COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16121, 8 January 1916, Page 5

COMMERCIAL.

LONDON MARKETS. * MONEY AND PRODUCE RATES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received January If 5.5 p.m.) London, January 7. BANK OF ENGLAND RETURNS. Thk Bank of England returns for the week ended January 6 compare with thf return of last week as under: — Jan. & Dec. 29. £ £ Coin ... ... ... 50,921,000 51,338,000 Reserve 34,358,000 34,617,000 Note issuo 35,194,000 35,309,000 Govt, deposits 58,157,000 4f\677,000 Other deposits 105,836,000 111,973,000 Govt, securities ... 32,840,000 32,840,000 Other securities ... 114,748,000 112,076,000 Proportion of reserve to liabilities 20.95 21.41 MONEY MARKET. Short loans are quoted at 4£ per cent., against 4| last week. The rate of discount for three months* bills is per cent., against 5.J last week. Consols are £58 17s 6d, aqrainst £58 7s 6d last week. War Loans: Si's, £89 12s 6d; 4Ps. £97 2 S 6d. Colonial Stocks: New South Wales, 4's £95, 3's £78 ; Victorian, 4's £93 15s, 3's £76; Queensland. 4's £95, Si's £9l'ss; 3's £74 10s; South Australian, 3J*s £85 ss, 3's £70 2s 6d; Tasmanian. £85 ss. 3's £76 Is 3d ; West Australian, 3i's £87 10s, 3's £82; New Zealand 4's £95 Is 3d, 3i's £89 ss, 3's £76. MINING STOCK. Waihi. buyers 33s 9d, sellers 36s 3d; Grand . Junction, buyers 18s 3d, sellers 19s 3d. METALS. Copper, sellers £91, buyers £90 ; electrolytic, buyers £113. sellers £115. Tin, buyers, £175 ss, sellers £175 15s. Pig iron. 78s Id. Lead, sellers £32, buyers £31 10s. SUGAR. American granulated sugar, 32s 6d. BUTTER. Butter is firmer, the recent reduction in stocks having stimulated inquiry. New ' Zealand choicest 148s to 150s, "unsalted 160s. nsalted is very scarce, as France has prohibited export with a view to preventing undue inflation of prices. The prohibition probably will be only temporary, as prices in France have already fallen. J CHEESE. Cheese is meeting a strong market. New Zealand, 94s to 955. WHEAT AND FLOUR. Wheat is occasionally dearer. Flour firm but quiet. OATSThere is a strong new crop in La Plata. January-February shipments 33s 9d. PEAS AND BEANS. Pens: Firm. New Zealand Maples, 60s to 655. Brans: Firm. New Zealand spring, 50 to 525. WOOL. The Bradford wool market is firm for all sorts, and prices are unchanged. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE MARKETS. By TelegTaph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received January 7, 5-5 p.m.) Sydney, January 7. Oats, Chilian, 2s to 3s ; local 2s 6d to 2s 7d ; Tasmanian, white, 3s 6d. Barley, malting. 3s to 4s. Maize, South African, 5s lOd to 6s 3d. Potatoes, Tasmanian old £10 to £13, new £17. Onions, old £2 , new £4 to £5. ' Melbourne, January 7. Bran, £4 ss. Pollard, £6 10s. Oats, 2s to 2s 2d. Barley, 3s 9d to 4s. Maize, 5s lOd to 6s. Potatoes, £13. Onions, £3 to £3 ss. Adelaide, January 7. Wheat 5s 3jd. Flour, £12 to £12 10s. Bran, Pollard, la 3d to Is 4d. Oats Is lid. CANTERBURY PRODUCE MARKET. [BY telegraph.— ASSOCIATION'.] Ghiustchtjbch, Friday. The local wheat market is now quiet, and enquiries have eased off, Southern millers apparently having secured supplies. ; No wheat is offering by growers, tlioee who still have stocks in hand holding firmly in consequence of the recent rise in price. Merchants are not offering mor» than 5s 6d at country stations, in view of the harvest now commencing, and the fact that the price at which Australian Hour could be landed in New Zealand does not now warrant extreme prices bein" paid. Still, a few old oats are being dis° Posed of by merchants. The Victorian oats market is weak. Buyers cannot be found for milling Algerians at 2s id, nor for fair feed at 2s. The price of oats in Victoria is only one- of what it was at this time last year. No sales of this season's barley have yet been reported. &ome sales of last year's grain have been made at 5s to 5s 3d, up to 5s 6d for heavier samples. Some samples of new barley are shown, but are very thin. FRUIT AND PRODUCE MARKET. Business in the fruit and produce markets during the past week has been very good indeed, and all line* of local fruit to hand have met with a splendid competition and sold at payable prices. Dark varieties of choice English plums and best peaches are selling exceptionally well; so are hot-house tomatoes and grapes. The apple market is bare of Americans, and locals are now selling much better, there being a good demand for prime cookers. Cherries from Sydney sold at high rates.

The Talune, from Suva, landed on Monday a very heavy cargo of bananas, and considerably in excess of requirements now that there is so much summer fruit offered. The consequence is there was very little demand and prices in many instances will not pay transit charges. The potato market is firm owing to considerable supplies being required for military purposes; prices will recede next week. Local onions are likely to be plentiful, and low prices will rule. Fresh eggs and farmers' butter are in demand and selling well. FIELD PRODUCE. Potatoes, local, prime, £9 10s to £10; onions, local. ss. DAIRY PRODUCE. Butter, farmers', in prints. Is 2d. Eggs, fresh. Is 4d. FRUIT. Apples: Local, coloured, extra superior 8s to 9s case, good 4s to 6s ; cookers. 7s to 89. Pears: Cases 63; half-boxes. 2s 6d to 3s Plums: English varieties, best up to 7s. good 4s to sb; Burbanks, best 2a 9d to 3s 6d, good 2s to 2s 6d : Ogon. best 2a to 2s 6d. Peaches: Coloured, best up to 7s, good 4s 6d to ss; others, best, 2s 6d to Bs. Apricots. 12s. Grapes, hothouse, Is to Is 4d lb. Tomatoes, hothouse, best Is per lb, good 9d to lid. Oranges, American. 12s. Lemons: Local, prime, 83 case, good 6s : local, rough and coarse 3s 6d to 4a caseAmerican. 13s. Cherries. Sydney. 12s to 16s per box. Water melons, 2s 6d eachwalnuts, 7id lb; peanuts, 2jd lb; pines, 10s to 12s crate. POULTRY AND PIGS. Hens, la 9d to 3s 9d each; table roosters, 3s to 6s 2d; ducks. Is 9d to 4s geese 3a 6d to 4s; chicks. 8d to Is; ducklings 7d to ! Is 4d; turkey gobblers Bs, turkey hens 5s 6d; young pigs, lis 6d to £1 3s each.