COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14132, 6 August 1909, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

A"-,'quieter, tone prevailed on the sharemarket yesterday. In investment stocks only three sate; wore recorded, two of. them being in Taupiri- Coal Mines at 20s 6d and 20s.4ch and the other in Auckland Gas (new issue) at 235. "Jrs mininjr lines two parcels of Waihis 'changed hands at £9 lis, there being further buyers at £9 10s 6d and further sellers at £9 12s. V/aihi Grand Junctions were dealt in freely at from .56s'to 55s 6d to 55s 9d to 55s 6d, the market closing with buyers at; 55s and sellers at 55s 3d. Options sold at from 33s 6d to 33s to 33s 3d, and there were further buyers at the latter figure, late sellers demanding 33s 6d. Waihi Consolidateds and Waihi Extendeds eased a little, the former selling at 5s 6d and the latter at 7s lOd and 7s 9d. In Coromandel lines Waiotahis sold at from. 7s 8d to 7s 6d, May Queens at from 6s 2d' to 6s Id, and Now Sylvias at 4s 2d and 4s 3d. In Southern mines Consolidated Goldfields again hardened, soiling at from 26s 6d to 263, 3d to " ; 26s 6d, while Progress Mines i changed hands at 17s and: 17s 6d. In■'Coro- | mandel Royal Oaks showed improvement, paids selling at 4s 3d to 4s 2d, and contributing at from 4s Id to 3s 9d to 3s lid. A number of transactions were also recorded in other stocks, with slight increases and decreases in several cases.

The current month has opened satisfactorily so far. as the volume of orders being handled by the wholesale distributing merchants is concerned, and there are now pronounoed evidences of the briskness which lias been foreshadowed for some time- past.

Stocks generally held by merchants and storekeepers ar© in very good compass, and this accounts for the substantial forward business which has been passing during the past few weeks. The financial situation continues to improve. The soft goods houses are busily engaged in displaying new goods, whilst the retail soft goods establishments arc now nearing the end of their periodical " sales."

Almonds: Jordans show a firmer tendency, with Sicilys inclined to be. a Tittle weaker. There is\oom for a drop in the value of the latter.

Acids: Both citric and tartaric are slightly easier, and wo look upon tho present as a good timo to operate in both lines. Asparagus: The new pack has been quick-

ly absorbed in America, owing to; very heavy domestic demand, and local' stocks are consequently being cleared at enhanced figures. Bluestono: As anticipated, the market has now assumed a firmer aspect, and we should not bo surprised to see considerably higher figures come through: Demand is fairly brisk for parcels close at hand.

Cream of Tartar: The local market is not heavily loaded at. the present-time, and forward business is passing at what can be looked upon as a safe level. Cocoa Beans: Pending news as to the volume of the now crop, business has been rather quiet and buying from hand to mouth. We incline,to the opinion that the now crop "will be quoted on a low basis. Clothes Pegs: Cable just to hand notifies the market to be a little easier. Present price can be looked upon as safe. Local stocks are very light. Desiccated Cocoanut: The market shows an advance, which was not unexpected, by those who have followed the position closely. -Wo think there is .room for further upward movement. Canary -.--Seed: The market is slightlyeasier, and it-is quite; possible* that lower values will'-rule ere long. ' Currants: The forward market is showing signs of .strength. ", Stocks on the. spat in. j very, light compass, and shortage,. will be \ felt long before the new fruit reaches this j .market. ■'~.".:'•■''■■;. i :..-.:;'.;■-" . : .,_ v ■,■ . :'.■',!•<"■■/,•.'/;' Sultanas: In sympathy with currants this line is also showing hardening tendency(Hood qualities are getting very scarce on the spot, and there is now no ,doubt that lower qualities now on tho market Will be* absorbed long before the new fruit arrives by first direct steamer. Figs Market , unchanged, with business still passing in limited volume. ' Seeded Raisins: Price for new fruit is not quite so firm, but we look for reaction before long* ~ : ~-_,' .Potatoes: There is Wry. little change to report. A shipment has come to hand by the Monowai from the Sour.li. Supplies here are not heavy, but quite sufficient for present requirements. Price, £5 ss. Onions: Price in the South has. gone up,, and . shippers are hot keen on orders, : as they consider the quality too unsatisfactory to 'ship. Local stocks; have to ho picked over repeatedly.' Prime samples are worth : £7. Japanese are J being offered for de--1 livery next month at, £13. - I Oats: There is very little alteration in | the market. If anything, there is an inn" £ roved inquiry in the South for shipping. Local stocks are fairly good. Price is 2s 6cL Chaff: - There is plenty available here, both of local and Southern. A fair amount of business is being done. Prime local is worth £4- and Southern £\ 10s. Fowl wheat is rather firmer. , Stocks locally are only fair. Price is 4s Bd. Maize: The Tasman brought 530 sacks and the Aupouri 263 sacks from the coast. Some of the Jots arriving are in a heated condition and consequently difficult to dispose of. This, together with, the rather heavy supplies coming forward, has tended towards weakening the market. Present price is 3s lOd ex store for prime samples. "Bran is selling' at £4. 5s ex store. \ A fair amount of business doing, with moderate stocks.

Pollard is worth £5 2s 6d, and sells readily.: Stocks are not heavy. Fungus: This is only being sent forward in. moderate quantities. Some of the lots are on the damp side, which entails the expense of drying. Good dry samples are worth sd.

Flax: Deliveries coining forward are very light. This is only to be looked for at this time of the year. The position seems to bo rather better than has been the case for some time past." Inquiries are "coming from London for October-March shipment,, which is encouraging, but values offered show very little improvement on present prices. The local quotations are £19 10s for g.f.a.q, £17 10s for f.a.q., and £14.10s for common.

Tow: Very little being 'sent in. The average price is £4 for export purposes.

Indian .Tea: At the Calcutta tea sales, No. 4, a strong and active market ruled when a useful selection,'comprising some 15,000 packages, was, brought to the hammer. All markets were in evidence and practically everything moved up in value, common leaf being a couple of pice dearer, while low brokens at times marked an even greater advance. Some very tall figures were reached for the bast, in voices, one consignment from the Darjeeling district reached the handsome average of 1 10.3 rupees per lb, the Orange Pekoe and broken Orange Pekoe realising 2 0.6 rupees and' 2 1.6 rupees respectively. Practically everything included in the brokers' catalogues was disposed of under the hammer. KAURI CUM. The arrivals for five days of August are 110 tons, as against 126 for a.similar time last month, showing a falling-off of 16 tons. The market remains fairly steady. Very little alteration has taken place in .prices. Shippers are Still evidently operating on orders. ,' ' -. ... Pale select is only coming forward in small lots and sells readily. Ordinary: Good lots of rescraped are sellnig, and there is more business doing in inferior parcels, but lower prices have to be accepted. Sorted three-quarter-scraped superior ordinary moves off at late rates. Mixed lots are not so easily quit-ted, but a slight reduction would probably lead to, business. I Medium ordinary and good hard washed nuts, if free from dust, find ready buyers with no change in_ price. Swamp, with -heart in it," is selling, also poor white swamp, if dry. , East Coast; There is practically no business doing.in this class, and quotations are only nominal. • ' Black There are buyers of good rescraped, also bold lumps, sound and well-., j cleaned. Sorted three-quarter-scraped _ steel I is' meeting with more inquiry, but _ shippers | want-it at a slight reduction." Mixed parcels of black, are still _ difficult to sell. Medium blacks continue in request, as does also clean black sugar. : Poor black nuts mixed with swamp are accumulating and/ do not seem ,to; be in favour with buyers. Bush: Pale rescraped _is selling. Clean bush, if'of good colour, is meeting with a fair demand, but there is very little busi- ' ness doing in dark sorts and'.'.pickings unless- at « very low price. Hard bled bush. meets with a fair demand. Green lots are not, wanted. - Chips-and Dust:,' Bright chips and dust are salable, also good ordinary chips. Diggers' ordinary chips and dust can only bo placed if of good colour and at a. low price. Black riddling!,, black, seeds, and coarse black dust, if dry, move off steadily.