COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16204, 14 April 1916, Page 3

COMMERCIAL.

BUSINESS WELL MAINTAINED MERCHANDISE FOR THE SOUTH. Business is well up to the average for this time of the year, the high, prices all round making very little appreciable difference to sales. In fact buyers are glad to get the goods, for even after the heavy advances that have already taken placo thero appears to be a good prospect of further rises in prices of imported goods, and buyers seem determined not to be caught short of supplies. Merchants report fairly heavy sales of general merchandise to Southern towns, and these are considerably depleting stocks of imported goods here. Every steamer that arrives from the South with grain and produce seems to be able to fill up here with general merchandise, including local manufactures. Produce; Very few changes in value .ire reported during the week. Freight is .still very uncertain, and this now applies to the movement of goods in all directions. Every line is taxed to its utmost capacity, and accommodation is limited on the coast, both northwards and southwards, while the usual steamers cannot handle all the freight offering between Sydney and Auckland. This is a new feature in the position, the shortage last year being limited to overseas vessels. Shipments of Potatoes. Potatoes: Local stocks are rather low, especially of good quality, the first arrivals from the South being very disappointing this year. Further shipments are on the way, but, as these are only of small quantity, there will probably be an opportunity of clearing out all stocks, and at present the best available are selling at £8 103 ex store. Southern market is a little weaker, and, as there is no inquiry 'from Australia, it is expected that prices will recede. Onions: There is no change in tho position. Southern are now arriving in just sufficient quantity to keep the market going. Oats: Thero are decided indications that the weak sellers are now about sold out, for it is difficult to get offers on the same terms as a few weeks ago. When the season opened there wore plenty of offers for spread delivery throughout tho year, but shipments are now restricted to about three months. Prices have not actually hardened, but most of the big growers have their stocks thatched, and this is generally a sign that the oats will stay there till the spring, unless good inducement offers. No oats are obtainable from North Canterbury, but Southland appears to have ample for' all requirements, so that the market should rule fairly low this year. Wheat: The featuro of the market this year is the abundant supply of Tuscan, whereas Hunters and Velvet are not offering at all freely, and the available supplies are so small compared with Tuscan that good prices are being obtained, equivalent to 5d or 6d per bushel above the latter variety. Very little business is passing at present, and growers are storing their wheat, while millers are still holding off except for small lots. Fowlwheat Market. Fowlwheat: The market is slightly m '"?, r - «d a fair quantity is selling. Pollard: The rise in price is not restricting sales, good business being reported. The advance is causing a little inquiry for Australian ricemeal, but no business is reported so far. Barley: Chevalier holds very firm, but tape is weaker, and good quantities are being drawn from Gisborne at late rates. Maize; The position is stronger, on account of smaller supplies, but no advance has been established on late rates, and the small consignments received since last week have sold on the basis of 4s Gon the wharf in wholesale lines. Java maize is on order from Sydney, and tins has a tendency to keep the price down as it is reported to be free from weevil. A good shipment is expected by the Victoria due on Easter Monday. The cro- in tho Bay of Plenty is report! to be looking well, out the prospects are rather poor in the next largest maize district, Poverty Bay, as the crop is being damaged bv grub. Chaff: Stocks of Blenheim chaff are now very light, and a shipment flue next «-oak will arrive to a good market. Waikat) chaff is arriving in small quantities but the quality is not eqnal to :<hat is cr:-..ig from f'irtU,- South, where good weather has produced a brighter article, almost equal to Blenheim. Grass Seed: Business for the season appears to be over, except for small quantities still being taken for ploughed ground. Bonedust: Australian manufacturers an •again offering small quantities, but the price has advanced 21s per ton. Only *mall quantities are arriving by each steamer. LONDON MARKETS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, London, April 12. WOOL. There was a brisker sale to-day, and wider competition for Merinos at an advaiwo of fully 5 per cent. Crossbreds wero harder all round. Following were tho prices realised for the fleece portions of the clips named:--Slapdash, top 16£ d, average Is£d; Ngaputahi, 17d and loAd; Pouerua, 17£ d and 17d; Tini, 18W and 17Jd; Pc;rau, 18W and 17Jd. METALS. Copper: Spot, £122 to £122 10s per ton ; three months, £119 to £119 10s. Electrolytic copper: £135 to £137 per ton. Tin: Spot,£l9Bto £198 20s per ton; three months, £197 to £197 10s per ton. Pig iron: £95 per ton (nominal). Lead: Spot, £34 10s per '-i; three months, £34 15s. .Spelter: £90 per '.on. StaimVd silver: <J9£d per os. \ j TA'xLOW. ' ~;' At tho sales 1034 casks were offered and 672 sold. Beef, fine 54s 6d, medium 48s fid; mutton, fine 52s 6d, medium 475. The Bank of New Zealand has received the following cable from its London office:—" Crossbreds, par to 5 per cent, cheaper; Merinos, unchanged." i PENINSULAR AND ORIENTAL DIVIDEND ON DEFERRED SHARES. By Telegraph— Association— ; London, April 12. Tho Peninsular and Oriental Company j has declared a dividend of 12 per cent. ; on deferred shares. AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE MARKETS, ] By Telegraph— Association—Copyright 1 (Received April 13. Vj.s p.m.) ' Ssi»»ey, April 13. Oats: Tasmanian and Algerian, 2s 6d < to 2s 7d; white, 23 lOd to is. Barley: j Feeding, 3s 3d; malting, 3s 9d. Maize: Local, 4s 3d to 4s 4d ; South African, 4 . 7d to' 4s Bd. Potatoes: Tasmanians, £6 ' 10s to £8. Onions, £5 10s. 1 Melbourne, April 13- ' Hides: There are small supplies. The ', demand is active. Prices ai i firm and mi- j changed. . Adelaide, April 13. . Wheat, 5s 3d; flour, £10 15a; bran, Hid; pollard, Is l£d to Is oats, I 2s to 2s Id. , I CHICAGO WHEAT MARKET. ■ By Tiiegraph—Prrss Association— (Received April 13. 11.55 p.m.) ' ; LONDON April 13. '■ Th# Chicago wheat market is strong, owing to adverse crop advices. Futures ; are quoted as follow :—May, 118£ cents 1 to 1.195 cents; July, 115 ceuis to 1171 ■ cents j September, 11% cents'. i «