COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13435, 13 March 1907, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

I New Zealand Herald Office. Tuesday evening. > : -i -TnißE was a fair amount of business done '" , on tho sharemarket to-day, but most mining Quotations wore a shade easier. In standard stocks New Zealand Insurances were bought ' at 84s 3d, and closed with sellers at 84s 6d, buvers 83s 9d. Taupiri Coals were dealt in "at 203, and there were further sellers at Mag 20s 3d; no declared buyers. Drury Coals ?Vl' : made ss, with no quotation at the last call. H I Kauri Timbers (contributing) found buyers Half at 6s 7d, and more were wanted at 6s 7d, M sellers asking 6s 9d. In mining Waihis I' sold from £9 Is to £9 to £9 0s 6d, closing ''. with sellers at £9 Is, buyers £9. Talismans vy- ■were dealt in from 33s 6d to 335, and more iH were available at i3s 3d, buyers offering i 32s 9d. Waiotahis were easier, sales being M from 29s to 27s to 27s 6d. There wero furfil ther sellers at 27.- 6tl, with buyers at 275. §p Tairua Broken Hills sold from 3s lid to ' 3s lOd, and closed with sellers at 3s lOcl, '.'.' buyers at 3s 9d. New May Queens brought ... 3s sd; there were further inquiry at 3s sd, - ! sellers holding for os Bd. Champions (paid H up) made 2s 8d to 2s 7d, and closed with •'-.• seller* at 2a Bd, buyers at 2s 7d. Crowns V gold from 7s lid to 7s 3d. and there were HI further sellers at 7s 9d, buyers at 7s 6d. ;' Kiiranui-Oaledonians made Is, late sellers '■ Is Id; no declared buyers. New Saxons ■••:•".' wero bought at 9d, late sellers asking lOd, '' buyers quoting 9d. Watchmans wero had t§H at 4Jd, late sellers sd, buyers 4d. Komata 1 Beefs sold at Is 9d and closed with sellers at Is lOd, buyers Is Bd. ■ ; " General business is fairly good this week and trade on tho whole is reported brisk. . The John Hardio has arrived with gene- : ral merchandise, including 15,000 cases kerosene, and retailers have taken advantage of |P the ex ship price to replenish their stocks. " ■ Seed merchants are very busy with grass 111 and clover orders. Owing to the wot weather the season is late, but burning is now g£| in full swing, and with broken weather the .•'.- operations of seed-sowing will be vigorously carried on. Peppers: Prices have been low for some time, but are now commencing to movo up. Sardines: At present moment good stocks V of smoked and ordinary are held, and some do not seem to be moving off quite so read- ' ' ily as is usual at this time of the yoar. Kicemeal: With pollard moving up in price and the scarcity of same buyers will ';': probably turn their attention to rieemoal, same being at present quoted 20s to 25s under the price of poliard. .;, Pimento: Market slightly easier, but it is : not likely to drop further. Mildura Fruit: We have seen samples of the new crop of sultanas, and same appear H to be excellent quality. The crop gonorally ■-'•■; promise* to bo a good one; in fact, so good ' that it is doubtful whether any low grade fruit will bo procurable. Kapok: The steamer Darius has sailed • from Samarang with tho quantity shut out by the Aparmia in December last. Kates for next direct sailings are practically pro- . . hibitive, which would go to prove that H the little kapok still in first hands will find ,■ ready buyers in Europe or America. Camphor: Present quotations aro very ',;,; high, and supplies oontinuo vory scarce. • : The output for months ahead has all been contracted for, and beyond this the refineries will not commit themselves. ! ;.* .'.'■■ Tinplates: The market remains firm at last quotations, and spot holdings will have to respond - to the enhanced prices which have been paid for shipments arriving. Cement is scarcer than ever. Imported ;,:;.;;„;..stocks are exhausted, and local manufac- '"."".• turers behind with orders. There can be no fresh supply here before Monday next. Lead has moved up again, and is now quoted at a point over £20 by • the last cables.

•\" Tin maintains previous figures, and is wry firm at present ' quotations. White lead has advanced again, in sympathy with the lead market, and higher rates for local stocks may bo anticipated. fencing wires are in short supply, and the Ayrshire now duo is looked for to' fill orders which arc awaiting distribution. "Quotations for all classes of fencing wire are exceedingly firm. Frozen Poultry: A shipment has been made by the &s. Kumara of 1084 ducklings and 84 chickens for the Loudon market. This season there has been considerable delay in getting birds to Auckland for the export trade. The class of birds is evidently improving, and should these realise a good price it should give a great impetus to the export of this ! produce. Many poultry-far-mers do not recognise the fact that good birds sent away from Auckland in time to catch the best market in London, say, ! March or April, are likely to be profitable. The Karamea will be taking another shipment at the end of the month. Butter: A feature of the past weok has been the smart reduction in the prices. The buvers of the season's outputs have, during jj February-March, hardly shipped anything, and the butter is accumulating very fast in tho stores. Consequently, buyers are very chary of touching April-May butter, and an export price is all that can be expected for it. , There seems to be a big supply of milled butter and also of separator, and the »alo is dragging. Sales havo been made of factory at lOd, separator at 82d, and milled '. at Bid. '■•<•'

Cheese: Contrary to expectations the London market keeps very firm, and' it now looks as if there will not bo any reduction in the prieo of cheese for the- winter. # Southern factories arc very firm in. their de'S." mands, and 6id Auckland is tho value. Seeds: Tho demand continues very keen, ' I. and all lines of ryegrass and cocksfoot ar- , . riving arc quickly taken up. Stocks of I clover are also clearing well. The value of H ryegrass is,: Canterbury, 301b seed, 6s to i 6s sd; 231b seed. 5s 9d to 6s; 261b seed, 5s 6d to 5s 9d. Tho supplies of Italian arc very light, and owing to tho poor quality of the Auckland seed this year, on account I : ' : of the floods, good samples of Southern aro selling- readily up to 5s 6d to 5s 9d. Cocks- "... foot is firming, and good bright lines of 13!b seed are costing 5;»d; lighter seed, from 5Jd to sjd. Potatoes aro firm at £6 for prime quality. i The Wimmera brought 394 sacks to this market. Southerns will be coming in ':■■] shortly, and quality is reported first-class | and free of blight. Onions: Market, still kept going by locals. The quality is favourably reported on, and H. price remains about the same. Oats: 1650 sacks arrived by the s.s. Waikare and 200 by the Victoria. These have been well distributed, and the market is very strong. At the beginning of last, week Southern merchants started offering at 2s ;■ 9d c.i.f. . Auckland. Those were readily taken up, and now they cannot bo bought : . under 3s o£d c: f. Auckland. The Southern | merchants are rinding it impossible to cover themselves for cheap sales, and as it is unlikely that there will be sufficient oats in the colony for the next nine months to satisfy tho demands further rises may take place. Dunedin reports all tho lines offered i. '■';■ at the present time aro beiri£ readily picked ; • up at high prices for local consumption. ' Wo hope to quote very shortly, as more . iota should be ready any day. Tho quality . will be much brighter than last year, although some of them may be very thin. Old oats are now practically all disposed of. Melbourne reports a rising market; holders aro showing a firm front, and supplies on the spot are still very moderate considering the time of year. Speculators aro operating freely, and millers are eagerly securing all '•.;■*••. prime qualities available. Wheat: Three thousand . sacks arrivv; ed by the s.s. Waikare and 3156 by the s.s. Victoria. Milling is firm; good business lias been done Ipj!'. in tho South, and prices advanced about a ' penny since last report. Fowl wheat is in good request ■ locally, with no alteration in price. Melbourne reports an easier mar- .' ket, partly owing to London advices and | partly to the heavier offerings. Millers > i,;, who have been operating fairly extensively ■ during the last few weeks arc now holding off. Shippers are handicapped by tho firmness in freights, in face of lower quota- • . lions from London. - Chaff is coming in rather slower, and the ;:?.. market is inclined to be stronger for prime quality. . Bran: The Waikare brought 285 sacks ;,'; only. Local demand is strong; Dunedin reports stocks very light. •i ;. Pollard: Thirty sacks reached this market. ..;". by the Waikare; there is a good demand at .'ate prices. ■}.?. Maize: The Paeroa brought a small shipment from the coast, and this, with about 250 sacks from Sydney by tho Wimmera, constitute the whole of supplies. Brokers Ji«d no difficulty in placing in wholesale lines at 3s 4d ex wharf. Barley is reported easier in the South, rally ono shilling a bushel below tho prices paid at opening of season. >y, Bonodusts Tho Wimmera, brought 310 • Books. There is no alteration to report a ipjljfiood. demand : still exist:-.

Manures: ■', A further supply: of 760 sacks came to |hand by the s.s., Wimmora, and was promptly distributed. ... • Basic slag ex Herzogin Sophie Charlotte is now in store, and is selling freely. Timber; Nothing striking has occurred in the kauri, but there is an increased demand for white pine, which the various mills arc quite able to fill; probably higher prices will rulo for this class of timber The" demand is mostly from Australia. Wool: A few straggling lots are coming in from tho country settlers in the backblocks and realise late rates. The next London sales? will be hold on the- 12th inst., when it is expected that crossbred will realise about the same price as the closing rates of previous sale, but that Merino will advance about five per cent. Hides: The market is fairly bar* and supplies aro subject to keen competition. .Skins: Thero is not a largo quantity arriving. "Values do not vary much. Tallow: Market, very firm, with fairly large quantity offering. Flax: Tho feature of the week has been tho absenco of any inquiry from England, and it is remarkable how the market keeps as steady as it docs in the colony. Thero is still a fair quantity of inferior flax arriving. Good fair is " worth £34; fair, £32; and common, £30. Ceylon Ten,: Supplies aro arriving only on a moderate seal'-, and at the Colombo auction, held on the 13th ulfc., 15,747 packages, equalling 1,215,0441b, were offered. Quality showed an improvement in medium to high grown estates, but low country teas remain about, tho same. Thero was a strong demand, and pricos further advanced for all kinds, perhaps with the exception of finest, sorts, but. anything with really stand out liquor shared in the advance. Russian buyers were competing strongly for all leaf kinds Pekoe Souchongs in a good many instances jumped up five cents per pound. Demand chiefly runs on leaf tea up to 9d per lb, but tho inquiry is good all round, and more interest is being shown in good class teas. Although prices may seem high we cannot, call them inflated, as the healthy position of tea thoroughly justifies the present market. Our opinion is that the market, will bo maintained. We quote: Dust, 32 cents; fanmngs, fair tip. 37 cents; common Pekoe Souchong, 38 cents; common Pekoe, for price, 40 cents; broken Pekoe, for price, 40 cents; same with some tip, 43 cents. Indian Tea: A large proportion of the offerings at the last Calcutta auction were vcrv ragged and stalky in appearance. A number of good autumnal flavoured Dooars and Assam invoices were included, but these were nearly all " last of tho season." Common tea was dearer, medium and good kinds very firm. Wo quote: Common Pekoe Souchong, 6jd; common Pekoe, 7d per lb. . , .'■••-", •With reference to the outlook for production, India, on account of its vast area, holds the key of the market, but the island of Ceylon is" from our point of view in a more enviable position. It looks as if Ceylon had now about reached the limit of its production. The interest in rubber has of course been great, and the planting of rubber trees has been engaged in vigorously by various proprietors of tea areas. The rubber tree, however, works to the detriment of the tea while planted among the tea bushes, by exhausting the moisture in the soil and causing too dense shade, and the tea area of Ceylon will thus bo greatly circumscribed.. It is a question if it can be any further extended or if the tea product can be at all increased. The demand, however, for Ceylon tea is certainly on the increase, and so the price must continue to ripe even beyond the present high prices as quoted above. Kauri Gum: The arrivals for 11 days of this month amount to 259 tons; a largo proportion of this consisted of black grades, the white to hand being mostly low grade. Tho bulk of tho supplies were promptly distributed, and stocks in brokers' hands are on the small side. Old stocks are principally white, chips, chips and dust, certain grades of black chips, and medium grade bush, for which there is not much demand at present. Chips, however, command a better price when sold in bulk. .

Some shippers lately have, been pressed for room, and. could ,not, take prompt delivery of their purchases, but this state of things has been remedied by the shipment of 159 tons by the s.s. Kumara, 245 tons by, tho s.s. Kent, and 113 tons by the. s.s. Op aw a. Transparent and Palo Select: There is only a limited supply, and all lines that do not contain bush can be quitted at satisfactory rates. Rescraped ordinary is coming in a little more, freely, but not sufficient' to meet the demand. There is no alteration in values.

Ordinary: Good, hard three-quarter-scraped of good colour is keenly competed for,, and commands, high (figures if > free of chips and dust.' White nut?, if sieved, are in good request at slightly higher rates. There has also been a better demand for medium grades. Tho inquiry for hard swamp continues, and generally tho market is very firm. ' r East Coast: Very little offering; good lines meet with steady demand at late rates.

Black: Although supplies arc still a trifle above the average good business has been done at the old rates. Three-quarter-scraped, bold lumps, and rescraped arc readily emitted. Mixed lots, cons'sting of No. 1 and lower grades, are the most difficult lines to place unless offered at a reduction. Nuts arc in good request. Hough, bold suear is asked for, but it is a scarce commodity. Tie small difference in value between this and scraped sucrar hardly pays for the time spent, on the latter. Bush: There is a good dem'STtcl for rescraped if not too dark in colour. Dark and mixed lines are not inquired for at present. Good hard nuts are wanted. Chips and Dust: Nothing fresh to report; pood business is being done in black and white dusts and black riddlings. NEW ZEALAND LOAN t AND MERCANTILE AGENCY COMPANY'S, LTD., REPORT. Horses: On Friday, at the Durham Yards, wo bad a full yarding of horses of all descriptions. Competition was keen lor anything of o good stamp. • Heavy draughts sold at from £32 5s to £45; medium do., £21 10s to £37; light harness hones and. hacks, £5 5» to £21; dogcart, £15 10s; spring cart, £12. On Wednesday, at Papskura, we hod a, good muster of stock of all descriptions. Prices were somewhat lower than the previous month. We quote Dairy cows, £3 15s to £6 ss; do., heifers. £3 la to £4 12s 6d ; empty cows, £1 15s to £3 &*; grown steers, £4 iCe to £5 15s; two to three-year-old do., £3 5s lo £4 17s 6d; calves, 15b to £1 7s; beef at Newmarket rates. Cattle: At the Newmarket Yards on Tuesday there was a moderate number of dairy and store cattle yarded and an .average supply of beet". Dairy cows sold at from £3 10.3 to £5 15s ; empty cows, £1 18s to £3 Bs. Ridding tor beef was briskeT than the previous week, and good quality improved in price. Ox b«-f «old to 22s per 1001b; cow. 17s to 20s. Steers sold at from £6 17s 6d to £9 17s 6d; cows, £3 17s 6d to £6 12s 6d. No heavy fat cattle were yarded. Sheep were yarded in less numbers Hun usual at the Newmarket Yards on Tuesday and advanced in prices, wethers selling at from 10s 9d to £1 2s 9d, ewes 15s 5d to 19s. Lambs sold at from 13s 6d to IBs Od for well-fatted ; other sorts, 9s 9u to 12s 9d. Pigs': Porkers sold-at from IBs 6d to £1 15s; weaners, 7s 6d to 19s 9d; baconers, £1 4a to £2 78. We submitted an average catalogue of hides, skins, and follow on Tuesday, all lines meeting with good competition at late rates. (licks: Market Arm. We quote--Extra stout ox, 7Jd to 8d ; stout do., 6Jd to 6'd ; medium do.. 6,; d to 6jd ; light do., 6Jd to bid; row, best lines 6jd to 6{d, good 5Jd to 6d; stags', 4.[d to 4gd; kips, 5Sd to ori ; calfskins, 6Jd to 6id ; damaged hides, 3jd to s'd. Sheepskins : Market firm. Best butchers* skins, up to 8s; medium, os 6d to 6e 6d ; small, 3s 6d to 4s 3d; pelts and lambs', 2s to 3s sd. Tallow: Market firm. Rest mixed, up to 265; good, 24s to 25s 3d: seconds, 20s 5d tc 22s 6d; rough fat. ljd pet lb. Bones, £4 15s. Cowtails. Is 6d dozen. Horsehair, Is 3d to Is B|d. Wool, in bags and dumps: Fine crossbred, 3d to 9jd; coarse crossbred, Bid to Dd; lambs', Bci to 9Jd; bellies and pieces, 4d to bid; locks, 3Jd '.o A'kA. Maize: No fresh supplies ami market nominally 3s sd. Oats are firm at 3» 2d ex store; supplies very short. Wheat-: Selling freelv at 3s B}d ex store. Chaff: Oood colour. £5 5s to £5 10s; brightSouthern, £6 to £6 ss. Potatoes. £6 10s ex store. Butter: Slightly easier tor good grades; poor to medium grades, 7|d to Bd. Cheese, 6ld ex store. Gum: No. 1, V£j: No. 2, 755; No. 3, 455; black, 725. 423, and 30s. NEW PLYMOUTH WOOL, SKIN, HIDES, AND TALLOW SALES.

Wilson and Nolan report :— We lipid our usual monthly tale on Wednesday, March 6, in our Brougham-street store. We submitted a large catalogue, among which was perhaps the best lot of hides ever sold in Tnranaki. Wool was sold at about late rates. Hides were keenly competed for and showed an advance on last month's prices. Skins and pelts sold well at advanced rates. Tallow advanced about la a, cwt. We quote :— Wool in bags : Lambs', 7|d to Bid ; fleece, 7jd to 91; locks and pii ces, 3d to 6d ; dead wool, 5d to bill. No bale wool offered, and most of the hag lota were very rough. Hides : Butchers' cow, light, 6d to 6id ; medium, 6Jd to 6jd: heavy, 6]d to 61 d ; butchers' ox, bid to 6Jd ; butchers' cow, damaged, s£d to 5Jd ; butchers' ox. cut, 5Jd to 6d ; settlors' cow, 4jd to 6d, according to condition. Calfskin*: In good condition, 2s 4d to 3s; damaged. lOd to 2s 3d ; kips, 5d to 5Jd. Sheepskins: Pelts, salted, good butchers', 2s 7d to 4s, salted lambskins. 3s 2d to 4s 3d; dry lambskins, 4s 3d to 6s 6d. ■Tallow in casks : Best. 24« 6d to 25s 9d ; medium, 23s to 245; inferior, 17s to 19*. Horsehair; Is 5d per lb. ! Bones ' £3 ss. Horns: Inferior, 4* per cwt. • ' > , Tails: Is 4d per dozen.

> AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. " The closing prices for Tuesday are as follow, the galea affected being New Zealand Insurance, 84s 3d; Taupiri Coal, 20a; Drury Coal, 5«; Kauri Timber (contributing), 6s 7d ; Waihi,' £9 Is. £9 Is, £9, £9 0s 6d; Talisman, 33» 6d, 33„; W3lO- - 29«, 28s 9d, 27« sd, 27», 27s M ; Crown, 7s lid, 7a 9d ; Tairua Broken Utile, 3s lid, 33 lOd, 3s lOd ; New, May Queen, 39 sd; Champion (paid up), 2* Bd, 2a 7d, 2a 7d; Kuranui-Caledonian, Is; New Saxon, 9d, 9d; Watchman, 4Jd ; Komata Reefs, It 9d. Sellers. . Buyers. £ s. d. £ a. d. BANKS— New Zealand 10 14 0 — National — 5 5 0 INSURANCE— New Zealand ..< ... 4 4 6 4 3 9 National 16 6 16 3 South British 5 7 0 5 5 0 Standard 113 10 9 FINANCIAL— N.Z. and River Tlate ... 1 10 0 18 6 COAL— llikuransri — 0 15 6 Nort Coal, Ltd., 10s paid 0 16 6 0 16 0 Taupiri Mines, Ltd. ... 1 0 .3 — We»tport 7 6 0 — GAS— Oisborne 2 14 0 2 13 0 SHIPPING— Northern Steam, paid up 0 18 0 Northern Steam, con. ... 0 8 4 0 8 3 Devonport Steam Kerry... 1 16 6 — TIMBER— Kauri, paid up 0 18 3 0 17 : 9 Kauri, contributing ... 0 6 9 0 6 7 Leylahd-O'Brien, Ltd. ... 2 6 6 — Mountain Rimu, Ltd. ... — 10 0 Parker-Lamb, Limited ... — 15 3 WOOLLEN— Kaiapoi 5 5 0 — MISCELLANEOUS— Auckland Tramways Co., pref. ... 13 3 12 9 Auckland Tramways Co., ord. — 14 9 D.S.C., Limited ... 0 7 6 0 7 3 Hill and I'luinmer, Ltd... 110 10 0 H.M. Arcade Theatre Co., pref. — 10 0 N.Z. Paper Mills ... — 13 9 Union Oil 10 6 — Wilson and Co., pref. ... — 16 6 Wilson and Co., ord. ... — 15 3 MINING— Bonanza, paid 0 0 9 0 0 7 Bonanza, contributing ... 0 0 6 0 0 5 Kuranui-Caledonian ... 0 1 1 — Magnet, contributing ... 0 0 3 — Mnv Queen Extended ... 0 0 7£ 0 0 6 New Dart 0 0 7£ 0 0 5£ . New May Queen 0 3 8 0 3 5 New Moanatniari 0 10 0 0 8 New Monowai 0 10 — I New Occidental ... ... — 0 0 li | New Saxon 0 0 10 0 0 9 New Sylvia. 0 0 6 0 0 5J Old Alburnia 0 2 0 — Southern Queen, 6d paid 0 I) 64 0 0 5 Thames 0 0 74 0 0 6 Trafalgar 0 0 3* — • Victoria ... 0 0 10 — Waiotahi 17 6 17 0 Waitangi 0 3 6 0 3 2 Watchman ... • 0 0 5 0 0 4 Kapowai, contributing ... 0 0 10£ — South Kapanga 0 0 6 0 0 5 Auckland ... 0 0 6 0 0 4 Champion, pud up ... 0 2 8 0 2 7 Champion, contributing... 0 16 0 13 Crown 0 7 9 0 7 6 Golden Belt, paid ... 0 1 4 0 11 Golden Belt, con. ... 0 1 0 0 0 8 Kirikiri, contributing ... 0 0 9 — Komata Reefs 0 1 10 0 18 1 MaoriUnd, paid 0 0 10 — New Waitekauri 0 0 8J 0 0 7 Pride of Waihi 0 0 9 0 0 7j : Rising Sun 0 0 7 0 0 5 Tairua. Broken Hills ... 0 3 10 0 3 9 Talisman Consolidated ... 1 13 3 1 12 9 , Waihi 9 10 9 0 0 Waihi Beach 0 0 8£ 0 0 74 Waihi Consolidated ... 0 1 7 0 14 Waihi Extended 0 6 10 0 6 9 Waihi Grand Junction ... 2 3 6 22 6 Sunt" am Gold and Silver, .»'»'■ Is 6d paid ... ... 00 9£ 00 9 H. L. No.ucks, Secretary; G. A. Buttle, Chairman. 3.15 p.m., March 12, 1907. CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. Dividends. Bank of Australasia 2 5 0 Mar. 30 Calls. Waihi Extended. February 18 ... 0 0 2 Mar. 18 Trafalgar, March 2 0 0 04 Mar. 22 Southern Queen, February 27 ... 0 0 1 Mar. 25 Kapowai, March 6 0 0 1 Mar. 26 New Dart. March ll 0 0 1 Mar. 20 Golden Belt, March 11 ... ... 0 0 1 Mar. 27 New Saxon, March 11 ... 0 0 04 Mar. 27 New .Moanataiari, March 11 ... 0 0 0j Mar. 27 Moanataiari Extended, March 12 0 0 1 April 4 Sunbeam Gold and Silver Mining • Company, March 12 0 0 1 April 3