COMMERCIAL NEWS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 970, 3 October 1890, Page 21

COMMERCIAL NEWS

WELLINGTON MARKETS. Wholesale Prices. FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE,

The principal topic of the past week in business circles has been the troubles wh : ch have arisen between the retail grocers and the merchants on the matter of advertising and ticketing prices. The real object of the affair is a laudable one. There has been far too much of the “ cutting ” system practised not only in this city, but generally all over the Colony. Competition is no doubt very keen, and to attract business grocers have to exercise all their wits to secure their ends. The well-trained man of business seeks to attract customers first by the excellence of his wares, and then hy courtesy and careful attention to the many small details which lead to success. The untrained man has but one idea of pushing trade, and that is by selling goods at a price which frequently does not cover cost. In order to make a living he has to either charge abnormal profits on some lines or procure an inferior and cheaper quality to sell at the low price. In either case he is not acting honestly to himself, his merchants or his customers. In short, competition in quality and attention marks the true trader, but competition in prices alone marks the reckless false trader. It is to be hoped that the present difficulty in the trade will speedily be settled, and that the threat of boycott against the merchants and traders will not be attempted. Although trade can hardly be described as brilliant, yet there are signs of improvement, and the effects of the strike, which at first threatened a collapse of trade, have passed away. Country orders are coming in more freely, and as agricultural prospects «»o good, there ;s a probability of

a Bound trade being arrived at|before long. In the Import market the arrivals have not been hea ; 7.t during! the week, and stocks, in nearly all llfle#, sire’ sfeorfc held. Candles are still soiree, and prices fiqve hardened. Colonial makers ask 6_(d. Tftd new season’s fruit is expected hare in about a fortnight. Advices from Horne state that the crops are only fairly good, and prices at first are likely to rule firm, currants will be worth at least to land, and new sultanas will be worth The sugar market is unaltered. CchfpSny , SNo. l’s are worth L2B; No. 2’s, L 27 10s; rfoV 3’S. L 25, There is a brisk demand for gra-nrilatsd sugar, which is now worth L 27 10s. This class .of sugar is steadily growing in favour. Rice is still very firm. Fine Japan is worth L3O, but reefent advices state that the new crop is expected t & be one of the finest gathered for some time past, both as regards quality and quantity, and it is fully expected that the present rates will show a rapid fall wheil the new crop is ready for the market, although niuoh depends upon the then current raCe of exchange, There is not much doing in teas. The new erop is said not to be equal to the prices asked, and ft is just probable that a reaction may set in before very long. The demand for woolpacks is very good, and late _ prices are maintained. Derby tobaCctt is in short supply in some quarters. In Auckland it has advanced per lb. Boiled and raw oil is worth 2d per gallon more, doubtless owing to the Indian currency rise, as the value of linseed landed in the United Kingdom is ruled by the exchange rates. The American reports about salmon are significant of a long run of low prices. Consumption will no doubt be largely increased by comparative cheapness, but to ali appearitfies ..the wealth of the sea in salmon ou the Pacific ©oast of the United States of America plays 3fld havoc with canner.s’ calculations, which are At> W based principally upon labour, tin, and packih'g expenses than on - the prime cost of the raw fish. Quarter sardines continue scarce. Laery and Co. report prices for the week ending September 26th as follows Potatoes, 40s to 50s < oats, Is 9d to Is lid : pollard, 70s ; bran, 60s J 'chaff, oaten sheaf, 70s to 80s ; oatmeal, L 9 10s ; whole fowls’ wheat, 3s 3d ; flour, roller made, LlO lOstcrLlO 15s;wheatmeai, gLIO 10s; cheese, to 4d;eggs, 7d to 8d ; turkeys, 7s 6d ; geese, 6s ; ducks, & 9d } fowls, 3s per pair; maize, 3s ; peas, 3s 6d ; garden do, 7s 6d; beans, 3s to 3s 3d ; bacon (Dimock’s cure), owing to no boats arriving from Sydney with supplies, have realised 11s ; onions, L 1 0; figs, 7s ; new „ dates, s£d ; old do, 4d ; apples, 7s to 9s; Barcelona nuts, 6id ; almond nuts, o^d; Brazils, lOd ; peanuts, 2dJto 8d ; lemons, 10s to 13s; cocksfoot grass seed, to 4d ; salt butter, 6d to 7d ; fresh do (in pats, farmers’ make), 4d to Gd; factorymade, 7d to 8d; honey, 3Jd to 4Jd ; hops, 8d (nominal) ; flax, Ll 4 10s ; cocoannt fibre, 2d. The Customs duties collected at the port of Wellington for the week ending on Saturday amounted to L 5842 12s 7d. Beer duty, Ll 7 Is. George Thomas and Co. report produce prices as follows ;—The current week has been quiet, allhough there is a noticeable improvement on the past week. Wheat is in fair demand, and good whole samples command from 3s 6d to os 8d ; second quality, 3s 2d to 3s 4d ; oats rule from Is 8d to Is lOd ; maize, 3s 6d to 4s ; feed ba ley, 2s 6d ; beans, 3s 9d ; peas, 4s 6cl; bran, L 3 10s ; pollard, L 4 ; roller flour, Lll to Lll IQs ; stone do, LlO 10s to Lll; oatmeal, LlO to LlO 10s ; wheatmeal, L 1 0; potatoes, L2 10s to L2 15s; onions, L 5 10s ;■ pearl barley, Ll 7; split peas, Ll 3 10s ; straw chaff, L2 15s ; sheaf do, L 3 10s to L 4 : eggs, Bd, with upward tendency ; the market is glutted with fresh butter, which only commands from 4d to 7d, according to quality ; salt do, 6d ; cheese, do, farmers’ cure, 5d to 6d ; honey, 4Jd ; fowls, 3s; turkeys, 7s 6d; geese, 6s; and clucks, 4s 6d per pair. There is a special demand for fruit, and prices rule as follow: Sydney oranges, 8s to 9s ; Island do, 10s to 12s ; Hobart apples, 7s 9d to 9s; a few Auckland lemons realised 20s per case. Messrs Edwards and Mcßeath report oirthe labour market :—The demand for servants has fallen off since last report. Messrs Arthur Warburton and Co. report on the share market for the week : —Banks —New Zealand, old issue L 5 to L 5 2s 6d ; new issue, L 4 to L 4 2s ; National, 38s to 37s ; Colonial, 41s 6d to 42s cum div. Insurance— New Zealand, 68s to 70s ; sales, 68s ; South British, 20s to 22s ; Uuion, 26s ; National, 15s 6d to 16s ; Standard, 13s 6d ; Colonial, sales 7s. Miscellaneous Loan and Mercantile, sellers, 565: National Mortgage, sellers, 10s 6d; River Plate, buyers, 10s ; New Zealand Shipping, sellers 95s ; Wanganui Gas, Ll2 10s ; Drug Company, 19s,| buyers 17s; Westport Coal, 50s; Mokihinui Coal, sellers 12s 6d; Wellington Trust and Loan, buyers L 6 10s ; Equitable Building, L 7 ; Wellington Building, L 6; Wellington Gas, Ll 6, LB, and 32s ; Gear Meat, L 5; Meat Export, L 5 paid, sellers 95s ; 60s paid, sellers 555; Wellington Woollen, buyers 30s.

Messrs Harcourt and Co, report for the week ending September 27 : —Sales effected— Bank of New Zealand, old issue, L 5 5s ; Colonial Bank 42s cum div ; Gear Meat, L 5 2s 6d; Try Flukes Goldmining Company, 9s 3d. Quotations —Bank of New Zealand, old, L 5 ss, new L 4 3s; Colonial Bank, 425; Insurance—National, 15s 6d ; New Zealand, 67s 6d ; South British, 225; Union, 25s 6d ; Standard, 13s 6d. Miscellaneous—New Zealand Shipping, 97s 6d; New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, 57s ; National Mortgage, 10s 6d ; New Zealand and River Plate, 13s 6d ; New Zealand Drug, 19s ; Mosgiel Woollen, 79s ; Wellington WoollGn, 35s ; Equitable Building, L 7 ; Wellington Trust and Loan, L 6 12s 6.1 ; Wellington Building and Investment, L 6 2s 6d ; Wellington Gas, Ll 5 10s; Wellington and Manawatu Railway. 16s ; Gear Meat, L 5 2s 6d; Meat Expori, L 4 15s.

£ s. d. £ s. d Milk, quart • 0 0 4 Butter, fresh lb farm 0 0 5 to 0 0 6 Butter, factory made 0 0 6 to 0 0 7 Salt butter - 0 0 6 to 0 0 7 Cheese, Col, 0 0 34 to 0 0 4 Eggs, dozen (fresh) 0 0 8 Lard, lb. 0 0 '5 Bacon, lb. • 0 0 0 to 0 0 6| Ham, lb. 0 0 7 to 0 0 8 Fowls, pair 0 3 0 Ducks, pair 0 3 3 to 0 3 6 Geese, each 2 G to 3 0 0 Turkeys, pair 7 6 Hay and Corn Market. £ S. d. £ R d Maize, Poverty Bay 0 3 0 to 0 3 3 Oats, feed • . 0 1 9 to 0 1 11 Wheat do - . 0 3 0 to 0 3 4 'Jarrota . 1 10 0 to 2 0 0 Hay, ton - - 3 10 0 to 4 0 0 Oaten, ton - . - 3 0 0 to 3 10 0 Straw, ton - . 2 10 0 to 3 0 0 Chaff,— - - 3 5 0 to 3 15 0 Wheat straw 2 10 0 to 2 15 0 Onions . 8 0 0 to nominal Potatoes, per ton - 0 45 0 to 0 50 0 Floor Market. £ 8. d. £ R. d ■Sharps, per ton - 3 15 0 to 4 0 0 Bran per ton 0 0 0 to 3 10 0 Colonial Flour . 10 5 0 to 10 10 0 Oatmeal 10 0 0 Pearl Barley 17 0 0 Seeds. £ s. d. £ H. d Ryegrass, bushel . 0 3 6 to 0 5 6 Cocksfoot lb A A Q1 (•A Q Q A Wt. Clover, lb. - . 0 0 10 Red, do . 0 0 8 to 0 0 O Alsyke, lb. - . 0 0 10 Cow Grass, lb. - • 0 0 7 to 0 0 9 Timothy, lb. . 0 0 6 Rape, lb. - 0 0 2 to nominal Linseed, per cwt. . 0 16 0 to nominal Meadow Fescue lb - 0 0 0 to 0 1 0