COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13602, 22 November 1907, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Another busy week is reported from the. Stock Exchange. In hanks. Nationals = sold at £5 9s, and there aro sellers at £5 10s i fed, with buyers offering. £5 8s 6d. New .Zealands aro quoted at £10, and there aro buyers at £9 16*. In insurances New Zealands sold at 81s, 80s, and 80s 6d, sellers closing, at 81s, with buyers at 80s 3d. • Therearo sellers of South British at £5 12s 6d, anu. buyers of Standards at 22s New Zealand and River Plates sold at 30s, and morearo wanted at 29s 9d, sellers asking 30s 3d. National Mortgage havo demand at 665, and) sellers ask 70s. In coals Taupiris sold at 20s and 19s 9d, sellers closing at 20s, buyers offering 19s 9d. West ports changed hands at £7 17s. Hikurangis aro looked for at 17s 3d, with sellers at 18s. Northerns (10s paid) havo sellers at 15s 3d. In gas Aueklands havo sellers at £14 3s 6d, buyers £13 15s. Gisbornes are offorod at 52s 6d. New ; Plymouths are wanted at £8, with uo declared sellers. In shipping Northerns (paid up) sold at 17s 3d, and aro now offered at 17s 6d. . Dovonport Steam Ferrys aro offered at 335, without buyers. In timbers thoro aro sellers'of Kauri (paid up) at 275. Kauris (contributing) sold at from 9s 6d to 9s 7d to 9s 6d to 9s 4d, and moro are on offer at 9s sd, buyers 9s 3d. There aro buyers of Ley-land-O'Briens at 45s 6d, and of Parker-Lambs at 255. Auckland Tramways (preferential) sold at 23s 9d, at which price moro can bo placed, sellers asking 24s 3d. Ditto (contributing) sold ,at 23s 6d and 23s 10d, sellers dosing at 24s 6d, and buyers at 23a Bd. D.S.C.'s sold at 5s 7d and 5s 4d, and rnoro aro offered at 5s Bd, with buyers at 5s sd. Wilson's Portland Cements (preferential) sold at 41s, and aro still sought at the price, with sellers at 435. Wilson's ordinary aro wanted at 40s 6d, and there aro sellers at 435. Union Oils wero done at 20s 6d, sellers closing at same figure. There are buyers of Grey and Mcnzic3 at 7s 9d, and of Milne and Choyoo (preferential) at 23s 6d. The latter (ordinary)' are offored at 235. Hill and Plummers havo goners at 21s. H. M. Arcades (preferential) are offered at 21s 6d, with buyers at 2i»s. New Zealand Portland Cement* havo sellers at 31s 6d. Thoro aro sellers of Ton'son Gariicks at 20s. Wisemans (preferential) have sellors at 17s 9d, buyers at 17s, and (ordinary) sellers at 14t, buyers at 12s. In mining business has been brisk. Waihis fluctuated a little and closed firmer, selling at from £8 7s to £8 9s 6d to £8 8s 6d to £8 10s to £8 10s 6d to £8 10s 3d to £8 12s to £8 lis 9d, closing with sellers at £8 lis 9d, buyers at £8 lis 6d. Talismans firmed, business being done at from 49s 6d to 48s 9d to 51s 6d to 51s 3d to 525, with lato sellers at 52s 3d, and buyers at 51s 9d. Waihi Extondods sold at from 5s 2d to 5s Id to 5s 2d to 5s Id to 5s 8(1 to 5s 7d to 5s Bd. Waihi Beach at from 7d to BJd to 8d to 9d to 8d; Koraata Reefs at Is sd, Is 6d, and Is 7d; Crowns at from 8s lOd to 8s Id to 8s 4d; Karangahakos at from 8d to 9£d to 9d to 9£d to 9d to 9£d; Golden Belts at from 2s id to 2s 9d to 3s Id to 2s lid to 3s Id to 3s to 3d Id to 3s to 3s Id to 3s to 2s lid; Now Waitekauris at from Is to 914 to lOd to B|d to %d to 9d to lid to9Jd; Tairua Broken hills at from 5s Id to 5s to 5s 2d to 4s lOd; Champions (paid up) at 3s sd, and (contributing) at from 2s 4d to 2s 5d to 2s 4d to 2s 7cl; Watohmans at from lid to Hid to lid to Is Id to Is; Victorias at from Is 9d to Is 8d to Is 7d to Is 8d to Is 4d; Thames at from Is 2d to Is 7d to Is: 6d; May Queens at Is 2d; Waiotahis at 3s Bdj 3s 7d, and 3s 4d; Kuranui-G'aledonians at Is 2d; Old Himrakis at Is 8d; Waitangis at 3s. There- were also several transactions in smaller-priced stocks*. The wholesale distributing merchants aro at present very busy executing country order* for the Christmas trade, and a very substantial inroad is being mads in stocks which havo arrived during the past week. Indications point to present activity being well maintained for the next week or two,,, and it looks as though the volume of business handled this season will eclipse that of any previous year. ;;* The retail establishments are fooling tho benefit of tho prevailing summer" weather, whilst' trade generally is on a very satisfactory basis.. Tho Star of New Zealand has discharged 10v.O tons general cargo, and tho Wanaka. from Fiji with fruit and sugar is now discharging; tho Taluno has arrived from tho South with general cargo; the Cornwall is now duo from Sydney, and the wharves aro comparatively quiet. ..■■•• ... ■-:■-■#». • --_ j.!Vr • Asparagus: Salo■■• is• steady;- but continuous,, with local holdings rather light. :; '}■-. Camphor: Quotation has come through on a, lower basis for arrival about two months hence, so in tho meantime prices must bo maintained on tho higher level tfor spot por-' eels. .. , ' *~:. ' '.'.'..

Canary Seed: The market will probably firm up "shortly; local demand normal. Cocoa Beans: Cable to hand indicates that still higher prices must rule, and prosent scorns a good opportunity for buying. Cream Tartar: Parcels arriving and on the spot will probably bo sufficient to fill the Christmas'demand, .but shortage will bo felt early in the now year. Dates: Moving freely at the present time, with spot stocks hardly sufficient to moot the demand.

Evaporated Fruits: Apples ip good demand at enhance*! figure: peaches moving consistently, and pears rather neglected. Forward position is firm, with advances probable. Glucose: Spot stocks light, and demand normal.

Ginger: Freely inquired for, and quantities held locally should fetch good prices. Gum Arabic: Market remains very firm, with stocks held strongly in first hands. Salmon: Cable just to hand emphasises strength of tho position both in Vancouver and 'Frisco. Sardines. Advices received by cable indi-. cato an advance all round. Pig Iron: Price slightly easier for prompt shipment. Figs: Recent arrivals have met. an absorbent market, and price has moved up for balance of t.pot holdings. Seeded Raisins: Local stocks getting very low, with arrival;* 10 to 12 days off. Infants' Foods: All brands aro in good' demand, and the withdrawal of tho duty has had a stimulating effect. Canned Fruits:" Demand is very good, and as the forward market is particularly firm tlio price will bavo to advance for early arrivals.

Sicily Almond;: First of thy now crop now awaited: sales are being freely made. ' Potatoes: The Talunc brought 380 va'cks from the South. The market is not overstocked at present, but in the face, of mi expected largo shipment to arrive hero by tho Wbangapo next Monday, which will be landod at a reduced cost, merchants are billing to accept £7 ex storo for their holdings this week. It must be borne in mind that all potatoes coming to hand now havo to bo picked over, entailing extra expense. Onions: The prico for onions that have been picked over is £10 10s, but mixed lots that have t not been sorted are quoted at £7 c.i.f.e. A'fair de-maud exists.

Oats: Tlio Whangapo, which will-not arrive hero til] Monday, lias on board a quantity of oats. Those will come to a ■ market that is only lightly stocked. There is no alteration in tho ■ position; price remains at 4s 4d to 4s 6d ox store. Algerians aro worth from 4s 2d to 4s 4d, and stocks of both fee<l and eoed are running down very low. There is rjithor an improved demand for feed duns. Chaff: There is a slightly easier feeding. Stock* of Southern are sufficient for present requirements, and merchants are asking £8 to £3 10s ox store. Some of the local grown that has been forwarded to the market latelv has not given satisfaction, and complaints 'have been very rife; this kind is therefore very difficult to sell, but any lots that are prime aro worth £7 10s ex store. Maize: The Mangapapa brought 204 sacks and the Kaeo 887 sacks from the coast. Tho market is fully stocked, but there is no difficulty experienced in moving these arrivals off at 4s* 4d, the price decided upon by the association in t'ho early part of tho week. A3 an advance has taken place in Australia there is every probability of a better price ruling next week for this product. Bran: The quotation remains at £6 5s ex store: the demand is rather slack, but supplies are light. Somo of the mills aro closing down. ■ - Pol lard is worth £7 ex store, with only a moderate inquiry; stocks are not large, but" are quite sufficient. Fowl Wheat: Thcro is not a great deal doing in this; price is somewhat lower, the present quotation being 6a ex wharf. • .billing Wheat,: The position remains utv altered; holders Ido not seem inclined to givo way, and tho millers have not started to buy yet. . .. \ ~ . Fungus is in fair demand only; deliveries are about un to the usual. The quotation remains at sd. , _ Flax: Deliveries aro not excessive. There was a slight improvement in the demand tho early part of the week, but this has not been maintained, as at present there is no great eagerness to do business. Very little alteration :has been made in the prices, which ary as follows:— G.f.a.q.,* £24 10s to£2s; f.a.q., £23 5s to £23 10s; common, £20 10s to £20 15s. "'■'•', Tow is coming to hand about; as usual; the demand is slack and price remains.at about £6 153,

| Ceylon Tea: lAt tho Colombo sale of tho i 23rd ult. 1,453,6531b were offered. Tho was very disappointing, and wo can--not got away from the fact that quality'has [been steadily' falling-off, for-some time past [ riio cause of ; this can' only, be tho weather, as supplies »continuo on a moderate scale. strong, eablo advices are, in , from • London this week," and most of the buying was* dono 'for that city.' Demand is one chiefly for leaf tea and common broken .Pekoes for price, thero "being now no Pokoe Souchong 'under 39 ots. ' Common brokeus are also m good inquiry, but dearer sorts are inclined to bo irregular. A rather larger ..quantity Is likely to'bo offered for salo next week, but the .market will be quite equal to take this eft" without , any 'weakness. Australian buyers are doing practically nothing, and now that their stocks are being depleted there should soon renewed deniand from the colonies. Latest London telegrams report competition is general and well distributed, and prices continuo to advance for all grades,

KAURI GUM. The arrivals for the 21 days of November totalled 4+9 tons, showing a falling off iu comparison with last month. Tho market still remains very quiet; there seems to bo no inclination on tho part of merchants or shippers to operate oven when lower prices are asked. One or two grades, however, aro moving off, and- the values of these havo not been altered to any great, extent. There is a feeling of uncertainty as to how long this present dulness will continue, but the financial affairs in America aro no doubt having a deterrent effect on buyers. Pale select is not in .good request, but good rcscraped is moving off without any material change in value. Superior threequarter scraped ordinary is difficult to sell, 'oven at" a £15 drop on prices that were ruling a month ago. Medium ordinary is not wanted, and there is no inquiry for washed nuts. Chalk and swampy sorts are not easy to quit. '•'-.-■" _~ . East Coast is still in good request, especially so for well got up parcels, but poor lots , aro not in 6uoh good favour. Biack: Rescraped is still salable, but it is very diffioult to move off bold lumps or three-quarter scraped steel. Mixed parcels aro quite unsalable. There has been a little business doing in sugar and black nuts at reduced figures. Bush: The only grade that is wanted is pnlo rescraped; other grades are neglected, and there is no business doing in bled bush. Chips and dust are without much change. Bright, chips and dust are salable, but ordinary and diggers' chips and dust are'hard to movo off. Black riddlings, black seeds, and black dust if dry are in moderate demand.