SHIPPING AND COMMERCIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 30

SHIPPING AND COMMERCIAL.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) London, April 7The quantity of wheat and flour afloat for the United Kingdom is 2,796,000 quarters ; for the Continent, 1,788,000. The rates for money are declining, owing to plentiful supplies from outside markets. Three months’ bills, 2J per cent. Shares—Union Steamship Company, Lll 10s ; New Zealand Shipping Company, L 4 10s : Shaw Savill, L 9 10s. April 8. Last month the imports showed a decrease of L 887,000, and exports an increase of L 1,596,000, as compared with the corresponding month of 1890. At the wool sales prices continue firm, and English manufacturers are buying better. At tlie wool sales good greasy merinos and all crossbreds realised prices fully equal to the best obtained at the February series. . Quotations for good scoured remain unchanged ; poor and faulty scoured wools show a decline of 5 per cent. Wheat is 6d dearer. The American visible supply is 39,700,000 bushels. Silver is 3s 8 11-16ths of a penny per ox.

No New Zealand hemp has been sold by auction, but a fair quantity was disposed of privately at late prices. London, April 9.

The Bank of England returns published to-day, show tlie total reserve in notes and bullion to be L 13,376,000. The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 34 *5. Three months’ bills are at 2 per cent., but this quotation is nominal. Consols, 96J, active. New Zealand 4 per cent, inscribed stocks, 105, steady ; do, 3h per cents. 96|, firm.

New Zealand long-berried wheat 42s 9d, market firm. New Zealand wheat on passage is quoted at 41s, a cargo having been sold at 40s.

New Zealand lamb, sd. Quotations for meat are otherwise unchanged. New Zealand hemp unchanged. South Australian wheat, 4?s 6d, firm ; Victorian do, 42s 6d, market weaker. Sugar, best German beet, 13s 9d ; Java, 15s 9d. No. 1 best Scotch pig iron, f.o.b. in Clyde, 42s 9d. V\ 00l is unchanged. Arrived Barque Aethelberht, from Napier (December 27) ; barque Balclutha, from Napier (December 26) ; barque Kenmore, from Wellington (Decemuer 22). London, April 9. Arrived—Waitangi, ship, from Gisborne.

April 10. New Zealand 3| per cents, inscribed stofpk are quoted at 97:§, not 96f-, as previously .telegraphed. London, April 11. At the -wool sales prices are hardening, especially in merino wools. Three months bills are discounted at 2A per cent. "The withdrawal of L 600.000 in gold for Germany and Austria has had the effect of hardening the money market, and it is feared that the bank rate of discount will shortly be raised to 4 per cent. London, April 12.

The quantity of wool catalogued up to date is 109,000 bales, of which 104,000 have been sold. The market for good wools is firm. American houses are buying freely choice greasy sorts. Tallow —Medium mutton, 26s ; beef, 24s 6d. The English wheat market shows a strong tone. Prices are unchanged ; the Continental market is advancing with increased firmness ; tlie American is also firm. Sydney, April 9.

The following are the latest quotations current for silver mining shares : Broken Hill Proprietary, LlO 13s; British, L2 15s ; Central, L 4 8s ; South, L4los; Block XIV., L 6 6s; Block X., Ll 3 14s 6d ; Junctions, L2 0s 6d. Sydney, April 10. Sailed—Manapouri, for Auckland. The wheat market is in a very unsettled condition and buyers are awaiting further developments. New South Wales has been relying to a great extent on an anticipated surplus from tho Victorian yield, and South Australia has shipped away great quantities, so that there is very little prospect of relief from that quarter. Sydney, April 11. Arrived—Wenona, from Hokianga. Sailed—Defiance, for Mercury Bay; Eileen Donan, for Kaipara. Adelaide, April 11. Tho wheat shortage in South Australia and Victoria is 200,000 tons more than at first estimated. Sellers’ quotations nominally 4s 9d ; buyers offer 4s 4d. Albany, April 11. Arrived—P. and O. steamer Britannia,

from London. Passengers for New Zealand—Misses Johnston and Tull, Messrs Bridgeman, Mclnnes, Shaw, and Greenen.

Melbourne, April 13. Arrived, yesterday—Te Anau, from Bluff, via Hobart.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, has received the following cablo advice from London, dated 10th insfc.:—Tallow—Tallow is dull of sale. Fine mutton is worth L 26 per ton, Rnd good beef, L 25 15s. New Zealand Hemp—The market continues drooping. Medium quality is worth L 22 per ton. Frozen Meat —The market is dull, and mutton has a downward tendency, having declined one-eighth of a penny per lb since last report. The price of lamb has also fallen one penny per lb since last report. Forequarters New Zealand beef is worth 3fd, and hind quarters, 4fd.