COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

THE sharemarkat was quiet again yesterday. 1 - . In standard stocks » parcel of Hikurangi Coals was done at 7s, closing with buyers at 6s 9d and sellers at 7s 9d. Northern Coals (10s paid) sold at 36«, 6d, and Taupiris at 20s" 3d and 20s 6d. Northern Steams (cont.) were done at 3s 2d, and more wore wanted at that price, sellers holding out for 8s sd. \ parcel of New Zealand Portland Cements changed hands at 33s 9d, and more were obtainable at that figure, buyers offering 33s S?S' 6xl. In mining lines a parcel of Waihis was done at £9 9s ocI > and they closed with : buyers at £9 9s 3d, and sellers at £9 Ss 6d. Talismans eased slightly, and sales look place at 53s 6d, 53s 3d, and 535, closing with buyers at 52s 9d, and sellers- at 535. Waihi Grand Junctions were easier, and sales took place at, 37s 6d. 575, 36s 9d, and 375, and more were available at the latter price, buyers offering 36s 9d. Waiolahis were steady, be- ,• ing done at 3s 2d, 3s 3d, and 3s 3d, and closing with buyers at 3s 2d, and sellers at 3s 3d. Old Haura&is were a little easier, and sold E'l'i*.;. . a,( 2s lid, 2s lOd, and 2s Bd, closing with buyers at 2s 7d, and sellers at 2s 9d. Tairua Golden Hills (6d paid) sold at 2s sd; KaraiS:"Y 'ngahake* at Is 3d; Tairua Triumphs (cont.) M Is lid; Ngatiawas at Is; Mountain King tfont.) at 8d; Silver Hill at 7£d and 7d; Itejidy Bullion (cont.) at lid; New Waitejfairis at 7d and 6£d; Golden Cross at 6d: Waihi Beach at 6d. };■>: AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. BUSINESS DONE YESTERDAY. ■ Previous day's ■ . ' closing sales fiikurangi Coal— call. 7s *— Northern Coal (10s paid)—3rd rail, 16* M —• ; -V Taupiri Coal—2nd call, 20a 3d, 20s 6rl ~ IK. Northern St fair-ship (con.)— call. 3* 2d New Zealand Portland Cement—2nd %,'; : call, 33s 9d 1 13 3 W3iofahi— call, 3s 4d; 2nd call, 3s ;■::;..-.- 3d; 3rd call, 3s 3d 0 3 4 Consolidated Goldfield*—lst sail, lis 6d — i" Old Hanraki— call. 2s lid, 2* lOd : 3rd call, 2a lOd, lis 8d 0 2 9 N'gatiAwa—lst call. Is; 3rd call, If ... — : ■'" Golden Cross—lst call, 6d ... ... 0 0 6 Karangahake— 2nd call. Is 3d ... — New WaiteKu-uri— call, 7d; 3rd call, :' 7d, b{d 0 0 71 Rcadv Bullion (con.)—lst call, lid 2nd call, lid ; 3rd call. 10} d 0 0 10* - Silver Hill— call, 7id, 'id -- : Tairua Golden Hills (6d paid)— call, 2a sd; 3rd call, 2s 5d 0 2 4 Tali?ni3n—lst call. 53a 6d; 3rd call, V- 53s 3d, 53s 2 lj 6 - Waihi—lst call. £9 9s 6d 9 6 3 Waihi Beach—2nd call, 6d — • Waihi Grand Junction—lst call, 37s bd ; 2nd call, 375; 3rd call, 36s 9d, 375... 1 16 6 Mountain King (con.)—3rd call, 8d ... 0084 j

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. i*"j Dividends. South British Insurance ... 0 1 6 Now Calls. „ „ .''.-" Waibi Extended, March 6 ... 0 0 2 Nov,- - Watchman, Match 11 0 0 1 Now May Queen Extended, March lo 0 0 Of. Now JUv Queen, March lb ..001 April 13 . New Occidental, March 31 ... 0 0 0£ April 14 ', ■ New Dart. March 23 ... u 0 1 Aprils Rising Sim, April 10 0 0 1 May fa FRUIT AND PRODUCE MARKETS. & : - During the past week the fruit and produce markets' have been very busy and supplies have been h»avv. In potatoes the market was heavily stocked, and owing to the imports during the past three weeks being in excess of requireV- ments accumulated stock* had the effect of reducing values. Though sales were freely made, • they were at a considerable reduction on last -week's quotations. In onions local supplies were ' * practically nil, and although imports both from Melbourne and Svdney were fairly heavy prices remained firm. Grain and fodder showed no change, with the exception that maize was un- •■• ' procurable. Vegetables were more plentiful ami of fairiv good quality, and .'old at reasonable ' • rates. 'Local Icumaras came to hand much more fieelv, but sold at a heavy drop on former quotations: lii dairv produce the supply of '.':VW farmers' butter showed a slight increase, tnougn there was a reduction in values. More oni'imga rS- from Taranaki ol farmers' make were also received. There were very few ■ c.---. ami these -•i-; sold at higher rates than last wee*. In cheese • • the market was quiet, and unfortunately all the farmers' lots- which came to hand were interior. Bacon and eggs continued scarce and were only procured with difficulty to fulfil urgent orders. .There wa« a. heavy supply of poultry for the N faster market, and prices throughout were "-" - hiv'nh ►,iti-f.ii-ti>M Local supplies of fruit were ;.",._ ia'triv' liruvv anil throughout competition war' ' ",•■■- • Uen. A shipment ... apples and pears f "'"' . Cuitciburv of mime .pmiity realised I, ;'' i '!;' : ' hnce- The market, -'.as left very'bare of til.i » ' ' . ' «»ii.g to the Jute arrival of the steamer Man. - - - pouri. Onlv a few South Australian grapes ar- * , '■ m*rl bv the steamer Wimmeva last Sunday. j m V : ' these were in first-claw condition, but only sola *'■ prices leaving a lose to the shipper. Jm- -) doer and indoor locally-grown grapes cvgrthmhuk«"""^ 1 a foirly plentiful anil sold at firm prices. Ibe 101- ''\\.': ■'■ '";-.'■ -"■'.,■>■•' -."■...■•"■•'.-••'.■.■': ■• -

lowing ' were tho ruling prices at the auction sales yesterday Field —Potatoes: Local, prime, 7»; poor, 48 6d to sa; Southern, tig to 7s 6d; Tasmania n, 7s to 3s 6d. Kumaras: Local, 6s to 7s. Onions: Local, 7a to 8s: Southern, 8s 6d; Victorian, 8s 6d. Chaff: Local, 6s to 6s 3d; Southern, 6s to 6s 3d. Dairy Produce.—But!,er: Farmers', lid to Is 2d lb; milled, in bulk, for export, is Id; pastry, lid. Eggs: Fresh, Is 7d to Is 8d dozen; pickled, 1«. Cheese: Farmers', 2d to 4d lb; factory, 6d; loaf. 7d. Bacon: Factory, 3d to 9|d lb. Hams: Factory, 9£d to lOd. Fruit (quotations for standard case.? and boxes only).—Apples: Local, dessert, superior, 10s to 12s 6d; good, 8s to 9a; cooking, 6s to 8s 6d; medium, 5» to 6s; Hobart, 12s 6d ; Southern, 7s 6d. Pears: Dessert, 7s to 10s; cooking, 3s to 5s 6d. Crapes: Indoor, 6d to Is 3id lb; outdoor, I'd to 2d. Tomatoes: Outdoor, 9d to 4s box. Oranges: Island, 8s to 10? esse. Mandarins: Island. 6s to 8s case. Lemons: Local, prime, 8a to 12s case; local, rough and coarse, 3s to £*>. Cape gooseberries, 4d to 5d lb. Quinces, 6s to 8s case, passion-fruit, 4s to 7n Sd box. Walnuts: Local, 3d to ud lb. Bananas, 4s to 8s bunch; repacked, 2d lb. Pines, 8s to 10s crate. Poultry., Is 3d to 2s each; table roosters, heavy 3s to 4s 9d, fair 2s to 2s 9d, small Is 9d; ducks, Is 6d to 2s 6d; geese, 3s 6d to 4s 3d; chicks, 6d to Is; turkeys, gobblers 3s to 1&, hens 2s to 8». Miscellaneous.— pips, 5s to 8s 9d each. PROPERTY SALES. There was. a good attendance at Mr. T. M. Jackson's saleroom yesterday, when the following properties were sold after much competition: —A two-storeyed house at the corner of Wootton ! mid Remuera Heads for £1000, and an allotment, with a frontage of 45ft to Nugent-street, for £8 per foot. Mr. Louis Lewis yesterday offered a property on the New North Road, with a. baker's shop at- ! tached. The bidding failed to reach the reserve, and the property was passed in. 1 MESSRS. O. B. KINGSWEIiL AND CO.'3 REPORT. On Tuesday we cleared an extra large catalogue of hides and skins, tallow, etc. 'Hie market is brisk for all well-Hayed and conditioned lots. Hides: Extra stout, 7d to 7*d; stout. 6Jd to 7<i; medium, to 61d : light, 5d to si<2; cow, best 4Jd to 4Jd, good 4-j.d, seconds 3d to 4d, inferior Id to 2id; lap, well-flayed 4d to aid, scored 2d to 3d : calf- first quality up to od per lb, badlyshaped 34d to 32d. scored 2d to 2jd. ! Sheepskins: Butchers', hirer Is fid to Is 3d; \ good lines, Is 7d; small, Is 3d to Is 4u ; lambs' ; at the same prices. Tallow: Market fiiia. Best, in shipment casks, : 26s fid: ?.u broker, casks and packages, 24s to 255; inferior, 16s to 17s per cwt. Rough fat, ljd per lb. Horsehair: Tail, Is M to ls.6d; mane, 9d to lOd per lb. Bones: Dry, £4 lbs per ton. NORTHERN CATTLE SALES. Messrs. Hunter and Wilson report:—At Tatigiteroria about the advertised number of cattle were yarded; r.nd most of them changed hands at the previous month's values. At Kikurangi a moderate muster of cattle sold freely. At our Whanprarci monthly sale about 800 head of cattle came forward, being rather more than was required. Fat cattle were in brisk demand. Steers sold at 21s per ICOib and cows and heifers at 18s per 1001b. Springers, if at profit, sold freely at £3 10s to £7; Bulls, £4 to £4 15s; three to three and a-half year old steers, £4 10s to £5; two to two and a-half year do., £2 18s to £4; one to one and a-half vear do., £i 14s to £233 a; store cows, £2 2s 6d to £3; calves and yearlings, 15s to £1 7s 6d each. Privatelv we disposed cf 40 two-year-old heifers, also Mr. B. G. Hall'a property near Kensington Park, consisting ot 33 acres, with house, to Mr. .1 E. Holmes; Mr. G A. Martin's property at Raumenga, of nine acres, with house, to Mr. Win. Gloyn, of I'atawa; and Mr. Ed. Wells' choice farm of 110 acres at. Maunu to Mr. Smedley, lately from England, all at satisfactory prices. THE RECENT SHORTAGE OF PETROL. Tho following iB a copy of a cable message received yesterday from the head office in Melbourne of the Colonial Oil Company for Australasia " shortage of petrol has given us great concern for several months. This company has spent £2000 sterling transhipping petrol from Australia to New Zealand without raising tho price. Thirty thousand cases of petrol for New Zealand were shut oat from steamers loading at New York, but arrangements were made by the company for large supplies to be shipped from Sydney" per s.s. Orange Branch. Unfortunately this vessel was delayed by strikes for one month. The Orange Branch, however, is due to-day at Auckland with 22.500 cases of petrol and benzine." With reference to the foregoing, we are informed that there has been very little inconvenience in Auckland over shortage of supplies, as any shortage here did not last over one week, and dining nearly all that short period of time small quantities were obtainable to keep users going. This shortage evidently has been more acute at some of the other ports in New Zealand, and this has occasioned the recent complaints that have been published, but the above cable message shows that so far as the company is concerned everything was done by them to try and prevent and overcome the difficulty. The Colonial Oil Company has met with considerable difficulty of late "in arranging for the carriage of petrol and other spirits from NewYork to Australasia owing to the shipping com--parties being unwilling to take goods of this description except as deck cargo. DUTIES OF BANK AUDITORS. An interesting subject has been raised in Victoria regarding the duties of bank auditors. The committee o" the Incorporated Institute of Accountants, appointed to define the scope of a bank audit, has furnished a report which has been unanimously adopted by a full meeting of the members. The report, opens with a statement that " in attempting to define the proper scope of a bank audit the. committee has to admit very great difficulty in giving expression to views, which, however "clear to those with practical experience of bank auditing, may convey to others an imperfect idea of a very technical subject." Emphasis is laid upon the importance of scrutinising the advances, upon the soundness of which depends the solidity of our financial institutions. Accounts at the "head office can be closely examined those at the branches may be taken on trust in some respects, but the auditor ought to scrutinise a substantial proportion of the advances show;: in each branch return. The statement is made that is is impossible for the auditor to verify at date of balance the assets due by foreign agents or the position ot the London office. The auditor is furthermore expected to critically inquire into every advance of a materia! amount, and should the security seem insufficient he is bound to require from the executive the reasons upon which the advance was made. The duties of a bank auditor . have in the main been defined by the report, and it is to be assumed that auditors in future will act in accordance with the recommendations of the institute. The Companies Act, 1907, int-ro-uaced many innovations into the duties, and responsibilities of auditors which are of interest in connection with the discussion that has arisen in Victoria. Tbe British Act deals not only with banks, but with- all companies. Under this measure auditors are required to report that, according to tile best of their information and the explanations given to them, 'the baltvacesheet showed the real state of affairs—not merely the state of the company's business— to the books of the company. DUNEDIN STOCK EXCHANGE. [by telegraph.—press association-.] DUSKDIT, Friday. ■ The following "Stock Exchange sale has been reported :—Manuherikia, 18s. LONDON. By Telegraph.—Tress Association.—Copyright. LONDO.v, April 9. I'll ICE OF SILVER Silver is quoted at 2a lid per ounce standard WHEAT. The American visible supply of wheat totals 51.147,000 quarters. Messrs. Dalgcty and Co., Limited, have received the following cablegram from London:— Hides: Dull market. Leather: Market is a shade weaker. Basils: Prices have declined a farthing. Prime mutton tallow: Prices have advanced since telegraphing you 6d ; good to prime, par to 3d; Low and interior, market is a shade weaker.

CLOSING QUOTATIONS. tellers. Buyer*. £ s. d. £ s. d. -„ BANKSNew Zealand ..* ... 9 15 0 — National ' ... ... ... 5 8 0 ' — INSURANCE— New Zealand 3 17 0 — National ... 18 0 17 3 -•' " South British 2 18 6 2 16 0 ;■ : Standard ... ...... — 12 0 FINANCIAL— •'•I NZ. and River Plate ... 1 14 0 1 13 6 COALHikuransi 0 7 9 0 6 9 tort. Coal, 10s paid ... — 0 16 4 Taupiri Mines, Ltd. ... 1 0 6 10 0 Westport -. ... ... — 7 16 Westport Stockton 0 10 6 — ■'-.'• Drury ... 0 4 & — GAS— Auckland ... .' — 14 16 0 Birkenhead and Nortbcote — 15 0 ■ Gisborne 2 14 0 2 12 6 SHIPPING— Northern, paid up ... 0 13 0 0 17 6 Northern, con. ...... 0 8 5 0 8 2 Devonport Steam Ferry... 1 13 0 1 12 0 TIMBER— ' - Kauri, con. ... ... 0 12' 6 0 12 2 Mountain Rimu, Ltd. ... — 12 6 MISCELLANEOUS— < Auckland Tramways, pref 15 0 — Auckland Tramways, ord. 14 9 — D.S.C., Limited ... ... 0 4 10 0 4 1 Grey and Menzies, pref... 0 11 0 0 10 0 Grey and Menziea, ord. .. 0 8 10 — Hill and Plummer, Ltd... 110 — BUS. Arcade Theatre Co., -,-■ pref. "... ... , ..„ 10 6 0 19 9 "H.M. Arcade Theatre Co., •ord ... 0 19 0 0 18 0 '■■■' •■':■- N.Z. Portland Cement Co. 1 13 9 1 13 6 Tonson Garlick Co., Ltd. 0 19 6 — " Union Oil — 12 0 Wiseman -and Sons, ord, 0 13 0 0 12 7 / Wilson's Portland Cement Co., pref. 2 10 0 2 7 6 Wilson's Portland Cement Co., ord. ...' ... 2 8 0 2 5 6 DEBENTURES— Auckland Harbour Board. 4 per cent. 97 0 0 — Auckland Gas 5$ per cent. 53 10 0 — f. MINING— .'. -■ Bonanza, con. ... ... 0 0 4,1 — ' Halcyon ... ,.004 002 Kuranui 0 0 10/. ' 0 0 7 , : Kuranui-Caledonian ... 0 0 104 0 0 94 May Queen ... ... 0 1 10 0 19 May Queen Extended ... 0 0 7 — New Moanatfiiari 0 0 6 0 0 2£ "New Monowai 0 0 4 0 0 2£ New Occidental ... ... 0 0 4 0 0 2* New Una , 0 0 3 — New Svlvia > 0 1? 0 16 Old Alburnia '. 0 0 10 0 0 7£ ■ : Saxon 0 0 7 0 0 5 '••, Scandinavian ... ... 0 ■ 0 ' 74 ■ ' 0 0 6 • Thames ... 0 0 11 0 0 9 Victoria '0 10 0 0 9 .: . -"■""..■ Waiotahi „ ... 0 3 3 0 5 2 Wwtangi ... 0 2 3 0 19 Watchman 0 0 6 0 0 5J Mount Zeehan. eon. ... — 0 0 3 ■■'■'. .-- Consolidated Goldttelds ... 0 19 0 0 13 6 t':,"' Golden Pah 0 0 4 0 0 3 ■ Hauraki Freehold 007 004 ':'■ Kapowai, con. 0 0 6 — •'■-.. "■'..-' Old Hauraki Gold Mines 0 2 9 0 2? Old Kapanga. 0 0 3i 0 0 2; South Kapanga 0 0 14 0 0 1 " Tangiaro ... 0 0 6 0 0 5 -' •; Tokatea 0 0 Ai — Sunbeam Gold and Silver, Is 6d paid 0 0 «J 0 0 2 Ngatiawa ... 0 1 1 0 10 Aupouri 0 0 3 — • - " Auckland 0 0 4.', '' Comstock. con 0 10 0 0 6 ...-,' Coronation ... .;. 0 0 2 & 0 1 ' Champion, paid up ... — 0 4 10 Champion, con ■> 4 0 0 3 11 ' Crown' 0 7 8 0 7 5 ' Durbar ... • ... ... 0 0 4 , : Golden Belt 0 .2 0 0 19 - " Golden Cross 0 0 6i 0 0 6 Kirikiri, con. 0 0 4 — Kafciingabake ... ... 0 14 0 15" Komata Reefs 0 13 0 12 New Waitekauri 0 0 7 0 0 &4 %'r Pride of Wail.i ...... 0 0 5 — Ready Bullion, con. ... 0 0 104 0 0 10 •>. Rising Sun 0 0 5 Silver Hiil 0 0 74 0 0 7 Tairua Broken Hill* ... 0 3 10 0 3 S Tairua Consols .... 0 U 4 — ■.■■•■/■■• Tairua Golacn Hills, 9d #-•>.. paid .028 026 .-"?.'■- Tairua Golden Hills, 6d ;,•; paid 0 2 6 0 2 5 • :" Tairua Triumph, con. ..020 01 10 * : Talisman Consolidated ... 2 13 0.. 2 12 9 Waihi 9 9 6 '99 3 Waihi Beach ... ...0 0 8 0 0 6.4 Waihi Consolidated ... 0 1 7 0 16 Wailii Attended ... ... 0 4 1 0 3 11 '• Waihi Grand Junction ... 1 17 0 116 9 •' Dominion 0/0 6 0 0 <H Mountain Kinjr, con. ... 0- 0 84 0 0 8 )l Lanigan'<! Antimony Mines 0 0 6 —