COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13647, 15 January 1908, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

iNOTHJBB fairly busy day was experienced on * the sharemarfcet yesterday. .'-'IB* investment - linea Taupiri Coals sold at 20s, at which ; price more were in demand, with sellers at ; 80s 3d. A line o||A.uckland Gas was placed at'JBH TOs, late sellers asking £14- lis, with buyers offering, £1* 8a 6d. Kauri Timbers (cons.) 'sold at 9s*7fl, with more on offer at game price, buyers 9s 6d. Wilson's Portland Cements (ordinary) were done at 435, sellers dosing at 445, buyers at 42s 9d. In mining linea Bonanzas (cont.), sold .at 4£d; May Queens at 2s Id; New Sylvias at Is 6d; Scandinavians at sd, Waiotahis, influenced by the last report from the mine, wore firmer, and sellers tight. Business -was done at 3s lOd and 4s, and at closing time the selling price was 4's, with buyers at 3s lOd. Waitangis changed hands at 3s 6dj Watchmans at Bid; Hauraki Freeholds at 6id; Old Haurakis at 2s lOd; South Kapangas at 3d. Crowns sold at 7s Bd, at which price more were offered, buyers 7s 6d. Gol- • den Belts also eased, with sales at 2s 9d and 2s 7d, and late sellers at 2s 7d, with buyers at 2s 6d. Karangahakes had free sab at fluctuating prices, lines changing hands at from 2s 3d to Is lid to 2s to Is lOd to la lid, sellers closing at Is lid, buyers St. Is 10d.. Taihoas sold at 8d; Tairua Golden Hills (6d paid) at ll£d and Is; Tairua Broken Hills at 4s. Talismans were firm, -with sales at 52s 3d and 52s 6d, more being wanted at tho latter price, sellers asking Sss. »* aihis wero fairly firm, selling at £8 7s_. £8 7s 3d, and. £8 7», with late sellers at £8 7s 3d, and buyers at £8 6s 9d. Waihi Beaoh sold at 3£d; Ngatiawas at 2s 3d |r and Aupouris at 3id. General distributing business being handled by "tho wholesale merchants is maintained on a. normal basis; .the early months of the year are not generally characterised by any special activity, . and a mild re-action after tho. Christmas trade is, almost expected; rtocks in merchants' hands, however, are in very good compass and attention is now being given to the ordering of lines most called for in the winter months. The clothing and other factories are kept very busy, whilst there is also a very notice»blo activity in tho building and allied trades. . , . The Waihora has left for the South to complete her discharge and the Sofala (from Eastern ports) can be looked for any day now; the Boveric has arrived after a very quick passage from San Franoisco, and after discharging 600 tons of cargo for New Zealand port* left for Sydney yesterday. The Victoria and Zealandia have been engaging attention of the wharf hands, the former continuing her voyage to tho South on Tuesday, whilst tho latter has sailed for Sydney with a good number of passengers and- cargo. The Indramayo is now-due from tho South to complete loading for London. Arrowroot: Price is maintained, with little prospect of any'appreciable alteration in the near future. American' Canned Goods: A limited demand is bein<r experienced for fancy meats, but with the focal canning companies actively catering for this class of trade the American article cannot expect to regain the demand which was existent a few years ago. Barley: The American crop has been •mall, but,shows very good quality. . Cornflour.: All brands in good demand, and we should not be surprised to see higher prices being demanded shortly. Turpentine: After, touching a comparatively low figure, tho market has quickly recovered. Cinnamon Chips: Price is now quoted on a lower level. Hempseed: Easier for prompt shipment, but local requirements have practically been covered.. Canary Seed: Advices by cable indicate a weaker tendency. Tapioca: Market does not yet appear to have touched bottom. „ Herrings: Owing to a very good catch, it is expected that prices will have to come down. ••" " ; l ■finplates: A further drop is notified by cable. . "'Shellac': Price is at present at a safe operating level. .'"'-■" Evaporated Fruits:. 'Frisco advisee, that prices for the, time being are nominal, and. as soon as the financial stringency is relaxed, i a firming up will fake place. Pears are not receiving any attention.locally, whilst apples *nd peaches arc moving slowly; the market is practically bare of apricots. '"' ■■ '' ;.. Infant' •Foods: All brands in good de- ! i»arm*" > the reduced figures. VilGfeittonseed Oil: Market,is steady at.last, (notation. ' ", ...'.. ...... fanned' Oysters:, Local demand is normal,. wifji spot holdings sufficient for all require-' 'ments. .■;•■ u. _ ■ -.-. ■ ?• - Sardines: Receiving very good attention at "present time. Local stocks are not heavy, ArtCF**"higher- prices will have to be asked v shortly. '. ~:■... Jrse>:. Tho first sale of the year took place, last week when large catalogues were submitted" by all the brokers. Prices were sronerally^lower, especially for cow-hides and light.x?sc;- kip, yearling, and calfskins, and alt-rough hide % s arc hard to place. - {JHeepskiiis:, Fair catalogues were offered ■ at;tt'tie' r sales and prices remained about the same. Tallow: The - market was well supplied, »nd prices, ruling wero slightly lower than last quotations. _ Potatoes: There have been no importations from the South this week, and we are now .depending solely on the local production.'.the quality of which is quite satisfactory. '.':' Merchants are asking £13 per ton, ex: store. The demand is good, but there is sufficient coming forward to meet all requirements. ' . '; Onions: Local-grown are the only source of production at the present time, and they are sent forward more freely; demand continues good, price remaining at £9 ex store. Oats: The market is decidedly weaker. Stocks in town are light and business isonly of a hand-to-hand character. The price ex:; store is nominally 3s 2d. It is anticipated that the Southern crops will be ready" much earlier -than usual, but it must -bo borne in .mind-that any bad weather will alter -matters. <•■

Maize: The arrivals this week consist of--1154 sacks by the Kaeo, 14* by the Aupouri, and 43 by the Mangapapa, from the Coast. It was thought that this heavy supply would tend towards bringing prices down,- but as Blocks held here were very light, no' difficulty has been experienced in upholding last week's rates; holders arc asking 4s 7d ex store. ... , Fowl ..Wheat: The market is steady. Supplies from the South 'are offering more freely,; and demand continues fairly good,' 5s 4d being obtained ex store. Chaff: There is no alteration in the position, but the demand, is principally for old chaff,' both Southern and local grown. For the Southern. £6 10s is being asked, and £5 10s for the local. Very lev; transactions have taken place in new season's, as consumers are confining their attention chiefly to,the ~ old atpresent. Bran is very, firm, the demand is brisk, and supplies are difficult to obtain; £5 10s es'store is the ruling quotation. ■ Bollard: There is an increasing demand, and stocks are small, which is keeping the market very firm, the price at present being £6 12s'6d ex store.

Manures: There is a good demand for Calcutta bonedust, with an increasing inquiry. The Waihora brought a good cargo from India, which enabled merchants to fill their orders. The next shipment will not be due here till about May. Fungus: The supplies are not coming forward very freely, the demand is slackening off, and exporters are endeavouring to bring the price down to Aid for January. Flax: The deliveries to the 13th inst. reached 1087 bales, equal to about 197 tons. A considerable portion/of this, is only passing as common and fair, very little, of it Roing through as g'.f.a.q. The latest advices from London show very -little alteration in that market, nor do we anticipate any rise, as the quantities of Manila coming, forward are excessive, and Sisal is also beini>. put on the London market in largo quantities; both these fibres compete with the New Zealand hemp. The present quota-tions-are:—£23 15s to £2+ for g.f.a., £22 5s to £22 10s for f.a., and £19 for common,' . ihe latter being most difficult to place. Tow is not being sent forward in very ?reat quantities. Demand for this is veryslack, £5 being about the best price that exporters are able to give. Cevlon Tea: The closing Colombo sale of Pie year consisted of 2,340,2301b5. With Wge orders in the market from all sources, * brisk demand was experienced for all kinds, and common tea in particular showed an advanco of 2ots. ; per lb. Improvement in *; quality is noticeable, and some of tho belli "class teas were in good inquiry. The most attention, however,: is .bestowed on common sorts, and buyers' ideas of value of C better quality appear to vary a good deal. ■There-is therefore some irregularity in prices of these. Duet and fanning? are also v fetching higher priocs, and are not unlikely ■to advance further. Stocks are very moderate; and we doubt very much if the- advance. ',-. has jet reached its. limit. Our .private wire 10-day reports the market has advanced two seats. '.. "'.■■■'■•■

Indian Tea: At tho Calcutta auctions the twenty-ninth Bale was held, when some 21,0«y packages were offered. Quality showed improvement on recent offerings; and the percentage of good teas from Dooara and Assam was considerably greater. Oachars and Sylhots also wore more attractive, and a few invoices from those districts had a touoh of flavour. Darjeelings were rather email lots generally and were again good, and practically all of tho crop from there is now disposed of. There was a particularly strong demand for all grades and tea generally was dearer, this being most marked on medium .leaf grades, which, when showing any improvement in quality, were appreciably dearer. Dusts met with more demand from buyers for the Hankow brick trade, and this waa reflected in prices. Commonest " price tea" leaf and broken closed a point dearer; good ordinary common leaf and brokens marked one to two pie advance. Medium leaf sorts closed dearer; but whero the liquors possessed quality or flavour prices were better, and competition on such lines was very keen. Broken Pekoes continued to recover further in popularity. The trade has become used to extensive operations on Russian account on this "market, but it is probable that a larger proportion of tho sale than ever was absorbed for this outlet. Yesterday morning, news was received of a flat lying off Kidderpore, with four to six thousand packages', of Assam tea on board, being on fire, and in all probability the whole of this will be destroyed.

KAURI GUM. The arrivals for 14 days of January reached 161 tons. This light, supply indicates that cither the diggers arc holding the gum in the country or else they are. leaving the fields. There is no doubt that tho unsteadiness of the market is stopping storekeepers from buying, and tho diggers, having been used of late to such good prices, aro now dissatisfied with what they are offered, and in many cases are leaving tho fields and turning their attention to somo other labour. There was not a great bulk of business doing last week, tho principal transactions being confined to East Coast, medium ordinary, black riddlings, and black dust. A fair proportion of the supplies coming forward consists of. the two last-mentioned grades. Palo Select: Very little arriving, with no demand. Ordinary: There have been some inquiries for rescraped, but prices demanded by brokers have ovidently boon too high to lead to business. Supplies are not heavy. Superior ordinary has been moving off in small quantities where the late rates have been accepted. Somo fair sales of medium Ordinary have taken place and also washed nuts free from dust. The demand for chalk and swampy sorts is not very strong. East Coast: Arrivals are very light. The demand still continues good, _ there being very little alteration in the price. Black: There aro buyers of good rescraped, but bold lumps well cleaned aro not in request. There is very little business doing in three-quarter steel, even at tho reduction in price. Medium blacks and black nuts are moving off in small lots, as is also black sugar; but low prices have to be accepted. Bush: There aro steady buyers of pale rescraped. Other grades of bush do not. seem to be in favour, except good nuts, which are soiling at very low values. There is nothing doing in bled bush. Chips and Dust: There is, very little alteration in the state of things. Rescraped chips and dust are not coming forward very freely, but the demand is not good. Ordinary chips are difficult to quit, and there is no business doing in diggers' ordinary chips and dust. Black riddlings, black seeds, and coarse black dust, if dry, meet with a ready sale. ..■•-'

AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. BUSINESS DONE YESTERDAY. Previous day's closing galea. £ 8. & TaiiDiri Coal Mines—2nd call, 20b ... 1 0 0, Auckland Gas— call, £14 10a ... — Kauri Timber (con.)—2nd call, 9a 7d ... 0 9 5 Wilson's Portland Cement (ord.)—2nd call, 43a — Bonanza (con.)—3rd call, 4|d ... ... — May Queen— coll, 2s ... ... 0 2 0 New Sylvia—lst call.. Is 6d ... ... — Scandinavian—2nd call, 6d ..." ... 0 0 5 Waiotohi—2nd call, 3s lOd; 3rd call, 4s 0 3 2 Waitangi—2nd call, '3s 6d ....... 035 Watchman— call, B£d ... ..» ... — Hauraki Freehold— call, 6£d ... — • ) • Old Hauraki—lst and 3rd calls, 2s 10d... 0 2 10 South Kapanga—3rd call, 3d ... ■ ... ■■—- Crown—2nd call. 7s ,Bd:' ... ... — •;■ Golden Belt— call, 2a 9d; 3rd' call, 2s 7d 0,2 9 Karangahakc—lat call, 2a 3d, 2s 2d,. 2s Id, Is lid; 2nd call, Is lid, 2b, la lid. Is lOd; 3rd call, Is lOd, is lid 0 2 4 Taihoa—2nd call, 8d ' . ... — Tairua Golden Hills (6d paid)—2nd call, Hid. is ... ... ... 0 0 Hi Tairua Broken Hills— call, 4s ... — Talisman—2nd call, 62s 3d; 3rd call, 52s 6d - '2 12 6 Waihi-2nd call, £8 7s, £8 7fl 3d, £8 7s 8 7 6 Waihi Beach— call, 34d — Ncatiawa—3rd call, 2s 3d 0 2.3 Aupouri— call, 3Jd — CLOSING QUOTATIONS. Sellers. Buyer*. £ s. d. £ u. d. BANKSNew Zealand 9 16 0 — National ... 5 7 0 5 5 0 INSURANCE— New Zealand 4 3 0 — National 18 0 — South British ... ... 5 17 6 5 12 6 FINANCIAL— N.Z. and River Plate ... 1 10 9 19 6 COALHikurangi 0 18 . 0 0 17 0 Nort. Coal, 10s paid ... — 0 15 9 Taupiri Mines, Ltd. ... 10 3 10 0 Drury ... 0 5 0 — GAS— Auckland 14 11 0 14 8 6 Gusbome 2 13 0 2 12 0 SHIPPING— Northern, con. 0 8 3 -— Devonport Steam Ferry 1 14 0 1 11 6 TIMBER— Kauri, con. 0 9 7 0 9 6 Parker-Lamb, Limited ..166 160 MISCELLANEOUS— Auckland Tramways, pref. — 14 3 Auckland Tramways, ord. 15 0 14 3 D.S.C., Limited ... ... 0 5 4 0 4 10 Grey and Mcnzies, pref. 0 12 3 0 11 6 Hill and Pluminer, Ltd.... 0 19 6 0 19 0 H.M. Arcade Theatre Co., pref. 116 10 0 H.M. Arcade Theatre Co., ord. 10 0 0 18 3 Milne and Choyee, pref. 14 6 13 6 New Zealand Drug, £2 .. — 2 10 0 N.Z. Portland Cement Co. 1 9 6 18 9 New Zealand Paper Mills 14 0 13 6 Tonsoii Garlick Co., Ltd. 10 0 — Union Oil 10 6 10 0 Wiseman and Song, ord 0 14 0 0 12 0 Wilson's Portland Cement Co.. pref -- 2 3 0 Wilson's Portland Cement Co., ord. 2-4 0 22 9 MINING— Bonanza, paid 0 0 7 0 0 5J Bonanza; con 0 0 5 0 0 4£ Halcyon 0 0 5; 0 0 44 Kurauui 0 0 10 0 0 8 Kiiranui-Caledonian ...010. — Magnet, paid up 0 0 7 — Magnet, con. 0 0 3 — May Queen • 0 2 0 0 1 11 May Oueen Extended ... 0 0 6 0 0 4 New Hart — 0 0 3; New Moanataiari 0 0 10 0 0 6 New Monowai 0 0 5 0 0 4 New Una ,■ '. 0 0 7.J — New Saxon ... ... 0 0 11 0 0 10 New Sylvia ... 0 13 0 17 Old Alburnia. 0 14 0 12 Scandinavian ... ... 0 0 6 0 0 &i Temple Bar 0 0 2 — Thames ... 0 15 0 12 Victoria 0 17 0 15 Waiotahi .. ... ..040 0 3 10 Waitangi ... 0 5 7 0 3 5 Watchman 0 0■ Si, 0 0 8{ Blackwater, paid up .. — 0 17 6 Hanraki Freehold ..007 0 0 6J Old Hauraki Gold Mine* 0 2 10 0 2 9 Old Kapanga 0 0 2 — South Kapanga 0 0 3 0 0 24 Tangiaro 0 0 7 0 0 5J Comstock. con .010 006 Champion, paid up ... 0 5 0 0 4 6 Champion, con 0 4 6 0 4 2 Crown 0 7 8 0 7 6 Durbar ... ■■■ ... 0 0 6 — Golden Belt 0 2 7 0 2 6 Golden Cross • 0 0 4.} 0 0 3i Kirikiri, paid ...... 0 0 8 0 0 5 Killkiri. con 0 0 5 0 0 3 Karangahake. 0 1 11 0 1 10 Komata Reels 0 18 015 New Waitekauri 0 0 7 0 0 6 Pride of Waihi 0 0 6 — Rising Sun ..... 0 0 9 — Taihoa 0 0 84 0 0 8 Tairua Golden Hills, 9d paid — Oil Tairua Golden Hills, 6d paid 0 11 010 Tairua Broken Hills ... 0 4 0 0 3 10 Tairua Extended ... 0 0 5 0 0 U Tairua Triumph, con. ... 0 2 7 0 2 3" Talisman Consolidated ... 2 13 0 2 12 6 Waihi .... ■ 8 7 3' 869 Waihi Beach. ... ... - 0 0 21 Waihi Consolidated ... 0 1 9 0 16 Waihi Extended 0 5 1 0 4 9 Waihi Grand Junction ... 1 8 0 16 0 Te Puke Reefa 0 10 0 0 6 Ngatiawa . ... 0 2 4 0 2 3 Aupouri 0 0 4i 0 0 3 \CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. Dividend*. < National Bank of New Zealand lOp.c. Now Okfifauraki Gold Mines, Dec. 10 0 0.1 Now New Maratofco, December 9 ... 0 0 0* Jan. 16 Rising Sun, 1 December 10 ... 0 0 1 Jan. 15 May Queen, December 23 ... 0 0 1 Jan. 21) Bonanza, January 3 0 0 1 Jan. 22

NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY CO.'S REPORT. Horses continue in good demand, more than average numbers being: brought forward. Heavy draughts sold at from £26 ltte to £38; medium do., £21 to £32 ss; light harness horses, £10 10a to £19; hack*, £5 5» to £16 10s; Courtland waggon, £30; gpring-cart, £12 10s. Cattle: At the Newmarket Yards on Tuesday there was an average yarding of dairy and store cattle and a full supply of beef. Dairy cows sold at from £3 10s to £7 15*; heifera, £3 2s 6d to £5 15s; empty cows, £2 2a to £3 2* 6d; calve*, 17s to £1 Bs. Bidding for beef was scarcely as brisk as the previous week, oxen selling to 21« per 1001b and cow* 13s to 20s •per 1001b. Steers sold at from £6 10s to £9 17s 6d; cows, £4 5s to £6 17s 6d. - Sheep were penned in full numbers at Newmarket on Tuesday and sold under steady competition. Wethers realised from 16s 6d to £1 Os 9d; ewe*, 15a to 19a 9d; lambs, 7a 3d to 16s 6d; hoggets, 12s to 16s 9d. Pigs: Porkera sold from £1 Is to £1 19s; baeoners, £2 4s to £3 3s; weaners, 7« 6d to 15a. AtPukekohe on Wednesday there waa a good yarding of stock, which sold under steady competition at late rates. Dairv cows sold at from £4 5s to £7 15s: heifers, £3 10s to £6 15s; empty cows. £1 17s 6d to £3 6a; grown steers, £4 15» to £6 28 6d; two to three-rear-old do., £2 15s to £4 7« 6d; yearlings. £1 17s to £2 18s; calves, 15s to £1 6s. Beef, of which 89 head were (fold, realised fully Newmarket rates. Maize i* slow of sale at 4s 7d ex store. Wheat is quoted at, 5s 6d ex store. Oats realise 3s 5d ex store, and are very slow of sale. Chaff: Good quality realises £4 10s ex store, poor quality being hard to quit. Butter: First grade registered, 9jd : second grade registered, 9d. First grade milling, 8d; second grade milling, 7Jd. Cheese is very slow of sale. Fungus is selling at sd. Hides and Skins : Owing to the second series of wool sales, held yesterday,, the usual weekly sale of hides and skins will be held to-day.' WAIKATO STOCK SALES. The Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company report as follows: — At Ohaupo on Tuesday last we yarded 607 head of cattle. There was a good attendance and brisk bidding throughout, prices ruling before the holidays being fully maintained. Fresh-conditioned 3 and 3£-year steers realised £4 19s" to £5 16s; 24-year steers. £4 7s 6d to £4 14s; choice quality 18months and 2-year steers, £3 17s; yearlings, £2 2s to £2 12s; 2-year empty heifers, £2 10s to £2 17s: fresh empty cows, £2 15s to £3 10s; 15 and 18-months heifers, 32s to £2; this season's calves, really good, 21s 6d to 265; others. 18s to 20s: Btore empty- cows. 35s to £3 10s; fat and forward conditioned cows, £4 10a to £4 17s. The whole yarding was disposed of at auction with the exception of about five cows. At Waihou we yarded 823 cattle. There was a good attendance, and ruling prices were maintained. One hundred and nine beef were penned, mostly well-fattened cows and heifers. Fat and forward steers realised £7 48 to £7 ss; fat cows, £4 10s to £6 7s 6d; heifers, £5 8s to £5 17s; small heifers, £3 10s to £4 19s; fresh 4-year steers, £6 7s 6d; 2!>-year-Bteers. £4 15s; .15 and 18-months steers. £3 to £3 15s; yearlings, £1 19s to £2 12s; empty store cows, £2 2s 6d to £2 18s; fresh cows, £3 19s; yearling and 2-year empty heifers. £1 14s to £2 lis; 2-year heifers in calf. £3 10s; this season's calves. 20s to 245; others, 16s to 17s 6d. Fat and forward wethers brought 17s 6d; ewes, 13s 4d to 153 3d. Pigs: Slips brought 17s; weaners, 13s 6d. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, Ltd.. Hamilton, report that at Te Awamntu on Saturday they had a full yarding of cattle, principally calves and yearlings, also several pens of fat cows and store steers. There was an active demand for nsuefnl lines, and all sold with the exception of two pens of 18-month-old heifers, and a few odd catle. Best calves made from £1 4s to £1 12s; others, 19s 6d to £1 2s 6d; 18month heifers, £2 7s 6d; do. steers, £2 16s; 2i-year-old steers.-£3 17s 6d; grown steers, in low condition, £4 17s 6d; fat cows, £4 lis to £5 6s; store cows. £2 to £2 15s. Pigs were offering in large numbers, \mi> were not wanted. A light draught gelding realised £13 10s: cob, £4. Fowls. and ducks were in plentiful supply, ducks realising Is 6d to 2s; fowls. Is 3d. to 2s.

WELLINGTON STOCK EXCHANGE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington-, Tuesday. Manawatu Railway shares were disposed of today on 'Change at £2 3a 6d and Talisman Consolidated at £2 12b. There are buyers of National Banks at £5 ss, but sellers want. 2s more. Waihis were offered at £8 7s, but not sold. DUNKDIN STOCK EXCHANGE. [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Tuesday. The following Stock Exchange sale lias been reported :—Westport Coal, 1565. LONDON. ■ By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. London, January . 13. WHEAT AND FLOUR. Wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom totals 2,715,000 quarters; for the Continent, 975,000 quarters; Atlantic 'shipments, 507,000 quarters; Pacific shipments, : 125,000 quarters. ■ . SILVER. ;.<.• -• ; . Silver is quoted' at 2a-2 l-16fl"'per ounce standard". . ■•..:■,'.