COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15999, 18 August 1915, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

GENERAL BUSINESS QUIET. PRODUCE MARKETS EASIER. Übnerai, business is rather quiet again this week, and no great help has been received from shipping, as recent overseas shipments have been very light until arrival of the Otak|, and " business has therefore been largely confined to exstore orders. During the week the Navua will be loading for the Islands, | and will take a large quantity of general ; produce. Wholesale houses are expecting | more activity soon, M the soft goods houses will be looking forward at the end of the week, and general merchants next week, but with the early possibility | of booking for next month's account the | orders at present being handled are naturally restricted to necessities and a few sorting up lines. The Oteki is in with a general shipment from London, of which nearly 3000 tons will be discharged here. I reduce : The markets are still tending to easier rates. In fodder the decreased demand for Australia has completely altered the position, while locally the mild season has brought on such an abundance of grass that fodder is no longer required in the quantities used during the early part of the winter-. Potatoes: The Australian demand has come on again, and this has considerably firmed the Southern market, although so far it has been impossible to ship all the previous bookings. Local market iB well supplied, and price this week is £8 to £8 10s ex store.

Seed Potatoes: Fair sales are reported this week, but the weather is not all that could be desired. A fine spell for a week would cause large quantities to be put in.

Onions: Market is well supplied just at present, but distributors are a little anxious about the next few weeks. There will be no steamer from Sydney next week and very few axe now arriving from the South, but after the middle of next month there should be no scarcity as American will then be on the market. Oats: No change in the market. Full stocks are held here, but business is very quiet, and buyers would rather wait to see which way the market will go. There is no doubt that the high price that has ruled since last harvest has cut down the trade enormously, and there is considerable curiosity as to what will be revealed by the census taken on June 30 It is about time the figures were available.

Oatmeal : Selling very slowly for this time of the year. Wheat: Sfarke* holds very dull, iind a Ifall1 fall is expected -At present there is riot I much offering, but millers show no eageriHe h^? ver to cure supplies. I *owl Wheat: Also very quiet. A little |is going out at 7s 93 « store; but as maize « cheaper again and more plentiful wheat is comparatively negleeted. .-Hour: A distinct fall has taken place since last report, local flour being now £.15 15s net . m sacks. Southern flour is selling very quietly fni? ran and Pol^ rd: The demand Has fallen off so . much that the market is decidedly weaker. It looks as if the-mill* an easily cope with the trad© now that the Australian demand has ceased *JSi q ?i : ? IU J 1 more P rent M thiS season. Several lots of coastal maize have arrived and the buying price has fallen, consignments being placed in wholesale lines at pa to 5s 3d on the wharf, according to quality. Another shipment arrived From !Si « 7 **k *$¥"*» so tha{ with this and the fc>outh African maize already in store | the market is rather over-guppfied. Fertilisers : Heavy sales continue. Merchants are now in a much bettor portion with regard to superphosphates, of which a terse shipment arrived from Melbourne, but bonedust" is scarce, and basic slag pcaetically unobtainable. .7 ■Metals: The English markets -are naturally very active. Sheffield reports that to an increasing extent the claims of ordinary trade are being given up to national interests, and. a 'distinct increase in the output of ammunition & taking place. This result has been achieved by better organisation and . appeals to the workmen to do their best. Report trade in general steel products has increased, ! and a good deal of material is -being' shipped to Russia by Archangel. Works i are extremely busy on orders for the shipbuilding trade, who want .more tool steel, forgings, castings, files and took than, can be produced. Clyde shipbuilders are engaged on a new type of war vessel, and they have called on their workmen to do their utmost to expedite the delivery to the fighting line.. Armament makers in Glasgow have also on hand guns which will astonish the .world. Wool : The firmness in the London market leads to the broad conclusion that the trade is convinced that all good Merino wools, suitable for combing, will be required to meet .the well-sustained demand for hosiery and dress goods, yarns, and that military needs will be sufficient to absorb all the current crossbred clip before the end of the year. Fungus : A good demand continues, and consignments are being placed at 6i|L Kauri Gum.: Supplies this month to date amount to 221 tons, of which" "a fair quantity has changed hands, mainly the better grades. The market seems unsettled, and buyers are only taking what they require,, for immediate shipment, there being little or no. speculation or. forward buying. Eescraped arid good whites are Still 'being placed", although prices ' are weak. 'Good bush is -moving off on.- arrival at fair prices. Blacks are still weak. -Good hearty swamps are being ,-placed, but poof qualities are hanging fire. Good black chips free from earth arid wood are moving off in small quantities-, but the quality must be good.

. . . . LONDON MARKETS. By Telegraph— Association— London, August 16. METALS- ... Copper : On spot, buyers £67 15a, sellers £68 ; forward, buyers £69, sellers £69 Electrolytic copper, buyers £80, seller's £81. Tin : On spot, buyers £181, sellers £151 10s; forward, buyers £163, sellers £153 10s. Lead : Buvers £20 15s, sellers £20 17s 6d. Silver, 22Jd per ounce. WHEAT. The wheat market is firm and inactive. Prices are unchanged. Messrs. Dalgety and Company, Limited, are in receipt of the following cablegram from their London office, under date August 16 —" Butter: Danish dull, aft* 174;=. The Copenhagen quotation .is uncbanq<!d. Ko Australian offering. Cheese: Market weak and irregular. Finest Canadian 735. Finest New Zealand 745." CANTERBURY PRODUCE. [BY TEr.EGTI.APH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION*.I CuiusTCinTßCH, Tuesday. No business is doing in wheat and. in view of the drop in prices of flour and offal, it is difficult to place a value upon grain. Crowers are not offering any wheat,.and hive not lowered their idea of value, which is considerably higher than millers would he prepared to agree to. There is no business to record in oats, but oat-sheaf chuff is dull of sale, and the price has receded to £7 at country stations. Potatoes are firmer, and are now quoted at £5 10s to £5 15s.