COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13673, 14 February 1908, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

Business on the Stock Exchange has not been very brisk during the week. In standard Bank of New Zealands sold at £9 15s, there being further buyers at £9 15s, with sellers at £9 16a. National Banks are looked for at £5 7s 3d, sellers asking £5 8s 6d. Buyers of Unions of Australia offered £61. In insurances leading stocks are not quite so firm. New Zealands sold at £4- (cum cliv., payable to-day), and there are further sellers at £4 03 6d. South British sold at £5 17s, but closed a shade easier with sellers at £5 17s 6d and no declared buyers. Nationals are wanted at 28s. There are sellers of Standards at 245. River Plates have steadied somewhat, there being buyers at 30s, sellers asking 31s. There has been a fair inquiry for coal stocks. Buyers of Hikurangi3 offered 163 4d. Northerns are wanted at 16s 3d, sellers asking 16s 6d. Taupiris sold at 20s 3d and 20a 6d, closing with further sellers at 20s 6d, buyers at 20s 3d. Westports were offered at £7 16s, and Westport-Stockton had buyers at 95,6 d and sellers at 10s 6d. Drurys were offered at 4s 6d. In gas stock there were sales of Aucklands at. £14 2s 6d, and £14 3s 6d, moro being wanted at the latter price, sellers asking £14 4s Cd. Birkenhead aud Northcote (quoted for the first time) aro wanted .at 235, . sellers asking 255. . Buyers of Gisbornes offered 525, there being sellers at 535. There are buyers ot New Plymouths at £8 ss. In shipping Northerns (paid up) sold at 17s, more being 'offered at that price, while contributing aro offered at 8s 3d. There are buyers of Devonport Ferrys at 325, and sellers at 32s 6d. Union Steam Ships are wanted at '32s 6d. In timber shares, Kauris (paid up) have buyers at 24s 9d, while contributing sold at 9s lid, 10s, 10s Id, and 10s 2d, closing with further buyers at 10s, and sellers at 10s 3d. There are buyers of Mountain Rimu at 235, and- Parker-Lambs sold at 26s 6d, and more are offered at 26s 6d, buyers offering 25s 6d. There are buyers of Mosgiel Woollen at £3. Auckland Trams (ord.) sold at 24s 6d, 24s 7d, and 24s 9d. There aro further buyers at 24s 7d, with sellers at 255. New Zealand Portland Cements sold at '62s 60, and there are further sellers at 335, and Wilson Cements (prof.) sold at 445, and there aro further buyers at £2 4s. Wilson's (ord.) aro wanted at £2 2s, and there are sellers at £2 4s. New Zealand Papers sold at 24s 3d. In mining stocks Waihis have had a rising market, and sold from £3 16s 6d to £9 ss, more being wanted at the latter price. Waihi Grand Junctions sold at 25s 6d to 24s and 235. Talismans sold from 53s to 52s 6d, to 53s 3d to 52s 6d, closing with sellers at 53s 6d and buyers at 53s 3d. Crowns sold at 6s lid. In small "stock. Old Haurakis received a good deal of attention, selling from 2s 6d, to ss, to 2s 6d, to 2s 7d, to 2s Bd. Golden Belts have also sold freely from 2s lOd to 2s 7d. Tairua-Broken Hills sold at 4s Id and 4s, Karaiignhak.es at Is 4d, Is 3d, Is 4d, and Is sd._ Now Sylvias from Is sd, Is 4d, and Is 7d, Waiotahis front 3s to 3s sd, to 3s 4d; May Queens at Is lid and Is lOd, and 2s, . Waitangis at 2s lOd. There were numerous small stiles of lesser-priced stock. Taking .the Customs returns as the thermometer by which to gauge the volume. of import business transacted in the provincial district, Auckland merchants have every reason to be satisfied with what has been done during the past 12 months, and a feeling of confidence in the futuro is manifest. The industrial situation would be looked upou as eminently satisfactory but for one feature, i.e., the supply of labour, which is now a source of some anxiety to all employers. The Norehana has left for the South after completing discharge of Auckland cargo; the Tokomaru is still discharging and cannot leave for a few days yet. The Monowai from coast ports has arrived, and is discharging usual miscellaneous cargo. The Manapouri is in from the Islands with a cargo of fruit, etc., and amongst early expected arrivals are the Oswestry Grange, the New Orleans, and Lord Sefton, each with a good cargo for Auckland. Dried Fruits: The American markets at the present time aro dull, with little business offering, although prices are fairly low; winter demand is not yet being experienced, but it is very doubtful whether present low prices for the different varieties of dried fruits can hold.

Linseed Oil: Market remains steady on the parity of recent cabled quotations. Castor Oil: Firm at last quotations. Jute Goods: Market appears to be favourable for operating at present, and wo should not be surprised to see reaction shortly. Cream of Tartar: After a period of high prices, due to somewhat exceptional circumstances, the market has, during the past few weeks, given evidence of a break, and present price is looked upon as safe for operating in futures. Acids: Citric and tartaric have both eased a point, and business has been done on current quotations. "■•'.'.-•' : , I . Kapok: Tho very pronounced weakness which has been prevalent seems to have subsided, and latest cable to hand notifies an advance.'< The position of this staple during the past month or two has been-enig-matical.

Camphor: Favourable quotation has been received for prompt shipment, and from advices to hand we incline to the opinion that market, has touched bottom.

Shellac: Absence of demand from America has certainly had the effect of keeping prices at a low level, but it. is unlikely that present low price will hold. Canned Fruits: 'Frisco advises that stocks in first hands arc now cleaned up, with the result that unsold parcels arriving are commanding higher prices; demand is well maintained. The Australian article is meeting with ready sale, and prices will have to go higher shortly. Sardines: The local market has not yet fully responded to the substantial advance notified by packers, the reason being that stocks on the spot are fairly full; these stocks, however, cannot be replenished at prices which are now being quoted locally. Potatoes: Supplies have been coming .forward rather too freely this week, and in consequence the price went down considerably, ranging from £7 to £9, according to quality. The imports from Tasmania arrived in a very satisfactory condition, and the Southern shipments were also of good quality. The demand keeps pretty well. up to the usual.

Onions: The market is fairly well supplied, and is quite equal to the demand, price being about £7 10s to £& ex store. ._ Oats: The market at the present time is absolutely bare, but the Wariaka is due on, Monday with a fair cargo, and a good proportion of this shipment will be delivered from ship's side. The holders of old oats are asking 2s lid ex store, which price being readily paid; the new season's' will run about the same. , Chaff Merchants are asking, for local prime old season's £5 10s ox store, but the extent of business is not very great. The position with regard to the new season's is that the growers are not willing to meet the buyers, and consequently transactions are on the light side. The nominal quotation for new is about £5 a ton, sacks in, ex rail. Some lines of Southern have been purchased for delivery next week, the quality of which is extra good. Fowl Wheat: This is slightly castor in the South. Stocks are moderate "in Auckland 5s 2d ex store is now being asked for it. Milling Wheat: There, is very little change; advices from the South intimate that their market is slightly easier. Some of the millers have made purchases, but they are now inclined to stop for the time being, having bought sufficient for their immediate requirements. New .- wheat for March-April delivery is worth about 4s 6d f.0.b., sacks extra. Maize: The Mangapapa brought 114 sacks from the coast. The demand continues fairly good, consequently the price is not altered—4s 7d is still being obtained for ex store lots. ■ Bran: It is extremely difficult to obtain sufficient to enable merchants to execute their orders. It is doubtful if the scarcity has been felt locally to such an extent for some considerable time past. Price still remains at £6 10s ex store. Pollard: The same remarks apply to this as to bran. Stocks are extremely light here, and £7 10s is readily obtained for any that can be procured. \ Fungus is not. reaching here in any quantity; the demand is on the weak sido, tho nominal quotation being about 4|d. Flax: Deliveries are keeping up to about the usual. The latest advices from London intimate that the market there is inclined ,to weaken, but locally prices have undergone no change. '.The nominal quotation for g.f.a.q. runs from £24 to £24 ss, and for f.a.q. £22 10s to £22 15s; common about £19.

low: There is not a great quantity being sent fcrward. Business in this is of a limited character. The nominal price for export is still about £5 a ton. - ;•

Cocksfoot: The market in the South is very firm, and prices remain oil the high side. Farmers' clean dressed, 131b to 141b, is realising about 6d to bid. Rye Grass": ' Italian is not easy to quit locally; the price is not nearly so firm at present as it-was a week or two back. Ceylon Tea: The quality on offer in Colombo is now fair. There is a strong demand for all kinds, but prices are rather irregular. Common sorts are slightly easier, without quotable change, but medium to cood teas are selline at pre-

vious rates. Dusts and farmings are fetching fabulous prices. Total exports from January 1 to 9 to Australia and this Dominion equalled 285,0001b, against 151,0001b for the same, period "of last year.

KAURI GUM. The arrivals for the 13 days of February reached 257 tons, showing a still further increase on what came to hand for the mmilarJ period of last month. The market continues in a very stagnant state. There are a few orders here, and these are of a very limited nature. LPale select is not being asked for. Stocka are on the light side. ' r ;• - V Ordinary: There is a little doing in good rescraped at a reasonable price.- Superior three-quarter scraped ordinary is not moving off at all freely, but there are not heavy stocks of it here. Good hard wash"ed nuts free from dust are wanted in small quantities. There is very little business doing in chalk or swampy sorts. East Coast: Arrivals are light, but the demand has fallen off a similar reduction in price to what took place with regard to superior ordinary would doubtless tend to further business. Black: There is very little doing in any grade. Rescraped is not in such good favour; there is no inquiry for well-cleaned bold lumps, and three-quarter scraped steel is hanging fire and accumulating. There have been inquiries for medium blacks and hard washed nuts, but the would-be buyers are not willing to give the prices demanded by the brokers. There is next to nothing doing in black sugar. Bush: Pale rescraped moves off on arrival; other grades are not salable. There is nothing doing in bled bush. Chips and Dust: The only transactions that have taken place have been in black riddlings, coarse black seeds • and black dust, but lower prices have had to be accepted, and the quantities sold have been only moderate.

TAKAPUNA TRAMWAYS. Mr. W. B. Holmes has been appointed auditor to the Takapuna Tramways and Ferry Company, Ltd. i< AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. BUSINESS DONE YESTERDAY. Previous day's ■■■ closing sales. -;■'.: ■ £ «. d. Auckland Gas-3rd call, £14 2s 6d. £14 3s 6d ... ... ... — Waihi—lst call, £9: 2nd call, £9 Is 6d ; 3rd call, £9 Is 6d, £.9 2s, £9 3s ... 819 5 Talisman— call, £2 13b 6d; 3rd call, £2 13s 6d '... ,2 13 3 Waihi Grand Junction—lst call, £1 35... 14 0 Old Hauraki—lst call, 2b 8d; 2nd call, 2s,Bd 0 2 7 Golden —Ist call, 2s 7d; 3rd call, 2e7d .... ..027 May Queen—3rd . call,- 2s — Kajangahake—2nd call, Is - sd; 3rd call, Is 6d ... — Tairua Golden Hills (6d paid)—2nd call, Is 6d; 3rd call, 1* &d, Is 6d 0 16 Komata Reeflst call, la 6d ; 3rd call, Is 4d .. — Victoria—2nd call, Is. 3d ••■ ... ... — Thames—2nd call, Is 2d ... 0 13 Hauraki Freehold— call, 7d; 3rd call, 7jd — Halcyon—lst call, 6d ■ ... ... ... 00 6 Golden Cross—3rd call, 3d ... ... 0 0 4 Tokatca—lst call, ad; 2nd call, 5J.d ; 3rd call, bid 0 0 4£

CLOSING QUOTATIONS.

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. Dividends. „-■»». New Zealand Insurance ... 0 2 0 Now Wailii ' 0 3 6 Mar. 2 Calls. Wailii Gladstone Gold Mine*. February 3 •■ 0 0 1 Now Taihoa, January 23 0 0 1 Feb. 18 Waitangi, February 12 ... 0 0 2 Feb. 26 Mav Queen, February 3 ... 0 0 1 Mar. 2 Sunbeam Gold and Silver Mining Company, February 3 0 0 1 Mar. 3 Takapuua Tramways and Ferry Company, February 4 ..026 Mar. 2 Old Kapanga, February 3 ... 0 0 1 Mar. 3 Golden Cross, February 13 ... 0 0 1 Mar. 6 MESSRS. G. W. BINNBY AND SONS' REPORT. On Tuesday we submitted and cleared large catalogues of hides, skins, tallow, etc. Hides: Market continues firm- Ox—Extra stout, 6Jd to 'Ad; stout, 6d to bid; medium, sid to 6Jd; light, *4 id to sd; cows', beet lines 4Jd to 4£d, good 32d to 4d; stags', 2d to 2Jd; calfskins, Sid to 4,', d. Scored, sloppy, and damaged hides met with very little inquiry. Pelts and lambskins, best Is 6d to Is Bd, others 19 to Is 4d each. Tallow: Best mixed, to 26s 6d; good, 24s to 255; medium,-223 to 23s 6d; inferior, 18s to 21s per cwfc. Rough fat, ljd per lb. Cowtails, Is 8d per dozen. Bones, £4 15s per ton. MESSRS. ALFRED BUCKLAND (AND SONS' REPORT. Horses: Wo had an average yarding at the Havmarket on Friday last. Aged draughts sold at 'from £12 to £23; bakers' and butchers' cart class, £20 15s to £25; hacks and light harness, £11 to £16 ss; gig ponies and ordinary hacks, £3 to £9. Hides, Skins. Tallow, etc.: Hides—Ox, IJ.d to 6d; cow, Id to 4£d; call, 3;d to sd; kip, 3UI: stags', 3d: damaged bides, id to 4d; horsehair, Is 6cl; callow, 25= to 26s 6d; bones, £4 15a. Skins—Best butchers' lambs and pelts, Is 5<J to iis: others, 6d to Is 4d ; country skins, 2s 9d to ss: damaged, 6U to 2s. At Jlelensville on Wednesday we- had a fair muster of cattle and sheep. • Springers realised from £4 5s to £s'ss; empty cows, £1 5s to £2 19s; calves,' Ss to 19s; bull's, £3 15s to £4 Os; beef at Remuera rates. Store cheep: Ewes, 4s 9d tc 13s M; wetherß, 7s 6d to 14s 6d; lambs,

3s 3d.to 5» 6d; rams, 13* to £1 10s Young pig», Set 6d; chestnut gelding, £15 Ss. We held a special sale of. sheep at aevedon on Saturday. Fourteen .hundred and thirty-two sheep and rams wero yarded, out of which 1000 odd, were disposed of. Two ace' four-tooth ewes brought from ISa 9d to 14s ' 9d;' iteah lullmouthed, lis 6d to 12s 9d; old ewes. 7» to 8? 9d; culls, to ss; store wethers, TQs 6d to 14*. Fat sheep, mixed, 13s 9d to Ms 3d", strong lambs, 7s to 8s 6d; smaller, 4s 3d to 6s 6d. Twotooth English Leicester rams, £2 2s to 3£ guineas ; aged rama, all breeds, 15s to £2 2«. > The report of our aheep fair has appeared in the' daily papers. • ' Atvßemuera on Thursday dairy cattle sold from £3 10a to £7 12f 6d ; dry, £1 10s to £3 10s; young and fat calves, Is to 555; 67 sold. We yarded 515 head of fat cuttle, all light weights, and with the exception of a few pens of eovs ail sold at, an advance on last sales. Ox beet sold up to 22s per 1001b and cow to 19s. The price for "cow beef eased off as the sale proceeded. Sheep were penned in average numbers, best wethers bringing from ISs "to .223, lighter weights 15s to 17s 6d. Weighty eves, to 17s 6d; others, 12s to 15s. Lambs, penned in usual numbers, kept late' quotations, heavy bringing to ]6s, lighter weights to 12s. Pigs came forward in average numbers and sold freely throughout, all classes being in demand.

, FROZEN MEAT MARKET. [BY TELEGR.VPn.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] >~';■;. . - * NAPIER, Thursday. The Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company, Limited, of London, to-dav cabled the following report;— The frozen meat "marked continues very, dull, with no improvement in prices. Quotations: Mutton—Napier, Wellington, and North _ Island, 3£d. Lamb— quality ... new season's, s£d; second quality new season's, sid. Beef—Hindquarters, 31d; forequartcrs, 2Jd.

LONDON. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. ': Losdos-, February 12. ' ■ : BANK SHARES. Bank of New South Wales: Bltvera £42, sellers £43. 1 Bank of New Zealand: Buyers £10 ss, sellers #10 ISs. ■ ' ■ •■{ TALLOW. - At;-the tallow auctions 1142 casks were offered' and<:S2l sold at from late rates to 3d advance. '■; ',- METALS.- . Copper: On spot. £59 10s: at three months, £59:{17s 6d : electrolytic. £60 10s. Tin: On spot,■■' £123 15s. Irfid, £14 65... : .:,. . ~ ~..:.. <a\ :. ■ '■•■■■'

' Sellers. Buyers. ' £ s. d. £ s. A. BANKS— New Zealand 9 16 0 0 16 0 National ...'... ...5 8 0 5-7.5 Union of Australia ... — 01 0 0 INSURANCE— New Zealand, ex div. ... 3 18 0 — National ... ; is ...... — ,13 South British 5 15 6 _ Standard ... — 14 0 FINANCIAL— "'* N.Z. and River Plate ... Ill 0 1 10 0 COAL— ■ Jlikurangi ... — 0 16 4 Nort. Coal, 10s paid ... 0 16 6 0 16 0 Taupiri. Minus, Ltd. ... 1 0 3 10 3 Wesiport ... 7 16 0 7 11 0' Weatport Stockton ... 0 10 6 0 9 6 Drury ;;... 0 4 5 — GAS— ■ • 'l . ■ Auckland. ... ... ... 14 4 6 14 3 6 New Plymouth ....... — 8 5 0 Birkenhead - and Northcote 1.5 0 13 0 SHIPPING— Union S.S. ... — 1 13 0 Northern,'? paid up ... 0 17 0 0 16 9 Northern, con, 0. 8 1 — D»vonpor6 Steam Ferry.. 112 3 1 12 0 TIMBER— , Kauri,'(-on.- .. ' '""f.V"..' ... 010 1 ' 0 10 0 Mountain''Itimu, Ltd. ... • — '■■ 13 0 Parker-Lamb, Ltd. ... 1 6 6 15 6 WOOLLEN—,. Mosgiel ... ... '...' — 3 0 0 MISCELLANEOUS— Auckland Tramways, pret*. 150 . — Auckland Tramways, ord. 15 0 1 4. 7 D.S.0., Limited ... ... 0 5 0 0 ; 4 10 Hill and Plummer, Ltd. 110 — ' New-Zealand Drug; £2 ... — 2 12 6 N.Z.; Portland Cement Co. 113 0 — New Zealand Paper Mills 1 4.6 , . — :. Totwon Garlick Co., Ltd. 0 19 6 ' .' ■ — Union Oil ... ... — 10 9 ■ Wiseman and Sons, pref. 10 0 0 18 0 Wiseman and 'Sons, ord. 0 14 0 0 12 0 Wilson's Portland Cement ; "Co., pref. — 2 4 0 " Wilson's Portland Cement Co.. ord. ... ."; ... 2 4 0 2 .2 6 M.INING— . "• / Bonanza, paid 0 0 9 — Bonanza, con. 0.0 4,', . .— : •' Halcyon ... ...... 0 0 7 0 0 6 s'Kuranui 0 0 8 0 0 6 - Kuranui-Caledonian ... 0 1 0 0 0 9A :■■■' May Queen 0 2 0 0 1 11 Kay Queen Extended ... 0 0 6 — New Bart, con 0 0 6 — New Moauataiari 0 0 8 0 0 5$ New Hcncwai ... ... 0 0 6 — New Sylvia 0 18- 0 16 Old Alburni* ... ... 0 14 0 10 Sason 0 0 10 0 0 8 Scandinavian 0 0 8 0 0 5 Thames ... 0 13 0 12 Victoria .013 0 12 Waiotahi' 0 3 4 0 3 3 Waltaugi ... - 0 3 0 0 2 9 Watchman ..' 0 0 If, 0 0 6 Hftiuaki Freehold ... 0 0 71 00 7 Old Hauraki Gold Mines 0 2 8' 0 2 7 Old Kapanga ... ... 0 0 2 — South Kapanga 0 0 H 0 0 1 Tangiaro .. 0 0 7" — T'okatea 0 0 6', 0 0 6 Comstock, con 0 0 9 0 0 7 Champion, paid up ... 0 5 3 0 4 10 Champion, con 0 4 4 0 3 10 Crown 0 7 0 0 6 9 Durbar 0 0 4,',- O 0 24 Golden Belt 0 2 7 0 2 6 Golden Cross 0 0 5} 0 0 5 Kirikiri, con 0 0 5 0 0 34 JCarangahake 0 15 0 14 Kom3ta Reefs t 0 1 5 0 13 New Waitekauri 0 0 8i 0 0 7 Pride of Waihi 0 0 6 0 0 34 Rising Sim .. ... 0 0 10 0 0 7A Taihoa 0 0 8 ■ — ■ Tairua Broken Hills ... 04 0 0 3 9 Tairua Golden Hills, 96 ! • paid ... 0 1 10"... 0 17 Tairua . Golden Hills, lid paid ... 0 1 7 0 16 Tairua Extended ... 0 0 5 O 0 3£ Tairua Triumph, 6d paid.. 0 2 9 — Tairua Triumph, con. ... 0 2 8 Talisman Consolidated ... 2 15. 6 2 13 3 Waihi 9 4 0 9 3 0 Waihi Beach ' 0 0-6 0 0 4 Waihi Consolidated ..011 0 O 10 Waihi Extended 0 5 0 0 4 8 Waihi Grand Junction ... 1 (3 0 12 6 Ngatia-.va 0 1 10 _ Aupouri 0 O 3 — Lanigan's Antimony Mines 0 0 7 0 0 5