COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15824, 22 January 1915, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

MARKET REVIEW.

TRADE PROVES SATISFACTORY.

Trade has been fair for the week and orders for the first of nest month already in hand are well up to the average lor this time of the year. Shipping activities have been fair. The Riverina, in the inter-colonhl running, and the Victoria, engaged in the coastal trade, have both brought comparatively large cargoes, whilst the New Zealand Shipping Company's Whakatano is loading meat, butter and general cargo for London. The New Zealand Shipping Company's chartered steamer Wirral has now arrived and is discharging inward cargo from Montreal. The Union Company's Tavinui is loading for the Islands. The Atbenic, from Egypt, is expected to-day, and after docking for overhaul will proceed South to load at various New Zealand ports for London. Potatoes: Extensive digging, owing to the recent rains, has had the effect of making the market easier and a further decline has tak°n place. Good samples are selling at £8 to £8 ss. Onions: The local supplies are coming in freely aud are now able to meet all demands.

Oats are selling freely at 3s lOd per bushel for B grade. Wheat is very scarce and arrivals from outside .ports are anxiously awaited by millers, who are unable to obtain supplies locally. Oatmeal : The price of local oatmeal has advanced £1 per ton. Bran and pollard are ruling verv high and there is no likelihood of lower* prices in the near future. Maize: Only small supplies have arrived from the coast. There is no change m prices to record. Chaff is very scarce and still maintains jits high level of £8 15s per ton for good , Southern.

Eastern Goods: Transhipments ex the Apanma are expected this week from Wellington. Cornsacks will arrive to a bare market and a decline in price will follow on their arrival Canned Salmon : The market has an upward tendency owing to heavy buying by Great Britain and Australia. Already stocks in packers' hands are getting light and as a consequence prices are verv firm, whilst an advance may be looked for shortly. Salt Salmon: A good demand has been experienced for this lino. Heavy shipments from America have greatly reduced stocks and prices are firm. Canned fruits have been selling freely and stocks of Beveral brands are almost exhausted. This applies more particularly to pears, which are now almost unprocurable.

Pineapples: This popular line is now off the market, and arrivals are not expected for some time. Prunes: Packers are beginning to realise that the crop will not be sufficient to supply the demand. The market, in consequence, has taken a decided advance, and there seems no likelihood of prices receding \ The market might fluctuate slightly, but the tendencv at present seems upwards. Evaporated Apricots and Peaches: The foregoing also applies to these lines, although the advances have not been so marked.

Raisins: The Associated Raisin Co. have sold the bulk of the raisin pack of California at prices guaranteed against decline, therefore, it is not likely that wo will see a decided drop in this commodity. Larger raisins have been pretty well cleaned up, and most growers are demanding an advance.

Tea: The past year has been emphatically a planters' year. Demand has increased and producers have responded to the demand, but at enhanced prices. The consumer has, however, continued to receive the same quality at the same price as before. The loss has been borne by the distributor, whose profits have diminished greatly, whilst those of the producer have increased. It is impossible to obtain absolutely exact figures as to the amount of tea grown in the various countries of production, but the quantity exported increased during the year from 750,000,0001b to 754.500,0001b. * The increased output is due to intense cultivation, not to an increase in the acreage under tea, and may be called a triumph of science and hard work over Nature, as weather conditions were not always favourable, particularly at the beginning and close of the year. PROPERTY SALES. Messrs. Alfred Buckland and Sons will offer by auction, at the Haymarket, to-day, at 2.30 p.m., the lease of Park House, which has 2£ years to run at £1 6s weekly, together with the contents of a nineroomed house, including a piano, situated in Grey Street, City. LONDON MARKETS. By Telegraph— Association—Copyright London, January 20. Chicago May Options: From £139 to £141 15s. July Options: From £123 2s 6d to £125 10s. TALLOW. Eight hundred and forty-eight casks were offered and sold. Mutton, fine 40s, medium 345; beef, fine 38s 9d, medium 33s 6d. WHEAT. Wheat is quieter. OILS AND TURPS. Linseed oil is quoted at £26 10s; turpentine at 37s 6d. METALS. Copper, £61 to £61 ss. Electrolvtic £64 10s to £65. Tin: Spot, £155 to £155 10s: three months, £148 5s to £148 15s. Pig iron, 56s 6d. Lead, from £18 9s to £18 lis 3d. Spelter, from £31 2s 6d to £31 7s 6d. LONDON WOOL SALES. By Telegraph—Press Association Copyright. London, January 20. Crossbreds sold at prices higher than those of the December sales. Merinos were firm at opening rates, with active competition. The following were some of the prices:— Australia: Tuppal, top price, Is 2d, average, 12|d; Euston, 12£ d and 9|d: Wangehne, 12£ d and 10|d ; Cy, Is and ll|d : Acoa Is and lid; Belaie, 9£d and Bid ; Walhallow, 9Jd and 9§d ■ Werangourt 16d and 14 a d; Coongoola, ll£d and 10id - Fernlee, lid and 9|d; Burenda, and New Zealand: Horaurinui, 15£ d and 15^d.