOd and Is lid, and further shares were available at Is lid, lato buyers offering Is 9d Auckland* were done at 2s, late sellers 2s 3d, buyers Is lid. Golden Belts (naid up) had buyers at 3s 4d, and closed with sellers at os 4d, buyers 3s 3d. Pride of "Waihis sold at Bjd, and there was further demand in the afternoon at thi price, no declared sellers. Sales were made in Tairua Broken Hills at Is lOd. latt sellers demanded 2s, and buyers offered Is 9d. Wailii Extendeds were rather lietter, and sold at 5s 4d. Lato sellers held for 5s sd, and there were buyers at 5s 3d. Sunbeams found buyers at- 9d, late sellers 9J>d. buyers Bd. There is an improvement in general trade sineo the booking for next month's account commenced. This activity is expected to last until Christmas. The produce trade is a little quiet. Prices are very high, and this limits consumption', so that- the turnover is small; but costs are high and holders will not bring down their quotations in the face of the possibility of higher rates beforo long. Only one shipment of maize has com© to hand since last report, the Waiotahi bringing 561 sacks. Coming to the usual bare market there was a good demand, with no change in value. A good many samples of poor quality have been opened up, but these generally bring full prices, there being no recognised standard. An effort is being made this week to arrange a system of grading by which consignors of first-class grain will get the benefit of an extra price over that obtained for indifferent samples. Supplies of seed maize are very limited, with a strong demand. Potatoes are again a bare market, with wry few offering from the South. Price there is nominally 13s f.0.b., same quotation as hero, but it is difficult to secure at any price. A further supply is expected by the mail steamer next week, and these are offering at less money. There is still a little demand for seed for late planting, wonts being the only variety offering. Oats are very firm in the South, and sales have been made as high as 2s Id f.o.b. for export to Australia. Stocks are and there is now no* export business to South Africa direct, so that there is a very limited turnover. Price keeps very firm, as it is questionable whether the present stocks will last until next season's crop is in, so that any fresh export inquiry is expected to put prices up. Oatmeal is rather quiet. The wheat market is firm. Fowl wheat is a penny higher, and is now quoted at 3s 5d ex wharf and 3s 6d ex store. Bran and pollard are scarce, with a good demand for local and export trade. Both lines show 5s advanoo this week. Onions are. nearly exhausted, and price is firm at 20s. • Another small shipment is due next week by the mail steamer. Chaff is very firm, and it is difficult to get good samples. Southern is worth £5 7s 6d ex wharf and £5 10s ex store for prime, while prime local is quoted at £5 at the station. There is still a small demand for bonedust and manures. Some sizes of wire nails are in short supply. Galvanised corrugated iron is firm, with every prospect of an advance in the near future, as it costs more to replace than the present selling price. In this it will be following the. steady advance in the metal markets of the United Kingdom and the States. With the' exceptionally high price at present ruling for spelter, all galvanised goods must advance, and a rise in' wire netting and fencing wire is expected shortly. Seeded raisins are scarce until arrival of the mail steamer next week, and as these are coming at a higher cost the local market has advanced.

The final forecast of the jute crop confirms the original estimate of an increase of about 11 per cent, in tho area under crop. It is reported from Calcutta that the disorganisation of several of the railways, owing to the floods up country, prevents imports of the raw material from coming in quickly, but large stocks are lying at many stations ready for sending in, and these will probably force rates down from their present high level. In tho meantime there is a good inquiry, but sellers are not much inclined to meet it. It is considered that the large inorease in the consumption of jute will counter balance the increase in tho crop over those of previous years

Tea: At tho last Calcutta sales 26,500 packages wero offered. Quality showed a further falling away, the bulk of the Docars on offer possessing only plain character, while Assam wero also noticeably inferior almost throughout. These met a quiet market, and everything was lower except parcels with good liquor, of which there was a very small proportion. Castor oil lias kept advancing. Export buying in India has been limited, but short production and light stocks keep up the price.

WAIKATO SALES. The New Zealand Loan anil Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, report:—On the 18th, ISth, and 20th Inst. we held our annual Ohaupo horse fair, aud during the three days offered over 600 horses of all classes. During the first day'* sale tho bidding for draught colts was decidedly dull, but a good many of those reserved at the hammer were afterwards disposed of privately. Active halfdraughts and strong harness sorts were in better inquiry, but prices were lower than last year. Tho draughts from Auckland, and some good draughts from local settlers, ruled at low values on Wednesday, bub on Thursday the demand for draughts wii decidedly better, and practically all offered realised prleeu »imilar to September sales. The hacks and harness sorts were in keen demand, and almost every beast of a TSfcful stamp found a purchaser at prices satisfactory to the vendors. At the conclusion of the sale «i Friday 20 of the Auckland draughts were sold at auction and privately. Unbroken medium Jr&ught colts and fillies sold at from £31 to £30; active medium draught and harness sorts, £10 10s to £18; light back colts, £8 to £12; heavy draught marcs and geldings, £33 to £43; medium draughts, £22 to £34; aged draughts, '£10 to £18; upstanding hacks, £17 10s to £30; strong upstanding buggy horses, £16 to £24; strong useful cobs, £10 to £15 10s; useful hacks, £6 to £12; useful ponies, £6 lis to £9; weeds, 35b upwards. A waggon and three horses realised £101;. spring waggon, £10. Op Saturday, October 24, at our To Awamtifn monthly stock sale we offered aver 300 head of well-bred cattle. Young cattle were in much better demand, and, with the exception of two pens, all wers sold at satisfactory prices. A lot of good heifer* and cow» at. profit were keenly competed for and sold up to £8; two and three-year-old bulls, £3 15s to £4 ss; a well-bred yearling bull, £8 10s. Mixed yearling* sold at from £1 0s to £2 Ib; strong calves, £1 to £1 5«; two-year-old heifers, in calf, £3 12s to £3; empty heifers, £2 15s; 18 Months and two-year steers, £2 lis to £3 2s; fresh cow* and heifers, £3 17« 6d to £4; fat cows, £5 lis to £6. A largo number of pigs were brought forward Mid all sold. Weaners, 8s 6d to 14s; •lip*, 17s to £1 Is. A spring cart and harness realised £9 10s; sulky, £7; harness, £3 s*. A lot ot prodaoo and poultry sold at about the nstial ratee.

NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY OO.'S, LTD., REPORT. Horses have been In steady demand, those of a f*od stamp being in»uffiol«ifc for the requirement*. An average number was entered for disposal by auction at the Durham Yards on Friday. Bidding fluctuated, but on the whole vaJues were slightly in favour of the vendor. We quote: — Heavy draagiite, £27 10« to £42; medium do., £18 15s to £3» Ids; light harness, £10 10s to £22 0s; hacks, £5 10» to £18, A hooded buggy brought £29. The racing pony Annoyed realised 73 guineas. On Friday at Manngaturoto we had a fair muster •f stock. Grown steers sold at from £5 lis to £5 17s; cows, £2 10» to £3 ss; calves, £1 to £1 ss; •horn sheep, lGs Gd. At Waiuku on Saturday there was a good yarding, and prices showed an improvement on last month. Dairy cows sold at from £4 10s to £7 lis; empty cows, £1 17s to £3; calves, £1 Is t» £1 18s; grown steers, £5 15s to £6 12s Cd; beef at Newmarket rates. We sold privately the Grange Estate, at Kaiwaka, consisting of 1870 acres, at a satisfactory figure. Cattle: At tho Newmarket Yards on Tuesday dairies and stores were yarded in usual numbers. The former were dull of sale, but the store steers said at late rates. Dairy cows sold at from £3 15s to £7 12s 6d; heifers, £4 5» to £6; empty cows, £1 18s to £3 i«; calves, £1 2s to £1 16s. Beef was yarded in average numbers, and met a keen competition, prices showing an upward tendency, although quotations aro the same, steers selling up to 36s per lttOlb, cow 18s to 225. Fat oxen sold at from £7 fis tc £12 ss; cows, £4 5s to £8. The quality of the fat cattle was scarcely up to last week. A ('"aft of steers from Mr. V. W. Manning, Faparata, averaged £11 os. Sheep: At the Newmarket Yards on Tuesday sheep were yarded in average numbers and met a hriek sale, wether* selling at from £1 Is to £1 13s, ewes 18» 6d to £1 lis, hoggets 15« 9d to £1

3s, lembs lis 9d to 16a 3d, store wethers (shorn) lGs 3d. We have sold for shipment to New Ssuth Wales 300 Shropshire rams at a satisfactory price. Pigs were represented in average numbers at Newmarket- on Tuesday. Young pigs sold at from 10s 6d to 18s ad, porkers 18s 6d to £1 2s, baconers £2 8s to £3 103. i We submitted a large catalogue of hides, skins, and tallow on Tuesday, all lines being sold under keen competition. Hides: Market firm. We quote:—Extra stout ox, CJd to lid; stout do., 6Jd to 6gd; medium do., aid to old; light do., 4{d to &Jd; cow, best lines 4Jd to SJil. good 4;d to 4jd; stags, 3Jd to 3}d; calfskins, 5Jd to Gd; damaged hides, 3Jd to 4jjd. Sheepskins Market firm Best butchers' skins, plt-E'ed, Gs lOd .to !is; medium do., lis i'd to 6s 4(1; small, 3s !'d to ss; lambs', Is 2d to 2s 2d; pelts, Is to Is fid. Tallow: Market firm. Best mixed, in shipment casks, 21s fid to 22s !)d; broken casks and packages, 20s 3d to 21s 3d; seconds, 16« »d to Ills 6d; rough fat. lid to l.'jd. Bones, .15. Cowtails, Is fid dozen. Horsehair, Is 2d to Is 4Jd. Maize; Supplies still remain very ' short and market very firm at 3s 3d on wharf far wholesale lines. Outs - Stocks are, light, and all shipments coming la hand arc finding a -eady sale at the late rise, equal to 2s Id c.i.f. Chaff has advanced to £5 os ex wharf and £5 10s ex store. Potatoes: Prime Derwents are worth £13 on wharf. Butter: Market easier. Prime separator, Sid; good. I'd to S'Jd. Cheese: Market firm; 40's, Gd; loaf, CJd. AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. The following arc Tuesday's closing prices, the business done being:—Bank of New Zealand, £7, £7 Is; South British Insurance, £5 lis, D.5.0., Limited, Ss 11.1; Waihi, .'.'U lis 6d, Waiotahi, 71s Gd. 72s Gil; Kuranui-C'alcdonian "rights," Is Id; Mahara ltoval. 2d; New May Queen, 3s 3d, 3s 3d; Victoria, Is 10d, Is lid; Auckland, 2s, 2s, 2s; Uolden Belt (paid up), 3s Id, 3s 4d, Tairua Broken Hills, Is 10.1; Wailii Extended, 5s 4d, ss. 4d; Sunbeam, lid; Pride of Waihi, !>Jd.

Sellers. Buyers. HANKS S. a. d. Si s. d. New Zealand ... 7 5 0 7 0 0 National .. •• • •• 5 15 0 ' & 13 l) INSURANCE— New Zealand ... . 5 0 0 i 18 0 FINANCIAL— N.Z. and River Plate 10 6 18 6 CO All— No it. Coal. Ltd., 7s li t paid 0 12 6 0 12 0 Taupiri Mines, Ltd. 10 0 0 13 0 Westpurt ... ... . 6 It 0 — GAS— Auckland 14 12 8 — Thames ... — 1 15 0 Glsborne ... ... ... — 1 18 0 New Plymouth — " 12 0 SHIPPING— Northern Steam, paid up ... 0 17 !i o 17 3 Northern Steam, con. ... 0 8 6 0 8 3 Dcvouport Steam Ferry . I 17 0 — TIMBER— Kauri, paid up 0 15 0 — Kauri, contributing ... 0 4 2 0 4 1 Leyland-O'Brien, Ltd. ... 2 3 U 2 3 0 Mitchelson Co. 0 8 6 0-7 6 Mountain Riniu, Ltd. ... 0 ID 6 — 1'arker-L.un'o, Ltd. — 14 0 MISCELLANEOUS— Auckland Tramways Co. ... 11 6 0 10 15 0 D.S.C., Limited " 0 9 0 0 8 10 Galbraith Iron and Steel ..018 — H.M. Arcade Theatre, Ltd. 10 6 — New Zealand DruK, £2 ... 2 6 6 — N.Z. Portland Cement C'-u. — 15 6 New Zealand Paper Mills 15 0 14 0 i Tonson Oarlick. Ltd. ... I) 19 ii — Wiseman and Sons, pre?. 0 19 0 — Wilson and Co.. pref. ... 1 0 0 — MINING— Jtirikiri 0 0 5 — Kuraaui ... 0 0 10 — Kiiranui-Caiedonia'n ... 0 3 0 0 2 7 Kuranui-Caledonian "rights" Oil 010 Mahara Iloyal ... .0 0 2 — May Queen Extended .. 0 0 5 0 0 4 New Eclipse ... ... 0 0 t>J 0 0 5J New May Queen 0 3 3 0 3 3 New Moanataiari 0 21 020 New Tina ... 0 0 6 — New Saxon ... ... .013 Oil Old Alburnia 0 1!) 0 10 Victoria 0 1 11 0 10 Waiotahi ... 3 13 0 3 12 0 i New Dart 0 0 !i 0 0 1J Auckland 0 3 3 0 1 11 Coronation, contributing ... 0 0 3 — Crown 0 5 0 — Gulden Belt, paid up ... 0 3 4 0 3 3 Golden Belt, con 0 2 7 0 2 4 Koniata Beet's 0 2 2 0 1 11 Pride of Waihi — 0. 0 8J Tairua Broken Hill* 0 2 (1 0 10 Talisman Consolidated ... 0 15 2 0 I t 7 Waihi 6 14 0 6 12 0 Waihi Beach 0 0 11J 0 0 19 Vailti Consolidated, ... 0 2 1 — Waihi Extended 0 5 6 0 5 3 Waihi Grand Junction ... — 3 8 0 Is paid ... 0 0 10 — Bunker's Hill 0 0 11 0 O 8j Hauraki Freehold 0 10 — Old Hauraki, paid up ... 0 0 8 — Old Hauraki, contributing 0 0 51 0 0 3 Sunbeam ... ... ... 0 0 5j 0 0 8 Minerals, Ltd., pref. ... — 0 18 G. A. Bdttlb, Chairman. H. P. HcDDtBSTOK, Secretary. 3.15 p.m., October 24, lit®. CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. Calls. T>u«. Waihi Beach, October 12 0 0 1 Nor. 8 New Una, October 13 ... ... 0 0 1 Nov. 3 Dividends. Du*. South British Insurance Co. ... 0 2 6 Now A. J. Entrican and Co., 6 per cent., preference shares ... ... ... ... Now Taupiri Coal Mines 0 0 9 Oct. 30 New Zealand Paper Mills ... 7 p.e. Nov. 1