COMMERCIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17348, 20 December 1919, Page 7

COMMERCIAL

KARANGAHAPE ROAD SITES. SALE OF ST. KEVENS SECTIONS. An important auction sale of business sites in Karangahape Road was held by Samuel Vaiie and Sons, Ltd., yesterday afternoon. Mr. B. G. Paletborpe acting as auctioneer. There was a very large attendance, and there appeared to be a number of possible buyers. The property, -which is known as St. K.evens, is situated on the northern side of Karangahape Road, in the middle of the block, between Upper Queen Street and Pitt Street, the owner being Mr. D. L. Nathan. The property has a. depth of 100 ft, and it was offered in minimum, of 20ft. St. Seven's has an interesting history. In the early days the residence was ueed as Government Houoe, and later as the mess of the officers of the Imperial forces, which was in occupation during and after the Maori war. Later it was acquired by the late Mr. David Nathan, and it was occupied by him and his family for a considerable Period. The frontages nearest to Queen Street were offered first. Bidding commenced at £100 a foot. The price quickly rose to £180, and eventually reached £200, at which a 20ft frontage was knocked down. Offers for a I further area in this portion of the property did not reach the reserve, but a 20ft strip on the other side, adjoining Hutchinson's bicycle shop, brought £200 a foot after spirited bidding. The next section offered was that in the centre of the block, consisting of 20ft strips on either side of a 20ft entrance to Myers Park, the buyer having the right to build over or under the entrance, making it into an arcade, which will oonaect with Pitt Terrace, leading to Pitt Street, Bidding started at £150 a foot and soon reached £225. The final offer was £247 10s, but the figure did not reach the reserve. Messrs. Robert C. Carr and Son report that at the auction sale, held at their rooms yesterday, a property of 46 acres at Henderson, including a house and outbuildings, was sold for £1200. LONDON WOOL SALES. Australian and KZ, Cable Association. (Reed. 10.30 p.m. LONDON. Dec. 16 (delayed). At the wool sales Merinos were irregular in buyers' favour. A much, better selection of crossbreds was offered. CANTERBURY PRODUCE MARKETS. [BY TELEGRAPH.PSESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHUKCH, Friday. Business in grain and produce lines has been stagnant during the week. There has been a distinct easing m the demand for chatf, the limit of offers now being £7 at country stations, with little business doing. New season's chaff in the North will be available in a few weeks, and the demand for Canterbury supplies may be expected to slacken to very small proportions. Oats are also easier. Up to 4s 9d for A grade Gartens, and Algerians is offering at country stations, with little business doing. » - FRUIT AND PRODUCE MARKET. Messrs. E. Turner and Sons, Ltd., report a brisk sale and heavy supplies of all lines of fruit; there is also a keen demand tor vegetables, . potatoes, otc. For the Christmas trade we have to-day disposed of 10,000 packages of fruit, 8000 cases of Fiji bananas realising 24.3 to 25s per case, and thij lowest price for reject damaged fruit was 20s. Canadian apples are in excellent condition, and are selling at from 25s to 275. Over 2000 packages of locally grown fruits and berries passed through our rooms to-day, and 4000 head of poultry and normal quantities of potatoes. Supplies <-' fresh vegetables show a decided decline in supply with corresponding increase in prices, especially for this part of the season. Prices are as follows: — Tomatoes, Is 3d to Is Sd per lb; seconds, 8d to Is per lb; peaches, 5s to 12s, according to quality; »cherry plums, 5» to 8s; black plums, 7s 6d to lis; apricots, 8s to lis; -grapes, 2s 9d to 2s lOd per lb; lemons, 15s to 30s; apples, Canadian 26s to 275; Naval oranges, 45s to 48s; Sydney oranges, 28s;, loquats,. 7s to 9s; strawberries. Is Id to Is 7d per chip, some poor samples on the market; loganberries, la 5d to Is 6d. Produce.Potatoes, Id to lid; rhubarb, 6s 8d to 12s 4d per doz.; cabbage, Is lOd to 5a per doz.; cauliflower, Is to 2s 6d per doz.; cucumbers, 28s to 33s 6d per case; marrows, 6d to Is each; carrots. Is 8d doz.: beetroot. Is 3d to Is 7d per doz.; peas, 2|d to 3id per lb: beans, 5d to 5Jd. Dairy produce.—Eggs, 2e 4d to 2s sld per doz.; honey, in comb, 8d; butter, Is 5d to Is 6d per lb. Poultry.Roosters, heavy 7s to 10s; others, 4s to 6s' 6d: hens, heavy 6s to 8s 6d; others, 2s 9d to 6s; ducks. 3s to 5s 6d; chicks, 6d to Is 6d oach; turkey gobblers, 25s to 31s; turkey hens, 13b 9d; geese, 8s to 9s. WAIKATO STOCK SALES. The Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company, Ltd, Hamilton, report:—The set-' tlement of the strike and simultaneous opening of the freezing works have given a. very welcome impetus to the beef market. Competition has been remarkably brisk, and all stock offering has been eagerly seized. Mutton is not offering in any quantity, and. is mostly of plain quality. Competition for this is also good. Fat lambs are keenly sought after both by butchers and exporters, and considerable numbers have been sent to the works, but the general opinion is that the quality is not equal to last season. Store cattle of all discription are increasingly dull, and sellers are. snowing anxiety to unload. This must continue until weather conditions alter. Dairy cattle cannot be reported as steady. At some sales high values are recorded. Others produce a contrary result. Store sheep are generally declining, the drop in the last week or bo being very marked. However, unless the dry weather continues a very much better tone is anticipated after the New Year. Bacon pies still demand good competition, but weaners have shown a marked falling away. We quote:—Bullocks, heavy, prime, £18 to £22. lis, medium £14 10s to £1*? 10s: cows. #iime, fat, £13 to £16. medium £ll to £12 10s; heifers, fat, £11 to £13 10s; bullocks, four-year-old £11 to £12 10s, three-year-old £9 to £10; cows, fresh conditioned £8 10s to £9 10s, good £7 5s to £8 10s. old and low £3 to £5 10s; steers, 2s-year-old. £6 to £7 ss; steers, yearlings, best, £4 to £5, medium £2 10s to £3-, small £1 109 to £2 ss; heifers, two-year-old empty Shorthorn £6 to £7. yearlings best £4 10s to £5. medium £3 153 to £4 ss; dairy cows, best £15 to £20, ordinary £8 to £12 10s, backward and old £6 to £8; dairy heifers. best, three-year-old, £9 to £12; wethers, prime, shorn, 32s to 365, medium 29s to 31s; ewes, prime, shorn. 28s to 81s; shorn ewes, with lambs young. 25s to 30s, full-mouth 22s 6d to <>ss-' shorn wethers, tooth 27s 6d to ~3os' two-tooth 21s to 23a;. Pigs: Baconers £4 to £5 10s; slips, £2 10s to £3 10s; weaners i. n 5s to £1 15s. Horses: Heavy draught! £40 to £50; medium, £32 to £40; light £10 to £18 : harnCSS - £15 *° £23 - ackß. AUSTRALASIAN TEMPERANCE AND GENERAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 10.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE. Dec. 19. The annual meeting of the Australasian temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society. Limited, was held to-day *~* , c llalrma Mr - Henry Weeks, reported that the new business for the year in both departments amounted to £4,812,930, an increase of £566.581 over the previous year. Ims large volume of business was obtained at a, moderate rate of expense. The income ot the society had increased by £141 319 and now amounted to £1,032.568. The funds l\ ad „, nl « ea f«d by £443.083, and now stood at Ad, u 34,600. The assets were invested in the following satisfactory manner; Fifty nine per cent, in Government and municipal securities, 26 per cent, in loans, 11 per cent. in freehold, securities, and 3 per cent, in other securities. The rate of interest earned on the mean funds was £5 Is per cent. The death claims weie high owing to the war and the influenza epidemic, notwithstanding which a surplus of £63,876 was shown. In comparing the figures for the past five years, the chairman stated that new business had increased from £2,721M74 to £4,812,930, the total income from £516,194 to £1.032.568, assets from £1,781,427 to £3,482,054, and total assurances in force from £8,735,694 to £15,163,756. The society has therefore practically doubled its size in the last five years. These figures stamped lie society as one of the most progressive in Australasia, and its continued progress must be a source of gratification to all policy * holders.