COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15915, 12 May 1915, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

CONFIDENCE OF MERCHANTS.

REVIEW OF MARKETS.

Tirana is very little change in the general position since last week. A good turnover is maintained, as buyers have confidence in the future, and stocks are working off go well as to require continual purchases. Shipping is mil very active this week, but the Cape Fiuisterre is to discharge a shipment of nil from New York, and the Wuihora lias a large geneik! shipment from Calcutta, comprising tho usual assortment of Eastern goods. The lnvertay lias completed the discharge of a good shipment from New York. There is no vessel loadi ig now, but large quantities of cargo are offering, and some of this will be taken by the Zealandie which is due here next week. Potatoes : Stocks are amnio for the present inquiry, and there Is no chango in price, good samples of Southern selling at .€6 5s ex store, while local are quitted at less money, according to quality. Local growers have again made a mistake in holding on too long, us it is most difficult to sell when the Southern main crop is ready. According to reports from the South, the market will probably

improve when the heaviest of the digging is over, its there is a renewal of the inquiry for export to Australia during June, July, and August, and higher prices are asked for delivery during those months-

Onions: Market las hardened a little in the South, and slightly higher prices aro asked for June delivery. Good stocks are held locally, and the price remains unchanged at £6 ex store. Oats: Sellers hardly seem so anxious to quit as they have been during the past fortnight, but in a few days the position will be clearer, as the amended official estimate of the harvest will be issued. Local market is well supplied, and demand is not. very heavy, small lots selling at 4s 10J ex store.

Seed Oats : Algerian seed is in demand, and unless further shipments arrive from America it is quite evident that there will be a shortage before the demand censes. A few local samples are on the lirirket. but the quality is not satisfactory. Wheat : Market is a little weaker. Millers have now secured the bulk of their requirements for some months ahead, and operations are. very small. Further information on the harvest output is expected in a few days, and it is more than likely that the figures will show there is sufficient for the requirements of the Dominion. Fowl wheat is more, plentiful, hut the price is still high compared with other grains-

Flour : There is very little business doinrr now, as most of the heavy buyers are fail lv well supplied.

Bran ant! Pollard : Both are very firm, as tliq demand for Australia continues, and stocks are light. Only small quantities are being produced.

Chaff: Selling well, in spite of the high price. Very little local is coming in, but larger quantities of Southern are expected now that the steamer service on tlvj coast has been improved.

Maize : Shipments from the coast have been a little "mailer lately, and there has been no difficulty in selling all the old maize that came to hand. For some extraordinary reason, a little new maize has been shelled and sent tip this week, but the condition is far from satisfactory. With less arriving from the coast, there l.as been a better demand, for the Java maize in store, and most of the stocks have now been cleared. The Rivcriaa did not bring any Java maize this week-

Fertilisers : Stocks of bonedust are very low, but tho Waihora is almost due with a shipment from Calcutta, which will at rive to a good marketCornsacks: Supplies by the Waihora will be welcome, as local stocks have run rather low.

■fencing Wire : Importers are faced with a difficult}' in getting supplies, as parcels of plain and barbed bought six months ago have not yet been shipped. According to advices from the United Kingdom, it is impossible to say when these will be got away, as the Government have first call on the output and there are also great difficulties in the way of tlio actual shipping. TV railways naturally give preference to war material, and there is also a continual congestion .it the docks. As regards supplies from America, the position is not so acute in regard to the manufacturers themselves, but the difficulty is to get vessels for the freight offering An extra cargo steamer lias been put on to ioarl at San Francisco next month, and all the freight space war snapped up at once. Fencing wire has been in good demand, and Uglier* prices ire now asked.

Tea : The market keeps as firm as ever, and it is* expected that the continual buying for Russia will exert a strong influence on the Calcutta and Colombo markets for some time.

Canned Fish : Stocks if gar lines and herrings are rather low, while somo brands and descriptions are no.v quite exhausted- It scons likely that herrings will not be available in the usual quantity during this season, as the British Government have taken over so many trawlers for war purposes. Fishing has also been considerably interfered with in Portuguese niul Norwegian waters, and this will affect the output of sardines.

Sago and Tapioca : The Waihora this week brings supplies to a rather bare market. Prices arc a little higher.

Rice : No alteration has taken place in Hie price. Practically all the rico that comes to New Zealand is Australian dressed, *XiA all the mills are quoting- a \:n'form price. Kerosene: The Cape Finisterrc is to ■discharge a largo shipment of kcroseno this week.

Kauri Gum : About the same quantity is coming in, and there is not much alteration in the quality. A fair amount of business is passing, and the better grades are being place] as they come forward, provided the reserves are not too high. The volume of business now being conducted may be regarded as satisfactory, having regard to tlio state of the markets in London and New York. Rescraped and good bold whites are fetching fair prices, also good hard white nuts. Good rescraped and bold blacks are changing hands at late rates, and tliero is also a small market for good hard black nuts, and really good chips, free from dnst and foreign matter. Swamp and poor B2 seem very dull, and low prices arc being accepted, while 111 does not appear in such good demand as it has been lately, prices beinff on the decline. East Coast is out of the market.

CANTERBURY PRODUCE.

[by telegraph.—press association.]

CiißisTrnDnrrr, Tuesday.

There lias been rather more inquiry for wheat during the past few days, but there is very little offering. Some buyers are only offering 6s 4d at country stations, though more would probably be given for a good, straight line. It is reported that a fairly large line of Hunters and Tuscan lias been purchased in the Ashburton district at 6s 7d. April threshing returns are now being looked for, as they will practically decide what quantity of wheat is available. Orders for ""rials placed in Southland for good sacks have had a firming tendency on the marked So far an North Canterbury is concerned, there are apparently few surplus oats left on growers' hands, and for gome time past there has been little offering. The ruling price is about 3s 6d to 3s 7d at country stations. Oatsheaf chaff is very firm at £6 to £6 2s 6d at country stations, and the demand has included Government requirements. Potalpcß are drill of sale at £3 10s at country stations. Few orders are coming from the North Island, and shipments to Auckland are delayed through scarcity ftf chipping space,

LONDON WOOL SALES. °

CROSS REDS STILL FIRM

By Telegraph— Association— Copyright.

London, May 10.

At the wool Bales, crossbreds and best Merinos were firm, but others were irregular. Among (lie clips sold were: Australian, Rockwood, top 24i|d, average 23Jd; Myamely, 13d and 12d ; Gnoolooma, 13d and* 12W; Saltern Creek, 13d and lljd; Eremeron, 12d and 10^1; New Zealand-Te Puru, 16Jd to 15id.

AUSTRALIAN APPLES.

S.S. MONGOLIA'S CARGO.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.

London, May 10. The apples by tho Mongolia turned out in various conditions. Some over-ripe and nasty sold at from 5s to 6s a case. There was a good demand for all sound fruit. West Australian sold at 8s to 12s, Granny Smiths " 15s to 21s, Victorians 8s to 12s, Tosmanianfi 7s to 12s 6d, (ox's Orange Pippin 9s to 14s 6d. Of the pears, West Australian sold at 10s to 18s 6d, Tasmanian at 10s 6d to 18s 6d. Some Victorian crapes brought 14a to 18s. 8

PROPERTY SAT.ES.

This evening at the Chamber of Commerce 57 sections in Smith's Deep Creek Estate will bo offered at auction; alio the orchard and two sections fronting tho bench. The latest popular terms are offered without interest, and subject to a cash discount of 8 per cent, The sections command beautiful marine views, and aro delightfully situated. Instructed by the Railway Department, Messrs. Robert C. Can and' Son will submit for sale by auction, at their rooms, Nwaiisoii Street, to-day, tho leases for 21 years of seven sections fronting Broadway, Newmarket. Also the louses for seven years of eight sections, with railway sidings and frontages to a road 50 links wide.