COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18468, 3 August 1923, Page 7

COMMERCIAL.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. ] BETTER COUNTRY TRADE. 1 THE PRODUCE MARKETS. .-'The fine weather has attracted further attention to the - ; drapery,. sales, . especially ; as influenza is not now prevalent. Anumber of ..business houses report that their staffs are - baqk to almost normal dimensions, so that they are ■ fully able to deal with the -agreeable increase of business. iv Country trade ; shows : an improvement, though hot;to the;' extent that the beginning of the dairy season was expected to bring in, but it is explained; that farmers j are inclined to .postpone their purchases j as long as possible, so that the roads can be negotiated more , easily."; Where rail or steamer conveniently served" any district there- is a more noticeable '• improvement in general ' business* '■■-. while dairying equipment naturally could. not wait,- and had to be secured for v. the season.;.,; All,, are looking .-1 forward to % good output this year. ' . ■'.:; ■■'>•■' Hardware and Groceries. ■ Hardware.—The mainstay of .the business is the building trade, which keeps particularly active. - Contracts are now . being arranged, and an extensive building trade during coming season is assured. j —Bargain sales continue, and wholesale trade is comparatively, neglected, but new' goods have been opened up,; and the spring show will soon claim the ; attention of retailers anxious to replenish their : stock of seasonable goods. ' Grocery.—-Few changes in -price are reported. Cream of- tartar has been steadily falling, and now appears to. have touched ; bottom, - so j this: line should be good. buying. : Jordon almonds aire higher. -' Sago and tapioca : are 'moving i up and >■■ down in turn, v It is not expected that, the direct steamer; leaving; the East this month will bring much Singapore produce, but it is bringing large Quantities of Calcutta goods, including woolpacks for the' coming season.. Sugar ia' still in short supply, an experience that was not expected during the; winter,, and striot rationing has to beoarxied but by the wholesale and the retail. :'." A '.■;; /''":-.'.'.;.:' :! ; ' ' Eggs.Large supplies are coming in, but they ; aro readily absorbed now. that the retail price is so low, Is 10s for hen and Is 8d for duck. The arrangements are well in hand, for exporting .'a';', shipment early in Septembers"-.. . ;; , ; Potatoes. at 12s 6d a ton for white, and Us:,to lis 6d for red. Stocks are already rather low in ' first grade, and there will be no large shipment arriving till about the end of next week. Fortunately a good many retailers had laid in a fair store, so that there may be sufficient to supply local requirements, as well as the Cook Islands steamer.' ; -;''; ;r " ,; "~ . . ;^ .,,;;.■ .'"'■;-■ i"- : : : ,--"^-r-V' :r . : Onions.—-These have also been taken up rathfer heavily for the Island steamer, and stocks have run low tfcol' sometimes; as high as 14s has been paitf tor ; best ; Aus-1 traUan. Stocks , will ba, amply 'replenished by the Kauri, the shipment from this vessel is-expected to sell at about ills 6d. , . Oats.A ; further fall has taken place is oats in ! the South, but no great interest is J being ..taken in ; the "current quotations, as local merchants still thlnJc-the price in the South; is rather high, and not justified by 1 the ■. position. . Meantime the quotation is j equivalent to about 4s 3d ; to 4s : 6d for B j grade, ex stores here. : ; ' > -1 Wheat, Bran and Pollard. I Wheat.—Market "i is very firm for fowl j wheat, with offerings . few and far between. j The Australian market has quickly responded i to the fall in the world's: price for wheat,! as the . Commonwealth . has an exportable surplus, but New Zealand has none to spare, j and ' may probably have to import, -so our market is meantime ; independent of foreign ! movements. Good fowl wheat is quoted at i 6s 9d to 7s ex 3toro, and is in constant i demand. ">:; >■'- - v ;.. :> ;■'.;;;.; ;'; ; "; ' :•'..■::; ■'-•■'.•;-..j Bran.— Manuka brought the first lot of. Australian. imported under permit, but it. is understood that only limited quantities! will be allowed, in. The quotation is about 103 ex store, well over, the local prices,, but it is expected it will all be readily taken j up, as well an the larger shipment from Melbourne that, has been ' arranged. ... Pollard.— are much more plentiful now, larger: quantities ; having arrived from the South. a Importation from Australia has "also' been arranged, and th«; price is about 10s 3d ex store. Linseed.—The opening ; of the dairy season always brings in a good demand for linseed. The price has fallen lately, -and good quality is ; - now- quoted at 22sv ex store. r n -_ Chaff.-— Kurow brought -a fair quantity of Blenheim chaff, but in the face of large supplies of " ■■ ; Australian ' : chaff .the Southern ia realising a lower ; figUMi ; at Us ex store. Baled Australian : is quoted ; at 08, and dumped at 93 Gd to 9s 9d. * J',' Maize and Seeds. ■ . ' s Maize.—Recent arrivals from the Bay; of I Plenty have comprised. about equal quan- 1 tities of old and new grain. The former has realised 5s to 5s Id on the- wharf in wholesale lines, and new maize; has sold: : at.4s 9d upwards, according to quality. ;: Having regard ; to the; scarcity! and firm market in wheat, it seems likely that, maize should maintain • its present price. ; Seeds.—The decided change in the weather has naturally brought in ; a« great trade in, garden seeds, and all the ; shops are busy this ; week ;. with ', the. requirements ' of the amateur" gardner'a. i;.---Iri; farm , seeds ,: an improved : inquiry ' is, noted i.: in oats,- and : this is likely, to. continue for a fow weeks, -varying according to the J weather.': Seed potatoes are ■ also meeting ; a - greatly t improved demand. ;r The early* crop is, expected; to realise •;,»• .good price. . especially . as 1 some of the potatoes have; already been ruined by frost, ' f and; potato growers ; are expecting to put ;• in ■ a-; good area at '•■ once, ; if the weather keeps fin" ? Fertiliserslmproved business is reported all round. The main call is for a quick fertiliser for top-dressing' grass, and; for V the various- garden' requisites for seeds and potatoes, while fairly large ; quantities, are being taken by farmers, for putting in with their crops. /' - ■ '•' ." ,-. , STATE' AS SHAREHOLDER. BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S HOLDINGS A '-'"return ,; was recently furnished of the present holdings of the British Government in. conoerns' registered'.uider the Companies Acts, ;V Investments ' by the Board ;.; of trade comprise '.—-British Dyestuffs Corporation, £850,000; Turkish .'Petroleum , Company, £40,000;. British-American Nickel - Corporation (or Canada), 3,000,000 dollars; Munster Flax ■ Development .Company,; £22,000; Chepstow Water ;, Company,-"v £330; Monmouth Shipbuilding ; Co., £490.000. In addition, the 'Board, of Trade hold 3 300,000 : £1. ordinary shares' (fully v paid) , and. 300,000 £1 ordinary shades (ss/ paid) in the. Standard Shipbuilding -i and ;.; Engineering : # Company, Ltd., and two '.. subsidiary companies. These shares are of nominal value only, as ; , the entire assets and ! liabilities of the ' companies are vested in the Shipping Controller, and i the;/ fiToater part of - the physical assets have; been included in ■- the ■ sale ■ to the Monmouth Shipbuilding .. Company, ' Ltd. ~ The shares . do - not therefore 'produce any income. .-»'-- Investments of the. Treasury- Suez Canal Company, £160.101; Cunard-; Steamship, i: £ 650,00©;-; Anglo-Persian Oil v Company.* £5,000,000. r, ,'-,.! . ';:-, -, H Investments of the Ministry : of - Agriculture arid ; Fisheries :;: are:—Home -v. grown sugar. '■''& 250,000; flax cultivation,: 831,000;' Weasox Flax Factories, £32,500. ; v ■ -^vi~'::'' : -'--f-y-The only ,inv6stmontf of > the Disposal and Liquidation Commission is £500,000, on the British Cellulose and - Manufacturing Company,7 while ' the Foreign ' Office has £45,268 in the ; Commercial Bank of Siberia.'-;: • ;.f--:;l-' •■■' ■: ''•;'- ;"■-■-"■■!;'.-•;-;-':.- ; ;.- ; . ,r-. '.■■'■- .."i ' AUSTRALIAN PRODUCE'. ;..'. Australian ;• and N.Z. Cable'.' Association.'■'.; (Reed. 10.6 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug.' 2. Gats.—-Tasmanian and Algerian feed.. '148 6d to 4s 8d: White, 4a 6d to 4s Bd. ~ : Maize.—Yellow and white, 5s 6d., ': . —Tasmanian, ' £13 to £16. ; .; ';;-, Victorian,' £6 - 10s. ■-.-.. i., ' •; •. ADELAIDE. Aug. 2. Oats.—3a 2d to 8s 3d. CALCUTTA TEA SALES. A. and N.Z. ,; , DELHI, August 1. At the.Caloutta tea sales there wsb a demand for good sorts.' Better-.class, sorts were sold ; at : full rates, with an advance. Beet Pekoes, inferior lots, and dusts . dragged. .TAUMARUNUI' STOCK SALE. ' Abraham and *. Williams, Ltd..' report: — At our Taumarunuisale'on Tuesday stock came forward , in excess of .advertised 4 numbers, our .yarding comprising 3334- sheep, 344 head of cattle, and 6 pigs. With the exception of two ; or three lots ,: the class of sheep. was t not up to last, sale, but competition . was again ikeen; \ and - excepting. small i. pens all lots', v changed hands. Store cattle were in great demand; but all classes of dairy stock were neglected. Quotations: Pat wethers, 32a 6d to 34a 6d; light, 30s i 9d V light fat ewes, . 19s;- store : wethers, 27b M to 295; cull wethers, 14s 6d; small 2-tooth ewes in : lamb Romney rams, -: 265; ; to 335; m.a. ewes in lamb, 255, 265. 27a, 28s: 7d, 20s 3d. 29s 6d, to 32s 6d: ewe lambs, 22a 7d; wether lambs, 20s, 20s Id. 21s 6d. 21s 9d: extra good woolly. 265; m.s. lambs, 16» lOd, • 19s. -id. 203 4d, 21s 3d, 22s sd. 22s> lOd, .to 235; email'black-faced lambs, 12s 2d; ■'■': cull -lambs, 10s 6d. Pigs: "Porkers, 355; store pigs, 26s to 28a. ; Fat bullocks. £5 to £6 17s; 4 and 5-year bullocks, £4 . 15s to £5 Is;- 8year steers, £4 ; 6b to £4 : 18s; ; 2-year steers,, £3; to £3 18s ;::■ 20-months steers. £2 15s to £3 9s; • yearling steers, ■ £2 Is .to: £2 ; ; 15s; fat and forward heifers, „£2 to £2 17s ; 6d;■; cows in calf, £2 la to £2155; heifers in calf, ■ 30s ■• to ' £3 ; 10s t ■ ■ store - cowe,: 20a '. to " 37a 5 springing dairy heifers. £4 to, 1 £6 sa. ;, J c V

'. HAMILTON. STOCK SALES.* .[ ,'■ 'The - New Zeailan'dN Loan and ; Mercantile ■ Agency -, C 0.., ; Ltd., i ,'Hamilton, report:—At , ;■' Praiktori- yards';! yesterday 'wo had an t aver- • as©^yarding' of: cattle and (sheep, ' with >* tat; . atook in' good°Supply.': Beef i of good .qua!- ■ ity sold at improved rates, and store- steers ; ; were "better ' valine. ~-' We ■ quote:; Prime rat; ■ cows, £7 7s tof £8 lis: medium fat cows,/ " £i ;10s to! £o fis: rough fat cows, £2 -lie . to '£3 ss; itorv. cows, £1 5s to £1 4 , s | ■ ■ 4-year-old steers, £4 4&"tb" jC4; 15&; 3-year-old steers, £S 10s to ; £8, 18s; 2-year-old 'steers, £3 Is to ;■ £3 Mi yearling steers, # -£?,, ss; fresh cows, £2 ,11s to £2 12s: fat ewes, 275, .to ; .30 a : 3d; fat ■ wethers. 'tis Cd to ;£2 i .f.m./ owes in larc". '-■'*98vto'i33s 6d. A large-entry; of , dairy: cows " -set with a weak demand. ■ Beat ; cows elope -to mrofit, £7 10s to £9 ■: 10s: , more backward. £2, to £5; ;cull cows.;;£l 15s- : to' £2 10s. A small yarding. of fat pigs.met with good t competition, 1 and ptore; pigs Were penned in large numbers. ,- Prices . realised were:— baconers, £4 : 15s' to £5 '.; 2s: light baconors and good porkere, £8 8s -to' £4 12s 8d; porkers. £1 Gs to £3; unfinished, £1, IBs to £2: slips. £1 8s 'to. £1 14s; > weaners, 18s to £1 Bs6d; : sows; close to farrowing, £3 10s to£o 6d: fresh dropped , calves, 4s 6d. , , . ; : , '' ■ PROPERTY SALES. ■ At the request of the. mortgagees, T. ; Mandeno Jackson': will ; offer for sale ,by public auction, at their rooms, 9,, Commerce Street, at 11 o'clock this ; morning,, a. . semi-bungalow of ; five rooms and i, conveniences on;- section having 64ft. frontage to Purchos Road, Takapuna,: close to socond -- tram section., and ; over eight : acres situated ; Lynwood ;' Road,-' off Great' North Road, New Lynn. , Mr. C.; F. Bennett; will offer for sale .by tmblio auction-*' at his rooms,; ■■ New Zealand Insurance Buildings, at noon; to-day; under conduct of the Registrar of the Supreme Cotirt, 'a five-roomed dwelling, situated in Pencarrow Avenue, ,; Mount Eden.: Under instructions from "owners. '■■ seven-roomed modern residence at-• No. ; 18. Onslow Road, off Dominion Hood, , and goodwill of lease of wooden building at. the corner of Eden Terrace and -Charlotte Street. ;; - :*-;;-. ■>.-' Samuel Vailo and Sons, Ltd.. : will offer for sale by public auction at their rooms, 83. Queen; Street, at -2 p.m. f to-day, the following .properties 53, acres for lea.se., tor five vears. on behalf of the Grammar School Board; two attached houses -.at-Nos.; 24 ; and 2R, England Street: two acjes.. Gray Avenue. Panatoetoe: 101 acres partly, improved, nine .miles from Opotiki.- , *- i.